Category: kesq-local-news

Raymond Kalra

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) — One of Indio’s largest proposed developments remains on hold after a marathon City Council meeting ended without an approval or denial, leaving the developer to determine what changes could bring the project back before city leaders.

The Oasis at Indio proposal includes housing, retail, commercial uses and approximately 1.8 million square feet of light industrial space.

It was that industrial component that emerged as one of the biggest sticking points during Wednesday night’s meeting.

Mayor Pro Tem Waymond Fermon told News Channel 3 the council ultimately decided to continue the item rather than approve or deny it because members want to see changes to the proposal.

“The general consensus from the council was we did not approve of 1.8 million square feet of light industrial warehouses,” Fermon said. “That’s not our city. We’re the City of Festivals.”

Residents raise concerns over traffic, air quality

Public comment stretched late into the night, with residents raising concerns about truck traffic, noise, air quality and the project’s potential impact on surrounding neighborhoods.

One speaker told the council residents would be the ones living with those impacts.

“We will live with the trucks. We will live with the noise and we will breathe that air,” the speaker said. “We understand Indio is growing, but we have the opportunity to decide what kind of city we want Indio to become.”

Other speakers stressed they were not necessarily opposed to development itself, but questioned whether the proposed industrial component was the right fit for the area.

Community organizer and candidate for District 4 City Council in Indio, Jonathan Becerra was among those calling for the council to reject the proposal outright.

“I really wish we just denied it like the community wanted,” Becerra told News Channel 3 following the meeting. “And now we have to kind of keep fighting and keep fighting for our environment and keep fighting for our local industry, but we’ll still keep coming back.”

Becerra said the size of the industrial component remains one of his biggest concerns, while housing and other potential uses included in the proposal are not the primary focus of his opposition.

Developer presented potential jobs and community benefits

Representatives for the project spent part of Wednesday night’s meeting making the case for the broader development.

During their presentation, representatives said the project could create construction and permanent jobs while bringing additional housing, commercial development and other community benefits to Indio.

The presentation also included potential infrastructure improvements and land for park space, as well as space that could potentially be used for health care and a police presence in North Indio.

Project representatives argued they had already made changes in response to concerns raised during the planning process, including reducing proposed industrial building heights, increasing setbacks and adding landscaping.

They also emphasized that the specific plan would establish a broader framework for future development rather than determine every individual project that would ultimately be built on the property.

City staff explained during the meeting that individual developments would still need to return for additional approvals depending on what is eventually proposed.

Traffic numbers become part of the debate

Traffic was another major point of discussion.

During the presentation, project representatives said the proposed specific plan was estimated to generate 31,505 daily trips across its various uses.

The presentation identified 343 trucks associated with the industrial uses. For traffic-analysis purposes, those trucks were calculated as the equivalent of 1,720 passenger-car trips because of factors including their size and slower movement.

Residents questioned how additional development and truck traffic would affect already-busy roads and nearby communities.

Council members also questioned some of the assumptions used to compare the project’s estimated traffic and environmental impacts with what could theoretically be developed under existing land-use plans.

What happens next?

The project is not dead; instead, the council voted to continue the discussion, giving the developer an opportunity to work with city staff and potentially return with a revised proposal.

Fermon said the council wants the light industrial component reduced.

“We welcome growth, we’re working on our infrastructure,” Fermon said. “We’re working on our energy infrastructure to support that growth. But we need smart growth for our city.”

How significantly the proposal changes could also affect the path it takes back to the City Council.

During Wednesday’s meeting, city officials discussed whether certain changes could be handled before returning directly to the council or whether more substantial changes would require another review by the Indio Planning Commission.

There is currently no final decision on Oasis at Indio and no date has been announced for when the proposal will return before the City Council.

News Channel 3 will continue following the project as the developer and city determine what comes next.

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Dakota Makinen

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif.(KESQ) — Coachella Valley students and families can explore college and career opportunities today at the Regional College and Career Fair.

The event brings colleges, universities, career and technical education programs, employers and community organizations together to help students plan for life after high school.

Students can also learn about financial aid, career opportunities and other resources.

The event runs 4 to 7 p.m. at Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa Rancho Mirage, located at 32-250 Bob Hope Drive.

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Raymond Kalra

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. (KESQ) – Cathedral City’s long-running LGBT+ Days will have a new name and new dates in 2027 after the City Council unanimously approved changes Wednesday night following an extended discussion about the event’s future, public funding and economic impact.

The event will be renamed Cathedral City Pride beginning in 2027. The council also approved moving next year’s celebration from its previously scheduled March 5-7 weekend to March 12-14, 2027, along with an amendment to the city’s existing agreement with event producer Montage Agency reflecting the changes.

City officials said the rebranding is intended to make the event easier to identify and market to visitors. During the presentation, organizers pointed to search data showing “Pride” is used far more frequently by people looking online for LGBTQ+ events and argued the new name could improve the event’s regional and national visibility.

The change comes after more than a decade of the city holding its annual LGBT+ celebration.

Event producer Michael Westman told the council the 2026 event drew an estimated combined attendance of more than 12,000 people over the weekend, which organizers described as the largest in the event’s history. According to figures presented to the council, about 60% of attendees were from the Coachella Valley, while others came from regional markets, out of state and internationally.

Public spending becomes part of discussion

While the council was considering changes to the event’s name and dates, questions surrounding the public money supporting the celebration also became a significant part of Wednesday’s discussion.

City staff said Cathedral City allocated $85,000 in taxpayer funds for the 2026 event, with the city’s contribution increasing to $90,000 for 2027. Officials described the increase as consistent with adjustments made for the city’s other signature events.

Staff said the $85,000 was the city’s cap for the 2026 event and that the total cost of producing it exceeded $125,000. According to the city, costs beyond its contribution were covered through private investment and sponsorships.

The city’s existing agreement with Montage Agency allows for compensation of up to $85,000 for the 2026 event and $90,000 for 2027. The agreement also allows the producer to secure additional sponsors, with sponsorships intended primarily to offset event costs and excess sponsorship revenue permitted as additional non-city compensation to the provider.

The spending had drawn questions ahead of Wednesday’s meeting, including from Cathedral City political candidate Sunshine Herrera, who publicly called for greater transparency surrounding the contract and sponsorship revenue.

During the council discussion, city officials defended the investment as part of a broader public-private partnership and said events such as Pride are also intended to generate economic activity for local businesses.

Council members also asked for more information moving forward that could quantify that impact — including hotel stays, spending at local businesses and the overall return associated with taxpayer investment in city events.

City staff acknowledged there is room to improve that measurement and said officials are working on ways to better track media reach and economic return.

Community members weigh in

The discussion drew community members to City Hall, including people who spoke in support of the Pride event and the proposed name change.

Stephen Golden, who volunteered at the 2026 event, said he believes the new name sends a clearer message.

“It’s short and easy and it sends a wonderful, inclusive message that everyone belongs here in Cathedral City.”

Brian O’Connor, who identified himself as a volunteer leader and representative of the Human Rights Campaign, said showing up at the meeting was important to ensure the LGBTQ+ community was represented in the discussion.

“Anytime we can show up and speak on behalf of the importance of us being recognized, of us being seen and heard by our city officials and our leaders, it’s very important for us.”

Randy Economy, a Palm Springs resident and former Cathedral City resident, focused on the broader public debate surrounding the issue. He said people should be able to question government and disagree while respecting opposing views.

“We can all disagree, but we don’t have to necessarily be disagreeable,” Economy said.

Why the dates are changing

City officials said the decision to move the 2027 event back one week was prompted by a scheduling conflict involving another LGBTQ+ event expected to attract a similar audience during the originally planned weekend.

Staff told council members they did not want the events competing for the same audience and instead hope to create opportunities for cross-promotion. Officials said the city would like to establish more consistent dates in future years, although the event has shifted weekends before.

Despite the one-week move, officials said Cathedral City still expects its celebration to be among California’s first Pride events of the year.

After the presentation, council discussion and public comment, the City Council voted unanimously to approve the changes.

The first event under the Cathedral City Pride name is now scheduled for March 12-14, 2027.

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Jesus Reyes

YUCCA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) – UPDATE 9/18 – San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputies say they used Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) technology to track a missing 81 year old’s vehicle, issuing an alert to surrounding agencies, before locating him.

Ray Elliott was reported missing around 5 p.m. Sept. 16. Authorities said he was experiencing hyperglycemia and dementia, raising concerns for his safety. He was eventually located nearly 70 miles from home after authorities issued a Silver Alert.

Around 11 p.m., Riverside County sheriff’s deputies received an ALPR alert in the Indio area and located Elliott. He was safely transported home.

The department says the incident highlights the role of ALPR technology, Silver Alerts and coordination between law enforcement agencies in locating vulnerable missing persons.

UPDATE 9/17 : An 81-year-old who had been reported missing in the Yucca Valley area of San Bernardino County and prompted the issuance of a Silver Alert in Los Angeles County and two other counties was located today.

Ray Elliott went missing Wednesday afternoon. Information on where Elliott was found was not immediately available.

The CHP activates a Silver Alert when an elderly or developmentally or cognitively impaired person goes missing and is determined to be at-risk to help them be recovered more quickly.

Original Report

Police are asking for the public’s help in locating an 81-year-old Yucca Valley man who went missing Wednesday afternoon.

Ray Elliot was last seen at approximately 2:30 p.m. in Yucca Valley. He is believed to be driving a white 2013 Ford E150 Econoline Van with California License Plate #77489F2 and was last seen traveling westbound near Camino Del Cielo.

Screenshot

Elliott is reported by family to have early stages of dementia and is diabetic, authorities said.

Elliot is described as five feet, 11 inches tall, weighing 155 pounds, with brown hair, slicked back ponytail, green. He was last seen wearing a white t-shirt with brown and blue design, black pants, black shoes, and reading glasses.

If seen, you are asked to call 9-1-1.

Anyone with information related to this incident is encouraged to contact Sheriff’s Dispatch at 760-956-5001 or the Morongo Basin station at 760-366-4175. Callers wishing to remain anonymous should call or text “REPORT “ to We-Tip at

844–909–3006. Online reporting is also available at https://mobile.catapultems.com/sbcsd/sites

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Jesus Reyes

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Palm Springs International Airport is set to host its 6th annual PSP Job Fair, offering job seekers the opportunity to connect directly with hiring teams and explore openings across a variety of airport services.

The job fair will be held on Wednesday, September 23, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Palm Springs Convention Center. Click here to RSVP.

“PSP is a unique place to work, with opportunities across many different parts of the airport,” said Victoria Carpenter, Interim Executive Director of Aviation. “Our airport job fair gives people a chance to meet employers directly, learn more about the jobs available and potentially take the next step in their career that same day.”

Participating employers and airport partners include:

AGI City of Palm Springs CLEAR Coachella Duty Free Enterprise GO Rentals Paradies Lagardère Sixt Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Unifi United Ground Express WHSmith/Marshall Retail Group

Attendees are encouraged to bring multiple copies of their resume and arrive ready to speak with employers and interview.

For more information, visit flypsp.com/business/careers.

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City News Service

MURRIETA, Calif. (KESQ) – Jury selection is slated to get underway tomorrow in the trial of a convicted DUI offender accused of causing a multi-vehicle wreck while intoxicated in Coachella that killed a young man and seriously injured his brother.

Antonio Tellez Leon, 41, of Coachella is charged with second-degree murder, four counts of driving under the influence causing great bodily injury and one count of driving on a suspended driver’s license for the 2023 collision that claimed the life of 21-year-old Jacob Snellings, also of Coachella.

Pretrial motions began Thursday after the case was transferred from the Larson Justice Center in Indio to the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta, where Riverside County Superior Court Judge F. Paul Dickerson is scheduled Thursday morning to summon several panels of prospective jurors for screening as to their availability and qualifications.

Leon is being held in lieu of $1 million bail at the Benoit Detention Center.

According to a trial brief filed by the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office, Leon pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor DUI in March 2023 and was admonished by the court regarding the dangers of driving under the influence before he was formally placed on probation for causing a hit-and-run collision in Palm Desert six months earlier.

Roughly nine weeks after his plea, Leon allegedly joined his girlfriend, identified in court records only as “Dalila,” at her residence for an afternoon of drinking wine on June 6, 2023, according to the brief.

The defendant additionally consumed methamphetamine, court papers alleged. He left the woman’s home and headed for his own shortly after 8 p.m. According to the prosecution, Leon accelerated to speeds beyond the posted limit along Avenue 51 in Coachella, resorting to driving in the center median when he encountered a line of traffic ahead of him.

A sheriff’s community services officer happened to be driving westbound as the defendant sped by her eastbound in his BMW 325, and she stopped to turn around to follow him, but before she could complete the turn, “a cloud of dust” on Avenue 51 at Chiapas Drive appeared amid the sounds of a crash, the brief said.

The officer immediately requested assistance, bringing several patrol units to the location, as well as fire department paramedics.

They found Leon sitting on the curb, unable to hold his head up and slurring his speech, complaining that he’d had a “long bad day and wanted to sleep at home … and that he could be taken to jail in the morning,” the brief stated.

The defendant’s BMW had smashed into the passenger side of a Toyota Camry driven by 19-year-old David L. Snellings of Coachella, prosecutors said. The motorist had suffered significant injuries and was taken in stable condition to nearby Desert Regional Medical Center for treatment. His older brother, Jacob, was pronounced dead at the scene.

A Jeep Cherokee and Honda Civic sustained minor to moderate damage in the wreck, but the vehicles’ occupants did not require hospitalization, according to the brief.

“The defendant (acknowledged to deputies at the scene) he just barely received a DUI conviction and was not supposed to be driving,” the narrative said. “The defendant incorrectly placed his location he was standing in. He also claimed he `(expletive) up’ and that he knew he would be in trouble for the traffic collision and should not have been driving.”

Leon suffered a minor leg injury and was taken to Desert Regional for treatment and an examination.

Deputies wrote in their reports that he was giving off a “strong odor of alcohol” and admitted finishing off a bottle of wine with his girlfriend that day, the brief said.

Blood and breathalyzer screenings indicated that he had a blood alcohol concentration of .89, court papers alleged. The legal limit to operate a motor vehicle in California is .08. Tests further revealed “amphetamines in his system,” the brief said.

Leon told deputies during questioning that he couldn’t recall anything about the collision, except that a “blue car had stopped in front of him,” according to the document.

“The defendant also stated he was distracted during the collision because he was on his cell phone with Dalila,” the brief said.

David Snellings ultimately recovered from his injuries.

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City News Service

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – The Palm Springs Sustainability Department is inviting residents and local community members to help shape the city’s shade and heat mitigation plan by participating in listening sessions scheduled to start next month.

During the community listening sessions, attendees will be able to voice their concerns, share their experiences and ideas about dealing with heat in the city.

City officials said extreme heat is one of the dangers residents face living in the Coachella Valley, and the city is creating a plan to “increase shade, cooling infrastructure and extreme heat resilience across the city.”

The sessions will be open to the public, with food and childcare provided.

The meetings are scheduled for: — Oct. 7 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at James O. Jessie Desert Highland Unity Center, 480 W. Tramview Road; — Oct. 15 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Demuth Community Center, 3601 E. Mesquite Ave.; — Oct. 26 from noon to 1:30 p.m. at Ramon Mobile Park, 1441 E. Ramon Road; — Nov. 4 from noon to 1:30 p.m. at Mizell Center, 480 S. Sunrise Way, and — Nov. 12 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. via Zoom. A link will be provided at a later date.

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CNN

By Holmes Lybrand, CNN

(CNN) — A federal judge handed down a 20-year sentence for the Afghan man convicted of providing material support to a terrorist organization during the August 2021 airport attack and bombing in Kabul, Afghanistan, during the US military’s flawed departure.

Mohammad Sharifullah was convicted of providing support to an ISIS affiliate in April, though jurors could not agree on whether he bore responsibility for the attack that left 13 US service members and over 150 Afghans dead. Local Marine Cpl. Hunter Lopez was among the service members who died.

(Top row left to right) Maxton Soviak, Kareem Nikoui, David Espinoza, Rylee McCollum, Jared Schmitz, Taylor Hoover, Nicole Gee (bottom row left to right) Ryan Knauss, Hunter Lopez, Johanny Rosario, Humberto Sanchez, Daegan Page, Dylan Merola

The Justice Department said in a press release Wednesday that Sharifullah acted as a scout for one path to the airport during the 2021 attack, where a terrorist would soon detonate a suicide-vest, killing the military members and Afghans.

Sharifullah, the department said, “participated in over a dozen ISIS-K attacks from 2016 through his eventual apprehension in 2025,” including by transporting suicide bombers, running communications and providing surveillance for the attacks.

He was detained by US officials in March of last year, after Pakistani forces, acting on CIA information, arrested Sharifullah. At the time, his arrest was touted by President Donald Trump, who had often criticized then-President Joe Biden for the disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal and airport attack.

Sharifullah did not testify at his trial. At his sentencing, the judge said the defendant was a “dedicated terrorist” who expressed no remorse for the “unfathomable” grief and suffering that he had caused, the Associated Press reported.

Several parents of the US service members gave impact statements in court, describing how the attack has shattered their families, the AP reported.

The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2026 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

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Jesus Reyes

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – Looking for a new job? The Valley-Wide Employment Expo, the desert’s biggest job fair, is the perfect opportunity to connect with tons of local employers all in one place.

The Valley-Wide Employment Expo takes place on Wednesday, September 30 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in the Special Event Center.

Whether you’re just starting out your career or ready to level up, there’s something for everyone. It’s happening in person, so bring your resume, dress sharp, and get ready to make some awesome connections.

Register and get more information at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/valley-wide-employment-expo-tickets-1990442432898.

Participating Employers

1Heart Caregiver Services

ABC Recovery Center

Absolute International Security

Agua Caliente Casinos

*AIS

ALDI

Allied Universal

American Medical Response

Angel View

AtWork

BB Legacy Protection

BIGHORN Golf Club

Canyon Springs – Developmental Services

Center for Employment Training

ChildNet Youth & Family Services

City of Cathedral City

*City of Indio

Coachella Valley Public Safety

Comfort Keepers

Contemporary Catering + Desert International Horse Park

Creating a Legacy, Inc.

Desert Arc

Desert Preschool Academy

Desert Recreation District

Desert Water Agency

Disney Careers – Cotino™, a Storyliving by Disney™ community

Eisenhower Health

Family YMCA of the Desert

*Gulf California Broadcast Company (KESQ)

Grand Hyatt Indian Wells Resort & Villas

Granite Construction

H&R Block

Heavy Equipment Colleges of America

Imperial Irrigation District

Kalthia Group Hotels

Kimpton Rowan Palm Springs

La Quinta Resort and Club

Labor Finders

LeafWing Center

Martha’s Village & Kitchen, Inc

Meridian Hospice

Metropolitan Water District of Southern California

MFI Recovery

NAPA Auto Parts

North Star Independent Living Supports LLC

Omni Rancho Las Palmas

Palm Springs Unified School District

PeopleReady

Pete Carlson’s Golf & Tennis -Your One Stop Shop for Golf, Tennis & Pickleball in Palm Desert

PGA WEST | The Citrus Club

Product Connections

Proper Solutions Staffing

Race Communications

Right at Home

Riverside County Department of Environmental Health

Riverside County DPSS IHSS Public Authority

Riverside County Office of Education

Riverside County Workforce Development Center

Shadow Mountain Golf Course

ShiftPass

*Sunline Transit Agency

Superior Court of California, County of Riverside

The Behavior Lab (ABA)

The Front Porch at FARM, Tac/Quila & Clandestino

The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens

Think Together

Tommy Bahama Miramonte Resort & Spa

Travel + Leisure Co

Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians

United Cerebral Palsy of the Inland Empire

Valley Sanitary District

Walter Clark Legal Group

Westin Rancho Mirage Golf Resort and Spa

Workshops for Warriors

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Jesus Reyes

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Saffron Restaurant and Lounge in downtown Palm Springs is closing and moving locations a few months after a controversy around a Pride poster and its landlord, owner Ashley Stein announced on Wednesday.

Saffron is set to close at its current location on Saturday, Oct. 3. Stein said the plan is for the business to reopen two months later in a future location, but they have not announced where it will be.

Stein said the new restaurant is nearly done and will have a new menu as well as covered parking. The new location will allow for up to 172 guests.

The closure comes after a contentious battle with their landlord over gay pride signage in the summer. Stein told News Channel 3 in early June that she was instructed by her landlord to take down a Pride poster or lose a lower summer rent rate. Stein added that the property’s owners repeatedly asked her to remove the poster since it was first displayed last August.

Amy Brinkman, one of the property’s co-owners, disputed claims that the poster’s LGBTQ+ message is the issue and says the disagreement centers on lease provisions governing common areas and the property’s appearance.

The landlord also stated that Safron owed over $100,000 in back rent.

Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing updates.

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