Category: kesq-local-news

Kendall Flynn

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Thunderstorms are likely on the way for Thursday, and the Palm Springs Fire Department wants to make sure residents remember to be safe on the roads.

Whether it’s checking cars, avoiding flooded areas or preparing your home, they say all steps can be crucial to staying safe. In Palm Springs specifically, the washes around Indian Canyon Drive and Gene Autry Trail are a major concern.

Palm Springs Fire asks everyone to avoid driving along the washes during rain, unless it is absolutely necessary. If so, make sure water is not covering the roadway as it could sweep cars into the wash water.

Officials also see an increase in accidents on the roadways due to high speeds and delayed breaking. In rain, breaking quickly can become an issue with traction control on the pavement and cause hydroplaning.

Stay with News Channel 3 to hear from officials on what you need to do to stay safe and to hear from residents.

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Jesus Reyes

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Riff Markowitz, co-founder and managing director of the long-running “Fabulous Palm Springs Follies”, died at the age of 86 Wednesday in Carlsbad after a brief illness.

Born in New York but raised in Toronto, Markowitz ran away from home at age 15 to join the circus as a tramp clown. Clowning proved to be a tough life, though, so at age 16, he landed a job as a radio disc jockey in Ontario, Canada. He quickly moved from radio to TV and began to produce and direct. In 1961, he created “The Randy Dandy Show,” a Canadian children’s television show in which he played the title role.

By 1971, Markowitz already had six TV series on the air when he and his brother, Mitch, created the cult favorite, “The Hilarious House of Frightenstein,” starring Vincent Price.

Following a move to Hollywood, Markowitz began producing musical variety and comedy specials for HBO. With a partner, he built a state-of-the-art TV post-production facility and co-founded the First Choice Canadian pay television network.

In 1984, he co-created the HBO mystery anthology series, “The Hitchhiker”, along with numerous other TV specials starring Red Skelton, Neil Simon, George Burns, Tony Curtis and others.

Then at age 50, seeking a change, Markowitz divested his business interests and retired to Palm Springs, California, where he would soon embark on what was to be his greatest career achievement.

In 1992, along with partner Mary Jardin, he co-founded “The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies”, featuring a cast ranging in age from 55 to 80+, which played for 23 seasons at The Historic Plaza Theatre in downtown Palm Springs.

The unlikely success of the endeavor was best illustrated by a local reporter who, upon hearing of the show’s casting, wrote, “Who wants to pay to see old ladies’ legs?” The answer was nearly four million people, earning the show its global renown.

In 1996, Markowitz told the Los Angeles Times, “We are an icon of a movement. There are millions of people of ‘an age.’ It’s in every town; it’s just not on the stage. We [older people] behave as we are expected to behave. But love still exists, and lust still exists—and desire and warmth and caring and the quest for knowledge. If that is not permitted, like a muscle that is not worked, it atrophies. Folks that are not using that part of themselves slowly become ‘Auntie Ida,’ instead of ‘Ida’.”

When the curtain finally came down on the Follies’ final performance on May 18, 2014, Markowitz had shown the world a new way of looking at “Old” and what was truly possible in one’s 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s. And, as show emcee, he presided over nearly 5,000 consecutive performances without ever missing a show.

Markowitz is survived by life partner, Leila Burgess; son, David Markowitz; siblings, Mitch (Robin) Markowitz, Merrilee Markowitz and Cary (Marla) Markowitz; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Services are private, but a memorial will be announced.

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City News Service

CABAZON, Calif. (KESQ) – A powwow hosted by the Morongo Band of Mission Indians this weekend is expected to draw upwards of 30,000 visitors to Cabazon for a range of competitions and celebrations.

The tribe’s 34th annual “Morongo Thunder & Lightning Powwow” event is being held Friday through Sunday at the Morongo Casino Resort & Spa, 49500 Seminole Drive.

Along with thousands of spectators, the event “will welcome 900 dancers and 20 drum groups from across the U.S. and Canada,” according to tribal statement.  

“This free family-friendly event invites the public to experience Native American culture through traditional dance, music, food and art,” the tribe stated.

Among the planned activities are bird song and traditional dance contests.   

“The bird songs and dances of the Cahuilla Indians chronicle the experiences and responses of the Cahuilla people as they migrated south,” according to the event announcement.

Drum calls are being held daily, beginning with the opening ceremonies Friday evening. Saturday’s events will run from 11:00 a.m. to midnight, while the closing day, Sunday, will run from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

The tribe is also offering a marketplace featuring Native American edibles and wares, along with peon games and a “color guard grand entry.

“The grand entry is a Native American tradition that signifies the opening of each Powwow session,” the tribe said. “During the grand entry, dancers and drummers can score points for competition based on regalia, performance and other categories.”

More information is available at http://www.morongopowwow.com/.

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City News Service

LAKE ELSINORE, Calif. (KESQ) – Authorities today released the name of a 15-year-old girl who went missing in Lake Elsinore last year before her decomposed body was found in the trunk of a Tesla registered to a popular singer and later impounded in the Hollywood Hills.

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office identified her Wednesday as Celeste Rivas. The cause of death was listed as deferred.   

Her remains were discovered Sept. 8 in the Tesla, which had been towed to a city police yard. The car was registered to singer-songwriter David Anthony Burke, known as D4vd, who is currently on his U.S. “Withered” tour and scheduled to perform at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles on Saturday.

Earlier, the medical examiner revealed the girl, who had last been seen April 5, 2024, had the letters ”Shhh” tattooed on her right index finger.

According to the Los Angeles Police Department, the vehicle was impounded and towed to the yard — an “official police garage” — by the city Department of Transportation because it was “parked on a public street for more than 72 hours.”  

The car is believed to have been parked in the Hollywood Hills. Investigators said the Tesla had been parked at the location for nearly a month.

Neighbors told Rolling Stone the Tesla Model Y had been moved several times over the past three months before it was ultimately found on Bluebird Avenue, where it was ultimately located.

After it was impounded, workers at the tow yard and neighbors reported a strong odor coming from the car, leading to the discovery of the remains.   

According to various reports, the remains were dismembered and severely decomposed, and were found inside a bag in the trunk.   

The county Medical Examiner’s office had earlier described the decedent as a woman of unknown age with wavy black hair and unknown color eyes. She was 5-feet-2 inches tall and weighed 71 pounds.

“The decedent was found severely decomposed inside a vehicle…,” according to a medical examiner’s office statement that said she was wearing a tube top and size small black leggings, with a yellow metal stud earring and a metal chain bracelet. “She appears to have been deceased inside the vehicle for an extended period of time before being found.”  

A representative for Burke said the singer was informed of the discovery and is fully cooperating with investigators.   

D4vd canceled his scheduled Wednesday night show in Seattle, where he was set to perform at the Showbox SoDo, according to TMZ, which cited sources with direct knowledge.

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Luis Avila

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. (KESQ) – Cathedral City is taking steps towards making its roads safer and more accessible for cyclists. Starting Thursday, city crews will begin construction on a new bike lane along Whispering Palms Trail — a key component of a broader effort to expand alternative transportation infrastructure.

The project is part of Cathedral City’s Active Transportation Plan, which aims to create a safer, more connected network for cyclists and pedestrians. The upcoming work will stretch along Whispering Palms Trail from Dinah Shore Drive to 30th Avenue.

“We’re really excited because the whole project involves two miles of Class III bike lane… What that is, is a bike lane that shares the whole entire road. There will be new striping and marking.”

John Corella, Cathedral City Public Works Director

For local cyclists, the improvements couldn’t come soon enough. James Colella, owner of Kings Rideshop in Cathedral City, says bike sales — especially e-bikes — have surged in recent years. But with that increase comes a growing concern for safety.

Many cyclists in the city are still forced to ride dangerously close to passing cars due to a lack of dedicated lanes. Colella warns that the risks are not only inconvenient — they’re serious.

“Almost everyone I know that has ridden road bikes… has been hit by a car or in some kind of accident so if they can make it safer for cyclists, just the safety will increase usage.”

James Colella, Kings Rideshop Owner

City officials say Whispering Palms was chosen for this phase because it offers a quieter, residential alternative to major thoroughfares.

“Whispering Palms is one of the corridors identified in our Active Transportation Plan that is a north-south corridor taking it off main roads and bringing it into residential roads. Obviously there’s slower speed limits so it’s more inviting for bicyclists to take those routes than on major thoroughfares where there’s a lot of traffic.”

John Corella, Cathedral City Public Works Director

The city sees this project as a stepping stone in its mission to enhance walkability and bike access citywide. Corella emphasized the long-term benefits of creating safer spaces for active transportation.

While infrastructure is improving, riders stress that safety also depends on awareness from drivers.

Construction is expected to last through next month.

Stay with News Channel 3 for more.

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Gavin Nguyen

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – Technical problems continue to plague the Palm Desert Aquatic Center.

City officials announced Tuesday that the lap pool at the facility would temporarily close until key equipment could be replaced.

The city cited issues with its pump room equipment, including filtration system, pumps, and heaters – all of which was installed when the facility first opened in 2011.

It said regular wear and extreme weather damaged seals around the filter tanks, which led to water clarity issues throughout the summer.

The recreation and splash pools will remain open with the lap pool temporarily shuttered. In the meantime, lap swim sessions will still happen (with limited hours) in the recreation pool, which is still open.

There are no problems chemically with the pools. Everything is balanced, including parameters like chlorine levels. The clarity is the key issue.

Pool staff said clarity problems are most apparent in the lap pool – which is why it is the only pool to face a temporary closure. At 15 feet deep, lifeguards presently cannot easily see to the bottom of the pool, which is critical in the event someone sinks to the bottom and is in distress.

The city anticipates a full replacement of key equipment in November, which will lead to an 8-10 week closure of the entire facility.

David Keyes, the Aquatic Manager of the facility, walked News Channel 3 crews through the equipment room that maintains the poolwater. Amid the din of whirring machines, he outlined the large lap pool filter – which has reached the end of its lifespan after 14 and a half years – that he described as being 25 times larger than the typical backyard pool filter.

“It’s big enough in there where I’ll get inside and I’ll shovel out, you know, the “elements” when we do some work on it,” he said, standing next to the filter.

He said when work begins in November, it will be replaced by a smaller, more efficient filter, which will free up some floor space in the room.

When the original filter was installed in 2011, it was put in place first – before the walls and roof were built around it.

Keyes also showed the smaller filters for the recreation and splash pools, hidden in the back. While smaller and filtering much less poolwater, they, too, have neared the end of their lifespans, and will be replaced when the overhaul takes place.

A new 50-horsepower pump will be installed, along with new heaters. Keyes said it’s a complete overhaul.

“There’s just no way to get around a long closure when you’re replacing your entire mechanical room and you want to gain another 15 to 20 years out of it,” Keyes explained.

He continued, “The city wants to make sure, hey, what we’re doing is done right so we’re not going to run into these problems years later.”

If you have any questions, you’re encouraged to contact PDAC staff at 760-565-7467 or visit the facility’s website at pdpool.com.

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Athena Jreij

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – A new $100,000 grant from the Houston Family Foundation will widely expand the ‘Nursing Street Medicine’ program at California State University San Bernardino, Palm Desert.

The program serves underserved populations, with targeted clinics on the street helping vulnerable populations, including those experiencing homelessness.

“We do vital signs and wound care if they have anything that needs it. We also do medication assistance so we find medications for them, we do medication review with them also,” Executive Director of the program, Diane Vines, said.

According to CSUSB-PD, the grant will fund three new clinics, the treatment of 700 individuals and 1,200 annual patient contacts, train 35 students annually, and focus more on mental health outreach.

Officials say more than half of those they treat have both mental health and substance abuse issues.

“We’re really hoping to start collaborating more with the mobile van to get more medications out in the field where the people are. A lot of the clients that we see suffer from severe mental health issues, and it’s a very big challenge to get medications. For example, patients with schizophrenia really suffer and have a hard time getting medications,” Samantha Duffle, the program director said.

Duffle says the funding comes as the needs of the homeless population they treat are also growing.

“There’s a large amount of homeless that we don’t even see. A lot of times the ‘point in time’ counts that are reported aren’t reflective of how many unhoused individuals there are in the Coachella Valley. Something unique about the services we provide is we do know where they’re at, and we have developed this long standing trust with them.”

It’s a win-win for students who are also getting hands-on experience in the field.

“They grow with empathy. They grow with leadership. They grow their communication,” Duffle said.

CSUSB-PD nursing student Nicole Corona said it’s also improved her confidence in treating patients.

“I was very interested in community health and I think that I had to start somewhere. I was able to see a lot of patient communication, see how well a lot of our, nursing students get to practice their skills,” Corona said.

If you’d like to find more information on the program’s pop-up clinics, visit: CSUSB PD STREET MEDICINE.

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Allie Anthony

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – The 30th annual Valley-Wide Employment Expo took place Wednesday at the Fantasy Springs Special Events Center.

The event brings together leading employers from across the region, offering job seekers a valuable opportunity to network and explore career opportunities.

The expo continues to serve as a key platform for connecting local talent with top companies in a wide range of industries.

To pre-register for this event, head to this link.

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Cynthia White

BANNING, Calif. (KESQ) – The Morongo Band of Mission Indians has donated $100,000 to the Animal Action League to help support the nonprofit’s efforts to bring low cost spay, neuter, vaccination and microchipping services to area residents.

The contribution will support a matching grant secured by the Animal Action League to purchase a trailer that will be used to train veterinarians in spay and neuter procedures. The trailer, part of the group’s Skills Lab Program, is expected to be completed in January 2026 and will expand the League’s ability to reach families who face cost or transportation barriers.

“For Morongo, giving back means supporting organizations that strengthen our communities and improve quality of life — not just for people, but for the animals who bring us comfort, companionship, and love,” said Morongo Tribal Chairman Charles Martin. “We are happy to partner with the Animal Action League to help more families access affordable spay and neuter services that promote responsible pet ownership and reduce unnecessary suffering.”

The Animal Action League has been serving the Coachella Valley, Morongo Basin and the City of Banning areas for more than 30 years.

“We are profoundly grateful to the Morongo Band of Mission Indians for their generosity and vision,” said Melody Farnik, Director of the Animal Action League. “The Tribe’s gift will translate into healthier pets, fewer strays, and stronger communities.”

In recent months, Morongo has partnered with the Animal Action League to host two free spay and neuter clinics at the Morongo Community Center.

The latest $100,000 donation continues the Tribe’s long tradition of philanthropy, which has provided more than $20 million over the past decade to nonprofits supporting seniors, veterans, families, youth, and others in need across Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

For more information about the Animal Action League, visit www.animalactionleague.net.

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Cynthia White

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – A 29-year-old man was pronounced dead after being struck by a vehicle Tuesday night in Palm Springs.

The crash was first reported at around 8:50 a.m. on East San Rafael Drive just west of North Avenida Caballeros.

Police say they arrived at the scene to find a man in the roadway who had been hit by an SUV. Lifesaving measures were performed, but the man died at the scene. The coroner’s office identified the man as Raymond Olguin Jr. of Palm Desert.

Police also report that the driver of the SUV remained at the scene and was cooperative. They add that alcohol or drugs are not a factor at this time.

Police immediately closed off East San Rafael from Eucalyptus Drive to North Avenida Caballeros to investigate, but the roadway has since reopened.

Stay with News Channel 3 for any updates.

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