Category: kesq-local-news

Cynthia White

WASHINGTON, D.C. (KESQ) – Congressman Ken Calvert (R-41) announced on Tuesday that more than $67 million for District water and transportation infrastructure projects was included in the Fiscal Year 2026 Transportation and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill.

The bill was approved by the House Appropriations Committee last week and now advances to the House floor for consideration.

If the House passes the bill, local funding for infrastructure projects includes:

$5.6 million for the Cook Street Bridge Project in Palm Desert

$5 million for the Indian Canyon Drive Project in Palm Springs

$3 million for the Inline Baggage Handling System Improvement Project at Palm Springs International Airport

$5 million for the Via Vail Roadway Improvement Project in Rancho Mirage

$5 million for the Washington Street Pavement Resurfacing Project in La Quinta

$5 million for the Whitewater Channel Lining in Indian Wells

Passage of the bill will also include funding for infrastructure projects in other areas throughout the District:

$1.7 million for the Corona Trails Improvement Project

$5 million for the French Valley Airport Contract Control Tower Project

$5 million for the I-10 Singleton Road Interchange Project in Calimesa

$5 million for the I-15 Express Lanes Southern Extension Project

$8 million for the Lake Elsinore Water Quality Project

$4 million for the Magnolia Avenue Widening Project in Corona

$2.5 million for the Norco Recycled Water Distribution and Transmission Mainline Project

$5 million for the Quail Valley Septic to Sewer Conversion Project

$2.5 million for the Scott Road/Bundy Canyon Road Widening in Menifee

“The resources provided for Riverside County projects in this bill will help communities throughout our region,” said Rep. Calvert. “I’m proud to work together with our local leaders to identify and fund projects that will make an impact in reducing traffic congestion, improving water quality, and enhancing our local airports.”

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Shay Lawson

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ)  – Following the death of rock legend Ozzy Osbourne, Coachella Valley advocates are urging residents to learn the early warning signs of Parkinson’s disease — a condition Osbourne publicly battled in his final years.

According to the Parkinson’s Foundation, about 1.1 million people in the U.S. are living with the disease.

In the Coachella Valley Eileen Lynch, Executive Director at Parkinson’s Resource Organization, said there is a higher concentration of people with Parkinson’s disease in Southern California than in the rest of the United States.

“We conservatively estimate that there are anywhere from 10,000 to 12,000 people living with Parkinson’s right here in Coachella Valley,” Lynch said. “That doesn’t include the caregivers and the family that are there supporting them.”

Lynch said there is only one movement disorder specialist, which is the specialist trained to treat Parkinson’s, for that entire population.

“There is a massive gap between the demand and the need for services here,” Lynch said. “Here at Parkinson’s Resource Organization we’re happy to be diving into that gap, providing emotional support and practical resources for people with Parkinson’s and their families as they navigate this. But it is absolutely critical that we get more Parkinson’s specialists here in the Valley in the near future.”

News Channel 3 reached out to that specialist but he was not available for an interview on Tuesday.

The Alzheimers Coachella Valley (ACV) Parkinson’s support group meets weekly.

It offers support for both those diagnosed and their caregivers.

Jeanie Ormiston has attended that group for 6 months.

“I love it,” Ormiston said.

She said she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2012.

“My doctor made me. I didn’t want to go. I didn’t want to know,” Ormiston said. “But then I went from a tremor to a jerk. It was too uncomfortable to be around people. She said go to the neurologist, and I did.”

Now, she said she regularly boxes and attends the ACV Parkinson’s support group.

“Movement is the only thing that helps,” Ormiston said. “Parkinson’s never takes a day off and you can’t either.”

Osbourne’s death comes as new research from the University of Bristol suggests dogs may be able to detect Parkinson’s by smell — possibly years before traditional symptoms appear.

Andrew Imbus, a Physician Assistant with Kaiser Permanente, said this discovery is encouraging.

“They’re allowing us an opportunity to even find these patients even earlier in the stages,” Imbus said. “Finding each person who has Parkinson’s, there’s at least this thought that they have a very unique olfactory scent to them that maybe we are unable to pick up. But a dog certainly can. Being able to find these patients earlier with Parkinson’s, I think is equally great.”

While still in early stages, the scent-based studies offer hope for non-invasive, early screening tools in the future.

Advocates, patients and medical professionals agree that early detection is key.

“We can’t turn back the time or regenerate those cells, at least not yet.” Imbus said. “What we can do is to try and slow it by improving your exercise and getting you the symptomatic care through medication, surgeries, whatever means we have in front of us to try and decrease the impact on your life with those symptoms.”

Stay with News Channel 3 to learn what those early warning signs are in the full report at 10 and 11 p.m.

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City News Service

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – The fall version of Modernism Week in Palm Springs will include more than 50 events featuring free and low-cost programs during its Oct. 16-19 run, officials announced today.

“We are so excited to continue sharing the momentum of our twentieth-year celebration with this popular fall version of our festival,” Modernism Week CEO Lisa Vossler Smith said in a statement. “We will continue to showcase new events and some of the most popular programs that have made Modernism Week in February so famous.”

The four-day event will highlight mid-century and modern architecture, art, interior, landscape design and vintage culture throughout the city.   

A full schedule will be released online Friday at modernismweek.com, and tickets will go on sale Aug. 1 at noon.   

The signature 11-day festival will be held Feb. 12-22, 2026, with tickets available starting Nov.1 at noon.

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Peter Daut

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ)– Scams targeting older adults are on the rise, becoming more deceptive and more costly. An upcoming “senior scam awareness seminar” in Palm Desert aims to give people the tools to stay informed and alert.

The event is being hosted by assemblyman Greg Wallis in partnership with the desert recreation district. Organizers say scammers are targeting older adults every day through fake phone calls, deceptive emails, and online schemes. 

Just this past April, the Palm Springs police department issued a warning about new and ongoing scams affecting local seniors.

Nick Anziano District Director for Assemblymember Greg Wallis says, “Unfortunately, once they engage with the scammer from there it’s kind of a slippery slope. So you can’t wait until someone’s been scammed to act, and that’s the whole point of this event to help protect people. and help people to protect themselves.” 

The District Director reports that a number of state agencies and representatives will be there to present the most current information on this growing topic. 

“With technology and how prevalent AI is becoming, these criminal predators become increasingly sophisticated. and their tactics are quite terrifying honestly,” Anziano adds. 

The free seminar will be held August 13, at the Palm Desert Community Center from 9 to 11 a.m.

For more information stay with News Channel 3.

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City News Service

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – An unlicensed motorist who killed a woman and injured three others in a driving under the influence collision in Cathedral City on Christmas Day 2023 was sentenced today to 10 years in state prison.   

Angel Gabriel Torres Hernandez of Cathedral City pleaded guilty last week to DUI gross vehicular manslaughter, two counts of reckless driving and a sentence-enhancing great bodily injury allegation under a plea agreement with the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office. In exchange for his admissions, prosecutors dropped several related counts against Hernandez.  

During a hearing at the Larson Justice Center in Indio Tuesday, Superior Court Judge Dean Benjamini certified the terms of the plea deal and imposed the stipulated sentence.

According to the Cathedral City Police Department, the deadly wreck occurred shortly after 11 p.m. on Dec. 25, 2023.   

Hernandez was driving northbound on Date Palm Drive when he veered into southbound lanes while attempting to make a turn onto Varner Road, plowing into two southbound cars because he was heavily intoxicated, police said.   

One of the drivers, identified in court documents only as “Enma C.,” was injured in the crash and pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.   

Occupants of the other vehicle, two women and a man — suffered minor to moderate injuries, according to investigators.   

The defendant fled the scene but was apprehended minutes later without incident by patrol officers.

Hernandez had no documented prior felony convictions in Riverside County.

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Jesus Reyes

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Residents were surprised when a fighter jets took to the skies in the Palm Springs area conducting military training.

We’re working on getting more information on the training.

Residents called News Channel 3 just before 3 p.m.

According to the airport, military use of Palm Springs International Airport is not new as it dates back to the 1940s.

“Since the federal government released the land to Palm Springs and has provided millions of dollars in grant funding from the Federal Aviation Administration to help construct runways, lighting systems, terminal buildings, and a control tower, the airport is required to allow the federal government, which includes the military, to use its facilities in perpetuity. This means the City of Palm Springs cannot prevent United States military aircraft from using the airport. Palm Springs International Airport does not have any military facilities or aircraft based on airport property, but the airport does experience military aircraft landings mostly related to fuel and rest stops, and some practice takeoff and landings.”

Palm Springs International Airport Noise Page

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Jesus Reyes

UPDATE 7/23/2025 – All westbound lanes are now open.

UPDATE 7/22/2025 – CHP reports that the westbound lanes on I-10 lanes in the Cactus City area are still closed at this time due to extensive bridge damage.

They state they are working on opening the right shoulder for traffic to continue traveling westbound, with an estimation of the shoulder opening around 11:15 p.m.

They ask drivers to please remember to slow down and drive safe as you pass through the area.

CACTUS CITY, Calif. (KESQ) – One person was found dead inside the cab of a tractor-trailer overturned and caught on fire near the Cactus City rest area. All westbound lanes on Interstate 10 have been shut down.

Westbound traffic is being diverted to Box Canyon Road.

SIG Alert 🚨 7/22/25 – 1:15 pm

CHP is investigating a traffic crash on I-10 east of the Cactus City Rest Area. The westbound lanes are closed at this time. Westbound traffic is being diverted to Box Canyon Road.

— CHP Indio (@chpindio) July 22, 2025

The crash was reported just after 12:20 p.m. east of the rest stop.

According to the California Highway Patrol, the tractor trailer went out of control and off the side of the freeway, rolling over next to an underpass and frontage road. No other vehicles were involved.

The trucker was reportedly able to self-extricate from the wreckage before flames spread from the engine compartment to the rest of the big rig, jumping into surrounding brush moments later.

There is no word on any injuries. Stay with News Channel 3 for any updates.

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Jesus Reyes

YUCCA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) – A 31-year-old man was arrested following a suspected DUI crash that killed a driver over the weekend in Yucca Valley.

The crash happened Saturday at approximately 1:50 a.m. along State Route 247, north of Ancient Woman Springs Road.

According to the California Highway Patrol, the suspect, a Wildomar resident, was driving a Ford F-150 southbound on SR-247. He crossed over the solid double yellow line and crashed head-on with the driver of a Honda Civic.

The driver of the Honda, identified as Michael Lopez, 49, of Wildomar, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The suspected DUI driver suffered major injuries.

CHP investigators determined the driver of the Ford was under the influence. He faces multiple charges, including murder. County jail records show he is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday.

Stay with News Channel 3 for any new developments.

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Zachariah Perez

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ)- Teal Thron has been named Chief Executive Officer of the nonprofit First Tee Coachella Valley.

Officials said Thron is no stranger to the Coachella Valley, as she has deep roots in the region, with decades of experience and connections. 

Thron joined the nonprofit in 2008 as the first Program Director of the Coachella Valley Chapter.

Thron then spearheaded the launch of the First Tee in Orange County, where she served as the program Director for eight years.

In 2020 she returned to the desert to lead FTCV as Executive Director and later joined the national First Tee Headquarters team in 2023 as Director of Chapter Relationships. 

“Coming home to lead First Tee – Coachella Valley feels both deeply personal and powerfully purposeful,” said Thron. “The experiences I’ve gained at the chapter and national levels have only strengthened my resolve to empower the next generation through this game I love,” said Thron. 

She was born and raised in Palm Springs, and her life has been shaped by golf as a standout on the boys golf team at Palm Springs High School, she earned a full golf scholarship and competed at the collegiate level before playing professionally.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Teal back to the First Tee Coachella Valley team,” said Lindsay Woods, Interim General Manager of Desert Recreation District. “Her deep roots in the Valley and strong leadership background make her an ideal fit to guide this important program. Teal brings passion, vision and a sincere commitment to kids and families, and that’s exactly what this role requires.”

The First Tee organization’s mission is to impact the lives of young people by providing educational programs that build character and promote life-enhancing values through the game of golf. 

For more information or to get involved with First Tee – Coachella Valley, visit www.ftcv.org   

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Tori King

COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ)– A new candidate has entered the race for the 41st Congressional District.

On Tuesday morning, Katherine Aleman announced she will be running as a Democratic candidate, backed by an endorsement from Former U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer. Aleman is a public school teacher, working mom of four, small business owner, and former Norco City Council Member.

During the campaign announcement event, Aleman introduced herself to the community. According to Aleman, she was raised on El Toro Marine Corps base by a Helicopter Marine pilot father and an elementary school principal mother. Aleman attended local public schools in the Inland Empire, and following her family’s tradition of service, Katherine joined the United States Peace Corps. Katherine eventually returned to the Inland Empire as a public school teacher is currently raising her family in Norco.

Aleman has held office before, and was elected to the Norco City Council, running on a platform to hold officials accountable on zoning changes. During that time, Aleman was the only Democrat on the City Council. According to Aleman, during that stint, she learned to work across the isle to get issues solved. Aleman focused her efforts on address homelessness, building affordable housing for veterans, lowering utility rates, expanding the city’s small business loan program, and funding public safety.

For the 41st Congressional District, Aleman’s platform focuses on to putting working families first, bringing down the cost of living, and keeping health care affordable.

“The Inland Empire needs to have a fresh voice for change in Washington,” said Aleman to News Channel Three’s Tori King.

To learn more about Aleman and to see a full list of endorsements click here.

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