Month: August 2026

Tommy Gallegos

RIVERSIDE, Calif. — (KESQ) — Riverside County residents are being warned about a jury duty scam in which callers falsely claim that people have missed jury service and now have an outstanding warrant.

The Superior Court of California, County of Riverside issued the warning, urging residents to be cautious of calls and text messages that threaten arrest, claim a warrant has been issued, demand immediate action or request personal or financial information.

According to the court, scammers may attempt to create a sense of urgency by telling residents they failed to appear for jury duty and must immediately pay money or take other steps to avoid arrest.

Riverside Superior Court said it will not call or text residents to threaten them with arrest, pressure them to immediately report to a courthouse, request personal or financial information, or demand payment.

Residents who receive a suspicious jury-related call or message are advised to:

Do not provide personal, financial or identifying information.

Do not make a payment or follow payment instructions provided by the caller.

Do not assume a call is legitimate simply because the caller knows personal information about you.

Do not click links included in suspicious text messages or other communications.

Contact the court directly through official court contact information to verify questions about jury service.

Report suspicious or threatening communications to the appropriate law enforcement agency.

The court also noted that jurors will not receive text-message notifications about jury service unless they have opted in to receive them.

Residents who have received an actual jury summons can use Riverside Superior Court’s official Jury Services page to check information about their service. The court’s jury services system allows prospective jurors to check their status, request postponements and access reporting instructions.

The court currently provides several ways to check jury status, including its juror web portal, automated telephone systems and an SMS option for jurors using their badge number. Residents should use contact information obtained directly from the court rather than numbers or links supplied by an unsolicited caller or text message.

The Judicial Council of California also maintains information about jury-related scams and encourages the public to be aware of fraudulent requests for money or personal information.

Riverside Superior Court is encouraging residents to share the warning with family members, friends and others in their communities to help prevent additional victims of jury-duty scams.

Click here to follow the original article.

Matthew Pearce

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) — As of May 2025, FIND food bank reported one in six Coachella Valley residents are food insecure.

Proper nutrition and regular breakfast consumption directly influence student classroom performance and health. A study from the Human Appetite Research Unit at the University of Leeds linked regular breakfast consumption to increased academic performance. Research also indicates that eating breakfast affects attention and working memory used in daily classroom learning.

Sarah Boyd, a registered dietitian and nutritionist, observed how adding a balanced breakfast impacts how students learn throughout the school day.

“You might tell yourself ‘I’m fine’, but when I tell the youth to bring in a little breakfasts, they’re like wow I actually can focus better in school and I remember what I learned and it was easier to take my test,” Boyd said.

Beyond immediate school performance, poor dietary habits can have lasting physical impacts on children as they grow.

“A lot of kids don’t they don’t talk about their tummies,” Boyd said. “Unfortunately the body becomes accustomed to those poor habits and and digestion throughout those years. And then going into their adulthood, they can’t ever go to the bathroom or they start having tummy aches or they have a lot of bloating.”

Officials from Palm Springs Unified School District shared that 90% of students are socioeconomically disadvantaged, with family incomes falling below the poverty line.

To combat this, the district provides free meals to all students across district schools regardless of family income status.

“The kids can come to school and eat, don’t have to worry about, you know, getting those meals at home… so that way the families can worry about taking their their funds to be able to pay for their bills,” Nutrition Services Director at PSUSD Sarah Phelps said.

Boyd advised parents to monitor signs of poor nutrition or inadequate sleep, such as low energy at the end of the day or difficulty summarizing classroom events.

Additionally, involving children in grocery shopping and meal preparation by letting them select fruits or vegetables can help lighten the burden on parents while building a healthy relationship with food.

For resources in Riverside County near you, check here.

Click here to follow the original article.

Tommy Gallegos

LA QUINTA, Calif. — Aug. 19, 2026 — Old Town Artisan Studios has been recognized as a Certified Autism Center by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES), strengthening its commitment to creating an inclusive and accessible environment for all visitors.

91% percent of Old Town Artisan Studios staff completed specialized autism and sensory training, exceeding IBCCES’ 80% requirement for certification. The process also included an onsite review to develop sensory guides and identify additional opportunities to enhance accessibility.

“Achieving autism certification is a meaningful milestone for Old Town Artisan Studios and a reflection of our deep commitment to inclusivity,” said Executive Director Roccie Hill. “We are taking intentional steps to remove barriers and create an environment where everyone feels seen, respected, and inspired.”

The certification makes Old Town Artisan Studios part of a broader accessibility initiative led by Visit Greater Palm Springs, which helped the region earn its Certified Autism Destination designation. The designation gives visitors access to multiple trained and certified options across entertainment, recreation and lodging.

Old Town Artisan Studios is also featured on the free IBCCES Accessibility App, which provides information on certified destinations, sensory-friendly spaces and accessibility resources. Families can also find certified locations through AutismTravel.com and AccessibilityCertified.com.

With its new certification, Old Town Artisan Studios continues working toward making creativity, community and the arts accessible to everyone.

Click here to follow the original article.