Month: August 2026

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – A 75-year-old Coachella man who was convicted of child sexual abuse charges was sentenced today to 16 years in state prison.

Last month, Ysidro Anaya Sanchez pleaded guilty to five counts of lewd acts on a child under 14 years old under a pretrial agreement with the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office. No charges were dismissed.

During a sentencing hearing at the Larson Justice Center in Indio Tuesday, Superior Court Judge Kristi Hester imposed the term of imprisonment stipulated by the prosecution and defense.

According to prosecutors, Sanchez groped a girl between June 2015 and June 2016, and molested another girl in July and August 2019.

The defendant was arrested on Jan. 15, 2020, following a sheriff’s department investigation initiated after one of the victims came forward.

Investigator Prezell Burgie wrote in a bail-setting declaration that Sanchez admitted to detectives he had a “problem” with his sexual impulses.

“I asked him if his `problem’ is touching young girls, and he said `yes,”’ Burgie said.

No other details were provided.

The defendant had been in the county correctional system since his arrest more than six years ago.

He had no documented prior felony convictions in Riverside County.

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – California is set to become the first state in the nation to require energy-efficiency standards for replacement tires, a move state regulators say could save drivers money over time but one that is already raising questions about cost, availability and consumer choice.

The California Energy Commission unanimously approved the new Replacement Tire Efficiency Program, which begins applying to covered tires manufactured on or after Jan. 1, 2029. A stricter second phase is scheduled to begin in 2033. Tires manufactured before 2029, including tires already installed on vehicles, will not be subject to the new performance requirements.

At the center of the rule is rolling resistance, a measurement of how much energy a tire loses as it moves. Lower rolling resistance means less energy is required to keep a vehicle moving, which can improve fuel economy or reduce electricity use in electric vehicles. The state has established different maximum rolling-resistance levels depending on the type of tire, including separate categories for light-truck, commercial, long-life and high-performance tires.

For drivers, however, the immediate concern may be less about the technical standard and more about the price tag.

“It always comes to the bottom line. How much is that going to cost me?” driver Heather Ludlow told News Channel 3.

The Energy Commission estimates a typical set of four passenger tires meeting the 2029 standard would cost about $6 more while producing approximately $85 in fuel savings over the life of the tires. That works out to an estimated net savings of $79.

Under the stricter 2033 requirements, the state projects an added cost of about $26 per set and $179 in fuel savings, or approximately $153 in net savings. Those projections assume gasoline costs of $4.60 per gallon, roughly 10,413 miles of driving each year and a four-year tire service life.

Industry groups have challenged whether those estimates reflect what consumers will actually encounter.

The Tire Industry Association compared several tire models and found a sizable price gap between some entry-level products and tires marketed for lower rolling resistance. The organization warned that higher costs could lead some drivers to delay replacing worn tires, buy used tires or seek options outside California.

America’s Tire has also raised concerns about availability. In comments submitted during the rulemaking process, the retailer said applying the stricter standard to its 2026 product selection would have excluded roughly 70% of its available options. That comparison was made before the commission finalized later implementation dates and additional exemptions, but it remains part of the broader debate over how much choice drivers will have once the rules take effect.

At Sergio’s Automotive, owner Sergio Ceballos said many customers are already focused heavily on price when choosing tires.

“A lot of people, I tell you what had to put in that vehicle, and the people say, ‘No, I need the cheap. I don’t want to spend so much money,’” Ceballos said.

Driver Isaac Angel said the last set of tires he bought cost about $100 per tire, and that prices can quickly climb depending on the vehicle.

“It was like a hundred each tire. So imagine four tires. That’s like $400. Or it could go up to like $800, depending on the year, make and model of your car,” Angel said.

For Coachella Valley drivers, price is not the only consideration.

Ken Arnold said the kind of driving someone does can make a major difference in what tire they need.

“If I’m going to be driving on the highway in my family car, then I’ll want efficient tires. If I want a truck to go drive off in the desert, then I want tires for that,” Arnold said.

That concern is partly addressed in the final regulations, which use different efficiency limits for different tire categories and exclude several specialty products. Used and retreaded tires, motorcycle tires, temporary spares, certain off-road tires and some limited-production models are among those that are not subject to the primary performance standards. The rules also include a last-resort process for cases where a compliant tire is not reasonably available for a specific vehicle.

Ceballos said the desert climate and different driving conditions could also affect how drivers evaluate the new products once they begin appearing.

He said there can be significant differences between a tire designed for highway driving and one intended for off-road use, and he wants to see how the new standards perform across those conditions.

The regulations will also require most covered tires manufactured beginning in 2029 to meet a wet-grip standard, an effort aimed at improving efficiency without sacrificing traction.

The California Energy Commission estimates the program could eventually save motorists nearly $1 billion each year in gasoline and electricity costs while reducing carbon dioxide emissions by about 2 million metric tons annually.

For now, drivers do not need to replace anything early or change the tires already on their vehicles. The first enforceable changes will begin with covered tires manufactured in 2029, giving manufacturers, retailers and consumers several years before the new standards begin reshaping the replacement-tire market.

THOUSAND PALMS, Calif. (KESQ) — Inflation remains persistent, leading the 30-year Treasury yield to reach a 19-year high of 5.33%.

Amid inflation concerns, consumer sentiment fell nearly 8% in August, wiping out the gains from the past two months.

The decline in sentiment was pervasive across a wide range of demographics but was notably greater among older consumers, low-income earners and those without a college degree, according to the University of Michigan’s Survey of Consumers.

In 2026, the index of consumer sentiment has fallen to a quarterly reading of 48 — its lowest point since the University of Michigan began its Survey of Consumers in 1978. Furthermore, the personal finance rating of 63 is only three points above the 60 rating reported in 2008 during the subprime mortgage crisis.

The low sentiment comes alongside rising financial pressure on households, according to federal data. A Federal Reserve survey found that 23% of renters were behind on rent in 2026, representing a 6-percentage-point increase over five years, while total credit card debt reached $1.28 trillion after growing nearly 50% during the same timeframe.

Many residents report making significant lifestyle adjustments to cope with living expenses. Phyllis Levine, a retired resident of Palm Desert, said her fixed income has not kept pace with costs.

“I live alone and I live on my Social Security and I have a small pension from when I worked, but not enough,” Levine said before addressing the ongoing costs and expressing concern for future generations.

“I don’t know why they keep going up… I don’t think in my time that it’s going to go down, but I hope for my family that it does,” Levine said.

Despite consumer concerns, some economic analysts say public sentiment does not reflect macroeconomic indicators. Chris Thornberg, a founding partner of Beacon Economics, said economic metrics do not explain the low sentiment levels.

“There is no economic information that would back up this incredibly low consumer sentiment,” Thornberg said.

Addressing public perceptions regarding household income, Thornberg said overall wage data shows growth relative to general inflation.

“So to the people who, who son’t necessarily think wages have kept up with the, the prices of everyday goods: gas, groceries,” News Channel 3’s Matthew Pearce asked.

“You’re wrong,” Thornberg interjected. “The data is abundantly clear that wages, earnings, household income have all risen faster than the rate of inflation over the last five years.”

Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows a nuanced picture when comparing earnings to specific consumer goods over the past five years. Average hourly earnings rose approximately 23% over the five-year period, yielding about 0.7% in real wage growth above overall consumer prices. However, prices for specific household necessities grew faster than hourly wages, with gasoline prices rising about 27% and grocery prices increasing about 24% over the same period.

Thornberg also discussed monetary mechanisms and how inflation pressures interact with policy decisions.

“You expand the money supply,” Thornberg said. “You increase inflation pressures. It’s as simple as that. So thats how they’ll inflate their way out of it.”

PALM SPRINGS, CA- (KESQ) UPDATE- Riverside County Sheriff’s say Isabella Paola Rojas has been located and is safe.

ORIGINAL REPORT

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department is asking for the public’s help locating 14-year-old Isabella Paola Rojas, who was last seen in the 22000 block of Sterling Avenue in Palm Springs.

Rojas was last seen on August 15, 2026, and has since been entered into the missing person database as a runaway.

Isabella is described as 5 feet 4 inches tall, weighing approximately 138 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. Her clothing description is unknown, but authorities say she is known to wear all-black clothing.

Anyone with information about Isabella’s whereabouts is urged to contact Riverside County Sheriff’s Dispatch at 800-950-2444.

Please share this information to help bring Isabella home safely.