Category: kesq-local-news

Jesus Reyes

Update:

News Channel 3 is excited to announce, “Palm Springs United,” a partnership with the Agua Caliente and the Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce will be extended through Sunday.

So far, more than $125,000 has been raised to help local businesses damaged during last month’s car bombing. It comes with the help of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. They increased their match amount. For every dollar that comes in, they will match it $2 up to $200,000

Previous Story:

Tuesday will mark one month since a bombing, which was called “an act of terrorism,” rocked Palm Springs. 

Now, many downtown businesses continue to deal with the fallout of that attack.

On May 17, News Channel 3 was first on the scene at a car bombing outside of a local fertility clinic. Police say the man responsible was killed in the blast.    

Many businesses suffered significant damage, with most of them not having insurance coverage. 

We’re proud to announce an effort to raise money for businesses struggling to recover.

News Channel 3 is part of “Palm Springs United,” a partnership with the Agua Caliente and the Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce.

We will be fundraising all day on Wednesday at the Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce. The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians will match all funds — dollar-for-dollar up to $100,000 — collected during this event.

Join us for this all-day fundraiser on Wednesday, June 18.

You can also donate online now at https://pschamber.org/palmspringsunited

Help us show that we are all Palm Springs United.

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Haley Meberg

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, Calif. (KESQ) – The Riverside County Department of Animal Services (RCDAS) partnered with several different rescue organizations this past week to transport 102 shelter animals out of California to find new homes.

The RCDAS has partnered with Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, located in Utah, along with North Shore Animal League America in New York, Humane Society of North Texas, and Brandywine Valley SPCA in Pennsylvania. 

Riverside County has been experiencing severe overflow of sheltered animals, with its kennels being at 203% capacity.

To combat this issue, the Department has launched a new “Ticket to Ride” policy, a short-term foster program to find these animals a safe home while they wait for transportation. 

The RCDAS has begun implementing changes that make it easier for the community to adopt and foster these animals, with the hopes of addressing the overpopulation issue they are currently facing. Adoption fees at all shelters are being waived in an effort to reduce barriers throughout the adoption process and promote community engagement.

Help from these outside organizations and community support is contributing to the RCDAS goal to ensure that 90% of impounded animals leave the sites alive, as stated in the ‘no-kill’ standards set in place by the Board of Supervisors for all Riverside County Shelters earlier last month. 

“Working with partners is extremely important and opens doors to increase lifesaving,” said Fourth District Supervisor V. Manuel Perez. “I’m thankful for partners like Best Friends Animal Society, North Shore Animal League America, Wings of Rescue, and Race for Life who continue to show up and help us move closer to our goal of a 90% live release rate.”

While there is no exact set date that this goal will be reached, the organization’s main focus is to help as many animals as possible and reduce the euthanasia rates taking place within these facilities.

In past years, it has been shown that shelter rates tend to peak in the summer months making this collaboration even more impactful to the local shelters. To sign up to foster a pet with a Ticket to Ride visit www.rcdas.org/ticket-ride and for more information regarding fee-waived adoptions, visit www.rcdas.org.

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Gavin Nguyen

IDYLLWILD, Calif. (KESQ) – A week of celebrating Native American art and culture kicked off at the Idyllwild Arts Academy on Monday.

‘Native American Arts Festival Week’ runs from Monday, June 16th through Friday, June 20th.

Highlighting the festival: tastings of traditional Native cuisine, film screenings, bird singing, music, and more. All festival week events are free and open to the public.

An art gallery on the Idyllwild Arts campus is also open through July 12th. The pieces in the gallery are for sale and proceeds go towards funding the school, foundation, and artists.

Executive Director of the Native American Art Center at Idyllwild Arts, Shaliyah Ben, said of the event, “These are things that we’re really proud to be able to host on the Idyllwild Arts campus. We believe strongly in the concept of the citizen artist and how we can actively make positive change in our world is by coming up here to Idyllwild, unplugging for a week, two, or three, and jumping into our workshops and programing.”

More information on the event can be found on Idyllwild Arts’ website, found here.

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Garrett Hottle

Millions of dollars are on the table for local nonprofits across the Coachella Valley, thanks to the Desert Healthcare District’s expanding grant programs.

As part of its mission to improve regional health outcomes, the District is offering up to $5 million annually in grants through Desert Care Network. The funding supports a wide range of initiatives from mental health services and school-based wellness programs to mobile medical clinics that bring care directly into underserved neighborhoods.

“It’s been very good for the community. It’s expanding,” said Chris Christensen, CEO of the Desert Healthcare District. “We now have two mobile clinics that we go to the public and to the residents in the community to be able to provide access to care.”

The grant funding is largely supported by local property taxes. Beginning in 2027, an additional revenue stream will come from the lease on Desert Regional Medical Center, increasing the district’s grant-making capacity even further.

The District is also broadening its focus. With a new strategic plan underway, environmental health is now on the agenda—starting with a public summit this fall to address air and water quality concerns.

“It’s exciting for us right now,” Christensen said. “We’re implementing and beginning a new strategic planning process… to utilize these resources to benefit the community and the community residents.”

You can find more about the Desert Healthcare District & Foundation’s grant programs and strategic plan at this link.

and the programs and services they provide click this link.

For more tips on living a healthier life, visit our Living Healthy tab at this link.

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City News Service

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – Indio police officers issued six citations and arrested one person for allegedly evading officers during a DUI checkpoint, authorities announced today.

The checkpoint was conducted from 6 p.m. Friday until 1 a.m. Saturday at Jackson Street and Dillon Avenue, police said.   

Citations were issued for violations including driving with a suspended license, being unlicensed and improper child seat use.   

Funding for the checkpoint was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety.

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City News Service

BANNING, Calif. (KESQ) – Jury selection is slated to get underway tomorrow for the trial of a 43-year-old Banning man accused of raping two women on separate occasions while they were intoxicated, as well as molesting his 12-year-old girl.  

Steven Roy McElroy was arrested in 2022 following an extensive Banning Police Department investigation that relied on statements from alleged victims going back a decade.

McElroy is charged with two counts each of forcible rape and aggravated assault, as well as one count of lewd acts on a minor.   

Pretrial motions were convened last week at the Banning Justice Center, and they continued Monday. Riverside County Superior Court Judge Mark Singerton ordered the prospective jury pool to appear at the courthouse Tuesday for screening.

McElroy is free on a $1 million bond.   

The defendant was arrested and arraigned on the charge related to the 12-year-old girl in March 2022. 

Banning police detectives received information afterward concerning two women who alleged they had been sexually assaulted by him on different occasions in 2015 and 2016.  

According to Detective Jack Loera, the two women heard about the molestation charge filed in connection with the girl and decided to speak to police.   

McElroy has a felony conviction in another jurisdiction that wasn’t listed in court documents.

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Allie Anthony

With one of the LPGA’s major tournaments this week, 24-year-old Mary Liu is hoping to turn heads and make a lasting impression.

Originally from China, Liu now proudly calls Rancho Mirage her home. And her home course is the Indian Wells Golf Resort.

From early victories on the LPGA China Tour to earning her LPGA Tour card in 2024, Liu’s journey is a has brought her now to the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in Frisco, Texas.

As she tees off in this week’s major, her community back home will be cheering for their rising star.

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Tori King

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) — Beginning on Monday, the Plaza Theatre will be one step closer to opening.

According to the City of Palm Springs, the demolition of Kalura Trattoria’s patio is set to begin on Monday, June 16th. The demolition is needed to construct a new patio, which will meet fire and building codes and allow construction of a new theatre entrance.

The city says it will remove Kalura Trattoria’s existing patio in the shared courtyard with the Plaza Theatre, to construct a new 60-seat patio that will be built along the public right-of-way on S. Palm Canyon Drive, spanning from Ben & Jerry’s to Kalura. This move would ensure a required 20-foot-wide path from the theatre to the public sidewalk.

Demolition starts Monday and will last about a week, residents and tourists should expect intermittent lane closures on S. Palm Canyon (southbound lane near site).

The entire patio completion is expected by early August. The official reopening the the Plaza Theatre is set for December 1st.

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Luis Avila

COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) – This Pride Month, ongoing protests, immigration fears, and rise in anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric are weighing heavily on the community. As these tensions escalate, concern for mental health is only deepening.

According to the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, this is resulting higher rates of depression, anxiety, and trauma among LGBTQ+ individuals.

The need for help is growing, but not because of a lack of resources, rather some are still hesitant to seek help.

“A lot of our LGBTQIA+ patients have a history of discrimination, bullying, rejection… so when you have experienced those things from people that are in your direct environment, its hard to think people who don’t know me are going to act any different.”

Melissa Hawkins, Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation clinical supervisor

Still amid the tensions, advocates say there’s hope, with more people stepping up to create spaces where LGBTQ+ individuals feel valued and cared for.

“When individuals are able to see there are community members that they don’t know… that there are voices advocating… saying ‘we’re here for you,’ I think it can help feel less scary knowing that there is a community at large that does support you and willing to speak up.”

Melissa Hawkins, Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation clinical supervisor

Experts recommend those struggling to reach out to a close family member or friend. The first step is openly expressing how you are feeling.

Resources:

Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation

Transgender Health and Wellness Center

Stay with News Channel 3 for more.

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Jesus Reyes

LA QUINTA, Calif. (KESQ) – Homicide investigators with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department have made an arrest in the 2019 shooting death of a man in La Quinta, authorities said.

The suspect, a 23-year-old man from Whitewater, was taken into custody Friday after investigators developed new leads and reopened a cold case, according to sheriff’s Sgt. Jarred Bishop.

Law enforcement serve search warrant in neighborhood near Haugen Lehmann in Whitewater (6/13/25)

Cathedral City resident Anthony Carrillo, 19, was found with gunshot wounds inside a residence in the 53000 block of Avenida Madero Oct. 26, 2019, Bishop said. Carrillo was pronounced dead at a hospital.   

Anthony Carrillo

The case went cold after years of investigation. In 2023, Riverside County Sheriff’s investigators put out a call to the community for information on the case.

Recently, detectives reviewed the case and found evidence and information, the sergeant said.   

Investigators identified the suspect in the murder, Bishop said. He was arrested and booked into the Cois Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta for suspicion of murder.

He was being held on $3 million bail, according to sheriff’s inmate information. The suspect is expected to appear in court on Wednesday, according to court records.

The investigation was ongoing and anyone with information was asked to call Master Investigator J. Manjarrez or Master Investigator V. Magana of the Central Homicide Unit at 951-955-2777.

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