Author: KESQ

City News Service

LOS ANGELES (KESQ) – U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli announced today that prosecutors are investigating whether California law is at odds with federal civil rights guarantees to female students whose athletics programs host biological males identifying as girls, holding out a case in the Riverside Unified School District as an example of alleged violations.

“The law is clear: discrimination on the basis of sex is illegal and immoral,” Essayli said. “My office and the rest of the U.S. Department of Justice will work tirelessly to protect girls’ sports and stop anyone — publicofficials included — from violating women’s civil rights.”

He said legal notices had been served on California Attorney General Rob Bonta, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond and administrators for the California Interscholastic Federation, informing them of the federal government’s intent to proceed with a civil rights action, naming them as defendants, based on alleged discriminatory practices stemming from Title IX.

There was no immediate response from state officials.

According to the DOJ, the investigation specifically targets state Assembly Bill 1266, the 2013 legislation aimed at preventing discrimination against transgender students and ensuring their right to take part in school activities, including athletics.

“Title IX exists to protect women and girls in education. It is perverse to allow males to compete against girls, invade their private spaces, and take their trophies,” Harmeet K. Dhillon, assistant attorney general for civil rights, said in a statement. “This division will aggressively defend women’s hard-fought rights to equal educational opportunities.”

During his previous term as a state assemblyman representing northwest Riverside County, Essayli rallied to the cause of parents, guardians, female athletes and others opposed to school districts that had implemented policies tied to transgender participation in athletics programs previously reserved for biological females only.

Last year, Essayli and Assemblywoman Leticia Castillo, R-Corona, joined in seeking remedies to Assembly Bill 1266, signed into law in 2013, focusing on “pupil rights” by expanding Section 221.5 of the California Education Code regarding students’ participation in courses.

The thrust of AB 1266 was that a “pupil shall be permitted to participate in sex-segregated school programs and activities, including athletic competitions, and use facilities consistent with his or her gender identity, irrespective of the gender listed on the pupil’s records.”

AB 1266 remains on the books.   

In coordination with the Title IX investigation, DOJ officials also announced the agency has filed a “statement of interest” in a federal lawsuit filed on behalf of two Riverside high school students who said they faced repercussions for wearing T-shirts opposing a transgender student on the school’s track-and-field team.   

That suit, filed by Murrieta-based Advocates for Faith & Freedom, relates to the treatment of two female athletes, identified in court papers only as “K.S.,” a then-ninth-grade cross country competitor, and “T.S.,” an 11th grader who was the girls’ team captain at King High.

The plaintiffs are seeking injunctions against the school district, particularly King High, alleging First and Fourteenth Amendment violations.   

“The suit contends that RUSD’s policies unfairly restrict their freedom of expression and deny them fair and equal access to athletic opportunities,” according to the plaintiffs.

The two girls wore shirts in early 2024 bearing the messages “Save Girls’ Sports” and “It’s Common Sense — XX (does not equal) XY.” The plaintiffs alleged school administrators ordered the students to remove or conceal the shirts, claiming they created a “hostile environment.”   

“The civil complaint highlights RUSD’s failure to comply with Title IX, which guarantees equal athletic opportunities based on biological sex,” according to the plaintiffs. “T.S. was ousted from her position on the varsity cross country team to make room for a biological male transgender athlete, who did not consistently attend practices and failed to meet the team’s strict qualifying requirements. As a result, T.S. missed opportunities to compete at a high-profile meet, losing valuable chances for college recruitment and recognition.”

King High has been a hotbed of activity connected to the presence of transgender students. In 2023, one of them was reportedly expelled for assaulting a girl in a dispute over the individual’s use of a designated female locker room.

Without using her name, the DOJ’s Title IX letter to CIF specifically referenced transgender Jurupa Valley High School track and field AB Hernandez, who will compete in this weekend’s state championship meet in the triple jump, long jump and high jump events.

On Tuesday, President Donald Trump posted on social media that he would withhold federal funding from California if transgender athletes are allowed to compete in girls sports, and he called on local authorities to prevent AB Hernandez from competing in this weekend’s CIF State meet.

“California, under the leadership of Radical Left Democrat Gavin Newsom, continues to ILLEGALLY allow `MEN TO PLAY IN WOMEN’S SPORTS.’ This week a transitioned male athlete, at a major event, won `everything,’ and is now qualified to compete in the `State Finals’ next weekend.”

The athlete Trump is presumably referring to is Hernandez.   

“As a male, he was a less than average competitor. As a female, this transitioned person is practically unbeatable. THIS IS NOT FAIR, AND TOTALLY DEMEANING TO WOMEN AND GIRLS,” Trump wrote. “Please be hereby advised that large scale Federal Funding will be held back, maybe permanently, if the Executive Order on this subject matter is not adhered to. The Governor, himself, said it is `UNFAIR.’ I will speak to him today to find out which way he wants to go??? In the meantime I am ordering local authorities, if necessary, to not allow the transitioned person to compete in the State Finals. This is a totally ridiculous situation!!!”  

The CIF on Tuesday announced a change in the entry rules for the state track-and-field champion meet, essentially expanding the field of competitors in various events to ensure “biological female” athletes are not excluded from the competition, which will be held Friday and Saturday at Buchanan High School in Clovis.   

“Under this pilot entry process, any biological female student- athlete who would have earned the next qualifying mark for one of their Section’s automatic qualifying entries in the CIF State meet, and did not achieve the CIF State at-large mark in the finals at their Section meet, was extended an opportunity to participate in the 2025 CIF State Track and Field Championships,” according to CIF. “The CIF believes this pilot entry process achieves the participation opportunities we seek to afford our student-athletes.”   

The CIF statement did not specifically mention transgender athletes, although the governor’s office noted the change is aimed at ensuring biological female athletes won’t be displaced from this weekend’s meet, while still allowing transgender athletes to compete.

“CIF’s proposed pilot is a reasonable, respectful way to navigate a complex issue without compromising competitive fairness — a model worth pursuing,” the governor’s office Director of Communications Izzy Gardon said in a statement. “The governor is encouraged by this thoughtful approach.”

AB Hernandez will be the only openly transgender athlete competing at the CIF State Track and Field meet. She is ranked as one of the top athletes in California, ranked by athletic.net No. 1 in the triple jump and No. 2 in the long jump.

Hernandez won the girls invitational portion of the prestigious Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut in April and CIF Southern Section Division 3 titles in May at Moorpark High School in the long jump and triple jump.

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Athena Jreij

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) — A nearly $150,000 National Endowment for the Humanities grant awarded to California State University, San Bernardino Palm Desert Campus has been revoked under the Trump administration.

According to university officials, the NEH grant awarded $149,935 for the “Inland Echoes: Empowering Inclusive Histories of California’s Inland Empire and Coachella Valley in K-16 Education,” project.

Grant writer and assistant professor at CSUSB, Michelle Lorimer, said they chose to spotlight local tribes to give students a sense of pride on where they came from.

“Really what it’s about is having a sense of belonging and wanting to make where you live a better place for yourself and for the future, and that’s through understanding the importance of the history that was already here,” Lorimer said.

She tells News Channel 3 her team was overjoyed once it was awarded, telling News Channel 3 NEH grants are extremely competitive, and that one has an acceptance rate of just 19%.

However, after the grant contract was signed, CSUSB-PDC officials say they received a notice that it was defunded because it didn’t align with the administration’s education goals and was apart of DOGE cuts. Professors say to their knowledge, multiple NEH awards have now been defunded.

“They said our project and similar projects at NEH didn’t align anymore with the priorities of the administration. So that was devastating,” Lorimer said.

In a letter shared with News Channel 3, federal officials said, “NEH has reasonable cause to terminate your grant in light of the fact that the NEH is repurposing its funding allocations in a new direction in furtherance of the President’s agenda. The President’s February 19, 2025 executive order mandates that the NEH eliminate all non-statutorily required activities and functions.”

If it had gone through, the project planned to include hands-on workshops and lesson plans for teachers on local indigenous communities. The goal was for local teachers to then incorporate that education into their K-16 classes.

Professors say they believe it was targeted because of it’s inclusive language.

The New York Times has reported that NEH funding is now being redirected to President Trump’s National Garden of American Heroes.

Now, officials don’t know where to turn and doubt any scholarships will bring in the same amount of money as NEH.

“There’s been, for a very long time kind of culture wars over history education in the United States. However, what is currently happening now is totally unprecedented,” Michael Karp said.

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Karen Devine

COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) – As we’ve seen in the past, once a wildfire sparks up in the mountains surrounding the Coachella Valley, it can spread fast and in some cases be deadly. 

“It’s one of our biggest concerns. We are surrounded by wild land here and this brush and the forest up on top, that forest up there, it’s been years since it’s burned.  One statistic I heard, it’s over 200 years for Long Valley and those surrounding areas,” said Tim Jones, supervisor for the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway.

Some may recall the Esperanza Fire in October 2006. The arson fire started near Cabazon and spread quickly up the slopes of the San Jacinto Mountains. It burned over 41,000 acres and killed five firefighters.

Closer to the valley, the Mountain Fire in 2013 reached within 2 miles of Palm Springs and threatened the wilderness and state park at the top of the tramway. 

I-Team investigator Karen Devine took a trip up the tram, pushing for answers about managing drought conditions and balance between the federal and state mitigation process. Also addressing one local assemblyman’s concerns about fire management, asking the tough question,  are we doing enough?

Missed the first part? Check it out below:

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Luis Avila

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – It’s been over a week since a bombing shook Palm Springs, damaging buildings and disrupting lives. But even in the aftermath, hope has continued to carry the community forward.

On Tuesday, The Old Las Palmas Neighborhood Organization presented a $10,000 check to help fund property repairs not covered by insurance.

For Paul Mahoney, president of the organization, it was a no brainer.

“When this happened, we just felt like we needed to step up and do something. A lot of people that own these buildings here, own businesses here, they’re our neighbors, they’re our friends.”

Paul Mahoney, Old Las Palmas Neighborhood Organization president

Among the businesses pitching in to the cause is EIGHT4NINE Restaurant and Lounge. Willie Rhine, co-owner, says he’s grateful to be able to lend a helping hand.

“I think it’s absolutely crucial that we do whatever we can to support each other, especially at times of need and which this definitely was.”

Willie Rhine, EIGHT4NINE Restaurant and Lounge co-owner

But support didn’t just end there. Sunrise Rotary presented another $2,400 check.

The Rebuild Palm Springs community fundraiser has surpassed its initial goal of $100,000 and is now working to hit $250,000 because of the growing need.

For information on how you can help, click here.

Stay with News Channel 3 for more.

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Allie Anthony

The First Tee of Coachella Valley is a youth development organization that helps kids build strength of character to handle life’s challenges. Through the game of golf and a life skills curriculum, First Tee creates learning experiences that support self-confidence and resilience in young people.

This fall, First Tee is introducing a new program called PositiVITEE. The program welcomes children of all abilities to the game of golf in a fun and supportive environment. A free kickoff event will be held May 31. PositiVITEE is designed to empower underserved youth and young adults with special needs through mentorship.

Families interested in getting involved with First Tee can take advantage of several free summer programs for youth ages 4 to 18. Programs are available for all skill levels.

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Cynthia White

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – A salute to the Class of 2025 – Nearly 2,000 Roadrunners walked the stage at Acrisure Arena on Tuesday, moving on to take the next big step of their lives.

The grads heard remarks from the Superintendent and President, as well as keynote speakers, who inspired the students along with family and friends in attendance.

Two graduates say they’ll be using their Health Sciences degrees from COD to pursue nursing. Anitza Acevedo says she’s hoping to get into a nursing program to work toward a BSN, and Brianna Hernandez exclaims it’s never too late.

Others say they’re happy to finish this chapter in their education and are excited to see what the future holds.

News Channel 3 congratulates the Roadrunners Class of 2025, including Matthew Flicker, the son of News Channel 3’s chief photographer Christopher Flicker, and also to Isaiah Mora, one of News Channel 3’s great producers.

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Peter Daut

LA QUINTA, Calif. (KESQ) – A dedication ceremony is being held on Wednesday in La Quinta for the new Corporal Hunter Lopez Memorial Post Office Building.

The Coachella Valley native was one of 13 servicemembers killed in the 2021 attack at the Kabul airport in Afghanistan.

News Channel 3’s Peter Daut spoke with Hunter’s parents, Herman and Alicia Lopez, on Tuesday about how their son is being remembered.

After the post office designation was signed into law back in 2022, local leaders will be joining the Lopez family Wednesday for the unveiling of the plaque to honor his heroic service and sacrifice. The ceremony will be at 10:00 a.m. at the USPS facility located on Corporate Center Drive in La Quinta.

As Peter Daut reported several years ago in an in-depth exclusive with the family, just moments before his death, Lopez saved the lives of two children – only part of his efforts that contributed to the largest airlift in history in which more than 120,000 people were evacuated to safety.

Lopez’s family say they continue to be comforted by the outpouring of support from the community. Meanwhile, the Hunter Lopez Memorial Foundation continues to raise money to help those who protect and serve our country. Several scholarships were recently awarded to local students.

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Cynthia White

UPDATE 5/27/2025: The Palm Springs Police Department reports that Tadeusz Moskal has been located.

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – The Palm Springs Police Department has issued a Missing Person Alert Tuesday evening.

Tadeusz Moskal was last seen near the area of Molino Road and Sunnyview Drive in Palm Springs. He is wearing a blue shirt with white horizontal stripes and navy-blue shorts.

Police ask that if anyone has information on the man that can assist in safely locating him, please call 911 or PSPD at 760-327-1441.

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Shay Lawson

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, Calif. (KESQ) — A transgender student-athlete from Jurupa Valley High School is set to compete at the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) State Track and Field Championships this weekend.

President Donald Trump appeared to reference the athlete in a social media post Tuesday, threatening to withhold federal funding if California allows her to compete.

In response, the CIF said it is updating its championship eligibility rule.

News Channel 3’s Shay Lawson is speaking with a local high school track and cross-country coach about what the new rule means and to a community health worker about its impact on some student-athletes.

Watch the full story tonight at 10 and 11 p.m.

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Isaiah Mora

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. (KESQ) – New Channel 3 is tracking two fatal car crashes in Cathedral City.

Around 8:47 P.M. on Saturday, Cathedral City Police received numerous 911 phone calls of a traffic collision in the intersection of Dinah Shore Drive and Via Echo. Witnesses told CCPD Dispatch the collision involved a pedestrian and a vehicle in the westbound lanes of Dinah Shore Drive. Cathedral City Police and Cathedral City Fire & EMS responded and arrived a short time later. Upon police arrival, officers located a single pedestrian on Dinah Shore Drive west of Via Echo.

The pedestrian had major injuries to their person and was pronounced deceased at the scene. She was identified as Yuvinka Ponce, 27, of Cathedral City. A GoFundMe page has been set up to help pay for funeral expenses.

The vehicle and driver remained at the scene of the collision.

Through CCPD’s investigation, it was learned that DUI was a factor in the collision. The driver was arrested for DUI and will be booked into John Benoit Detention Center in Indio.

Westbound Dinah Shore Drive was closed between Date Palm Drive and Via De Anza, but it has since opened up.

Meantime, Cathedral City Police are also reporting another fatal crash near Ramon Road.

Around 1 A.M. on Sunday, CCPD received reports of a traffic collision involving two vehicles at Ramon Road and San Eljay Ave.

Cathedral City Police and Cathedral City Fire & EMS responded to the scene. Upon arrival, officers located a Nissan sedan with major collision damage on the passenger side of the vehicle.

Officers also located a Chevy pick-up truck with major collision damage to the front of the truck. The driver of the Nissan had major injuries from the collision and was pronounced deceased at the scene. He was identified by the coroner’s office as Kevin Becerra, 24, of Cathedral City. A GoFundMe page has been set up to help with funeral expenses.

The driver of the truck was identified as a juvenile. The investigation revealed the juvenile was intoxicated and DUI was a factor in the collision.

The juvenile was arrested for DUI.

Stay with News Channel 3 as we continue to track these breaking stories.

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