Category: kesq-local-news

Kiera McKinney

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ)- Blood donations are at a historic low and the Palm Springs Police and Fire department are teaming up for a friendly competition for the first time.

According to the American Red Cross, the number of donors has dropped by roughly 40% over the last two decades. This marks the lowest level of national blood donors in 20 years.

This period between Memorial Day and Labor Day is considered “trauma season,” when hospitals often see more serious injuries from car crashes, ATV accidents, sports injuries, and other summer activities which would raising the need for blood.

The blood drive is July 9th, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m at O’Donnell Golf Club, 301 N. Belardo Road.

Tempe Essell, the president of the Red Cross Riverside County, said “This is a critical time for blood donations because a lot of our blood comes from high school students. High schools being out. We have nowhere to go. And we are blessed that the Palm Springs Fire Department and Police Department have joined with us to do this. Every time you give blood, one pint of blood, you save three people.”

“We’re trying to create some friendly rivalry, but, the true winners are going to be the people that need this blood” said Gustavo Araiza, Captain from Palm Springs Police.

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Tommy Gallegos

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California has launched the first three FireSat satellites, marking the start of a new space-based wildfire detection system designed to identify fires in near real time.

Launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base, the satellites are part of a partnership between CAL FIRE, the Earth Fire Alliance (EFA), Muon Space, and other technology partners. After a three-month commissioning period, the satellites will begin providing wildfire data to fire agencies.

🛰️ Three satellites just reached orbit, and they’re watching for wildfires.

Earlier this morning, the first three FireSat satellites launched into orbit, marking the beginning of a new space-based wildfire detection system designed to help identify fires in near real time.… pic.twitter.com/V1cKbSn4Wx

— CAL FIRE (@CAL_FIRE) July 7, 2026

Once the full constellation of more than 50 satellites is deployed by 2030, FireSat will be able to detect fires as small as 5 by 5 meters anywhere on Earth and provide updated observations every 20 minutes or less, helping firefighters respond before small fires become major incidents.

Governor Gavin Newsom called the launch a major step in protecting communities through innovation, “FireSat is about more than satellites in the sky; it’s about protecting families, firefighters, and communities that live with the fear of wildfire every summer,” Newsom said.

California helped develop the FireSat program through early testing with CAL FIRE before the Earth Fire Alliance was formally established. Officials say the technology will improve real-time wildfire intelligence and strengthen emergency response worldwide.

FireSat builds on California’s broader investments in wildfire technology, including the ALERTCalifornia camera network, the Fire Integrated Real-Time Intelligence System (FIRIS), drone and satellite monitoring, wildfire forecasting tools, and statewide LiDAR mapping. The state has also nearly doubled its annual fire protection budget to $3.8 billion while investing more than $2.5 billion in wildfire resilience and forest health projects.

With operations expected to begin later this year, FireSat is designed to give firefighters earlier detection, better situational awareness, and faster response capabilities as wildfire seasons continue to intensify.

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Matthew Pearce

THOUSAND PALMS, Calif. (KESQ) — Temperatures are on the rise as summer is in full swing. This means vehicle awareness in the heat is more important than ever as temps inside cars can climb by 20 degrees or more in 10 minutes, according to the National Weather Service.

Not only can these temperatures become dangerous, they can also affect the performance of cars. According to AAA, electric vehicles operating at 95-degree temperatures experience an 8.5% decrease in driving range compared with performance at 75 degrees.

This means EV owners are forced to charge more often, increasing the operating costs of the vehicle.

The U.S. Department of Energy shows California leads the nation in registered EVs. With that, understanding how summer temperatures can change the performance is crucial.

Stay with News Channel 3 to learn what you can do to help your car when temperatures rise, starting at 4 p.m.

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Garrett Hottle

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) The Palm Springs City Council on Wednesday will consider a plan to remove the natural skirts from roughly 2,150 California fan palms on city property a proposal city staff say is needed to protect public safety, and one a local land trust says would permanently change the look of Palm Springs and destroy wildlife habitat.

Under the proposal, skirts, fruit pods and trunk material would be removed from the city’s California fan palms in pedestrian areas over the next four years at a cost of about $300,000, according to the city staff report.

The report says falling skirts the collars of dried, dead fronds that hang beneath a palm’s crown can weigh more than 1,000 pounds and pose a danger to pedestrians and tree workers below. It also says the dead fronds harbor roof rats and cockroaches, which can carry disease.

In a public alert to supporters, Oswit Land Trust is urging the council to reject the citywide approach in favor of a tree-by-tree, risk-based management plan. The Palm Springs-based nonprofit says the skirts provide habitat for owls, bats, birds and other species, and that the staff report gives little consideration to those ecological benefits.

The group has also said the city conducted no public outreach or workshops on the issue, which first appeared on a council agenda in July 2024. When a similar policy came before the council that year, members postponed a vote and opted to seek additional public input.

The trees at the center of the debate are woven into the city’s history. In 1949, City Councilwoman Ruth Hardy persuaded the city to plant hundreds of fan palms along Palm Canyon Drive as part of a major downtown renovation trees that were dedicated in a ceremony that fall and still line the street today. Ruth Hardy Park in Palm Springs bears her name.

The city’s own report acknowledges Palm Springs is known for one of the world’s largest collections of heritage California fan palms in their natural state. A 2009 city resolution deliberately preserved the skirts on the city’s California fan palms, allowing only light shearing for clearance.

Outlook July 8 2026Download

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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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