Hazy skies across the valley fueled by wildfire smoke, ozone

KESQ on August 4, 2025

Gavin Nguyen

THOUSAND PALMS, Calif. (KESQ) – It’s been hot and hazy across the Coachella Valley, leading to poor air quality in recent days.

Rick Miller, who often takes his dog to the David H. Ready Dog Park in Palm Springs, noticed the usual group of dog owners was thinner on Monday.

Miller and his dog, Luca, at a Palm Springs dog park

“Some friends of mine have asthma and so they don’t come on days when the air quality is bad,” Miller explained. “One of my friends is on an oxygen tank and he comes here and when the air quality is bad, he notices that it malfunctions and it overheats much quicker. He can’t stay very long.”

At times, air quality dipped into the “Unhealthy” range over the weekend. As of Monday, most of the valley is seeing “Moderate” air quality.

Haze looking southwest, towards the Banning Pass, from Edom Hill

You can check your air quality using South Coast Air Quality Management District’s air quality map.

The Gifford Fire, which is burning over 200 miles to our northwest, has torched upwards of 65,000 acres as of Monday morning. According to the National Weather Service, our weather pattern is helping fuel westerly winds, which are funneling the smoke from that wildfire across Southern California and beyond. That haze is being pushed as far as Las Vegas!

Adam Roser, a Lead Meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s San Diego forecast office, said, “We have a trough of low pressure up to the north and then an area of high pressure over the southwest desert region. So those two pressure systems are kind of in between those, so that wind pattern is just kind of funneling some westerly winds across the area.”

A new wildfire, the Gold Fire, burning near Big Bear, is also expected to contribute to smoky conditions in the low and high deserts.

Over the weekend, the Coachella Valley also saw elevated levels of ground-level ozone, a primary pollutant in smog. This type of ozone (which is different from stratospheric ozone) is created through a chemical reaction: emissions from cars are heated on hot, sunny days, resulting in this pollutant.

Ozone in the upper atmosphere is great for us. It helps protect us from the sun’s harmful UV rays. Ground-level ozone, however, can cause breathing problems and is one of the main ingredients of the smog we’re seeing across the valley.

Mix the ozone with the wildfire smoke being funneled into the valley, and the result becomes poor air quality and hazy skies.

“We haven’t really seen a lot of, you know, windy conditions. It’s been kind of lighter winds in the atmosphere as well, so not as much movement of air. A couple of those factors in the weather can really contribute to that as well,” said Roser.

“Those hot temperatures combined with, you know, some of the smoky skies will make for poor air quality for those sensitive groups.”

Rick Miller and the dogs he’s looking after hoped the hazy skies give way to better air quality sooner rather than later.

“[These conditions are] not good because we need to get out and enjoy this, especially what’s going on in the world,” Miller said. “It’s good to have some positive things to look forward to and being outside when the weather is nice and the air is clear, it makes a big difference.”

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Ventura Police Boost Patrols for County Fair Safety

KEYT on August 4, 2025

Patricia Martellotti

VENTURA, Calif. – The Ventura County Fair is officially underway, drawing large crowds and heavy traffic to the area.

In response, Ventura police are stepping up patrols and increasing traffic enforcement near the fairgrounds to ensure public safety.

Officers are urging drivers and pedestrians to stay alert and follow all posted signs and traffic signals. Police are also working closely with fair organizers to help manage the flow of both vehicles and people entering and exiting the fairgrounds.

“Fair’s location is in arguably one of the worst places in town with the ability to get in and get out of it,” said Ventura Police Officer Davis Curtis. “The cones you’re sitting around direct traffic in the safest way possible that we’ve developed — just making sure everybody’s moving with traffic and staying attentive while coming to the fair.”

The fair runs through Sunday, August 10th, and police say safety will remain a top priority throughout the week.

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Robbery suspect arrested after foot pursuit in Palm Springs

KESQ on August 4, 2025

City News Service

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – A felon was arrested for allegedly trying to steal a vehicle at gunpoint and robbing a person at a Palm Springs gas station, authorities said today.   

The suspect, a 38-year-old man from Palm Springs, was arrested and booked into the Benoit Detention Center in Indio on Sunday on suspicion of attempted carjacking, robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, possession of ammunition by a prohibited person, carrying a loaded unregistered firearm, parole violation and being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to the Palm Springs Police Department.  

Shortly before 5:40 a.m. Sunday, officers responded to a call in the 2700 block of North Palm Canyon Drive regarding an armed robbery in progress, police said. The reporting party told authorities that a man tried to steal a vehicle.

The suspect approached a victim who was pumping gas and demanded the victim’s car keys and belongings using a firearm, police said.   

After entering the vehicle, the suspect was unable to operate it for unknown reasons, police said. Another person attempted to intervene and the suspect fled the scene on foot.

He was taken into custody after a short foot chase.   

Officers recovered a loaded unregistered firearm and found the victim’s stolen property, police said.

“We commend the coordinated efforts of the officers involved, whose teamwork and persistence led to the safe apprehension of the suspect and recovery of key evidence,” the department said in a statement.

Background information on the suspect was unavailable.

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How a Missouri driver helped design the ‘Fastest Short Track on the Planet’

News-Press NOW on August 4, 2025

News-Press NOW

By: Mitchell Kaminski

NEWTON, Iowa (KMIZ)

Tucked in America’s heartland is a 7/8 mile oval in the middle of a cornfield, dubbed the “Fastest Short Track on the Planet.” Despite being located in the hills of Newton, Iowa, its origins have ties to the Show-Me State. 

After the Newton City Council approved plans for the proposed $30 million race track in 2003, Rusty Wallace was named the leading designer of the project. Wallace is one of 41 drivers from Missouri to compete in NASCAR. In 2004, the St. Louis native inked plans for a D-shaped, asphalt oval, becoming the first professional stock car driver in recent history to design a racing circuit. 

“You can definitely tell a driver designed the race track,” 2012 Cup Series Champion Brad Keselowski told ABC 17 News. “ A lot of things that just make sense, the tracks designed with progressive banking, which allows for it to race with two separate lanes and create side-by-side racing and passing. Rusty deserves a lot of credit for that vision.” 

Missouri features over 50 different types of race tracks across the state, including dirt tracks, drag strips, and ovals. Like many grassroots racers in the Show-Me State, Wallace thrived on short ovals, specifically Richmond, logging six of his race wins there. After getting a call from investors a year before he retired in 2005, Wallace decided to bring an improved version of Richmond to the Midwest, which has presented a variety of challenges to drivers.

“This is one of the very few tracks, especially ovals, where I kinda feel like I’m out in left field a little bit with kind of understanding what I need to do to go fast here,” Denny Hamlin, who is just two wins shy of his 60th Cup Series victory, said. “It’s certainly shaped uniquely,  very similar to Richmond, but different. This is certainly something that’s important in this region to have a racetrack, and certainly the fans will turn out in big numbers.” 

Two years after Wallace completed his design plans, Iowa Speedway opened its doors and began hosting a variety of racing series, including the NASCAR Xfinity Series, Truck Series, and IndyCar.  The track quickly became a favorite for drivers and fans alike, producing several memorable moments. Nearly a decade after opening, Iowa Speedway finally hosted its inaugural NASCAR Cup Series race.  

“It was always my favorite race track on iRacing. I remember coming here in 2016 and just wondering if how I felt about it on iRacing would be the same as in real life and was able to come here and literally the first lap on the racetrack, it felt just like iRacing and just kind of fell in love with the place,” Chase Briscoe told ABC 17 News hours before winning pole position for the second Cup Series race at Iowa. “The repave changed my opinions on that, but still love coming out here.” 

“You roll in and you see almost nothing for hours and hours and you just roll into this beautiful racetrack set up in the hills. Really is an amazing facility,” Chris Buscher, driver of the No. 17 Ford Mustang for RFK Racing, added.  

Buescher couldn’t help but grin as he recalled how much the racing surface and the experience have changed over the years. 

“I remember this was one of the hottest races I ever ran in an ARCA car. But it was so much fun back then,” Buescher said as he cracked a smile. “We actually moved around basically all the way to the wall and just to see that progression since that day and see how many races moved around and widened the place out was awesome. Obviously the repave has taken that upper half of the racetrack away from us for the time being. But it was also pretty rough.” 

Erik Jones, driver of the No. 43 Toyota for Legacy Motor Club, got his first taste of Iowa Speedway while in the NASCAR Truck Series. Like Buescher, he has fond memories of coming to the track. 

“In 2013, I came here and ran a truck race, not the same place at all, that’s for sure.  But I liked it right away. I had success here in Trucks and Xfinity and won some races.  I always enjoyed coming,” Jones said.  “It’s definitely way different with the patch than what it was then, and  the way you race and track and move around and how treacherous it is. This place never seemed so treacherous.” 

The patch Jones referenced, which was part of a repave before the inaugural Cup Series race in 2024, has drawn the ire of several drivers. It has also made the track even more challenging, with fewer lanes to move around in. 

“From the first time I came here, it was a bit tricky to figure out. Short tracks weren’t really my thing. But as the tires wear out, you can kind of move around, so that kind of saved me a little bit.  Getting going I couldn’t really make speed unless you’re able to move up and move around,” Tyler Reddick, driver of the No. 45 Toyota for 23XI Racing, said. “That game changed a little bit with repaved corners, but you’re still moving around searching on those patches.” 

Despite the driver concerns, the track has produced sold-out crowds in each of its first two Cup Series races. 

“Whether the racing is great or not, they show up, hopefully we put on a good show every time,” Carson Hocevar, driver of the No. 77 Chevrolevte for Spire Motorsports, said. 

Drivers say the packed grandstands speak to the racing culture in the Midwest, a region that has an appetite for racing. 

“I think the culture is different in motorsports, definitely in different pockets of the country. But the Midwest region is certainly my favorite,” Briscoe, an Indiana native, said. “ Iowa is just such a core motorsports fan base and they just love racing, you know, whether it’s NASCAR, IndyCars or sprint cars or late models, it just doesn’t matter, it’s just a ton of fans, especially grassroots fans, especially in this area.” 

Jones, who got his start racing in his hometown state of Michigan, offered a similar sentiment. 

“I think there’s really a love for it here that’s probably a bit understated,” Jones said. ” You look at the history of guys who have come out of the Midwest and have been successful not just in NASCAR, but on the short track side, and it’s guys that I look up to from the short track world. They’re all from the Midwest.”

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Injured coyote rescued in Palm Springs seized by CA Fish & Wildlife

KESQ on August 4, 2025

Luis Avila

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – A young female coyote named Athena, who was recovering after surviving a hit-and-run, is now in the custody of California Fish and Wildlife.

Athena had been under the care of El Paseo Animal Hospital, where she underwent surgery to amputate her front right leg. But Dr. David Jeffrey, the veterinarian who treated Athena, worries the transfer may not be enough to guarantee her safety.

“It really depends on who is assessing them and what volume they’re seeing. A lot of these places are overwhelmed with injured coyotes, injured wildlife, so a lot of tough decisions have to be made and they don’t have the facilities to care for an animal like Athena, who’s in between.”

Dr. David Jeffrey, El Paseo Animal Hospital

Although three-legged coyotes can often survive in the wild, Athena was deemed non-releasable because she showed signs of socialization with humans.

Dr. Jeffrey said he had been working with Imagine Jungle Wildlife Sanctuary, located near Big Bear, to find Athena a permanent home. But efforts stalled due to red tape.

“Zoos can’t accept an animal from me, a veterinarian… There’s a lot of legality about zoos accepting them from places that aren’t licensed rehabilitation facilities. There’s a good reason for that red tape and process.”

Dr. David Jeffrey, El Paseo Animal Hospital

California Fish & Wildlife has not yet responded to News Channel 3’s request for comment but an officer off-camera said they’re following state regulations and plan to move her to a licensed wildlife rehab facility.

Jeffrey remains hopeful Athena will be given a second chance.

Stay with New Channel 3 for more.

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Downtown Idaho Falls getting new paid parking system

KIFI on August 4, 2025

Noah Farley

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Downtown Idaho Falls will be getting a new on-street paid parking system in October.

The Idaho Falls Downtown Development Corporation says it will bring the system to the Business Improvement District in two phases. The first phase will start in October 2025. The new parking system will be managed through an app called PARK SMARTER. 

IFDDC hopes the new system will “improve parking availability and turnover for customers.” The funds the parking system makes will be used for parking infrastructure, maintenance, and public improvements. 

“We understand that parking is a vital part of the success of our downtown, and our goal is to create a more efficient and user-friendly system,” said IFDDC Executive Director, Kerry Hammon. “By encouraging turnover of on-street parking, we can ensure that customers can more easily find a place to park, which ultimately supports our local businesses and the entire downtown economy.”

IFDDC shared the following.

Key Details of the New Parking System:

Several bike racks are located throughout the BID for individuals who choose to use alternative transportation. 

Implementation:

Phase I will begin in October 2025, covering the area from Broadway north to (but not including) D Street, and from Yellowstone Avenue west to Memorial Drive.

Phase II will expand the system south of Broadway and is scheduled for next year. Phase II also includes upgrades to the parking lot permit process and pay stations, as well as the installation of wayfinding signage in the parking lots managed by IFDDC, as funding allows.

Hours of Operation: Beginning in October, on-street paid parking will be enforced Monday through Friday, from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Parking will remain free on evenings, weekends, and federal holidays.

Rates: On-street parking rates will be tiered: $1 for the first hour, $2 for the second, $2 for the third, and $10 for the fourth. The maximum on-street parking time will be four hours. These proposed rates were discussed with the Idaho Falls City Council on Monday, July 28, 2025. Click HERE to watch the City Council presentation.

How to Pay: On-street parking will primarily be managed through the PARK SMARTER app. For those without a smartphone, five physical pay stations are located in four downtown parking lots:

• Broadway Plaza surface parking lot behind Smokin’ Fins

• Capital Avenue parking lot (between A and B Street)

• B Parking Lot behind Channel Blend

• A Parking Lot (2 pay stations), behind Idaho Mountain Trading

The PARK SMARTER app will alert the user when their on-street parking time is about to expire and allow the user to add more time directly from the app, up to the 4-hour maximum.

The parking spaces in the center of Constitution Way will be changed to metered parking via the PARK SMARTER app, and new signage will be added.

Free parking remains available between the railroad tracks and Yellowstone Avenue. Pedestrians are encouraged to use the pedestrian beacon at the intersection of Yellowstone and B Street when crossing Yellowstone. 

Free on-street parking for individuals with disabilities displaying a legal placard will continue.

The 20-minute loading and unloading zones will remain available for quick trips and deliveries by both the public and the service industry.

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Bend man facing child abuse, drug charges who fled to Thailand makes court appearance

KTVZ on August 4, 2025

Barney Lerten

(Update: Hannes appears in court, new hearing set)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – A Bend man facing numerous child sexual exploitation and drug charges after a 2024 raid on his home fled to Florida, then to Thailand before his trial. The FBI located him, and he has been extradited to Deschutes County, where he’s being held on $1.5 million bail.

Simon Hannes appeared in court on Wednesday for a hearing to set a new trial date, but that decision was delayed after he waived his right to a speedy trial. Deschutes County Circuit Judge set a new hearing date for Sept. 3. Hannes’ lawyer told Hannes that a settlement conference will be scheduled as well.

Here’s the initial news release issued August 4 by Deschutes County sheriff’s Sergeant Thomas Lillenthal, who works in digital forensics with the agency’s Internet Crimes Against Children unit:

Arrestee: Simon Lesley Hannes, 37-year-old Male

Charges:

2x Using a Child in Display of Sexually Explicit Conduct ORS 163.670

10x Encouraging Child Sex Abuse in the First Degree ORS 163.684

1x Luring a Minor ORS 167.057

12x Encouraging Child Sex Abuse in the Second Degree ORS 163.686

1x Failure to Appear ORS 162.205

1x Unlawful Manufacturing of a Schedule I Controlled Substance ORS 475.752(1)(a)

1x Unlawful Possession of Psilocybin ORS 475.752(7)(a)(B)

In February 2024, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) unit received an ICAC Cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). The Cybertip detailed an unknown user who shared imagery of Child Sexual Abuse Material on the chat application Discord within Deschutes County. ICAC Detectives began investigating this Cybertip and determined that the person operating the account was Simon Lesley Hannes of Bend.

On March 7th, 2024, Hannes was contacted, and a search warrant was conducted to seize digital devices from Hannes and his residence. During the execution of this search warrant, it was discovered that Hannes was actively growing a substantial quantity of dried and actively growing psilocybin mushrooms in his residence, along with multiple firearms. ICAC Detectives were assisted by the Deschutes County Illegal Marijuana Market Enforcement (DCIMME) teams in the proper seizure of these items.

Hannes was placed under arrest for one count each of Encouraging Child Sex Abuse in the First and Second Degree, Unlawful Manufacturing of a Schedule I Controlled Substance, and Unlawful Possession of Psilocybin and lodged at the Deschutes County Adult Jail.

In the following weeks, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Digital Forensics Lab (DFL) analyzed devices seized from Hannes. Digital Forensics Detectives discovered that Hannes had communicated sexually with a juvenile female and also obtained sexual images of this juvenile female for purposes of sexual gratification, as well as several multimedia items on his devices that depicted the sexual abuse of children on the devices, and were shared in conversations discussing the sexual abuse of children. After a grand jury indictment, Hannes was placed back under arrest on March 20th, 2024, for the rest of the above-listed child sex crimes and lodged at the Deschutes County Adult Jail.

While awaiting the trial date for this case, ICAC Detectives and the Federal Bureau of Investigation learned that Simon Hannes was currently in Florida. Hannes’s pretrial release conditions explicitly stated that he was not to leave Oregon. Hannes failed to appear for his April 2025 trial dates for his original arrests, as detectives were investigating the reasons he was in Florida. They refocused their investigation into locating Hannes, determining that he had fled the country and was now in Thailand.

In May of 2025, ICAC detectives isolated Hannes’s location in Thailand and coordinated with the FBI and law enforcement authorities in Thailand to take Hannes into custody. Hannes was held in custody in Thailand until extradited to the United States by the US Marshals Service. On July 25th, 2025, Hannes was transported back into custody at the Deschutes County Adult Jail.

On July 28th, 2025, Hannes went before the court in Deschutes County and was given a $1.15-million-dollar pretrial bail, partly due to fleeing the country.

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the FBI for their continuing partnership in our fight to protect children in Deschutes County, the Thailand Law Enforcement for their cooperation and swift apprehension of Hannes, and the US Marshals Service for their assistance in extraditing Hannes to the United States.

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Indio prepares to begin Annual Pavement Management Project to improve city streets

KESQ on August 4, 2025

Haley Meberg

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ)– The City of Indio prepares to begin its Annual Pavement Management Project to improve driving conditions and the longevity of neighborhood streets. 

This annual event includes a series of four different road pavement projects that will begin on August 11 and complete August 22. The work involves grinding and overlaying asphalt surfaces through specific neighborhoods in the city. 

Pavement for the project will take place from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. with temporary road closures during construction times.

The first improvement for the pavement project is set for August 11 to August 12 along Palm Meadows and Ave 46.

The second installation to this project will take place by Santa Fe Homes August 13 through August 15. 

The third installation will take place along Country Club Drive and Ave 42 to limit on August 18, with the final improvement taking place throughout Central Indio from August 19 to August 22. 

City officials urge residents to plan ahead and take alternative routes throughout construction times, as delays are expected for the community while the project takes place. 

For more information about construction alerts www.indio.org/departments/public-works-department/construction-alerts

Stay with News Channel 3 for more updates.  

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Santa Barbara Locals Cope with ICE Raid Fears Through Faith, Dance, and Fiesta

KEYT on August 4, 2025

Mina Wahab

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — It’s a tradition that’s been around for more than a century.

“It’s really the spirit of love. The spirit of God. You know? What is it? I don’t think you can put words on it, but you know it when you feel it. You know it’s real,” said Father Larry Gosselin.

But this year, Old Spanish Days feels a little different.

In light of recent ICE raids up and down the Central Coast, many have been staying home out of fear of deportation — casting a shadow over Santa Barbara’s annual Fiesta tradition.

“I’m grateful our business has been busy, but I feel that it’s different than what it was before. There’s a lot of fear that gets spread, and then it affects everybody negatively. And then there are a lot of really bad things happening that justify the fear,” said Relaxation Tea owner Vanessa Fayad.

The owners of Relaxation Tea say they cope with these tense political times by staying busy and focused.

“I’m blessed enough to be able to be out here without being scared. So I try to take advantage of those moments,” Fayad added.

“The way I cope with it is by staying very busy. I stay motivated with my business and just kind of focus on that,” said Juan Vega, co-owner of Relaxation Tea.

Others — like Veronica Plascencia — turn to their faith.

“Jesus will always be with us. Just pray from the heart and everything will be fine.” said Plascencia in Spanish.

She incorporated this message of reassurance into her handmade cascarónes — one featuring an enthusiastic Jesus by a palm tree, and another honoring her niece — the Junior Spirit of Fiesta.

“I don’t know what to say,” her niece said, reacting to the colorful creation.

The Junior Spirit of Fiesta, Victoria Plascencia, says representing her community has been a dream come true.

“It feels so fun because I get to be with my friends at the studio. We get to hang out. And being on stage is fun because you love doing it — and they love you doing it,” said Victoria.

The Spirit of Fiesta, Natalia Trevino, says she overcomes the heaviness of the moment through her passion for dance.

“You know, there are challenges, but I just want to dance for my community. Fiesta brings people together, and that’s what’s so special about Santa Barbara,” said Trevino.

Old Spanish Days has now completed its 101st year — and locals say it’s here to stay.

“We want to celebrate that love and that unity. And we need that so much in our world today,” said Father Larry Gosselin.

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El Paso County Commissioners to discuss property values, tax rate options for FY2026

KVIA on August 4, 2025

Olivia Vara

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — El Paso County Commissioners will discuss whether to raise, lower or maintain the same property tax rate for the upcoming year. They will also hear from the El Paso Central Appraisal District about this year’s property values.

The El Paso Central Appraisal District (CAD), an independent agency, determines the taxable value of real and personal property based on market conditions and appraisal standards.

The County will determine its share of the tax rate following CAD’s presentation of the certified property values for the 2025 tax year, a tax rate which accounts for approximately 16 cents of every dollar in property taxes.

Evaluations have gone up around $4 1/2 billion across all property in El Paso from 2024 to 2025.

The proposal of the No-New-Revenue tax rate during today’s presentations is based on this number, with the goal of producing the same property tax revenue from last year.

El Paso County will propose the Voter Approval Rate to allow flexibility in finalizing the FY26 Budget. By law the Commissioners Court is allowed to adopt a rate at or below the Voter Approval Tax Rate without necessitating an election.

The median value of a home in El Paso is around $270,000, according to UTEP Research.

That means that under the 2025 voter approval tax rate, the average household would pay more than $1300.

While you would pay a little more than $1100 under the No-New-Revenue tax rate.

Today’s session at the Commissioners Court Meeting ended with a 5 way vote accepting the 2025 No-New-Revenue (NNR) and Voter-Approval Rate (VAR) calculations, with the No-New-Revenue Rate being 0.409349/$100 and the Voter-Approval Rate 0.487797/$100.

The final public hearing and adoption of the FY26 County Budget is set for September 15th.

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