Category: kesq-local-news

Dakota Makinen

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – The Coachella Valley History Museum is honoring Día de los Muertos with colorful altars celebrating the lives and memories of loved ones who have passed away.

The traditional displays, known as ofrendas, feature meaningful items that help families remember loved ones while sharing Mexican cultural traditions with future generations.

The museum will have altars on display November 1 through November 15. Visitors can view the displays Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

The museum will also host its 14th annual Día de los Muertos Dinner Celebration and Fundraiser on Friday, November 6, from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The museum says the altars also encourage families to share stories, photos and memories with younger generations, helping keep their loved ones’ legacies alive.

The Coachella Valley History Museum is located at 82616 Miles Avenue in Indio.

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Kiera McKinney

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) — As Palm Springs heads into Pride celebrations, a local ice cream festival is bringing attention to another community need: helping people afford food.

The second annual Scoop Palm Springs Ice Cream Festival returns to Downtown Park on Sunday, November 1, with organizers pledging 100% of net proceeds to The LGBTQ Center’s Community Food Bank.

The food bank provides free groceries to hundreds of local families each week, according to the festival’s organizers. The fundraiser connects an afternoon of tastings and entertainment with support for residents facing food insecurity.

Last year’s inaugural Palm Springs festival raised $21,000 and collected more than 300 pounds of food for the food bank, according to this year’s event announcement. Organizers are continuing that partnership for the festival’s second year.

This year’s lineup features more than 20 ice cream, gelato and paleta makers, with more than 50 flavors advertised. General admission includes ten two-ounce tastings, alongside music and family activities.

New this year is The Scoop Collective, a limited ticket experience featuring collaborations between local dessert makers and other culinary businesses, including a special ice cream sandwich and an affogato.

Attendees can also contribute nonperishable food items through the festival’s community food drive.

The festival is scheduled from noon to 4 p.m. at Downtown Park. For event details, visit scoopsandiego.org/scoop-palm-springs.

Stay tuned for the full story on News Channel 3 at 10 and 11.

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Matthew Pearce

THOUSAND PALMS, Calif. (KESQ) — Election Day is this Tuesday, leaving time to finalize plans for casting a ballot.

To maximize participation among Riverside County’s approximately 1.43 million registered voters, election officials expanded voting access Saturday by opening 131 additional vote centers. This brings the total number of vote centers in Riverside County to 152.

This comes as the registrar hopes to surpass June’s primary election turnout of 38%.

For more information on casting your ballot, visit the registrar’s website. Stay tuned to News Channel 3 for more.

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Kiera McKinney

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) — Halloween celebrations are getting an early start at The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, with dogs joining their humans for a day of costumes and treats.

The zoo’s first Dog Day Halloween celebration, “Pups & Pumpkins,” takes place Friday, Oct. 30, beginning at 9 a.m.

A costume parade led by Mayor Max is scheduled for 10 a.m., followed by a costume contest. Trick-or-treat stations offer treats for dogs and their humans as they explore the zoo.

The celebration gives visitors a chance to include their four-legged companions in the holiday while seeing the zoo’s more than 600 animals.

With Halloween on Saturday, the event also offers an early opportunity to dress up and celebrate. The cost of candy and costumes, along with finding a comfortable place to enjoy the holiday, can factor into how people make their plans.

News Channel 3 is exploring how people across the Coachella Valley are celebrating this year, from bringing a dog along for its first Halloween to balancing holiday spending and safety.

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KESQ News Team

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – A crash in Palm Springs Saturday afternoon caused damage to a building, with minor injuries reported.

Crews were called around 3:28 p.m. to the area of La Verne Way and South Camino Real.

It is unclear how many people were involved or what caused the crash.

News Channel 3 was on scene and saw a car being towed away and damage to the corner wall of a building.

The incident remains under investigation.

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KESQ News Team

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – Animal care workers at The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens returned to the picket line Saturday, October 31, as a labor dispute over wages and their first union contract continues.

Workers demonstrated outside the Palm Desert zoo, calling for higher wages as negotiations between the union and zoo management remain unresolved.

The latest demonstration comes after more than three years of negotiations. Employees first voted to unionize in January 2023.

Workers also picketed in May, when some employees accused zoo management of union-busting tactics and retaliation. The Living Desert has denied those allegations.

The union now says it has filed for mediation and three unfair labor practice claims with the National Labor Relations Board. Union representatives also say their attempts to secure mediation have gone unanswered.

News Channel 3 reached out to The Living Desert for an update.

In a statement, the zoo said it has presented the union with its “comprehensive last, best, and final proposal,” which it says includes agreeing to the union’s proposed wage scale.

The zoo maintains the union is responsible for delays in negotiations.

The statement also says that while the zoo does not intend to change its final offer, it will continue to meet its obligations to consider and respond to any proposals from the union.

The labor dispute remains ongoing.

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Kiera McKinney

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) — Costumes, music and Halloween celebrations are drawing people to downtown Palm Springs this weekend, with safety on the roads an important part of planning a night out.

Halloween Palm Springs continues Saturday, October 31, from 4 to 10 p.m. in the Arenas District. The free event features entertainment and a costume contest with more than $2,000 in prizes, according to organizers.

For people heading out to celebrate, planning how to get home can help prevent a deadly crash.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 176 people nationwide were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver on Halloween nights from 2019 through 2024. Those deaths included 31 pedestrians. The agency defines Halloween night as 6 p.m. October 31 through 5:59 a.m. November 1.

NHTSA encourages anyone celebrating with alcohol to arrange a sober ride before drinking, whether through a designated driver, taxi or rideshare.

Drivers should slow down, watch for people crossing streets and use extra caution after dark. The agency also advises drivers to yield at crosswalks and avoid passing a vehicle stopped for someone crossing.

People walking should use sidewalks and cross at intersections or crosswalks. Before stepping into the street, they should check for traffic and make sure approaching drivers have stopped.

Stay tuned for the full story at 10 and 11 on News Channel 3.

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Matthew Pearce

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) — With support from the Palm Springs Cruisin’ Association, the Air Museum is set to host the 17th annual Chili Cook-Off and Car Show.

Kick off your Halloween by checking out some cool cars and enjoying warm treats, including chili made by the museum’s volunteers.

The event aims to bring car enthusiasts and the community together for a day of food, fun and classic cars. Stay with News Channel 3 for more.

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Dakota Makinen

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. (KESQ) – Some of the most meaningful gifts are the ones we make ourselves, some made one stitch at a time.

A Cathedral City woman is putting her love of quilting to work, creating something special for the men and women who served our country. News Channel 3’s Dakota Makinen introduces us to Judy Q. Block, who puts her heart and her hands into every quilt she creates.

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Jesus Reyes

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – The California Highway Patrol has issued a Silver Alert for a 91-year-old woman last seen Friday morning in Palm Desert.

Annmarie Schreiber was last seen at 8:30 a.m. in Palm Desert. She is believed to be driving a white 2003 Honda Odyssey with a California License Plate 8TNW216

Schreiber is described as five feet, two inches tall, weighing 120 pounds, with gray hair and green eyes. She was last seen wearing a white T-shirt and white pants.

Stay with News Channel 3 for any updates.

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