Category: kesq-local-news

KESQ News Team

Update 9/15/25:

A 54-year-old Cathedral City man suspected of making a phony bomb threat in Palm Springs was released on $5,000 bail on Monday.

Jail records show he is scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 20.

Update 9/14/25 – 4:44 pm: Palm Springs Police are clearing the scene after police dogs did not detect explosives. Suspect vehicle being removed from the scene.

Update 9/14/25: Palm Springs Police have confirmed a suspect is in custody. The area remains closed.

Original Report:

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Roads have been closed as police investigate a possible bomb threat outside a business in Downtown Palm Springs.

North Palm Canyon from Tahquitz Canyon to Arenas Road, and North Indian Canyon from La Plaza to Belardo Road have been shut down by police.

Witness reports suggest a man drove up to a restaurant, and claimed the vehicle contained a bomb.

Our cameras have captured a suspect vehicle parked in the middle of Palm Canyon Drive, outside of Jimmy B’s Palm Springs and the Sonny Bono Statue, being checked by police and dogs.

We have reached out to the Palm Springs Police Department for more information, including whether or not any suspects have been taken into custody as a result of that threat.

Stay with News Channel 3 for any updates in this breaking story.

Click here to follow the original article.

Timothy Foster

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated every year from September 15 to October 15 as a time to honor and recognize the many contributions, diverse cultures, and rich histories of the Latino community in the United States. The month begins on September 15, marking the independence anniversaries of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, with Mexico and Chile also commemorating their independence during this period.

In the Coachella Valley, the month has traditionally been honored with a large-scale community celebration in partnership with the City of Coachella: Fiestas Patrias – El Grito, which has drawn more than 15,000 attendees at Rancho Las Flores Park in past years.

However, due to recent immigration activity in the area and out of an abundance of caution, organizers say they have chosen not to hold a major in-person gathering this year. Instead, the focus will shift to a series of smaller, more personal events, alongside a broadcast celebration of El Grito on Sunday, September 14, 2025, at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino. The ceremony will be aired live on Telemundo 15 from 6:00 to 6:30 p.m.

“We want to prioritize the safety of our community and avoid drawing unwanted attention,” organizers shared in a statement.

In addition to the televised event, the celebration will highlight inspiring stories from local community members and encourage residents to support local businesses throughout the month.

Residents can still take part in the tradition by attending the “Noches de Fuego” celebration at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino or by tuning into Telemundo 15 to watch the El Grito broadcast live.

Gulf California Broadcast stations, including KUNA Telemundo 15, La Poderosa 96.7 FM, KESQ-ABC, KPSP-CBS, KDFX-FOX, and KCWQ-CW, will also provide coverage and updates throughout Hispanic Heritage Month.

Even though this year’s celebration looks different, organizers say the spirit remains the same: honoring heritage and celebrating together as a community.

Click here to follow the original article.

Shay Lawson

BERMUDA DUNES, Calif. (KESQ) – A viewer shared a photo of antisemitic graffiti found at Extra Space Storage in Bermuda Dunes on Sunday.

News Channel 3 reached out to the business, but an Extra Space Storage official said stores are closed on Sunday.

Rabbi David Lazar of Congregation Or Hamidbar in Palm Springs said the act is part of a troubling pattern.

“It’s part of a pattern. It’s part of a whole culture of behavior,” Rabbi Lazar said. “That culture of behavior includes shouting, canceling and hurting people with words online and social media. It happens in public. It happens in graffiti, as we’ve seen. And it will eventually lead to actual violence.”

He said he and his congregation feel safe thanks to Palm Springs police, but warned that hate cannot be ignored.

“The role of graffiti, as is hate messaging online or in person, is to make the objects of that hate feel insecure,” Rabbi Lazar said. “I feel secure here in the United States. I feel secure here in Palm Springs, in the state of California. But that cannot in any way mean this could be excused. This has to be condemned.”

He said the incident comes at a sensitive time, as Jewish communities prepare for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

“It’s a time when many Jews flock to synagogues more than on a usual basis. It’s going to be a time for people to have to be more aware of the security situation,” Rabbi Lazar said. “We’re blessed with the police force and the neighboring law enforcement agencies who are aware of what’s happening on what days. I feel at least in my community, that we’re well protected.”

News Channel 3 reached out to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office for more details on the graffiti incident and are still waiting for answers.

Stay with us for the full report at 10 and 11 p.m.

Click here to follow the original article.

KESQ-Newsroom

BERMUDA DUNES, Calif. (KESQ) – Local Assemblyman Greg Wallis reacted to Saturday’s vote on California’s ‘cap-and-trade’ program.

State lawmakers, with a democratic majority, passed AB 1207 earlier in the day.

AP reported the program set a declining limit on planet-warming emissions from major polluters.

Republican Assemblyman Greg Wallis released this statement after Saturday’s vote:

“We all want to make life more affordable for Californians while protecting our environment. AB 1207 extended the cap-and-trade program, but we lacked clear data on how it will impact costs for everyday families.

“I requested an affordability analysis from the Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO). They informed me that the bill’s complexity and the tight timeline prevented a full assessment.

“Without understanding its costs, this bill risks raising prices for essentials like food and fuel. Californians deserve transparent, responsible policies.

“Our state is in an affordability crisis – legislators need to take the time to understand the cost impacts on working families before passing policies in Sacramento.

Californians deserve better.”

-Assemblymember Greg Wallis

(R-Bermuda Dunes)

The bill was expected to next head to Governor Gavin Newsom.

Click here to follow the original article.

Kristen Outlaw

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KESQ) – The El Centro Border Patrol announced the launch of new social media pages.

The platforms include Facebook, Instagram, and X.

The sector said the goal for its online presence was to provide real-time updates on public safety matters, as well as share important alerts.

In a statement released to News Channel 3, the sector said, “These new channels will enhance communication, increase transparency, and foster a stronger relationship between our agency and the communities we serve.”

The statement also read, “Direct communication through these platforms will allow us to share information more efficiently and engage with the public in a way that builds trust and fosters a collaborative environment.”

The links for the new platforms include:

Facebook: Facebook.com/USBPChiefELC
Instagram: Instagram.com/USBPChiefELC
X: X.com/USBPChiefELC

The El Centro Border Patrol Station patrols several checkpoints along Highway 86.

Click here to follow the original article.

Timothy Foster

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – The City of Indio is gearing up for a vibrant celebration of culture, family, and tradition with ¡Viva Indio!, a community event honoring Hispanic Heritage. The festival will take place Saturday, September 13, from 5 to 9 p.m. in Downtown Indio, offering a night of music, food, and family-friendly fun.

The free event will feature a kids zone with jumpers, hands-on activities, and a piñata-making station. Guests can also enjoy a diverse selection of authentic cuisine from local food vendors, highlighting flavors that represent the region’s rich cultural traditions.

Entertainment will take center stage throughout the evening, including performances from ballet folklórico dancers, mariachi musicians, a Bronco tribute, and a special show by Las Tías.

“Indio is a city rooted in culture, family, and tradition, and ¡Viva Indio! is our way of honoring the contributions of the Hispanic community while creating a space for everyone to come together and celebrate,” said Mayor Glenn Miller. “We are excited to welcome residents and visitors alike to Downtown Indio for an unforgettable evening of music, food, and fun.”

The celebration is open to the public and promises to be a highlight of the city’s fall calendar.

Click here to follow the original article.

Shay Lawson

DESERT HOT SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ)  – Two Desert Hot Springs landmarks will open to the public Saturday as part of “Doors Open California,” a statewide celebration of historic sites.

From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., visitors can tour Cabot’s Pueblo Museum and the Historic Rock House.

The city said the Cabot’s Pueblo Museum is the hand-built desert icon filled with art, artifacts and Cabot Yerxa’s inspiring legacy.

The Rock House, constructed in 1946, is a Riverside County historic landmark that now houses the local historical society.

The California Preservation Foundation’s annual event highlights more than 70 sites across the state each September.

A $20 ticket provides access to all participating locations during the weekend.

Click here to follow the original article.

Jesus Reyes

DESERT HOT SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – One person was rushed to the hospital with serious injuries after being struck by a vehicle Friday night in Desert Hot Springs.

The crash was reported at around 9:15 p.m. on Palm Drive and Desert View Avenue.

Details on what led to the crash was not available. We’ve reached out to police for more information.

Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing updates.

Click here to follow the original article.

Athena Jreij

THERMAL, Calif. (KESQ) — In a unanimous decision Thursday evening, the Coachella Valley Unified School District Board voted to rescind the contract of a newly-hired instructor.

Superintendent Dr. Frances Esparza confirmed the instructor’s contract was rescinded after inappropriate behavior was discovered at a prior district.

It’s raising the question of how background checks are conducted to protect students.

Getting answers, News Channel 3’s Athena Jreij spoke with Superintendent Esparza on their process when hiring.

“When it’s a certificated employee, which is a teacher, a counselor, an administrator, even in leadership, we have to go through a background check, which is our DOJ clearance. It’s a fingerprint situation where it will inform or flag if a person has been inappropriate in, possibly a school district or while working with children,” Esparza said.

Dr. Esparza says because the prior district did not report the inappropriate behavior to the California Commission on Teacher Credentials, it wasn’t flagged in their background check.

“It’s very rare for a district not to report something because there’s education code that states if somebody has done something egregious or any type of misconduct with children, that it is reported by the district, it’s ed code,” Esparza said.

News Channel 3 obtained screenshots from social media posts where parents raised concerns about the new hire, and asked why greater attention wasn’t given to online messages.

“We do have our HR department who looks at reference checks. They look at the DOJ clearance and they do a social media check as well. However, we can’t find every single social media post that students or other parents or organizations put out about certain people,” she said.

It comes as two former CVUSD teachers are in court this week for alleged molestation charges. While those cases weren’t under her leadership, we asked Esparza how they move forward after cases like this.

“We do inform the parents that our first priority is making sure our students are safe. We let them know about the hiring process as well, especially if there’s a school where parents are concerned about a teacher. But we are highly transparent when it comes down to that. And our first and foremost, belief is, again, students first.”

Click here to follow the original article.

Luis Avila

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) — A striking new landmark has begun to take shape in the heart of downtown Palm Springs. At the intersection of Arenas Road and Indian Canyon Drive, a 65-foot flagpole now stands tall — soon to fly the iconic rainbow flag designed by LGBTQ+ activist and artist Gilbert Baker.

Although the flag has yet to be raised, the installation is already being embraced as a powerful symbol of inclusion, visibility, and resilience in a time when LGBTQ+ representation faces growing challenges across the country.

“With states across the country trying to erase everything that is LGBTQ, from crosswalks to flags — there are even states that have outright banned LGBTQ flags, we are in a city that values us as a community and this flags stands at the historical entrance of where our community has always come to engage and love and be their authentic self.”

Mitchell Battersby, Palm Springs Pride Director of Volunteers

The Arenas District Flagpole Project is a collaboration between Palm Springs Pride and local business owners, with the goal of creating a permanent, highly visible symbol of the city’s commitment to diversity and acceptance.

While the pole is up, organizers say additional funding is needed to complete the project. That includes costs for lighting, maintenance, and other finishing touches. Currently, only about 15% of the fundraising goal has been reached.

Residents and visitors alike are already rallying around the project, viewing it as a reflection of the city’s values.

“I think in the US, across the board — I think our cities need to be inclusive of everybody and I think what Palm Springs is doing here is sending a strong signal that Palm Springs is that inclusive city and everyone is welcome here.”

Stephen Golden, Rancho Mirage Resident

Organizers hope to have the project fully completed by mid-October, ahead of Pride celebrations.

For details on how to donate, click here.

Stay with News Channel 3 for more.

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