Month: September 2025

Jesus Reyes

Riverside, Calif. (KESQ) – 52 dogs were transported to Maine this week to help them find homes amid critical overcapacity at Riverside County shelters.

The pets are destined for Miracle Lane Farm and Sanctuary (Maine), Give a Dog a Home Rescue (Maine) and SPCA Westchester (New York).

The Riverside County Department of Animal Services (RCDAS) partnered with Wings of Rescue for the transportation.

“These are 52 lives changed thanks to our amazing Wings of Rescue partners who continue to show up for RivCo pets looking for a second chance,” said RCDAS Manager Daylin Valencia. “I’m grateful to be part of a team that is committed to lifesaving where we rally to get these pets ready for their flights whenever the opportunity presents itself.”

RCDAS continues to operate in critical overcapacity for dogs, where three to four share a kennel designed for only two. To help get pets into homes and reduce overcrowding, adoption and reclaim fees are waived at all shelter locations.   

“Fall In Love” fee-waived adoptions include spay/neuter surgery, microchips, age-appropriate vaccinations and engraved ID tags. With over 1,000 dogs across the shelter system, there are a wide variety of breeds, ages and personalities to choose from.

Check Out: Pre-adoption program hopes to get lost pets out of Riverside County shelters

If community members cannot adopt but want to give a pet a break from the shelter, short-term fosters are also needed. Families can take advantage of the Dog Day Out field trip program that helps give a dog a break from their kennel while exposing them to potential adopters. Dogs who go out on just one day trip get to exercise, socialize and destress making them 5 times more likely to be adopted.  

For more information on fee-waived adoptions and how to sign-up to foster, visit www.rcdas.org

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Jesus Reyes

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (KESQ) – A pursuit ended in Rancho Mirage Wednesday morning.

The pursuit started at around 8:10 a.m. in the area of Frank Sinatra Drive and Bob Hope Drive in Rancho Mirage for a vehicle code violation, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office said.

Deputies attempted a stop for a vehicle code violation but the vehicle failed to yield and a pursuit was initiated.

The vehicle stopped in the area of Highway 111 and Thunderbird Road in Rancho Mirage, where deputies negotiated with the driver to surrender.

The driver was ultimately taken into custody and transported to a local hospital with minor injuries. There was no additional information available on the suspect.

The investigation remains ongoing.

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Gavin Nguyen

THOUSAND PALMS, Calif. (KESQ) – Monsoonal thunderstorms have brought some summer rain to Riverside County’s local wildland, but fire officials say it has done little to curb the region’s high fire danger.

Because of the lingering fire risk, firefighters with CAL FIRE caution outdoor restrictions for campfires, trails, and other activities will likely remain in place until more significant winter rainfall impacts the area.

CAL FIRE also lists this year’s fire statistics on its website.

INTERVAL
WILDLAND FIRES
ACRES

2025 Combined YTD (CALFIRE & US Forest Service)
6,504
425,680

2024 Combined YTD (CALFIRE & US Forest Service)
5,356
408,911

5-Year Average (same interval)
5,622
772,489

The number of wildfires and total acreage burned has already surpassed last year’s totals, though officials say so far, Southern California has been spared from large wildfires like last year. According to CAL FIRE, most wildfires have been contained to less than 10 acres, and the larger fires have been kept within the 500 to 1,000 acre range.

Captain John Clingingsmith, a spokesman with CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department, cautioned that Southern California’s peak fire season is still on the way, which typically occurs September through October.

News Channel 3 is breaking down the fire risks and how monsoonal rainfall can affect fuels. Stay with us for the latest.

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KESQ News Team

COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) – Yellow Cab of the Desert, operating throughout the Coachella Valley for more than a decade, is no longer in business.

Several drivers reached out to News Channel 3 on Tuesday saying the company is out of service.

News Channel 3 called their office and a voicemail confirmed the company is no longer in service, directing customers to another phone number. The number directed us to City Cab, which is absorbing Yellow Cab of the Desert.

Dozens of Yellow Cab employees were laid off. The company had a fleet of more than 50 vehicles, including a seven-passenger van.

SunLine Transit Agency is the taxi regulatory agency for the Coachella Valley.

The agency’s Director of Board and Legislative Affairs Edith Hernandez says SunLine learned of the closure on Tuesday, and says she doesn’t yet have details as to why Yellow Cab went out of business. She adds, “There are still three other agencies or companies out there that can provide taxi service to our residents and visitors alike.”

News Channel 3’s Peter Daut spoke in-depth with Hernandez on Wednesday about this development in the local taxi industry.

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