Author: KESQ

Kiera McKinney

BLYTHE, Calif. (KESQ) Nearly six months after Riverside County stepped in to stabilize Palo Verde Hospital county leaders say the hospital remains open but work continues to restore it to a fully functioning medical center.

Earlier this year the county took over management of the hospital under a 180 day stabilization plan after years of financial struggles left the facility on the brink of closure. At the time only the emergency department remained open forcing many Blythe residents to travel to the Coachella Valley or Arizona for medical care.

As the six month plan nears its end county leaders are evaluating the hospital’s long term future, including whether it is ready to transition to another healthcare provider or if the county will need to continue managing the facility.

Stay tuned for my full story at 5 to see how county leaders are evaluating the hospital long term.

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Matthew Pearce

Rancho Mirage, Calif. (KESQ) — Research from Eisenhower Health has found that short-term increases in airborne particulate matter are associated with higher emergency department and urgent care visits across the Coachella Valley.

Conducted in collaboration with the City of Indian Wells, the study examined the relationship between fine particulate matter, coarse particulate matter and patient visits.

The preliminary findings from the study suggest that even modest increases in air pollution can have a measurable impact on community health. An increase in fine particle pollution (PM2.5) levels, that can occur during dust storms or other periods of poor air quality, was associated with an estimated 407 additional emergency department visits and about 1,658 more urgent care visits each year at Eisenhower Health.

A increase in coarse particulate matter (PM10) was linked to an estimated 135 additional emergency department visits and 262 more urgent care visits annually.

Children ages 0–17 appeared to be the most affected by short-term exposure to particle pollution, while asthma and acute coronary syndrome showed the strongest associations with elevated PM2.5 levels.

“Our community experiences unique air quality challenges, and this research helps us better understand how air pollution may affect residents, especially children and older adults,” said Eric Leroux, MD, MBA, Senior Vice President, Chief Medical Officer and Chief Quality Officer at Eisenhower Health.

Researchers also observed stronger associations with urgent care visits than emergency department visits, suggesting worsening air quality may first prompt patients to seek treatment for less severe, but clinically significant, symptoms.

While the findings are still undergoing scientific review, health experts recommend monitoring local air quality and limiting outdoor exposure during periods of elevated particulate pollution, particularly for children, older adults, pregnant individuals and those with asthma, COPD or heart disease.

The manuscript is currently being prepared for submission to the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology for peer review.

Stay with News Channel 3 for more. Coverage starts live at 4 p.m.

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Matthew Pearce

THOUSAND PALMS, Calif. (KESQ) — Monsoonal moisture has brought sticky conditions to the already hot weather.

Elevated moisture disrupts the normal dry heat that Coachella Valley is used to, making conditions less comfortable.

News channel 3 is asking residents, visitors and businesses how they have seen this weather affect them.

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Tommy Gallegos

RIVERSIDE, Calif. — The Riverside County Board of Supervisors is expected to revisit the issue of independent oversight for the Sheriff’s Department on Tuesday, July 14, after a grand jury report urged the county to establish stronger accountability measures following years of scrutiny over jail operations and in-custody deaths.

The item, scheduled for the board’s 9:30 a.m. regular meeting, calls for the establishment of an ad hoc committee to evaluate advisory and oversight options for the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department. The proposal is being brought forward by Supervisors Jose Medina and Karen Spiegel. According to the meeting agenda, the committee would examine potential oversight models before making recommendations to the full board.

The proposal comes less than a month after the Riverside County Civil Grand Jury released a report recommending the creation of an independent civilian oversight body and inspector general to improve transparency and accountability within the Sheriff’s Department. The report also called for public reporting on jail operations, independent reviews of in-custody deaths and critical incidents, and the eventual replacement of the county’s current Sheriff’s Advisory Committee.

Supervisor Medina announced in late June that he intended to revisit the oversight issue after a similar proposal failed last year for lack of support from fellow supervisors.

The July 14 agenda item marks the first formal step toward reconsidering the issue since the grand jury’s recommendations were made public.

The grand jury concluded that the county has not implemented structural reforms necessary to ensure safe and accountable jail operations, citing systemic deficiencies in oversight, transparency and internal practices. Under California law, the Board of Supervisors is required to formally respond to the report’s findings and recommendations within 90 days.

Sheriff Chad Bianco has sharply criticized the report, calling much of it “inaccurate or simply false” and arguing it was written to support a predetermined recommendation for civilian oversight.

The Board of Supervisors meeting begins at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 14, at the County Administrative Center in Riverside.

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Tommy Gallegos

INDIO, Calif. — One person was killed and another injured Monday morning after a pickup truck overturned on Fred Waring Drive in Indio, ejecting both occupants, according to the Indio Police Department.

The crash happened at around 8:13 a.m. as a blue Toyota Tundra was traveling westbound on Fred Waring Drive. Based on the preliminary investigation by Indio Police, the vehicle appeared to lose control and overturn, ejecting two adult occupants.

An adult man was pronounced dead at the scene. He was identified by authorities as Jason Chavez, 22, of Indio.

A second adult occupant was injured and transported to a local hospital for treatment.

While initial reports indicated the crash involved two vehicles, investigators now say a second vehicle struck debris from the collision but does not appear to have been involved in the initial crash.

The Indio Police Department’s Traffic Unit has taken over the investigation. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

Westbound Fred Waring Drive was closed between Madison Street and Burr Street as investigators processed the scene. The roadway has since reopened.

The Riverside County Coroner’s Office will release the identity of the deceased once next of kin have been notified.

Anyone with information about the collision is asked to contact Traffic Officer Yuhas with the Indio Police Department at (760) 391-4057.

This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.

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Gavin Nguyen

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Doctors are always in need in the desert. It’s no different at Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs.

At the end of June, 42 new resident physicians were welcomed to Desert Regional’s Graduate Medical Education (GME) program.

Those new doctors are coming at a critical time.

“Is there a shortage of doctors that we’re seeing?” we asked Dr. Rebecca Ward, the Chief of Pediatrics at Desert Regional Medical Center.

She replied, “Absolutely. There are definitely a big shortage of doctors, especially for the younger ages. We don’t have enough pediatricians or family physicians in the area that can see children. We also don’t have enough OB/GYN support also in the area.”

Dr. Ward also outlined the unique scenario the valley is facing. Historically, there hasn’t been a high volume of young families seeking care.

“Traditionally this has been a older community, so there hasn’t been as much of a need until recently. And then we’ve also had a lot of pediatricians in the area recently retire in the last 2 to 3 years,” she said.

Dr. Fouzhan Pejmanian is the Chief Resident Physician, overseeing many of her younger peers. She said the retiring pediatricians made the shortage more evident, and that the resident physician program is the most effective way to kill two birds with one stone.

“Residency programs are the best long term solutions to that shortage because they train next generation of physicians, and at the same time, they provide high quality care,” Dr. Pejmanian explained.

According to SHAPE Riverside County, a collaborative public health initiative, 15% of people within Riverside County have experienced delays or difficulty finding medical care. That statistic places Riverside County in the top half of counties within California, but highlighted that it was also worsening over time.

We asked the doctors at Desert Regional if they were seeing any delay in care for its patients. Dr. Ward said no.

“Luckily, we’re pretty good about getting people in,” she said, but pointed out some patients could be hesitant to find a new doctor after their trusted physician retires or moves on. “I know sometimes it can be difficult when somebody loses the pediatrician they’ve been with for many years, and then being a little hesitant and trying to figure out where to go next.”

“But I want to let people know out there that we definitely have availability here, and we’re happy to see people of all ages,” she continued.

As for the new residents who recently donned their white coats, like Dr. Chris Min, from Orange County, the goal is the same: “I am new, but I do feel like I’m already making progress and making changes. … I want to learn why, I want to learn how, and I want to be able to contribute. And, just make life easier and better for patients.”

The key, of course, is to retain the new residents who go through Desert Regional’s three-year-long program. Program leaders said about a third of them stay in the Coachella Valley, while about half of them stay within the Southern California area.

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Dakota Makinen

COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) – Monsoon season can bring flash flooding, strong winds, blowing dust and dangerous travel conditions to the Coachella Valley.

News Channel 3 spoke with the Coachella Valley Disaster Preparedness Network about how families can prepare before severe weather arrives.

Experts recommend having an emergency plan, staying informed through weather alerts, and keeping an emergency kit stocked with essentials such as water, nonperishable food, flashlights, batteries and important documents.

Stay with News Channel 3 for the latest updates.

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Athena Jreij

COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) – As monsoonal moisture brings muggy conditions to the desert, local landscapers say plants should be watered less.

Experts say many will typically water their plants more during the drier summer months, but with higher humidity it takes longer for soil and plants to dry out.

Without proper maintenance and preparation, it can be easy to over water plants.

“If the humidity stays in place consistently for two weeks, you might want to turn your water down, but not by much. Remember to come back and turn it up to 100% when the sun comes out and the temperature goes back to normal,” local landscaper Spencer Knight said.

Knight says as temperatures rise, to make sure your irrigation systems are working properly to prevent plants from drying out, should a sprinkler fail.

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Timothy Foster

COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) – As temperatures continue climbing into the triple digits, local fire officials and mechanics are reminding drivers that extreme heat can put added stress on vehicles, increasing the risk of breakdowns and even fires.

Vehicle fires are a common emergency response during the summer months. According to CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department, crews respond to hundreds of vehicle fires across Riverside County each year, with many incidents occurring along Interstate 10 and other major roadways.

Mechanics say the desert’s extreme heat places additional strain on cooling systems, batteries, belts, hoses and tires. Problems that might otherwise be minor can quickly become more serious during prolonged periods of extreme heat, making routine vehicle maintenance especially important.

The risk is even greater for big rigs traveling through the Coachella Valley. Interstate 10 is one of Southern California’s busiest freight corridors, with thousands of commercial trucks traveling through the region each day. Heavy loads, extended driving hours and scorching pavement temperatures can place added stress on engines, brakes and tires, increasing the likelihood of mechanical failures.

When a commercial truck catches fire, the consequences can be significant. These incidents often result in freeway lane closures, lengthy traffic delays and extensive cleanup efforts while emergency crews extinguish the fire and remove damaged vehicles.

Fire officials recommend drivers inspect their vehicles before heading out on long trips by checking coolant levels, engine oil, tire pressure and looking for fluid leaks. Motorists are also encouraged to pay attention to warning signs such as smoke, unusual odors or rising engine temperatures.

If a vehicle begins to overheat or catches fire, officials advise drivers to pull over to a safe location, turn off the engine, move everyone away from the vehicle and call 911. They also warn drivers not to open the hood if flames are visible, as introducing oxygen can cause the fire to spread more rapidly.

With more triple-digit temperatures expected across the Coachella Valley this summer, experts say regular preventative maintenance can help reduce the risk of vehicle fires and keep drivers safe on the road.

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Timothy Foster

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – The Palm Springs Cultural Center is reopening its Historic Camelot Theatre this Saturday, just two weeks after a fire forced the building to temporarily close.

The fire broke out on the evening of June 27 in the kitchen area of the Cultural Center on East Baristo Road. According to the Palm Springs Fire Department, 31 firefighters responded to the scene and safely evacuated about 30 people. The fire was quickly contained, and no injuries were reported.

The blaze damaged the kitchen and caused smoke and water damage in parts of the building. The café remains closed while cleanup and restoration work continues. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Despite ongoing repairs in other areas of the building, the Historic Camelot Theatre is ready to welcome moviegoers back. The theater will reopen Saturday evening with a screening of Jaws.

Cultural Center officials thanked the community for its support during the cleanup and said they are excited to welcome audiences back while restoration efforts continue.

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