Brawley City Council member Gil Rebollar won’t seek reelection

KYMA on August 19, 2026

Jessamyn Dodd

BRAWLEY, Calif. (KYMA) – Brawley City Council member and former Mayor Gil Rebollar announced he will not be seeking re-election this November.

After eight years of public service, Rebollar said he wants to step away from politics to spend more time with his family.

“You know, it’s pretty common for people I grew up with at this time to see how we want to best use our energy, and I think we’re all kind of figuring out at the same time we want to use it with our family,” Rebollar said.

For him, the decision came into focus wile watching his daughter finish middle school.

“It hit me when her eighth grade promotion when it’s like four more years and she’s possibly going away,” he reflected.

Rebollar remembers his own teenage years as a period filled with distractions.

“High school for me was a crazy time where there’s a lot of distractions,” he said.

He now wants to be there for his daughter saying, “I just want to make sure, her being my daughter, that I’m there for her throughout.”

The decision wasn’t a sudden one, as Rebollar shared that he had been discussing it with his family.

He said he’s not disappearing completely from the public eye, just from the council, and he will continue to advocate for more drug and alcohol treatment options.

“I’ve advocated even before I was on the council, I was advocating for more treatment and services, so I will continue,” he said. “I think that’s something needed throughout the valley. And I hope it can continue and remain in Brawley, that investment,” he added. He noted it is out of the City Council’s hands at this point.

When asked about his accomplishments while in office, he pointed to the renovation of the Lions Center Pool.

“Getting the pool open…that was a big one,” Rebollar said.

He said he also likes to remember the everyday interactions with residents and work in the community.

“I always felt like the little things are what helped. I got the most from just going downtown,” he said.

He also reflected on his time serving on the school board.

“I think in many ways, a school board is probably more important than a City Council,” he shared.

Despite the increasingly heated nature of politic, rebollar said the criticism never really bothered him.

“I don’t mind. I don’t mind that,” he said.

Looking at the current political landscape, he said, “I think we are divided. I think it’s unfortunate right now. I think there’s a lot of division.”

“I’m not a career politician,” he explained, adding that he intends to take up writing again.

Asked if he has any final words, he said, ” It’s been a great run and a great ride, and I appreciate everything.”

Although his decision leaves a second seat open on the City Council, only two candidates have qualified, so the city is going to hold a special meeting to decide if they will just appoint those two candidates rather than hold an election on November 3. 

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El Paso Fall Home & Garden Show will feature vendors, cooking seminars

KVIA on August 19, 2026

Miroslava Lem Quinonez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) – El Paso Fall Home & Garden Show will return to El Paso Convention Center from Aug. 28-30 with free admission.

The three-day event will feature home improvement, garden vendors, demonstrations and experts on gardening, design and landscaping.

The show will run;

2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 28.

10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 29.

11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug.30.

The event will also include cooking seminars with El Paso Community College Culinary.

Parking will be available at the Convention Center parking garage for $13 accepting only cash. A $3 parking coupon will be available online.

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YCAT to accept canned food donations as fare during Hunger Action Month kickoff

KYMA on August 19, 2026

Wesley Williamson

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Yuma Community Area Transit (YCAT) will help kick off Hunger Action Month by accepting canned food donations in place of bus fare from Monday, Aug. 31, through Saturday, Sept. 5.

During the promotion, riders may donate one canned food item for one YCAT ride, one can, one ride.

All donations collected onboard will benefit the Yuma Community Food Bank and support local hunger relief efforts.

YCAT provides safe, affordable, and reliable public transportation throughout the greater Yuma region, connecting riders to work, school, medical appointments, shopping, community services, and other everyday destinations.

The Yuma Community Food Bank is a leading hunger-relief organization serving Yuma and southwestern Arizona, providing emergency and supplemental food programs that help families, children, seniors, veterans, and individuals throughout the region access nutritious food.

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Horizon man charged with indecent exposure

KVIA on August 19, 2026

Gabrielle Lopez

UPDATE (5:55 p.m.) — According to arrest affidavits ABC-7 obtained, Christian Forest Carbajal allegedly exposed himself in public on three separate occasions. The victims who reported him took pictures of his car, which helped investigators find and arrest him, documents said.

First Incident

One affidavit said on April 30, a victim alleged Carbajal touched his private parts with all the windows down near a gym, documents said. The victim alleged he continued after acknowledging her.

“I was leaving the gym at about 12:40 p.m. when I saw a black car parked very close to my car on the driver’s side,” the victim told police, according to the affidavit. “I thought it was weird he was parked next to my car so close. I also thought it was weird he had his windows down because it was raining.”

The victim said she had to squeeze between her car and his. She told investigators she saw Carbajal allegedly touching himself when she looked into his car, documents said.

Documents also said when the victim took pictures of his car, Carbajal allegedly tried to hide himself by sitting lower in his seat. The victim told her husband about the incident, and the gym called police to report Carbajal.

Second Incident

In a separate affidavit, a victim reported Carbajal for allegedly exposing himself in the parking lot of the Sam’s Club in East El Paso on July 4.

Documents said the victim was in the store parking lot with her 3-year-old daughter. Carbajal allegedly parked close to her vehicle.

“I was about to ask him if he could move his car, and mid-sentence, I stopped because I saw what he was doing,” the victim said, according to documents.

Documents alleged Carbajal touched himself with the windows down. He allegedly drove away and circled the parking lot, documents said.

The victim said as she went to a different area of the parking lot, Carbajal allegedly followed her from a distance. She told investigators she took pictures of Carbajal’s car and his license plate.

Third Incident

On July 8, El Paso police went to the Album Park area in East El Paso after a report of “public lewdness,” documents said. At the park, a victim told police she was getting ready for a run when she noticed a shadow in the corner of her eye.

The victim said she saw Carbajal allegedly touching his private parts while his window was down, documents said. The victim alleged Carbajal parked near her, saw her and touched himself, investigators wrote.

The victim alleged Carbajal drove away in a black car, documents said.

Police weren’t able to find Carbajal after the incident near the park. Documents said one of the officers had been assigned to cases involving Carbajal’s car — the incidents near the gym and the Sam’s Club parking lot.

In the previous cases, the victims took photos of the car. Documents said the car was registered to Carbajal.

On July 31, officers conducted surveillance on Carbajal at an O’Reilly Auto Parts store where he worked, police said. Another officer helped conduct a traffic stop and identify Carbajal, documents said. Officers cited and released him.

On Aug. 7, police saw Carbajal’s car without a front license plate, documents alleged. Officers initiated a traffic stop and saw Carbajal was the only person in the car. They then arrested him for indecent exposure, investigators said. He was transported to a command center for booking.

At the command center, a detective allegedly said he was the only person in the black car on the day of the incident at the park, documents said. He allegedly said he went to Album Park to go to his step-dad’s house, investigators wrote.

When authorities showed him a picture one of the victims took, Carbajal allegedly signed the picture and wrote, “This is my vehicle, and it’s me driving.”

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — The El Paso Police Department on Monday said it arrested and charged a 33-year-old man with indecent exposure.

According to a news release, police arrested Christian Forest Carbajal after he allegedly exposed himself in front of several victims.

Police said they opened an investigation following the report and obtained warrants for three charges of indecent exposure.

Carbajal was booked into the El Paso County Detention Facility on the charges. His bond totaled $60,000.

Police said anyone with information about Carbajal’s case should contact the police department at (915) 832-4400. The investigation is ongoing.

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July marked the hottest month on record for the lower 48. How did Palm Springs compare?

KESQ on August 19, 2026

Gavin Nguyen

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – The summer heat is on, and it’s not just in the desert. Across the nation, this summer has broken records.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, July marked the warmest month for the contiguous United States since records began in 1895. Temperatures averaged 76.9°F nationwide.

NOAA wrote that figure lies 3.3°F warmer than the 20th-century average. It also marked the warmest July (and warmest month overall) by 0.1-0.2°F, beating out July 1936 and July 2012.

Nationwide, daily maximum temperatures rose to 89.5°F, which was nearly three degrees above average. It ranked as the sixth-hottest month.

Overnight minimum temperatures hit 64.2°F and broke records by a larger margin: 0.7°F.

While the national average skyrocketed this July, the numbers in the desert showed a different story. The average high temperature in Palm Springs was 109.5°F this July. The average usually sits at 108.6°F. Still, this is shy of years past, like 2024, when Palm Springs had an average daily high temperature of 114.9°F.

“It’s, like, becoming unsustainable to an extent,” said Ashley Madera, a Cathedral City resident headed to the gym in Palm Springs. “I’d say, like, to the point where it’s just not as enjoyable going outside sometimes.”

Though still above average, Palm Springs didn’t break any records last month. Extra monsoonal moisture helped limit the air temperature for our region.

Average temperature, highs, and lows between Palm Springs and the contiguous U.S. in July 2026, according to data from NOAA.

For Palm Springs Unified School District, it led to some uncomfortable conditions for the first week of school, with humidity that made things feel worse than years past.

With heat and humidity being two of the main factors allowing students to be outside and participate in sports, we’re checking in with the district on its Perry Weather Monitoring Systems, one year after they were installed.

We asked district leaders what changed between now and then. They said it was making a positive impact.

“The Perry Weather System has all of our policies and protocols built into it. So when the wet bulb temperature or the the wind or the air quality begins to deteriorate, the sites can get an alert directly to their phone,” said Laura Dyson, the Director of Health Services for Palm Springs Unified. “So it really gives [faculty] that up-to-date, to-the-minute information on how to react and what to do.”

The data is localized to specific sites throughout the district’s 500 square miles of coverage. That allows school administrators to make decisions based on the site closest to them, rather than a single, broad decision that may be inaccurate from one end of the valley to the other.

District leaders added giving the students and their families access to the data helps create more transparency.

“Everything is just out there in the open. If you want to know what you know, what your child is going to be doing outside during the day. This is all available on the district website and that feedback’s been really good,” said Dyson.

To check real-time weather data from Palm Springs Unified, click here.

Desert Sands Unified School District also uses the Perry Weather System. Its real-time data is available here.

We’re breaking down the technology and the numbers behind the country’s hottest month on record. Stay with us for our full report tonight on News Channel 3.

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Seatbelt awareness: how a single moment in time can change your life

KESQ on August 19, 2026

Matthew Pearce

THOUSAND PALMS, Calif. (KESQ) — There’s no shame in forgetting to do something. However, forgetting to wear a seat belt — that can be a life-threatening decision.

In 2024, 22,713 vehicle occupants were killed. Of those, 50% were not wearing seat belts, based on known seat belt use, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Here in Riverside County, a traffic collision-related death occurs every 32 hours. Of which, 1,200 fatalities were reported in a single year as a direct result of individuals not wearing seat belts, according to the Riverside County Sheriff.

Nobody thinks a crash will happen to them until it does. When putting your safety in the hands of other drivers, that moment can happen at any time.

Palm Desert resident Andrew Sanchez learned the consequences of non-compliance firsthand after suffering injuries as an unrestrained passenger in a motor vehicle accident.

“I was a passenger and I wasn’t wearing a seat belt and we got in an accident and my head went face first into the dashboard. I ended up in the hospital so I regret not wearing my seatbelt,” Sanchez said.

David Torres, public information officer for CHP Indio, frequently responds to crash scenes where proper restraints could have altered outcomes.

“I preach wearing your seatbelt because I know that it can save your life. When they don’t wear seat belt, it’s a devastating scene for us,” Torres said.

Other area residents emphasized that seat belt use extends beyond personal safety to shared responsibility among passengers. Carrick Kennedy, a resident of Palm Desert, highlighted the emotional burden drivers and passengers face following serious crashes.

“you get in a car accident, you know, and somebody else ain’t wearing their seat belt… You’ll feel more guilty if something happens. They fly out the car windshield or what have you… It’s all about accountability,” Kennedy said.

Although California’s seat belt compliance rate remains above the national average, law enforcement officials note that failure to buckle up continues to cause preventable deaths across the region.

Additionally, Torres emphasized the importance of properly installing children’s car seats. He tells News Channel 3 if anyone is worried about doing it wrong, they can head over to California Highway Patrol in Indio for a free car seat installation.

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DSUSD Superintendent Dr. Kelly May-Vollmar discusses new changes and programs for students

KESQ on August 19, 2026

Peter Daut

THOUSAND PALMS, Calif. (KESQ) – News Channel 3 is your back-to-school headquarters, and students headed back into the classrooms in the coming days, and with that comes a series of new programs and changes for one local school district.

News Channel 3’s Peter Daut spoke with the superintendent of Desert Sands Unified, Dr. Kelly May-Vollmar.

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Traveling during a disaster: What you need to know before an emergency strikes

KESQ on August 19, 2026

Raymond Kalra

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) — Tropical Storm Lala’s impact on Hawaii is putting a spotlight on emergency preparedness for travelers and what people should know before they leave home.

Palm Springs resident Scott Nevins was in Maui as the storm moved through the islands. He said strong winds, heavy rain and a canceled flight forced him to quickly adjust his travel plans and find another way home.

Nevins ultimately booked a different airline and took three flights back to Southern California.

His experience highlights a concern emergency officials say travelers should think about before a disaster ever happens: how prepared they are to handle an emergency in an unfamiliar place.

Daniel Hurtado, a senior management analyst with the City of Palm Desert, recommends researching the potential hazards at a destination before traveling, signing up for local emergency alerts and creating a communication plan with family members.

“Preparedness really comes down to giving yourself options,” Hurtado said. “Emergency preparedness doesn’t mean that you’re going to have a plan for every possible disaster.”

Travelers should also identify a meeting place in case they become separated, save important emergency contacts and keep medications and other essentials easily accessible.

If authorities issue an evacuation order, Hurtado says travelers should follow instructions from local officials rather than relying on the route they originally used to enter an area.

Nevins said communication from Maui officials and his hotel helped him feel informed throughout the storm.

“I felt very in safe hands with the people in charge in Maui,” Nevins said. “The mayor was very visible on TV, sending out notices. The hotel was sliding papers under every door with updates, so you didn’t feel like you were in the dark about anything.”

Emergency officials say even basic preparation before a trip can give travelers more options if severe weather or another disaster suddenly changes their plans.

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92-year-old man dies in Yucca Valley golf cart traffic collision

KESQ on August 19, 2026

Jesus Reyes

YUCCA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) – A 92-year-old man was pronounced dead after a crash involving a golf cart and a vehicle over the weekend in Yucca Valley.

The crash was reported on Saturday just before 5:45 p.m. on Highway 62 and Mohawk Trail.

Police said a golf cart driven by an elderly man was traveling into oncoming traffic and was struck by a vehicle. The man was rushed to the hospital and was pronounced dead just after 8 p.m.

The man’s identity has not been released as authorities seek to notify next of kin.

The driver of the vehicle remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators, police added.

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PSPD Chief Andy Mills reflects on ‘Do the Right Thing’

KESQ on August 19, 2026

Jesus Reyes

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Palm Springs Police Chief Andy Mills is nearing the final day of service for the city, and with his help, News Channel 3 has been able to give thousands of dollars to local students through the Do the Right Thing program.

Mills joined Sandy Newton on Desert Chat to reflect on the program.

Click here to nominate a student to be honored for Do the Right Thing.

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