Author: KESQ

City News Service

THERMAL, Calif. (KESQ) – A mulch fire that erupted today in Thermal was contained.

The non-injury blaze was reported shortly after 5:30 a.m. Friday in the 82200 block of Airport Boulevard, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.  

The agency stated that crews contained the 100-by-100-foot fire shortly before 9:50 a.m.  

Mop-up was expected to last for a few days.  

There was no immediate word on what might have triggered the fire.

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Garrett Hottle

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) A Riverside County veteran, Charles Hunter, remains hospitalized in the Philippines, where his family says a dispute over medical bills is preventing him from returning home for continued care.

The veteran became critically ill while visiting the Philippines, suffering what relatives describe as a severe foodborne infection. He is currently in an intensive care unit, on a ventilator, according to the family.

Relatives say the hospital has declined to release him because his California-based insurance is not accepted overseas and outstanding medical costs continue to grow. The family says his visa has also expired, complicating efforts to bring him back to the United States.

Family members are working to raise money to cover medical expenses and transportation costs. If you want to help you can visit this link.

News Channel 3 will be speaking with the veteran’s family later today to learn more about his condition, the financial hurdles they are facing, and what help they are seeking to bring him home.

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City News Service

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) – Growth in payrolls across most sectors of the regional economy pushed Riverside County’s unemployment rate down below 6% in November, according figures released today by the California Employment Development Department.

Statewide labor market figures for that month were released Friday, following delays stemming from the federal government shutdown in the fall, which impacted all data collection and publication by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in turn affecting EDD’s publication schedule.

The October data remains undetermined, leading the agency to skip over that month for now.  

The belatedly released figures for November indicated that the countywide jobless rate, based on preliminary EDD estimates, was 5.5%, compared to 6.1% in September.

According to data, the November 2025 rate nearly equaled the rate of November 2024, when countywide unemployment stood at 5.4%.   

The combined unemployment rate for Riverside and San Bernardino counties — the Inland Empire — was 5.4%, down from 5.9% in September, the EDD said.

Bi-county data indicated that, during November, payrolls expanded by the widest margin in the broad sector designated “trade, transportation and utilities,” where an estimated 16,100 positions were added, largely in warehousing and logistics.

Additional gains were recorded in the agricultural, financial, health services, leisure, professional business services and public sectors, which grew by an aggregate 6,400 positions, according to figures.

Payrolls contracted by the largest amount in the construction sector, where cuts numbered about 2,700 in November. The manufacturing and mining sectors, along with miscellaneous unclassified industries, altogether shed 1,200 positions, EDD said.

The information technology sector was unchanged.   

The statewide non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in November was 5.4%, according to state officials.

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Kendall Flynn

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – The Coachella Valley Rescue Mission’s Outreach Team is working to help individuals with resources, but they say the weather has made it more difficult. Staff say cooler temperatures reduce individuals willingness to go out and seek aid.

CVRM sets up a portable shower trailer and table with supplies on Fridays at churches in Indio. On Friday, the team was set up at Trinity Baptist Church.

Staff say they tend to see up to 20 people in the four hours they’re at the church, but during cooler days like Friday they only see between one to five. Many of the people they help are individuals they’ve reached out to by driving around the city.

Stay with News Channel 3 at 5 p.m. to hear from staff about what they’re doing to help homeless individuals during cooler weather.

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María García

COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) – There will be a local protest Saturday morning after two shootings this week involving federal agents. The rally kicks off from 9 A.M. to 10:30 A.M. on the corner of Sixth Street and Cesar Chavez.

The rally is being organized by Comité Latino, which is also raising concerns about immigration enforcement in the valley. Comité Latino focuses on immigration rights and advocacy, and this will be their first protest of the year.

On Sunday, activist groups ‘Courageous Resistance’ and the local arm of a national anti-Trump protest organization, ‘Indivisible of the Desert,’ are organizing a protest in Palm Springs.

The protest, dubbed ‘ICE Out for Good,’ is planned for 10 a.m. in front of the Palm Springs courthouse at 3255 E. Tahquitz Way. Organizers say the demonstration will honor the lives lost at the hands of ICE, including the U.S. citizen, Renee Nicole Good, who was killed in Minneapolis this week by an agent.

Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing coverage through the weekend.

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Timothy Foster

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Join the Palm Springs Sustainability Department for their annual Community Clean-up!

Grab your gloves, bring your neighbors, and help us make Palm Springs shine! All community members are invited to participate. 

Mayor Naomi Soto to give welcoming remarks and new this year, Ben & Jerry’s is partnering with the Sustainability Department to make an extra big impact, their team of over 200 volunteers will be participating as part of their Franchisee Annual Meeting, and will be treating volunteers to free ice cream, courtesy of Ben & Jerry’s Palm Springs! 

WHERE: James O. Jessie Desert Highland Unity Center, 480 W. Tramview RoadWHEN: January 9, 2026, from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Sponsors and community partners for making this event possible:Ben & Jerry’sBen & Jerry’s Palm SpringsPalm Springs Disposal Services (PSDS)City of Palm Springs Parks and Recreation DepartmentJoin your community and make a big impact, every helping hand counts!

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Athena Jreij

Update 6:00 p.m.

The Palo Verde Healthcare District bought itself another week before possibly closing its doors.

The district accepted a loan from the city of Blythe following a heated meeting Friday afternoon.

“The city agreed to provide a bridge gap loan for them with enough revenue for another week of payrolls. That can be $330,000 with the contingency that the the administration resigns, in that interim until next week, and they accept Riverside County as the operator of the hospital there,” said Blythe Vice Mayor Johnny Rodriguez.

The district will meet again on Wednesday.

Original Report:

BLYTHE, Calif. (KESQ) – The only hospital in Blythe, run by Palo Verde Healthcare District (PVHD), could close it’s doors by midnight Friday, following a vote by the board.

Following months of financial mismanagement, officials say the hospital has been running on fumes with just an emergency room and radiology department open. Officials claim it’s led to thousands of Blythe’s residents seeking care at Coachella Valley’s hospitals.

Late last year, PVHD had expected a $9.9 million loan from the state, but it fell through, with the state alleging they didn’t qualify for it.

Now, the board says there’s no cash flow left, and are requesting $2 million from the county to stay afloat.

News Channel 3 last spoke with Blythe’s Vice Mayor Johnny Rodriguez and La Quinta Councilman Steve Sanchez in September, as PVHD prepared to file bankruptcy and turned to the county for help.

Shortly after, Riverside County’s LAFCO Commission decided to dissolve PVHD leadership and is now exploring what taking over the district could look like.

A loan from the city of Blythe hopes to keep the hospital’s doors open long enough to find a solution.

Vice Mayor Rodriguez says the city has proposed a $330,000 loan to cover the hospital’s payroll expenses for a week. If accepted, the board will resign and give control over to Riverside County.

Rodriguez says the only path forward is under new leadership, and if the hospital does close, it could wreck the entire city’s infrastructure.

“Our little leagues will no longer be able to operate because there’s not a medical facility to treat any possible injuries. If the ambulance services are taking more people out because we have no hospital here, then it’s going to be a longer wait time in the ERs.”

This is a developing story, stick with News Channel 3 for the latest coverage.

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Jesus Reyes

DESERT EDGE, Calif. (KESQ) – Two people were injured after a structure fire at a mobile home park in the unincorporated community of Desert Edge Thursday night.

The fire was reported just before 7 p.m. at the Joshua Springs Mobile Home Park on the 18000 block of Langlois Road.

The fire was contained by 8 p.m. So Cal Edison and So Cal Gas were requested, according to CAL FIRE.

Battalion Chief Ricky Harvey confirmed there were two patients. One was transported to the hospital for smoke-related injuries. The other was evaluated and released at the scene.

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City News Service

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) – Settlement of a civil suit against Verizon Wireless stemming from alleged environmental violations will net Riverside County more than $1 million in penalties and fees, it was announced today.   

According to the District Attorney’s Office, a lawsuit filed following a years-long investigation that began in 2019 was resolved pretrial, culminating in Verizon Wireless, which is under the proprietorship of Bedminster, New Jersey-based Cellco Partnership, agreeing to a $7.7 million payout to the plaintiffs. Along with the Riverside County D.A.’s office, those in Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, San Diego and Ventura counties joined in the action, as well as the Office of the City Attorney for Los Angeles.

The case was heard in Orange County Superior Court, where the settlement was formally signed by a judge on Jan. 2.   

The civil complaint alleged that Verizon Wireless was negligent and deficient in its management of lead acid batteries and petroleum products required for operation of emergency generators and related systems to power equipment at sites throughout the region.

The company did not respond to calls for comment Thursday afternoon.   

“The complaint alleges that Verizon repeatedly failed to submit complete and accurate `Hazardous Materials Business Plans’ to the California Environmental Reporting System,” according to the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office. “Verizon also failed to maintain copies of these plans onsite as required, and failed to provide adequate employee training for responding to hazardous material releases.”

Prosecutors further alleged that public inspections of facilities were stymied, and that the defendant “failed to pay required permit fees that support local oversight of hazardous materials.”

“These requirements exist to ensure that first responders, environmental regulators and public safety officials have accurate information about hazardous materials stored at commercial sites in the event of an emergency,” according to the plaintiffs.

Verizon Wireless has since rectified its policies and practices, prosecutors said.

The settlement will result in $827,191 being paid to the D.A.’s office to cover costs and penalties, while $318,375 will be going to the county Department of Environmental Health for similar reasons, according to prosecutors.

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Shay Lawson

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ)  – Barrie Shulman, a longtime waitress at Johannes Palm Springs, is leaning on her community after a sudden Leukemia diagnosis forced her to stop working and face mounting financial strain.

Shulman said she was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia on December 16, a life-changing moment that will keep her out of work for at least 6 months while she undergoes treatment.

She previously battled breast cancer, but said this diagnosis is far more uncertain and complex.

A career waitress, she said she has always supported herself and her mother, but without the ability to work, her monthly Social Security income falls short of covering basic expenses.

Johannes Bacher, Executive Chef/Owner of Johannes Restaurant, said she has been part of the restaurant’s family for nearly 2 decades.

“She’s a great employee,” Bacher said. “A lot of customers, they love her and they come for that reason. They come to see Barrie.”

Shulman said regular customers who have turned into friends, have rallied around her in a big way.

In just 3 days, Shulman’s GoFundMe has raised more than $15,400 to help cover living expenses during treatment.

You can visit the fundraiser by clicking here.

She said she’s been blown away by the community’s generosity.

Shulman is scheduled to undergo a bone marrow biopsy on Friday, a key step in determining the next phase of her treatment.

Stay with News Channel 3 to hear directly from Shulman at 10 p.m. and 11 p.m.

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