Category: kesq-local-news

Karen Devine

New developments arose on Thursday in a case News Channel 3 has been following – connected to the murder of Palm Springs socialite Clifford Lambert 17 years ago.

A federal judge has dismissed a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of Kaushal Niroula, one of the defendants in the Lambert murder case.

Kaushal Niroula

Niroula, whose family says was a transgender woman, was killed in a Riverside County jail in Murrieta in September 2022. The court found the family did not prove that jail officials acted unreasonably or with reckless disregard for Niroula’s safety.

Niroula’s cellmate, Rodney Sanchez, a convicted sex offender, pleaded guilty to the killing. The suit claimed deputies ignored warning signs and took too long to respond to an assault said to have lasted more than an hour.

Niroula was awaiting retrial in the Lambert case after the original conviction was overturned because of judicial misconduct.

The family’s attorney says they’re appealing to the Ninth Circuit court.

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Kendall Flynn

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) – With a strong storm forecasted to bring rain, wind, and potential flooding to our area on Friday and Saturday, the Riverside County Fire Department is announcing it has unfilled sandbags available.

Desert Hot Springs Fire Station 37 is working to help its residents ahead of the storm with sandbags with the help of other departments like the Sky Valley Fire Station 56. CAL FIRE reports so many people have needed sandbags in the Desert Hot Springs area that they ran out early this morning, but Sky Valley is working to help by bringing more to the station.

The News Channel 3 First Alert Weather Team has issued a First Alert Weather Alert for excessive rainfall and the potential for an inch of rain or more in parts of the Coachella Valley.

In a social media post, fire officials say that residents can pick up a limited number of unfilled sandbags at all CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department stations. They also list locations throughout the county where sandbags can be filled.

Locations in the Coachella Valley with sand available for filling sandbags are in Coachella, Desert Hot Springs, and La Quinta:

COACHELLACoachella Public Works, 53462 Enterprise WayDESERT HOT SPRINGSFire Station 35, 31920 Robert RoadFire Station 37, 65958 Pierson BoulevardLA QUINTALa Quinta Public Works, 78106 Francis Hack Lane

Stay with News Channel 3 to hear how to fill your sandbags and place them properly on your property.

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Cynthia White

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (KESQ) – Hundreds of individuals networked, sought job opportunities, and had a chance to connect with over 100 local businesses and organizations at the Rancho Mirage Chamber of Commerce Annual Business Expo & Job Fair on Thursday.

The event, focused on “Moving Local Business Forward,” was held at the Agua Caliente Resort Spa Rancho Mirage.

Organizers say the Expo brings together entrepreneurs, non-profits, and job seekers and serves as platform for businesses to increase visibility, find new partners, and connect with potential customers.

Rancho Mirage Chamber of Commerce CEO Katie Slimko adds, “This is more than just a trade show—it’s a powerful opportunity for attendees to network with executives, discover new products and services, and explore immediate career openings in our thriving job market.”

Attendees were also treated to food samplings from nearly a dozen of the valley’s top restaurants.

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Luis Avila

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – The Palm Springs City Council has approved the development of what would become the tallest building in the city, despite opposition from some residents. The development will replace a parking lot along Andreas Road with a seven- and nine-story building, reaching just under 100 feet.

The unanimous decision on Wednesday rejected an appeal from a group of residents who opposed the Nexus Hotel and Condominium Complex, effectively paving the way for the project to move forward.

Surrounding residents remain concerned about its impact on the character of the city.

“It was really sad. It’s disappointing. We really felt that the city cared about keeping the aesthetics of the city at five-stories. You go anywhere, they say that’s the Palm Springs spirit and what we want to see is low buildings.”

Ann Geller, Palm Springs Resident

City officials say the project meets all special land-use requirements under Section 14 and will generate additional tax revenue, as well as complement the nearby convention center’s planned expansion.

“During their deliberation, the Council acknowledged neighborhood concerns about the project but also recognized that it complies with the special land use regulations that govern Section 14. Those regulations were developed by the Tribe in partnership with the City and allow buildings up to 100 feet in height recognizing the area’s proximity to the downtown.

The Council also discussed how the project supports other City initiatives, including providing additional Transit Occupancy and Sales Tax revenues and needed rooms to serve the $135 million Convention Center expansion.”

Kitty Alvarado, Palm Springs PIO

But some residents criticize the city for prioritizing legal permissibility over community preferences.

“I’m sure they have some legal ground to stand on. I think they’ve also made a choice on what they want to build. Just because they have the legal right to do it, doesn’t mean it’s the smartest thing to do. And they’re doing it.”

Ann Geller, Palm Springs Resident

The city has indicated it will continue to engage with residents, providing updates on the project as it progresses. Meanwhile, residents say they plan to enjoy her unobstructed mountain views while she still can.

The Nexus Hotel and Condo project will now move to the Architectural Review Committee for final approval, the last step before building permits can be issued and construction begins.

Stay with News Channel 3 for more.

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Jesus Reyes

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – A Palm Springs man accused of sexually assaulting an underage girl, as well as multiple other cases of contacting other children offering illegal substances in exchange for sex, authorities announced on Monday.

Jesse James Garcia-Airada, 28, was arrested Thursday morning in the area of South Palm Canyon and Linden Way. Thermal Sheriff’s Station investigators also served a search warrant at Garcia-Airada’s residence, located in the 2800 block of Lawrence Crossley Road.

Garcia-Airada’s arrest came after initial report of sexual assault in May 2025.

“During the course of the investigation, it was learned the suspect had contacted multiple underage females and was offering illegal substances in exchange for sex. Investigators were able to identify multiple underage female victims throughout Riverside County,” reads a news release by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office.

Garcia-Airada was booked into the John Benoit Detention Center without bail and faces charges of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, along with additional child sexual assault related offenses.

Riverside Sheriff’s investigators believe there may be additional victims and are asking anyone with any additional information to contact Investigator Christine Davis-Arden at the Thermal Sheriff’s Station by calling (760) 863-8990.

Information can also be reported anonymously through Crime Stoppers at (760) 341-STOP (7867).

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Jesus Reyes

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – A Palm Desert man was sentenced to prison for supplying a lethal dose of fentanyl to a 30-year-old man in 2022.

Gregory Michael Gauto, 39, was convicted of voluntary manslaughter Thursday and immediately sentenced to six years,

The case dates back to Sept. 26, 2022, when deputies responded to a report of a dead man at the 46900 block of state Route 74. The man, identified in court documents as Brandon Brower, was found dead from a suspected fentanyl poisoning.

After conducting the initial investigation, deputies turned the probe over to the Special Investigations Bureau Overdose Death Investigations and Narcotics Team, according to Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Master Investigator Robert Cornett.

After conducting the initial investigation, deputies turned the probe over to the Special Investigations Bureau Overdose Death Investigations and Narcotics Team, according to Cornett.

According to a declaration in support of Gauto’s arrest warrant filed by Cornett, investigators examined a cell phone and found messages from Brower asking an unidentified woman for fentanyl pills. When she says she’s stuck in Palm Springs, Brower allegedly starts to call Gauto.

“There were messages consistent with Gregory driving to Brandon’s house to trade fentanyl for Klonopins,” Cornett alleged in the warrant. “The messages show that Gregory arrived at Brandon’s house and he delivered the fentanyl to Brandon. Gregory even tells Brandon to ‘Be careful.'”

Brower had deleted all of the messages from his phone, but some were recovered by the department’s software, according to Cornett. Gauto was also allegedly found to be at Brower’s apartment at 4:16 a.m. Sept. 26, 2022, based on location services.

During an interview with Gauto, he allegedly mentioned that he was at Brower’s apartment that morning and got Klonopins from him, Cornett said. He also mentioned that one of his friends died from fentanyl, which was confirmed by the Coroner’s Bureau.

Cornett said he additionally found records of previous messages in which Gauto allegedly said that two or three of his friends died from fentanyl in the past years, prior to when Brower was provided the deadly dose.   

Gauto was arrested June 7, 2023 near the intersection of Plaza Way and Highway 111 in Palm Desert, according to inmate records. He was booked into the John J. Benoit Detention Center in Indio, where he remains held on $1 million bail.

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KESQ News Team

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – Construction moved forward on the 2026 St. Jude Dream Home in Palm Desert as crews laid down the cement foundation on Thursday.

This is the 7th annual St. Jude Dream Home giveaway, a partnership between News Channel 3 and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to help families of children battling cancer.

The home is being built by GHA Companies inside the Silver Spur Ranch community in Palm Desert, walking distance from The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens.

Solis Concrete Company poured the concrete – Owner Christian Solis says of working with St. Jude, “This is actually a really big thing for us, you know, the whole company, and . . . it’s a pleasure, you know, it’s an honor to be working with the St. Jude Hospital with the children from there.”

When it’s finished, the home will be worth about $1.25 million. It’s a single-story home plan with three bedrooms, three and a half bathrooms, an extra flex room, open floor plan, and a three car garage.

Tickets go on sale for $100 on December 5th. There will be a series of early prize deadlines leading up to the big giveaway on March 10th, 2026, live on News Channel 3.

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John White

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Sunday is the one-year anniversary of the historic Section 14 settlement approved by the Palm Springs City Council.

Just weeks ago the settlement of nearly $6 million from the city of Palm Springs to the group, Section 14 Survivors, was finalized. 

Coming up on Saturday, the organization is holding a summit, they say will be a celebration. It comes as a smaller group raises questions about the settlement, arguing it falls short of righting the wrongs of the past.

Tonight at 6 p.m., News Channel 3 anchor John White has an I-Team follow-up on how the fight is far from over for some.

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City News Service

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – The next chapter of Desert X, the Coachella Valley outdoor art exhibition, will bring new changes to the sixth edition and 10th anniversary in 2027, officials announced today.

The exhibition will take place from Oct. 30, 2027 through May 7, 2028, which will extend its programming through winter and spring.   

Organizers said the expansion is part of a new format to embrace the desert’s climate, ecology that will allow artwork to align “with the desert’s natural rhythms” and will change and dissolve in tandem with the land itself.   

In addition, Desert X will overlap with numerous of the regions events, including Modernism Week, the Palm Springs International Film Festival and the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival to land a new generation of people.

“Over the past decade, Desert X has evolved from an idea into a movement,” President and Founder of Desert X Susan Davis said. “Each edition has expanded our reach and deepened our relationships with artists, audiences and communities across the Coachella Valley and the world. As we enter our next decade, the same spirit of thoughtfulness, dialogue and delight that has guided us since our funding, will continue.”  

It will be curated by Artistic Director Neville Wakefield and Kaitlin Garcia-Maestas, who both curated the 2022 and 2025 editions.  

“Changing the ways in which we experience, see and talk about art is fundamental to Desert X’s mission. Establishing new paradigms also involves evolving our own, and as we prepare for the 2027 exhibition, I’m grateful to Kaitlin Garcia-Maestas for adding continuity to the journey of change,” Wakefield said.  

To adapt the new format, Melissa Netecke joined the organization as director of development.

Desert X has presented five exhibitions in the Coachella Valley since its inception in 2017.

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City News Service

LA QUINTA, Calif. (KESQ) – With a storm expected to roll through the Coachella Valley this week, Imperial Irrigation District officials today said they will be prepared to respond for any possible service disruptions.

Get Local Weather Updates Here

Forecasters predict heavy rainfall with gusty winds will fall into the region starting Thursday evening, according to the National Weather Service.   

A flood watch will be in effect from 4 a.m. through 10 p.m. Saturday including in the cities of Cathedral City, La Quinta, Coachella, Indio, Palm Desert and Palm Springs.

In the Coachella Valley, temperature highs will be in the 80s Thursday with a nighttime lows in the upper 60s. For the rest of the week, daytime highs will be in the upper 60s and nighttime lows in the upper 50s. The strongest possible change for heavy rainfall will be Saturday, with precipitation at 80% between a quarter- and half-inch predicted, NWS said.   

IID officials said crews will respond to any power outages or disruptions if conditions will be safe enough to work.   

“Customers can rest assured that IID is ahead of this, working to minimize impacts and service interruptions that could occur due to this expected storm,” IID Power Manager Matt Smelser said.

Officials advise residents the following tips to be prepared ahead ofthe storm:   — Keep an emergency kit ready filled with flashlights, batteries, bottled water, medicine, a battery-operated radio and wind-up clock;   — Charge essential devices, including phones and tablets;   — Be familiar with service panel and main circuit breaker;   — Trim trees and clear debris away from power lines, and   — Avoid using electrical equipment when outside.

Customers can report power outages through IID’s mobile app, contacting customer service at 800-303-7756, or at www.iid.com/outage.

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