windy and wet Sunday in Desert Hot Springs — where showers have been coming through on and off all day Viewers submitted videos showing rain pouring down in Desert Hot Springs neighborhoods across the valley News Channel 3's Shay Lawson spent the evening speaking with community members to get their reaction "It was hot yesterday and today it was raining but it's good for the land."   The News Channel 3 First Alert Weather Team is tracking conditions closely Download News Channel 3's mobile app for real-time updates and weather alerts News Channel 3 is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Community Guidelines KESQ-TV FCC Public File | KPSP-TV FCC Public File | KDFX-TV FCC Public File | EEO Report | FCC Applications | Do Not Sell My Personal Information Desert Hot Springs leaders appointed a familiar face Shaw had been serving as interim chief since Feb. 28 after former chief Jim Henson’s retirement Shaw has worked in law enforcement for over 30 years This included five years as Desert Hot Springs’ deputy police chief During his swearing-in ceremony Tuesday night Shaw said Desert Hot Springs is “a wonderful place to live work and play.” He said he believes integrity transparency and community engagement are the bedrock of effective policing and pledged that the police department will be open and honest “This is an exceptional community filled with hardworking and caring people But we also have a lot of work to do to continue reducing crime and make this town safer,” Shaw said “And I’m proud to stand before you today to be leading that effort.”  The city council unanimously approved Shaw’s employment agreement on Tuesday which includes a starting salary of $198,017 annually said he had shown exemplary service and leadership “Chief Shaw’s over 30 years of extensive experience in law enforcement coupled with the five years he spent here made him the obvious choice for this position,” she said Ani Gasparyan covers the western Coachella Valley cities of Desert Hot Springs and Cathedral City History, Hotels + Resorts by | Apr 9 “We’re right on the San Andreas fault line,” says Danny Min A hot water well north of the property hovers at a natural temperature of more than 100 degrees “We’re right at the perfect location to draw our waters from two different sources.” Said to soothe aches and improve circulation the waters have lured famous bathers seeking an escape — perhaps even from the law “Al Capone is rumored to have frequented the property and possibly even owned it,” Min says “I think one of the coolest things around here is Cabot’s Pueblo Museum,” Min says “It’s less than five minutes away.” Early 20th-century homesteader Cabot Yerxa built the Hopi-style structure to house and display his collection of Native American artifacts and treasures from his many travels long known as a hub for cannabis in the Coachella Valley is making a dramatic move to help struggling dispensaries - cutting the city’s cannabis tax from 10% to 5% The proposal for the tax cut came as local cannabis businesses face rising pressure from high taxes and dispensaries on tribal land that don’t face the same tax requirements we have 5 or 6 that have been in business since day one And we want to make sure that we're there to support them." Council members had the first reading of the ordinance that outlines the proposed tax cut The Council voted unanimously to pass the ordinance pending a second reading and final adoption of the ordinance on May 6 Cannabis dispensaries as whole are experiencing a bit of an industry lull multiple cities across the Coachella Valley have recently taken steps to support the industry you you you always look at your region and you always look at the competitiveness between the cities And most of the cities are lowering their rates right now," Mayor Matas said Mayor Matas says competition is fierce in the industry right now with new dispensaries opening up shop across the Golden State and it's the perfect time to take a hard look at things "You have a lot of dispensaries opening across the state of California," he explained "You have the local tribes that are getting involved in it desert Hot Springs was really fortunate to pass a 1% sales tax in the last And so we were able to take in anywhere from would be an average anywhere between 2 and 3 extra million dollars a year So this is a perfect time for us to look at this in our budget cycle Mayor Matas and Desert Hot Springs are looked upon as trailblazers in the cannabis industry Desert Hot Springs was the first city to open up a legalized operation in the state of California But business owners say they’re paying nearly 40% in combined taxes between the city we have a sales tax that we pay to Riverside County co-owner of the Inland Valley Therapeutic Healing Center Then you have an excise tax to the state of California Robbin says taxes coupled with the inability to compete with dispensaries on tribal reservations and the success of the illicit market are taking a toll on their ability to thrive “The state promised a lot of enforcement," Robbin said all they've done is regulated our businesses that are legal and legitimate… and the people in the illicit markets have just been able to get slaps on the wrist They reopen a couple of weeks later like nothing even happened.” Mayor Matas doesn't anticipate any issue in the rate cut being adopted "I think the city council is very supportive and unanimous in the fact that we should reduce it to 5%," Mayor Matas explained "I don't think there's going to be an issue passing this going forward." What began as a campus built entirely through local partnerships will take a new turn Friday when Cal State San Bernardino’s Palm Desert Campus breaks ground on its first state-funded building — a student services center designed to expand support for its growing student population "This groundbreaking marks an exciting new chapter for our campus and the Coachella Valley," said Edna Martinez the associate vice president and administrator in charge at CSUSB PDC "The Student Services Building is set to transform the student experience and strengthen our ability to attract and retain local talent." Also in this week's education roundup: Palm Springs Unified School District names new principal for Painted Hills Middle in Desert Hot Springs; College of the Desert students win first place at Inland Empire cybersecurity competition; Desert Mirage High School students take first place at film festival for their documentary on the Puente program Did we miss a noteworthy education story? Raise your hand and send it my way: jennifer.cortez@desertsun.com More: UCR Palm Desert brings storytelling to the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books Cal State San Bernardino’s Palm Desert Campus will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for its new student services building at 9:30 a.m marking a major step in the campus’s continued growth The new facility, funded by a $79 million state budget allocation in 2022 was made possible in part through the support of former California State Assemblymembers Eduardo Garcia and Chad Mayes as well as a recreation and wellness center It is designed to support up to 4,000 full-time students Painted Hills Middle School in Desert Hot Springs will welcome a new principal at the start of the 2025-26 school year Sean Pendergraph has been appointed to lead the Panthers Palm Springs Unified School District announced during its late April board meeting Pendergraph began his career with the district in 2008 at Mt He was named Teacher of the Year in both 2012 and 2018 and most recently served as assistant principal at Nellie Coffman Middle School and currently at Desert Hot Springs High School More: What does the Palm Springs Unified community want from its next superintendent? He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of California Irvine; a master’s degree in educational administration from California State University San Bernardino; and earned his teaching credential from Chapman University and an administrative services credential from CSUSB "I am really looking forward to and excited to support Painted Hills and the family thanking his parents and daughter for their love and support Desert Sands Unified School District is also expected to announce new principals for Amelia Earhart Elementary School in Indio and James Earl Carter Elementary School at its Tuesday Team Tom and The Jerries proved they could be quick Created in response to a 2018 challenge by the California State Assembly to address a critical shortage of cybersecurity workers the Mayors Cup was developed by the Inland Economic Growth and Opportunity Collaborative to help fill 40,000 open positions across the state offering a beginner-friendly platform that promotes equity and access to cybersecurity opportunities throughout the region The following COD teams secured spots in the Mayor’s Cup rankings: More: Superintendent finalists for College of the Desert share their visions at public forum Two students from Desert Mirage High School in Thermal Jocelyn Marcelo-Salvador and Valeria Rodriguez were the real "scene stealers" at the Riverside High School Film Festival taking home the best documentary film award in a countywide competition of cinematic talent Their winning documentary was created last year as part of the Puente Program at the students' high school — in collaboration with the UCR Arts a photography museum and contemporary arts center the Puente Program supports underrepresented students in accessing higher education and becoming mentors and leaders in their communities Marcelo-Salvador and Rodriguez are also part of the career technical education pathway at Desert Mirage High School, where they study digital film production with teacher Derek Ellingson. Previously, students in the class presented an original documentary about Gerald Clarke and his 2023 Desert X installation Jennifer Cortez covers education in Coachella Valley Reach her at jennifer.cortez@desertsun.com Desert Hot Springs is moving forward with plans to build a new sports park in the city which includes naming it after its youth football league and high school mascot The new 7.6-acre park will be located at the corner of Cholla Drive and Hacienda Avenue which is currently called Corporate Yard and where the city stores its vehicles and has its Animal Care Center Plans for the park have been in the works since 2017 and it is meant to provide much-needed space for residents to play sports “Our city is sadly lacking in park space and it's been a priority for the city to expand that where we can,” said Mayor Pro Tem Gary Gardner Desert Hot Springs technically has nine park facilities but not all of them have outdoor space for sports one soccer facility and two diamond fields “We've had to really juggle things to keep the Little League and the Junior Football League and the youth soccer all using the limited spaces that we've had,” he said it's been a challenge to juggle all of that The city held a naming contest for the new park that got 174 entries, according to a city staff report. The city council unanimously selected the name “Eagles Sports Park” in late January, in honor of both the Golden Eagles, the mascot of Desert Hot Springs High School Gardner was on a subcommittee with Councilmember Jan Pye to help recommend a name Eagles Sports Park will have baseball and football fields Deputy City Manager Doria Wilms said it is in the final stages of plan check and the city expects to award the construction contract in the spring or early summer “It should be open by this time next year …  I don't know if it'll be ready for the football season this fall but it'll probably be ready for the Little League Baseball season next spring,” Gardner said The city will be moving the Corporate Yard to a corner of the site to make room for the park but the animal care center will stay where it is Desert Hot Springs is excited to have adoption events at the park in the future Gov. Gavin Newsom's Clean California Local Grant Program awarded the city $5 million for Eagles Sports Park, according to the state website The project is described as "a model for the City’s larger plan to transform parks and sidewalks into spaces that improve the quality of life and connectivity for residents of Desert Hot Springs and greener neighborhood that provides urban cooling The city will pay for the remaining $540,000 the park is expected to cost with funds from development impact fees The city will have a finalized budget for the park once it receives proposals from construction companies (KESQ) - Two people are in the hospital after being shot in Desert Hot Springs early Tuesday morning The shooting was first reported at around 2:15 a.m He was transported to the hospital in critical condition DHSPD Chief Steven Shaw told News Channel 3 Shaw said a second victim was found in a vehicle at the Union 76 gas station on Indian Canyon Drive "It appears that the victim also came from the Ave Alta Loma location and was being driven to the hospital by friends," Shaw wrote The second victim is in stable condition at the hospital Police also took three dogs that were inside the vehicle at the scene Officers later recovered another two dogs from inside the house where the shooting happened Detectives do not have any indication of outstanding suspects News Channel 3's Kendall Flynn spoke with neighbors along Ave Alta Loma who said this wasn't the first crime incident in the neighborhood and they were specifically concerned for their safety because of the house involved in Tuesday morning's shooting Many neighbors would not speak on camera because of this concern for their safety One neighbor told News Channel 3 they heard loud noises coming from the house Saturday night and the next morning they noticed several bullet holes outside their neighbors front door and a bullet hole in their own garage door But the incidents go beyond what happens at the house said her house was broken into on President's Day under her car with her dog while a man raided her home She believes the Desert Hot Springs Police were not responsive enough to growing concerns in the neighborhood had filed several police reports over the law few weeks (This story was updated to add new information and a new photo.) Desert Hot Springs' city manager is stepping down from his role as he deals with an illness in his family Frank Luckino's resignation was announced by Mayor Scott Matas on Tuesday Luckino became city manager in late 2023, filling the vacancy left by Luke Rainey, who resigned in February of that same year The city council unanimously voted in a closed session meeting Tuesday to appoint Deputy City Manager Doria Wilms the city's interim city manager. She also held this role in the few months before Desert Hot Springs hired Luckino Matas said Luckino took personal time off in the past few weeks and has decided to resign from his position who was acting city manager while Luckino was out of office previously told The Desert Sun that Luckino's father was sick and he was taking care of his family "The city council expresses its deep appreciation for Mr Luckino's contributions and leadership during his tenure," the city said in a press release Desert Hot Springs' agreement with Wilms will be voted on during the council's regular session on March 18 "I am honored to take on the role of interim city manager," Wilms said in a statement "I look forward to continuing the city's progress and working closely with the city council and the community to ensure Desert Hot Springs remains on a path of growth and success." Wilms has lived in Desert Hot Springs for 44 years She has worked in the city manager's office since 2016 was promoted to assistant city manager in 2019 and was promoted to deputy city manager in 2021 Matas said the council has "utmost confidence" in Wilms' leadership and deep understanding of Desert Hot Springs make her an ideal choice to maintain continuity as the city moves forward," he said (KESQ) - Desert Hot Springs City Council voted Tuesday night to remove Public Safety Commission member Michael Rizzio who says he is being terminated from the position for doing his job in protecting the public Rizzio says he requested an emergency Public Safety Commission meeting April 6 to discuss police brutality in the city He claims he did not witness the brutality situation but it was brought to his attention by a person who felt victimized by police and in his two-year term he has tried to investigate other matters like this but was denied by the Public Safety Commission Rizzio sent an email with an attachment requesting the emergency meeting he was told he was in violation of City Ordinance Section 2-40-020: "To act as an advisor between the community and the City Council," an allegation Rizzio says is not true He says no one from the Council or Commission has contacted him about the situation which is one he feels was part of his public safety duties "Even though they don't want me to do my job anymore when those people got beat up from the police," Rizzio said I have to follow through with those victims." Desert Hot Springs Mayor Matas and the city's Public Information Officer declined to comment on Rizzio's claims prior to the vote Homeless encampments on public property in Desert Hot Springs are now prohibited after the city council unanimously passed anti-camping laws on Tuesday meaning it went into effect immediately for 45 days prohibiting encampments in public areas like streets The council also passed the same regulations as a regular ordinance that will go into effect around May and stay in place unless the council takes action to change it Interim City Manager Doria Wilms said Desert Hot Springs’ homelessness services have been working and these new rules are just to codify and catch the city up to where it needs to be with the United States’ latest laws The United States Supreme Court ruled in City of Grants Pass v. Johnson on June 28, 2024 that the Eighth Amendment doesn’t prohibit cities from implementing ordinances that ban camping on public property issued an executive order in response to the ruling requiring state agencies to adopt policies that address homeless encampments The order also encouraged local agencies to do the same “This executive order directs state agencies to move urgently to address dangerous encampments while supporting and assisting the individuals living in them — and provides guidance for cities and counties to do the same,” the governor said in a press release “The state has been hard at work to address this crisis on our streets It’s time for everyone to do their part.”  said encampments are moving to Desert Hot Springs as nearby cities start to enforce laws prohibiting them She said one example is how the California Department of Transportation clearing encampments along the freeway has increased their number in Desert Hot Springs The city opened what it referred to as a “homeless access hub” in October 2023 to provide homelessness assistance and due to a prior court ruling that made it so cities couldn’t have anti-camping ordinances if they didn’t have enough shelter beds Supreme Court overturned this ruling in the 2024 case The hub, originally an overnight shelter run by Martha’s Village & Kitchen, is now a crisis stabilization facility run by Social Work Action Group said moving people from public spaces to the hub has been hard to do “The city has seen increased criminal activity related to encampments and risks such as vacant structure fires rise when individuals refuse services at the hub,” she said Desert Hot Springs’ new anti-camping laws make it illegal for there to be homeless encampments on public property unless the city manager authorizes it People are also not allowed to sleep in public areas like the sidewalk or an alley The ordinance makes it illegal to camp or sleep at any time in the city if it threatens or risks harm to others threatens or risks public health or public safety or disrupts businesses and other kinds of facilities It is always illegal to camp or have an encampment on private property except if the owner or an authorized person is doing so legally There are a few exceptions to the new law — it doesn’t apply if there’s a declared state of emergency if the city sponsors or controls the encampment or if people are camping in places where it is legally allowed Desert Hot Springs will clear our encampments after providing at least 48-hour written notice beforehand The city manager will also have a process in place for if people are present while an encampment is cleared what to do about personal property if it's unsafe and how people can get their property back if the city was able to store it for them But the city could clear out encampments faster than 48 hours under special circumstances The city may give people only three hours to pack up their belongings before clearing an area out if the county or other government authority directs it to for public health or public safety or if the city manager believes the encampment causes a notable threat of death DESERT HOT SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – According to a Facebook post from the Desert Hot Springs Police Department officers responded to a report of a shooting in the area of Palm Drive and Ironwood Drive on Saturday evening officers contacted the victim and found no one was injured in the incident officers identified the suspect’s location With the assistance of Riverside County Sheriff deputies a surround and call-out was conducted at a nearby residence The suspect ultimately surrendered without incident Desert Hot Springs Police Chief Jim Henson announced he will be retiring at the end of the month after more than three decades in law enforcement Henson, who was appointed chief in 2019, will be stepping down from his position on Feb. 28, according to a statement shared Wednesday on the Desert Hot Springs Police Department's Facebook page His three decades of law enforcement experience include more than 20 years in Desert Hot Springs where he previously held the positions of patrol officer "Serving the citizens of Desert Hot Springs has been the honor of my career," Henson said in a statement "I am also truly inspired by the men and women of the Desert Hot Springs Police Department who exemplify the very best in law enforcement." Deputy Chief Steve Shaw will be assume the position of interim chief upon Henson’s departure Henson’s tenure saw the implementation of new technology during operations and infrastructure upgrades "I want to congratulate Chief Henson on his well-deserved retirement," Mayor Scott Matas said in a statement "Chief Henson has been an outstanding public servant for over 20 years in the City of Desert Hot Springs His dedication and contributions to the City have been invaluable City News Service contributed to this report Ema Sasic covers entertainment and health in the Coachella Valley Reach her at ema.sasic@desertsun.com or on Twitter @ema_sasic (KESQ) - The Riverside County Fire Department contained a fire to a garage at a single-story residence in Desert Hot Springs today Firefighters received a report of smoke coming from a one-family dwelling in the 66000 block of Cahuilla Avenue shortly before 5:50 a.m Red Cross assistance was requested for a total of eight displaced residents while authorities transported two patients via ambulance to a local medical facility Another injured patient declined further care after a paramedic evaluation RCFD personnel said they would remain at the scene for an additional two hours Desert Hot Springs City Manager Frank Luckino is on indefinite leave due to a family emergency but the city council is scheduled to discuss appointing an interim city manager next week Deputy City Manager Doria Wilms is acting city manager in Luckino’s absence She said Luckino’s father is ill and he’s taking time off to take care of his family for the foreseeable future Wilms said she had no information about him resigning as of earlier this week and Mayor Pro Tem Gary Gardner said Luckino had not submitted a resignation letter The city council’s agenda for its March 4 meeting lists that councilmembers will discuss the possible appointment of an interim city manager during closed session Gardner said the council is expecting an update on what’s going on and the topic is on the agenda in case it will have to make any changes He was still not aware of a resignation letter on Friday morning and said the council will know more after its upcoming Tuesday meeting (KESQ) - Desert Hot Springs City officials were on hand Tuesday to break ground for the new Desert Hot Springs Police Department annex project The new development will be on Pierson Boulevard near the existing Desert Hot Springs Police Station and will include locker rooms and work spaces for police detectives and other specialized teams including the new Desert Hot Springs Chief of Police Steven Shaw say the annex will play a vital role in enhancing public safety services in Desert Hot Springs The annex is part of the larger Public Safety Campus project which will also include a new fire station (KESQ) – A new push to clear homeless encampments is creating mixed reactions At Tuesday's meeting, the Desert Hot Springs City Council passed the camping restrictions ordinance that is aimed at removing homeless encampments from public spaces while citing safety and sanitation concerns Some Desert Hot Springs residents say it's long overdue while others wonder where people will go "I'm open to whatever solution is coming up as long as something gets done," Marilyn Hannan Stay with News Channel 3 to hear how an unhoused family is reacting to the new ordinance (KESQ) - The City of Desert Hot Springs is breaking ground on a road improvement project along Hacienda Avenue a main road that crosses through the center of the city City officials say the improvement project which is set to continue through March 2026 The goal: improve safety on the city's roads "This is one of many roads when I became mayor nine years ago that we really wanted to focus on and make safe for our community," says Scott Matas Matas also says improvements made on Palm Drive have reduced pedestrian casualties in the city — a metric that he says the city was one of the leaders in ten years ago The city says the portion of Hacienda Avenue being improved extends from West Drive to Tamar Drive which is a 1.3-mile stretch of the road that runs through the center of the city But some residents have taken to social media to point out other portions of that road like near Julius Corsini Elementary School Mayor Scott Matas says those residents should wait for the project's second phase: "We heard our residents loud and clear When we actually received a grant for this first phase we went immediately back out looking for grant funding and we received that not long after that the process with the state of California sometimes lingers And so this phase next phase will start in about a year." The second phase of the project will stretch from Tamar Drive to Long Canyon Road Deputy City Manager Daniel Porras says these improvements are what residents have been asking for "The feedback has been missing improvements they’re excited to actually see some infrastructure come into play." City officials hope to do more in the future So we do want to continue this type of project in other areas of the city as well," Porras hints A former Desert Hot Springs City Council member, Russell Betts, pleaded guilty this week to a misdemeanor charge in what prosecutors called an apparent road rage incident Betts pleaded guilty to unlawfully fighting in public or challenging someone to fight The charge carries a maximum penalty of 90 days in jail and a $400 fine although people without prior criminal records generally receive lesser sentences Betts is scheduled to be sentenced March 14 in Riverside County Superior Court felony vandalism and misdemeanor false imprisonment but pleaded guilty Thursday only to the unlawful fighting charge Betts' attorney could not immediately be reached Friday evening one day before an election in which Betts was running for mayor and lost to incumbent Scott Matas Prosecutors made no public announcement of the charges A woman told authorities her son had driven past Betts' car on the shoulder of a road on Aug. 4 and that Betts — at the time a sitting council member — appeared upset and "made some sort of hand gesture," according to a court declaration filed by Senior Investigator Lauren Swirsky of the Riverside County District Attorney's Office Betts then followed the driver to a 7-Eleven at 66-500 8th St The investigator reviewed store security footage and described what happened in her written declaration saying that Betts parked behind the driver despite there being other available spaces and opened his hood apparently pretending he was having car trouble but the conversation was brief and ended with Betts flinging up his arm and the driver getting into his car Because he was mostly blocked in by Betts' car he couldn't back out and eventually bumped the side of Betts' car door with what Swirsky called "minimal force." Betts then "kicked in a downward motion with his right leg," hitting the passenger side of the driver's car then struck the car twice more with his right hand The driver was eventually able to leave and then Betts also left The entire incident took place in just three minutes Although the driver's name was redacted in a court document Jennifer Shannon told The Desert Sun her 22-year-old son She said her son had just purchased his car and admitted he was still getting better at driving it he went into a lane at the wrong time and waved to apologize to the other driver Jennifer Shannon said Betts caused more than $3,000 damage to the car by kicking and hitting it and her son had to sell it because he couldn't pay to get it fixed When Desert Hot Springs police got a report they referred the case to the district attorney's office to avoid the conflict of interest of the city's police department investigating a council member A fast food chain location in Desert Hot Springs was closed temporarily by Riverside County health inspectors due to an active and ongoing cockroach infestation was closed on March 11 due to a number of live and dead cockroaches being observed throughout the facility seeing that all prior violations were corrected Here are the restaurants that were inspected in the Coachella Valley March 7 through 14: means a restaurant passed an inspection and met minimum health standards Note: No restaurant inspections were reported for businesses in the cities of Coachella La Quinta and Rancho Mirage for the week of March 7 through 14 (KESQ) - A man was arrested in Desert Hot Springs today after police allegedly found bags of methamphetamine on his car's front seat Officers responded to a report of a suspicious person early Tuesday morning and found the suspect standing outside his vehicle according to the Desert Hot Springs Police Department officers "couldn't help but notice (the bags) sitting in plain view on the front seat,'' police said The suspect was taken into custody later that morning It was not immediately clear where the incident took place Firefighters are working to fully contain a fire at a large pallet yard in Desert Hot Springs The fire was first reported just before 2:00 p.m near the intersection of Ben Mar and Dillon Road "Firefighters responded to numerous reports of an unknown type fire at the above location The first arriving engine company reported a large pallet fire approximately 1/4 to 1/2 acre in size," reads a CAL FIRE post at 3:00 p.m CAL FIRE confirmed the blaze had burned 1 acre The Palm Springs and Cathedral City fire departments are assisting Dillon Road is closed between Little Morongo Road and Palm Drive We're working on confirming additional information Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing updates Sponsored, Vision by | Oct 5 Visitors can also soak up culture at the incredible Cabot’s Pueblo Museum a unique treasure located in the heart of Desert Hot Springs The pioneering adventurer and artist Cabot Yerxa built the multistory Hopi-inspired pueblo with reclaimed and found objects — windows and doors collected and reassembled from abandoned homesteads and buck board wagon parts — on property he homesteaded in 1913 filled with Native American art and artifacts souvenirs of Cabot’s travels around the world The city is installing 80 EV charging stations at public facilities “We’re looking for business owners to look at the tourist side of that,” says Desert Hot Springs Mayor Scott Matas We’re going to hear what they have to say and see if we can build interest.” “Desert Hot Springs is the only city in the Coachella Valley to qualify for USDA home loans,” Wilms says “That means prospective home buyers can qualify for an amazing zero-down loan you can’t get elsewhere.” Friday Nights on Pierson is about food and festivities Among the city’s water conservation measures include the use of drought-tolerant landscaping and the promotion of water-efficient appliances These efforts reduce consumption and help protect the natural springs the city’s use of renewable energy is reducing its carbon footprint Many homes and businesses have installed solar panels contributing to the city’s overall energy sustainability and the city is installing 80 EV charging stations at public facilities throughout the community providing 160 parking stalls for charging electric vehicles The shift toward renewable energy not only helps adapt to climate change but also reduces energy costs for residents and business owners The city’s Recreation Center provides accessible affordable enrichment and recreation for youth and families Desert Hot Springs is a forward-looking city demonstrating growth and innovation across almost every industry sector — a perfect time to come and be part of the city’s success Patrick's Day - a day of festivities and good cheer But alcohol is often included on the holiday so police are urging everyone to be safe and plan ahead News Channel 3's Peter Daut spoke with Desert Hot Springs Police Corporal Sean McGuire who says the department is stepping up enforcement on St Court Moe tells News Channel 3 that after our report on April 28th SCE visited his home and installed the switch (KESQ) – One Desert Hot Springs resident is voicing his concern with Southern California Edison after waiting months to turn his solar system online finished installing the solar panel and batteries in late February They told him within the next two to three weeks they would receive approval to connect the solar panels to the grid and Southern California Edison would install a switch to allow the system to be turned online According to Cosmic Solar & Roofing's Chief Operating Officer they have been waiting on a "Tesla Backup Switch" (a meter collar) that connects the Tesla Powerwall battery they installed to the home and electrical grid Shadzi says Southern California Edison is the only authorized entity in the area to install the meter collar Shadzi's solar company isn't able to finalize the project or inspect it with Riverside County "I expected it to be two or three weeks before Edison would hook us up And now it's over a little over two months and still Moe says there needs to be improvements when it comes to communication with Edison He says he's reached out to the utility via email and phone several times since February to inquire about the status of his system I can call the IRS or the state anything in the state Why don't they have somebody you can talk to?” Moe asks Cosmic Solar also reached out by leaving voicemails at Edison's help line; they only received a reply last week Edison said they tried to install the meter collar in February but were unable to complete the installation "they tried to come out to install the meter collar but could not 'probably because of meter access issues.'" "There are absolutely no meter access issues here on site The Edison meter is on the front side of the house and completely available from the street gates or obstructions are present on this property," Shadzi continues in a statement to KESQ News Channel Three reached out to Southern California Edison A spokesman for the power company says it is launching an investigation into this issue but says it will likely take several days before any findings can be released Stay with us for the latest updates on what the cause of the issue may be – and for the status of Moe's solar panel system (This story has been updates with additional information) an 18-hole Robert Trent Jones Jr.-designed course in Desert Hot Springs Opened in 1989 as the first Trent Jones Jr Desert Dunes was built just off Palm Drive north of Interstate 10 That location was part of the problem for the course as strong winds in the exposed desert could make the course unplayable at times a National Hockey League Hall of Famer who served as director of golf at Desert Dunes in the 2010s said he didn’t know much about the decision to close the course The closure leaves Desert Hot Springs with just one 18-hole regulation golf course and the owner went back up to Canada,” Fuhr said Fuhr said it wasn’t just the wind that caused problems at Desert Dunes. now a television commentator for the Coachella Valley Firebirds of the American Hockey League but it seems like people fly to Scotland for the same experience I think the biggest knock on it was it was never in great shape More: 2024 in golf: Surprise winners, new courses all part of desert golf scene Desert Dunes also suffered from numerous ownership changes once being owned by a Japanese company that renamed the course The Fields for a short period of time The course’s website said the course appreciated the support of desert golfers when we ran out of money trying to maintain the course to the standards we have all enjoyed our outside funding ceased and given all the issues we had no choice than to close the course,” the website statement said the course hosted several events on what was called the Canadian Tour and hosted high school events and even one U.S there were several proposals that developers would build homes around the golf course Fuhr said the course itself needed to improve before homes were built It was the upkeep of the course that was the issue saying Desert Dunes was one of the best Robert Trent Jones Jr The layout of the course took holes into the native desert with several holes protected from the wind by large groves of tamarisk trees But the driving range played directly into the prevailing winds in the exposed desert as did the ninth and 18th holes and Land are now under the care of Oswit Land Trust Our hope is that the land becomes a permanent Nature Preserve in the near future.” the founder and executive director of Oswit Land Trust we do not own the golf course and we do not discuss any possible land negotiations and acquisitions with the media until land is acquired and safe from destruction," said Jane Garrison founder and executive director of Oswit Land Trust "This is out of respect for the land owners." Oswit Land Trust is a Palm Springs-based 501(c)3 nonprofit whose mission statement says it is "to save and preserve land wildlife habitat and ecosystems located in Southern California from impending destruction." Oswit recently purchased Mesquite Country Club in Palm Springs with plans to turn that 18-hole course into a nature preserve as well was the last time a course in the Coachella Valley closed Desert Sun reporter Sam Morgen contributed to this report Mayor Scott Matas announced during Tuesday's city council meeting who serves as the city's Deputy City Manager was unanimously appointed as the acting City Manager Acting City Manager Doria Wilms gave the following statement: "I cannot confirm the below reference [Luckino] submitted a resignation What I can confirm is that Frank had an unexpected family emergency and has been out of the office to care for his father I have been named acting City Manager in his absence to ensure the day to day management of city operations." Luckino took over the City Manager job in Desert Hot Springs in November 2023 He was previously City Manager in both the cities of 29 Palms and Blythe Desert Hot Springs High School has had some heartbreaking finishes over the years in girls' soccer Head coach Scott Saban has a list of them in his head Add Tuesday's 3-2 loss to Rim of the World High to the listing Yadhira Vizcarra and Ruby Fuentes had scored and the Golden Eagles led by a goal in the final minutes of their Division 7 quarterfinal match against the Fighting Scots in the CIF Southern Section playoffs Desert Hot Springs had never trailed in the game and a ticket to the quarterfinals appeared to be punched Rim of the World found the back of the net to tie the game and stun the home crowd of more than 300 That gave the Fighting Scots the momentum in the game it looked like the Golden Eagles would emerge victorious while Desert Hot Springs made its first three in the best-of-five format the Golden Eagles missed and Rim of the World survived by making four consecutive after that first miss The two teams then went to a sixth shot and Desert Hot Springs missed again Rim of the World found the back of the net The Fighting Scots stormed the field while the Golden Eagles and their fans stood in shock "But I told the girls that these are life lessons Sometimes it doesn't work out the way you want before finishing the season 11-0-1 prior to Tuesday's playoff game That stretch helped the Golden Eagles claim a Sun Valley League title To take a team that started the season 1-6 to the CIF-SS quarterfinals is something Saban said will help offset the bitterness of how the season ended including a strong freshman class that will lead the team as sophomores next season "We had a good group of girls and we fought to the end By the numbersFuentes ends her career third all-time in goals (60) at Desert Hot Springs and senior JJ Delgado (47) finishes her career fourth all time despite playing just three years of varsity soccer Andrew John covers sports for The Desert Sun and the USA TODAY Network Desert Hot Springs High School opened in 1999 and as the gymnasium walls will tell you the Golden Eagles sports programs have won several league titles over the years There are league championship banners hanging for baseball for boys' basketball and that's something that head coach Justin Flores has been anxious to change "We even went to the CIF championship game a couple of years ago and that's one thing I wanted to make sure we brought to this school," Flores said He's happy because the drought is officially over The 2024-25 Golden Eagles' boys' basketball team will hang a banner after blitzing through the new Sun Valley League with a 9-0 record I've always talked about this and it feels good that I actually had a hand in making it happen," said junior Tyron Grays who averages 14.7 points per game for the Golden Eagles That's what really puts us into like that winning mode." That winning mode wasn't turned on yet early in the season as the Golden Eagles started slow But the pieces started to come together as transfers that had to sit out early in the year joined the lineup and football players banged up from that season started to get healthy a sophomore transfer from Palm Springs High He had to sit out until late December but since he's joined the lineup the fast-paced offense that Flores likes to play with has flourished and is the perfect floor general for a team that likes to play fast crank up some pressure defense and shoot the 3-pointer "It's really been fun and it's good to be a part of this team and build something up like this with new people," Castro said "We've got each other's backs and our mindset is just go out and try to kill whoever's in front of you but the lineup also includes Jaymere and Jaire Broach and some play-making guards like Brandon Mayo Adain Ewing and 3-point specialist Dominick Ambel The team is peaking at the right time as the CIF-SS playoffs begin Wednesday Desert Hot Springs opens with a road game at Anaheim in the Class 5AA division The Golden Eagles seem to have the ingredients for a deep postseason run playing unselfish ball and just dominating out there," said Ambel Coach Flores knows that anything can happen in the playoffs but he admits it feels like the team is clicking right now As he cast his gaze at his team warming up before a recent win over Cathedral City Flores said almost under his breath so as not to jinx anything "Yeah I think we're a pretty scary team right now." Shad Powers is a columnist for The Desert Sun Desert Hot Springs is halving its cannabis retail tax in order to financially help the ailing industry The city council unanimously approved an ordinance on Tuesday that will reduce the cannabis retail tax rate from 10% to 5% of gross sales once it goes into effect. It voted to bring forth the ordinance for the council’s consideration at its last meeting Cannabis business owners throughout the Coachella Valley have been arguing that they are facing an onslaught of issues that make it difficult to keep their doors open such as competition with the illicit market costs associated with state and local regulations California is also increasing its statewide cannabis excise tax in July. This will add further financial burden to cannabis business if Assembly Bill 564 What other steps has Desert Hot Springs taken to help cannabis businesses?The city reduced its cannabis cultivation tax in 2024 from $10.20 to $5.75 per square foot. It had previously temporarily reduced it Desert Hot Springs predicts it may lose from $600,000 to $750,000 annually in revenue but it has been seeing a decline without a lower retail tax in place anyway While it had over $1.5 million in retail sale revenue in 2024 The lower tax rate will likely be implemented in early June according to Interim City Manager Doria Wilms (KESQ) - Desert Hot Springs Police made good use of their drone to follow and catch a suspect trying to get away from a traffic stop on Tuesday Desert Hot Springs Police officers report in a Facebook post they attempted to stop a male suspect who was illegally riding a mini bike on city streets The officers say they were able to use their drone to follow the suspect riding his bike as he weaved through traffic and ignored stop signs until he ended up at his home Police added that when they knocked at his front door DESERT HOT SPRINGS – Mayor Yvonne Parks on Friday blasted her own city hall for a newly released budget report that shows the city has a $3.07 million shortfall and could be headed for bankruptcy Parks told The Desert Sun on Friday morning do not match the balanced figures that City Council members were given in the monthly budget updates They just put you out there and let you get blindsided Desert Hot Springs officials announced a special council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday where a budget report shows the city expects to end fiscal year 2013-14 with a $3.07 million shortfall It shows the city will run out of operating cash by March posted Thursday to the Desert Hot Springs city website also contains information from City Attorney Steve Quintanilla on municipal bankruptcy “I was asked to provide a summary of a procedure regarding municipal bankruptcy and what constitutes a fiscal emergency and what they can do,” Quintanilla said Desert Hot Springs’ general fund contained $3,555,001 “This makes it necessary to make difficult decisions quickly in order to turn around the financial condition of the city,” the report continues “The city will need to take steps to declare a Fiscal Emergency very soon Staff has issued a ‘Notice of Public Hearing’ for a Fiscal Emergency Public Hearing to be acted on at the regular City Council meeting on Nov if the City Council should decide to do so,” the report adds Parks said the last city budget she saw had a $16 million projected revenue The latest figures given to her Thursday show it has dropped to $13 million Part of the gap has to do with anticipated sales tax revenue that hasn’t come into city coffers yet But she admitted she’s not sure how the projections changed by $3 million in just months “There’s a whole bunch of stuff in there that I question,” Parks said “I want a total explanation of why you can go from a $4.1 million reserve and in six months you have a fiscal crisis Councilman Russell Betts said it wasn’t a surprise “We had an urban futures report that was released back in May,” Betts said and we covered it in several finance meetings “This wild spending has been talked about for two years now.” there were some serious problems with how the city managed its budget citing the Wellness and World Music Festival in which the promoter received $250,000 in public funds and never held the event “We also have 15 city employees with compensation packages of more than $200,000,” Betts said the important thing for the public to know is the city has a new council that will be looking closely at the financial situation adding “this is not the time for finger-pointing.” “It is not a foregone conclusion that bankruptcy will be declared but this council is going to have to get serious about cost-cutting,” he said The city’s attorney said the report on the city’s website contains just part of his summary The full report will present options the city can take with regard to its financial situation with respect to putting a tax on the ballot altering labor agreements and/or reducing benefits he’ll give a full report about the legal procedure Quintanilla said he found out Wednesday that Interim City Manager Bob Adams had called a special study session for Tuesday to talk about the city’s finances Councilman Scott Matas also said he was “quite upset.” “it is not going to be cutting public safety,” Matas said but I believe we can find ways to cut so that the city won’t have to file bankruptcy.” Riverside County Auditor-Controller Paul Angulo said he was very disappointed the city council didn’t take action earlier to head off the bankruptcy scenario it’s now facing “The city’s dire fiscal condition did not happen overnight,” Angulo said “It is the responsibility of the city’s leadership to anticipate and adjust to lower revenues accordingly to minimize its service impact I call on the city council to work collaboratively in the best interests of the people and to take immediate action to prevent a disruption to law enforcement and other critical services to the community.” The report comes amid a close election count Parks was on this week’s ballot, and the latest election results show she is holding onto her seat with a 27-vote lead over Councilman Adam Sanchez Another 700 ballots countywide need to be tallied Parks told voters “we critically review the budget monthly to ensure there is no deficit spending.” That website also touted the fact that council adopted a mid-year budget that had an estimated $236,000 surplus and a “healthy reserve” of $4.1 million by the end of the year “When we looked at the (monthly) reports that were submitted to us there was nothing in any one of those that showed this critical analysis “It showed we were going along in the same thing We have been looking at it month after month “Every document that we had showed us at the bottom line that we were still in the black.” but Parks said she will demand answers when normal business operations resume next week A suspect was taken into custody following a high-speed pursuit in Desert Hot Springs that put three schools on lockout The incident started shortly before 10:00 a.m Desert Hot Springs police chief Jim Henson told News Channel 3 that a pursuit was initiated after a driver field to yield to a police traffic stop The pursuit ended when officers were able to use spike strips to stop the vehicle Henson said a passenger in the vehicle immediately got out of the vehicle News Channel 3 was at a scene with a heavy police presence near Hacienda and Casa Loma and Two Bunch Palms kept its students in classrooms during the incident spokesperson for the Palm Springs Unified School District Longtime Desert Hot Springs Councilmember Russell Betts has been charged by the Riverside County District Attorney's office Betts has been charged with felony vandalism and misdemeanor false imprisonment the incident happened on the morning of Aug It details notes from DA Senior Investigator Lauren Swirsky The original report came from the victim's mother who told police that the victim drove past Betts and made a hand gesture Swirsky writes that Betts is believed to have followed the victim into the 7-Eleven parking lot where he parked his vehicle with little room for the victim's vehicle to get out drove into Bett's side door with minimal force Betts is accused of then kicking the victim's vehicle and striking two more times with his hand before the victim was able to back out and leave the parking lot The investigator wrote that the auto repair shop noted that the damage to the victim's car came to about $3,224 Betts told News Channel 3 that he had not been notified of the charges prior to today Desert Hot Springs Police Chief Jim Henson said his department's only involvement is forwarding a complaint to the DA's office for investigation by the Public Integrity Office Betts has been a councilmember in Desert Hot Springs since 2007 Stay with News Channel 3 for any new developments INDIO (CNS) - A 29-year-old man must stand trial for murder stemming from the death of a 20-year-old man whose body was found in the open desert of Desert Hot Springs Gabriel "Vago" Magdaleno was held to answer last Wednesday at the Larson Justice Center in Indio on a felony count of murder and a sentence-enhancing allegation of discharging a firearm causing great bodily injury He is due back in court for a post-preliminary hearing arraignment on Feb Magdaleno is accused in the slaying of David Joaquin Murrieta of Desert Hot Springs Rick Espinoza of the Riverside County Sheriff's Department 25-year-old Jose Manuel Angel Arellano is also accused in the case but was charged separately from Magdaleno with murder Arellano initially pleaded not guilty to the murder charge in February 2021 deputies from the sheriff's Palm Desert station investigating a missing person case discovered human remains on Jan in the area of Mission Lakes Boulevard and Little Morongo Road Martin Alfaro testified in Arellano's preliminary hearing that Murrieta's body was found with three gunshot wounds -- one entering from the back of his head one from the left side of his head and one from the right side of his chin -- in a shallow grave under a set of metal springs in the open desert Mexico to the Palm Desert sheriff's station on Feb 2021 to tell "his side of the story'' and alleged that his friend Arellano said the trio were at Murrieta's house before they all left in the defendant's truck and drove toward Indio At some point while Arellano was driving on Intestate 10 approaching Cook Street Both men had guns in their hands during the argument and Arellano said Magdaleno felt disrespected according to a declaration in support of Magdaleno's arrest warrant filed by Alfaro "Arellano told me that he saw Magdaleno shoot once at victim Murrieta in the back of the head and subsequently saw him shoot him two additional times after,'' Alfaro testified in 2023 where they ended up burying Murrieta with a shovel that was in the back of the truck Arellano subsequently went to a house on Sixth Street to get rid of his clothes by burning them before driving his truck to Mexico with a declaration in support of his arrest being filed by Alfaro on Aug Magdaleno pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery in 2014 in Riverside County He did not have any documented felony convictions in Riverside County at the time of his arrest Inmate records indicated both defendants are being held at the Southwest Detention Center in Murrieta on $1 million bail the Desert Hot Springs Community Task Force began renovations to its Shea Veterans facility The building has been helping house homeless veterans and offers help with jobs and mental health services The building has ten individual units and has provided shelter for more than 50 residents "They are the veterans that served our country," said CEO David Shea "And so we figure give them the best opportunity living space that we can possibly give them So as a give back to them for their service we're just going to make it feel like home as much as possible within the budget that we have." Shea's mother first acquired the property in 2019 and since then it has served as a safe space for veterans in need of temporary housing "We find that there's some wellness or healing that comes within the community here," said Shea I had one gentleman that I did an intake for He had been living in a tent behind Vons for two years the center started showing signs of wear and tear the President and Founder of the Relief Foundation for Veterans learned about the Center "What we see is that they go above and beyond to help out veterans the Desert Hot Springs community in total,” said Abney Jr He worked closely with Shea to make sure the center got the quality facelift it needed "We're also going to be making sure the paints match The renovations were completed through a partnership with The Veterans Relief Foundation lacking basic necessities such as functioning air conditioning "We have been operating here for three years," said Abney Jr "And we are committed to assisting veterans in any way possible." Tori King joined KESQ News Channel 3 as a reporter and anchor in October 2023. Learn more about Tori here There were several remarks made at the Desert X 2025 Exhibition Preview March 7 "No matter who you are are or where you live in the Coachella Valley … wherever you're coming from you have access," Perez said of the Desert X installations Desert Hot Springs — don't have the money to go to a real nice museum The public has been able to view nine Desert X installations since March 8, and after a few more opened later in March, all 11 are now open and will be on display through May 11. The map is available on Desert X's website Here's your first look at all the 2025 Desert X exhibits throughout the Coachella Valley New York City-based interdisciplinary artist Sanford Biggers wants you to look at the two tall pole structures — with sparkling clouds atop them — that make up "Unsui" and think about place and time "'Unsui (Mirror)' is an opportunity to slow down and reflect on what it means to drift like clouds and flow like water," he told the Desert X team That was certainly the case for viewers on Friday who were lucky enough to watch the piece sway in the wind and catch the light in a way that made it truly sparkle against its backdrop of the Little San Bernardino Mountains Location: North of the Palm Springs Visitor Center at Tramway Road "Plotting Rest" is one of the last few Desert X pieces to be open to the public Kiwanga brings to life a pavilion-like structure that features columns made of different shapes and materials (triangles Architecture is a big part of Palm Springs' identity though this structure offers very little protection from the elements as there are no walls or closed ceilings to keep nature out as the sun hits the piece throughout the day ever-changing shadows are cast on the ground "The Living Pyramid" by 94-year-old Hungarian-American artist Agnes Denes stands as a tall monument to architecture and the environment at Sunnylands The pyramid will go through a few iterations while it's on display and it is currently covered in live vegetation that is native to the area and was planted a couple months ago The structure will be brought to life by the plants' life cycles that will showcase their growth reminding us all of the beauty and preciousness of life Location: Worsley Road between Pierson Boulevard & Painted Hills Road Mexican multidisciplinary artist Jose Dávila told the Desert X team a simple message he'd like to convey to those viewing "The act of being together": "Look beyond what you see and feel the silence between the objects." To fully appreciate Dávila's rock formations it's best to approach them from various angles Get up close to enjoy the views of Desert Hot Springs and the windmills and explore the different perspectives that the installation provides Although it may appear simple at first glance there is much more to discover than meets the eye Location: Pierson Boulevard between Foxdale Drive & Miracle Hill Road Ride" in Desert Hot Springs should be prepared for a journey just under a mile into the canyons of Desert Hot Springs from the parking lot off Pierson Boulevard the artwork speaks to the modern culture of "van life" and sustainability in rural areas those parking and camping on Bureau of Land Management land and the open desert The retro van features some accents that speak to his Mandan Arikara and Lakota ancestry and the setting 'Five things you can’t wear on TV'Artist: Raphael Hefti shiny line stretching from one side of Homme Adams Park to the other "Five things you can’t wear on TV" by Zurich-based artist Raphael Hefti utilizes a black woven polymer fiber — originally designed for light durable fire hoses — that is coated on one side with a reflective surface to form and you might even hear a gentle vibration nearby too Another installation featured at Desert X AlUla in 2024 and now in the Coachella Valley is "To Breathe," a circular structure with glass walls coated in a special film that makes the landscape of Desert Hot Springs seem to fade away the sounds of your footsteps begin to echo louder The experience of being outdoors in the desert changes throughout your journey in and out of the structure including the view of people on the other side of the walls as they pass by Sarah Meyohas’ sprawling "Truth Arrives in Slanted Beams" showcases "caustics," or light patterns formed by the refraction or reflection of light through curved surfaces Visitors are greeted by a white pathway on the side of the road that leads them to the ribbon-like installation words from the art piece's name are projected onto the white walls Waves and other patterns (we promise they're not mirages) are seen projected as well "Adobe Oasis" took about seven weeks to make and it was assembled entirely by a 3D printer Berkeley-based artist Ronald Rael told viewers on Friday that he wanted to create something out of adobe because it's a tactile material — which can be recycled if the piece is destroyed — that we as humans are deeply connected to via heritage and genetics "I see an adobe house the same way I see ancestors and grandparents "This is the skin of our future ancestors." Location: Pierson Boulevard between North Indian Canyon Drive & Desert Terrace Way located off Pierson Boulevard in Desert Hot Springs features several signs welcoming customers to the full-service experience that was once common at gas stations Its small and rustic design blends seamlessly with the surrounding landscape you'll notice a peculiar figure standing behind the glass inside If you pick up one of the conch shells attached to the single gas pump When there is no place left that you can call home Muhannad Shono's "What Remains" imagines what would be left behind in a sandy plot after a big windstorm Long strips of fabric covered in sand are positioned throughout a field appearing as if they've been mangled in bushes and are swaying in the wind It's a staggering visual both on the ground and from a higher elevation which uses the land to its advantage as it takes on the shape of nature Brian Blueskye covers arts and entertainment for the Desert Sun He can be reached at brian.blueskye@desertsun.com Firefighters battled a mobile home fire today in Desert Hot Springs that displaced two adults The fire was reported shortly after 11:50 a.m according to the Riverside County Fire Department The American Red Cross was requested to assist with the displaced adults No further information was immediately available (This story will be updated as votes are tabulated.) A proposed sales tax increase of 1 cent per dollar in Desert Hot Springs was leading easily in the latest election results 4,201 people had voted in favor of the measure and 1,177 had voted against it Who's winning? Live Coachella Valley election results It had to use reserves due to an estimated $1.5 million budget deficit for fiscal year 2023-24 and may have a $1 million deficit for fiscal year 2024-25 The majority of residents the city surveyed believed Desert Hot Springs needs more funding Palm Desert and Cathedral City voters also had sales tax increases on the ballot Stay informed: Download the app and sign up for alerts Daniel Pitts has narrowly beaten Councilmember Roger Nuñez to win the Desert Hot Springs City Council District 2 seat official voting results posted Tuesday by the Riverside County Registrar of Voters It had been a tight race during nearly a month of vote counting as each candidate held the lead at different times Pitts beat Nuñez by just seven votes out of 2,489 cast The Registrar of Voters released the final results on Tuesday but they may still be subject to a recount Mayor Scott Matas won re-election over two challengers and Dirk Voss won the District 4 council seat with more than twice as many votes as any of the other three candidates Pitts is a holistic health practitioner and reflexologist but previously worked in code enforcement for cities including Artesia He was also a Yucca Valley Chamber of Commerce board member and president of the nonprofit organization DiversityDHS He's lived in Desert Hot Springs since 2015 He previously told The Desert Sun that if elected he wanted to focus on the city's economic development and budget Nuñez is a social worker with Riverside County’s Children’s Services He has lived in Desert Hot Springs for about seven years and voters elected him in 2020 (KESQ) - The City of Desert Hot Springs is welcoming the new Chief of Police Shaw had been acting as interim Chief since February of this year when former Chief Jim Henson retired after 30 years in law enforcement In Tuesday's swearing in at the Desert Hot Springs City Council meeting Chief Shaw described taking the position as an honor Shaw said it was a new chapter for the city and he pledged to always listen to the voices of the community Desert Hot Springs’ homeless access hub is now a 90-day “crisis stabilization facility” instead of an overnight shelter Martha's Village & Kitchen began operating the hub when it first opened October 2023 and continued to do so for a year But city staff observed that the number of homeless people in Desert Hot Springs did not decrease over that period and not many people the hub helped went on to obtain housing This led the city to enter a limited term agreement with Social Work Action Group another nonprofit organization that assists homeless people in October 2024 to transition the hub into a 90-day crisis stabilization facility the Desert Hot Springs City Council unanimously approved an over $1 million professional services agreement with SWAG so that the group could continue running the hub long term City officials say the change is making a difference as they work to tackle deeper problems behind chronic homelessness “They are already out here working and have been since October 1st,” Deputy City Manager Doria Wilms said “And we have seen some pretty dramatic changes over the last two months.” A court ruling prohibited cities from imposing anti-camping ordinances without having enough shelter beds for homeless people The city says its number of unhoused individuals increased after this ruling and due to the pandemic which calculates how many people are without housing in an area on a single night Desert Hot Springs hired a consulting company to gauge how the city should address homelessness and found that residents supported an access center It purchased the building for the hub at 66-753 Hacienda Avenue in May 2023 and opened it five months later as an overnight shelter with 26 beds It also provided services during the day like a cooling center and lunch distribution The city later adopted the Riverside County Housing and Workforce Solutions Homeless Action Plan in January 2024 so that it could accept $416,219 in county funding to continue operating as an overnight shelter with Martha’s Village & Kitchen But adopting the action plan meant the city could not exclusively serve unhoused people in Desert Hot Springs as it had been but also had to help those in nearby areas if there were available beds Transition to crisis stabilizationThere were 721 people who accessed the hub during the day in its first year of operation and 198 who accessed its overnight shelter Only 18 of these people obtained housing in that time period City staff decided to review other proposals that had been submitted to operate the hub Earlier this year, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the ruling that prevented cities from enforcing anti-camping ordinances if they didn’t have shelter beds Desert Hot Springs also used all of the county grant funding on Sept 30 and entered a short-term agreement with SWAG the next day “SWAG's approach is a complete paradigm shift and leads with efforts to build trust and rapport with the unhoused community while connecting them to mental health and rehabilitation treatment centers and services,” the city staff report said This includes having four “street outreach/case managers” that work in the field to help people without housing said homelessness is not a crime but can lead to behaviors that are such as being under the influence in public He said it is important for law enforcement and code enforcement officers to hold people without housing accountable for crimes SWAG works to help them through issues they're facing including addiction the city council approved an agreement of up to $1,072,668 annually for SWAG to operate the hub The city already has the funds to cover that cost for the current fiscal year staff and the council will work together on how to pay for it for the 2025-26 fiscal year New requirementsThe hub’s requirements for people to receive aid now include the following Mayor Scott Matas said he thanks Martha’s Village & Kitchen for their work but thinks the city needed to switch gears “I really appreciate everything you guys (SWAG) are doing,” he said “I’ve heard nothing but great things about your program so I’m really happy we finally got there to bring the program to our community.”  Councilmember Jan Pye said the city is doing something different with SWAG operating the hub But the homeless people — I said ‘What do you think?,’” she said “‘They’re doing the right thing,’ is what they told me A woman who had been walking died after she was hit by a vehicle early Monday morning on the south side of Desert Hot Springs according to police.Officers responded to a section of Palm Drive south of its intersection with Varner Road on Monday after receiving a report of the crash That's in a mostly undeveloped stretch of desert between the populated part of Desert Hot Springs and Interstate 10 who had not yet been publicly identified by the coroner Police said preliminary information about the crash suggests the woman had been in the road when she was hit but provided few other details in a press release Paul Albani-Burgio covers growth, development and business in the Coachella Valley. Follow him on Twitter at @albaniburgiop and email him at paul.albani-burgio@desertsun.com Two dogs attacked a woman Saturday morning in Desert Hot Springs suffered multiple wounds to her arms and legs Emergency responders transported her to a local hospital It was at the hospital where an assessment of her wounds resulted in an amputation of the right arm The victim was visiting her relatives in the Desert Hot Springs area A Riverside County Animal Services officer responded to the scene Saturday morning and impounded the two dogs They had escaped their owner’s yard from under the fence The incident happened shortly after 8:30 a.m on Saturday near the intersection of Thomas Avenue and Kay Road southwest of the city of Desert Hot Springs Both dogs were humanely euthanized at the county’s Coachella Valley Animal Campus in Thousand Palms Officials recommend if you encounter a loose dog Stay with News Channel 3 to hear from the victim's family Luis Avila joined KESQ News Channel 3 as a multimedia journalist in June 2024. Learn more about Luis here the Desert Hot Springs Golden Eagles let out a little of their frustration Friday night in a 46-0 non-league victory over the Twentynine Palms Wildcats The Golden Eagles scored 33 points in the first half on the way to improving to 4-3 in the team’s final non-league game of the year Desert Hot Springs will have a bye next week before opening play in the new Sun Valley League the following week with a Thursday game at Banning “It was definitely both,” head coach Roy Provost said of the team's offensive and defensive efforts in the game Twentynine Palms dropped to 1-4 with the loss Desert Hot Springs started the season 3-0 but had lost its last three games Provost hopes the big win over Twentynine Palms will get the team moving in the right direction again with league play just two weeks away “We went through a little offensive slump with our three-game losing streak,” Provost said “Our defense stayed intact other than last week against Yucca (Valley Provost pointed to several players who had big games for the Golden Eagles More: Michael Ramos, Jr. puts on a show in Yucca Valley's win over Desert Hot Springs “Offensively we were able to get the ball going on the ground and then Seth Silver stepped in,” Provost said “Jaylen Turner was really on tonight at the quarterback position Provost said the victory proved the team does have the grit and toughness that was evident in the first three games of the year “We really had to bounce back and we proved that we could do it tonight,” Provost added.