Category: kesq-local-news

KESQ News Team

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – The city of Palm Springs rededicated and relocated two historic memorials in the city.

Monday morning, the Morris Kight Memorial Tree and the LGBTQ Service Member Marker were all moved to its new home at Francis Stevens Park.

City leaders say the memorials honor LGBTQ veterans and recognize the efforts of gay rights pioneer Morris Knight. The move comes after they were originally installed at Sunrise Park over two decades ago.

Palm Springs Mayor Ron deHart says the change in scenery highlights the impact these heroes had on the community.

“I’m extremely proud that one more time we’re honoring and recognizing those in the LGBTQ community who’ve had an impact not only in Palm Springs but around the world,” deHarte said.

City leaders say the memorials will now formally be accepted into the Palm Springs public art collection after the rededication ceremony.

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Garrett Hottle

THOUSAND PALMS, Calif. (KESQ) The Coachella Valley Water District has notified customers across its service area that levels of naturally occurring chromium-6 are above California’s new drinking water standard, according to a state-approved notice mailed this week. 

CVWD said the issue is not an emergency and the water “remains safe to drink.”

Routine samples reviewed in October showed running annual averages between 11 and 14 parts per billion of chromium-6, the notice said. California implemented a new maximum contaminant level of 10 parts per billion on Oct. 1, 2024. The state is the only one in the country with a chromium-6-specific standard.

Chromium-6 occurs naturally in the Coachella Valley aquifer, created over time as rocks and sediment break down. CVWD officials emphasized the findings do not reflect a spill, leak, or industrial contamination.

“This isn’t an emergency, and the water is still safe to drink,” said Lorraine Garcia with CVWD, She added that the new state mandate could cost the district about $350 million and may lead to water bills doubling for customers once a compliance plan is approved.

CVWD has submitted its plan to the State Water Resources Control Board’s Division of Drinking Water. Options include removing wells from service, drilling new wells, or constructing new treatment facilities. The district said it tests more than 17,000 water samples per year and continues to meet all existing state and federal standards during the compliance period.

Under state law, CVWD must send these notices every quarter until the plan is approved.

Residents can find more information at cvwd.org/Cr6 or contact the district’s Water Quality Division at 760-398-2651.

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City News Service

BANNING, Calif. (KESQ) – A 32-year-old Banning woman who engaged in sex acts with a boy over a months-long period was sentenced today to three years’ felony probation and six months in a work release program.

Reyna Virginia Rincon pleaded guilty in April to lewd acts on a child under 14 years old under a pretrial agreement with the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office. In exchange for her admission, prosecutors dropped charges of unlawful intercourse with a minor, oral copulation of a minor and perpetrating three or more lewd acts on an underage person.  

During a hearing at the Banning Justice Center Monday, Superior Court Judge Jay Kiel certified the terms of the plea deal and imposed the sentence stipulated by the prosecution and defense. In addition to probation and work release in lieu of jail, the judge ordered Rincon to register as a sex offender under Penal Code section 290, which prohibits registrants from working around kids or having any contact with them outside of relatives.   

Kiel further signed a criminal protective order, barring the defendant from communicating with the victim for a decade.   

According to the Banning Police Department, investigators received information on June 28, 2023, that a youth “was being sexually abused” by the defendant.

Agency spokeswoman Sol Avila said detectives learned Rincon was a “family friend who frequented” the victim’s home.   

“(Investigators) also discovered that the abuse had been occurring since September 2022,” Avila said.

The criminal complaint indicated the defendant had been seeing the boy without his family’s knowledge, sometimes going behind closed doors in his bedroom, “gratifying her lust, passions and sexual desires.”

Detectives obtained sufficient evidence to procure an arrest warrant, which was served on Rincon without incident at her apartment on Westward Avenue in early July 2023.

She had no documented prior felony convictions.

The work release program requires her to be employed, engaged in community service, in school or some type of vocational training for 180 days.

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City News Service

RIVERSIDE (CNS) – California Highway Patrol officers will ramp up operations beginning Wednesday night to snare drunken and drug-impaired drivers throughout the Thanksgiving holiday period.

The agency will initiate its annual Thanksgiving “maximum enforcement period” beginning at 6 p.m. Wednesday, when all available officers will deploy to catch DUI suspects, speeders and other traffic violators.   

The MEP will conclude Sunday night.   

“Thanksgiving is a time to be with family and friends, not to mourn a preventable tragedy,” Commissioner Sean Duryee said. “Seat belts remain one of the most effective tools for saving lives on our roadways. Taking just two seconds to buckle up could be the decision that saves your life, or the life of someone you love.”  

Officers from the Riverside, Blythe, Beaumont, Indio and Temecula CHP stations will be on inland freeways, highways and unincorporated roads, looking to nab scofflaws.

During last year’s Thanksgiving MEP, the CHP arrested just over 1,100 people statewide on suspicion of drinking and driving, compared to 1,047 arrests during the previous Thanksgiving holiday period.

A total of 36 people died in collisions and other incidents on roads and highways under the CHP’s jurisdiction over Thanksgiving weekend 2024. Fourteen victims were not wearing safety restraints, according to the agency.   

Multiple municipal law enforcement agencies countywide, as well as the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, will be conducting their own saturation patrols and DUI sobriety checkpoints.

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Karen Devine

LA QUINTA, Calif. (KESQ) – Just days after Karen Devine’s I-Team investigation into confusing and potentially misleading signs along the CV Link in La Quinta, we’re already seeing results. The signs are now down, and officials are responding.

We first showed viewers the directional signs in La Quinta after residents using the path pointed out they didn’t make sense.

One local, Greg Snider, told us, “Hopefully people won’t walk off into the wash.”

After the initial report, we took those concerns straight to City Hall, the contractor, and the Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG).

Tonight, leaders acknowledge there was confusion and they’re fixing it.

From the path, Devine reported, “By raising your concerns and taking them straight to the officials in charge, we were holding them accountable and they listened.”

The confusing signs have been removed. The next questions remain: Who pays for the changes, and when will the new signs be installed?

La Quinta Mayor Linda Evans described the CV Link as a vital component for the city:“This CV Link component for us is a great connector… for our commercial corridor… for safe routes to schools… and it’s an alternative to cars on Highway 111.”

When asked about the confusing signage, the mayor explained she wasn’t involved in the wording or approval process but agreed that our investigation helped identify a problem, saying,“So, I want to say thank you, because I wasn’t aware of the decision-making on those signs.”

CVAG, the overall project manager for the CV Link, also took accountability, explaining:“CV Link is a massive project and our team has been actively working to address a punch list before we officially accept the project as done. It will be several more weeks of CVAG staff working with the contractor to refine signage.”

We also asked Mayor Evans if taxpayers would have to cover the cost of redoing or replacing the signs. She confirmed:“There’s been no money by taxpayers for the entire CV Link component it’s all grant money that has been funded by various agencies along the way. So, redo of signs would not be a taxpayer issue.”

The mayor also thanked viewers and this newsroom for flagging issues on the CV Link. She encouraged residents to report problems using the city’s app or website:“A picture always helps, and that way it triggers to that department, and we can make the connections needed. Or people can call CVAG directly, and they will assess that as they maintain this road with Desert Recreation District.”

We will continue to follow up on this story. To see my initial reporting on this issue, “Wrong Way: CV Link Confusion,” head to KESQ.com.

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Jesus Reyes

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – An 18-year-old man was injured in a shooting Monday afternoon in Indio, police confirmed.

Police said the shooting was reported at around 2:45 p.m. near the area of Avenue 44 and King Street

Police did not locate any suspects or victims at the scene, but did find shell casings.

A short time later, an 18-year-old man was dropped off at John F. Kennedy  Memorial Hospital by a family member.

Police said the victim sustained non-life-threatening injuries consistent with being shot and is currently receiving treatment from medical staff.

The circumstances surrounding how he got shot remain under investigation.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact the Indio  Police Department at (760) 391-4057. Anonymous tips can be provided to Crime Stoppers at (760) 341-STOP.

Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing updates.

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Tauli Anderson

It’s that time of year again, the Living Desert is kicking off one of its most beloved holiday traditions.

Wildlights returns this week, and we’re giving you a first look at the dazzling displays.

The zoo will be transformed into a shimmering winter wonderland with millions of brilliant lights, illuminated photo ops, and a meet-and-greet with Santa Claus himself.   

Expect festive holiday music and entertainment, seasonal treats, and a chance to visit some of the zoo’s animals as well.

“In addition to all of the favorites that everyone loves to see every single year, like our tunnel of lights and our 30-foot-tall Christmas tree, we have some new fun surprises for people. One of it, which is right behind me, we have this lovely santa’s train. So this is. One of many new exhibits that you’re gonna see,” said Jenny Lynn Robinson, the Living Desert’s senior marketing manager.

The event is open from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on select nights. Click here for tickers and more information.

 

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Jesus Reyes

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. (KESQ) – A 46-year-old man was arrested after a shooting Sunday night in Cathedral City that left a person in critical condition.

The shooting was reported at around 8:40 p.m. on the 35300 block of Corregidor Drive.

Police said a 54-year-old man was found with a gunshot wound.

Officers said they learned the shooting stemmed from a verbal argument. The suspect retrieved a firearm from a vehicle at the scene and fired one round, striking the other man in the stomach.

The suspect fled the scene before officers arrived.

The victim was rushed to the hospital. Police said he was in critical but stable condition with surgeries pending.

Through their investigation, the Cathedral City Police Investigation Bureau located a possible location for the suspect. Cathedral City Police Detectives, along with the Riverside Gang Impact Team (GIT), conducted surveillance in the area of South Palm Desert.  A few hours later, GIT located the suspect in the area, and he was taken into custody and later booked into the John J. Benoit Detention Center.   

If you have information related to this incident or believe you may have information, please contact the Cathedral City Police at (760) 770-0300 / Detective Juan Ramirez at (760) 770-0330; or via the Cathedral City Police Department website at: cathedralcitypolice.com; or email tips@cathedralcity.gov.

You can also report information anonymously through Coachella Valley Crime Stoppers, by calling (760) 341-STOP; or through the WeTip hotline at: 1-(800)-78-CRIME or WWW.WETIP.com . Some tip information may qualify for a cash reward.

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Jesus Reyes

Palm Springs, Calif. (KESQ) – Ethan Hawke will receive the Career Achievement Award at the 2026 Palm Springs International Film Festival, organizers announced Monday.

The award celebrates Hawke’s impressive body of work, including his most recent project, Blue Moon.

“Ethan Hawke has spent four decades building one of the most adventurous and prolific careers in film, consistently delivering performances defined by depth, intelligence, and fearless originality,” said Festival Chairman Nachhattar Singh Chandi. “In Blue Moon, he brings those same qualities to his show-stopping portrayal of Lorenz Hart, capturing the famed lyricist at a moment when his life is unraveling as his former partner Richard Rodgers debuts Oklahoma!. Hawke’s work here stands among the most powerful performances of his career. It is a privilege to present the Career Achievement Award to Ethan Hawke.”

The Film Awards will take place on January 3, 2026, at the Palm Springs Convention Center, with the festival running January 2-12, 2026. The event will be presented by Kering and sponsored by Entertainment Tonight.

Check Out Our Film Festival Section for More Announcements

Teaming up once again with his frequent collaborator, filmmaker Richard Linklater. Blue Moon sees Hawke stars as legendary lyricist Lorenz Hart. On the evening of March 31, 1943, Hart confronts his shattered self-confidence in Sardi’s bar as his former collaborator Richard Rodgers celebrates the opening night of his ground-breaking hit Oklahoma! By the time this night is over, Hart will have confronted both a world that no longer values his talent and the seeming impossibility of love. The film from Sony Pictures Classics also stars Margaret Qualley, Bobby Cannavale and Andrew Scott.

Hawke joins this year’s previously announced honorees Michael B. Jordan (Icon Award), Leonardo DiCaprio (Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actor), Adam Sandler (Chairman’s Award), Hamnet’s director Chloé Zhao and cast members Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal (Vanguard Award); and Sentimental Value cast members Renate Reinsve, Stellan Skarsgård, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, and Elle Fanning (International Star Award).

Past recipients of the Career Achievement Award include Kevin Costner, Bruce Dern, Clint Eastwood, Morgan Freeman, Anthony Hopkins and Samuel L. Jackson.

Ethan Hawke is an Academy Award-nominated actor whose expansive career includes directing feature films, documentaries and highly acclaimed stage productions; in addition to being a producer, screenwriter, and best-selling author. Hawke’s filmography includes nine collaborations with filmmaker Richard Linklater, including Boyhood (Academy Award®, SAG, Golden Globe®, BAFTA, Choice and Independent Spirit Award nominations), and memorably the Before trilogy (Before Sunrise and its twosequels Before Sunset and Before Midnight), costarring Julie Delpy.

Hawke, Delpy, and Linklater received Academy Award® and Independent Spirit Award nominations for writing the latter two films and were honored with the Louis XIII Genius Award for the trilogy at the 2014 Critics Choice Awards. He received Academy Award® and Screen Actors Guild nominations for ‘Best Supporting Actor’ for Antoine Fuqua’s Training Day, opposite Denzel Washington.

He also received career-best notices for Paul Schrader’s First Reformed, for which he won the Independent Spirit Award, the Gotham Award and over 30 critics’ awards (including the New York Film Critics Circle Award and the Los Angeles Film Critics Association for ‘Best Actor’).

More recently, he received career-best acclaim for his portrayal of abolitionist John Brown in The Good Lord Bird, the Showtime series he starred in, executive produced and co-wrote, winning a Peabody Award among numerous other accolades, including an AFI ‘TV Program of the Year’, the Gotham Award for Outstanding Performance in a New Series, and SAG Award, Golden Globe, and TCA Award nominations (and a WGA Award and USC Scripter Award nominations for his writing).

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Gavin Nguyen

WHITEWATER, Calif. (KESQ) – Recent rain and weather conditions have eased fire risk across Southern California over the past couple of weeks.

As locals and visitors alike take advantage of this pleasant weather, they will now have more places to recreate in Riverside County.

Officials with CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire announced the reopening of six hiking areas that typically have high fire risk, including Whitewater Canyon north of the I-10.

“We are pleased to announce the re-opening of Riverside County’s scenic hiking trails and outdoor recreation areas. We welcome residents and visitors back to enjoy these natural spaces and remind everyone to remain vigilant and responsible, as wildland fire risks persist.”

CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Chief Bill Weiser

The full list of reopened recreation areas include:

Eagle Canyon/Tin Mine (east of Corona)

Steel Peak (north of Lake Elsinore)

Bautista Canyon (southeast of Hemet)

North Mountain (south of Banning, north of San Jacinto)

Whitewater Canyon (east of Cabazon)

Ramona Bowl (south of Hemet)

These closures happen regularly, typically as spring turns to summer and much drier and hotter weather arrives, fueling critical fire weather.

“The chief closes the hiking areas in order to not only keep the area safe, but to keep the hikers safe as well. If there were to be a fire up there, we would want to make sure there was nobody hiking,” explained Maggie Cline de la Rosa, a public safety information specialist with CAL FIRE’s Riverside Unit.

According to Cline de la Rosa, this is the typical period when these restrictions are lifted. Despite the easing of fire risk, she still urges caution from hikers.

“Even though the suspension has been lifted, for example, we’re expecting some warmer temperatures and Santa Ana winds this coming week. So, you know, we always just want people to remain vigilant.”

The closure through Whitewater Canyon did not affect the Whitewater Preserve, which is managed by The Wildlands Conservancy. Visitors passing through the canyon to get to the preserve had to stay on the road, as no public off-roading access was allowed during the closure.

Staff with the preserve provided the following statement about fire risk in the area:

“Fire season and the summer months are always a time of vigilance for our team as we remove invasive weeds that create fire fuels and practice our fire safety protocols. This past season was not as severe immediately to Whitewater as previous years, but it was across California and the nearby mountain communities. While we have modified our visitor access, requiring reservations for summer weekends to prevent overcrowding impacts, we are happy to provide free and safe access to the beauty and biodiversity of Whitewater Preserve year round for picnicking, hiking, water access, camping, and more! Free access to all of The Wildlands Conservancy’s preserves is made possible by visitor donations.”Lucas Wilgers, Preserve Manager at the Whitewater Preserve

Fire officials said despite the year-round nature of fire season in our region, this year has presented more mild fire conditions than years past.

“Are the conditions now better than what they have been in past years?” we asked Cline de la Rosa. “Yes, the conditions now are better,” she said. “We did receive more rain. We also had more of a mild fire season for the summer, [but] we do anticipate having probably the usual fire season that we have in December/ January, when we get those Santa Ana winds that come in.”

In the meantime, hikers in the area, like Jeff Peyton, who visited the Whitewater Preserve with his grandson, are excited to enjoy the outdoors.

“We’re going to take advantage of it and let’s hope that we get more rain. It’s good for the environment!”

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