Category: kesq-local-news

Shay Lawson

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – The AMVETS ONE suicide-prevention bus rolled into Indio on Sunday.

The event drawing veterans, families and community members to American Legion Post 739 for a program aimed at reducing veteran suicides — highlighting the urgent need for mental-health support and continued outreach.

According to AMVETS, an estimated 17.6 veterans die by suicide every day nationwide — a number the organization hopes to drive down through its traveling education and resource program.

Speakers shared information on warning signs, available resources and ways the public can support veterans in crisis.

AMVETS Post 66 presented a $500 donation to support the AMVETS ONE program.

The event was free and open to the public, attracting local leaders, service members and advocates.

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Isaiah Mora

Update 11/17/25

Gene Autry reopened Monday morning. There is no word on when Indian Canyon could be reopened.

Original Report 11/16/25

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – On Sunday morning, Vista Chino reopened at the wash after it was closed due to flooding following Saturday’s heavy rainfall.

The city of Palm Springs is also warning North Indian Canyon Drive and Gene Autry Trail are both closed at the wash due to flooding.

Stay with News Channel 3 to learn when these roads will open back up.

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Kendall Flynn

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – The Palm Springs Section 14 Survivors group held a summit Saturday, celebrating the one-year anniversary of reaching a historic $5.9 million settlement with the City of Palm Springs.

People who call themselves the survivors and descendants of Section 14 gathered at the Church of St. Paul in the Desert in Palm Springs for the summit titled “Reflect, Re-imagine and Rebuild.” Speakers from the Section 14 Board, Survivors group, civil rights legal council and other experts discussed how the Section 14 settlement has impacted other cities and what change they’re looking for in the future.

Many speakers said the settlement is on the end, it is the beginning of change in Palm Springs, especially as they look toward numerous reparative implementations in the city.

The settlement will provide direct compensation to the community impacted, and includes a $20 million allocation for affordable housing from the city of Palm Springs and $1 million for business support, with a focus on those impacted by Section 14.

While the summit celebrated the historic settlement, it faced opposition from many who believe it fell short. News Channel 3’s John White breaks down the update and speaks with the community in an I-Team piece.

Stay with News Channel 3 for Section 14 coverage and to hear from those impacted.

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Athena Jreij

Update 11/16/25

Cathedral City confirmed Public Works crews have completed cleanup operations following the mudslide, and Varner Road has now been reopened to traffic.

Original Report 11/15/25

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. (KESQ) –Nearly 30 people were evacuated from their cars at Varner Road and Date Palm Drive after a mudslide trapped them.

Over a dozen cars were stranded in the mud after a heavy downpour in the area.

Bulldozers were called out to tow the cars and clear the area.

Frankie Espinoza says she was on her way to dog sit at a friend’s house when her and her niece got caught in the storm, following several accidents on the road.

“There was one accident behind us. Nobody was hurt in that one, I think it was just a fender bender. But they were able to get their family, towed them out. Then there was this one in front of us. There was another accident that occurred probably a mile behind us. So this road has just been crazy for the past two hours,” Espinoza said.

No injuries were reported, but several people were taken into ambulances to warm up.

Varner Road at Date Palm Drive has been closed due to hazardous conditions, with the closure expected to last through the weekend.

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Shay Lawson

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (KESQ)  – Helping local families in need.

The Democrats of the Desert and friends held a food drive-thru from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Rancho Mirage City Hall Parking lot.

Organizers requested un-expired, unopened, non-perishable food that will be delivered to FIND Regional Food Bank in Indio on Monday.

From there, the food will be distributed to those in need via the local food banks.

Organizers said this was a non-partisan event.

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Shay Lawson

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ)  – A 24-year-old Melany Cunninghan Carbajal of Desert Hot Springs was killed early Saturday morning in a single-vehicle rollover crash in the northbound lanes of Jefferson Street, north of Dunbar Drive.

The crash happened just after 2:30 a.m., according to the Indio Police Department.

Officers arrived to find the woman had been ejected from the vehicle.

She suffered significant injuries and died at the scene.

IPD’s Traffic Division responded and took over the investigation.

All northbound lanes on Jefferson Street between Northgate Road and Dunbar Drive were closed for several hours and reopened around 5:45 a.m.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation, and police say it is not yet known whether impairment played a role.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the Indio Police Department Traffic Division at (760) 391-4057.

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Gavin Nguyen

COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) – It has been a wet day here in the Coachella Valley. A few bands of heavier precipitation have entered the mix this afternoon. Several Areal Flood Advisories have been issued as the National Weather Service monitors this rain. There was quite the downpour at our station in Thousand Palms right around 3:00!

So far, the Palm Springs Int’l airport has received 1.08 inches of rain. Other parts of the valley, like Palm Desert, have seen close to nine tenths of an inch of rain.

As a result of flooding across the deserts today, we have seen some roads close. All roads through the wash are currently closed as of 3:21 p.m.

As of 5:45 AM, a Flood watch remains in effect for nearly all of Southern California. At this time, there are even a number of flash flood warnings in place across parts of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. The Weather Prediction Center has us under a slight risk (yellow shading) for flash flooding. This means we have at least a 15% chance of a flash flood occurring. A moderate risk (red shading) extends from Santa Barbara County all the way to Orange County and the San Gorgonio Pass. A moderate risk represents at least a 40% chance of flash flooding.

There are still some lingering rain chances for the rest of the evening and into Sunday. Tonight’s rainfall appears to taper off into scattered showers/drizzles, though the chances return early Sunday morning. Chances for the heaviest rainfall appear in the early morning hours, beginning around 4:00 a.m. Sunday, before light, occasional showers could occur through the rest of the day.

Another system will move through on Monday. This will bring the chance for another round of precipitation, including snow for our local mountains. There remains a slight chance of rain into Tuesday as well. Yet another system will move through for the end of the workweek!

Looking ahead, this week will be quite different from the previous few. Highs will stay in the low 70s or upper 60s this entire workweek! This is because of a string of systems moving through in the days ahead. One will move through early in the workweek, and the other will come toward the end. Given the cooler air in place, some snow is more likely on the mountains. We may see the first inch of snow at the Tram as early as today. Back here on the valley floor, we may see some extra precipitation from these systems, so stay with us for extra details!

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Luis Avila

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. (KESQ) – Conditions remain dry for now across the valley, but officials warn that could change quickly as a storm system moves in this weekend. Along the I-10 corridor, commuters are bracing for what could become a hazardous stretch of wet weather.

A flood watch now in effect as of Friday night. Roads that appear clear today could become slick — or even flooded — within hours once rain begins.

Rain is one of the leading contributors to sudden roadway hazards, causing reduced visibility, hydroplaning, and unpredictable traffic patterns. Safety experts urge drivers to take precautions immediately once the storm arrives: slow down, increase following distance, and avoid sudden braking on wet pavement.

Authorities also stress a key message: “Turn Around, Don’t Drown.” Even shallow water can hide damage or strong currents. Just one foot of water can float a small vehicle, and washes throughout the Coachella Valley are known to flood rapidly during storms.

Drivers are also encouraged to keep headlights on during rain — even in daylight — to improve visibility for everyone on the road.

Officials say the safest option is to stay off the roads altogether if travel isn’t necessary once the storm arrives.

Stay with News Channel 3 for more.

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Cynthia White

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. (KESQ) – Some students at Rio Vista Elementary in Cathedral City symbolized a moment in history on Friday as they walked to school to honor the courage of Ruby Bridges, the first African American student to attend an all white elementary school in the South.

The Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day event also promoted unity, kindness, and equality.

Ruby was six years old in 1960, during the Civil Rights Movement. Her courage and bravery in attending William Frantz Elementary in New Orleans, Louisiana made headlines because many people opposed school integration at that time.

Federal marshals had to escort her to school every day to protect her from angry crowds who didn’t want her there.

Rio Vista Principal Aaron Tarzian says the event is important for the students because, “It shows the power that children have to be leaders in our community and actually make an impacting change on the whole world.”

Tarzian adds, “I’m just really proud of our kids. Our students are all leaders in their own way, and I really like to show them a point in history that can be a good example for them so that they have the power to do the same for themselves right now.”

The mile-long walk started at the Stater Brothers parking lot at Landau and Vista Chino in Cathedral City.

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Jesus Reyes

COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) — We had five local high school football teams play in their respective quarterfinal on Friday night.

Of the five teams, three of them won, advancing to their respective semifinal.

CIF-SS Football Quarterfinals (2nd round)

D7: Hart 21 at Palm Springs 22

D8: Palm Desert 46 at Patriot (Jurupa Valley) 33

D11: Shadow Hills 10 at Baldwin Park 48

D12: Coachella Valley 49 at Perris 14

D12: Yucca Valley 28 at Grace (Simi Valley) 41

Three local teams advance to respective semifinal.

D7: Hart 21 at PS 22 ✅ @ Barstow in semisD8: PD 46 at Patriot 33 ✅ @ Beckman in semisD11: SH 10 at Baldwin Park 48 ❌D12: CV 49 at Perris 14 ✅ vs Grace in semisD12: YV 28 at Grace 41 ❌@KESQ @KenjiitoKESQ @CIFSS

— Blake Arthur (@BlakeArthur24) November 15, 2025

Palm Springs will be on the road against Barstow in the D7 Semifinal.

“We always got our dog fight, it’s Springs ball. It’s in us, it’s not on us, so we just keep going. We never stop.”

Quote of the season by Palm Springs QB Bishop Miller.

Here is the team following their thrilling 22-21 win over Hart High School in the quarterfinals.… pic.twitter.com/gJVEfZdaTl

— Kenji Ito (@KenjiitoKESQ) November 15, 2025

Palm Desert will be on the road against Beckman in the D8 Semifinal.

Palm Desert wins high scoring affair 46-33 on the road over Patriot to punch their ticket to the D8 semifinal. Aztecs will be on the road against Beckman in Irvine next week. @KESQ @KenjiitoKESQ @CIFSS @SportswithPep @PdhsFootball @pdhsofficial pic.twitter.com/Sn8F95jfI4

— Blake Arthur (@BlakeArthur24) November 15, 2025

Coachella Valley will be home against Grace in the D12 Semifinal.

Coachella Valley cruised past Perris 49-14 to advance to the D-12 semifinal. Arabs will be home next week against Grace. @KESQ @KenjiitoKESQ @SportswithPep @CIFSS @mightyarabs pic.twitter.com/SPq9hQbn4d

— Blake Arthur (@BlakeArthur24) November 15, 2025

All games are Friday, Nov. 21 at 7:00 p.m. unless changed.

Stay with KESQ News Channel 3 for continuing coverage of local high school football.

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