Category: kesq-local-news

Katie Boer

The dangerous heat continues across the Coachella Valley this weekend, with First Alert Weather Alert through Sunday evening.

Our Extreme Heat Warning issued by the National Weather Service has been extended now into Monday evening.

Highs climb to around 115-117 degrees today before peaking near 120 degrees Saturday—making this the hottest stretch of the year.

We’ll very likely break daytime high records on Saturday.

We’re looking at major to extreme HeatRisk with little overnight relief.

Thankfully our humidity has backed off quite a bit compared to earlier this week and last, so even though it’s getting even hotter, it won’t feel quite as muggy and oppressive as it did just a few days ago.

We’re going to cool a couple of degrees next week, but highs will still remain above average, with temperatures continuing to top 110 degrees through our long range forecast. A little monsoonal moisture may try to creep back into the forecast by the middle of next week, but right now rain chances look very limited.

This weekend is critical for practicing heat safety. Heat related illnesses increase significantly during prolonged heat waves.

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Timothy Foster

THOUSAND PALMS, Calif. (KESQ) – The first-ever Dancing with the Stars Con kicked off Friday at Acrisure Arena. The convention continues through Sunday.

The Dancing with the Stars Con 2026 includes a variety of events that feature fan-favorite pros and guest celebrities to create the ultimate viewer celebration.

The dazzling debut started with fans and performers interacting through live panels, Q&A sessions and unique fan experiences to honor the 20-year-long-program.

“Dancing with the Stars has always been about more than just competition; it’s about courage, connection, and the unforgettable moments that bring people together through dance. For years our fans have been clamoring for even more ways to engage with the show, and we’re thrilled to have created this rare and immersive opportunity to experience the magic, the music, the movement, the emotion, and the heart that continues to make this show so special,” said Ryan O’Dowd, President of Unscripted, BBC Studios & Executive Producer, Dancing with the Stars.

Fan favorite celebrities like Hannah Brown, Danielle Fishel, Xochitl Gomez, Joey Graziadei, Elaine Hendrix, Rashad Jennings, Amanda Kloots, Whitney Leavitt, Phaedra Parks, Jojo Siwa, Johnny Weir, Rumer Willis, Kristi Yamaguchi, and Ginger Zee will be in attendance with their past partners for a once-in-a-lifetime event.

To join in on the festivities, tickets are available at https://dwtscon.com/tickets/#reserve

Stay with News Channel 3 for more information.

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Peter Daut

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ)– As our sweltering summer heat intensifies, the work to help those experiencing homelessness is pivotal, and a local organization is stepping up its efforts to help the homeless find relief.

Martha’s Village and Kitchen have extended the hours of its cooling center from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Water, snacks, and showers are available and pets are welcome. The organization says it’s not just about helping people cool down, it’s about showing compassion to those in need.

“We’re a little bit busier at our locations. You really see a lot of the people who maybe are a little bit more comfortable being out on the streets and not as comfortable seeking assistance from a shelter, they’re coming this time of year.” said Emily Langenbahn from Martha’s Village & Kitchen

For more information on Martha’s Village and Kitchen, including how to volunteer or donate visit https://marthasvillage.org/

For more updates stay with News Channel 3.

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Haley Meberg

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ)– Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) made new improvements to their traffic control tower as a part of airport modernization efforts earlier this week.

The improvements come from two major technologies, a new “Tower Simulation System” (TSS) and a National Airspace System (NAS) Voice Recorder, that aids safety and efficiency in airport operations.

The TSS technology allows air traffic operators the ability to train in a controlled environment using real airport layouts and studying airport specific operations and scenarios to better understand them.

The NAS NVR technology uses a digital recording system to capture and manage audio communications between pilots and controllers, providing precise recorders that allow teams to review events and drive safety enhancements.

The implementation of these technologies has sped up training times by nearly 30%.

Officials report that the new additions to the airport come as an installation of a larger “Brand New Air Traffic Control System” modernization project. For more information on the projects trajectory visit https://modernskies.faa.gov/

For more updates stay with News Channel 3.

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Kiera McKinney

INDIO, CALIF. (KESQ)- Triple digit heat is a daily reality in the Valley. Trees can lower surface and air temperatures, provide shade, improve air quality, and reduce the urban heat island effect.

The trees are specifically going into underserved neighborhoods that often have less tree coverage.

In a sustainability commission meeting on Monday, staff said the city will receive the trees in the upcoming months, with 250 to be planted in public spaces and the other half to be planted in private spots.

The Imperial Irrigation District, in partnership with the Coachella Valley Association of Governments, was awarded the grant funding last year from Cal Fire’s Inflation Reduction Act grant.

Teresa Rodriguez, a resident and a worker in Indio says “There needs to be more shade around some of the bus transportation areas where people take the bus and commute to work.”

Mayor Elaine Holmes says “Trees make any city, any environment look absolutely beautiful, but more importantly, it becomes a function of shade-we want our city to be absolutely walkable. In these temperatures, you need to have shade.”

Half of these trees will be planted in public spaces, and the other half will be available to residents through an application process.

“There’s a grant process that we’ll be going through and selecting from the those that have entered or have put together a application, to have trees in their homes” Holmes said.

Mayor Holmes says the project is more than planting trees its about providing an enviorment thats calming, cooling, and a place where people can walk and enjoy their day.

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Dakota Makinen

COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) – With triple-digit temperatures continuing across the Coachella Valley, veterinarians are reminding dog owners that the pavement beneath their feet can become much hotter than the air temperature.

News Channel 3 put common walking surfaces to the test, measuring temperatures on asphalt and grass at a local dog park. The test found the asphalt measured 135 degrees, while the grass nearby was about 50 degrees cooler.

Veterinarians say hot surfaces can put dogs at risk for painful paw pad burns. One simple rule of thumb they recommend is the seven-second hand test: if the back of your hand cannot comfortably stay on the pavement for several seconds, it may be too hot for your dog’s paws.

Karen Rivera, a medical services supervisor, says pet owners should avoid walking dogs during the hottest parts of the day and instead choose early morning or evening hours when temperatures are lower.

Experts also recommend watching for signs of overheating, including excessive drooling, red gums or tongue, vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of coordination.

Before heading out for a walk, veterinarians say checking the surface and your pet’s paws afterward can help prevent injuries during the summer heat.

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Jesus Reyes

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – An investigation is ongoing after a person drowned in a pool Thursday afternoon in Palm Desert.

The incident was first reported at 4:30 p.m. in the 73000 block of Country Club Drive.

“Upon arrival, deputies located an unresponsive subject, who was transported to a local hospital in critical condition,” wrote Sergeant Robert Martinez, spokesperson for the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office.

The person was pronounced dead in the hospital.

Additional details on the drowning report were not immediately available.

Stay with News Channel 3 for any updates.

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Jesus Reyes

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – Crews were working to put out a fire in the tamarisk trees near Jefferson Street, slowing traffic on the eastbound side of the Interstate 10.

The fire was first reported at around 5:10 p.m.

Details remain limited; however, according to the California Highway Patrol, the incident started as a tree fire that spread to the center divider.

As of 5:45 p.m., eastbound traffic is backed up near Cook Street.

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Tommy Gallegos

A diversion termination hearing has been scheduled for Aug. 6 for Vem Miller, the man accused of carrying a loaded firearm without a permit to a Donald Trump campaign rally in Coachella in October 2024.

According to the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office, Miller’s case had been scheduled for a diversion dismissal hearing Thursday July 30, which would have resulted in the charges being dismissed if he successfully completed all of the terms of his diversion program.

However, prosecutors said Miller appeared to have not completed one of the required conditions of the program—a four-hour life skills class.

As a result, the court continued the case and scheduled a diversion termination hearing for Aug. 6.

The District Attorney’s Office said that if Miller completes the outstanding requirement before the hearing, the diversion case can still be dismissed. If he has not completed the requirement, the court could terminate his diversion, allowing the underlying criminal proceedings to resume.

Miller was charged after authorities alleged he brought a loaded firearm without a permit to a Donald Trump rally held in Coachella in October 2024.

In a news conference the day after the arrest, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco said deputies may have prevented a third assassination attempt on Trump.

“As far as I’m concerned, a minimum of 25,000 people passed deputies with legitimate identification and didn’t have guns,” Bianco said in Oct. 2024. “I probably did have deputies that prevented the third assassination attempt. I truly do believe that we prevented another assassination attempt.”

The sheriff later appeared to walk back that statement, acknowledging in a Los Angeles Times interview that Miller “probably wasn’t there to hurt former President Trump.”

Miller has previously disputed the allegations and maintained that he did not intend to harm the former president.

The Aug. 6 hearing is expected to determine whether Miller remains eligible for dismissal under the diversion program or whether the criminal case will move forward.

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Jesus Reyes

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – A 29-year-old woman arrested earlier this year for a series of dating app burglaries in Los Angeles County has been taken into custody again on suspicion of thefts in Indio, police announced.

Adva Lavie, also known as Mia Ventura, is accused in two separate grand theft investigations that occurred on April 12, 2025, at the same Airbnb rental located in the 43000 block of Spiaggia Place in Indio during the Coachella Music and Arts Festival.

Police said both incidents involved separate victims who reported valuable personal property stolen after spending time with the suspect, whom they had met through social connections.

Police said the victim had invited Lavie, going by the Mia Venura alias, to go to the festival with him. She spent the night at the Airbnb with the man and his roommate. The victim told police Lavie got upset due to not getting a festival wristband.

In the first case, the victim reported that approximately $25,000 worth of property, including a Rolex watch, had been stolen after Ladvie shared a room with the victim at the Airbnb. Investigators suspected the property was taken while the victim was away from the room.

In the second case, a separate victim reported the theft of a silver Rolex valued at approximately $8,600, silver and black Louis Vuitton aviator sunglasses valued at approximately $700, and a black Louis Vuitton card holder valued at approximately $1,800. During the investigation, detectives obtained interior home surveillance footage that allegedly captured the suspect removing the second victim’s property from his unlocked Tesla Cybertruck.

At the time, the case was submitted to the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office but was declined for filing due to insufficient evidence, police said; however, as the investigation developed, a felony warrant was issued for Lavie’s arrest.

Lavie was arrested earlier this year after being accused of using dating apps to meet men and then burglarize their homes from 2023 to 2025 throughout Los Angeles County, according to the LA County Sheriff’s Department. Authorities said she was targeting older men, posing as a romantic companion on virtual dating platforms and social media.

She was on the run from October 2025 to March 2026, before being located and detained. Lavie was eventually charged with six felony counts, including first-degree residential burglary.

According to reports, she had been released from custody with an electronic ankle monitor after being arraigned but was arrested again for the Riverside County charges on Tuesday. The Beverly Hills Police Department noted that she was also in Lavie is also in violation of a court order.

The Riverside County District Attorney’s Office confirmed that Lavie was charged for the Indio case on April, but she did not show up at her scheduled arraignment on May 20. The judge issued an arrest warrant with bail set at $20,000.

The DA’s office said another court date has not been set yet for an arraignment.

Authorities said Lavie’s charges in LA County are separate from the Indio Police Department’s investigation and should not be conflated with the Riverside County case.

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