Indio City Councilmember Oscar Ortiz announced Sunday that he is running for the California Assembly District seat currently held by Republican Jeff Gonzalez would represent the sprawling 36th district that encompasses the southwest corner of the state The major population centers in the district include Indio Coachella and the rest of the Coachella Valley to the east along with El Centro Brawley and the rest of the Imperial Valley defeated Coachella Valley Unified School District board president Joey Acuña Jr by 5,551 votes in last November's election — a 3.2% margin of victory His win represented a significant shift in a district that had previously been represented by Democrat Eduardo Garcia registered Democrats continue to make up about 41.3% of voters in the district compared to the 29% who are registered Republicans according to voter registration data released by the state in February Voters who are not registered with any political party make up 22.6% of the district The rightward shift of the Latino-majority district in 2024 has been seen as a striking example of the impact of a rightward shift among Latinos a historically Democrat-leaning constituency that was seen across the nation in last year's election cycle who was elected to Indio's city council at the age of 28 in 2018 and has remained on it since Ortiz announced his run in a post on Instagram Sunday he said that the seat is "likely to be a target for both parties" and that he is "the candidate with the proven leadership policy know-how and community trust to flip this seat." Ortiz also wrote that he is running "to raise the concerns of workers in our state." "Our families are struggling to keep up with the rising costs of rent and the ever-increasing costs of healthcare and insurance rates," he said "We need representatives who are willing to bring bold innovative solutions to solve the increasingly complex challenges facing our region I'm committed to ensuring that California prioritizes its resources on funding that will directly benefit the workers that have helped build and sustain our growing communities." Democrats currently hold a two-thirds supermajority in both branches of its legislature All assembly seats go up for election every two years while state senators serve four-year terms with half of the seats going up for election every two years 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 (KESQ) - Felony charges were filed against two convicted felons suspected in shootings in Indio that left three people injured including a mother and her five-year-old son.   were arrested Tuesday in connection with the shooting Delarosa was charged with multiple felonies including assault with a gun and willful child cruelty He pleaded not guilty to all charges and is scheduled to return to court on May 13 Mercado was charged with multiple felonies as well including two counts of assault with a gun Both are being held without bail -- Delarosa at the Benoit Detention Center identified only as a 30-year-old Coachella Valley woman and her 5-year-old son were riding with Delarosa when he parked his pickup in front of a property in the 82-000 block of Mountain View Avenue where Mercado was waiting to meet him.   drove up and elicited a hostile reaction from Delarosa He said that "an altercation ensued,'' during which Delarosa allegedly drew a handgun and opened fire Mercado fired multiple rounds at the pickup truck occupied by Delarosa "Both the mother and child sustained gunshot wounds.'' stopping moments later in the 43-700 block of Deglet Noor Street to seek help for his wounded passengers was ultimately airlifted to Loma Linda University Medical Center for treatment The mom was taken to JFK Memorial Hospital in Indio and was also stable The man whom Delarosa allegedly shot drove himself to JFK for treatment but was soon after transferred to Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs hospitalized with a non-life-threatening wound "He was uncooperative with investigators,'' the police spokesman said.   A possible motive for the gunfight wasn't provided It was unclear how the parties were connected.   Delarosa was taken into custody without incident on North Indian Canyon Drive in Palm Springs at the conclusion of the IPD investigation Tuesday night Mercado was taken into custody around the same time after a search warrant was served at his Mountain View residence Delarosa's and Mercado's prior felony convictions weren't listed 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 (KESQ) Indio High School held the first-ever Coachella Valley All-Star Classic a senior-only boys and girls basketball all-star game Palm Desert head coach Adam Emmer led Team Swish to a 42-34 victory over Team Buckets which was led by Shadow Hills head coach Timothy Britton Mia Aceituno from Desert Christian Academy won the MVP of the girls' game Palm Desert head coach Justin Sobczyk led Team Hoopers to a 77-69 victory over Team Ballers which was led by Indio head coach Johnny Flores Be sure to stay with us here at News Channel 3 for continuing coverage of high school sports across the valley Police announced that a shooting that left a woman and her five-year-old son in critical condition stemmed from an altercation between two men The victims were in a pickup truck driven by Jesus Delarosa Delarosa stopped at the residence of Ricardo Mercado Delarosa got into an altercation with an unidentified man Delarosa then allegedly shot the unidentified man leaving him with non-life-threatening injuries Mercado fired multiple rounds at Delarosa's pickup truck critically injuring the woman and her child Delarosa fled the scene and stopped on Deglet Noor Street to seek help Mercado and Delarosa have been arrested and are being held on $1 million bail (KESQ) - A woman and her five-year-old son are in critical but stable condition after being shot in Indio Tuesday afternoon Indio Police detectives quickly located a suspect involved in the shooting who was arrested without incident at a home in Indio after a search warrant was served The Riverside County District Attorney's Office Gang Impact Team (G.I.T.) and East Post-Release Accountability Compliance Team (P.A.C.T.) assisted with locating the suspect Police report the shooting happened just before 1:00 p.m officers made an emergency transport to JFK Hospital in Indio and the child was flown to Loma Linda Medical Center in Murrieta from there The mother was taken to Desert Regional Medical Center Police say this is still an active investigation although there are no outstanding suspects and there is no threat to the community They ask that if anyone has any further information regarding this case please contact the Indio Police Department's Major Crimes Unit at (760) 391-4051 or call anonymous information through Valley Crime Stoppers at (760) 341- STOP(7867) Luis Avila joined KESQ News Channel 3 as a multimedia journalist in June 2024. Learn more about Luis here Filters Close filters Neighborhood all Bar More Less Restaurants all Coffee Shop Restaurant More Less Shopping all Vintage Store More Less Price Print In 2021 Indio native Ejay Gomez had a dream that he was walking through a bustling town full of thriving businesses dogs were barking and all the storefronts were full “I thought it was like downtown Pasadena or something,” said Gomez “It was a communal space where people were hanging out in a ‘live Stay up to date on the best things to do, see and eat in L.A that this was the future of what was then a largely deserted stretch of downtown Indio just a block away from where Gomez grew up I will make this place prosperous,’” Gomez said “It was such a real dream that it became a core conviction.” Gomez’s vision may not have come fully to fruition just yet but with a host of new businesses opening in the past year and several more on the way “It’s like Silver Lake before it became Silver Lake,” Gomez said sitting outside his bright coffee shop — a favorite with visiting celebrities influencers and local moms — on a recent afternoon “We’re just on the precipice of something great.” Thanks in part to a business-friendly city government that is investing in art and infrastructure downtown Indio is growing at an unprecedented pace “We’re just at the beginning stages,” Ramirez-Cornejo said. “We’ve got so much to do. So much to grow.” Our journalists independently visited every spot recommended in this guide. We do not accept free meals or experiences. What should we check out next? Send ideas to guides@latimes.com. Gomez has been doing his part. Determined to realize the bustling downtown Indio of his dream, he seeks out local business owners, offers whatever help they may need, ensures they are connected to other businesses for support and recruits friends and entrepreneurs to the area. “The friendships are very unique here,” he said. “We’re each other’s council. It’s a whole ecosystem and it’s very beautiful.” Indio may still be in the early stages of its transformation, but a visit here is already well worth your time. If you’re going to be in town for the festival or you happen to live nearby, here’s a list of seven cool businesses to check out now. Lifestyle Subscribe for unlimited accessSite Map A woman and her 5-year-old son remained in critical but stable condition after being shot Tuesday afternoon in Indio and two people suspected in the shooting have been arrested on April 29 in the 43-700 block of Deglet Noor Street where officers with the Indio Police Department found a woman and her 5-year-old child suffering from gunshot wounds Kennedy Memorial Hospital in Indio without waiting for an ambulance and he was then flown to Loma Linda University Medical Center The mother was taken to Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs was arrested without incident after Indio police detectives and officers from other agencies served a search warrant at a home in Indio police said the two victims were passengers in a pickup truck driven by Jesus Delarosa who had stopped at a home on Mountain View Avenue to meet with Mercado another adult male arrived in a separate vehicle,” the department said in a prepared statement "An altercation ensued between Delarosa and the male Delarosa produced a firearm and shot the male Mercado fired multiple rounds at the truck driven by Delarosa with the mother and child sustaining gunshot wounds Delarosa then fled the scene and stopped on Deglet Noor Street where officers located him and the passengers the male who had been shot during the altercation arrived at JFK Hospital with a non-life-threatening injury,” the department said “He was later transferred to Desert Regional Medical Center for further treatment and was uncooperative with investigators.” Jail records show Delarosa was arrested later Tuesday in Palm Springs He and Mercado were both booked on multiple felony charges including assault with a deadly weapon and possessing a firearm as a felon and their bails were set at $1 million each (Delarosa is also facing a felony charge for child endangerment there are no outstanding suspects and police knew of no threat to the community the spokesperson for the police department The department said it had not yet determined whether the incident was gang related Jennifer Cortez covers education in the Coachella Valley Reach her at jennifer.cortez@desertsun.com Tom Coulter covers the mid-valley for The Desert Sun INDIO, Calif. (KESQ)  - Jeff Sperbeck, longtime agent for NFL legend John Elway, was pronounced dead on Tuesday according to the coroner's office News Channel 3's Shay Lawson is looking into just how safe these vehicles are—and what rules are in place to prevent future tragedies According to a U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission study approximately 15,000 people are injured each year in golf cart-related accidents Officer Jesse Yuhas with the Indio Police Department Traffic Division said the number of golf carts on public streets has increased this festival season during Coachella and Stagecoach “People often underestimate them—they lack the crash protection of a regular car and can be unstable on uneven ground or sharp turns,” Yuhas said making them harder for other drivers to see.” In 2011, Indio adopted a Golf Cart Transportation Program allowing permitted carts that meet safety requirements to travel on designated pathways and bike lanes these carts must meet specific safety and operational standards to be considered street legal “It must pass safety inspection and have a current permit a covered passenger area and a locking device," Yuhas said Golf carts in Indio are regulated under both state law and the city’s transportation plan “We see a good level of compliance in designated areas especially from residents familiar with the regulations,” Yuhas said occasional violations still occur—like driving after dark or using undesignated roads.” Yuhas is reminding residents and festivalgoers alike: golf carts may be convenient—but they’re still vehicles Viewers can find other cities’ golf cart rules online In La Quinta drivers must have a valid California license—or one that meets state requirements Stay with News Channel 3 to hear from a driver who made safety a top priority and for the full ride along with Indio PD The Desert Valley League used to have eight high schools All 22 events in the meet were won by either a swimmer from Indio or Yucca Valley Twentynine Palms and Coachella Valley had some top-three finishes but for the most this meet belonged to the Rajahs and Trojans there were a handful of multiple-event winners including Indio's Zachariah Lopez picking up two individual DVL titles and two more as part of a relay winning the 200-yard freestyle in 1:57.60 and the 500 freestyle in 5:35.51 He was also part of the winning 200-yard freestyle relay and the 400-yard freestyle relay I did pretty well and my 500 I did pretty well especially since during the midseason I was sort of stuck at a plateau in both but I've been dropping time lately and today," Lopez said those dudes I've known for a long time since middle school and I really enjoy hanging around them so that makes it fun." His relay teammates include Christian Galvan who also picked up a few solo titles on Tuesday Gonzalez won the 50 freestyle (24.02) and Galvan won the 100 fly (56.30) Indio's Isaiah Saguilan picked up the Rajahs' other victory in the 100 backstroke in 1:19.84 That trio combined with Seth Caudill to win the 200-yard medley relay in 1:55.95 Altman won the 100 breaststroke in 1:12.94 Indio's Alyssa Guenther was one of the meet's top stars as a quadruple winner including a CIF-SS consideration time in the 100-yard backstroke She also won the honor of fastest in the pool as the 50-yard freestyle champion in 29.76 Lorena Magana and Quinn Crousillac to win the 200 medley relay and with Magana Quinn Crousillac and Kaylee Cuevas to win the 400 free relay I was a little worried about this meet because we're coming off spring break and I didn't really practice during the break so coming back on Monday at practice I don't know how this is going to go,'" Guenther said "So I was happy today to get my PR in the 100 back Magana added a 200-yard IM title to her two relay wins The rest of the girls' titles on Tuesday went to Yucca Valley as Kelci Engle and Amanda Miranda led the way for the Trojans won the 200 freestyle (2:45.54) and the 100 freestyle (1:14.13) and was part of the winning 200 freestyle relay team with Miranda "I dropped a lot of time today and I'm really happy about that because when I started swim this year I had a separated shoulder from a previous sport "So now that I'm healthy and getting good times Miranda also picked up two individual titles to go with the relay win She won the 100 breaststroke (1:30.53) and the 100 fly (1:28.05) Miranda was named the girls' MVP for the meet Emma Shook added a title for the Trojans in the 500 freestyle in 6:58.46 The top finish for Coachella Valley came from Angel Soto Twentynine Palms had a handful of third-place finishes Cambria Schneider finished third in the 50 freestyle and the 100 breaststroke for the Wildcats Calvin Clena took third in the 500 freestyle Paulina Lucero qualified for the CIF Southern Section meet last year as a sophomore and arrived not knowing exactly what to expect “I didn’t get the results there that I wanted,” she said Wednesday at the Desert Valley League track and field finals Lucero will get another chance at CIF by winning both the long jump and the triple jump at the DVL finals six inches in the long jump and 34-1 in the triple jump The Coachella Valley High School junior was named the girls’ field events MVP with fellow Coachella Valley junior Fernando Avina claimed boys’ field event MVP with wins in the long jump (21-3.25) and the triple jump (42-8.5) While some high school football players are abandoning field events for track events in an effort to work on their speed for the gridiron Avina has worked all spring on his jumps to improve his explosiveness and balance in the air “We have a couple faster guys in the 100 (meters),” said Bill Johnson who coaches football and track at Coachella Valley “But Fernando is a great jumper and it’s going to help him when he explodes out of his stance makes cuts and jumps for the ball on the football field.” Avina said that the results are the culmination of a lot of work it just feels great to see all that work pay off,” he said Eva Tili of Twentynine Palms and Indio’s Damian Durinzi were MVPs of the track events was second in the 100 hurdles (17.85) and was part of the winning 4x100 (51.57) and 4x400 (4:35.44) relay teams the 300 hurdles (40.47) and was a part of the winning 4x400 (3:30.03) relay team Lucero’s triple jump was the second-best mark in school history She’ll have another year to try to break the record the goal is to go back to the CIF meet and get the results that she had hoped for last year “I’m going in really focused on that,” she said I’m more confident and there shouldn’t be any excuses.” [This story has been updated to add new information.] Andrew John covers sports at The Desert Sun and the USA TODAY Network (This story has been updated to correct the spelling of Lizz Castle's name.) a community music event held between the two Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival weekends The event will take place from 6 to 10 p.m "Chella is more than just a concert — it’s a celebration of community the city of festivals," Mayor Glenn Miller said in a statement "We’re proud to once again partner with Goldenvoice to bring this exciting inclusive and free event to our residents and visitors in Downtown Indio." all-ages event features a high-energy lineup of rising and established artists El Malilla also will be performing at this year’s Coachella festival Chella will take place at 82-881 Miles Ave Coachella is held at the Empire Polo Club in Indio This year's Coachella headliners include Lady Gaga along with a special performance from Travis Scott Other performers on the lineup are Charli xcx Ema Sasic covers entertainment and health in the Coachella Valley Reach her at ema.sasic@desertsun.com or on Twitter @ema_sasic Editor's Note: We have removed the name and photo of the suspect after charges were not filed due to insufficient evidence Indio police and the District Attorney's office said Police said they are aware that the suspect was not charged in this crime and they will continue to work the case the detectives could refile the case with the DA's Office IPD said they are working with the neighborhood about their concerns The suspect was released from custody on Monday Indio police said a woman who told them she was responsible for assaulting Shari Griffith is now facing a new charge — attempted murder in an unrelated case in Desert Hot Springs Griffith is standing by her original statement She said it was her male neighbor who assaulted her Indio police said they're still working to positively identify if the woman was a suspect in Griffith's attack News Channel 3 asked the department how they're keeping neighbors safe "We are doing extra patrols in the area," Sgt "I'm also trying to work with residents in that area to have a community meeting so we can talk about safety and hear their concerns."  The suspect arrested and accused of assaulting an Indio woman on Thursday is due in court on Monday He was arrested nearly a week after the 70-year-old victim was attacked who left her with a black eye and a swollen wrist Griffith adds that while she's thankful police made an arrest there are still two other neighbors who were involved in the incident (KESQ) -- Some people in an Indio neighborhood say they're living in fear after their 70-year-old neighbor and it took nearly a week for authorities to make an arrest Residents living on the 81200 block of Helen Ave reached out to News Channel 3 about the incident after they say Griffith was assaulted by three neighbors rummaging through her car "He turned around and he hit me with the bony part of his palm upside the head It surprised me and I just started crying," Griffith said and fear she can't shake after she says those neighbors have been intimidating the community "The young lady who's the driver of the car drives erratically through the neighborhood She's driving so erratically that she has come close to hitting numerous of the neighbors," Griffith said News Channel 3 reached out to Indio Police and the result of that pressure A knock on Griffith's door from several detectives during our interview Thirty minutes after police received another testimony from Griffith The detectives are currently processing him and will be booked into John Benoit Detention Center for elder abuse and vehicle burglary," Sgt police said they were unable to make an arrest the day of the assault because Griffith was unable to positively identify a suspect But Griffith says that's not true and rather the officer who handled her case didn't take her seriously many issues. That information that he relayed to me on the phone about information that I had provided the police department was wrong," Griffith said While she's grateful one of the individuals apart of her assault was arrested her community says work still needs to be done to arrest all three "My heart would break if this isn't handled and taken seriously and one or all three of these younger people commits another crime against a person in this neighborhood," Griffith said (KESQ) - Indio police are investigating a shooting that happened in Indio Riverside County Sheriff’s Office deputies deputies responded to a report of a male suffering from a gunshot wound at the AMPM gas station at 48055 Grapefruit Boulevard in the City of Coachella The circumstances surrounding this incident are being investigated as a suspicious death Preliminary information indicates the shooting happened in the City of Indio Indio Police Department detectives are actively investigating the case and anyone with information is encouraged to contact Detective Frank Ortega at the Indio Police Department at (760) 391-4057 Stay with KESQ for any updates on this incident Justin Bieber was spotted on Wednesday ahead of the first weekend of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival outside of Vintage Coffee House in Indio in a verbal altercation with some paparazzi filming him approaching and walking into the business In the video posted by TMZ Bieber approaches with a small group of friends and when a photographer said "good morning," Bieber appeared agitated and said "no not good morning!" asked them why they were there and said they only wanted money you don't care about human beings," Bieber said while walking toward one of the photographers rubbing his fingers together The 30-second exchange ended when Bieber walked into the coffee shop The Bieb has been raising eyebrows on social media latelyBieber, a heartthrob who broke the internet in the late 2000s with songs such as "One Time" and "One Less Lonely Girl," has amassed over 290 million followers on Instagram. He's been raising eyebrows lately after posts he's made on his page in March. The 31-year-old singer went on to share he had been feeling like he was "drowning" and "unsafe" to acknowledge the hate he felt "I think we can only let hate go by first acknowledging it’s there," he wrote "How couldn't we feel hate from all the hurt we have received." The post followed another recent round of unfiltered thoughts on his rise to fame such as a candid post about his struggles with feeling worthy of the accolades he's collected along the way "People told me my whole life, 'wow Justin u deserve that' and I personally have always felt unworthy. Like I was a fraud," wrote Bieber once a teen sensation and now a certified singer-songwriter it made me feel sneaky like damn if they only knew my thoughts Brian Blueskye covers arts and entertainment for the Desert Sun He can be reached at brian.blueskye@desertsun.com (KESQ) - A magnitude 3.2 earthquake centered near Indio was reported at 6:38 a.m The earthquake was centered 4.8 miles north of Indio Hills and 12.3 miles north of Indio It was centered 15.2 miles northeast of Palm Desert and 15.3 miles north of Coachella There were no reports of injuries or damage Your browser is ancient! Upgrade to a different browser or install Google Chrome Frame to experience this site Press Contact: Robert Gonzalez Email: rgonzalez@teamsters1932.org Calif.) – In a significant victory for communities in the Low Desert workers at the Indio Water Authority (IWA) have voted overwhelmingly to join Teamsters Local 1932 These new IAW Teamsters play a critical role in delivering clean reliable water to the residents and businesses of Indio Their decision to stand together and unionize ensures that they have a collective voice to advocate for the fair treatment and workplace protections they deserve and a seat at the table for the hardworking men and women of the Indio Water Authority,” said Randy Korgan “Public service workers are the backbone of our cities and we are proud to welcome them into our Teamsters family and workplace protections that allow these workers to thrive.” and now the Indio Water Authority joining the Teamsters Local 1932 stands in a stronger position than ever before to deliver quality Teamsters Local 1932 represents more than 16,000 workers across the Inland Empire. For more information, visit teamsters1932.org (KESQ) - "CHELLA," a free community music event in downtown Indio in partnership with Goldenvoice will make its return on April 16 This year's CHELLA lineup includes El Malilla El Malilla, cited by the Rolling Stones as one of the biggest stars in the new genre "Reggaeton mexa," will also take the stage at this year's Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival He'll be closing out the Sonora Stage at 9:50 p.m “Chella is more than just a concert—it’s a celebration of community the city of festivals,” said Mayor Glenn Miller “We’re proud to once again partner with Goldenvoice to bring this exciting inclusive and free event to our residents and visitors in Downtown Indio.” guests can enjoy a variety of local food trucks and those 21 years and over can relax at Indio Taphouse the official beer garden of the event—making it the perfect night out for all Don’t miss out on the excitement and celebration—join us in Downtown Indio for an unforgettable night LOS ANGELES (KESQ) - Two Indio residents were among a trio arrested in connection with a train theft in Los Angeles County back in 2022 They have been charged with multiple felonies including Grand Theft Cargo and Receiving Stolen Property and were booked at the LAPD’s Metropolitan Detention Center The Los Angeles Police Department said the theft happened in September 2022 Yamaha musical instruments valued at nearly $214,000 were stolen from Union Pacific trains The stolen property was subsequently sold on eBay Anyone with information is urged to contact the Commercial Crimes Division at 213-486-5920 between 6:00 a.m calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (1-877-527-3247) Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call the L.A Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or go directly to www.lacrimestoppers.org tipsters may also download the “P3 Tips” mobile application and select the L.A Regional Crime Stoppers as their local program (KESQ) -- A murder suspect was in custody Friday night after Indio Police say he killed his parents they conducted a welfare check for the elderly couple in Indio at the 45000 block of Green Hills Court They said no one was contacted at that residence which led them to a second home in Palm Desert on the 78000 block of Blooming Court Officers said they made contact with the couple’s son but it quickly escalated into a standoff after he refused to leave the home officers went back to that first home in Indio where they located forced entry and the couple dead inside from an apparent homicide that standoff in Palm Desert ended with the arrest of their son who was booked at the John Benoit Detention Center in Indio under two counts of homicide Sponsored, Vision by | Oct 23 Art and music factor into the exciting new vibe in downtown Indio.PHOTO COURTESY CHRIS AND BRIDGET MILLER/IMAGINEIMAGERY.COM Recent additions to downtown include Gabinos Creperie East, the second location for this Palm Springs favorite, as well as Indio Taphouse the latest venture by Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival cofounder Skip Paige art installations from past Coachella festivals and a flurry of colorful new murals punctuate this up-and-coming district where new businesses such as Little Street Music and the Academy of Musical Performance are creating one of the most exciting music scenes in the desert outdoor entertainment venue Center Stage opened to showcase local talent including a concert by American Idol winner and Indio native Abi Carter More Coachella Valley residents will be calling Indio home with two new housing developments on the horizon Skyline at Bliss & Oasis will bring 64 apartment units to Downtown Indio in a state-of-the-art mixed-use building featuring 5,000-square feet of retail and office space on the ground floor The 55+ community will reveal models by early 2025 and other amenities are slated for completion in 2026 A three-story City Hall will anchor the brand-new Civic Center Campus One-story library.PHOTO COURTESY CITY OF INDIO with palpable progress in every sector of the economy — from affordable housing and education to entertainment and healthcare a community experience meant to bring a taste of the Coachella Music festival to the community The city first made the announcement of the ‘Echo Lounge’, earlier this week which was created to give residents that ‘festival feeling’ at home.“The reason why we called it the 'Echo Lounge' is because we're an echo distance from the actual festivals," explained Ramirez-Cornejo to people who aren't going to the festival." It's taking place at Center Stage downtown and in an effort to really bring Coachella to locals the festival will be live streamed on an enormous screen throughout the day."We are the city of festivals and so why not provide something to the community so that the community can enjoy as well," said Ramirez-Cornejo More information on Echo Lounge and a schedule of events can be found here. Tori King joined KESQ News Channel 3 as a reporter and anchor in October 2023. Learn more about Tori here (KESQ) – The city of Indio announced anticipated street impacts and recommended alternative routes in preparation for the 2025 Coachella and Stagecoach music festivals in April The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival will be held at the Empire Polo Club on April 11–13 and April 18–20 Stagecoach: California’s Country Music Festival will follow on April 25–27 Avenue 50 between Monroe Street and Madison Avenue will be closed from Monday City officials said the closure is necessary to ensure the safety of workers Drivers are encouraged to use alternate routes The following streets will be primary access routes for the festivals on the following days: April 11-13; April 18-20; and April 25-27 On each Friday of the festivals through each Monday Friends & Family/Taxi Drop Off & Pick Up: NO pedestrian or pedestrian festival access: Golf carts are not permitted on any of the above-listed streets Approximately 40,000 guests will be shuttled into and out of the concert venue from various locations throughout the Coachella Valley to help ease traffic conditions Noise from the festival site could begin on each Thursday prior to the festival dates due to sound checks and on-site camping guests For concert logistics, questions, or issues, call 760-391-4112 or email concertinfo@indio.org Two Desert Sands Unified School District middle schools were recently named to the 2025 California Schools to Watch List for demonstrating academic excellence and equipping teachers with the necessary tools to support student success Also in this week's education roundup: Rancho Mirage High School dedicated a bust and plaque to honor Jerry Argovitz; College of the Desert's Roadrunner Radio won three national broadcasting awards in New York City; and COD's College Corps paid fellowship program is now accepting applications for 59 students to reduce their debt through public service Raise your hand and send it my way: jennifer.cortez@desertsun.com More: CVUSD educator honored as Woman of the Year at California Capitol for Women's History Month Two Indio middle schools from Desert Sands Unified School District are among 2025 Schools to Watch in CaliforniaIndio Middle and John Glenn Middle schools at Desert Sands Unified School District have re-earned a spot on the 2025 California Schools to Watch list by demonstrating academic excellence meeting young adolescents' needs and cultivating a collaborative leadership California Schools to Watch is a statewide program by the California League of Middle Schools National Forum and the California Schools to Watch model schools Statewide, 46 middle schools received recognition from the program and 44 others re-applied, showing continued progress, for a total of 90 California Schools to Watch Schools must complete an extensive application and host a site visit by a middle grades expert to become a School to Watch each school undergoes reevaluation every three years IMS first earned a spot on the list in 2018 and received re-designation in 2025. JGMS originally received designation in 2004 and has been re-designated seven times from 2007 to 2025 In a statement to The Desert Sun, IMS' principal, who took the helm this school year said that the recognition showcases the commitment of the staff students and community to the school's success Our teachers and staff create engaging learning experiences our students demonstrate resilience and leadership and our families and community provide unwavering support," Robert Cullinan "This honor is a testament to our collective commitment to academic growth board members Beto Alvarez and Kailee Watson took a moment to recognize IMS for its recognition "I want to thank Indio Middle School because you attributing the change to Cullinan and Assistant Principal James Adkins James Workman and Nellie Coffman middle schools received their first California Schools to Watch designation in 2023 Rancho Mirage High School recently honored the late Jerry Argovitz, founder of the Jerry Argovitz Sports Institute with a dedication ceremony for a bust and plaque has expanded to Desert Hot Springs and Palm Springs high schools In 2016, RMHS hosted a small gathering to dedicate its football stadium to Argovitz also donated $250,000 to fund the Coachella Valley's first video scoreboard The prestigious honors were announced on March 8 at the 2025 Intercollegiate Broadcasting System conference in New York City These students come to us eager and ready to learn dedicating hours to perfecting their skills and creating relevant content for the station," said COD Roadrunner Radio Manager Scott Colwell "Their hard work has been rewarded; they truly deserve this honor.” The categories for which COD Roadrunner Radio was nominated include COD's media students have consistently excelled at the IBS Awards winning multiple Golden Mic Awards and earning numerous nominations for Best Community College Radio Station over the past decade offering hands-on experience in broadcasting and production Program Spotlight: College of the Desert is recruiting for its fourth College Corps cohort fellowshipCollege of the Desert is accepting applications for the 2025-26 College Corps fellowship offering 59 students an opportunity to reduce college debt through public service the #CaliforniansForAll College Corps is a statewide paid service program that provides meaningful work to college students in exchange for serving their community through partnerships with select community colleges and four-year public and private universities The fellows tackle one of the state's biggest issues — food insecurity — through a yearlong service in partnership with FIND Food Bank the College Corps Fellows will receive up to $10,000 a combination of a monthly living stipend and scholarship Students who are offered a seat will start as early as Aug For more information: Visit collegeofthedesert.edu. Shadow Hills High School and Desert Ridge Academy in Indio were briefly placed on a lockout for just one minute on Tuesday afternoon due to a nearby high-risk traffic stop after deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff's Office "quickly assessed" the situation and found no threats to students or staff public information officer for Desert Sands Unified School District Classes had just ended for the day when the incident happened off-campus A sheriff's office spokesperson said deputies were dispatched to the 79-000 block of State Highway 111 in La Quinta at 12:24 p.m for a possible dispute between a male and a female "The reporting party advised witnessing the incident about half an hour before calling 911 and believed the male was possibly armed The male and the female then left the location together in a vehicle," Sgt Deputies later located and detained them near Jefferson Street and Avenue 39 in Indio (KESQ) - Two people were injured in a three-vehicle crash Wednesday morning in Indio The crash was reported just before 9:00 a.m at the intersection of Jefferson Street and Avenue 50 Police said two drivers were transported to a local hospital with moderate to serious injuries Details on what led to the crash were limited police confirmed that alcohol and/or drugs are not believed to be a factor The Indio Police Department is continuing to investigate the collision Anyone with information regarding this accident is urged to contact the Indio Police Department (760) 391-4057 (KESQ) - Jury deliberations began today in the trial of a felon accused of choking his girlfriend to death during a domestic confrontation in the parking lot of an Indio condominium complex Eduardo Alvarez is charged with first-degree murder in the 2020 slaying of 32-year-old Madeleine Gutierrez The prosecution rested its case at the end of last week and the defense wrapped up late Monday afternoon The two sides completed closing arguments early Tuesday afternoon at the Larson Justice Center in Indio after which Riverside County Superior Court Judge Otis Sterling sent jurors behind closed doors where they remained briefly before breaking for the day The panel is slated to resume deliberations Wednesday Alvarez is being held in lieu of $1 million bail at the Benoit Detention Center According to a trial brief filed by the District Attorney's Office off-again relationship that started in 2018 when the victim called 911 after an argument outside the Encanto Apartments in the 46-700 block of Clinton Street Prosecutors said Indio police officers arrived shortly before 4 a.m and found Gutierrez standing with a building security guard complaining that Alvarez had forcibly taken her car keys When officers asked whether she wanted to leave in her vehicle while Alvarez remained behind for her safety instead telling the officers that she preferred the defendant stay with her claiming that he and his girlfriend had just been attacked in the parking lot of the Summer Breeze Condos in the 47-300 block of Monroe Street and that he was passing out they discovered the defendant in a fetal position arms outstretched at her sides and exhibiting "facial injuries and some marks around her neck,'' the brief stated Paramedics pronounced her dead at the scene 20 minutes later The cause of death was later determined to be manual strangulation Alvarez "feigned unconsciousness'' as he lay in the parking lot betraying his alertness by forcing his eyes shut while paramedics checked him for injuries He had apparent swelling on the left side of his forehead but ``no other obvious signs of trauma,'' court papers said Alvarez was taken to a hospital to be examined who took him to the Indio Police Department for an interview When asked about the circumstances of Gutierrez's death Alvarez gave different accounts of what transpired He told the investigators initially that he and Gutierrez had been out most of the night going to places in Desert Hot Springs and Palm Springs before heading over to the Encanto Apartments Alvarez said there had been a minor tiff that prompted Gutierrez to get angry and try to ``run him over,'' but that it was a ``playful'' stunt He told detectives he took her keys from her as a precaution The defendant said they went to his residence and parked outside Alvarez indicated the two were talking next to her car when two unknown men approached and shouted ``Where you from?''    and Alvarez said he was punched in the head and fell to the ground at which point the men turned their attention to Gutierrez who struggled with them before she was knocked unconscious Alvarez said he and Gutierrez were enjoying a romantic moment in the open rear of her car when the two males accosted them grabbed Alvarez by his feet and pulled him out of the car causing his head to hit the pavement and stun him including signs that Gutierrez had been dragged through a field with dirt and grass in her hair and clothes ``I need a lawyer,'' ending the police interview Gutierrez has documented prior felony and misdemeanor convictions for domestic violence identified only as ``E.L.,'' divorced him after he choked her into unconsciousness in front of their children The defendant also admitted choking a fellow inmate in their jail cell (This story has been updated to add new information.) A 51-year-old man was arrested last week on suspicion of murdering his parents after police found the couple dead in their Indio home was booked on Saturday on two counts of second-degree murder Indio Police Department officers responded to a welfare check of a senior couple that later led to the discovery of their bodies Friday to check on the welfare of a senior couple and did not observe any foul play at their residence in the 45000 block of Green Hills Court They could not contact anyone at the residence either Officers got what they called "investigative leads" and headed to a home in the 78000 block of Blooming Court in Palm Desert to locate the couple the interaction escalated into a standoff that lasted several hours as Reddy refused to leave the residence officers forced their way into the home in Indio conducted an “interior safety sweep” and found Reddy's 84-year-old parents dead They appeared to have been victims of homicide The victims' identities had not been released by police or the coroner as of Monday morning Indio police detectives were still investigating the case It appeared as of Monday morning prosecutors had not filed formal charges in the couple's slaying Riverside County court records indicate a man with the same name some of which involved encounters with Indio police The court record shows past convictions for making criminal threats and possession of an assault weapon as well as pending charges from 2024 that include making criminal threats possessing a controlled substance while armed and evading arrest Online court records do not list the defendant's date of birth making it impossible to confirm whether he is the same man arrested in the homicide last week The Reddy with the long court history was convicted of several parole violations last year and sentenced to terms in county jail of between 36 and 135 days It was not immediately clear how much time he had actually served behind bars for the violations Paris Barraza is a trending reporter covering California news at The Desert Sun. Reach her at pbarraza@gannett.com Those heading to Coachella this weekend won’t have to wait until Lady Gaga hits the stage to see some serious heat What's the Indio weather forecast?A National Weather Service meteorologist said the high temperature is expected to be just over 100 degrees on Friday when the first weekend of the three-day long festival kicks off conditions will then start to improve from there with the high dropping into the mid-90s on Saturday and then likely into the low 90s on Sunday even Sunday’s comparatively cooler temperatures will still be well above the average high for April which meteorologist Paul Steward said is 88 degrees it’s possible that festivalgoers could even see some local temperature records set during the festival according to Weather Underground historical data That means that the April 11 record appears to be in play is that temperatures will cool down significantly at night with the low expected to be in the upper 60s on Friday and the low to mid 60s on Sunday Steward said it will be important for people to be prepared to stay hydrated and find ways to cool off particularly if they are arriving in time to see the early acts or camping at the festival The gates for Coachella now open at 1 p.m. with the earliest performers taking the stage around that time.  The popularity and name recognition of the performers generally gets bigger as the day goes on with this year’s headliners all taking the stage between 9 p.m and midnight over the course of the three days Crowds at Coachella are typically thin for the first few hours before a rush of people arrives at around 4 or 5 p.m meaning that many festgoers will likely miss the hottest parts of each day the last-minute addition of a set by big name rock band Weezer at 3:10 p.m on Saturday could bring more people to the festival earlier that day Steward said the heat will be the result of a strong area of high pressure that will be in place over the desert and fueling the hot temperatures Coachella veterans likely know that wind can often be just as big of a threat to good times as heat at the famous desert festival winds are expected to be light Friday and calm further throughout the weekend suggesting that wind and resulting dust should not be a major issue during weekend one While it is too early for the National Weather Service to issue a forecast for weekend 2 of the festival, the agency’s Climate Prediction Center says there is a 60 to 70% chance of above average temperatures in the Coachella Valley and much of Southern California over the next 8 to 14 days Indio set the kind of record hardly anyone wants to get at this time of year Thursday when it topped out at sweltering 121 degrees, making it the hottest Sept. 5 on record The previous record high for the day of 120 came in 2020 one degree short of tying its own daily temperature record set in 2020 That temperature was also just three degrees shy of the city's all-time high which was memorably set exactly two months ago on July 5 the site of the valley's other main weather station While a large portion of Southern California saw unseasonably sweltering temperatures Thursday — including highs of 113 in Riverside and 102 in downtown Los Angeles — the National Weather Service reported Indio was the only city in the region to actually set a record That was because temperatures in many cities came in just under the Sept 5 highs they saw during another major heat wave in 2020 Coachella Valley cities have flirted with multiple temperature records in recent days The weather service reported that Palm Springs tied its Sept while Indio tied a daily record for minimum temperature set in 2019 when the low dropped only to 88 degrees on Tuesday While the Coachella Valley is known for hot weather that can persist well into the fall the recent temperatures have been far above what is typical for early September National Weather Service meteorologist Stefanie Sullivan said the average high temperature for Palm Springs in early September is about 105 degrees While the highs are expected to drop down into the 110 degree range on Friday and during the weekend Sullivan said residents probably won't actually feel much relief but at the same time we will be getting some monsoon moisture back so it won't actually feel any better," she said She said more significant relief — and that is of course always a relative term around here in the summertime — likely won't come until next Thursday when the highs will finally get back down to about the seasonal average 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 and traffic halted area freeways and city streets for miles and again from April 18-20 at the Empire Polo Club at 81-800 51st Avenue in Indio Festival campers were allowed to start checking in at their designated areas on Thursday Many sat in stop-and-go traffic for over eight hours They are ahead of the game for those planning to arrive on Friday Read also: Coachella's First Weekend Sells Out: Post Malone, Lady Gaga, Green Day TRAFFIC REPORT: It's Just Going To Be Rough Out There: The I-10 Freeway will see traffic throughout the festival especially during the sold-out portions of the show through the San Gorgonio Pass Area and into the Coachella Valley Watch for heavy traffic on both the 13 and the 20 as thousands will leave the area to return home Indio Police Department shut down Avenue 50 According to the city of Indio's traffic plan there will be no access on Avenue 49 between Hjorth and Monroe streets Those closures will be in effect for each festival weekend — April 11- 13 Officials cautioned that travel delays will be heavy along Washington Street as well as on Jefferson Street and Avenues 48 and 52 going into the Empire Polo Club grounds Extensive delays are also anticipated on Highway 111 at Jefferson and Monroe Options for slightly faster travel may be available on Jackson while less vexing travel might be open on Fred Waring Drive Carreon Boulevard going east- and westbound streets surrounding the site and I-10 will be busy with more than 40,000 campers leaving the area," according to a police statement "Noise from the festival site could begin on each Thursday prior to the festival dates due to sound checks and on-site camping guests." Shuttle services will be available from area hotels and motels daily There will also be a designated pay ride spot for Uber and Lyft users at the southwest corner of Avenue 49 and Monroe while family and taxicab pickup and drop-offs are designated on the northeast corner of Avenue 52 and Madison other law enforcement agencies will be lending support throughout the events including the Riverside County Sheriff's Department and California Highway Patrol.Arrests for various The Coachella music fest runs April 11-13 and April 18-20 Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. On an unassuming street in North Hollywood hidden in plain sight among a tow yard and recycling plant where a symphony of sounds is underway behind closed doors Carter and members of her band gathered for a long rehearsal on April 22 hoping to work the kinks out of their set before they hit the stage on Friday Even though they're among the first performers slated for the three-day festival and they have a limited 20-minute time window to perform from technical issues to missing musical cues When it's your first time playing at one of the biggest music festivals in California "Watching Stagecoach and Coachella growing up was always such an enigma It was nothing that I was ever able to go to It's so expensive and I just wasn't part of that crowd," Carter said I'm having a hard time believing that I'm one of those people now." Carter's bandmates — Michael Edwards (producer/guitarist) Alex Arnaout (bass guitarist) and Jason Garb (pianist) — spent nearly two hours setting up and fiddling with all the tech components for a productive session The mics had to be ready to go for when Carter hit a high note and the right mix of sounds needed to be achieved so that what they heard in their in-ear monitors resembles what an audience member would hear at the festival in a denim dress with knee-high black boots her main focus was to get through the run of show and get her hands on her guitar and in-ears which she accidentally left in her apartment that morning While her bandmates did rocket science and she waited for her gear to arrive the break gave Carter a moment to reflect on her upcoming performance she and her collaborators were working on finalizing the setlist figuring out how tracks would sound and preparing introductions to songs their aim was to run through the full 20-minute performance and see where there were issues she planned to meet a movement coach to get some dancing and stage presence tips "I'm sure a lot of other much more established artists do this weeks before," she said "People like Taylor Swift are at least getting the opportunity to do it multiple times Lady Gaga gets two chances (at Coachella) to really nail it let alone someone so early in their career The vibes leading up to her Stagecoach performance can only be described as "insane," she said with a laugh and she's tried to block out the thought as long as possible not only because she's part of a world-famous festival she said she could only handle it for three hours because she felt overwhelmed with the whole experience she's just hoping she doesn't choke on the dust while performing But when she finally got behind the mic at rehearsal it was hard to believe that she's at all shaken at the prospect of singing at the festival She looked relaxed in the studio — while singing she was taking photos and videos of her band and herself with a point and shoot camera — and was either seated or laying on the ground Hitting high notes on songs such as "Some People Need Drugs" and her upcoming release "Burned" seemed as easy as saying her ABCs She said she wasn't going to go all out on the vocals during rehearsal but she couldn't help herself because "I always feel it's weird to not give 100%." the way her bandmates bring a song to life is magical too the sound in the rehearsal studio was heavy on the drums (the in-ear monitors had the actual mix of all the instruments laugh and have a good time together was enough to show they're the real deal Some of the musicians have previously played at festivals as well including Arnaout at the Vans Warped Tour rock festival and Garb at Boston Calling and Chicago's Lollapalooza with other first-time artists "I love festivals," Garb said at the keyboard "It's my favorite thing that I get to do." the five pals made time for jokes and plenty of teasing When asked if they would all wear similar outfits on stage Carter joked that she would make the men wear "I heart Abi Carter" shirts or that she would find matching gowns for them to complement the white Festivalgoers will only hear a snippet of her talents and music during her 20-minute set but there was a lot of thought put into the setlist Carter said she picked songs that would go over well at a festival like Stagecoach where a majority of people are coming for the major artists on the lineup and are not familiar with her songs At least one of the tracks will be off the deluxe version of her debut album "Ghosts in the Backyard," which also comes out Friday (the album includes two new songs and one feature with Laurel Clouston on "Comfortably Numb") The setlist will include "Some People Need Drugs," which she hopes is a conversation starter for attendees and "Die in the Hills," a song that she loves for its message "I think it's a really important message for people nowadays that they don't need to be changing themselves to fit what other people think they should be They should make mistakes and do the things that they want to do and have the highs and have the lows and live their life," Carter said who grew up thinking that I would need a nose job and who was always looking at my weight and hoping someday I don't get cellulite and stretch marks because Stagecoach is a country music festival she may let a little twang out while singing An 'incredible' yearSince winning "American Idol," Carter has remained steadfast in doing things her own way One of the first big decisions she made was choosing to go independent and not sign a recording contract with a label chosen by the show like having complete ownership over songs and choosing what she does with her music but she also has to take care of the business side of things like booking venues and promoting her work (though her bandmates and family members often help too) The benefits of signing with a label include increased visibility and others to take care of business and financials the label can decide whether it wants to release music or not and reduce an artist's creative control Though she's not against signing with a label in the future "to have autonomy over who I wanted to be and carve that out for myself." "That's not always so clear in the beginning of your journey I think I'll be able to go be myself strongly and be able to work with a team who's going to lift me up to where I want to go," she said Another decision was going out on a seven-stop tour where she played at a few venues in California and the East Coast She called it the "best experience that I've had." "There were these teenage girls and little girls up in the front row and I was like This is who I wanted to reach and this is who my songs are for,'" Carter said The venues certainly weren't as big as her Acrisure Arena show in July — which she admitted she felt "so underprepared" for but that it was also "the most out-of-body experience I've ever had" — but it felt right for her first tour "I remember when I was singing at the (VillageFest) street fair if I would get a crowd of like 40 people standing around me to have thousands of people from the valley come to one venue to support me The Indio native said she can't wait to go back on tour in the future Although so much of her life has changed in the past year one thing that's remained the same is her immense love for her hometown and her family She travels from Los Angeles to Indio nearly every week to spend time with her mom and siblings she's on the phone with her mom frequently In partnership with Inland Empire Health Plan, she also came back to the desert earlier this month to headline the second annual KidChella festival on April 19 in Thermal a Palm Springs Unified School District event with games Among the many things she's looking forward to during her Stagecoach performance is that she'll be able to invite her family and have a good time together "I'm looking forward to experiencing something I've never experienced before," she added and Stagecoach is a pretty big one to start on." Maybe the Coachella promoters will give her a call designed for organizations committed to maximizing their impact designed for organizations looking to scale impact designed for organizations ready to amplify their impact message Share your brand’s purpose through high-impact original content crafted by the TriplePundit editorial team Talk to our team about maximizing your impact communications with 3BL Experience the latest ESG and sustainability news reported by veteran journalists Celebrate your company’s placement on this prestigious ranking Discover what consumers expect from businesses and actionable tips for effective impact communication See how sustainability communications performed throughout 2024 to refine your strategies in the coming year Uncover the top 10 red flags in impact content and practical advice on how to combat these mistakes We help organizations share their sustainability communications with audiences around the world Learn more about the people behind our brand As the City of Indio, CA geared up for the return of the iconic Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, AEG Present’s Goldenvoice shined a spotlight on emerging artists and local culinary talent with CHELLA—a community-focused music event that took place on Wednesday The free concert was put on in conjunction with the City of Indio and will take place between weekend 1 and weekend 2 of Goldenvoice’s renowned Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival This year’s CHELLA featured a fun night of live music all centered around showcasing rising musicians and supporting local vendors CHELLA’s lineup brought together an exciting mix of up and coming and established artists recently featured by Rolling Stone as one of the leading voices in the rising “reggaeton mexa” movement Fans also had the chance to catch him at Coachella where he closed out the Sonora Stage on April 12 and 19 “We’re proud to partner with the City of Indio on this dynamic event which will showcase the vibrant community that is thriving here in the desert and celebrate the region’s incredible local talent and culture,” said Rene Contreras “CHELLA is about more than just night of music —it’s about creating a space where people of all ages can come together and enjoy an unforgettable night that belongs to the community.” CHELLA offered locals and visitors evening of culinary exploration A variety of local food trucks and vendors were on hand serving up delicious bites while guests 21 and over can kick back with a drink at the Indio Taphouse beer garden An overturned semitruck on Interstate 10 in Indio has led to two-lane closures on Saturday The incident was reported to California Highway Patrol at 5:02 a.m., according to CHP officer David Torres in a text message to The Desert Sun. The crash occurred on westbound I-10, east of Jefferson Street in Indio, and the overturned "tractor truck and trailer" was blocking lanes, according to CHP post on X on Saturday The driver sustained minor injuries in the single-vehicle collision He said that CHP is investigating how this incident occurred CHP plans to have all of the freeway lanes fully opened around 12:30 p.m Paris Barraza is a trending reporter covering California news at The Desert Sun A 19-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the death of a 26-year-old who was shot outside an Indio grocery store on Saturday.Police say Gideon Gonzalez was arrested near the Food-4-Less store shortly after the 26-year-old Gideon is scheduled to be arraigned on Wednesday A press release issued by the department Monday states that investigators believe the shooting occurred after Gideon and the victim had an altercation inside the store which is inside a shopping plaza at the intersection of Highway 111 and Monroe Street What was initially a verbal exchange then turned into a physical altercation outside the store with Gideon eventually pulling a firearm.The victim then attempted to flee but was allegedly shot by Gideon as he was running away He then collapsed and was later pronounced dead at the scene  Witnesses told police Gideon had been running southeast from the store before he was arrested nearby (This story has been updated to correct a typo.) (KESQ) - One person was killed and three others injured in a head-on crash Friday morning in Indio The crash was reported just before 6:00 a.m Police said the crash happened when a BMW sedan veered into oncoming traffic - crashing head-on with a Nissan Sentra was pronounced dead at the scene; the driver was listed in stable condition Two people in the Nissan suffered major injuries and were taken to Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs Police noted the driver was in critical condition Fred Waring Drive between Hoover Street and Monroe Street was closed for several hours Anyone with information regarding this accident was urged to contact the Indio Police Department (760) 391-4057 (KESQ) - An outage has left more than 5,800 customers without power in Indio Monday evening the Imperial Irrigation District confirmed There is no current estimated restoration time (KESQ) - A man is recovering in the hospital after being shot in the leg following a confrontation Monday night in Indio The shooting was reported just before 10:10 p.m near the intersection of Daisy Street and Garden Avenue Police said officers arrived and found a man with a gunshot wound to one of his legs "The victim and a female were confronted by two males for unknown reasons One of the males brandished a handgun," Indio police wrote Tuesday "The victim and female ran for their safety and were chased by the two males Police said the victim was taken to the hospital where he underwent surgery on a non-life-threatening injury The female was not injured in the shooting The two suspects fled on foot before officers arrived and have not been found The Indio Police Department Detective Bureau is conducting the investigation. Anyone with any additional information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact the Indio Police Department (760) 391-4057 (KESQ) - A juvenile was recovering Monday after being hit by a car while riding a small motorized mini-bike ink Indio inside a gated community near Monroe Street and Avenue 41 The collision happened in the 82000 block of Modena Road at an L-shaped intersection Indio police said they were investigating the circumstances of the crash Police report the juvenile suffered serious but not life-threatening injuries and was flown by helicopter to Riverside University Health System Medical Center in Moreno Valley The police statement included that the driver of the car remained at the scene and was cooperative and neither alcohol nor drugs appeared to be factors in the collision Anyone with information about this accident was urged to contact the Indio Police Department at 760-391-4057 (KESQ) - A convicted felon who choked his girlfriend to death during a domestic confrontation in the parking lot of an Indio condominium complex was awaiting sentencing today after being convicted of second-degree murder An Indio jury on Wednesday found 44-year-old Eduardo Alvarez of Indio guilty of the 2020 slaying of 32-year-old Madeleine Gutierrez Jurors returned with a unanimous verdict late in the afternoon after deliberating roughly two days Riverside County Superior Court Judge Otis Sterling set a sentencing hearing for June 13 at the Larson Justice Center Alvarez is likely to receive the mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years to life in state prison.   He is being held without bail at the Benoit Detention Center    According to a trial brief filed by the District Attorney's Office he and Gutierrez were in a tumultuous relationship that started in 2018 Their final conflict happened in the predawn hours of Oct instead telling the policemen she preferred the defendant stay with her claiming he and his girlfriend had just been attacked in the parking lot of the Summer Breeze Condos in the 47-300 block of Monroe Street and that he was passing out arms outstretched at her sides and exhibiting ``facial injuries and some marks around her neck,'' the brief stated The cause of death was determined to be manual strangulation Gutierrez ``feigned unconsciousness'' as he lay in the parking lot He was taken to a hospital for examination He told investigators initially that he and Gutierrez had been out most of the night He said there had been a minor tiff that prompted Gutierrez to get angry and try to ``run him over,'' but that it was a ``playful'' stunt The defendant said they then drove to his residence and parked outside Alvarez indicated the two were talking next to her car when a pair of unknown men approached and shouted ``Where you from?'' A tussle ensued Alvarez said he and Gutierrez were enjoying a romantic moment in the open rear of her car when the two men accosted them Alvarez has documented prior felony and misdemeanor convictions for domestic violence