Author: KESQ

Luis Avila

BIG BEAR LAKE, Calif. (KESQ) — A somber mood settled over Big Bear Lake Monday as residents and visitors mourned the loss of Jackie, a bald eagle who became a beloved part of the mountain community and attracted followers from around the world.

Jackie died after weeks of treatment at the Ojai Raptor Center. She was found injured on the ground in Big Bear Lake following a confrontation with two other eagles.

News of her death quickly spread through the community, with people leaving flowers and photos at a growing memorial near the lake.

Debbie Mills, who moved to Big Bear Lake in 2015, said she felt compelled to pay tribute after learning Jackie had died.

“When I heard of the passing today I just felt in my heart I wanted to lay some flowers,” Mills said.

Mills said Jackie became more than just a bald eagle to people who followed her story. She believes Jackie helped bring the community together over the years.

“I know we’ve grown as a community,” Mills said.

Jackie’s story reached well beyond Big Bear Lake. Her life with fellow bald eagle Shadow and their nesting activity attracted a large online following, with people around the world watching their story unfold.

“I started following Jackie through Instagram online and immediately she just got the heart of all of us,” one visitor from Utah said. “Watching the story unfold, a beautiful experience.”

For others, Jackie represented something larger.

“Bald eagle is a representation of our country,” another person said.

Others remembered seeing Jackie flying around the lake and said they admired Jackie’s strength and resilience.

“She’s just… her bravery and strength and powerful and beautiful,” one person said.

As the community continues to mourn, people are also expressing gratitude to the wildlife professionals who worked to save Jackie.

“It’s nature and we have to respect that and the people that saved her, God bless their souls,” Mills said. “Just to thank Ojai Raptor Center for taking such good care of her.”

Jackie’s remains are expected to be transferred to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Stay with News Channel 3 for more.

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Garrett Hottle

CABAZON, Calif. (KESQ) – One year after seven-month-old Emmanuel Haro was falsely reported kidnapped in Cabazon, both of his parents are serving prison sentences while the search for the infant’s remains continues.

The child’s father, Jacob Haro, was sentenced to 25 years to life plus six years in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder and child abuse. His mother, Rebecca Haro, was sentenced to 12 years and eight months after pleading guilty to child abuse and being an accessory. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department maintains an active search for Emmanuel’s remains, which have not been recovered.

The case began on Aug. 14 when Haro told deputies that a man knocked her unconscious in a parking lot while she was changing her baby’s diaper and kidnapped the infant.

“I got up off the floor and I didn’t see my child. Someone took him from me,” Haro said.

Detectives noted inconsistencies and shifting details in her account before she stopped speaking with law enforcement.

The investigation subsequently centered on the couple’s rented house in Cabazon. Court records revealed Haro had previously been convicted of felony child cruelty in 2023 involving a 10-week-old daughter from a prior relationship who was left permanently disabled. A judge sentenced him to probation in that case rather than prison.

Prosecutors stated that Emmanuel suffered abuse throughout his life and died between Aug. 5 and Aug. 14. Riverside County District Attorney Michael Hestrin criticized the previous judicial decision to grant probation, stating that Emmanuel would still be alive if proper action had been taken.

Haro pleaded guilty on Oct. 16 to second-degree murder, assault on a child causing death and making a false report, receiving his sentence on Nov. 3. In May, Haro entered her guilty plea to child abuse causing great bodily injury and being an accessory on the day of her preliminary hearing. Although Haro messaged reporters from the California Men’s Colony prison, he has never disclosed where his son’s remains are located.

Emmanuel would turn 2 years old this December. A lawsuit was recently filed against Riverside County on behalf of Emmanuel’s 3-year-old sister by the law firm associated with families in the Turpin case. The complaint states that in June 2024, before Emmanuel was born, the county’s child abuse hotline received a neglect report after police found a gun in Haro’s purse, which violated Haro’s probation. According to the complaint, county staff recorded that Haro had zero prior abuse investigations, scored the family as low risk and did not open a case.

The search for Emmanuel’s remains remains active and authorities ask anyone with information to contact police.

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Tommy Gallegos

Beloved Big Bear Lake bald eagle Jackie has died after more than three weeks of intensive medical care at the Ojai Raptor Center.

The center announced that the eagle died in the early hours of Monday morning after her condition deteriorated despite extensive treatment. In recent days, she remained critically ill and received oxygen therapy, supportive care and around-the-clock monitoring in the center’s intensive care unit.

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According to the Ojai Raptor Center, its veterinary team and consulting specialists based their treatment decisions on available medical evidence and the eagle’s welfare.

Her remains have been transferred to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). The center said it is also working with CDFW and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and plans to release a more comprehensive statement with additional information about her treatments and test results.

The eagle’s death comes after millions of people followed her condition and offered messages of support and encouragement to the wildlife-care team.

“Our team is heartbroken,” the Ojai Raptor Center said, describing it as an extraordinary privilege to care for Jackie.

The center has temporarily turned off comments on its announcement, asking the public for patience and kindness as its staff process the loss. It also expressed gratitude to everyone who followed the eagle’s journey and supported her care.

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Matthew Pearce

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) — What changes are being made to keep festivalgoers safe this coming weekend at Splash House?

That’s the question facing organizers, officials, and attendees following an incident at the Palm Springs Air Museum during the festival-sanctioned after-party early Sunday morning.

Palm Springs police say they were notified of the incident at 1:37 a.m. Sunday. Additionally, they said a glass bottle was thrown from the VIP section, injuring nine people. Seven were taken to a local medical facility, while two were treated at the scene.

Despite this incident, Splash House continued with it’s scheduled events later Sunday. Organizers are moving forward with the second weekend of the festival.

Glass is listed as a prohibited item on the Splash House website. News Channel 3 reached out to Goldenvoice for comment about the events that transpired and why glass was in the venue, but they did not respond.

The Palm Springs Police Department is meeting with its special events planning team and event promoters to discuss safety protocols ahead of the second weekend. Police officials said their goal is to prevent a repeat of the incident.

“So that’s one of the things that we’re going to push forward, the idea of getting more security at all locations,” Palm Springs Police Captain Gustavo Araiza said.

Police said the increase will involve additional staffing from both law enforcement and private security.

Representatives for the Palm Springs Air Museum stated that the museum has no operational involvement with Splash House other than renting out its space for the after-party.

Police are continuing to investigate the bottle-throwing incident and are asking any witnesses with information to contact the Palm Springs Police Department. If you have any information about the incident, you can contact them at (760) 327-1441.

Law enforcement officials advised attendees for the upcoming weekend to remain aware of their surroundings and report any concerns to security staff.

Police and event promoters are scheduled to meet to finalize safety plans before the second weekend of the festival begins this Friday.

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City News Service

LOS ANGELES (CNS) – The 16th-largest lottery jackpot in American history, $905 million, will be at stake in tonight’s Powerball drawing after 42 consecutive drawings without a ticket sold with all six numbers.

Ticket sales end at 7 p.m. The drawing is set for 7:59 p.m.

Monday’s jackpot is the eighth-largest in the history of the Powerball game, which has been played since 1992. There have been eight larger Mega Millions jackpots.

Buying tickets at a location where tickets with large jackpots have been sold in the past will not increase a player’s chance of winning the jackpot, according to USC mathematics Professor Emeritus Ken Alexander.

“The chance that a given place will sell a winning lottery ticket is just related to how many tickets they sell,” Alexander told City News Service. However, players wanting a better chance of avoiding sharing the jackpot should choose numbers that aren’t selected as often, Alexander said.

Lottery players frequently choose the date of their birthdays as one of their numbers, so numbers higher than 31 would be played less, Alexander said.

The odds of matching all five numbers and the Powerball number is 1 in 292.2 million, according to the Multi-State Lottery Association, which conducts the game. The overall chance of winning a prize is 1 in 24.9.

The Powerball game is played in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands and since July 21, the United Kingdom.

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Tommy Gallegos

PALM DESERT, Calif. — Firefighters responded Monday morning to a report of a hiker experiencing general weakness on the Bump and Grind Trail, southwest of Palm Desert.

The incident was reported at approximately 10:00 a.m. Emergency crews responded to the popular hiking area to assist the hiker, who was unable to continue safely on the trail.

Riverside County Sheriff’s Office helicopter Rescue 9 was called to assist with the rescue. The helicopter was able to reach the patient and facilitate the evacuation from the trail.

The hiker was transferred to a waiting ground ambulance and transported to an area hospital for further evaluation and treatment.

No additional information about the hiker’s condition was immediately available.

The Bump and Grind Trail is a popular hiking destination in the Palm Desert area, with rugged terrain that can present challenges for hikers, particularly during periods of high temperatures. Officials routinely encourage hikers to carry sufficient water, know their physical limits and avoid hiking during the hottest parts of the day.

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Gavin Nguyen

FAWNSKIN, Calif. (KESQ) – As Jackie the bald eagle continues to recover at the Ojai Raptor Center, online discussion is sparking debate over the care she is receiving.

It comes after a difficult update from the center over the weekend where it reported the eagle remained in critical condition. Her packed cell volume (PCV) – a measure of red blood cells in blood – had increased to 9% after decreasing to 6% earlier in the weekend. A healthy bald eagle usually has a PCV of 35% to 55%.

The debate online can be a distraction to those caring for her.

“When they have to focus on that kind of thing or dealing with interruptions, that just takes away time and focus from Jackie,” said Jenny Voisard, the media manager with nonprofit Friends of Big Bear Valley.

The organization, which runs the Eagle Cam that popularized beloved bald eagles Jackie and Shadow, spoke out about the social media buzz that sometimes does more harm than good.

She explained that the Ojai Raptor Center is a small operation and does not have a large team that can respond to the influx of messages and inquiries from the public.

“You know, because of her popularity, she was taken care of,” Voisard explained. “It’s a double edged sword. Sometimes the popularity can be overwhelming for people, but at the end of the day, we’re so happy that she was rescued and she’s at Ojai because she wouldn’t be with us today. And they’re doing everything they can.”

We’ll continue monitoring the latest on Jackie’s condition. Tonight, we’re also bringing you more of Voisard’s comments as she, like everyone else, patiently waits and holds out hope for a positive update from the Ojai Raptor Center.

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Tommy Gallegos

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. — A vehicle collided with a building in the 400 block of S. Calle Encilia Monday morning, prompting a response from Palm Springs police and fire crews.

Authorities received a report of the crash at approximately 7:44 a.m. Police and fire personnel responded to the scene and found the driver uninjured.

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The building was evacuated after a reported natural gas leak was discovered following the collision. According to authorities, the gas leak has since been cleared by the Gas Company.

A building inspector was also dispatched to assess the extent of the damage caused by the crash.

No injuries were reported in connection with the incident.

Authorities said that, at this time, there does not appear to be a criminal element associated with the collision. Fire and police personnel remained at the scene as the investigation and damage assessment continued.

Additional information about the cause of the crash was not immediately available.

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Dakota Makinen

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – With temperatures climbing into the triple digits across the Coachella Valley, air conditioning systems are working overtime to keep homes cool.

But not all AC units use energy the same way.

Newer high-efficiency systems are designed to cool homes while using less energy than many older units. Systems that are 15 or 20 years old may have to work harder and run longer to maintain the same indoor temperature, potentially contributing to higher energy bills.

News Channel 3 spoke with Cortland Knudson at Sunlogix in Palm Desert about what homeowners should know about the differences between older and newer AC systems.

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KESQ News Team

OJAI, Calif. (KESQ) – The Ojai Raptor Center says Jackie, the bald eagle found at Big Bear Lake, remains in critical and unstable condition.

The center says Jackie’s packed cell volume (PCV) — a measure of the percentage of red blood cells in her blood — fell below 6% yesterday. Today, it increased to 9%.

While the increase is a small improvement, the center says Jackie’s PCV remains critically low and her overall condition is still extremely serious.

Her condition is being closely evaluated by a collaborative team that includes nine veterinarians, along with representatives from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The center says there is no additional medical information to share at this time, adding that the team’s focus remains on Jackie’s welfare and providing the care she needs.

Jackie has been receiving treatment after being found on the ground on Big Bear Lake following a confrontation with two other bald eagles.

The center revealed that the encounter with eagles likely left her grounded, but experts do not believe it is what caused her illness.

Officials say another update will be provided when there is meaningful new information about her condition.

Stay with News Channel 3 for more.

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