College of the Desert class of 2025 ready for the future

KESQ on May 28, 2025

Cynthia White

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – A salute to the Class of 2025 – Nearly 2,000 Roadrunners walked the stage at Acrisure Arena on Tuesday, moving on to take the next big step of their lives.

The grads heard remarks from the Superintendent and President, as well as keynote speakers, who inspired the students along with family and friends in attendance.

Two graduates say they’ll be using their Health Sciences degrees from COD to pursue nursing. Anitza Acevedo says she’s hoping to get into a nursing program to work toward a BSN, and Brianna Hernandez exclaims it’s never too late.

Others say they’re happy to finish this chapter in their education and are excited to see what the future holds.

News Channel 3 congratulates the Roadrunners Class of 2025, including Matthew Flicker, the son of News Channel 3’s chief photographer Christopher Flicker, and also to Isaiah Mora, one of News Channel 3’s great producers.

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Highlights from the Chukars Home Opener

KIFI on May 28, 2025

David Barrington

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — The Idaho Falls Chukars began their season on the road against the Boise Hawks. They won that series 5 games to 1. Tuesday night, they opened a 6-game series at home against the Billings Mustangs. Here are a few of the highlights.

First inning and first batter up for the Mustangs, A.J. Shaver gets a hit and sends it over left field to get a one-run homer to put them up one. Then, still in the top of the first, Tyler Shelnut gets a hit down the third base line and he gets a run to score for Billings.

Top of the second, Kristofer Bow pitches to Jack O’Dowd, and he gets the ball to fly over right field and out for a home run. Mustangs lead 3 to 0.

Bottom of the second, Chukars’ Trevor Rogers gets a hit to center field to get on first. A few pitches later, Jacob Jablonski gets the hit to left field for the home run and brings Rogers in to score. Chukars down by one. In the top of the 9th, Chukars lead 13 to 10.

Chukars take the win 13 to 12 Tuesday night.

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Honoring Mental Health Advocates: Sharon Butterworth to Receive Richard Salcido Lifetime Achievement Award

KVIA on May 28, 2025

Marcel Clarke

As part of ABC’s Be Mindful Initiative, ABC 7 has continued to highlight mental wellness resources and groups in our community. This month, our focus is not only on reminding you, you’re not alone, but also on celebrating the individuals who are paving the way on eliminating the stigma on mental health in our community.

Among the most influential of these community pillars is Sharon Butterworth. a tireless advocate for mental health in the Borderland. Through years of service, Sharon has helped eliminate stigma, championed mental health education and worked to expand access to care for those in need.

In recognition of her transformative leadership and unwavering dedication, Sharon Butterworth will be honored on Wednesday May 27th with the Richard Salcido Lifetime Achievement Award. This prestigious award acknowledges her lasting impact and commitment to improving mental health.

Sharon Butterworth sat down with ABC 7’s Marcel Clarke to share her personal journey on how she became a transformative leader.

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Parents of fallen Marine Corporal Hunter Lopez speak on post office dedication honoring their son

KESQ on May 28, 2025

Peter Daut

LA QUINTA, Calif. (KESQ) – A dedication ceremony is being held on Wednesday in La Quinta for the new Corporal Hunter Lopez Memorial Post Office Building.

The Coachella Valley native was one of 13 servicemembers killed in the 2021 attack at the Kabul airport in Afghanistan.

News Channel 3’s Peter Daut spoke with Hunter’s parents, Herman and Alicia Lopez, on Tuesday about how their son is being remembered.

After the post office designation was signed into law back in 2022, local leaders will be joining the Lopez family Wednesday for the unveiling of the plaque to honor his heroic service and sacrifice. The ceremony will be at 10:00 a.m. at the USPS facility located on Corporate Center Drive in La Quinta.

As Peter Daut reported several years ago in an in-depth exclusive with the family, just moments before his death, Lopez saved the lives of two children – only part of his efforts that contributed to the largest airlift in history in which more than 120,000 people were evacuated to safety.

Lopez’s family say they continue to be comforted by the outpouring of support from the community. Meanwhile, the Hunter Lopez Memorial Foundation continues to raise money to help those who protect and serve our country. Several scholarships were recently awarded to local students.

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PSPD reports missing person has been located

KESQ on May 28, 2025

Cynthia White

UPDATE 5/27/2025: The Palm Springs Police Department reports that Tadeusz Moskal has been located.

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – The Palm Springs Police Department has issued a Missing Person Alert Tuesday evening.

Tadeusz Moskal was last seen near the area of Molino Road and Sunnyview Drive in Palm Springs. He is wearing a blue shirt with white horizontal stripes and navy-blue shorts.

Police ask that if anyone has information on the man that can assist in safely locating him, please call 911 or PSPD at 760-327-1441.

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RivCo trans athlete prompts CIF rule change; local coach & health worker discuss impact to athletes

KESQ on May 28, 2025

Shay Lawson

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, Calif. (KESQ) — A transgender student-athlete from Jurupa Valley High School is set to compete at the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) State Track and Field Championships this weekend.

President Donald Trump appeared to reference the athlete in a social media post Tuesday, threatening to withhold federal funding if California allows her to compete.

In response, the CIF said it is updating its championship eligibility rule.

News Channel 3’s Shay Lawson is speaking with a local high school track and cross-country coach about what the new rule means and to a community health worker about its impact on some student-athletes.

Watch the full story tonight at 10 and 11 p.m.

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Maquiladoras continue to lose jobs south of the border

KVIA on May 28, 2025

Heriberto Perez

JUÁREZ, Chihuahua (KVIA) — Industries and maquiladoras south of the border continue to lose jobs month after month.

According to the Mexican Importers and Exporters National Association (ANIERM), Juárez lost another 1,874 jobs in March of this year.

Closing reports indicate that these 1,874 losses bring the total to 29,904 job losses since March 2024 and 62,506 since June 2023.

“The reasons we’ve talked about and talked about repeatedly are both the tariff war that came under President Trump, and the depression that the United States was already experiencing due to a lack of sales and purchase orders,” said Chihuahua delegate Marcelo Vázquez. “So if there are no purchase orders, there’s no production in the maquiladora industry, and employees have to be sent home.”

The state of Chihuahua along with the Mexican federal government announced last week a plan to boost economic development and assist maquiladoras and industry in Juárez.

Several cities in Mexico were selected for this plan called ‘Polos de Bienestar’ or wellness poles, which aim to give fiscal benefits to selected cities like juárez.

It also promotes more investments in machinery and equipment for the industry.

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Portneuf River Vision to host Poky Paddle event in June

KIFI on May 28, 2025

Sam Ross

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI)– The Portneuf River Vision group, in partnership with the Pocatello-Chubbuck Chamber of Commerce and Healthy City, USA, are hosting a day of fun on the Portneuf River for their Poky Paddle event on June 13.

Poky Paddle will feature food trucks, live music, and vendors at Centennial Park. People can also float the Portneuf River with free shuttle services from the take-out point in Centennial Park to launches at Taysom Rotary Park and Edson Fichter Nature Area.

The Poky Paddle event will be Friday, June 13, 2025, from 5 to 9 p.m. Event organizers are looking for volunteers to help with float organization and management.

For more information on the Portneuf River Vision event, you can visit the Poky Paddle website.

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Special Olympics gears up for state games with torch run

KIFI on May 28, 2025

Chris Nestman

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI)—In an annual event that’s become a favorite for participants and supporters alike, the Special Olympic torch is on its way across the state ahead of this summer’s state Special Olympic Games in Nampa.

Idaho Falls is one of many cities in the path of the torch run. Tuesday’s run from Waterfront Park in Snake River Landing to Teton Toyota was short, but it was a chance to bring the spirit of the games to the city and specifically for law enforcement agencies to show their support.

Several law enforcement agencies participated in the run, including the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office, the Idaho State Police, the Idaho Falls Police, and the Pocatello Police.

“They (law enforcement agencies) are an integral piece of our awareness arm as far as spreading the awareness of Special Olympics and helping increase participation and support,” said Mike Fitch, a Law Enforcement Torch Run Liaison. “They’re also a huge part of our fundraising aspects. The majority of our fundraising goes through law enforcement agencies that we do statewide year round.”

For local Special Olympic Teams, like the Idaho Falls Pirates, support from law enforcement and donations is key to helping them participate and compete.

“Whether you’re going to a softball field, botchy ball, swimming, it all costs money,” said Chad Blythe the Special Olympics local commissioner for the Idaho Falls Pirates. “All the funds that we raise here, helps us rent those facilities, gives us access to them, and helps us provide more fun sports for everybody to come out and play.”

Blythe says the Idaho Falls Pirates accepts athletes of all levels of abilities, disabilities and performance. “Doesn’t matter if you’re higher functioning, lower functioning. We try to make sure everybody gets included.”

This year to raise money for the Idaho Special Olympics state chapter, supporters can enter a raffle for a brand new Toyota Tundra that was on display at Teton Toyota. All proceeds from the raffle will go to support teams around the state.

The torch run will continue for another week across various cities in Idaho until the state games begin next month in Nampa.

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Two dead, two others are behind bars after DUI related crashes across Cathedral City

KESQ on May 27, 2025

Isaiah Mora

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. (KESQ) – New Channel 3 is tracking two fatal car crashes in Cathedral City.

Around 8:47 P.M. on Saturday, Cathedral City Police received numerous 911 phone calls of a traffic collision in the intersection of Dinah Shore Drive and Via Echo. Witnesses told CCPD Dispatch the collision involved a pedestrian and a vehicle in the westbound lanes of Dinah Shore Drive. Cathedral City Police and Cathedral City Fire & EMS responded and arrived a short time later. Upon police arrival, officers located a single pedestrian on Dinah Shore Drive west of Via Echo.

The pedestrian had major injuries to their person and was pronounced deceased at the scene. She was identified as Yuvinka Ponce, 27, of Cathedral City. A GoFundMe page has been set up to help pay for funeral expenses.

The vehicle and driver remained at the scene of the collision.

Through CCPD’s investigation, it was learned that DUI was a factor in the collision. The driver was arrested for DUI and will be booked into John Benoit Detention Center in Indio.

Westbound Dinah Shore Drive was closed between Date Palm Drive and Via De Anza, but it has since opened up.

Meantime, Cathedral City Police are also reporting another fatal crash near Ramon Road.

Around 1 A.M. on Sunday, CCPD received reports of a traffic collision involving two vehicles at Ramon Road and San Eljay Ave.

Cathedral City Police and Cathedral City Fire & EMS responded to the scene. Upon arrival, officers located a Nissan sedan with major collision damage on the passenger side of the vehicle.

Officers also located a Chevy pick-up truck with major collision damage to the front of the truck. The driver of the Nissan had major injuries from the collision and was pronounced deceased at the scene. He was identified by the coroner’s office as Kevin Becerra, 24, of Cathedral City. A GoFundMe page has been set up to help with funeral expenses.

The driver of the truck was identified as a juvenile. The investigation revealed the juvenile was intoxicated and DUI was a factor in the collision.

The juvenile was arrested for DUI.

Stay with News Channel 3 as we continue to track these breaking stories.

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