Author: KESQ

City News Service

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – This year’s Date Festival Scholarship Program has awarded scholarships to 16 Riverside County high school seniors and season passes to the Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival, officials announced today.

Although 16 finalists impressed judges by the students’ academic achievement, leadership and community commitment, 10 finalists were named as scholarship recipients. Through a contribution of$6,000 by judges Becky Bailey- Findley and Gary Findley, the remaining six finalists were named as scholarship honorees and also received scholarships.

“This scholarship program is an investment in Riverside County’s students and the future of our community,” Chris Pickering, CEO of Pickering Events, said in a statement. “Each year, the interview process reinforces how much talent, heart and promise exists in our local schools.”  

The program awarded $2,000 scholarships to 10 seniors in the class of 2026, which will be distributed directly to each recipient’s college or university. In addition, all finalists are invited to participate in the Presidents’ Day parade on Feb. 16 as honored guests alongside local elected officials and community leaders.   

The following scholarship recipients named are:   — Bella Barone — Palm Desert — Palm Desert High School;   — Joanna Bushnell Crist — Indio — La Quinta High School;   — Preston Ellis — Palm Desert — Palm Desert High School;   — Emmanuel Garcia — Riverside — Ramona High School;   — Elizabeth Guerra –Indio — Indio High School;   — Erik Huerta — Mecca — Desert Mirage High School;   — Paola Miranda — North Shore — Desert Mirage High School;   — Kaden Ren — Riverside — Martin Luther King High School;   — Pratham Sanghu — Corona — La Sierra Academy, and   — Ines Yanez — Temecula — Temecula Preparatory School.

   The following were named as scholarship honorees are:   — Anahi Canesco — Jurupa Valley — Rubidoux High School;   — Jahzara Dansby — Lake Elsinore — Murrieta Mesa High School;   — Alexander Diaz — Indio — Indio High School;   — Mario Irrera — Indio — Indio High School;   — Rachel Anne Madrid — Aguanga — JCS-Pine Hills High School, and   — Roberto Sanchez — Indio — Indio High School.  

“Programs like the Date Festival Scholarship help open doors for students who are working hard to shape a better future for themselves and our region,” Supervisor Manuel Perez said in a statement. “It’s inspiring to see local institutions step up year after year to invest in education and opportunity.”  

The Date Festival will be held from next Thursday through March 1 at the county’s Fairgrounds in Indio.

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Garrett Hottle

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) Nearly 1,000 tax-delinquent properties across Riverside County are slated for public auction this spring, including hundreds of parcels located throughout the Coachella Valley.

According to county officials, 946 parcels have been selected and approved for the April tax sale, though that number is expected to decline as some property owners redeem their parcels before the auction date. Of those properties, 258 are located within the Coachella Valley’s nine cities, all within Supervisorial District 4.

County records show the highest-assessed parcels expected to move forward in the Coachella Valley are vacant commercial land, not residential homes. Riverside County Treasurer-Tax Collector Matthew Jennings confirmed that three of the most valuable parcels, with assessed values ranging from approximately $2.5 million to $3.5 million, are classified as vacant land. One of those parcels is a roughly 30-acre site in the city of Coachella.

The auction inventory includes a mix of vacant land and residential properties countywide. Of the 946 parcels approved for sale, approximately 228 are identified as having residential dwellings or structures, according to the Treasurer-Tax Collector’s Office.

The County Treasurer-Tax Collector’s Office says the unusually large size of this year’s auction reflects a return to normal operations following several years of staffing shortages and economic disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The goal, county officials say, is to return long delinquent properties to productive, revenue-generating use to support public services. Properties included in the sale have typically exceeded the state’s statutory threshold for tax default.

Starting bids for some parcels begin as low as $100, though final sale prices can vary widely depending on location, zoning, and bidder interest.

KESQ will be speaking with the Riverside County Treasurer-Tax Collector later today for further clarification on the auction process, property impacts, and what this means for local communities. More details will be shared on News Channel 3.

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Timothy Foster

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (KESQ) – Preparations are already underway for one of the Coachella Valley’s biggest annual events, as crews work to get ready for the 2026 BNP Paribas Open.

The world-renowned tennis tournament is just weeks away, and setup is already transforming the area surrounding the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Temporary structures are being installed, parking areas are being finalized, and large-scale transportation plans are being implemented ahead of the two-week event.

One of the most visible signs of preparation is the arrival of hundreds of BMW vehicles. More than 300 BMWs are already staged on site and will be used throughout the tournament to transport players, officials, and VIP guests. The fleet is part of a large-scale shuttle and traffic management operation designed to keep movement smooth during one of the busiest times of the year in the desert.

The tournament is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the world, delivering a significant economic boost to the Coachella Valley. Local business owners say tourism during the tournament season is essential, with many relying on event-driven traffic to support operations through the slower summer months.

Last year, more than 500,000 people attended the BNP Paribas Open, generating more than $850 million for the local economy. Organizers anticipate another strong turnout this year as fans return for two weeks of world-class tennis and related events.

The 2026 BNP Paribas Open runs from March 1 through March 15 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

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Athena Jreij

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, Calif. (KESQ) – Reflecting on the past year, Riverside County says progress has been made in life-saving efforts.

In their bi-monthly animal commission meeting, officials say live-release rates increased in 2025, from 71.2% to 78.5%, along with adoption and foster rates.

However, they say a lot of work still needs to be done, with a focus on reducing length of stay in shelters for large dogs and elderly cats.

News Channel 3 dug into the figures, and found while life-saving efforts increased, thousands of animals were still euthanized, died in care or lost.

According to data, total non-live outcomes for the year was 4,733, a 35% decrease from 7,232 in 2024.

Officials say it’s a sign that programs like ‘Dibs’ and ‘Ticket to Ride’ are working, but advocates say it’s not satisfactory.

“They are very into a metric and number to be ‘no kill.’ We want the shelter to do the right thing. Yes, if you have to euthanize for medical reasons, for behavior, but not for space, and then you refuse to build any space,” Lisa Fein-Blodgett said.

Blodgett is a defendant in a lawsuit against the county’s euthanasia practices. A recent injunction has asked the county to build more space for shelter pets.

In response to the question if that’s feasible, Veronica Perez with the county said, “We have to look at where we are right now every single day, and right now we are overcrowded for the amount of dogs compared to kennel space. We have to also look at where can we make an impact and move the needle, whether it’s more fosters, more volunteers, increasing those adoptions, partnering at the local level.”

For 2026, officials say they have two mottos.

“One is ‘getting to yes,’ so saying yes to everyone that comes in wants to help. There is a way for virtually everyone to help us save more lives. The other one is that ‘it takes a village.’ So anyone that can help should be invited and welcomed in the doors,” Kristen Hassen said.

She says the priorities for 2026 are, “We’re looking at what is within our control, which is bigger adoption programs, bigger volunteer programs, larger foster programs, getting more animals out and then trying to help people keep their pets whenever possible.”

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Jesus Reyes

LA QUINTA, Calif. (KESQ) – A big step up in fighting food insecurity in the valley. On Thursday, a $200,000 check was presented to the FIND Regional Food Bank.

The funds were provided by the members of the Hideaway Golf Club in La Quinta. They raised that amount during their annual campaign to support food banks. Thanks to this big check, the FIND Regional Food Bank will be able to continue to provide meals to those in need.

“Now more than ever with the increases of the cost of goods and the economy and housing, there’s so many people that are having to make some really difficult choices between paying for medicines or paying for rent or feeding themselves,” said Debbie Espinosa, President/CEO of the FIND Regional Food Bank.

Espinosa said the donation has the capability to help more than 800,000 meals get served to people in the valley.

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Peter Daut

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Design lovers from across the globe are arriving in our valley soon for Modernism Week and this year, organizers say it will be bigger than ever.

More than 350 events are scheduled, beginning Thursday, Feb. 12 through Feb. 22. The festival will feature tours of iconic homes, nightly parties, and a classic car show.

All events are open to the public and many are free or low-cost.

“People come to the desert, they fall in love with it, hopefully they come back year after year and buy property and contribute to our restaurants and hotels and businesses. We had an economic impact of over $68 million to the Coachella Valley last year,” said Lisa Smith, Modernism Week CEO. “There’s still lots of tickets available for 11 days of tours, parties, fabulous presentations, lectures in the Annenberg Theater, dance parties every night, it’s a terrific time.”

A portion of ticket proceeds benefits the nonprofit and other local preservation groups.

Click here for tickets and more information

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Shay Lawson

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ)  – Dozens of neighbors from La Palme, Pointe, Vibe and Sundial gathered at the Palm Springs Police Department to discuss parking solutions.

Palm Springs leaders said rising airport parking rates are pushing more cars onto neighborhood streets and the new College of the Desert Campus is expected to bring more students and staff into the area.

Attendees said parking has been an ongoing issue for years.

Wednesday’s discussion was focused on street parking along Baristo Road between El Cielo and Farrell and Civic Drive between Baristo and East Tahquitz Canyon Way.

Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing coverage.

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Jesus Reyes

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – Two men have been arrested for allegedly committing a pair of residential burglaries in Palm Desert, authorities said today.

The suspects, a 44-year-old Indio man and a 38-year-old Bermuda Dunes man, were arrested Friday and booked into Benoit Detention Center in Indio on suspicion of residential burglary, committing a felony while out on bail, committing a theft with prior convictions and fraud-related charges, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office.  

Deputies responded to a report of a burglary at 8:19 p.m. Jan. 23 in the 72700 block of Carob Court. The victim told authorities a male allegedly walked into the residence and stole items while a family was inside the property, and that there were unauthorized charges on the victim’s credit card stolen during the burglary.   

Despite an extensive search that night, the suspect was not found.   

Authorities identified the two men as the suspects, and also identified them as suspects in a separate residential burglary in the 100 block of Chelsea Circle on Jan. 26, according to the department.

They were located at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the area of Portola Road and Julie Lane in Palm Desert, where they were taken into custody without incident.   

Served search warrants were executed at two residences — in the 46000 block of Clinton Street in Indio and in the 78000 block of Avenue 42 in the unincorporated area of Bermuda Dunes — where evidence was collected that connected the suspects to the residential burglaries being investigated, the agency said.

The investigation was ongoing, and anyone with additional information was asked to call 760-836-1600.

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Peter Daut

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – News Channel 3 was first to report on a Palm Springs community, reeling over a controversial land lease renewal offer. The story sent shockwaves across the Coachella Valley. The deadline has now passed, so what happens now for the many homeowners who say they simply can’t afford it?

I-Team investigator Peter Daut went back to Saddlerock Estates, and spoke with both residents and the attorney for the tribal landowner.

“I’m heartbroken that I can’t leave this to anybody. I had plans for that, but it’s not going to happen,” Saddlerock Estates HOA President Dave Buck said. He is among the majority of homeowners who refused to sign the land lease renewal offer. As News Channel 3 reported in July, the deal would more than double monthly land rent, and required a $100,000 signing fee, plus $15,000 in attorneys fees, per home. In a letter to homeowners, attorney David Jacobs, representing tribal member William McGlamary, set a December 31st deadline. Miss it, and residents could lose their homes when the lease expires in 2042 with no compensation.

“It just wasn’t right. It wasn’t right for them to do what they did to us,” Buck said.

Buck said at least nine of the 24 homeowners did sign. For them, monthly land rent jumps from about $190 to $640, with increases of 20 to 30 percent every five years. Most of the residents are over 65. Buck is 75.

Daut asked Buck: “For those of you who have not signed this new lease, what’s going to happen to your homes in 16 years?” Buck replied, “We pack up everything that’s in it and walk away.”

Buck said he had hoped someone would step in. “I’m surprised that the tribe didn’t move in to tell these people that they were doing something that was really not decent,” he said.

Attorney David Jacobs sees it very differently. “They’re not victims of anything. They’re getting exactly what they bargained for,” Jacobs said. Jacobs argues the original lease, created more than 50 years ago, locked in below-market rent for decades. “If your rent was $100 back then, why shouldn’t it be $1500 today? That’s just economic reality,” he said.

Jacobs points to a Bureau of Indian Affairs appraisal conducted in 2000, saying fair-market rent was more than double what his client’s father was paid. And he said the HOA walked away from negotiations for years. “You can’t negotiate with people who are always walking away from the table. So we set the price and this is the price,” he said.

Daut asked Jacobs: “So you’re saying the residents at Saddlerock Estates are to blame for this situation?” He replied, “Well derivatively, they elect their board and their board has its president and they have chosen not to engage in good-faith negotiations.”

The HOA’s attorney, Michele McKee disputes that claim, writing to the BIA and Agua Caliente Tribe: “There have not been any written offers prior to the June offer that were rejected by the Saddlerock Estates HOA.” She added: “The HOA tried many times, in good faith, to engage with Mr. Jacobs, but those interactions did not result in any real offers…” “To say that it has been difficult to deal with Mr. Jacobs over the years, is an understatement.” 

McKee provided an email chain, which she says shows years of unanswered requests from Jacobs. She also questions the $15,000 per lease attorney fee included in the deal.

Daut asked Jacobs: “$15,000 in attorneys fees. You’re making a lot of money out of this?” Jacobs replied, “I don’t want to discuss the matter of my attorneys fees.”

Retired teacher Lisa Lenes lives in the Saddlerock Estates home her parents purchased more than four decades ago. She said she cannot afford the new lease. “I have an hourglass over my head every night for 16 years. If I haven’t sold this place in a couple of years, and don’t have the capital to go somewhere, I could be homeless. It’s a terrible feeling, and he should think about that. Many lives are being impacted by this. I think it’s greed. I don’t have it, and even if I did have it I wouldn’t give it to him,” she said.

Daut asked Jacobs: “The word I keep hearing from residents is ‘greed.’ Is this greed?” Jacobs answered, “It’s economic self-interest.” Daut then asked, “And in 16 years what happens to these people?” Jacobs replied: “Their leases expire.” Daut asked, “And they’ll have to leave?” Jacobs answered, “As a practical matter, what you’re saying is there’s a number of elderly people, they can’t afford it, chances are they won’t be here.” Daut asked, “Do you have any sympathy at all for people who are fearful they’re going to lose their homes in 16 years?” Jacobs replied, “I have sympathy for anyone who doesn’t understand a deal that they make.”

Lenes believes the deal could backfire for the land owner (McGlamary) in the long run: “You’re going to sit here with a lot of empty homes because we all had to vacate, and a lot of people aren’t willing to buy. So karma, honey, it’s all going to come back. And trust me it will,” she said.

Daut asked Jacobs: “In 16 years, if the other half don’t sign this, and they walk away from their homes, won’t this hurt your client financially in the long run, he’s going to be losing out on a lot of money.” Jacobs replied, “That won’t happen.” Daut asked, “Why not?” Jacobs replied, “My client’s been losing money in this for over 20 years, what difference does it make? Now, he’s establishing fair market value, and to a certain extent his signing bonus will make up for the rent he has not been getting because these people were not willing to negotiate in good faith.” Daut asked, “Is there any hope that some sort of an agreement can be reached with these residents?” Jacobs responded, “You don’t keep walking into negotiations only to get hit upside the head and told ‘We’ll walk away.’ So no, we established the price, and that’s what it is.”

Daut asked Buck, “If the landowner is watching this story, what do you want to say to him?” Buck answered, “Well I’d like to know how he sleeps at night.”

Meanwhile, Buck said Saddlerock Estates should serve as a warning: “Why will people come and buy on Indian land if they know what’s going to happen?” he asked.

Daut asked Jacobs: “Are you at all concerned that this is going to impact all Indian land in the Palm Springs area, because people are going to see this and not want to buy?” Jacobs answered, “That impact will be that people who have existing leases on tribal land know that if your lease is getting around 35 years, you better get to the table.”

Daut reached out to both the BIA and Agua Caliente tribe, and they declined to comment. The issue highlights the risks associated with buying property on leased land. Nearly 20,000 people and businesses in the Valley lease tribal land. And with many of those leases expiring around the same time, this could be just the beginning. But both sides agree on one thing: Read the fine print, and know exactly what you’re signing.

Check out the first part of Peter’s report below:

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Jesus Reyes

Riverside, Calif. (KESQ) – The Riverside County Department of Animal Services announced a new partnership with the Jason Heigl Foundation to bring accessible, low-cost spay and neuter services to the East Coachella Valley.

Officials said the partnership will fund increased capacity for mobile clinics, community outreach, and subsidized surgeries for pet owners who may otherwise be unable to access or afford these services.

“We are excited for this partnership to enhance the great work already being done by local organizations and community members bringing essential services to the East Coachella Valley to support pets and families who need it most,” said Fourth District Supervisor V. Manuel Perez. “I look forward to building a program that will truly save lives.”

County officials noted that East Valley is an area where veterinary access has long been limited and the need for humane population control is significant. Through this collaboration, the Jason Heigl Foundation will support an expanded spay/neuter initiative designed to reduce pet overpopulation, improve animal welfare, and empower families with essential resources to keep their pets healthy and at home.

“This partnership will have a meaningful and lasting impact on pets and families in the East Coachella Valley,” said RCDAS Director Mary Martin. “By working with the Heigl Foundation, more spay/neuter providers working in the Valley can be supported to bring critical services directly to the community, reduce shelter intake, and support the wellbeing of animals who deserve compassionate care.”

The new partnership prioritizes access to free or low-cost spay/neuter surgery for pet owners as well as education and outreach to help families understand the benefits of sterilization, preventive care, and responsible pet ownership.

“The Heigl Foundation is committed to the belief that spay/neuter is the ultimate solution in reducing shelter overpopulation and preventing unwanted litters. We believe that focusing on a single community, with good partners, will provide a model that is scalable and can be repeated across the country,” said Jason Heigl Foundation Founder Nancy Heigl. “Our Riverside partnership is an extension of our Namaste Initiative which has been highly successful throughout the country. The Namaste Initiative provides spay/neuter support to families that love their animals but cannot possibly afford the cost of surgery, which directly impacts the animal population in an area.”

More information will be announced soon directly to residents in the East Coachella Valley.

To adopt, foster, rescue or volunteer with RCDAS, visit www.rcdas.org. For more information about the Jason Heigl Foundation visit www.jasonheigl.foundation.

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