Cathedral City appoints new Human Resource Manager

KESQ on July 30, 2025

Haley Meberg

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. (KESQ)– Cathedral City welcomes their new Human Resources Manager Asusena “Suzie” Soren, early Wednesday morning. 

Asusena “Suzie” Soren joins the City of Cathedral City following her run as Deputy City Manager for San Bernardino, where she oversaw city activities from finance, information technology, animal services, human resources and the call center.

Throughout her time in the City of San Bernardino, Soren stepped into several roles working as Deputy City Manager, Human Resources, and Chief Learning Officer. 

“We are thrilled to welcome Suzie to the Cathedral City team,” said Charlie McClendon, City Manager. “Her comprehensive background in public administration and human resources, combined with her demonstrated ability to lead strategic initiatives, makes her an invaluable addition to our organization. Suzie’s experience will be instrumental in supporting our employees and advancing our city’s mission to serve our community.”   

Soren’s leadership in the field has been recognized by the League of Women in Government, which featured her in their “Celebrate #SheLeadsGov” program, highlighting her contributions as a notable female leader in local government.

The Human Resources Manager for Cathedral City oversees all aspects of human resources for the city including recruitment, benefits administration, policy development, and employee relations.

The city official is a graduate from California State University, San Bernardino with a masters degree in public information from Cal Baptist University. 

 “It is an honor to serve as the Human Resources Manager for the City of Cathedral City! I am dedicated to cultivating a culture of collaboration, fostering open communication, and promoting continuous learning. I believe these initiatives will collectively contribute to the enhancement of the city’s effectiveness and responsiveness and look forward to working with internal and external stakeholders 

in continuing to serve our City with exceptional dedication and expertise,” said Soren.

For more information stay with News Channel 3.

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Chihuahua AG’s Office investigates discovery of New Mexico teen found dead

KVIA on July 30, 2025

Heriberto Perez Lara

JUÁREZ, Chihuahua (KVIA) — ABC-7 reported on Tuesday that Chihuahua State authorities found a 17-year-old girl from Hobbs, New Mexico, dead and buried at a home east of Ciudad Juárez.

The spokeswoman of the State Attorney General’s Office in Northern Chihuahua, Gabriela Cota, said the girl with the initials D.C.LL.G. left her address on July 16th and headed to Juárez to meet an acquaintance.

In the early hours of July 19, family members of the 17-year-old received WhatsApp messages from the alleged kidnappers asking for money and were extorted; it was then that family members made the trip to Juárez to file a complaint with the Chihuahua Attorney General’s Office.

On July 22, state investigators responded to a neighborhood, where they found the teenager buried in the backyard of a house.

Currently, the Chihuahua Specialized Prosecutor’s Office for Strategic Operations continues to investigate the case.

No arrests have been made yet, and investigators, along with other law enforcement agencies, continue to search for the suspects.

More updates will be provided in later newscasts.

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Possible demolition of Sedalia building more than 10 years in the making

KMIZ on July 30, 2025

Haley Swaino

SEDALIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Sedalia city officials are seeking to demolish a 95-year-old downtown building as it continues to deteriorate since a storm rolled through the area Thursday.

In support of public understanding and being transparent, the city released documents about the property at 207 W. Main Street.

The city said it’s received many inquiries about the ongoing situation.

“We understand the concern,” the city said in a social media post Tuesday. “This property raises important questions about safety, accountability, and preservation.”

A hearing was scheduled for 10 a.m. Tuesday and summons were issued for the building’s owners, Dana Melton and Travis Dixon.

The city filed a petition to have a court declare the vacant property an immediate danger and requested to have it demolished on July 23, according to previous reporting.

The city said in the post that the process to demolish it dates back to 2012, when the neighboring building was demolished.

After the former interior wall of 207 West Main St. was exposed, the city paid to have a coating applied to protect the masonry, according to the city.

In 2017, the city said early warnings of failing masonry, water infiltration, and other structural red flags by Wallace Engineering were ignored.

Wallace Assessment Report 2017Download

“Their report called for further evaluation, but the necessary repairs never came,” the city stated.

Three years later, an old coal shaft was discovered during a sidewalk replacement project outside the property. Documents state the shaft is located beneath the front of the already unstable building.

Credit: City of Sedalia

Credit: City of Sedalia

Credit: City of Sedalia

“Construction paused while engineers developed a stabilization plan,” documents state. “The city and its contractors took time to properly fill and reinforce the area to ensure safety. Despite these efforts, no repairs were initiated by the property owners themselves.”

It is stated that the condition of the building had visibly continued to deteriorate by 2023.

“Missing bricks, crumbling mortar, and structural separation at the foundation and parapet were noted in official violation notices,” the city said. “Still, no substantial action was taken.”

Code Violations 69-108Download

Records show 207 West Main St. was transferred to Dana Melton and David Dixon in October 2024. The property was transferred to new owners despite an active code case and an open violation notice.

“According to City Ordinance 10-460, it is illegal to transfer a property deemed dangerous unless violations are first corrected or a formal compliance agreement is in place,” the city said. “Neither condition was met.”

The city said it issued a “fresh” round of notices and tried to work with Melton and Dixon to get the property into compliance. The condition of the building continued to worsen and suffered more damage after a storm in June 2024.

Currently, the City of Sedalia says it’s committed to transparency and safety when it comes to how to move forward with 207 West Main St.

“The City of Sedalia understands that building demolitions–especially downtown–come with emotion, history, and concern,” the city said in a post Tuesday. “The City’s preference, from the beginning, was for the building to be repaired. Code Enforcement staff worked for years to prompt action and provide opportunities for compliance. But no amount of reminders, warnings, or engineering reports can substitute for responsible ownership.”

The city said it is now unavoidable that the building must be demolished.

Court proceedings are scheduled to resume Thursday at 10:00 a.m. Judge Jeff Mittelhauser has asked the city to provide additional information.

ABC 17 News has reached out to the attorney representing Melton and Dixon.

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Landowners who failed to pay for wildfire risk reduction to see fees for clearing brush

KESQ on July 30, 2025

Gavin Nguyen

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) – Hundreds of property owners in unincorporated portions of Riverside County will see fines attached to their tax bills for failing to pay for brush mitigation.

The Riverside County Fire Department requested the Board of Supervisors to sign off on cost recovery for the department’s Fire Hazard Reduction Program.

The program aims to reduce the risk of wildfires by trimming and managing overgrown brush. The department contracted inspectors to clear weeds and other wildfire fuels from parcels of land that were largely vacant or offset from a main property.

“At the end of the day, what we’re trying to do is build that defensible space. We know that we have a county that’s an arid climate, has a lot of risk of wildland fires,” said Riverside County Fire Department Chief Deputy Geoffrey Pemberton.

Pemberton broke down the process the department takes to maintain that defensible space. First, the department will inspect land parcels in high fire risk areas.

“When the adjacent parcels that are unimproved do not abate the weeds that could threaten their neighbors, we go out and do inspections, physical, on-site inspections, validate that there is a fire hazard or a threat to life or property, we send a mailer to the address on file with the landowner based upon the tax records. We give those property owners 30 days to abate it.”

If 30 days pass without action from the landowner, or the land does not pass a second inspection, the department will ask contractors to clear the brush. After verifying the work has been completed, the contractors bill the fire department – and the fire department will ask the landowners for that money back.

If landowners fail to pay the department back, the department asks the county to recover the cost by billing them during the following tax year. That’s what happened at Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting, when the cost recovery passed in a 5-0 vote without comment. No landowners were present for comment at the meeting.

In a statement to News Channel 3, Supervisor Perez said:

“Riverside County Fire Department’s Fire Hazard Reduction Program is one of the proactive measures we use as a county to prevent devastating wildfires.

“Where overgrown vegetation poses significant wildland fire risks, our Fire Department encourages property owners to clear hazardous vegetation voluntarily, avoiding the need for liens.  When necessary, the Fire Department takes swift action to mitigate and eliminate fire threats, particularly before the fire season begins and then throughout.

“In our desert communities, green waste piles and illegal dumping pose significant fire risks.  To address this, we included funding in the county budget for additional Fire Marshal staff to work on preventing these vegetation hazards and continuing the efforts to encourage owners to clean up their properties before they turn into dangerous fires.”

According to fire officials, the owners, whose properties are located in unincorporated communities countywide, are delinquent and altogether owe a total of $295,356.

Communities like Cabazon and Banning were included in the crackdown, as well as unincorporated portions of Corona, Hemet, Riverside, and more.

Cabazon alone had over 40 land parcels with new liens placed on them as a result of the weed abatement program.

Residents of the unincorporated community expressed their support of the fire department and county supervisors’ initiative. Manny Perez, a resident of Cabazon, said, “There’s no amount of money that you can put to save a life. If $500 is adequate, even $1,000 is adequate to save the potential for a family, a child, a person.”

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Desert Regional Medical Center hosts Infant Safety and CPR class

KESQ on July 30, 2025

Haley Meberg

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ)–  Desert Regional Medical Center is holding an Infant Safety and CPR class for local parents to teach the important measures for keeping their children safe.

The class will take place Wednesday, July 30, from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Desert Regional Stergios (Bell Tower) Building and will include techniques that can be lifesaving in a critical moment like CPR and the Heimlich. 

Studies show children are more susceptible to choking, and CPR can be the difference between a minor incident and a fatal outcome. CPR can also aid with blood flow to the brain while waiting for emergency services to arrive, keeping other organs vital as well. 

With limited seats available the course cost $40 per individual or couple requiring only one person to enroll. 

Patients with Medi-Cal may be eligible to have the courses covered by insurance. Interested parents can call 844-623-3115 to register.

Stay with News Channel 3 for more on the importance of learning these skills.

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Fiesta opens with El Mercado de la Guerra for four days Wednesday

KEYT on July 30, 2025

John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif.- The traditional fiesta downtown mercado opens for four days today in downtown Santa Barbara as part of Old Spanish Days.

Thousands of people are expected to come and go for food, entertainment and shopping.

This mercado is in the heart of town and at least 15 vendors are set up with food that will be prepared on site.

This includes tortas, tacos, taquitos, churros, papusas, hot dogs and corn on the cob.

There will be a large stage of entertainment over the run of Fiesta. It will feature performers from local dance studios and at night, bands until 10 p.m.

Non profit groups running some of the booths say it is one of their biggest fundraisers of the year to bolster their budgets.

Local businessman Guy Riviera says, “this is the locals day. This is when our community finds its unity. And we are just gathered here. I was born and raised here and this is what we do.”

So many choices were in front of the hungry visitors.

Mike Haynes held up a tri tip sandwich and said, “It was really good. Look at all the other stuff. You have to try that later.”

It’s all prepared on the spot in mini kitchens that will be operating for the next four days.

Tom Kelstrump said, “I always choose the burrito. Usually pork tastes great. Price is not too bad. “

 For some of the visitors to the plaza, the bites are something they have waited for since last year.

Former Radio host, Baron Ron Heron  ate a taquito and said, “that is pretty damn good.” 

Don Risdon from Carpinteria said,  “we have some, tacos. Some street tacos. Carne asada, carnitas. And then I’m going to finish with a couple of corn on the cobs. Beautiful. Viva la fiesta! “

One of the new additions to downtown  is across from the De la Guerra mercado in the Casa de la Guerra.  It has its own stage and a number of retail vendors as well.

“I was really worried that there wouldn’t be a crowd here today. It’s good. There is a crowd bigger than usual.,” said Heron.

Dana Mensies did a food review and said after trying her dish,  “I thought the meat was really moist. I got the plate combo with the beans and the rice. I highly recommend getting both the green and the red salsa. It just was the perfect place.”

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New Bloomfield voters to decide on $3 million bond for fire district upgrades

KMIZ on July 30, 2025

Erika McGuire

NEW BLOOMFIELD, Mo. (KMIZ)

For the first time, the New Bloomfield Fire Protection District is asking district voters for assistance on Aug. 5.

The district is asking voters to approve general obligation bonds for $3 million that would be used for a new fire station and other improvements.

The ballot question reads: “Shall the New Bloomfield Fire Protection District issue its general obligation bonds in the amount of $3,000,000 for the purpose of acquiring real property; constructing, furnishing and equipping a new fire station; renovating, improving and expanding existing fire station; and acquiring fire trucks, vehicles and other firefighting emergency apparatus and equipment?”

In a Facebook Post earlier this month, the fire district clarified that the planned project will be less than $3 million.

“The cost of our new building and expansion of our existing station to be significantly lower. We are asking for $3,000,000 so we can plan for the next decade (or two) for the equipment needs. Our repayment will be only on the amount we borrow,” the post said.

The project would be funded through a general obligation bond, which the district says allows it to borrow money at the lowest possible interest rate. While the district can borrow funds without voter approval, doing so would come at a higher cost, officials say.

If approved, the bond would be repaid through a property tax levy of about 11¢.

The fire district estimates that, for the average homeowner, approval of the bond measure would increase property taxes by about 8 a day, which is about $2.30 a month.

According to the district, the funding would allow for expanded and updated facilities, along with the purchase of new emergency equipment, enhancing firefighter safety, improving response times, and strengthening protection in the New Bloomfield community.

Callaway sample ballotDownload

This is the only question on the special election ballot in Callaway County.

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Indio provides updates to Avenue 44 low water crossing replacement project

KESQ on July 30, 2025

Kendall Flynn

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) — Construction crews in Indio are making progress on the Avenue 44 low water crossing replacement project. City officials say crews are focusing on the bridge’s stem walls and forming installations and concrete placement.

August 19, 2023, Tropical Storm Hilary brought heavy rain and flooding which damaged the infrastructure and property around Avenue 44. Officials say the storm overwhelmed local drainage systems and washed away a section of Avenue 44 at the Coachella Valley Storm Water Channel. It had been repeatedly damaged on five other occasions before Hilary.

After Hilary, Indio received approval from Caltrans to move forward with a $35 million bridge, funded by the Federal Highway Bridge Program, Measure A Funds, CVAG Transportation Uniform Mitigation Fee and Development Impact Fees.

For more information on the project visit indio.org.

Stay with News Channel 3 to hear the low water crossing replacement project updates and timeline hopes.

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Indio PD finding homeless encampments on CV Link

KESQ on July 30, 2025

Athena Jreij

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) — Indio PD say they’re running routine check-ins on the CV Link, as homeless encampments, trash and debris accumulate on the pathway.

In a post to Facebook, officers say a ‘zero-tolerance’ approach was taken with resources given to unhoused individuals.

Officers who cleared 7 encampments in the last week, say most are found under bridges where the shade is.

“We’ve been seeing the unhoused underneath the bridges for years, so it’s nothing new. However, with the CV Link, it has given a lot of unhoused another way of getting from point A to B,” Sgt. Abe Plata with the Indio Police Department said. 

News Channel 3 took a ride-along with officials to the most troubled sites, which include several bridges that run along the pathway in Indio.

“The problems we see are mainly underneath the Golf center Parkway bridge, the Jackson Street Bridge, the Monroe Bridge, and sometimes over at Fred Waring and Miles Avenue bridge,” Plata said. 

While the most recent Point In Time count found Indio had a population of 51 unsheltered and 458 sheltered people, Plata believes a new trend is growing the city’s homeless population – outside law enforcement booking arrests in the Indio jail. 

“They book them to get them out of their city and resolve the problem right there, but then that brings the problem to Indio because then they get released from the jail and end up in our city.” 

Plata says when they leave the jail, many without transportation just stay in the city, with some living under bridges.

While Indio PD and other law enforcement agencies provide mental health and substance abuse services, Plata says most people don’t accept the help.

“It’s probably 1 to 2% that actually take the help.” 

He says that resistance is also leading encampments to reappear quicker, within hours, days or weeks.

News Channel 3 reached out to CVAG for more information on their policy about encampments.

CVAG officials said in a statement:

“The cities have procedures and resources to respond to encampment activities, and CVAG has been coordinating with them to ensure when encampments occur on the CV Link that the cities can respond accordingly.” 

Stick with News Channel 3 as we continue to follow this story.

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WYDOT celebrates completion of Teton Pass Big Fill Slide restoration

KIFI on July 30, 2025

Ariel Jensen

JACKSON, Wyo. (KIFI) — After a year of intense work, the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) is celebrating the full completion of repairs to the Big Fill Slide on the Teton Pass. The critical roadway, Wyoming Highway 22 (Idaho 33), suffered a significant failure after a landslide swept away a section of the roadway at milepost 12.8, the weekend of June 8, 2024.

It was a much different scene today as the Wyoming Department of Transportation, Ames Construction, and government officials from across the state held a ribbon-cutting celebration near the Teton Pass to celebrate the final touches on the Big Fill Slide’s restoration.

“I would attribute why we were able to get it done as fast as we can is the old Wyoming way, said WYDOT Director Darin Westby. “We build relationships for decades. So when things happen, we’re able to call upon anybody and everybody that can lend assistance to make it happen, whether it’s U.S. Forest Service, park service contractors, local communities and governments, and be able to pull it all together to make sure it works.”

The event commemorated successful repairs to the Snake River Bridge.

While the pass did have a detour built in two and a half weeks to go around the missing spot of Highway 22 after last year’s collapse, it is no longer necessary, as the main road is paved and the guardrails are up, ready to carry people in and out of Jackson once more. 

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