Author: KESQ

Luis Avila

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KESQ) – Saving at the gas pump. Some state lawmakers introduced a bill to temporarily suspend California’s gas tax.

Local Assemblyman Jeff Gonzalez was among those leading the effort during a news conference in Sacramento on Tuesday. Lawmakers calling for immediate relief, they say, as California drivers pay among the highest gas prices in the nation.

The bill, known as AB 1745, would suspend California’s 61 cents per gallon gas tax for one year. The gas tax is used to fund transportation infrastructure, but Gonzalez says not everyone reaps the benefits of the tax, including local communities in and around the Coachella Valley.

“For many communities in Assembly District 36, driving isn’t optional. It’s essential. There is no subway in Blythe. There’s no light rail in needles. In rural and desert communities, a car is not a luxury, it’s a lifeline,” Gonzalez said.

The average price for a gallon of gas in Riverside County is around $4.50, its highest amount since Dec. 2. The average price has risen 38.1 cents over the past 27 days, including six-tenths of a cent on Monday, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service.

The proposal would also require all savings be passed directly to drivers and ensure transparency by showing the tax savings on fuel receipts.

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Dakota Makinen

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (KESQ) – Local journalists gathered under one roof Tuesday to celebrate great accomplishments in storytelling.

The Coachella Valley Journalism Foundation Awards, honoring local reporters and journalists, were held at the Omni Rancho Mirage resort in Rancho Mirage. It’s the 3rd annual event that’s quickly become the organization’s most important fundraiser.

“It’s our biggest fundraiser of the year, and the Coachella Valley Journalism Foundation raises money so that we can financially help support local media organizations, whether that’s through staff positions, funding interns, helping to underwrite reporting projects so that they can do more work,” said

Kevin Fitzgerald from the Coachella Valley Independent won Journalist of the Year, and News Channel 3’s Shay Lawson won the Rising Star Award, which honors an early-career journalist.

“This means everything to me. I am so grateful for the Coachella Valley community for allowing me to tell their stories. I have met extraordinary people over my time here in the desert. It just has a special place in my heart,” Lawson said.

Journalists were also added to the Coachella Valley Journalism Hall of Fame, including:

— Lina Robles, co-host of morning radio show “El Show del Grenas” on our sister station La Poderosa.

— Jimmy Boegle, founding editor at the Coachella Valley Independent;

— Larry Bohannan, golf writer at The Desert Sun;

— Ric and Rozene Supple (posthumously), radio station owners and philanthropists.

During the ceremony, there was a surprise induction of CVJF co-founder Ricardo Loretta into the Media Hall of Fame. Loretta, executive director of the Carreón Foundation, founded the Coachella Valley MediaFoundation in 2020 along with Joe Wallace, the former CEO of the Coachella Valley Economic Partnership.

“Surprised but proud to have been included as an inductee to the CV Media Hall of Fame yesterday,” Loretta wrote in a social media post. “What an honor!

Ricardo Loretta

Over the past year, the Coachella Valley Journalism Foundation has raised a quarter of a million dollars to support local journalism students.

For more information, visit cvjf.org.

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CNN

Originally Published: 24 FEB 26 22:45 ETBy Aaron Blake, CNN

(CNN) — President Donald Trump is delivering the first State of the Union address of his second term Tuesday night at the US Capitol.

The speech comes shortly after the Supreme Court struck down his signature global tariffs, as he considers a second round of potential military strikes on Iran and as his political fortunes appear to be about as low as they’ve ever been in either of his two terms.

Here are some early takeaways from his speech.

Trump goads Democrats on immigration

Trump has struggled to halt his declining political fortunes in recent months. But as he tried to frame up the 2026 election on Tuesday night, he turned to an old faithful: immigration.

After gesturing at “angel moms” whose children were victimized by undocumented immigrants, Trump said voting for Democrats would be voting to reopen America’s borders.

“We can never forget that many in this room not only allowed the border invasion to happen before I got involved, but indeed they would do it all over again if they ever had the chance,” he said.

Trump then did something he loves to do with these speeches: challenge Democrats to decide whether to applaud.

He urged members to stand up and show support if they agreed with the statement that “the first duty of the American government is to protect American citizens, not illegal aliens.”

Democrats remained seated.

Republicans, meanwhile, sought to emphasize the moment, standing and applauding for a long time to show the contrast.

Eventually, Trump spoke again and told Democrats, “You should be ashamed of yourself not standing up.” Democratic Reps. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota yelled at Trump, despite Democratic leaders having previously warned their members against outbursts.

Trump often turns to immigration in election years. The issue isn’t as strong for him as it once was, and in fact he’s quite a bit underwater on it thanks to what Americans overwhelmingly views as overzealous actions by federal officials in Minneapolis and elsewhere.

But polls also show Americans still tend to favor the Republican Party over the Democratic Party on the issue of immigration.

A couple key points on tariffs

Trump didn’t offer a repeat of Friday’s angry broadside against the US Supreme Court for striking down his global tariffs. He instead focused on claiming he still has great leverage with other tariff authorities (which is highly debatable).

He did, however, make some news on the tariff front.

For one, he volunteered that Congress shouldn’t bother codifying his tariffs into law.

“Congressional action will not be necessary,” Trump said.

It’s clear tariffs make even many Republicans uncomfortable, and it appears unlikely Congress could pass anything anyway. But with his tariff authorities still uncertain, Trump not asking Congress to pass something that has a better chance of passing legal muster was something to see. (The Constitution, after all, gives Congress the power to tariff.)

That suggests Trump has not heeded Justice Neil Gorsuch’s plea for American government to start including more legislating.

The president also made a big prediction.

“I believe the tariffs paid for by foreign countries will, like in the past, substantially replace the modern-day system of income tax, taking a great financial burden off the people that I love,” he said.

Indeed, early in American history, tariffs were the predominant form of taxation. But Trump probably shouldn’t hold his breath on that one.

A characteristic cavalcade of falsehoods

Trump is no stranger to false claims, and his speech Tuesday night was unsurprisingly replete with them.

When he began touting his record, the president quickly cited that he inherited “inflation at record levels.” But while the most recent reading was a rate of 2.4% in January, marking an eight-month low, it was 3.0% in January 2025, which is far off any records. (It fell sharply over Biden’s last 2.5 years in office after it hit a 40-year high of 9.1% in June 2022.)

He also said he inherited a “wide-open border.” But while border crossings have hit 21st Century lows in this term, they had already dropped substantially late in President Joe Biden’s tenure.

Trump claimed gas was below $2.30 per gallon in some states. AAA shows the average price isn’t that low in any state.

He claimed investment “commitments for more than $18 trillion pouring in from all over the globe.” This is wildly exaggerated.

He also said, “More Americans are working today than at any time in the history of our country.” That is strictly true, in terms of raw numbers, but that’s because the population has grown. Indeed, the unemployment rate has risen under Trump and job growth was anemic in 2025, one of the worst years in decades.

Trump claimed we were in a “golden age” and that the “roaring economy is roaring like never before.” But to make that claim, he took plenty of liberties.

The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2026 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

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Garrett Hottle

COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) – Nicotine pouches are gaining popularity.

Now, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is reviewing whether certain ZYN products can legally be marketed as potentially reducing harm compared to cigarettes.

That does not mean they are considered safe.

Swedish Match, the maker of ZYN, has applied for what’s called a Modified Risk Tobacco Product order.

Under federal law, the FDA can only grant that order if the company proves the product significantly reduces harm to individual users and benefits public health overall.

That includes people who don’t currently use tobacco.

For adults who already smoke, health experts say there is a distinction.

“We’re looking at adults who are currently smoking or using other more harmful nicotine substances, cigars, pipes, you know, cigarets, stuff like that, then yeah, it is definitely safer,” said Thomas Brazeal, PharmD, APh, BCACP, Associate Director of Technology & Process, Population Health & Prescription Management.

Cigarettes burn tobacco, creating cancer-causing toxins. Nicotine pouches do not involve combustion.

“The most concerning thing is the cancer, but if we can eliminate the harmful effects it’s having on your lungs, looking at the lesser of two evils, I’d much rather have someone that is using a ZYN versus smoking because there’s also the idea of second hand smoke,” Brazeal said.

However, nicotine remains highly addictive.

Even nicotine pouches that are authorized for sale in the United States are not considered safe and are not FDA approved.

If adults use pouches to move away from smoking and eventually quit, experts say that can reduce harm.

The FDA says it will review scientific evidence and public comments before making a final decision on whether to allow those modified-risk marketing claims.

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City News Service

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – An elderly woman was rescued today after suffering a minor injury in a hard-to-reach area of Palm Desert, authorities said.   

The rescue was reported at 1:20 p.m. Tuesday in the 47900 block of Portola Avenue, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.   

The agency said a helicopter hoisted the patient from an inaccessible area and took her to a ground ambulance, where she was taken to a local hospital for further evaluation.

No further information was immediately available about the woman’s injury.

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Jesus Reyes

BIG BEAR, Calif. (KESQ) – Jackie the bald eagle has laid another egg up at the Big Bear nest on Tuesday.

Jackie laid her fist egg of a second clutch shortly after 2:30 p.m., according to the Friends of Big Bear Valley, a nonprofit that operates the nest camera.

The nonprofit later added that Jackie generally lays two to three eggs per clutch, and they have been laid three days apart. If she is going to lay a second egg, they will start watching for signs on Friday.

The latest update provides new hope that we may see eaglets this year.

Jackie had laid two other eggs earlier this year, but last month, the eggs were abandoned and ultimately eaten by ravens.

“It is with great sadness to report that both of Jackie & Shadow’s eggs were breached by ravens earlier today,” reads a FOBBV post. “Just before noon, Shadow left the nest, Jackie did not come in, and Shadow did not return for a few hours. We will never know why, but we are sure they had their reasons as they have been incubating the eggs faithfully.”

You can watch the livestream of the nest, courtesy of the Friends of Big Bear Valley, below:

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Gavin Nguyen

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. (KESQ) – Concern grows over a water hazard next to Interstate 10.

Water has collected in several retention basins between Date Palm and Bob Hope along the eastbound lanes of the 10. Water has pooled there after multiple recent storms.

Over the weekend, a man was killed in a two-car crash after his car became stuck upside-down in one of the retention basins. The California Highway Patrol told News Channel 3 it believed the man remained trapped inside his car underwater. Four others from his car, as well as the driver of the other vehicle, were able to free themselves.

A spokesperson for CalTrans District 8, which handles maintaining the area, acknowledged the basin is part of state highway property.

He clarified, though, the water should not have been there in the first place.

“The water that is in that basin should not all be flowing into the vicinity and Caltrans infrastructure,” wrote Eric Dionne. “This is a multi owner issue of private land access and the railroad company for us to try and correct the issue fully. We have been working with internal staff and adjacent property owners to remedy the situation.”

Tonight, we’re asking officials who is responsible for maintaining the area next to the highway, and what steps are being taken to keep motorists safe.

Stay with us for the latest.

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Jesus Reyes

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (KESQ – The BNP Paribas Open announced an action-packed calendar of on-site activities set to greet fans at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden for the 2026 event.

From daily live music to a weekend fireworks show, the Indian Wells Tennis Garden will be full of energy from first ball to last with an unparalleled lineup of events for fans to enjoy during their time on-site in Tennis Paradise.

Village Stage and Paradise Pavilion To Serve As Hub For Daily Live Fan Entertainment

The Village Stage will be alive throughout the entire tournament as an electric lineup of live entertainment takes the stage in Tennis Paradise. As Main Draw play gets underway on Wednesday, March 4, American Idol Season 22 winner Abi Carter will kick off the festivities with a 5:00pm performance at the Village Stage. In addition, on Saturday, March 7, fans can enjoy the All Star Jam, a musical showcase featuring Sixwire with award-winning country music artist Sara Evans and Zac Barnett of American Authors.

The full lineup of live Village Stage entertainment includes a variety of acclaimed local Southern California artists performing throughout the two weeks in the desert, as well as a special performance from the fan-favorite Bryan Bros Band as the 16-time Grand Slam doubles champions and Hall of Fame duo bring their musical talents to Tennis Paradise for an electric performance from 4pm-6pm on Tuesday, March 10. Click here to view the full daily lineup of performances.

The BNP Paribas Open will also debut a brand new Paradise Pavilion for 2026 to play host to other fan-favorite live entertainment staples like Tennis Talks, Food & Beverage demos, and more. New in 2026, fans will be able to listen to a daily live radio show from the Tennis Paradise Stage thanks to the BNP Paribas Open Radio presented by Spotlight 29 Radio Program, which provides complimentary daily live earpiece radio commentary and analysis.

Fireworks Show and Candlelight Concert Highlight Weekend Entertainment

Stadium 1 will delight ticketholders with a plethora of must-see special events and in-stadium displays throughout the 2026 BNP Paribas Open. The action begins with a dazzling fireworks show and court projection on Friday, March 6 and Saturday, March 7. The shows will begin after the first match of the evening session. The in-stadium excitement will continue on Sunday, March 8 and Thursday, March 12 with a special courtside DJ show throughout the Stadium 1 evening session.

On Friday, March 13, fans can usher in Championship Weekend with a brand-new Candlelight® by Fever performance, setting Tennis Paradise aglow after the final night match in Stadium Plaza. Candlelight® will feature a string quartet performing music from Coldplay and Imagine Dragons, set against a signature candlelit ambiance as Stadium Plaza shines with thousands of flickering candles.

New lululemon Pop Up Headlines Elevated On-Site Retail Experience

Guests can anticipate unique experiences at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden with three retail stores on-site for fans. New for 2026, lululemon, the Official Outfitter of the BNP Paribas Open, will open its retail and fan experience for guests to enjoy throughout the tournament. The lululemon Pop Up will feature Indian Wells-inspired gear and customizable apparel with tournament-exclusive graphic for fans to shop – the space will also feature La La Land Café where fans can purchase beverages.

The new Official Outfitter will also operate the lululemon Court for fans on Saturday, March 7 and Sunday, March 8 on Practice Court 20, where guests can put their on-court skills to the test.

The Tennis Paradise Shop will serve as the main home for all official tournament merchandise as well as signature apparel and accessories from the world’s most popular brands. The store will open on Sunday, March 1 and fans can shop daily from 10am-9pm until the conclusion of the tournament. Tennis Warehouse returns to complete the retail trio, allowing fans to gear up like their favorite pros with the latest footwear, racquets, and apparel from the hottest brands in the industry.

Family Day To Serve As Kickoff Event With Brand New 5K Fun Run on Saturday, February 28

The annual Family Day will once again serve as an exciting, free kickoff event to commence the BNP Paribas Open on February 28. For the first time in Tennis Paradise, fans can lace up for a 5K Fun Run that will take participants around the Indian Wells Tennis Garden beginning at 10:00am.

Following the 5K, families are invited to experience a festive afternoon of on and off court activities from 12:00-3:00pm local time. Family Day festivities will include tennis clinics, live music, interactive games, arts and crafts, yoga, delicious food, and more taking place across Stadium Plaza and the Indian Wells Tennis Garden Practice Courts. USTA Southern California section will host clinics for children of all skill levels, with special appearances to be made by ATP and WTA professional players.

For more information on Family Day and to sign up for the 5K Run, fans should visit this link.

Expanded Qualifying Access And Eisenhower Cup To Make For Unforgettable Opening First Week

Fans attending BNP Paribas Open Qualifying Days from Sunday, March 1 through Tuesday, March 3 can look forward to a number of pre-tournament festivities taking place around the grounds. New in 2026, fans with a Qualifying Day ticket can watch their favorite stars tune up for the main draw with open practice sessions in Stadium 1 and 2.

In addition, fans can look forward to the BNP Paribas Open Main Draw Reveal presented by Tennis Channel from 3pm-4pm on Monday, March 2 – where the draws for the tournament will be made live on the big screens in Stadium Plaza. The main draw reveal will be broadcast live on Tennis Channel 2 and in the Tennis Channel App and can be experienced live on-site with qualifying day tickets available to purchase for just $10, with proceeds benefiting The Champions Volunteer Foundation.

Tuesday, March 3 will feature the star-studded Eisenhower Cup, where eight top men’s and women’s players will pair up to compete in a thrilling night of mixed doubles under the lights of Stadium 2. The exhibition event will begin at 7:00pm with teams competing in the fast-paced Tie Break Tens format in a single elimination knockout format. Tickets to the event are on-sale starting at $60, with proceeds to benefits The Champions Volunteer Foundation.

Partner Days And Activations Around the Grounds For 2026

The Tennis Paradise family of brand partners will enhance the experience for fans with special activations and giveaways taking place across the two weeks at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. This year’s lineup includes new partners appearing at the event for the first time, including lululemon, FAGE, and Silversea. The following partner days will highlight partner activations in Tennis Paradise with the schedule featuring:

Wednesday, March 4 — Veroni Day

Thursday, March 5 — City of Indian Wells Residents Day 

Friday, March 6 — Spotlight 29 Day 

Saturday, March 7 — Emirates Day 

Sunday, March 8 — lululemon Day 

Monday, March 9 — Motorola Day 

Tuesday, March 10 – FAGE Day

Wednesday, March 11 — BMW Day 

Thursday, March 12 — Steve Furgal’s International Tennis Tours Day 

Friday, March 13 — Rolex Day 

Saturday, March 14 and Sunday, March 15 — BNP Paribas Championship Weekend 

Fans are encouraged to visit the Sponsor Village for a variety of partner displays, activations, player appearances, and autograph sessions to be held throughout the event.

The complete calendar of on-site fan events and activities can be viewed here.

Stay with News Channel 3 for complete coverage of the 2026 BNP Paribas Open.

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City News Service

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – Three people were arrested and 26 others were cited during a DUI checkpoint in Indio, authorities said today.   

The checkpoint was held from 6 p.m. until midnight Monday at the intersection of Indio Boulevard and Oasis Street, according to the Indio Police Department.

One person was arrested on suspicion of DUI, two people were arrested on suspicion of warrants, and 26 people were cited for various traffic violations.   

The checkpoint location was determined based on data from impaired driving-related crashes. Funding for the checkpoint as provided by the California Cannabis Tax Grant.

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City News Service

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – A 22-year-old Rancho Mirage man consumed a fatal dose of fentanyl that his friend helped him procure, a prosecutor said today, while the attorney for the accused countered that his client only aided in facilitating a transaction and “did not murder anybody.”

Riley Jacob Hagar, 28, of Cathedral City, is charged with second-degree murder for the death of Travis O’Brien on New Year’s Day 2022.   

“Travis O’Brien checked into a Motel 6 and never checked out,” Riverside County Deputy District Attorney Steven Sorensen told jurors Tuesday during his opening statement in Hagar’s trial at the Larson Justice Center in Indio. “Where did O’Brien get these pills (that killed him)?”

The prosecutor pointed the finger of blame at Hagar, a longtime acquaintance of the victim.  

Sorensen contended Hagar “is guilty of the charge of murder” stemming from O’Brien’s “acute fentanyl intoxication” death.

Defense attorney Ryan Markson challenged the prosecution’s narrative, rejecting the allegation that his client had a hand in the loss of O’Brien’s life.

“Riley Hagar didn’t murder anybody,” Markson told jurors.   

He noted O’Brien was desperate for money at the end of 2021 and was trying to unload 200 M30 “blues” containing the synthetic opioid fentanyl, but he couldn’t find a buyer.

Hagar was in contact with a known supplier, Nicholas Rodriguez, who goes by the moniker “Niko,” and arranged on New Year’s Eve for the latter to buy some of O’Brien’s pills, according to the defense.   

The attorney said his client had cautioned O’Brien not to take any of the pills, a few of which Niko purchased.   

At some point just before or after the transaction, O’Brien digested the fentanyl that led to his death, according to court papers.   

Hagar, who is being held without bail at the Benoit Detention Center, was arrested in August 2022, following a months-long investigation by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department’s Overdose Death Investigations Unit.   

Sgt. Ryan Marcuse said that on the afternoon of Jan. 1, 2022, deputies were called to the Motel 6 in the 69000 block of Highway 111, where the young man was discovered unconscious and presumed dead. Paramedics arrived a short time later and confirmed he’d died at the scene. The autopsy pointed to fentanyl poisoning.  

Hagar has no documented prior felony convictions in Riverside County.   

Since February 2021, prosecutors have charged more than three dozen people in connection with fentanyl poisonings. Two prosecutions have resulted in murder convictions.  

Preliminary public health statistics indicated there were 229 suspected fentanyl-related fatalities countywide in 2025, compared to 351 confirmed poisonings in 2024, a roughly 40% decline.

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

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

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