Author: KESQ

Jesus Reyes

ANZA, Calif. (KESQ) – A brush fire that erupted today south of Highway 371 inAnza scorched seven acres before it was stopped.   

The non-injury blaze was reported at 1:57 p.m. Thursday in the area of Coyote Canyon and Terwilliger roads, on the east end of the Cahuilla Indian Reservation, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.   

Multiple engines and hand crews were sent to the location and encountered flames moving at a slow rate through heavy brush amid light winds, firefighters said.

Three Cal Fire air tankers and a water-dropping helicopter reached the fire at 2:15 p.m. and performed runs across the head and heel of the blaze. That slowed its advance and enabled firefighters to establish hose lays.   

There were early concerns that a series of afternoon thunderstorm cells that developed just east of the fire might impact operations. But those drifted south into San Diego County.

At 3:10 p.m., the fire’s forward rate of spread was stopped. The fire was completely contained an hour later, according to officials.   

No structures were damaged.   

The area has been ground zero for a cluster of large and small wildfires every summer over the last three or four years  

The cause of Thursday’s blaze was under investigation.

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Kendall Flynn

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – The Indio Police Department has conducted two large drug bust operations within the last week, something they say is necessary for keeping the narcotics and other drugs away from their community. 

Officer Benjamin Moran, also a K9 handler to drug and patrol dog Hoki, said drug have been a large issue in Indio.

“It’s grabbing people, and they’re just getting stuck on that,” Moran said. “And so, we routinely go out to overdoses. We’ve gone out to overdose deaths. You see it on our streets everywhere.”

Tuesday night during a traffic enforcement stop K-9 “Hoki” alerted Officer Moran to the presence of narcotics in the vehicle. A ziploc bag containing 246 m30 fentanyl pills we’re located. M30 fentanyl pills are counterfeits, meaning they are made to look like 30 mg oxycodone pills.

Moran and Hoki find narcotics like this on a weekly basis, and he said every traffic stop is necessary to prevent the substance from spreading into the community.

“Our officers are consistently finding drugs, narcotics and other dangerous items in vehicles on what we call or people call routine traffic stops,” Moran said. “Officers have to be proactive to stop this as well.” 

However, Moran said local officers can only do so much without further legislation to stop the crimes from repeating.

“Officers need to be proactive and hit the streets, but additionally, our jails need to house these people,” Moran said. “Our legislatures need to make it more of a crime because if these people aren’t wanting help we can only do our job and take them to the solution, right?”

Stay with News Channel 3 to hear from officers about the concerns with this operations and what the community needs to know.

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City News Service

LOS ANGELES (KESQ) – Taxpayers will cover the $120 million bill for President Donald Trump’s illegal move to federalize the National Guard and put the U.S. Marines on the streets of Los Angeles, Gov. Gavin Newsom claimed today.

With 300 National Guard members still deployed to Los Angeles under what Newsom calls “the guise of protecting federal facilities,” the receipt on what it cost taxpayers adds up to nearly $120 million, according to the governor.

 A U.S. appeals court paused a lower court ruling Thursday that restricted Trump’s use of troops to support federal law enforcement and immigration raids in Los Angeles. The move allows the status quo to continue while the Trump administration appeals the lower court ruling.

The deployment of more than 4,200 National Guard soldiers and 700 Marines cost $71 million for food and other basic necessities, $37 million in payroll, more than $4 million in logistics supplies, $3.5 million in travel and $1.5 million in demobilization costs, which adds up to an estimated $118 million, according to the governor’s office.   

“Let us not forget what this political theater is costing us all — millions of taxpayer dollars down the drain, an atrophy to the readiness of guardsmembers across the nation and unnecessary hardships to the families supporting those troops,” Newsom said in a statement. “Talk about waste, fraud and abuse. We ask other states to do the math themselves.”  

The deployment was ruled illegal by a federal judge Tuesday following a lawsuit brought by Newsom and a resulting three-day trial in San Francisco federal court.

U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer determined that the June deployment was in violation of the Posse Comitatus Act, which bars most uses of U.S. troops on U.S. soil. The Trump administration filed a notice of appeal Wednesday with the 9th U.S. Court of Appeals.

Breyer’s ruling was based on an 1878 law that prevents federal troops from being used for regular law enforcement activities. The Trump administration has argued that the troops were there to protect federal officers and property and they were not performing local policing duties.  

“The ruling makes clear: Trump is breaking the law by trying to create a national police force with himself as its chief,” according to the governor.

Last month, Newsom’s office filed a federal Freedom of Information Act requesting all documents and records to identify the total expenses incurred to activate the Marines and federalize the National Guard since June 7. While the federal government has not responded to the request, Newsom said, the California National Guard developed the calculations at the request of the governor.

The governor contends that the entire deployment process was rushed, soldiers early on were forced to sleep on the floors and in the open air, use facilities with no functioning plumbing and were often fighting boredom and low morale.

To come to Los Angeles, guardsmembers were pulled off of specialized assignments — including firefighting teams and drug interdiction efforts at ports of entry along the border, Newsom said.

Trump has said he wants to keep guardsmembers in Los Angeles through November. On Tuesday, California filed a request for a preliminary injunction to block the administration’s order to extend the National Guard’s deployment through Election Day.

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Jesus Reyes

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. (KESQ) – One person was pronounced dead after a crash on Interstate 10 west of Palm Drive, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The crash was first reported at around 10:30 a.m. after a vehicle went into a ditch.

CHP Officer David Torres told News Channel 3 that the vehicle was traveling westbound on the I-10, when, for reasons still under investigation, the driver unsafely turned to the right, left the roadway and drove down an embankment. 

Paramedics arrived roughly 30 minutes later and pronounced the driver dead at the scene.

The investigation remains ongoing. Stay with News Channel 3 for any updates.

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Jesus Reyes

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Students and staff at Palm Springs High School are back in classrooms after an anonymous phone threat prompted a brief lockdown and heavy police presence Thursday morning.

Palm Springs Unified School District sent a message to parents the school is on lockdown after an anonymous phone threat to the front office. Police and security investigated and swept the campus in an abundance of caution.

PSUSD Message to Parents:

“Hello families. We wanted to alert you that the school is currently on lockdown as we have received an anonymous phone threat to our front office. Palm Springs Police and our security team are investigating and sweeping the campus in an abundance of caution. We will let you know as soon as the campus is cleared. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.”

The lockdown was lifted after the campus was cleared by 1:45 p.m., and all students and staff were deemed safe, PSUSD said in a statement.

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Kendall Flynn

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – The Indio Police Department is planning a traffic safety operation for Thursday between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. Their operation is focused on the most dangerous driver behaviors that put the safety of people biking or walking within the community at risk. 

Many of the violations include speeding, making illegal turns, failing to yield or provide a right of way to walkers or bikers. 

Indio is asking pedestrians:

Be predictable and use crosswalks (be extra careful at night)

Take notice of approaching vehicles

Do not walk or run into the path of a vehicle. At 30 mph, a driver needs at least 90 feet to stop.

Be visible (wear light colors, reflective material and carry a flashlight)

Indio is asking drivers:

Do not speed and slow down at intersections

Be prepared to stop for pedestrians at marked and unmarked crosswalks

Avoid blocking crosswalks for right-hand turns

Never drive impaired

Indio is asking bicyclists:

Obey traffic laws, use hand signals and use lights at night

Travel in the same direction of traffic

Do not ride closely to parked cars, and use the bike lane if available

Yield to pedestrians

Stay with News Channel 3 to hear from officers on growing concerns for bicyclist and pedestrian safety in Indio.

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Allie Anthony

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (KESQ) – Suicide remains one of the leading causes of death in the United States.

According to the CDC, nearly 49,000 Americans died by suicide in 2023. A tragic and urgent public health issue.

September is National Suicide Prevention Month, a time when mental health experts emphasize the importance of raising awareness, breaking the stigma, and starting honest conversations.

News Channel 3 is speaking with a therapist at the Betty Ford Center about how to talk to loved ones who may be struggling and the warning signs to watch for.

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Garrett Hottle

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) — Jake and Rebecca Haro pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and filing a false police report in the presumed death of their 7-month-old son, Emmanuel Haro.

The Haros were in court for their arraignment Thursday morning in Riverside. Both will return to court on Sept. 16 for a Felony Settlement Conference.

News Channel 3’s Garrett Hottle was in the courtroom. He’ll have live coverage starting at Noon.

Prosecutors allege Emmanuel was abused over time and died between Aug. 5 and Aug. 14. At a news conference, Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin said investigators believe Emmanuel “was abused over time” and died from those injuries. Emmanuel’s remains have not been found, but Hestrin said investigators have a strong indication of where the baby’s remains may be. 

Both parents are held on $1 million bail.

The charging documents filed last week, list murder and false report counts against both parents and note recommended bail at $1,000,000 each for Jake and Rebecca. The filing alleges the killing occurred between Aug. 5 and Aug. 14, and the false report is dated Aug. 14.

At their Aug. 26 appearance, Public Defender Brian Cosgrove spoke on behalf of the public defender’s office, indicating it cannot represent both parents due to a conflict. 

Reporting since has indicated Jake remains with the Public Defender, while Rebecca is expected to be assigned conflict-panel counsel. 

A clarification on counsel for Jake and Rebecca Haro is expected to be clarified in court Thursday.

Detectives have stated the originally reported kidnapping in Yucaipa did not occur. 

On Sunday, Aug. 24, investigators accompanied by Jake Haro in custody clothing we’re spotting searching along Highway 60 near Gilman Springs Road, but did not locate Emmanuel’s remains, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office.

Court documents obtained by KESQ News Channel 3 show Jake Haro was convicted of felony child cruelty in 2023 stemming from a 2018 case. And over the prosecution’s objection, a judge granted probation and work-release time. At the same news conference last week Hestrin and Bianco took aim the judges ruling in the case. 

Jake also faces a separate felon in possession of firearm and ammunition charge from 2024 according to court documents received by KESQ News Channel 3. 

KESQ News Channel 3 previously reported Rebecca Haro is the sister of James Beushausen, convicted in a 2017 murder of his girlfriend in Palm Springs. Rebeca’s mother Mary Beushausen vigorously defended her son in that trial, creating a “justice for James” Facebook group. 

KESQ has reached out multiple times to Rebecca’s mother Mary Beushausen and have been told “no comment.”

Former defense attorney Vincent Hughes previously provided a statement on Jake’s behalf but did not appear at the last hearing and has not responded to multiple recent requests for comment.

Anyone with information on this case or the whereabouts of Emmanuel are encouraged to contact the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Homicide Detail at 909-890-4904 or submit an anonymous tip to We-Tip.

Timeline: Case of Baby Emmanuel

Thursday, Sept. 4: Arraignments at 8:30 a.m., both parents remain jailed on $1 million bail. 

Wednesday, Aug. 27: DA Hestrin: Emmanuel was “severely abused over time”, investigators have a strong indication where remains may be; not yet found.

Tuesday, Aug. 26: First appearance; case continued to Sept. 4, complaint filed alleging murder and false report. 

Sunday, Aug. 24: Search along Hwy. 60/Gilman Springs with Jake present, no remains found. 

Friday, Aug. 22: Parents arrested in Cabazon after detectives concluded the kidnapping claim was false. 

Thursday, Aug. 14: Rebecca reports an assault and kidnapping outside a Yucaipa store, deputies and K-9s search; case later reclassified after inconsistencies in her account. 

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Cynthia White

CATHEDRAL CITY/RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (KESQ) – The Westin Rancho Mirage Golf Resort & Spa has been announced as the official hotel and venue sponsor for the 11th Annual Cathedral City International Hot Air Balloon Festival.

The festival is set for Friday, November 21 through Sunday, November 23, 2025.

The resort will host several events as part of the partnership, including morning hot air balloon launches from its Pete Dye Golf Course and a “Brunch & Balloons” experience on Sunday.

The Westin Rancho Mirage is also offering special packages with discounted room rates for festival attendees and exclusive deals for balloon pilots and crews participating in the internationally recognized event.

“We are honored to be the host resort and official hotel partner for this year’s Cathedral City International Hot Air Balloon Festival,” said Time Lusher, General Manager of The Westin Rancho Mirage.

The City of Rancho Mirage is providing municipal support and coordination for the resort-hosted events.

Cathedral City Mayor Nancy Ross says, “We’re thrilled to expand our partnership with The Westin Rancho Mirage, a longtime partner that has been instrumental in the festival’s success.”

The Cathedral City International Hot Air Balloon Festival has continued to grow each year, now drawing more than 25,000 attendees annually.

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Shay Lawson

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. (KESQ)  – Coachella Valley residents lined up for a chance to win the estimated $1.4 billion Powerball jackpot.

The winning numbers are 3, 16, 29, 61, 69 with a Powerball of 22.

No one won the jackpot on Wednesday so now it continues to grow.

2 tickets in California matched 5 numbers, in Bakersfield and the other in Riverside.

The new Powerball estimated cash value is over $700 million.

Angela Pena of La Quinta said she plays regularly, choosing numbers tied to her children and grandchildren.

“I would buy my mom a house, of course,” Pena said. “Then I’d buy myself a house, pay off my sister’s houses and buy my other sister a house.”

John Seamans said he’d donate his money.

“All I really need is $200,000 and I can stretch that out the rest of my life,” Seamans said.

Carolyn Becker, a CA lottery spokesperson, said some of the ticket revenue goes toward supporting California schools.

“The California lottery has raised more than $100 million for public schools,” Becker said. “$0.80 of every $2 Powerball ticket that we sell goes right to benefit public education.”

Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing coverage.

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