Author: KESQ

Jesus Reyes

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) – A convicted drug dealer who supplied a deadly dose of fentanyl to a 30-year-old Temecula man was sentenced today to 15 years to life in state prison.

A Riverside jury in September convicted Quinn Aaron McKellips, 39, of Winchester of second-degree murder for the death of Calin Sender in 2020.   

During a hearing at the Riverside Hall of Justice Friday, Riverside County Superior Court Judge Steven Counelis imposed the sentence required under state law on McKellips.

According to an arrest warrant affidavit filed by sheriff’s Investigator Robert Cornett, Sender and McKellips were longtime acquaintances, and the latter sold different types of narcotics to the victim for months.   

In the predawn hours of Jan. 17, 2020, deputies and paramedics were called to Sender’s residence in the 44000 block of Festivo Street after the owner of the property, who had been renting him a room, discovered him dead on the floor.

Cornett said deputies discovered two halves of fentanyl-laced M-30 pills, as well as two other whole pills and a dozen Xanax “bars,” in the room. An autopsy determined the cause of death was “acute fentanyl intoxication.”   

Detectives searched the victim’s mobile phone and uncovered a string of text messages between Sender and McKellips, including a communication in which the victim requested “supers” from the defendant. The reference meant Sender wanted a stronger M-30 pill, loaded with fentanyl, the affidavit said.

The investigation spanned over two years before the sheriff’s Overdose Investigations & Narcotics Unit compiled sufficient evidence to identify McKellips as the supplier of the fentanyl.

During an interview with detectives, the convicted felon was asked about “supers,” and he insisted they were Suboxone, which is used to treat narcotic addiction, according to the affidavit. He further stated he himself had been a fentanyl user since 2018, and “whenever he would sell a pill to someone, he would tell them to `quarter’ it and only take that piece.”   

“McKellips said he had lost four (acquaintances) to fentanyl,” the affidavit said.

The defendant was arrested without incident in September 2023.  

Court records show he had prior convictions for possession of controlled substances for sale, being a narcotic addict in possession of a gun, transportation of controlled substances for sale and domestic violence.   

Since February 2021, county prosecutors have charged almost 40 people in connection with fentanyl poisonings.   

In November 2023, the D.A.’s office closed the books on the county’s first fentanyl murder case to go before a jury, culminating in the conviction of 34-year-old Vicente David Romero, who was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison for the 2020 death of a Temecula woman. McKellips’ trial resulted in the county’s second jury conviction for fentanyl murder.   

Public health statistics indicated there were 349 known fentanyl-related fatalities countywide in 2024, compared to 579 in 2023, a 40% decline.

Fentanyl is manufactured in overseas labs, principally in China, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, which says the synthetic opioid is smuggled across the U.S.-Mexico border by cartels.

Fentanyl is 80-100 times more potent than morphine and can be mixed into any number of street narcotics and prescription drugs, without a user knowing what he or she is consuming. Ingestion of only two milligrams can be fatal.

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Garrett Hottle

THERMAL, Calif. (KESQ) One of the world’s largest winter show-jumping competitions is underway in the Coachella Valley as riders, trainers and veterinarians take added precautions following an equine herpesvirus outbreak traced to an event in Waco, Texas.

The Desert International Horse Park’s Desert Holiday Series draws competitors from around the world. Marketing director Emily Randolph said this week’s show features everything from youth riders to elite professionals.

“We have all levels of jumping competition going on all day, from pony kids competing under ten to… some of the top 20 riders in the world out here right now,” Randolph said.

She added that the venue’s main arena hosts the biggest classes, where riders compete under the lights and crowds swell on weekend evenings.

With increased attention on equine herpesvirus type 1,. or EHV-1, competitors say they are staying vigilant. Irish rider Conor Swail, who returns to the park each winter, said biosecurity is a shared responsibility.

“It’s very important that we… make sure that the regulations are keeping it all enclosed, and everyone does their part to make sure that it doesn’t spread,” Swail said.

He noted that many riders travel the same competitive circuit throughout the winter season, meaning any outbreak can quickly affect multiple events.

Organizers at the horse park say horses arriving from states where cases have been confirmed are being housed in separate stabling areas and monitored closely. Staff have not reported any symptomatic horses on site.

Veterinarians at the event are watching for signs of both respiratory and neurologic disease. Dr. David Runk,the horse parks biosecurity officer, and the attending veterinarian overseeing screening on the grounds, said the neurologic strain can be severe.

“In most cases the horses will go down and not be able to move… a lot of times they’re euthanized,” he said, calling the circulating strain’s mortality rate “very high.”

He urged owners to coordinate with their regular veterinarians when traveling or returning from shows.

“Just working with your veterinarian and making sure… they understand what you’re doing and can give you guidance,” he said.

State officials say no EHV-1 or neurologic EHM cases have been confirmed in California in connection with the current outbreak. They recommend a 21-day isolation period, twice-daily temperature checks and avoiding shared equipment for horses that recently traveled to affected states.

The Desert Holiday Series continues through the month, with organizers maintaining heightened precautions until the national outbreak stabilizes.

The series is also free to the public to attend, 

Local veterinarians say that while the virus remains a concern elsewhere, the horse park has not reported any suspected cases in the Coachella Valley.

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Tauli Anderson

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – A beloved tradition celebrating culture, family recipes, and, of course, plenty of mouthwatering tamales.

Indio is being transformed into a vibrant celebration of flavor and community. Streets will be lined with rows of vendors preparing to serve up their signature tamales. 21 Vendors, from classic styles passed down through generations to new and unique creations, festival-goers can discover for the first time.

The fun doesn’t stop at the tamales.

Families can also enjoy Santa’s Village, live entertainment, and even carnival rides. It’s a great blend of holiday cheer and community spirit

City officials encourage attendees to plan ahead. Designated festival parking lots will be available throughout the area.

The festival runs Saturday, December 6, and Sunday, December 7, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM at Miles Avenue Park in Indio

 

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Luis Avila

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – A major road improvement project on Gerald Ford Drive in Palm Desert is causing frustration among nearby businesses and residents, who say the timing and limited notice are creating unexpected challenges during the valley’s busy season.

The project — which stretches from Cook Street to El Paseo del Corazón — has closed all eastbound lanes and reduced westbound traffic to a single lane. The city says the work includes new pavement, upgraded sidewalks, improved traffic signals, and underground utility upgrades.

But for some businesses in the affected shopping centers, the construction is already taking a toll.

“So far it seems like business slowed down a little bit. We were already hard to find… I know it’s going to be crazy for traffic because we have these businesses here, Acrisure and everything so definitely think it’s bad timing.”

Antoinette, Palm Royale Collective Assistant Manager

Other business owners say they received less than a week’s notice about the closure and have had to warn customers about delays and detours. Many worry the impacts could worsen as the busy season ramps up.

Getting answers, Thomas Soule, Palm Desert Public Affairs Manager, says the city takes communication with businesses seriously.

“I can’t speak to the specific timeline of that but we can say the city takes our communication with the businesses very seriously. We have a fantastic team that’s dedicated to going out and speaking with business owners individually.”

Thomas Soule, Palm Desert Public Affairs Manager

City officials acknowledge the disruption but say the timing is unavoidable. Soule says the city must stagger its construction projects throughout the year.

“If you take all the projects that we do in a year on our streets, if we did them all during the convenient time of the summer, those of us who live here probably wouldn’t be able to get around.”

Thomas Soule, Palm Desert Public Affairs Manager

Soule also emphasized that the work on Gerald Ford Drive is essential for long-term growth, including infrastructure needed for the new Fire Station 102 currently under development along the corridor.

Some business owners say they understand the necessity — they just hope the temporary setbacks are worth the long-term improvements.

The Gerald Ford Drive project is expected to be completed in May, aligning with the planned opening of the new fire station.

Stay with News Channel 3 for more.

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City News Service

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) – A San Rafael-based press freedom advocacy group is suing Riverside County for alleged violations of a state law intended to ensure timely access to documents tied to in-custody deaths, based on significant delays in responding to media requests and other deficiencies, it was announced today.   

“Transparency in government is always essential to the functioning of a democracy,” First Amendment Coalition attorney Aaron Field said. “But it is particularly important when it comes to deaths that occur while in the custody of law enforcement. Disclosing records about these deaths empowers the public to hold law enforcement accountable.”  

FAC filed its Public Records Act civil action in response to the experiences of New York Times and Desert Sun journalist Christopher Damien, who has focused on procuring autopsy reports, jail management records, jailhouse security surveillance videos and other materials since last year.

The suit is predicated on Senate Bill 519, which the state Legislature approved and the governor signed into law in 2023. The measure stemmed in large part from the elevated death count — 19 — in Riverside County’s correctional system in 2022, according to the plaintiffs. Lawmakers mandated via SB 519 that authorities fulfill California Public Records Act requests related to in-custody fatalities in 45 days.

“The county slow-walked the production process; withheld, redacted and delayed the disclosure of records related to several deaths … and omitted responsive records from its production,” according to the plaintiffs’ suit. “In defiance of SB 519, the county is continuing to withhold records related to 13 (custody) deaths and is standing by numerous improper redactions.”   

FAC’s attorneys also noted the “county spent months seeking to charge petitioners processing fees that the Public Records Act does not allow.”   

In an email to City News Service Friday, Sheriff Chad Bianco said that the “lawsuit is about as legitimate as the articles Chris Damien writes: Fictional pieces based on his own biased, anti-law enforcement opinions.”

The sheriff said that he would not “comment on the specifics” of the civil suit because it’s pending litigation.

Damien’s feature story on the jail system earlier this year uncovered instances where “detainees were assigned to cells that put them at greater risk, contrary to standard practices of separating detainees by race, sexual orientation and other factors … that could stoke conflict.” The Times’ investigation further established that the sheriff’s department allegedly provided paperwork with “inaccurate timelines” and docs which “omitted relevant facts and sometimes added false information, including a security check that never happened.”   

More than a dozen families have filed wrongful death and civil rights lawsuits against the county, and more particularly the sheriff’s department, stemming from the in-custody deaths. As of last April, just over $13 million had been paid out by the county’s liability fund following multiple case settlements, according to the plaintiffs.   

“When people die in the government’s custody, their relatives and the public have the right to review the government’s investigation of that death,” Damien said. “The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department has withheld details about these investigations for far too long. California law is clear: these are public records.”   

The sheriff’s correctional operations have come under scrutiny by the California Department of Justice and other entities.   

The sheriff’s department regularly takes the lead among county agencies in answering lawsuits — and making seven-figure payouts of taxpayers’ money.

In July, Supervisor Jose Medina, the only Board of Supervisors’ member not to have received an endorsement from the sheriff’s union, sought to establish an ad-hoc oversight committee monitoring sheriff’s operations, as well as an inspector general’s office to conduct independent inquiries of residents’ complaints. The effort would have replicated policy changes in Los Angeles, Orange, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Clara and  Sonoma counties.

The proposal, which Medina’s fellow board members declined to support, elicited sharp criticism from Sheriff Chad Bianco, who derided it as “a divisive solution to a non-existent problem.”

The Republican gubernatorial candidate blamed most of the difficulties in the county correctional system on drug smuggling, saying “we cannot be held responsible for inmates smuggling fentanyl into jails through their anal cavity or other orifices and then using the drugs later (with sometimes fatal consequences).”

He insisted the department, under his watch since 2019, is “the most transparent law enforcement agency in the country.”

The plaintiffs are seeking a release of all requested documents stemming from the Times’ investigation, findings that the county has violated the state Government and Penal codes by failing to respond to records requests and the recovery of all fees incurred by the plaintiffs in the civil action.

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Jesus Reyes

DIAMOND BAR, Calif. (KESQ) – The South Coast Air Quality Management District (South Coast AQMD)  approved $220,000 in funding to the Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG) to extend regional street sweeping for another year.

The additional funding will help reduce dust from “blowsand” and roadway activity—an ongoing challenge in the Coachella Valley, according to South Coast AQMD.

“Extending the street-sweeping program is a continued strategy to control dust and protect public health while we advance broader, medium and long-term dust-mitigation strategies,” said Manuel Perez, Riverside County Supervisor and South Coast AQMD Governing Board member. 

The funding adds to the $1.15 million awarded in 2019 for CVAG’s sweeping program that helps control particulate matter (PM10) pollution.

According to South Coast AQMD, the Coachella Valley faces a unique challenge where strong winds routinely push fine sand onto paved surfaces, where traffic breaks it into particles that become airborne.

Without regular sweeping, these particles can travel into populated areas, cause poor air quality and pose respiratory problems such as worsening asthma.

The program provides weekly street sweeping across about 43,000 curb miles each year, reducing an estimated 0.4 tons of PM10 per day. Crews use low-emission natural gas sweepers, with pickup and dump trucks on designated routes.

Additional sand-cleanup occurs after major wind events. 

Last month, South Coast AQMD and Supervisor Perez hosted a Dust Summit featuring community input, scientific presentations, and updates on current and future dust-mitigation efforts in Coachella Valley. 

To support long-term dust-reduction planning, South Coast AQMD has installed a camera in San Jacinto State Park to track dust generation and movement on the valley floor, with another camera planned for the eastern valley.

In October, South Coast AQMD adopted a three-part dust-reduction plan focusing on identifying major dust sources, developing targeted mitigation strategies, and funding projects to reduce emissions in the most affected areas.

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Jesus Reyes

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – Dr. Carreón Foundation (DCF) invites high school seniors and college students to apply for a 2026 scholarship with the application process now open.

Scholarships are awarded to qualified applicants of minority ethnicities throughout the Coachella Valley and Blythe.

Qualifications include being a full-time high school senior in the Coachella Valley or Blythe or enrolled as a full-time student in a college or a trade school; earning at least a 2.5 unweighted grade point average for all four years of high school work completed; and demonstrating qualities of good citizenship, leadership, and financial need.

The 2025 scholarship awards totaled $290,000, an increase of $110,000 more than the previous year. 

DCF officials said this outlay was made possible due in part to sponsorships, grants, and donations from local organizations and individuals, such as OneFuture CV, Desert Healthcare District & Foundation, Desert Care Network, six area Rotary Clubs, and many other generous partners and individuals.

The Foundation has now awarded nearly $3 million in scholarships to nearly 1,300 students. Recipients have attended schools locally and across the country including College of the Desert, CSUSB Palm Desert, University of Southern California, UCLA, MIT, and Harvard University, to name a few.

Scholarship monies can be used toward tuition, living expenses, or school supplies while pursuing higher education by attending college or a vocational trade school.

Students interested in applying for a 2026 scholarship can visit www.carreonfoundation.org to see if they meet the qualifications, and to begin the application process if so.

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Jesus Reyes

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Variety will honor its “10 Directors to Watch” during a brunch event at the Palm Springs International Film Festival on Sunday, January 4.

According to Variety, this year’s list features a dynamic mix of emerging American and international directors, including artists with films headed to major festivals in 2026, two filmmakers with titles submitted for the Oscar international feature category, and three breakout debuts from Cannes — including Kristen Stewart’s first feature behind the camera, The Chronology of Water.

The 10 Directors to Watch honorees are:

Akinola Davies Jr. (My Father’s Shadow)

Beth de Araujo (Josephine)

Jan-Ole Gerster (Islands)

Sarah Goher (Happy Birthday)

Dave Green (Coyote vs. Acme)

Chandler Levack (Mile End Kicks)

Harry Lighton (Pillion)

NB Mager (Run Amok)

Kristen Stewart (The Chronology of Water)

Walter Thompson Hernandez (If I Go Will They Miss Me)

Of the announcement, Artistic Director Lili Rodriguez said:

“Discovery is such an important part of what we do at film festivals, and partnering with Variety on 10 Directors to Watch is an especially exciting part of PSIFF. It’s always a thrill to encounter the filmmakers that make the list, which has an incredible track record, and we’re glad to be the stage to celebrate these artists.”

Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing coverage of the Palm Springs Film Festival.

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Kendall Flynn

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – The Indio Police Department says it’s now using a program called “RapidSOS” for non-emergency calls for service. They say it is an advanced tool to help generate calls. 

When you contact Indio PD at (442) 300-3104 the “RapidSOS” program captures “key information in real time, reducing any wait times,” according to a social media post from the department. They said this is number is to be used instead of dialing the non-emergency number. They believe it will help Indio PD get residents assistance faster. 

Indio said every call is still monitored by a live dispatcher for accuracy and immediate intervention when needed. During the call, certain key words automatically alert dispatch for priority action and “this means quicker, more efficient service for our community.”

Stay with News Channel 3 to hear from officials about the new system and how it will help residents.

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María García

THERMAL, Calif. (KESQ) — Aziz Farms receives a grant from the California Department of Food and Agriculture for a new education center.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Friday morning to mark this milestone.

Now entering its fourth year, the program continues to educate students through immersive, hands-on field trips, this time with the addition of a brand-new learning center. During their visit, kids explore a wide range of topics, from how dates are cultivated to the principles behind growing crops sustainably.

“The fact that we can get students out to our farm, we can educate them about where their food comes from, and then they can see our fruits and vegetables in their school meals, It just deepens their understanding of how that system works,” said Nicole Tadros, co-founder of Aziz Farms.

School districts from across Southern California, including Desert Sands Unified, Coachella Valley, Palm Springs, and Los Angeles Unified were in attendance.

For more information on how schools can attend field trips at the farm, click here.

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