Month: August 2026

City News Service

RIVERSIDE (CNS) – Riverside County home prices increased last month despite a decline in sales from June levels, according to figures released today by the California Association of Realtors.

The median price of an existing single-family home rose to $649,000 in July, up 2.2% from $635,000 in June and 3% from $630,000 in July 2025.

Sales in Riverside County fell 13.7% from June and were down 2.6% from a year earlier.

Statewide, existing single-family home sales fell to a seasonally adjusted annualized rate of 263,170 units in July, down 6% from June but up 1.1% from a year earlier. Sales remained below the 300,000-unit benchmark for the 46th consecutive month.

California’s median home price fell below $900,000 for the first time in four months, declining 1.9% from $904,640 in June to $887,680 in July. The median remained 0.3% higher than a year earlier.

“California’s housing market pulled back last month as mortgage rates remained elevated and briefly reached a 12-month high in recent weeks,” CAR President Tamara Suminski said in a statement. “Despite a slower start to the second half of 2026, improved supply conditions in July, combined with the recent decline in mortgage rates, could provide some relief to buyers and give them more options to choose from as the market transitions into the off-peak season.”

Mortgage rates averaged 6.54% in July, compared with 6.72% in July 2025, according to CAR.

Riverside County’s Unsold Inventory Index increased from 3.3 months in June to 3.8 months in July, but remained below the 4.2 months recorded in July 2025.

The median time to sell a single-family home in Riverside County was 39 days in July, up from 35 days in June but down from 40 days a year earlier.

“July’s housing market performance reflected the ongoing challenges under the current economic and lending environment, but the market continues to show signs of resilience,” CAR Senior Vice President and Chief Economist Jordan Levine said. “Higher mortgage rates and financial market volatility in the past two months weighed on buyer demand, resulting in softer sales activity and subdued price growth in July.”

Southern California’s median home price was $899,000 in July, down 0.1% from June but 2.7% higher than a year earlier. Sales across the region fell 8.5% from June and were essentially flat from a year ago, rising 0.1%.

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City News Service

MURRIETA, Calif. (KESQ) – A Nov. 9 trial date was set today for a Menifee policeman accused of sexually assaulting five women, including some while he was on duty.

Juan Jose Pesina Jr., 34, of Murrieta was arrested last August following an investigation by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department’s Special Victims Unit.

Pesina is charged with five counts of sexual battery, two counts each of assault with intent to commit rape and extortion, and one count each of forcible rape, forcible oral copulation, attempted forcible sodomy, attempted forcible oral copulation, bribery and burglary, as well as sentence-enhancingallegations of perpetrating sexual offenses during a burglary.

During a pretrial conference at the Southwest Justice Center Monday, Superior Court Judge John Molloy conferred with the prosecution and defense regarding scheduling, and both sides agreed to work on clearing their calendars for trial during the first half of November, prompting him to tentatively schedule proceedings.

Pesina is being held without bail at the Smith Correctional Facility.

According to the Menifee Police Department, the defendant remains on indefinite unpaid administrative leave.

The agency released a statement soon after his arrest, saying its Professional Standards Unit had received a complaint from a woman on July 22, 2025, alleging encounters with the lawman over two years earlier in which he had sexually abused her.

“A preliminary internal investigation was immediately conducted,” Sgt. Raul Perez said. “In order to ensure a fair, thorough and impartial investigation, the department requested an independent criminal investigation by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.”

Sheriff’s Sgt. Jim Peters said MPD Internal Affairs detectives informed the Special Victims Unit that “Pesina was accused of sexually assaulting a victim during an on-duty investigation.”

“During the course of our investigation, additional victims were identified in incidents that had occurred between 2023 and 2024,” Peters said. “Investigators determined Pesina encountered these victims while on duty and off duty.”

According to the criminal complaint, five victims were allegedly assaulted in February and September 2023, as well as January, November and December 2024, and August 2025.

In Pesina’s first alleged target, he accessed her property illegally and perpetrated multiple offenses over an unspecified period, according to the prosecution.

A second woman was allegedly victimized 11 months later, suffering similar abuse, the complaint said.

The document didn’t specify which person, but it alleged that “after returning the victim of domestic violence to her home … the defendant entered her home and forcibly sexually assaulted her.”

“It is further alleged the offenses involved great violence, great bodily harm, threat of great bodily harm, or other acts disclosing a high degree of cruelty, viciousness or callousness,” according to the narrative.

The police department did not disclose when Pesina was hired, or in what capacities he had worked, other than patrol.

If convicted, he could face life in prison with the possibility of parole.

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Kiera McKinney

PALM SPRINGS, CALIF. (KESQ)- Update 8/17/2026

More than 80 animals were adopted from the Palm Springs Animal Shelter over the weekend as part of a nationwide adoption event, it was announced today.

The Clear the Shelters adoption and fundraising campaign was held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the shelter, 4575 E. Mesquite Ave.

Adoption fees were sponsored by Marco Colantonio Real Estate Group, according to the shelter’s website.

Shelter officials said 83 animals were adopted during the event — 31 dogs, including 14 puppies; 51 cats, including 40 kittens; and one rabbit.

Original Report

The Palm Springs Animal Shelter is waiving adoption fees for dogs, cats, puppies and kittens during a summer adoption event. The fee waivers are sponsored by Marco Colantonio Real Estate Group.state Group.

Event Details

Location: 4575 East Mesquite Avenue, Palm Springs, CA

Hours: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (opening an hour early)

Cost: $0

Available Pets: Dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens

Pet adoptions typically decline during the summer as families travel for vacation and participate in seasonal activities such as camps. At the same time, shelters experience a seasonal surge in animal intake. For community members unable to adopt long-term, temporary fostering options are available to help free up space in local kennels.

There is also fostering available if you cannot adopt long-term. Temporary fostering can help free up critical space in the valleys kennels.

Regional facilities face severe space shortages during the summer months. The Riverside County Department of Animal Services reported reaching 220% capacity heading into the summer peak.

Nationally, approximately 5.8 million dogs and cats enter U.S. shelters each year. Warmer weather creates a massive influx of litters, resulting in young animals under five months old making up nearly 30% of all annual dog intakes.

Jack Hagerman, associate executive director of the Palm Springs Animal Shelter, noted that springtime kitten season generates a high volume of animals just as adoption interest drops. “The summertime is really tough for most shelters because it’s when we have the highest number of animals,” Hagerman said. “So we have a lot more animals and a lot fewer people who are interested in adopting. So that just creates a really tough situation for us to shelter.”

Despite the crowded conditions, animals continue finding permanent homes through unexpected encounters. Amber Wagner, a clinic volunteer, visited the facility without intending to adopt. “I wasn’t planning on adopting today. I was actually, a volunteer from, my own clinic myself,” Wagner said. After meeting a cat named Chicken Bake, her plans changed. “As soon as I met chicken bake, I just. I fell in love and I knew she had to come home with me,” Wagner said, adding, “I’m excited for my new life with her. I’m excited for her.”

Volunteers are also working to find homes for older shelter residents that often remain longer in care. Doug Ogden, a cat volunteer at the shelter, noted that adult animals frequently get passed over during peak season.

“This weekend we’re adopting a lot of our older cats and residents have been here and they’re often overlooked for kittens,” Ogden said. He emphasized that the facility remains committed to placing every animal. “That is our goal here. We won’t sleep and we won’t stop until we find every cat, kitten, dog, puppy, a home forever. That’s what we do,” Ogden said.

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Jesus Reyes

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KESQ) – Assemblymember Greg Wallis (R-Bermuda Dunes) announced Monday that his student-athlete heat safety bill passed the Senate and is heading to the Governor’s desk.

AB 2503 requires the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) to annually review its heat illness prevention guidelines to better account for the unique conditions faced by student-athletes in desert communities like the Coachella Valley and other inland regions, Wallis’ office wrote.

Under the current guidelines, outdoor practices and competitions must be stopped when the WBGT reaches 92 degrees until conditions cool. While the guidelines are designed to protect student-athletes from heat illness, some local coaches and school officials say the rules can also create significant challenges.

News Channel 3’s Sports Director Blake Arthur took an in-depth look at the bill and the issue

Wallis’ office said the bill was developed in direct response to conversations with community members who shared concerns about the challenges of scheduling practices and competitions during periods of extreme heat.

“This is a big win for our student-athletes and their families, who deserve common-sense protections that reflect the realities of competing in our desert climate,” said Assemblymember Wallis. “Thank you to the athletic directors, coaches, and parents who advocated tirelessly for our student-athletes and helped get AB 2503 to the Governor’s desk.”

AB 2503 is awaiting the Governor’s decision.

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