Category: kesq-local-news

City News Service

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) – The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Riverside County today recorded its largest increase since Nov. 5, rising 3.6 cents to $4.262, its 12th increase in 13 days.

The average price has increased 13.9 cents over the past 13 days, including two-tenths of a cent Monday, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service. It rose six consecutive days, dropped one-tenth of a cent Wednesday and resumed rising Thursday.

Check Out Our Gas Gauge Section For Lowest Prices in the Coachella Valley

The average price is 12 cents more than one week ago and 11.3 cents higher than one month ago, but 12.9 cents less than one year ago. It has dropped $2.111 since rising to a record $6.373 on Oct. 5, 2022.

The average price rose 4 cents on Nov. 5.   

The national average price rose eight-tenths of a cent to $2.883, one day after a half-cent increase. It is a half-cent less than one week ago, 6.3 cents more than one month ago and 21.5 cents lower than one year ago.   

The national average price has dropped $2.133 since rising to a record $5.016 on June 14, 2022.

“While oil prices jumped to their highest level in months amid geopolitical tensions, a weakening U.S. dollar, and supply concerns, the national average price of gasoline saw little change compared to a week ago,” Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, which provides real- time gas price information from more than 150,000 stations, said in a statement released Monday.  

“Just over half of states saw gas prices decline, led by Indiana, Ohio, and other price-cycling states that had previously seen prices jump but have since started to fall. Meanwhile, prices are rising across much of the West Coast as the transition to summer gasoline begins, and attention turns to another refinery shutdown in California expected in April.   

“Over the coming weeks, we’re likely to see more states experiencing increases than decreases.”

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Luis Avila

THOUSAND PALMS, Calif. (KESQ) — Varner Road has been identified as one of California’s five most dangerous roadways, according to a new state study.

State, county and local leaders gathered Tuesday at SunLine Transit Agency headquarters to review the study’s findings and outline next steps to improve safety along the corridor.

The Varner Road safety corridor spans 2.3 miles from slightly north of Bob Hope Drive to just south of Monterey Avenue in the Coachella Valley, according to CalTrans.

The stretch of roadway has experienced 17 fatal/serious injury (FSI) crashes between 2019 and 2023, resulting in four fatalities and 25 serious injuries.

As a result of the findings, Varner Road has been designated a “Priority Safety Corridor,” a status that allows agencies to fast-track safety improvements aimed at reducing crashes and serious injuries, including improvements to stripes, guardrails, mediums and visibility.

Plans for these improvements could be ready as soon as this upcoming June.

Corridors were identified in partnership with UC Berkeley SafeTREC using a High Injury Network method applied to five years of crash data (2019–2023, with 2023 provisional). Sites rose to the top based on analysis of safety data, varied contexts and partner readiness.

Success will be tracked through reductions in fatal and serious-injury crashes. Leading indicators — such as vehicle speeds, conflict points and telematics data (including braking and acceleration patterns) — will help detect risk early and guide proactive adjustments. 

This comes as CVAG, which was also present, is already working to improve a 22-mile section of Varner Road, known as CV Sync.

Stay with News Channel 3 for more.

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Daniella Lake

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – For Black History Month, News Channel 3 will be spotlighting Black trailblazers and pioneers who’ve had a significant impact on the Coachella Valley. James O. Jessie was the director for parks and recreation in Palm Springs, and the manager for the Desert Highland Unity Center for decades. He was known to community members as “Uncle James.”

“He was a role model. He was a father figure. He was someone that made sure that you did better in life,” says Jarvis Crawford, the current manager for the James O.Jessie Desert Highland Unity Center. Crawford also serves as president for the Palm Springs Black History Committee.

He was well-known for empowering youth by encouraging them to participate in sports and enjoy the outdoors. He founded the Desert Highland drill team and drum squad, and often took youth on field trips.

“He showed us that there was life outside Palm Springs,” says Monica Turner, his daughter.

In 2000, he took the kids on an annual fishing trip. On the trip, one boy started drowning. After jumping in the water to save the young boy, the current took James O. Jessie, ultimately leading to his death.

“For everybody out here, he was Uncle James. So everybody lost an uncle that day,” says Turner.

Turner and Hall say his legacy continues on in the lives he touched and that he instilled many life lessons in the youth he worked with.

“To be proud of themselves, to be proud of their heritage,” Turner says.

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Garrett Hottle

MECCA, Calif. (KESQ) New details are emerging after a paraglider was seriously injured when crashing into power lines Monday afternoon in Mecca.

According to officials, crews responded around 5 p.m. to reports of a paraglider down near Johnson Street and Highway 111.

Images shared by Riverside County Fire Department show what appears to be a paraglider and cables at the scene. Fire officials later confirmed the aircraft involved was a paraglider, not a parachute, after initial reports.

Officials say there was only one person on board. That pilot suffered major injuries and was airlifted by helicopter to a local hospital for treatment.

Fire officials say once the patient was transferred to hospital care, they no longer received updates on the person’s condition.

Authorities have not said what caused the crash or how long the paraglider may have been entangled in the power lines. The incident remains under investigation.

News Channel 3 has reached out to family friends regarding the condition of the injured pilot, and will update you with any additional information as it becomes available.

Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing updates on this developing story.

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Julia Castro

WHITEWATER, Calif. (KESQ) — A crash involving a semi-truck in Whitewater early Tuesday prompted a hazardous materials response and caused traffic delays for drivers heading into the Coachella Valley, authorities said.

The crash was reported shortly after 1 a.m. and involved a semi-truck that leaked fuel onto the roadway. Emergency crews shut down multiple lanes while hazmat teams worked to contain and clean up the spill.

A preliminary investigation revealed a tractor-trailer collided with another tractor-trailer parked on the right shoulder of I-10 in front of the Whitewater Rest Area, which caused one of the semi trucks to rupture its “right side saddle tank, causing a release of fuel and engine oil onto the right shoulder of Interstate 10 eastbound,” the agency said.

A second crash occurred a short time later involving three other vehicles after they attempted to avoid the initial crash. In total, four semi trucks and a 2023 white Subaru were involved in the two collisions, authorities said.

A 46-year-old man from Bell and a 60-year-old man from Long Beach were taken to Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs for complaints of pain. No other injuries were reported.

The No. 3 and 4 lanes were temporarily closed for clean-up, but re-opened by 10 a.m. Caltrans and the Department of Environmental Health were requested to assist at the scene.

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Jesus Reyes

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – More artists continue to get added to the lineup for the 2026 Coachella Music and Arts Festival.

On Monday, Goldenvoice released the lineup for the Heineken House, a stage on the festival grounds.

Friday’s lineup includes Zerb, Wale, Robin Schulz, Kryptogram, and Sander Kleinenberg.

Saturday will feature Sean Paul (Weekend 1 only), Big Boi from Outkast (Weekend 2 only), Coi Leray, Andruss, Joshwa, Niiko X Swae, and REDKE.

Sunday will feature Motion City Soundtrack, Less Than Jake, Nimino, Oskar Med K, Mild Minds.

“Heineken House emits a magnetic energy that fans seek out year after year.  It has become an iconic destination where fans connect, socialize and enjoy a music experience unlike any other on the festival grounds.  Beyond this stellar line-up, we’ll be announcing even more surprises for the Heineken House in the coming months that will further cement it as the destination for social connection on festival grounds,” said Guilherme de Marchi Retz, Marketing VP of Heineken at HEINEKEN USA. 

Last week, festival organizers released the lineup for the Dolab and Quasar stages.

The inclusions are in addition to the previously announced artists on the main Coachella lineup. The 2026 Coachella festival will be headlined by Sabrina Carpenter, Justin Bieber, and Karol G.

The Coachella Music and Arts Festival will take place at the Empire Polo Club in Indio on April 10-12 and April 17-19.

Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing coverage.

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Peter Daut

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Thousands of cyclists will take over streets across the valley on Saturday for the 28th annual “Tour de Palm Springs.”

The event is one of the largest charity cycling rides in the country, drawing up to 8,000 participants from nearly every state and several countries each year.

Routes range from short walks to a 102-mile ride, all starting in downtown Palm Springs and spanning the Coachella Valley.

It has raised millions of dollars for local charities since it began in 1998.

“We have about 100 to 150 nonprofit organizations that sign up through us. So everything they raise and everything they bring in, we give right back to them as a donation for their charity,” Kathleen Esser, executive director of the Tour de Palm Springs.

This year’s theme honors military members, first responders, and veterans. Click here for more information.

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Jesus Reyes

MECCA, Calif. (KESQ) – A paraglider was rushed to the hospital after crashing into power lines Monday afternoon in Mecca.

The crash was reported just before 5:10 p.m. on Johnson Street and Highway 111.

CAL FIRE said the person suffered major injuries and was airlifted to the hospital.

Stay with News Channel 3 for any updates.

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City News Service

THOUSAND PALMS, Calif. (KESQ) – Caltrans officials are expected tomorrow to officially designate Varner Road in Thousand Palms a “State Priority Safety Corridor,” targeting the street under a data-driven effort to reduce crashes and fatalities.

California Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin, Caltrans Director Dina El-Tawansy, California Highway Patrol Commissioner Sean Duryee and Office of Traffic Safety Director Stephanie Dougherty are among those set to take part in the announcement, which will be made at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at Sunline Transit Agency, 72420 Varner Road.   

Varner Road will be designated as a priority corridor aimed to test, learn and make visible progress toward road safety in California, officials said.  

According to state officials, there were 3,612 fatalities and 14,392 serious injuries in California on the state highway system and local road networks.

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Jesus Reyes

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – The Palm Springs Police Department released data on crime trends from 2024 to 2025, showing a reduction in most major crime categories.

According to the department, crimes against persons dropped by nearly nine percent, crimes against property fell by almost twelve percent, and overall crime decreased by eleven percent.

Arrests rose as well, driven mainly by proactive work in drug, DUI, and quality-of-life enforcement.

“These improvements don’t happen by accident. They’re the result of a community that stays alert, engaged, and willing to work with its police department. Your tips, your willingness to report concerns, and your partnership with your officers all play a major role in these results,” PSPD wrote on social media. “We also want to recognize the work of our team. By identifying crime trends early and setting focused goals, they were able to address issues proactively and prevent problems from growing. Their day-to-day efforts contributed to these reductions.”

Last month, city officials also touted new technology, including Flock cameras and drones, as another reason for the success in crime-solving rates.

PSPD did report an 8% increase in sex offense crimes from 2024 to 2025. Additionally, the department is handing out more hazardous traffic violations, at an increase of 400 to 1,500.

The department was down 12 officers at one point last year, but they’ve been able to fill most of those positions, News Channel 3’s Kendall Flynn reported last month. Officials said the process for those new hires to reach the station after the police academy in field training is about one year, so they hope those spots will be filled shortly so they can shift to a proactive response.

Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing coverage.

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