Category: kesq-local-news

Dakota Makinen

COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) – As more people head to Coachella Valley hiking trails during the early morning hours to beat the heat, wildlife experts are reminding the public that it’s also peak rattlesnake activity.

The warning comes after an unusually early spike in rattlesnake bites across California. According to the California Poison Control System, there were 77 rattlesnake bites, including three deaths, by mid-May—well ahead of the state’s typical pace.

Rattlesnakes are most active around dawn and dusk during the summer months and are commonly found near rocks, brush and other shaded areas along trails.

Experts say hikers should stay alert, watch where they step and avoid reaching into areas they can’t clearly see. If you encounter a rattlesnake, remain calm, keep your distance and slowly back away. They also warn that snakes do not always rattle before striking.

If someone is bitten, experts recommend staying calm, calling 911 immediately and avoiding common myths like applying a tourniquet or trying to suck out the venom.

Rattlesnake season in the Coachella Valley typically lasts through October, with activity tapering off as overnight temperatures cool.

To reduce the risk of a bite, stay on designated trails, avoid reaching into thick brush or rock crevices, and keep pets on a leash. If you’re bitten, call 911 immediately and seek emergency medical care. Do not apply a tourniquet or try to suck out the venom.

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Luis Avila

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Palm Springs’ first In-N-Out Burger remains in the works, but after nearly three hours of discussion Monday night, the project still did not receive final approval.

The Palm Springs Planning Commission reviewed updated plans for the proposed restaurant at 1801 E. Palm Canyon Drive in the Smoke Tree Village Shopping Plaza.

The project has been under city review since 2024, and Monday’s meeting marked its fifth and final required design review.

Architectural renderings and site plans show the proposed redesigned layout for Palm Springs’ first In-N-Out restaurant, including the drive-thru, parking areas, landscaping, and outdoor patio.

The latest plans included a lighter exterior color, additional landscaping and other architectural revisions intended to better reflect Palm Springs’ design character. However, several commissioners and residents said the redesign still did not go far enough, arguing the building continued to look more like a standard In-N-Out than a project unique to Palm Springs.

In-N-Out representatives defended the proposal, saying the restaurant was designed specifically for the site and that no other In-N-Out location is comparable.

Throughout the meeting, commissioners suggested additional design changes, including squaring off portions of the building, extending the patio cover, adding more shade trees and incorporating additional breeze block elements to better fit the city’s architectural style.

Commissioners ultimately voted to continue the project rather than grant final approval. The project will return for one more design review meeting with a list of recommended design changes for the applicant to consider before moving forward.

During the discussion, some commissioners expressed frustration that, despite multiple revisions over the past two years, the design still had not met expectations, with one commissioner describing the proposed changes as “lipstick on a pig.” Others said another review gives the applicant an opportunity to better reflect Palm Springs’ architectural identity while avoiding a potential appeal.

In-N-Out representatives said they are willing to review the commission’s recommendations before returning with revised plans.

Stay with News Channel 3 for more.

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City News Service

PALM SPRINGS (CNS) – A Palm Springs-based nonprofit organization focused on protecting local wildlife and wildlife habitats urged the city today to reject a proposal to remove more than 2,000 dry fronds from city-owned palm trees.

According to a proposal going before the Palm Springs City Council on Wednesday, city staffers are calling for the removal of dry fronds, otherwise known as skirts, from California fan palms located in pedestrian areas to eliminate potential risks to the community.

A skirt can potentially injure pedestrians or arborists when they fall, since skirts can weigh more than 1,000 pounds, according to the staff report. Additionally, roof rats and cockroaches are known to nest in palm tree skirts throughout Southern California, posing health risks since they both can carry serious diseases, according to the report.

If the proposed resolution moves forward, the city’s roughly 2,150 California Fan Palms — under the classification of Washingtonia filifera and Washingtonia robusta — will be removed of skirts, fruit pods and trunks over the next four years at a cost of $300,000.

Oswit Land Trust officials, however, called on the council to adopt a “tree by tree management plan,” instead of a “one-size-fits-all policy.”

The nonprofit stated that palm trees house numerous types of birds, insects, reptiles and rodents, and the removal of the skirts could disrupt a healthy ecosystem and permanently alter one of the city’s defining features.

Nonprofit officials said the staff report does not mention the palm trees’ advantages to wildlife, saying in part that “it largely emphasizes potential risks associated with rodents while giving little consideration to the ecological benefits of palm skirts or the wildlife that depends on them.”

The nonprofit also contends the city has not conducted any public outreach or workshops on the issue, noting that the matter was first brought forward as an agenda item in July 2024.

As an alternative, the organization recommends the city trim trees on a “risk-based approach,” in which it would focus on trees if a risk or concern arises, leave trees in their natural state in places without high pedestrian traffic, only trim trees in October through January to avoid nesting season and comply with wildlife protection laws and establish a stakeholder working group.

The city council meeting will take place at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at 3200 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way.

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Peter Daut

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – The popular “Love Local Palm Springs” gift card program is back, giving residents and visitors more buying power while supporting more than 130 local businesses.

As we reported, the extreme heat has been a challenge for local businesses since there are fewer shoppers. Beginning next Monday, residents can purchase digital gift cards of $100, $200 or $300, and the city will add a 50% bonus of the card’s value.

Mayor Soto of Palm Springs says economic success means working to make Palm Springs a year-round city.

“Our businesses get really excited because it’s an opportunity for utility costs to be higher, groceries for restaurants can be a little bit higher now, so every extra little bit of business goes a long way,” Mayor Soto stated.

The “Love Local Palm Springs” program ends on October 31. Visit LoveLocalPS.com to purchase a Love Local Palm Springs digital gift card, review terms and view participating businesses.

Stay with News Channel 3 for more updates.

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City News Service

PALM DESERT, Calif. — A vehicle crashed into a vacant building in Palm Desert late Monday morning, but no injuries were reported.

The crash was reported at 11:17 a.m. in the 44000 block of San Pablo Avenue, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.

Officials said the vehicle struck a vacant building, though it was not immediately clear what type of structure was involved.

Authorities have not released details about what led to the crash, and no information about the driver has been made available.

The incident remains under investigation.

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Garrett Hottle

Update 7/7/26

Amy McClintock has been found, her family told News Channel 3

Original Report 7/6/26

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the disappearance of a 37-year-old woman whose family says she has not been seen since late June.

Deputies were dispatched to the 38000 block of Devils Canyon Drive in Palm Desert at 9:18 a.m. on July 1 regarding a report of a missing person, according to the sheriff’s office. The reporting party told deputies they had not been able to reach their family member and reported her missing.

The missing woman was identified by her family as Amy McClintock, 37. Her mother, Lisa McClintock, told News Channel 3 her daughter was last seen in the Cathedral City area around June 23.

Amy is 37 years old and is described by her family as . 5’4 135 lbs.

Anyone with any information regarding Amy’s whereabouts is encouraged to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.

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Matthew Pearce

FIFA has cleared U.S. Men’s National Team forward Folarin Balogun to play in tonight’s World Cup Round of 16 match against Belgium after unexpectedly reversing his suspension.

Balogun received a red card during the United States’ match against Bosnia, which originally ruled him out of the next game. Reports say President Donald Trump asked FIFA to review the decision, though the White House has not commented.

FIFA announced Balogun’s red card will be “suspended for a probationary period of one year,” making him eligible to play.

The decision has drawn mixed reaction. U.S. captain Christian Pulisic said Balogun’s return gives the team “a boost,” while some international coaches criticized the ruling.

The U.S. takes on Belgium tonight with a spot in the World Cup quarterfinals on the line.

Stay with News Channel 3 for the latest updates.

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City News Service

COACHELLA, Calif. (CNS) – Firefighters battled a fire at a commercial building in Coachella [Sunday].

The fire was reported around 1:10 p.m. Sunday in the 900 block of Grapefruit Boulevard, where firefighters reported the structure fully involved with fire, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.

No injuries were reported and the cause of the fire was not immediately known.

Additional engines were requested to assist, and the fire was contained around 2:10 p.m.

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Timothy Foster

COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) – A Coachella Valley Red Cross communications manager is preparing to deploy to Guam as Super Typhoon Bavi pounds the U.S. territory and the Northern Mariana Islands with powerful winds and heavy rain.

The storm is expected to bring winds up to 180 miles per hour, along with dangerous storm surge, flooding and widespread damage across the region. It comes just six weeks after another typhoon hit the islands, leaving many communities still in recovery.

American Red Cross Communications Manager Mimi Teller says Super Typhoon Bavi is currently slamming Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, and notes the region is still recovering from another powerful typhoon just six weeks ago. She adds that with winds expected to reach up to 180 miles per hour, the devastation is expected to be catastrophic.

Teller has spent more than 11 years with the Red Cross responding to disasters across the United States and overseas. She says this deployment will place her alongside response teams working to assess needs and support recovery efforts in impacted communities.

She says she believes she can make a difference through her presence and support during disaster response operations.

While the storm is happening thousands of miles away, Teller says it serves as a reminder that preparedness is important everywhere, including here in the Coachella Valley.

She emphasizes that communities are not immune to disasters and encourages residents to make sure they are prepared for emergencies that could happen locally.

Teller is expected to spend several weeks assisting with the Red Cross response as recovery efforts begin in the wake of the storm.

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