Category: kesq-local-news

Gavin Nguyen

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – The faithful offered their best wishes to Pope Leo XIV after the Vatican revealed Tuesday evening he underwent a successful surgery to remove a part of his right lung.

The lower lobe of the pope’s lung was removed in a 90-minute surgery at a hospital in Rome. Further examination of the lobe revealed evidence of pulmonary adenocarcinoma, a common type of lung cancer, according to the Vatican’s statement.

After the operation, the Vatican said Pope Leo was resting in his room. It comes after the 71-year-old pontiff announced on Sunday doctors had discovered a nodule on his lung. He said it had been detected at a very early stage.

Catholics who were gathering at Sacred Heart Church in Palm Desert Tuesday evening for Mass and an event for a relic had largely just found out about the pontiff’s diagnosis.

Germaine Thompson, a dedicated churchgoer who has worshiped at Sacred Heart since 1968, said of the diagnosis, “He’s not alone, he’s a human being like the rest of us, and he needs the fellowship of his family right now. And that’s us, to pray for one another when we’re not feeling well.”

Father Ian Hollick, a parochial vicar at Sacred Heart, said the pope’s suffering was a lesson.

He explained, “Everyone’s going through something. To hear that the Holy Father, who seems to be closer to God, that even he’s suffering and going through something that could be deadly… that also points to his mortality. It gives us the sense that, well, we’re not that far away from God if even his pope is going through some hard times.”

The vicar added, “We have to put everything in the hands of God because it reminds us of how helpless we are. We’re all the way across the world. And you know, what can we do? Well, we can, we can we can pray for him and be a little bit more gentle, especially with our neighbors, because we have no idea what our neighbor is going through as well.”

Jane Voigts, a pastor at United Methodist Church in Palm Springs, agreed that the pope’s sickness reminded us that bad things happen to everyone.

“Sometimes we may assume that illness is because somebody did something wrong. You know, there’s that strain of thinking in the Bible. It’s not the only strain of thinking, but when bad things happen, you must have done something wrong,” she explained. “Of course, when the Pope gets sick, [it shows] we all get sick. Bad things happen to all of us. And so we’re grateful that we believe in a God that brings healing not just to our bodies, but our minds and our spirits and our relationships.”

As the pope continued to rest and recover, Father Hollick and the faithful across the globe were committed to praying for the first American pope.

“We’re all praying that he gets better and better fast because he’s such a jolt of energy and of goodness right now in the world.”

He had an open message to Pope Leo: “We don’t want to lose you, Pope Leo. We’re not ready to, and so, we’re all praying that you come back healthier and stronger and holier so that we always learn. Suffering is such a good school of love. So that when you get through this, Pope Leo, [we hope] that you can come back and teach us something about how to live.”

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Blake Arthur

THOUSAND PALMS, Calif. (KESQ) – The Coachella Valley Lakers officially introduced new head coach Alex Cerda on Tuesday.

Cerda answered questions from the media, including News Channel 3 Sports Director Blake Arthur.

“It’s an honor to be here, super grateful for the opportunity, looking forward to uh a really rewarding season, hoping to get these guys to better basketball opportunities at the end of the day. That’s the name of the game for us,” Cerda told Blake Arthur.

The Dallas, Texas native has a bit of a history with our desert. He said his stepdad was in the Marines for 20+ years, and at one point was stationed in Twentynine Palms.

“I lived in Dallas, Texas with my father, but every summer I’ve been coming out to the desert, so I know this area pretty well. So to be here, being able to coach professional basketball in this area in front of my family, it’s a surreal moment, full circle moment, and I’m gonna definitely look forward to this season,” Cerda told reports during the news conference.

Cerda has been the CV Lakers assistant coach for the past three seasons, when they were the South Bay Lakers.

Before joining the Lakers organization, Cerda has had a few stops throughout his career.

Cerda served as a student basketball manager while studying at the University of Texas, Austin, graduating with a degree in Kinesiology in 2016. His professional career started in 2016, working as a head video coordinator and player development for the Indiana Mad Ants. He held that position until 2018.

From 2018 to 2020, he worked in the video department of the Los Angeles Clippers. He then went on to join the Texas Legends as an Assistant Coach / Offensive Coordinator from 2021-23.

Cerda also previously operated a player development training program in Dallas, Texas. He has worked with numerous NBA athletes in the off-season such as: Jared Butler, Carlik Jones, Shake Milton, Justin Jackson, AJ Lawson & Jericho Sims

The CV Lakers will officially tip off their inaugural season at Acrisure Arena on Friday, November 6 against the Salt Lake City Stars. The 2026-27 campaign will feature 48 total games.

Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing coverage of the Coachella Valley Lakers.

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City News Service

BANNING, Calif. (KESQ) – Trial proceedings may start before the end of the week for a convicted felon accused of killing a 30-year-old Cabazon man, whose disappearance remained a mystery until his body was located more than two years later.

Shannon McCloud Collins, 49, of Cabazon was arrested in 2024 following a Riverside County Sheriff’s Department investigation into the 2021 death of Zachary Hemminger.

Collins is charged with murder and a sentence-enhancing great bodily injury allegation.

During a trial-setting conference Tuesday, the prosecution and defense indicated they were working to clear their calendars for the start of proceedings, but it remained unclear whether the defense would be ready. Superior Court Judge Jorge Hernandez tentatively scheduled pretrial motions for Thursday at the Banning Justice Center. But there was a possibility the matter would have to be postponed to November.

The defendant is being held on $1 million bail at the Byrd Detention Center.

According to sheriff’s Sgt. Jarred Bishop, Collins killed Hemminger on April 7, 2021, for reasons still unclear.

Bishop said detectives were alerted that Hemminger had gone missing, but there was no confirmation of foul play until the investigation had progressed.

When detectives received sufficient information pointing to a homicide, they began developing leads, ultimately identifying the approximate location where the victim’s body had been dumped, the sergeant said. He said that in November 2023, remains were uncovered in the 40000 block of Blanche Avenue in Cabazon that forensic analysis confirmed were those of Hemminger.

The investigation continued, culminating in an arrest warrant being served on Collins during the morning of June 21, 2024, when he was taken into custody without incident at a residence on Lois Avenue.

How the defendant and victim were acquainted, and the circumstances that led to the alleged attack, were not disclosed. Sheriff’s officials also did not specify what clues led them to Collins.

Court records show he has prior convictions for animal cruelty, auto theft and receiving stolen property.

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Dakota Makinen

THOUSAND PALMS, Calif. (KESQ) – Classical music is rolling into the Coachella Valley, giving local students a chance to experience live performances right outside their schools.

The Seattle Chamber Music Truck is visiting the valley this week, bringing musicians and their instruments to students through a program funded by Palm Springs Friends of Philharmonic.

The mobile concert stage opens from the side of a truck, allowing musicians to perform in school settings and make classical music more accessible to young audiences.

“I feel great, like my ears wiggle when I hear the music,” said Henry, a first grader who attended the performance.

Susan Zhang, director of the Concert Truck, said introducing children to classical music early can create lasting connections.

“When you have these kinds of positive associations with this music at a young age, that can last you for a lifetime,” Zhang said.

Palm Springs Friends of Philharmonic launched its education program last year to expand music opportunities for students in the Palm Springs, Desert Sands, and Coachella Valley Unified school districts.

The Concert Truck will also visit VillageFest in downtown Palm Springs on Thursday, with performances scheduled for 6 and 8 p.m.

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Tommy Gallegos

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) — The City of Indio will not fine Goldenvoice after Swedish House Mafia’s headlining performance at Head Trip on Sunday continued past the festival’s midnight curfew.

In a statement, the city said it would not issue a fine to Goldenvoice due to the weather-related circumstances that impacted Head Trip on Saturday.

Check Out: 60 people arrested during Head Trip music festival, Indio police report

Swedish House Mafia performed past midnight Sunday, wrapping up its set at approximately 12:30 a.m., exceeding the festival’s scheduled Sunday curfew by about 30 minutes.

The decision comes under a long-standing permit issued by the City of Indio that establishes strict operating hours for Goldenvoice’s Coachella Valley festival operations at the same site.

Under the permit, performances are required to end by 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and by midnight on Sundays or face hefty fines from the city.

Despite Sunday’s late finish, the city said it would not impose a penalty on Goldenvoice, citing the weather-related circumstances that affected Saturday’s Head Trip event.

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Raymond Kalra

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – With the November election just weeks away, voters across the Coachella Valley are preparing to select their local leaders. But in Palm Springs, residents won’t find a mayoral race on their ballots.

That’s because the city currently operates under a rotating mayor system, where each of the five elected City Council members takes a turn serving as mayor for one year.

Now, a renewed push to return to a directly elected mayor is raising questions about representation, consistency in city leadership and whether residents should have the final say in who holds the position.

News Channel 3 spoke with Palm Springs City Councilmember Ron deHarte, community advocate Thomi Clinton and local residents about the proposed change and what it could mean for the city.

Why Palm Springs has a rotating mayor

Palm Springs previously allowed voters to elect a mayor directly. However, the city transitioned to district-based elections in 2019 following concerns involving the California Voting Rights Act and minority representation.

Under the current system, residents elect City Council members within their respective districts, and the mayoral position rotates annually among those five council members.

Supporters of the rotating system argue it gives representatives from different parts of the city an opportunity to serve as mayor.

Others believe having a different mayor each year creates challenges for continuity and long-term leadership.

Councilmember Ron deHarte, who represents District 3, supports bringing back a directly elected mayor.

“I think the biggest thing that you’ll see is you’ll see strategic leadership. You’ll see representation that is consistent and has a stronger foothold in the community, with stakeholders and with our business partners and with business entities throughout the region,” deHarte said.

He argues that allowing residents to vote directly for their mayor would give them another opportunity to participate in city government without taking away their district representation.

“We’re going to get a vote for who our city council member is, and we’re going to get a vote for who our mayor is,” deHarte explained. “So we’re increasing the opportunity to have a greater say on who runs our city.”

What could change, and how much would it cost?

According to deHarte, one option being discussed would add a sixth seat to the City Council, with the additional member serving as mayor.

The existing five council districts would remain unchanged.

DeHarte said that maintaining the city’s majority-minority district is especially important to him and that the conversation is not about eliminating district-based representation.

The change, however, could come with additional costs for taxpayers.

DeHarte said the mayor currently earns approximately $49,000 annually. Under the proposal he described, the city would take on the cost of another elected position, including compensation and equipment.

He estimated the annual cost of a laptop and iPad at approximately $1,500, in addition to the salary and other expenses associated with another council member.

“There are costs that are associated with adding representative government, but that’s a very small cost when the big picture of the size of Palm Springs and what Palm Springs has going for it and the type of leadership we need moving the city forward,” deHarte said.

Those figures are deHarte’s estimates, not a complete independent assessment of the proposal’s potential financial impact.

When asked whether a citywide mayoral election could favor candidates with greater financial resources, deHarte said he believes community support would help candidates raise the money needed to campaign.

He also said he has no plans to run for the position himself.

“I’m not running for mayor. I’m running for city council member,” deHarte said. “I want you to have a vote for who your mayor is.”

Residents weigh in on consistency and leadership

Some residents who spoke with News Channel 3 expressed support for having one directly elected mayor serve a longer term.

Palm Springs resident Michael Johnson said he believes a consistent mayor would provide a recognizable face for the city, particularly when interacting with visitors, businesses and other communities.

“I actually like a single mayor because they were the face of the city,” Johnson said. “And I think when you have this rotating all this time, it’s confusing for the outside world, for the people that are coming in, the tourists, celebrities, whatever.”

Johnson said he would support a proposal returning the city to a directly elected mayor.

Palm Springs resident Mary Hayes expressed similar sentiments, saying she believes the current rotation can make it more difficult to maintain a consistent approach to city leadership.

“I think it would be more stable. And the decisions would be more consistent, rather than everybody rotating and coming in and having a different approach to everything,” Hayes said.

She also believes voters should have the opportunity to choose a different mayor if they become dissatisfied with the person serving in the position.

Concerns about representation and whose voices are heard

Not everyone is convinced changing the system would improve representation.

Thomi Clinton, founder and CEO of the Transgender Health and Wellness Centers, questions what residents would actually gain from the proposal.

Clinton expressed concern that a citywide mayoral election could favor residents with greater financial resources and political influence while leaving working-class and marginalized communities with less representation.

“We need to hear from the people that would be impacted the most by this, which are going to be the lower income or middle income marginalized communities,” Clinton said.

They also questioned whether city leaders are providing enough information to help residents understand the potential consequences of changing the system.

“I think the rotation gives everyone an opportunity to represent, and it allows what’s called dissemination of ideas,” Clinton said.

Clinton believes the city should also be focusing on issues such as housing affordability and the financial challenges facing working-class residents.

“I think that the city council should be focusing on reasonable rent or rent control and other things, and I feel that these elections, they distract from what the people need,” Clinton said.

They also raised concerns about whether community meetings alone would be sufficient to reach residents who work multiple jobs or cannot attend in person.

Clinton believes the question should ultimately be placed before voters rather than being decided solely by the City Council.

“You need to give it to the people to decide, and you need to allow them to speak,” Clinton said. “And if you want this, you need to be 100% honest with why you want it and what you get from it, so that the people can make their own decision.”

While Clinton and deHarte disagree over the potential benefits of changing the system, both emphasized the importance of residents having a voice in the process.

Could the issue appear on a March ballot?

The city is currently gathering public feedback through community meetings and an online survey before determining its next steps.

DeHarte said the City Council could decide to move forward with a ballot measure, while a separate citizen-led initiative could also pursue placing the question before voters.

He said a March 2027 election is among the possibilities being discussed, although no ballot measure has been finalized.

DeHarte said he believes residents have already expressed significant interest in electing their mayor directly, but acknowledged that public feedback could change the outcome.

“If what we learn in the feedback that we get from the citizens is we want to stay where we’re at, of course, I will stand in line and support that,” deHarte said.

The councilmember also encouraged residents to attend the upcoming community meetings, listen to different perspectives and learn more about the proposal before deciding where they stand.

How Palm Springs residents can have their voices heard

The City of Palm Springs has scheduled two additional community meetings this month to gather feedback on the future of the mayoral position.

Thursday, October 15: District 3 Community Meeting

Time: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Location: Agua Caliente Cultural Museum Address: 140 N. Indian Canyon Drive, Palm Springs

Monday, October 19: District 4 Community Meeting

Time: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Location: Palm Springs High School Address: 2401 E. Baristo Road, Palm Springs

Residents are welcome to attend either meeting, regardless of which council district they live in.

The meetings provide opportunities to ask questions, hear different perspectives and share opinions directly with city leaders.

The city is also encouraging residents to participate in its Mayoral Position Community Survey, available in English and Spanish.

Click here to participate in the city’s online survey and learn more about the community meetings.

Residents needing translation services or other accommodations for the meetings are encouraged to contact the Palm Springs City Clerk’s Office at (760) 323-8204 at least 48 hours in advance.

For now, Palm Springs will continue selecting its mayor through the annual council rotation.

Whether residents eventually get the opportunity to elect their mayor directly will depend on what happens after the city finishes gathering feedback and whether a proposal moves forward to the ballot.

News Channel 3 will continue following the discussion and the City Council’s next steps.

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Garrett Hottle

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) Riverside County says it is moving ahead with destroying the roughly 650,000 Proposition 50 ballots Sheriff Chad Bianco seized in February, after the state Department of Justice told the county it finished reviewing his investigation and had no objection.

Bianco says the Registrar of Voters is destroying the ballots Tuesday. He announced it Monday in a campaign email, saying his attorney told him. The county’s statement does not give a date.

“This is exactly what AG Rob Bonta wanted — for trust in our elections to be buried, along with any evidence of a crime,” Bianco wrote.

County Executive Officer Jeff Van Wagenen sent News Channel 3 this statement:

“Following the California Supreme Court’s rulings concerning the November 2025 Special Election, the ballots seized by the Sheriff’s Department were returned to the Registrar of Voters. The County subsequently sought written guidance from the California Department of Justice and Secretary of State regarding the appropriate disposition of those materials.

“The Department of Justice has confirmed that it has completed its review of the Sheriff’s investigation and has no objection to the County’s disposition of the ballots in accordance with State law. The Secretary of State’s Office has also confirmed that the ballots must be destroyed pursuant to California Elections Code section 17302(c).

“Following receipt of this guidance and an independent legal review confirming the County’s obligations under State law, the Registrar of Voters will proceed with the destruction of the ballots in accordance with established election procedures.

“The County remains committed to secure, accurate, transparent, and lawful elections. We have confidence in Registrar Art Tinoco and the dedicated professionals in the Registrar of Voters office, who continue to carry out their responsibilities while preparing for the November 3 General Election.”

Bianco seized the ballots Feb. 26 while investigating a claim from the Riverside Election Integrity Team that the county counted 45,896 more ballots than it took in. Registrar Art Tinoco says the real gap was 103 ballots.

The California Supreme Court ruled unanimously Sept. 24 the seizure was unlawful and ordered the ballots returned. The registrar got them back Sept. 29.

State law only required the county to keep ballots from the November 2025 special election for six months. That deadline passed in May. The ballots lasted this long because the Supreme Court ordered them preserved while it decided the case.

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Dakota Makinen

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) — Desert Regional Medical Center is offering low-dose radiation therapy as a treatment option for some patients with mild to moderate osteoarthritis.

The treatment, offered through the hospital’s Comprehensive Cancer Center, uses low doses of radiation in an effort to reduce inflammation and relieve joint pain.

Radiation therapy is commonly associated with cancer treatment, but doctors can also use it for certain noncancerous conditions.

Patients should ask whether low-dose radiation is appropriate for their specific condition and discuss the potential risks and benefits before starting treatment. Patients should consult their health care provider about the options best suited to their needs.

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John White

COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) – The 48th Congressional District race that includes Palm Springs and Indian Wells is being targeted by Democrats and Republicans as a key race in the battle for control of Congress in the mid-term elections.

Democrat Marni von Wilpert is a San Diego City Councilmember running against Republican Jim Desmond, a San Diego County Supervisor.

Full Interviews with the candidates:

Tonight at 6:00, News Channel 3’s John White breaks down the race, how it’s attracting millions of dollars from both sides, and what’s at stake on November 3rd.

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Gavin Nguyen

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Two serious bicycle accidents in Palm Springs over the past week have become a cause for concern.

One cyclist is in critical condition after a crash Sunday night, according to police. The department said the crash happened at N Sunrise Way and E Vista Chino just before 10 p.m. The cyclist was trying to cross Vista Chino when they were struck by a vehicle. They were taken to Desert Regional Medical Center, where they remained in critical condition.

It’s the second serious crash in the span of a week after a cyclist was killed last Monday, October 5th. That crash happened around 8:30 p.m. near E Palm Canyon Dr. and Cherokee Way. The cyclist was pronounced dead at the scene.

Jairo Rivas was riding along the CV Link with one of his coworkers on Monday night, taking advantage of cooler weather to commute to and from work. Coincidentally, he worked at a resort right next to the intersection the cyclist was killed last Monday.

“It’s crazy that it just happened by where we work,” he commented.

While he doesn’t ride often, he shared his concerns for when he does: “There’s some cars sometimes they get close to you, you know, and then sometimes the bike lane. The path ain’t really, wide enough for for your bike.”

And when he’s tried to use the sidewalk as a safer option, he recounted, “Last time we were on the road over there by Rancho, we were on the sidewalk because there was no bike lane. Some people were mad because we were on the sidewalk and they yelled that out, like, ‘What are you guys doing on the sidewalk?’ We’re just trying to be safe.”

“They’re very unfortunate to show up on those type of scenes. A lot of times they are … simply avoidable,” said Sgt. David Etchason, with the Palm Springs Police Department. As a patrol sergeant, he responded to both of the recent crashes.

He continued, “A lot of times is drivers typically are looking for vehicles. They’re not looking for the bicyclists, they’re not looking for pedestrians, and they’re not looking for the motorcyclists. Please, please obviously look out for the vehicles, but also look out for the for the pedestrians and motorcyclists and the bicyclists.”

As skies begin to darken earlier, police are urging everyone using the road to stay vigilant. They said safety was a shared responsibility: cars should stay alert for bicycles, motorcycles, and pedestrians, which can be much more difficult to see. Cyclists should also abide by all traffic laws and utilize proper lighting to help them stay visible.

Despite these two serious crashes in short succession, Lt. Michael Torres said so far, collisions involving cyclists and pedestrians are down in 2026 (39 incidents) compared to 2025 (52 incidents).

Regardless, police urged drivers to use extra caution and to give cyclists extra space when passing them.

The City of Palm Springs has several resources for cyclists on its website, including bike maps and safety programs. You can find that information by clicking here.

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