Congratulations, Karen Devine

Karen Devine to Receive Star on Palm Springs Walk of Stars

PALM SPRINGS —Karen Devine, a multi-award-winning television journalist who has spent more than three decades delivering local news and investigative reporting to the Coachella Valley, will a receive a star on the “Palm Springs Walk of the Stars.”

Her star will be unveiled on Friday, March 27, at 11 a.m. at 112 North Palm Canyon, in front of Balboa Candy.

Congratulations!

Devine is the evening anchor and investigative reporter for KESQ News Channel 3, serving viewers across the region’s ABC, CBS and FOX affiliates.

Known for her tough investigative reporting and steady presence on the anchor desk, she currently anchors the 5, 6, 10 and 11 p.m. newscasts while continuing to produce in-depth investigations that examine issues impacting the desert communities she serves. Over the course of her career,

Devine is not only good at what she does, but she is also kind.

Devine has earned numerous honors for her journalism, including multiple Emmy Awards, Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards, Golden Mike Awards, and the RTDNA Edward R. Murrow Award for investigative reporting. She was also recognized by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences with the prestigious Silver Circle Award, honoring more than 25 years of excellence in broadcast journalism. In 2024, Devine was inducted into the Coachella Valley Media Hall of Fame, recognizing her lasting impact on local journalism and decades of trusted reporting. Her investigative work has often focused on public safety and community health. Devine has reported extensively on the opioid and fentanyl crisis, beginning with her Emmy-winning investigation “Teens and Prescription Drug Abuse: The Epidemic.”

Her reporting brought together families affected by addiction, law enforcement, and policymakers and helped spark broader public awareness. The work also contributed to the creation of the nonprofit Mothers Against Prescription Drug Abuse (MAPDA). In recognition of her ongoing coverage of drug addiction and fentanyl poisoning, Devine received MAPDA’s Humanitarian Award in 2023. Her investigative reporting has also examined pandemic conditions in nursing homes, identifying concerns about isolation and care for residents during COVID-19 lockdowns, as well as accountability stories affecting local infrastructure and public safety. In one recent investigation, Devine discovered incorrect signage along the newly constructed CV Link path, prompting officials to remove and correct the signs before the project’s grand opening.

Throughout her career, Devine has covered major moments in Coachella Valley history and conducted high-profile interviews with national figures, while also bringing attention to stories that affect everyday residents. Before joining KESQ, Devine spent 17 years at KMIR-TV (NBC Palm Springs) where she served as anchor, reporter, producer and later News Director, overseeing newsroom staff and editorial decisions. During that time she anchored the 5, 6 and 11 p.m. newscasts and led coverage of major regional stories including the deaths of Congressman Sonny Bono, entertainer Frank Sinatra, and former President Gerald Ford.

Devine began her television career as a field producer for CNN’s “Showbiz Today” in Los Angeles, interviewing celebrities for the network’s weekday entertainment program. She later produced and anchored the local cable news program “A Week in Walnut.” She graduated from California State University, Fullerton with a degree in Radio, Television and Film with an emphasis in Broadcast Journalism.

Beyond the newsroom, Devine is deeply committed to the Coachella Valley community. She was named 2019 Woman of the Year by Assemblyman Chad Mayes, received the Athena Leadership Award from the Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce, and was honored as a City of La Quinta Pillar of the Community. She’s been actively involved with several organizations including the American Cancer Society Desert Spirit Chapter, Palm Springs Women in Film and Television, Women Leaders Forum, The Girlfriend Factor and Olive Crest. Devine emcees dozens of community events each year and regularly mentors aspiring journalists while speaking in local schools about careers in media.

Through decades on the anchor desk and in the field, Karen Devine has built a reputation as one of the Coachella Valley’s most trusted journalists—combining investigative reporting, community service, and a lifelong commitment to telling the stories that matter most to the people of the desert.