Author: KESQ

Jesus Reyes

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KESQ) – A Salton City man accused of the murder of a missing 17-year-old girl pleaded not guilty to all charges in his first court appearance on Wednesday.

Abraham Feinbloom, 51, is charged with murder and resisting a peace officer in connection with the T’Neya Tovar case, a teenager reported missing on Dec. 1. He was arraigned at the El Centro Courthouse on Wednesday afternoon. He is scheduled to return to court on Feb. 23 for a preliminary hearing.

According to our sister station KYMA, investigators said they determined Tovar died from a gunshot wound. Bullet fragments were found in a leg discovered not far from Feinbloom’s house on Dec. 21, which was later confirmed through DNA testing to belong to Tovar.

Check Out: New timeline, digital evidence raise questions after arrest in T’Neya Tovar investigation

Additionally, prosecutors indicated Feinbloom and Tovar had been in contact since October 2025 and she was allegedly dropped off at his house in Salton City.

Feinbloom was arrested Friday morning following a search warrant at his home on Harlequin Court in Salton City. Investigators say when deputies moved in, Feinbloom jumped a fence in what appeared to run away from police.

On Wednesday, prosecutors revealed that when Feinbloom was arrested, he had a passport and Thai currency on him.

The FBI continues to ask that anyone with information about her murder contact police. A reward of $10,000 is being offered for information leading to the resolution of this case. 

Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing updates.

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Luis Avila

COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) – Strong overnight winds tore through the Coachella Valley, leaving a trail of damage and debris across several communities by early morning.

One of the hardest-hit areas was Parkview Mobile Home Estates, where powerful gusts knocked down fencing, overturned trash cans and furniture, and scattered debris throughout the property. Residents woke up to damaged awnings and fallen trees.

The winds created hazardous driving conditions across the valley. Blowing sand reduced visibility in several areas, prompting temporary road closures. Vista Chino at the wash is closed due to sand accumulation and safety concerns, forcing drivers to seek alternate routes.

Winds are expected to ease by 4 p.m., though cleanup efforts in affected neighborhoods are expected to continue.

Stay with News Channel 3 for more. 

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City News Service

DESERT CENTER, Calif. (KESQ) – High winds caused a semi-truck to overturn early today on Interstate 10 in Desert Center, sending two adults and a minor to a hospital with injuries.

The crash was reported about 3:20 a.m. Tuesday on westbound I-10, according to the California Highway Patrol.   

A preliminary investigation determined a 2015 Freightliner was traveling about 55 mph in the No. 2 lane when a sudden gust of wind pushed the vehicle out of its lane, causing it to overturn onto a metal guardrail, CHP officials said.

A 50-year-old woman was ejected from the truck and suffered severe injuries, while a 14-year-old boy complained of leg pain, according to the agency.

All three occupants were taken to Desert Region Medical Center in Palm Springs.

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Joel Killam

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway reopened Wednesday afternoon after a wind closure, with the first tram up at 12:00 p.m.

They will now be operating a normal schedule. The last car up will be at 8:00 p.m. and the last car down will be at 9:30 p.m.

Earlier in the morning the Tramway was closed due to high winds.

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Garrett Hottle

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif (KESQ) Union Pacific Railroad Police led an operation Wednesday to clear homeless encampments along railroad property stretching from Monterey Road to Bob Hope Drive, citing safety concerns after multiple small fires in the past week.

Riverside County Sheriff’s deputies assisted during the enforcement effort, but Union Pacific Railroad Police are the lead agency.

The operation comes after several reported camp fires near the tracks, including a brief fire Wednesday morning that Cal Fire crews were able to quickly extinguish

Many of the encampments were built in dense tamarisk trees lining the rail corridor. The trees were planted years ago as windbreaks to help reduce blowing sand across the tracks. Over time, the thick brush has created sheltered areas where makeshift structures and camps have been established.

Fire officials warn that open flames or cooking fires inside heavy brush can quickly spread, especially during dry and windy conditions common in the Coachella Valley.

Union Pacific Railroad Police have not said how long enforcement efforts will continue. News Channel 3 has reached out for additional details and will update this story as more information becomes available.

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Joel Killam

UPDATE 2/26/2026

Officials sent out an alert Thursday morning saying that Gene Autry is now open. at 11:30am they also announced that Indian Canyon at the wash is also now open.

UPDATE 2/25/26

Gene Autry has been shut down due to windy conditions

UPDATE 02/23/26:

Officials sent out an alert Monday morning saying that North Indian Canyon Drive is now closed due to flooding.

UPDATE 02/21/26:

The Palm Springs Police Department sent out an alert on Saturday that North Indian Canyon Drive is back open at the wash.

UPDATE 02/19/2026

Officials say Gene Autry and Vista Chino are open at the wash.

Original Report:

PALMS SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Palm Springs Police Department sent out alerts Wednesday that Gene Autry Trail and Vista Chino are closed at the wash. Officials say the closures are due to low visibility as winds continue to pick up dust around the Coachella Valley.

This comes after Palm Springs police shut down North Indian Canyon Drive Tuesday due to flooding following recent storm activity. It remains closed at this time.

Stay with News Channel 3 for the latest on road closures around the Coachella Valley.

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Daniella Lake

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – A Coachella Valley local, Rose King, is competing in the Ms. Senior California of America pageant this Saturday. King has a progressive condition called retinitis pigmentosa and is completely blind. She lost her sight at the age of 40.

“I live a normal life. I dance, I go out, I enjoy life, and I have a great life. I never say, why me? Poor me, ever, ever. I count my blessings every day,” King says.

She became the first blind contestant to participate and win Miss Senior Palm Springs in 2019. She came in second place in the Ms. Senior California pageant that same year and was also the first blind contestant.

“That’s my goal and that’s what I do, is to inspire people regardless of situations,” she says.

She hopes to inspire and encourage people with vision impairments to chase after their dreams. King crochets scarves and sells them at local shops, like Kimbal’s, in Palm Springs. She’s also written a children’s book called “Wosie the Little Blind Bunny.”

“I might have lost my sight, but I will continue to soar,” King says.

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Athena Jreij

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Palm Springs city leadership is considering a switch back to directly electing a mayor, if approved by voters.

Since 2019, the city has rotated mayors every year from 5 elected city council members, after threat of a hefty lawsuit due to a lack of Latino representation. The current mayor is Naomi Soto from District 4.

Earlier this month, Councilmember Grace Garner asked the council to prepare materials for a discussion on the switch, something former mayors and current councilmen Jeffrey Bernstein and Ron deHarte support looking into.

“Overwhelmingly, our residents want to be able to choose who their mayor is. They want to go back to that time. They want to be able to exercise their vote and choose who their mayor is,” deHarte said.

Since 2019, the city has had three Latino mayors serve. The measure asks if it’s still needed given the efficiency.

“In a lot of ways, what it intended to set out to do has been done. We’ve had three Latino mayors. We had two of the youngest mayors we’ve ever had,” Bernstein said.

The rotation has faced critiques over the years, like a lack in consistency and influence from the mayor over the council.

“The longevity of a four year mayor is really important to the city, being able to maintain high level relationships with your community organizations and the neighborhoods,” deHarte said.

If the measure progresses, it could change a lot in the city.

“We could have four districts and an elected mayor, six districts, and an elected mayor. When the census happens in 2030 we’re going to have to look at redistricting anyway. So part of another question is is this a timing issue?” Bernstein said.

He also says the city has to consider if they’ll face legal challenges from the past lawsuit and the price of a new ballot measure.

However, deHarte says the cost wouldn’t compare to voters’ desires.

“Well, the cost is really minimal to the operations of the city. You have another stipend for a council member, build out costs there would be to create another office here at City Hall. So the expense to go through the effort is minimal. Being able to put it on the ballot in November when there’s already an election happening, it’s the perfect time to,” deHarte said.

The measure will come back to the city council for discussion in the first week of April. Stick with News Channel 3 for continuing coverage.

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Gavin Nguyen

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – The Palm Springs Fire Department is giving the media a first look before it hosts an Open House event next Monday.

News Channel 3’s Shay Lawson reported last night on the push from nearby businesses to stop the fire station due to concerns about parking.

Fire Chief Paul Alvarado said the downtown fire station sees the highest call volume in the city and desperately needs an upgrade.

He said, “This is the busiest area that we have in the city, the most call volume, the highest frequency of fires, and again, the highest risk based on the type of buildings that we have here. This is where our hotels are. This is where our restaurants are.”

With an increasing number of high-rise buildings, firefighters said they need the proper equipment to respond to emergencies. The department’s only ladder truck is currently stationed at Fire Station #2, at the airport, and would greatly benefit from a tiller truck stationed in the downtown area. Featuring a longer ladder and greater urban maneuverability, the addition of a tiller truck would be a valuable asset – and one that isn’t possible with the current Fire Station #1.

As it stands, the downtown fire station is too small. An expansion would allow the department to build a larger apparatus bay, capable of fitting larger vehicles.

And equipment aside, fire leaders showed our crews inside the living quarters 18 firefighters cycle in and out of with each shift. Deputy Chief Jeff van Lierop allowed News Channel 3 to see cramped living spaces, limited storage space, subpar heating and cooling systems, and a single shower shared by six personnel.

Chief Alvarado said the upgrades are needed. “For me to recruit, hire and retain the very best people, I have to have the best facilities.”

He also acknowledged the pushback from residents. News Channel 3’s Gavin Nguyen brought their concerns to him during the tour, asking, “When we go back to the parking, I know that was one of the big questions. You said this is an open conversation?”

“It is an open conversation. You know, we have to start somewhere. And we’ve had a lot of conversation with some of the local business owners,” Alvarado responded. “I want to hear the feedback I want to make sure they have an opportunity to talk to me and what are their needs here in the local businesses.”

Alvarado hopes the public Open House next Monday will offer that opportunity for residents and businesses to share their thoughts, and hopefully, brainstorm a compromise that will still allow business access – as well as maintain the functionality of an expanded fire station.

“Our goal on Monday is to have people come in, take a look and provide comment. I’m going to have staff here that’s going to take down their questions. We’re going to get back to them with answers,” reassured Alvarado.

Deputy Chief van Lierop agreed. He highlighted what he hopes the public takes away from the upcoming event.

“At any given weekend, we can have over 100,000 people in the city, in the downtown area, and we have to be able to protect them and provide EMS support for all of those people in the city,” the deputy chief explained. “And we are having a difficult time doing that in the current conditions that we’re living in.”

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Julia Castro

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (KESQ) — A Riverside County Sheriff’s patrol vehicle was involved in a crash early Wednesday morning in Rancho Mirage, authorities said.

The collision happened shortly after 3 a.m. near Highway 111 and Frank Sinatra Drive.

Officials say no injuries have been reported.

Authorities temporarily closed the roadway while crews worked to remove the tree and tow the damaged vehicle.

Details about what led to the crash remain limited. Authorities have not yet released information about other vehicles involved or the cause of the collision.

News Channel 3 will provide updates as more information becomes available.

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