Category: kesq-local-news

Kiera McKinney

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) — Local children with disabilities will receive bikes fitted to their individual needs Sunday through Variety Children’s Charity of the Desert’s Freedom Program.

Three Coachella Valley siblings have a new way to ride together after receiving adaptive bikes through Variety Children’s Charity of the Desert.

Jayden Verduzco, Princess Verduzco and Precious Verduzco were among children from five families receiving bikes Sunday at the nonprofit’s Palm Desert Resource Center.

Their mother, Perla Verduzco, said all three children have autism. Bikes they received last Christmas were difficult for them to use because they struggled with balance.

“They weren’t able to use them because they don’t have balance on their feet,” she said. “So when they would ride them, they would fall sideways.”

The new bikes are fitted to their individual needs through Variety’s Freedom Program. For Precious, the presentation also brought an early birthday gift. She turns 8 on Monday.

“I was really happy because tomorrow was my birthday and it was like my birthday present, and I love it,” she said.

How the bikes are fitted

Adaptive bikes offer support for children who cannot comfortably or safely use a standard bicycle.

Depending on the child’s needs, features may include supportive seating, harnesses, hand and foot straps, hand-crank pedals or a stable three-wheel frame. Some have rear steering and braking controls so a parent or caregiver can help guide the bike.

Joe Krissoff, Variety’s director of development, said therapists help determine the right fit.

“They’re custom designed and they’re custom built for the kids,” Krissoff said. “And we have a group of therapists and physical therapists that work with us to make sure they’re fit exactly for the child in need.”

The bikes cost about $2,500 each on average, according to Krissoff. Sponsors help support the program and cover the cost.

“Most of these families won’t be able to afford this, or they’ve tried to get their insurance to pay for it, and insurance has denied it,” he said. “So they’ve come to us for help.”

More support for local families

The Freedom Program also helps families access other adaptive equipment, including specialized strollers, wheelchairs and car seats.

Variety’s other core programs include:

Care: Health care access, developmental and autism screenings, family wellness support and help finding resources.Future: Inclusive recreation, enrichment, education and youth activities.Outreach: Family referrals, food support, parent education and connections to community resources.

According to figures provided by Variety, the nonprofit:

Serves more than 7,000 children and families annually. Operates three community office locations across the Coachella Valley. Has provided 152 adaptive and mobility devices for children with disabilities since 2010. Has presented 9,480 standard bicycles since 1996. Has provided 1,002 developmental and autism screenings to at-risk children since 2022. Has distributed 16,827 pounds of food to families in need since 2025. Has impacted more than 100,000 children since its founding in 1987.

Upcoming bike giveaway and fundraiser

Krissoff said Variety plans to give away 150 standard bicycles, along with safety equipment, on December 5. The bikes will go to Coachella Valley fourth graders selected by their schools.

A radiothon is scheduled for November 13 on participating local radio stations to help fund the nonprofit’s work.

“Every dollar, every penny you donate makes a difference,” Krissoff said.

How to get help or support the programs

Families can contact Variety to ask about adaptive equipment, screenings and other services. Community members can also contact the nonprofit about donating or supporting its programs.

Website: https://varietyofthedesert.orgPhone: 760-773-9800Palm Desert Resource Center: 42600 Cook Street, Suite 150, Palm Desert, CA 92211Development contact: Joe Krissoff, joe@varietyofthedesert.org, 760-773-9800, extension 3

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Matthew Pearce

THOUSAND PALMS, Calif. (KESQ) — The I-10 Auto Mall is hosting a family Halloween celebration today from 9 a.m. to noon, closing down Varner Road in Indio for the event.

The event features trunk-or-treating, bouncy houses, face painting, food trucks, music and candy, bringing family-focused halloween themed entertainment to Indio.

There will be live DJs playing music and numerous chances for giveaways.

Stay with News Channel 3 for more.

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Kiera McKinney

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) — Democratic candidate for governor Xavier Becerra joined Assembly candidate Dr. Ida Obeso-Martinez for a campaign rally in Indio Saturday, encouraging supporters to make their voices heard ahead of the November 3 election.

The event brought candidates, local leaders and supporters together as campaigns work to reach voters in the Coachella Valley.

Obeso-Martinez is running to represent Assembly District 36. Becerra, a former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services and California attorney general, is running against Republican Steve Hilton for governor.

During the rally, speakers emphasized working together and encouraged attendees to return their ballots. Supporters also urged voters to pay attention to local races, including city councils and special districts.

News Channel 3 spoke with candidates and attendees about their priorities for the valley, including housing and access to health care.

Watch News Channel 3 tonight for more on the concerns attendees shared and what the candidates had to say.

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Matthew Pearce

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) — The City of Palm Springs partnered with the Riverside County Registrar of Voters to host a “Get Out the Vote” event. The event provided residents with voter registration assistance and early voting ballot drop-off services ahead of the Nov. 3, 2026, General Election.

The event aims to support early voting, which opened on Oct. 5, 2026, by offering accessible voter services in one location.

Services at the event will be provided by staff from the Palm Springs Office of the City Clerk alongside the Riverside County Registrar of Voters outreach team. Attendees will be able to register to vote, receive registration assistance and drop off completed early voting ballots. Staff members will also be available to provide information and address voter questions.

Residents seeking more information regarding the event or voter services can contact the City Clerk’s Office by email at cityclerk@palmspringsca.gov or by phone at (760) 323-8204.

The General Election will take place on Nov. 3, 2026.

Stay with News Channel 3 for more information.

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Matthew Pearce

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) — Greater Palm Springs Pride hosted its Pride Equality Walk today in the Arenas District of downtown Palm Springs, marking the official kickoff of the organization’s 40th anniversary celebrations.

The walk serves as a fundraising event to keep Greater Palm Springs Pride’s signature community programming free and accessible. Funds raised by walking teams directly support upcoming events, including the flagship Pride Festival and Parade in November.

The walk route featured live entertainment, including performances by the Desert Winds Freedom Band, A Cabbello and the Flaggers of the Desert. Organizers also established a Blue Zones Water Stop and a DJ Dance Zone along the course.

Following the walk, participants returned to the Arenas District for a community block party featuring food, drinks and live DJs.

Stay with News Channel 3 for more information

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Jesus Reyes

Palm Springs, Calif. (KESQ) – UPDATE 10/22: The man who died in a crash near the parking lot exit of the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway last Friday has been identified as 74-year-old Donald Beeson of Tucson, Arizona, according to the Riverside County Coroner’s Office.

Beeson died on Oct. 16, 2026, following a single-vehicle collision near the tramway’s exit shortly after 5:30 p.m.

According to the Palm Springs Police Department, officers responded to a report of a traffic collision shortly after 5:30 p.m. and found a man unresponsive inside the vehicle.

Emergency personnel responded to the scene and assessed the man. Despite emergency response efforts, he was pronounced dead at 5:49 p.m., according to coroner’s records.

The coroner’s office confirmed Beeson’s identity and age in its final report. Next of kin have been notified.

“The circumstances leading up to the incident, including the cause of the collision and whether a medical emergency may have been a contributing factor, remain under investigation,” the Palm Springs Police Department previously stated.

The Palm Springs Police Department is investigating the incident.

Anyone with information regarding the collision is encouraged to contact the Palm Springs Police Department at (760) 327-1441.

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City News Service

BANNING, Calif. (KESQ) – Prosecution testimony is slated to get underway Monday in the trial of a 44-year-old man accused of gunning down a one-time friend over money more than 20 years ago in the San Bernardino National Forest.

James Robert Landi of San Mateo was arrested last December following an extensive investigation by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department’s Cold Case Unit.

Landi is charged with first-degree murder, a special circumstance allegation of lying in wait and sentence-enhancing gun and great bodily injury allegations for the death of 18-year-old Reynaldo Nino Burts in October 2003.

Superior Court Judge Mark Singerton seated a jury Thursday and ordered the panel to return to the Banning Justice Center Monday for opening statements and the first round of witnesses.

Landi is being held without bail at the Byrd Detention Center.

According to a trial brief filed by the District Attorney’s Office, Landi and Burts had been friends for a time, but the relationship soured after Landi, then 21, discovered that the young man had allegedly swiped unspecified items from the defendant’s father’s property and failed to repay money he had borrowed.

Harboring ill will, Landi plotted to kill the victim during a hike in the mountains, prosecutors alleged.

The brief said Landi invited Burts and a mutual acquaintance, Oscar Celaya, to go trekking along the South Fork Trail, near Highway 74 south of Idyllwild and west of Mountain Center, during the first week of October 2003, though a specific date could not be established.

The defendant informed Burts that he would be taking along a .22-caliber pistol that he’d consider selling to the victim after they did a little target shooting on the trail, according to court papers. Burts had no reason to be suspicious and expressed interest in buying it, prosecutors said.

At some point during the excursion, Landi, who had already relayed his alleged intentions to Celaya, persuaded Burts to go off the trail with him to do a little recreational shooting, according to the brief. When they reached a dry creek bed, Landi took out the handgun and fired multiple rounds into Burts’ face, head and chest, killing him on the spot, prosecutors alleged.

Celaya assisted in moving the body to a less visible place a short distance away, but there was no attempt to bury the remains, according to the prosecution. Landi discarded the firearm and the clothes he had worn on the trek somewhere along the highway before returning home, the brief alleged. They were not recovered.

Several people who knew the defendant and victim learned of the alleged slaying within a month or two, but they did not go to the authorities, partly because the circumstances were unclear, with people pointing fingers in different directions, according to the brief.

A man hiking near the South Fork Trail on March 21, 2004, discovered Burts’ decomposed remains and summoned sheriff’s deputies. An autopsy soon confirmed the victim’s identity and the fact he had died from multiple gunshot wounds.

Central Homicide Unit detectives identified Landi as a person of interest early on, but due to conflicting details received from Celaya, who by then had ended up in the criminal justice system for robberies and burglaries, and other individuals, there weren’t sufficient grounds to seek a murdercharge, according to court documents.

The Cold Case Unit reopened the case in August 2025, tying up loose ends and uncovering evidence previously unavailable, leading to charges and Landi’s arrest in Northern California a few months later.

He has no documented prior felony convictions in Riverside County.

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Peter Daut

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – A local nonprofit is putting out an urgent call for volunteers to help raise the next generation of guide dogs. Guide Dogs of the Desert says it currently has nine puppies in need of temporary homes.

Volunteer puppy raisers take the dogs into their homes, typically from three months to 18 months of age, helping them learn basic obedience and social skills before they begin formal guide-dog training.

No prior experience is necessary and the organization provides training, veterinary care and ongoing support.

“I love the fact that the dogs live with me. And we spend all the time loving them, making them happy, teaching them, so they can be good guides going forward,” said Kerry Hopps, a volunteer puppy raiser for Guide Dogs of the Desert.

The organization provides guide dogs free of charge to people who are blind or visually impaired.

If you’re interested in becoming a volunteer puppy raiser, click here.

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Karen Devine

MENIFEE, Calif. (KESQ) – Lisa Marie Dominguez still made Valentine’s baskets for her grown children. She loved gardening, rescued animals, and treasured being a grandmother.

“My mom was a super carefree spirit. She was fun. She was like extremely loving,” her daughter, Lauren Dominguez, said.

At 55, Lisa believed she was taking an over-the-counter herbal supplement that made her feel good, according to Lauren. That product was kratom.

“She took it because she said that it made her feel good, and she said it was just an over-the-counter herbal supplement,” Lauren said.

Lauren said she noticed no change in her mother’s behavior. But in July 2025, unanswered calls and text messages began to worry the family. Lauren went to check on her.

“I just opened the door, and instantly I just saw her laying there,” she said.

Lisa was dead.

A family searches for answers

According to the family’s lawsuit, the Riverside County Coroner’s Office determined Lisa’s cause of death was acute mitragynine intoxication. Mitragynine is one of the active compounds found in kratom.

The family’s attorney, Michael Jeandron, said the toxicology and autopsy findings support their claim that kratom caused her death. Earlier reporting by ABC7 also identified chronic alcohol use as a contributing factor in the coroner’s report.

“We wanted more answers after. You know, like we couldn’t believe that that was even the cause,” Lauren said.

Lisa’s three children filed a lawsuit against Hundreds Premium, LLC, doing business as Exotic Blue Magic, and Almond Smoke Shop in Menifee.

The complaint alleges Lisa purchased Exotic Blue Magic kratom capsules at the shop. It alleges unsafe mitragynine levels, inadequate warnings and misleading claims about the product’s safety.

“They’re making it seem like it’s all just a happy, delicious herbal supplement. And they’re not telling the truth,” Jeandron said.

The allegations have not been proven in court.

Jeandron said Blue Magic had hired an attorney and contacted him. At the time of the interview, he said the company had not yet filed a formal answer to the lawsuit.

“Blue Magic has responded. They’ve hired a lawyer. They’ve reached out to me,” he said.

What is kratom?

Kratom comes from a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia. Its leaves contain active compounds including mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, commonly called 7-OH.

“It’s important to understand that kratom contains a couple of pretty powerful alkaloids,” said Michael Braun, the former chief of operations for the Drug Enforcement Administration.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration distinguishes products containing added or enhanced levels of 7-OH from the trace amounts naturally present in kratom leaf. The agency describes concentrated 7-OH products as potent opioid products and advises consumers to avoid them.

The FDA has also warned against kratom use because of risks including liver toxicity, seizures and substance use disorder.

The Dominguez family’s complaint identifies mitragynine intoxication as Lisa’s cause of death. It does not establish that the capsules she used contained added or enhanced 7-OH.

Braun said consumers should question what is inside products sold with reassuring packaging or claims.

“You’re really playing Russian Roulette because you have no earthly idea, you know, what is contained in that packaging,” he said.

Speaking out after a loss

For Lauren, sharing her mother’s story is about preventing another family from experiencing the same heartbreak.

“You shouldn’t profit from something that causes harm like this,” she said.

Lisa’s birthday brought another painful reminder of her absence. Instead of celebrating over dinner, the family visited her grave.

“My brother took off so we could go to the cemetery when we should be going to dinner,” Lauren said.

This report is the second installment of “Stronger Together: United Against Drug Abuse,” News Channel 3’s 12-part series in partnership with Mothers for Awareness and Prevention of Drug Abuse.

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Jesus Reyes

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) — Before the official stages light up, before the parade steps off, and before the main festival weekend begins, Greater Palm Springs Pride starts on Arenas Road!

On Thursday, November 5, from 6:00 PM to 11:30 PM, the iconic Arenas District transforms into a bustling, pedestrian-only festival street for the Arenas District Walkabout. The free event

As proud official sponsors of Palm Springs Pride, the beloved establishments along Arenas Road invite locals and visitors alike to take to the street, stroll the district, meet friends, grab drinks, shop local and kick off Palm Springs’ landmark 40th Pride celebration in style.

WHAT’S HAPPENING ACROSS THE ARENAS DISTRICT

Hunters Palm Springs – 302 E. Arenas Rd.”Every Vibe. One Community. Since 1998.” Hunters is turning up the heat with Two Stages, Four Incredible Acts, and One Epic Pride Kickoff Outdoor Stage: 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM: POP ROYALTY — An electrifying live tribute celebrating Bruno Mars, Michael Jackson, and Prince presented by Pulp Vixen and starring Jonesy Jones! (Tickets on Eventbrite) 9:00 PM – 2:00 AM: DJ Ray Rhodes keeps the party going under the desert stars. Indoor Dance Floor: 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM: Resident DJ Devin starts Pride early. 9:00 PM – 2:00 AM: DJ Lalo takes over to keep you moving all night long. Chill Bar Palm Springs – 217 E. Arenas Road Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Pride with four full days of electrifying entertainment (Nov 5–8), Chill Bar invites everyone to experience its exciting new renovations under owners Randy, David, Justin, and Steven, alongside its world-class crew! Guests can party in the main bar, on the indoor dance floor, and on the giant outdoor parking lot stage. Thursday Kickoff: Dance under the stars with Dawna Montell from 9:00 PM – 2:00 AM. Featured Weekend Lineup: RuPaul’s Drag Race superstar Sasha Colby, international recording artist Kristine W, and world-renowned DJs Abel, Nick Bertossi, Glovibes, DJ Irene, Tony Moran, Corey Craig, Josh Peace, Gracy D, DJ Redspace, and DJ Jeffery! Blackbook Bar and Kitchen – 315 E Arenas Road Located in front of the Main Pride Stage, Blackbook is the home of Boys, Booze, Bass, and Badass Food. Boys: The hottest boys at Pride return! The Prince Joshua, Jake, and Christian Michael are joined this year by Judas King, Jay Nova, and special guests. Bass: Firestarter DJ Scarlett BoBo returns alongside a stellar lineup of guest DJs to keep the music pumping. Booze & Badass Food: Voted a Best Bar and Best Restaurant in Palm Springs Life and The Desert Sun, come fuel your night with their famous original PS-Style Nachos and craft drinks. Dick’s Bar – 301 E Arenas Rd. Right in the middle of the Arenas Rd action, Dick’s brings the ultimate outdoor festival vibes with a giant party space and no cover charge! Enjoy indoor and outdoor DJ tunes, festive drink specials, cold beers, tasty bites, and great energy surrounded by community. Streetbar – 224 E Arenas Road As a cornerstone of the Arenas District celebrating its 35th Anniversary, Streetbar will welcome walkabout crowds all evening with cold drinks, warm community spirit, and classic Palm Springs hospitality.

The Greater Palm Springs Pride Parade and Festival will bring together residents, visitors, and advocates to celebrate diversity, equality, and community resilience in downtown Palm Springs November 6-8, 2026.

News Channel 3 is a proud sponsor of Pride. We will broadcast the parade on News Channel 3 and our website.

For festival information, updates, and ways to support Palm Springs Pride, visit pspride.org.

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