Category: kesq-local-news

KESQ News Team

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (KESQ) – Several new and exciting exhibits were in the works at Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert.

On Sunday, volunteers with Scouting America (formerly known as BSA) spent part of their Memorial Day weekend working to clear out an outdoor area near the museum’s butterfly garden.

This was part of an Eagle Project led by Abigail Tokuhara, 17, of Rancho Mirage.

Tokuhara had been a member with Troop 451 for nearly two years – and was working to earn her Eagle Scout rank – the highest rank in Scouting America.

About a dozen scouts – along with parents, grandparents, siblings, and other adult leaders began their work around 7:00 a.m.

Volunteers worked to clear weeds and debris; they also assembled two storage sheds.

As the morning hours progressed into afternoon hours – volunteers focused on completing their tasks with the entire project wrapping up around 3:00 p.m.

The area was expected to be used for guests to enjoy the garden area – where kids could enjoy sensory tables.

Derek Burreson, who is the museum’s facilities manager, appreciated the volunteers’ hard work on the warm day in May.

Burreson said he was working on several other projects and exciting new exhibits at the museum.

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Kendall Flynn

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – The El Paseo shopping district is getting a road-way upgrade from Highway 74 east to Highway 111. Officials with Vance Corporation, which is in charge of the $4.8 million project, says the asphalt has significantly deteriorated, making the construction necessary.

This project was originally set to start in summer of 2024. However, it requires the removal of outdoor patios in the roadway, which Palm Desert City officials felt businesses did not have enough time to prepare for.

Now with the changes upcoming in less than a month, businesses will need to prepare for temporary road closures, limited parking and the removal of their outdoor patios.

Organizers say the traffic control will be significant in the area, as it is a popular spot for locals and tourists. They anticipate many challenges because of this, as they have to remove 10 inches deep of existing pavement.

The project is expected to be complete by September and will be done in phases according to the Vance Corporation plan. They will start working from Highway 74 to San Pablo Avenue. Following this, the construction will start from San Pablo Avenue to Portola Avenue, and then from Portola Avenue to Highway 111.

With the construction, crews expect vehicle traffic to be reduced to one lane in each direction, and shifted to the opposite side of the roadway.

Stay with News Channel 3 to hear more from businesses on the impacts of this construction.

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Shay Lawson

UPDATE 05/29/2025: CAL FIRE reports a total of 15 greenhouses were completely destroyed and an additional 15 were damaged.

CAL FIRE adds that at this time, the cause of the fire is still unknown; however, the plastic covering on the greenhouses may have contributed to the fast growth of the fire.

The property owners told CAL FIRE that they believe the majority of the greenhouses were vacant, as it’s the off-season for what they grow, and most of the burned structures had been dismantled for the summer. It was not disclosed what is grown at the property.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

THERMAL, Calif. (KESQ) – Firefighters battled a blaze among greenhouses in Thermal near 62nd Avenue and Gene Welmas Way on Wednesday night.

CAL FIRE received a fire call just after 9:00 p.m., reporting at least four greenhouses were fully involved in flames. Additional engines were called to the scene.

Most of the fire was knocked down by around 10:30 p.m., but crews remained on scene overnight to mop up and monitor hot spots.

CAL FIRE confirmed that one firefighter suffered a minor injury and was transported to the hospital. There is no update yet on their condition.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Stay with News Channel 3 for updates as information becomes available.

Viewer photo

Viewer photo

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City News Service

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – A website was launched today by the Palm Springs International Airport aimed to provide transparency to consumers regarding any upcoming improvements or amenities.

“PSP is getting better every day — and our team is working hard to make sure travelers feel the difference,” Harry Barrett Jr., executive director of aviation, said in a statement. “Progress PSP opens our doors to show what we’re building, when, how we’re funding it, and why it matter. It’s about transparency, forward momentum and delivering world-class upgrades travelers will see and feel.”  

“Progress PSP” tracks the more than dozens of projects with the budget year, a description of the item, a funding source,  an estimated completion date, and the site filters by categories and status.

For more information, go to flypsp.com/progress/.

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City News Service

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Several Palm Springs city officials, hospitality leaders and half a dozen College of the Desert culinary students will travel to San Miguel de Allende in Mexico next month to strengthen relations with its sister city, participate in their food and wine festival and provide students the opportunity to train under Mexico’s chefs.   

“Opportunities like this strengthen our strategic partnerships and help showcase Palm Springs as a leader in innovative hospitality and global exchange,” Councilman Jeffrey Bernstein said in a statement.

The trip will take place June 26-30, and the “San Miguel y sus Sabores” festival will run from June 27-29.  

The College of the Desert Foundation will cover expenses for the six students while they learn and train at the Universidad Tecnologica de San Miguel de Allende. Organizers said students will receive college credit for their work.

“The participating students will gain the skills, experience and global perspectives necessary to succeed in an ever-changing industry,” Palm Springs Sister Cites Board of Directors President Gary Armstrong said in a statement. “This real-world experience will provide the students with practical industry skills and impart cultural competence, adaptability and professional networking opportunities, qualities essential in today’s global job market.”

Participating city officials will include Mayor Ron deHarte, Councilwoman Grace Garner, Councilman Jeffrey Bernstein and City Manager Scott Stiles. Board members will include Hugo Loyola, David Rios, Jim Fitzpatrick and Richard Horn.

Funds for travel and lodging will come from their own expenses, but a room will be covered for deHarte, according to organizers.   

Throughout their trip, city officials will meet with San Miguel city officials, participate in workshops, explore the city and tour the culinary school.

News Channel 3’s Peter Daut spoke with Palm Springs Sister Cities Board of Directors President Gary Armstrong about more of the details.

In February 2023, the Palm Springs established the sister city with San Miguel de Allende in Guanajuato, in which mayors of both cities signed the Sister Cities International Agreement.

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Shay Lawson

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ)  – A city still healing.

Palm Springs City Councilmembers voted Wednesday night on new recovery measures aimed at helping businesses impacted by the devastating terror attack earlier this month.

Councilmembers approved Consent Item Q, which establishes a disaster overlay zone around the hardest-hit buildings.

It will provide reduced permit fees and expedited reviews for property owners seeking to repair or reconstruct damaged buildings.

Officials said more than 40 properties sustained damage, with at least 8 buildings deemed unsafe to occupy.

Palm Springs city leaders, police and fire officials also shared a public update on the recovery effort.

Mike Villegas, a Lieutenant at the Palm Springs Police Department, said FBI officials returned to the explosion site to collect further evidence on Wednesday.

“We are meticulously sifting through evidence to determine what products were used in the explosion,” Villegas said.

An economic development spokesperson said the team assisted the American Reproductive Centers owner in finding a temporary location with 8 months of free rent provided by Grit Development for safe storage of non-biological materials.

Jeremy Hammond, Deputy City Manager, said reconstruction is expected to take 6 months.

Stay with News Channel 3 for the full report at 10 and 11 p.m.

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Garrett Hottle

LA QUINTA, Calif. (KESQ) The Memorial Day holiday delivered more than just burgers and backyard fun it brought a historic boom to the box office.

Cinemark Theatres reported its biggest Memorial Day weekend of all time, driven by the premieres of Lilo & Stitch and Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning. The company says it ranked among its top ten highest-grossing weekends ever.

The surge in ticket sales was matched by an explosion in concession revenue. Cinemark also broke internal records for food and beverage purchases, including its premium XD and D-BOX motion seat formats.

“What is seeing a movie on the big screen without a Coke and a warm, buttery popcorn?” Caitlin Piper, Communications Director for Cinemark explained.

And Mission Impossible may feel extra familiar locally. Some scenes in the franchise were reportedly filmed in the Palm Springs area in a previous installment in the film franchise.

From the valley to venues nationwide, the weekend marked a strong rebound for theatrical releases and a reminder that the big screen still packs a punch.

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City News Service

BANNING, Calif. (KESQ) – A 40-year-old man accused of inflicting deadly injuries on an infant he was babysitting in San Jacinto was charged today with first-degree murder and other offenses.

Alejandro Cuevas of Beaumont was arrested last week following a months-long Riverside County Sheriff’s Department investigation into the death of the baby girl. 

Along with murder, Cuevas was charged with assault on a child resulting in great bodily injury or death.

The defendant, who is being held in lieu of $1 million bail at the Smith Correctional Facility, was slated to make his initial court appearance Wednesday afternoon at the Banning Justice Center.

According to sheriff’s Sgt. Jarred Bishop, the alleged deadly assault occurred on the morning of Aug. 23, 2024, at a residence in the 2000 block of Whispering Bells Road, near Kirby Street.

Bishop said patrol deputies were sent to the location, along with paramedics, to investigate reports of a 4-month-old girl in respiratory distress.

The sergeant said the deputies initiated resuscitative measures until an ambulance took her to a regional trauma center, where she was placed in the pediatric intensive care unit.

“Over the next several days, the child’s condition continued to deteriorate,” he said.

The baby died on Aug. 29, 2024.   

Due to visible injuries on the infant, as well as other factors, the matter was turned over to the Central Homicide Unit, according to Bishop.   

“After extensive investigation … it was determined the juvenile died as a result of homicidal violence,” the sheriff’s spokesman said, without elaborating further.

Detectives ultimately fixed blame for the alleged attack on Cuevas, whom Bishop described as “an associate of the victim’s family.”

The defendant was taken into custody without incident at his residence on Price Street Friday.

He has no documented prior felony convictions in Riverside County.

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Kendall Flynn

LA QUINTA, Calif. (KESQ) – A United States Postal Service Office in La Quinta has a new important meaning. City officials joined fallen Marine Corporal Hunter Lopez’s family members to dedicate the USPS building in his name Wednesday afternoon.

It was an emotional ceremony for family members, but one they say was more than deserved as they look to carry on Hunter’s legacy.

“Our mission from early on was that Hunter’s name remained in the community and for everybody to always remember him,” Herman Lopez, Hunter’s father said. “Whether we’re around or well beyond our lives.”

Lopez, a Coachella Valley native, was one of 13 service members killed in the 2021 attack at the Kabul airport in Afghanistan. His parents say he was continuously dedicated to his duty and service.

“He always wanted to make sure that he was there for his Marines and never let them down,” Herman said. “And I remember getting text messages from Hunter in those days during the evacuation that he was just going to do anything he could to help Americans get back home.”

The USPS office at 79125 Corporate Center Drive will now be recognized as the new Corporal Hunter Lopez Memorial Post Office Building. His parents said the post office is a fitting place for his memorial as he loved to get packages.

His mother, Alicia Lopez, recalls him asking her to order items for him while he was overseas. A fond memory that carried on even after his death.

“Even after his passing, we received his last package that he had purchased when he was overseas,” Alicia said. “It was an Amazon package, but nonetheless, we would get them at the post office.”

News Channel 3’s Kendall Flynn spoke with Hunter’s parents, Herman and Alicia Lopez and Congressman Raul Ruiz on the importance of this dedication.

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City News Service

COACHELLA, Calif. (KESQ) – A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held today for a $63 million affordable housing development in downtown Coachella.   

“This project reflects our deep commitment to creating a community where families can thrive, where our seniors and neighbors with disabilities are supported and where everyone has access to opportunity,” Coachella Mayor Steven Hernandez said in a statement. “We’re building more than homes — we’re strengthening the heart of our families and the foundation of our community.”  

City officials, in collaboration with Chelsea Investment Corporation, were on hand for the event on Cesar Chavez Street in the Pueblo Viejo district.   

Covalda Apartments, formerly known as Tripoli Apartments, is a 2.8-acre site that also features retail space and has 10 units designed for residents with disabilities.   

Funding for the building was provided by the California Department of Housing and Community Development’s Infill Infrastructure Grant program, the Housing Authority of the County of Riverside’s project-based vouchers and Home program and the California Department of Developmental Services’ Community Resource Development Plan Priorities.

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