Category: kesq-local-news

Cynthia White

WHITEWATER, Calif. (KESQ) – Firefighters rescued a person early Friday afternoon from an inaccessible area of Whitewater.

The rescue was reported shortly before 1:00 p.m. in the unincorporated area of Whitewater west of Desert Hot Springs, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.

The person was hoisted via Riverside County Sheriff’s Office helicopter from the rugged, hard to reach area to an awaiting ambulance. CAL FIRE reports the person was taken to a local hospital with minor injuries, and no other injuries were reported.

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Garrett Hottle

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – California State University, San Bernardino marked a major milestone Thursday with the groundbreaking of its new Student Success Center at the Palm Desert Campus.

University leaders, local officials, community members, faculty, alumni and students gathered for the ceremony, celebrating the start of construction on the first new building at the campus in 16 years.

“This is a historic day for the Palm Desert Campus,” said CSUSB President Tomás D. Morales. “We want to create a space where students feel that they belong, they feel validated, they feel like they belong in higher education.”

The new facility is part of a long-term plan to expand services and educational opportunities in the Coachella Valley. The $79 million state-funded project was secured with support from former state assemblymembers Eduardo Garcia and Chad Mayes, and is seen as a testament to the community’s advocacy for higher education access.

Scheduled for completion in 2027, the 23,700-square-foot center will house academic advising, tutoring, career services, a cross cultural center, expanded library, group study spaces, a bookstore, food services, a student health center and a recreation and wellness center.

“The building will help us elevate the student experience,” said Edna Martinez, associate vice president at the Palm Desert Campus. “It’s a celebration of bold vision, continued commitment and what’s to come.”

The facility is designed to support up to 4,000 full-time equivalent students and free up existing space in other campus buildings for additional classrooms and faculty offices.

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Luis Avila

COACHELLA, Calif. (KESQ) – Honoring mothers who help feed entire communities. TODEC Legal Center hosted a Mother’s Day event for farm workers at the Coachella Library Friday.

Residents got information about various programs, such as cash aid, food assistance, and health coverage. Eligibility technicians were available to provide assessments for CalFresh, CalWORKs, and Medi-Cal, and help with the application process.

Technicians also connected residents to other available resources.

Stay with News Channel 3 for more.

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Athena Jreij

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) — As temperatures reach triple digits this week, locals are making a splash in the desert’s public pools.

However, a shortage of lifeguards is raising alarms among employees, who say the nationwide problem has hurt aquatics centers for decades.

“We are really encouraging our young people to join the swimming sport so that we’ve got lifeguards to put it in that chair so that it makes it safer for everybody,” Caylie Pasat, manager of the Palm Springs Swim Center, said.

Pasat says the problem is due to many factors including low pay, a lack of free training programs and a lot of people being unable to swim.

The solution may be smaller than you think, and it starts with the kids.

“When we don’t have enough emphasis on learning to swim and really pushing our youth to join swim teams and water polo, where else are our kiddos coming from? We need capable swimmers that can fit into these positions,” Pasat said.

It’s why the city is increasing outreach, upping pay and offering free swim lessons.

“Back in 2023, I know that this center was for having a really hard time staffing. But the City of Palm Springs stepped in, and they increased lifeguard wages, and they increased their net, trying to capture as many interested parties as we could. We’ve gone and talked to the high school and tried to recruit more youth,” Pasat said.

It’s an issue Jason Bitzer’s Never Off Duty nonprofit is also trying to solve.

“It was founded specifically to give at-risk youth first responder and lifeguard job training. So there’s no barrier to entry to fix a problem. There’s a national lifeguard shortage. What we want is safe facilities, safe beaches, safe pools. And to do that you need lifeguarding and need proper training,” Bitzer said.

Pasat says the center has scheduled events like free CPR training and swim lessons. For more information, visit: https://www.palmspringsca.gov/government/departments/parks-recreation/swim-center

For more information on the Never Off Duty nonprofit, visit: https://neveroffduty.org/

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Allie Anthony

At Desert Mirage High School, Assistant Principal Gustavo Sandoval is being honored by the Walter Clark Legal Group and News Channel 3 for his commitment to students, both in academics and through the school’s folklórico dance club.

Sandoval used to dance himself, that’s what inspired him to start the club 14 years ago! Teaching students folklórico dance is a way for him to preserve cultural traditions while teaching responsibility and community values.

His mission goes beyond dance, ensuring all students, regardless of financial means, can participate fully. He helps students in their fundraising efforts to pay for costumes and shoes. Sandoval’s impact is evident in how students speak of the life lessons he imparts, offering hope and resilience beyond the classroom. “He tells us life happens but you shouldn’t let that control you, said Junior Ethan Zaragoza. “Although it’s cloudy today, tomorrow it could be sunny!” 

For his dedication, Sandoval received the “One Class at a Time” award, recognizing his tireless work to uplift and inspire. Thanks to the Walter Clark Legal Group, the folklórico dance club now has $777.77 to spend on new shoes and costumes so these students can perform at the best of their abilities.

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Kendall Flynn

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – VEG ER for Pets is announcing the opening of its Palm Desert location, providing families in the community with “the highest level of emergency care.”

VEG ER for Pets was established in 2014 to help people and their pets when they need it most. Organizers say the group of hospitals has revolutionized the pet emergency experience with a customer-centered approach, rapid response times and emergency-focused staff.

The ER will provide veterinary medicine, including surgeries, ultrasounds, x-rays and more. It is the first VEG hospital in the Coachella Valley and the 12th VEG hospital in California. VEG says it reworks the emergency medicine experience but making the process work for people and their pets.

The Palm Desert pet hospital is open for emergencies 24/7, even on holidays. The new space will have an open floor plan, allowing pet parents to have “freedom of movement and to see life-saving heroics up close,” according to the press release.

Pet parents even have the opportunity to to stay with their pet through all stages of treatment, including surgery and overnight hospitalization.

Organizers will mark the opening of the VEG ER for Pets on May 14th with a ribbon cutting at 11:30 a.m. at 73495 CA-111 in Palm Desert.

Stay with News Channel 3 to hear from VEG medical directors about the new Palm Desert ER.

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Cynthia White

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (KESQ) – Riverside County Department of Social Services (DPSS) and Faith in Motion will be hosting a free community event on Monday, May 12, to recruit foster and adoptive families.

More than 3,300 children in Riverside County are in out-of-home care.

DPSS is working with non-profit Faith in Motion to present a panel discussion and question and answer session in both English and Spanish explaining how to take the steps toward changing a child’s life. Attendees will receive information on fostering, adoption, and volunteer opportunities to support children in need.

The location of the free event is at Southwest Church, 44-175 Washington Street in Indian Wells, from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. A light meal is provided, and registration is encouraged.

For more information, contact Faith in Motion Manager Irene Capen at 951-228-5553 or visit faithinmotionrivco.org.

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Cynthia White

THERMAL, Calif. (KESQ) – There’s a new, updated and improved sign to welcome visitors to Thermal at the entrance to Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport.

The county airport’s management, the Aviation Division of the Riverside County Transportation and Land Management Agency, installed a new monument sign and is planning extensive landscaping around the main entrance.

Supervisor V. Manuel Perez assigned county funding for the improvements to enhance the look of the airport as people arrive in Thermal.

Perez sees the possibility of major growth in the future, saying, “The Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport serves the Coachella Valley region and is one of our county assets and a key to our economic development future.” He added, “I have sought to champion updating this airport, and this is an investment. The new and beautiful signage modernizes the entrance to our Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport in the Thermal community.”

The improvements continue as 20 damaged palm trees will be replaced beginning next week. More landscaping will be added in the fall/winter season after the summer heat.

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Angela Chen

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – Maintaining mental health is important, especially in the formative years. To recognize Mental Health Awareness Month, Indio High School hosted a special event in the gymnasium for students on Thursday.

Kids walked in to a sound bath by The Healing Collective, which was one of 30 booths offering resources at this inaugural mental health fair focused on promoting social and emotional well-being.

School staff say more than 300 students stopped by during their lunch hour to learn about ways to reduce stress and anxiety.

This event comes as teens face increasing pressure and often self-esteem issues because of social media.

This fair was made possible by a state grant. Staff say mental health awareness is one of Desert Sands Unified School District’s top priorities in its educational goals.

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Peter Daut

California Senate leader Toni Atkins is hoping to be the state’s first female and LGBTQ governor.

The San Diego Democrat made history as the first out lesbian to be assembly speaker, as well as the first woman and LGBTQ person to lead the senate.

Atkins is hoping her long resume in elected office, coupled with her boundary-breaking profile, is the winning formula to succeed Governor Gavin Newsom next year.

News Channel 3’s Peter Daut sat down with her today at the “Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast” in Palm Springs.

“I want to continue to work on things that matter to everyday Californians: cost of living, affordable housing, cost of healthcare, and of course, making sure we respect everyone’s rights to be who they are and to live a good quality of life in California,”

Atkins was honored today with the “Harvey Milk Leadership Award.”

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