Dozens rally against immigration enforcement at Indio CBP office

KESQ on July 19, 2025

Athena Jreij

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) — Calls for change erupted outside the Indio Customs and Border Protection office Friday as protesters denounced what they call discriminatory immigration policies.

“ICE and Border Patrol are kidnaping innocent community members in broad daylight, in fields, and in the streets and even in churches,” Balthazar Aguirre Jr. with the United Farmworker Foundation said.

It comes as President Trump’s mass deportation plans unfold in the Coachella Valley, with several operations touching down in Cathedral City, Thermal and Mecca.

While the administration has said officers are only going after criminals, protesters disagree.

“Don’t forget that when all of this started or before it started, they said that violent criminals were going to be taken off of our streets, MS-13 gang members. There are no MS-13 gang members out there farming our strawberries right now,” Christine Massey, a local participant, said.

According to recent data, since May, just 30% of those arrested have criminal convictions while 44% have no criminal history at all.

Some local operations like weed farm raid in the East Valley have targeted criminal enterprises, but for many, it feels like an attack on their community and anyone who looks like them.

“I’m a Mexican, I’m Hawaiian, and I’m all the brown stuff. I’m gay. I’m everything that they hate and so I have to be that voice,” William Acasil said.

As fear runs deep in local communities, UFW and ICUC have launched a new toll-free hotline providing bilingual legal services. However, even they admit their resources have limits.

“Each case is different. There was a Palm Desert couple who were gardeners and one of them was sent to Sudan, I believe, and, the wife was sent somewhere else. In those cases, I mean, it’s difficult to try to help them in that case,” Aguirre said.

For those in custody now, protesters hope they’ll hear their message of solidarity.

“We see you. We stand with you, and we won’t give up until these policies change,” said Massey.

For more information on the UFW’s toll-free hotline, head to https://kesq.com/news/2025/07/17/toll-free-hotline-launches-in-coachella-valley-to-support-migrant-communities/.

The number to reach the hotline is 1-888-295-4282 with hours set to operate from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

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SB County Fire Chief Mark Hartwig Announces Retirement at End of the Year

KEYT on July 19, 2025

Alissa Orozco

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. – After 33 years of service, Santa Barbara County Fire Chief Mark Hartwig has announced his retirement. Hartwig plans to retire at the end of the year, having served as fire chief for the county since 2019.

A press release by the county says Hartwig has served a “respected leader at both the local and state levels.” He began his firefighting career in 1992 with the San Bernardino County Fire Department. He later served as a Battalion Chief and Deputy Chief with the Rancho Cucamonga Fire District and appointed Fire Chief for San Bernardino County. He began leading the Santa Barbara County Fire Department in 2019.

During his service, Hartwig has helped lead efforts to expand the county’s paramedic services to all fire stations, helped establish a county-wide emergency dispatch center with regional fire chiefs, and pursued competitive bidding for emergency ambulance services.

Hartwig also served as President of the California Fire Chiefs Association and was appointed by Governor Jerry Brown to the State Commission on Emergency Medical Services.

“Chief Hartwig has shown exceptional responsiveness to the community,” said Laura Capps, Chair of the Board of Supervisors. “He has led with remarkable effectiveness, earning the trust and admiration of local fire chiefs and community members alike. His departure will be a significant loss to us.”

Hartwig lead the county’s fire department battle the Lake Fire in 2024, which burned over 38,663 acres – along with the Alisal Fire in 2021 that burned over 16,000 acres.

The fire chief helped set up the regional Incident Management Team during the COVID-19 pandemic to coordinate response efforts among agencies. Under Hartwig’s leadership, the county says the fire department and the Office of Emergency Management have made significant progress “to improving Fire infrastructure, enhancing training and preparedness, and supporting community resilience and safety.”

“Chief Hartwig is one of the most visionary public servants with whom I’ve had the pleasure to work. He has dedicated his career to public service with unwavering passion and commitment,” said County Executive Officer Mona Miyasato. “His approach and efforts to enhance safety and health for all residents will have a significant and lasting impact on our community.”

Hartwig looks forward to retirement, and spending more time with his wife and family. His plans include continuing to advocate for innovative approaches to connecting communities with medical care through public safety services and partnerships with healthcare providers.

The search for Hartwig’s successor will be underway in the upcoming months.

The Latest Breaking News, Weather Alerts, Sports and More Anytime On Our Mobile Apps. Keep Up With the Latest Articles by Signing Up for the News Channel 3-12 Newsletter.

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Morongo Celebrates Grand Opening of New Fire Station

KESQ on July 18, 2025

Timothy Foster

MORONGO, Calif. – The Morongo Band of Mission Indians marked a major milestone in regional public safety today with the grand opening of its new Fire Station #1. The modern, 15,000-square-foot facility will enhance emergency response capabilities on the Morongo Reservation and throughout the San Gorgonio Pass.

Replacing the previous station that served the community since 1998, the new facility is located at the intersection of Morongo and Santiago Roads. It is equipped with advanced response technologies, dual apparatus bays, expanded living quarters, and an early earthquake detection system. The station features reinforced construction and backup power systems to remain operational during disasters such as wildfires and floods.

Designed to accommodate up to 12 personnel per shift, the station now serves as the operational base for the Morongo Fire Department, a full-service agency with nearly 50 professional firefighters, EMTs, and ambulance personnel. The department responds to more than 1,500 calls annually, with nearly half occurring outside reservation boundaries.

The development of the station followed years of planning and research, and includes solar installations, diesel exhaust filtration systems to protect firefighter health, and state-of-the-art alerting systems. The facility is also designed with room for future expansion, ensuring it can evolve to meet growing regional needs.

The Morongo Fire Department began in the 1950s as a volunteer crew known as the Flying Eagles and has since grown into a vital regional emergency response organization. Its personnel play a critical role in supporting Riverside County and the broader region during emergencies and natural disasters.

The grand opening of Fire Station #1 follows the Tribe’s launch of a tribal medical helicopter and ground ambulance service in 2023, in partnership with Global Medical Response, American Medical Response, and REACH Air Medical Services. That program was the first of its kind between a federally recognized tribe and a national EMS provider.

The completion of this next-generation fire station represents a continued commitment by the Morongo Band of Mission Indians to public safety, emergency preparedness, and community service across the region.

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Eastern Idaho sex crime arrest highlights importance of reporting assaults

KIFI on July 18, 2025

Ariel Jensen

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — A local organization is worried that victims of sex crimes are not reporting the attacks. Police tell Local News 8 a man is in custody after being linked to a number of sex crimes in several Eastern Idaho counties. 

While sex crimes are difficult to prove in court, the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Center (DVSAC) in Idaho Falls says this shouldn’t deter people from reporting them.

“It kind of goes along with that whole MeToo movement. If you’re afraid that it’s going to go nowhere, why even report it? Well, there’s a reason to report it. And we have a great example here, where we have three possible victims of the same person,” said Amanda Cook, Forensic Nurse Examiner Program Director for the DVSAC.

Over the past year, the center’s team found a connection between different cases in multiple counties and the same offender. In response, the domestic violence center has advice to avoid being a target of this sort of crime. 

The center says they are seeing dating apps play a role in these types of crimes, especially Snapchat. Most victims are adolescents or young adults meeting their online connection for the first time.

The center warns against bringing people you have just met online to your home. Do not introduce them to children, and meet in a public place for the first couple of dates.

They also say there is one crucial piece of information you should know before meeting someone in person you’ve met online.

“Get their last name. Because what we’re seeing right now is this possible offender, he’s done it multiple times, but we couldn’t connect the dots because the victims did not have all the information on the offender,” said Cook.

If you are a victim of a sex crime or know someone who is and have questions on how to report a sex crime, DVSAC can walk you through your options.

For more information and resources, visit here.

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Three lawsuits filed against Cathedral City Fire Chief Michael Contreras, two more expected to be filed

KESQ on July 18, 2025

Garrett Hottle

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. (KESQ) Three lawsuits have been brought against Cathedral City and Fire Chief Michael Contreras, with more expected, an attorney involved with the cases tells News Channel 3.

The lawsuits, which were filed by Beaman Jacinto Law P.C., involve present and former workers of the Cathedral City Fire Department. Megan J. Beaman, an attorney with Beaman Jacinto Law, says they’re currently representing five clients total, and they hope to file at least two additional complaints.

“So we have two cases filed where they’ve been returned to us from the court,” Megan J. Beaman an attorney with Beaman Jacinto Law P.C. said. “The third one, we’re still waiting for a case number and for the final stamped documents. But it’s been filed, And then there are two others that we haven’t filed yet.

Megan J. Beaman, an attorney with Beaman Jacinto Law, says they’re currently representing five clients total.

They involve accusations of illegal, retaliatory, and abusive actions on the part of Chief Contreras.

“So with respect to our clients in their employment with the Cathedral City Fire Department, we see as a big picture a common thread of really abusive and retaliatory unlawful conduct by the fire chief, Michael Contreras, as well as the deputy that he appointed, who kind of toes the line for him, which is Steven Tuma,” Beaman Jacinto said. “So the both of them have also been individually, named as defendants in the lawsuit, as well as the city of Cathedral City for their fire department.”

Two of the plaintiffs are employed by the department and have been employed for close to 30 years, as detailed by Beaman-Jacinto. She explained that they are high-ranking officials who had never brought complaints along these lines.

“They’re basically a top management underneath the fire chief. And they had spent two of the three had spent, nearly three decades there, still working at the, at the fire department. But they’ve been with the city for nearly three decades, each person, and they’ve never had to bring a case of this nature. They’ve never been, you know, complaining employees, so to speak.”

All of the claims follow two internal investigations conducted by the city into the fire department. The most recent concluded in June.

A Cathedral City representative acknowledged that the administrative probe is finished but would not elaborate, as there is pending litigation.

News Channel 3 contacted Chief Contreras for comment and is waiting for his response.

This is a developing story.

Stay with News Channel 3 for updates.

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Lane closure expected following construction on Indian Canyon Drive beginning next week

KESQ on July 18, 2025

Haley Meberg

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ)– An 8,900-foot sewer pipeline installation will begin later this month causing lane closures in the Palm Springs Area. 

City officials said this instillation is a part of the Indian Canyon Drive Widening Project, a multistage road improvement project that is set to give the roadway a major upgrade. The work will take place along North Palm Canyon Drive, from south Palm Springs Station Road to west Tramview Road, starting the week of July 27.

Initial surveying and utility location for the project is said to require closure of the No. 1 northbound lane from Tramview Road and Sunrise Park. City officials say the installation will involve “tunneling beneath concrete pavement in certain areas and open trench methods for the majority of the pipeline.”

The installation for the Indian Canyon Widening project will affect both northbound and southbound lanes with work expected to last through May 2026. 

To learn more information about this project visit indiancanyonproject.com. 

Stay with News Channel 3 for more information.

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Rexburg man convicted for wildlife violations

KIFI on July 18, 2025

News Release

The follwing is a news release from Idaho Fish and Game:

REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI) — After a two-year-long investigation completed by Conservation Officers at Idaho Department of Fish and Game, 46-year-old Nathan Archibald of Rexburg was convicted of multiple wildlife crimes.

Conservation Officers began their investigation into Archibald in December of 2023, after receiving information from a member of the community through the Citizens Against Poaching Hotline. Officers quickly responded to the call, discovering a trophy-class mule deer buck that was illegally shot, hidden, and left.  Later that night, officers contacted Archibald when he returned to retrieve the mule deer buck, which he admitted to killing after dark the previous night.  There was no open season, he had no tag, and his hunting license was revoked at the time.  This incident eventually led to the discovery of additional information regarding several other unlawful animals taken by Archibald between 2021 and 2023. On February 5th, 2024, Officers served a search warrant on Archibald’s home, where a significant amount of physical evidence was recovered to solidify their investigation. 

On Oct. 11th, 2024, IDFG Officers filed charges in two cases against Archibald with the Madison County Prosecutors Office, totaling 6 Felonies and 14 Misdemeanors occurring between Dec. 2021 and Dec. 2023. The charges included six counts of unlawfully killing, possessing or wasting wildlife, four counts of hunting/taking an animal without a valid tag, four counts of hunting while revoked, one count of using the tag of another, one count of hunting with an artificial light, one count of trespassing and one count of possessing/transporting game unlawfully taken. In total, seven white-tailed deer and one mule deer were killed and/or possessed unlawfully. Three of the unlawfully taken deer were considered trophy animals and qualified for enhanced civil penalties.

Idaho Fish and Game Conservation Officers arrested Archibald on Oct. 21, 2024, for the previously filed charges.  He was released on bond the following day.  Each Misdemeanor charge carried the possibility of up to 6 months in jail, up to a $1,000 fine, and up to a 3-year hunting license revocation. Each Felony charge carried the possibility of up to 5 years in jail, up to a $50,000 fine, and the possibility of a lifetime hunting revocation. Each unlawfully taken deer carried with it a civil penalty, which in this case totaled $14,000. 

At his sentencing hearing, Archibald accepted a plea deal from the Madison County Prosecutor where he pleaded guilty to one felony count for Unlawful Killing, Possessing or Wasting of Wildlife in exchange for the additional 13 charges being dropped and a restitution hearing to be held for the remaining deer. 

Ultimately, Archibald received reduced penalties of 60 days in jail to be served over a six-month period, $7,000 in civil penalties, and a 10-year hunting license revocation. 

“There has been a lot of public interest in this case. We take calls about wildlife crimes very seriously and want to thank everyone who provided information” says Regional Conservation Officer Barry Cummings.  “Our three lead investigators spent over 300 hours following up on leads and putting together a rock-solid case. Idaho’s wildlife belongs to everyone and is a limited resource.  We work hard, every day, to hold to account those individuals who would steal that resource from our citizens.”

The unlawful taking of wildlife in Idaho is a crime against all Idaho citizens. Wildlife crimes like these often begin with a call from concerned hunters who witness blatant violations or suspicious activity and call into Idaho’s Citizens Against Poaching hotline. Callers to the hotline, (800) 632-5999, can report wildlife violations anonymously, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Cash rewards are available to callers who provide information leading to the citation of suspected wildlife law violators.

IDFG – written by James Brower

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United Way gives $100,000 to Salvation Army for Center of Hope expansion

KMIZ on July 18, 2025

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The United Way of Central Missouri is giving a $100,000 grant to The Salvation Army, according to a press release from the United Way.

The funds will be used for the expansion project for the Center of Hope Shelter in Jefferson City.

“This project is part of a larger $6.5 million capital campaign aimed at significantly increasing the shelter’s capacity and services,” the release says. “Planned upgrades include the addition of private family rooms with bathrooms, trauma-informed spaces for children, and a client-choice food pantry.”

Once renovations are complete, it is expected to support more than 100 families each month through its food pantry and wraparound services (including case management, job training, and support for expectant mothers).

The release says the center provided more than 10,000 nights of shelter to 154 people in 2023, and the expansion could offer help for 18,000 nights annually. Construction is set to begin later this year and be completed by the end of 2026, the release says. The money will be awarded during a meeting at noon Tuesday, the release says.

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“Good Trouble” Protest in Idaho Falls

KIFI on July 18, 2025

Max Gershon

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Thursday morning 77 protestors gathered at the Broadway Bridge in downtown Idaho Falls as part of the nationwide “Good Trouble” movement. The protest was organized by 50501 (50 protests, 50 states, 1 movement), the same organization that planned the “No Kings” protests in June.

The protests are honoring the legacy of civil rights leader John Lewis. Lewis was famously quoted for saying “Get in good trouble, necessary trouble, to help redeem the soul of America.”

Protestors brought signs, majority containing anti Trump messages. Others had signs going against ICE raids happening across the country, fighting for woman’s rights, and power corruption. The protestors lined up right up against the Broadway Bridge on both sides.

Most of the cars that drove by honked in support of the protestors. There were no counter protests at any point throughout the 2 hour protest.

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Driver arrested after Indio Police seize illegal drugs and 12-gauge shotgun in vehicle

KESQ on July 18, 2025

Haley Meberg

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ)– A 21-year-old man is facing multiple charges after Indio Police pulled him over for a traffic stop and found fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, and a 12-gauge shotgun in his vehicle.

Police stopped the man on July 10th around 1:15 a.m. in the 46000 block of Rubidoux Street for an equipment violation, and discovered he had been driving without a valid license with an active misdemeanor warrant out for his arrest.

Following that discovery, the driver consented to a vehicle search which led to the discovery of a loaded 12-gauge gun placed in a bag on the lap of the 38-year-old female front passenger. 

According to police, a further search of the vehicle revealed 24 grams of methamphetamine, 4.5 grams of fentanyl, 17 baggies each containing 0.1 grams of fentanyl, 2.4 grams of cocaine, and multiple scales and packaging materials consistent with narcotic sales. 

The driver was booked into the John Benoit Detention Center in Indio, charged with multiple weapons and narcotic violations. The female passenger was arrested on suspicion of possessing drug paraphernalia. She was later cited and released at the Indio Police Station.

For more updates stay with News Channel 3.

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