Author: KESQ

Haley Meberg

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ)– Riverside County Department of Veterans Services is announcing the relocation of the Indio office as of July 1st. 

The Department says the move is necessary to help offer better services to the community, including benefit assistance, outreach and support programs.

The new local office will be at the Henry Lozano Community Center at 12800 West Arroyo Drive in Desert Hot Springs.

The Department will also have a new Hemet office on July 1st., located at 880 North State Street, Ste. B-1.

Both offices will be open Monday through Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and on Fridays from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

For more information, call 951-955-3060, or visit rivcoveterans.org.

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City News Service

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) – A $16 million storm water diversion tunnel in Palm Springs will spare area residents and businesses from flood risks going forward — as well as potentially save them money on insurance — following confirmation today of new maps depicting the diversion channel.

The Riverside County Flood Control & Water Conservation District presented the revised maps to the Board of Supervisors for approval Tuesday, and the board unanimously accepted. The key feature of the updated plots is Palm Springs Line 41, a subterranean storm drain spanning more than a mile and capable of channeling flood waters below Highway 111, south of Tahquitz Creek.

“This flood risk reduction project is the result of years of engineering, community collaboration and major investment in regional flood protection,” Flood Control & Water Conservation District General Manager Jason Uhley said. “Its value was proven during Hurricane Hilary in August 2023, when the project successfully protected surrounding neighborhoods, including the Safari Mobile Home Park, from severe flooding.”  

When Hilary struck, the channel was about 90% finished. However, in the days prior to the remnants of the system, downgraded to a tropical storm, arriving over the Inland Empire, engineers completed emergency work to make the channel operational.

As a result, overflows that would have otherwise impacted the mobile home park and the Backstreet Art District were averted, officials said.   

“I am glad, through this flood control infrastructure investment, we were able to support Palm Springs with a project that is a major benefit for public safety and the economy as well,” board Chairman Manuel Perez said.   

Officials confirmed that a total of 514 structures, most of them residential, situated on a 102-acre space are no longer under a “high risk of flooding” designation, in accordance with parameters approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. That change could net homeowners and businesses within the newly classified low-risk space savings by permitting them to alter property insurance policies, dropping flood protection altogether if they choose.

Prior to the channel installation, flooding had occurred in the area, most recently in 2017, according to the county.   

The project was initiated in September 2021 and completed in April 2024.   

The removal of the FEMA high flood risk designation takes effect on July 18, 2025.

Property owners were encouraged to engage their insurers and review Palm Springs Line 41 for further details. According to one estimate, the average annual flood insurance premium is $784 around the location.   

Additional information is at https://rcflood.org/.

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Gavin Nguyen

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Before being stripped from the Senate reconciliation bill, millions of acres of public land in California were identified as eligible for sale. This would allow private entities to purchase this land to develop housing and energy projects.

The provision, however, was found to violate the chamber’s rules.

This land is primarily managed by the United States Forest Service (USFS) and Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The Wilderness Society provided a map, seen below, that illustrates what local public lands from the two agencies were eligible based on the bill’s text.

Senator Mike Lee, the Chair of the Senate Energy Commission pushed for the federal land sale. After it was stripped from the bill, he reaffirmed that he would keep trying, and wrote in part on X:

“Housing prices are crushing families and keeping young Americans from living where they grew up. We need to change that. Thanks to YOU—the AMERICAN PEOPLE—here’s what I plan to do:

1. REMOVE ALL Forest Service land. We are NOT selling off our forests.

2. SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE the amount of BLM land in the bill. Only land WITHIN 5 MILES of population centers is eligible.”

— Sen. Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee, X)

The Senator has not yet formally introduced the revision, but it could be proposed at any point. For now, local conservation groups said it’s a “chance to breathe.”

Local reaction to the proposal

“I would say it’ll be a win when those lands are totally safe,” said Colin Barrows, Co-founder of local conservation group CactusToCloud Institute.

Members of Oswit Land Trust, another local nonprofit that purchases land to protect it from “imminent development,” also said the proposal was alarming.

“Ultimately, it’s a big betrayal of the public. These are supposed to be public lands that were protected for the public, protected for wildlife, and they’re sort of changing the rules,” said David Paisley, the Deputy Director of the organization.

Oswit Land Trust has purchased several areas across the Coachella Valley in recent year, including Oswit Canyon, the Prescott Preserve, and a 600-acre area in the Indio Hills.

Staff said losing public lands would restrict access to recreation and hurt conservation efforts.

“They’re out here on these lands and you can’t have wildlife without habitat. You have to have both,” Paisley explained.

For CactusToCloud Institute members, they encouraged the public to make their voices heard: “As far as the public lands themselves, you know, the best way for us to protect them and for us to steward them so that we get to enjoy them is to speak up for them and talk to these people in power and tell them that they’re not to be messed with.”

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City News Service

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) – The Board of Supervisors today approved a roughly $10 billion budget for fiscal year 2025-26, which includes a targeted hiring freeze in Riverside County government to keep a lid on spending in the face of a budget gap.

The new fiscal year starts July 1.  

“This budget was built with a lot of input from the community,” county CEO Jeff Van Wagenen said ahead of the 5-0 board vote Tuesday, referring to community surveys conducted online. “There are hundreds of millions of dollars in transportation projects funded. The budget was built with a realization of our obligations to meet the needs of all of our constituents. The number one priority was public safety.”

Today, the Riverside County Board of Supervisors approved a $10 billion budget for fiscal year 2025-2026, investing in health, public safety, housing and infrastructure to keep the community safe and thriving.

Key allocations include: 💉$2.8 billion for health services 🚓$2.3… pic.twitter.com/Y8bunEC9iK

— County of Riverside (@RivCoNow) June 24, 2025

Van Wagenen told the board during hearings earlier this month that, while excess costs will require tapping $73 million from the county reserve pool, a number of funding necessities will need to be placed on hold for “just- in-time” consideration, as discretionary revenue builds throughout 2025-26.  

“We’re recommending a hiring freeze for all departments that receive discretionary fund revenue,” the CEO said. “The freeze … will require (some departments) to shrink by attrition. Revenue is not decreasing across the system, but we are seeing it flatten and go down in certain areas.”

The last payroll pause to rein in spending occurred in 2016-17, and he said that saved $40 million to $50 million.   

The current deficit stems from “inflationary pressures, growing labor costs, unpredictable state and federal funding and necessary investments in aging infrastructure (that) strain our financial capacity,” according to the 500-plus-page budget book.The aggregate budget for 2025-26 is $9.98 billion, compared to $9.58 billion in 2024-25. The Executive Office is predicting a reserve pool of $655 million. It had been projected at $728 million, but the total will have to be pared down to fix the gap.

Payrolls continue to consume half of outlays under the budget plan. The county employs 25,632 people on a regular or rotating temporary basis   

The following departments will be exempt from the freeze: Animal Services, Assessor-Clerk-Recorder, Auditor, Board staff, Public Social Services, District Attorney’s Office, Registrar of Voters, Riverside University Health System, Sheriff and Treasurer-Tax Collector.

Sheriff Chad Bianco complained during the June 9 hearing the appropriation for sheriff’s operations “falls woefully short” of what would be needed. The sheriff’s department ended the current fiscal year $10 million in the red, and the “flatline” spending plan for 2025-26 would put the agency $76 million in the hole, he said.   

Unlike in previous budget hearings, the sheriff emphasized the need to make the Benoit Detention Center in Indio fully operational. Only one-third of the facility, which was completed in the previous decade, is functional. Undersheriff Don Sharp said about $32 million would be required to complete a two-phase activation of the jail in the coming fiscal year.   

Other costs weighing on the department include ballooning labor and pension expenses stemming from the county’s agreement with the Riverside Sheriffs’ Association, the collective bargaining unit representing deputies, as well as court security, the anticipated agreement with the Law Enforcement Management Unit, and internal service obligations, such as for maintenance of facilities.   

The board obligated no funds in the budget to fully open the Benoit Detention Center.  

District Attorney Mike Hestrin acknowledged during the hearing that his office continues to contend with heavy case loads, but the agency has remained within spending limits, and he expected to end the current fiscal year in the black.

He asked for an additional $1.4 million over what the Executive Office recommended in the office’s 2025-26 spending plan, and the board acceded.   

Fire Department Chief Bill Weiser requested an “augmentation” of $6 million in the agency’s 2025-26 appropriations plan outlined by the Executive Office. The funding would be roughly split between equipment outlays and new staffing expenses. The board agreed to $1.85 million; the remaining needs will be met by just-in-time funding.

More than two-thirds of the county budget is composed of programmed spending, including federal and state earmarks for specific uses, along with grants and related external source revenue. The board has little control over those dollars.

Direct property taxes remains the county’s largest source of discretionary income. It rose to $574 million in 2024-25, compared to $542.6 million in 2023-24, according to figures. The projection is for a $54 million, or 10%, jump in the next fiscal year.

There are more than three dozen county agencies. The Department of Public Social Services consistently requires the highest level of appropriations of any of them. For 2025-26, DPSS, which is an umbrella for a range of programs, including dependent children, foster care, adult protection and welfare benefits, was allocated $1.63 billion.

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Jesus Reyes

LOS ANGELES (KESQ) – The man in federal custody for allegedly aiding in the bombing at a Palm Springs fertility clinic has died.

Daniel Park, 32, of Kent, Washington, was found unresponsive Tuesday morning at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Los Angeles, the Department of Justice confirmed.

Life-saving measures were initiated, and Park was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

There is no word on a possible cause of death.

06-24-2025 – MDC Los Angeles – Press Release – Death – Daniel Park (1)Download

Park was accused of helping supply the explosive materials used in the May 17 attack on American Reproductive Centers, which federal officials have labeled an act of domestic terrorism.

He was arrested as he returned to the United States from Poland, from which he was deported. Authorities said he “left the United States to go to Europe” days after the bombing.  

Park was charged with providing and attempting to provide material support to a terrorist.

The primary suspect in the bombing, 25-year-old Guy Edward Bartkus of Twentynine Palms, was found dead at the scene. Authorities say Park and Bartkus shared anti-natalist extremist views — a belief system opposing human reproduction — and that Park had been posting such content online since at least 2016.

Guy Edward Bartkus

According to U.S. Attorney in Los Angeles Bill Essayli, Park shipped about 180 pounds of ammonium nitrate, which is “commonly used to construct homemade bombs,” from Seattle to Bartkus’ home in Twentynine Palms and also arranged for another shipment of an additional 90 pounds.

Three days before Park arrived at Bartkus’ house, records from an AI chat app show that Bartkus researched how to make powerful explosions using ammonium nitrate and fuel, federal prosecutors said.

FBI Assistant Director in Charge in Los Angeles, Akil Davis, said Park was also in possession of an “explosive recipe” similar to the device used in the deadly 1995 Oklahoma City federal city bombing.

Essayli said Park “shared Bartkus’ extremist beliefs” and he visited Bartkus’s home in Twentynine Palms for about two weeks in late January and early February, “spending time together running experiments in Bartkus’ garage, where the FBI recovered large quantities of chemical precursors and laboratory equipment after the bombing.”

Bartkus’ garage in Twentynine Palms

During the explosion, at least five people were injured, and the blast caused major damage to the clinic as well as 40 other properties, with at least 8 buildings deemed unsafe to occupy. The bombing caused approximately $12 million in damages. 

Thousands of embryos and eggs stored inside the facility were saved due to the quick response of emergency crews.

Officials said local law enforcement had not previously flagged either suspect. Evidence recovered from a phone at the scene showed Bartkus pacing outside the car for over 30 minutes before the explosion and speaking into the phone moments before detonation.

The investigation remains ongoing, and federal officials are asking the public to come forward with any information by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI.

Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing coverage on this developing story both on air and online.

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Jesus Reyes

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – The lineup for the 2025 edition of Splash House has been released.

Weekend 1 takes place on Aug. 8-10.

Weekend One highlights include viral hitmaker ACRAZE, SoCal party-starter Disco Lines, genre-bending British icon TroyBoi, tech house groover Westend, techno provocateur Eli Brown, and rising star San Pacho. The weekend continues with high-tempo heat from Brooklyn-based jigitz, Bristol native NOTION, Grammy-nominated producer Wuki, Irish duo 49th & Main, Italian underground favorite Matisa, bass house boss Nostalgix, powerhouse producer Marten Hørger, UK bass slammer ATRIP, and the euphoric stylings from dance-pop favorite Hayden James. Rounding it out are bubbling rising talent including Loods, HILLS, JADED, Swimming Paul, Daniel Allan, RaeCola, and Devault.

After Hours for Weekend 1 will feature a special Diplo B2B BLOND:ISH set, Wax Motif and Matroda’s collaborative project Waxtroda, and Chicago’s Azzecca

Weekend 2 takes place on Aug. 15-17.

Weekend Two continues with a fierce blend of dance floor legends and next-gen heat. Leading the charge is electrifying duo SOFI TUKKER, the versatile and genre-defying Boys Noize, legendary house icon Claude VonStroke, and tech-house impresario Noizu. The stacked lineup continues with breakout star Max Styler, indie duo Neil Frances, funky house innovator AYYBO, Latin tech maestro Andruss, percussive groove specialist Ranger Trucco, and viral producer nimino. Additional highlights include feel-good house from BUNT., low-end frequencies from Taiki Nulight, and next-gen icons GENESI, Angrybaby, Jackie Hollander, Annicka, and more.

International favorites Disclosure (DJ Set) and the sleek tech-house stylings of Cloonee will cap off the festival at weekend 2’s After Hours.

The popular poolside festival will take place at the Saguaro, Renaissance, and Riviera (formerly Margaritaville) in Palm Springs. After Hours programming takes place at night at the Palm Springs Air Museum.

Remaining passes will go on sale this Thursday. Visit splashhouse.com for more information.

Splash House 2025 Lineup (A-Z)

Weekend One

49th & Main (DJ Set)

ARCAZE

ATRIP

Azzecca*

Close Friends Only

Diplo B2B BLOND:ISH*

Daniel Allan

Devault

Disco Lines

Eli Brown

Hayden James

HILLS

JADED

Jigitz

Kamino

Loods

Marten Hørger

Matisa

Nostalgix

Notion

RaeCola

San Pacho

Swimming Paul

Troyboi

Waxtroda (Wax Motif and Matroda)*

Westend

Wuki

Weekend Two:

Andruss

Angrybaby

Annicka

AYYBO

Badger

Benson

Boys Noize

BUNT.

Claude VonStroke

Cloonee*

Clüb De Combat

Dark Heart

Disclosure (DJ set)*

Emmit Fenn

GENESI

Jackie Hollander

Max Styler

Neil Frances

nimino

Noizu

Rafael

Ranger Trucco

Roddy Lima

Rommii

SOFI TUKKER

Taiki Nulight

Vandelux (DJ Set)

Wheats

*After Hours at Palm Springs Air Museum

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Peter Daut

WASHINGTON, DC (KESQ) – Local Representatives Ken Calvert and Dr. Raul Ruiz are reacting to the airstrikes and escalating situation in Iran.

Republican valley Congressman Calvert says the success of “Operation Midnight Hammer” is a testament to our military’s ability to project power around the world. He says President Trump made the right call.

News Channel 3’s Peter Daut spoke in depth with Congressman Calvert on Monday.

We also reached out to Democrat valley Congressman Dr. Raul Ruiz, who was unavailable to do an interview on Monday. He did issue a statement:

“Donald Trump’s dangerous and unilateral decision to attack Iran without the required consent of Congress has needlessly put American lives at risk.”

“While most Americans believe that a nuclear armed Iran is a threat to world peace, they also agree that American involvement in Middle East conflicts has usually been disastrous.”

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Garrett Hottle

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Even after an announcement from President Trump of new ceasefire deal between Israel and Iran, it appears the legality of war is still on the table in Washington.

This follows President Donald Trump’s sign off on a weekend missile strike against three Iranian nuclear targets without first consulting with Congress.

The strike, part of a covert operation called Operation Midnight Hammer, has reopened a long-running debate: Can a U.S. president unilaterally launch military action? Or must Congress sign off?

His critics insist the answer is obvious.

“This was not constitutional. It was not lawful in the absence of a declaration by Congress,” said Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) in a Sunday interview on CNN.

“Donald Trump’s dangerous and unilateral decision to attack Iran — without the required consent of Congress — has needlessly put American lives at risk,” declared Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-CA) in a statement. “While most Americans believe that a nuclear-armed Iran is a threat to world peace, they also agree that American involvement in Mideast conflicts has usually been disastrous,” the statement goes on to read.

In a separate Sunday interview on CNN, Rep. Darrell Issa (R) took a different tract defending the strikes, and citing the actions of past administrations, more specifically under President Obama, stating he watched the former President “hit, Yemen and Syria. And he didn’t say a word. So let’s get past the politics of it.”

President Trump defended the operation as both lawful and necessary. In a formal letter posted Monday evening on the White House website, the administration said it was acting “consistent with the president’s constitutional authority.”

“I directed this military action consistent with my responsibility to protect United States citizens both at home and abroad as well as in furtherance of United States national security and foreign policy interests,” the formal letter states. ” I acted pursuant to my constitutional authority as Commander in Chief and Chief Executive and pursuant to my constitutional authority to conduct United States foreign relations.”

Under the War Powers Resolution, the administration was required to inform Congress within 48 hours of a strike. Monday night’s official notice, sent to leaders of both chambers of Congress, came prior to the deadline.

Although the letter doesn’t reveal much new information, it verifies that Trump had operated on his prerogative of Commander in Chief and also that he had not consulted with Congress for prior approval.

Both the Senate and the House will now be briefed on Iran in classified sessions on Tuesday.

College of the Desert political scientist Wesley Willison describes the case as a legal battle that’s stretched across decades and administrations.

“There is clear precedent throughout history of this,” Willison told News Channel 3. “Especially in the modern era of limited military strikes that are ordered by the president based on intelligence.”

From Vietnam to Libya, from Kosovo to Syria—modern presidents have often acted first, informed Congress later, and avoided the formal declaration of war.

The last time Congress issued such a declaration was 1941, according to WIllison.

“Congress can declare war,” Willison explained. “They just haven’t done it in more than 80 years.”

Lawmakers from both political parties in Washington had stated their intention to seek fresh War Powers resolution, which seeks to restrict presidential strikes of a unilateral nature, could be addressed with a floor vote late this week.

News Channel 3 will keep on monitoring the situation in Congress and give updates after the closed-door briefings.

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Haley Meberg

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ)– The Palm Springs Department of Parks and Recreation announced a plan for discounts, swim programs and scholarships available to the community. 

The Palm Springs Department of Parks and Recreation shared several updates for summer programs that revolve around water safety and recreational opportunities for residents of all ages in the City of Palm Springs.

The department partnered up with the Palm Springs Surf Club to instate ‘Resident Discount Days’ where residents can enjoy discounted admission on selected dates throughout the summer.

On June 25, July 16 and August 13 from 10:00 a.m.- 6:00 p.m. tickets will be discounted to $10 per child and $20 per adult. Throughout these days residents can take part in pooltime fun with the exception of the club’s surf pool. 

Tickets for this event must be purchased beforehand at  palmspringsca.gov/recreation

The Palm Springs Department of Parks and Recreation also invites residents to join the new evergrowing Palm Springs Swim Club, a U.S. masters swimming program helping more than 30 active adult swimmers. 

Practices are open to the public and take place on:

Monday- Thursday from 5:30 a.m. – 7:00 a.m.

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday from 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday from 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at the Palm Springs Swim Center on Pavilion Way. 

The Swim Center also offers scholarships and reimbursement support to help families receive swim lessons and water safety classes for their children.

The First 5 Riverside County, Children and Families Commission provided a reimbursable grant helping over 40 children enroll in swim lessons along with the All Desert Aquatics donation of $5,000 to help fund swim lesson scholarships for families in need. 

Education of water safety is highly important throughout the summer months where 48% of all drowning cases take place. Programs like these make swim safety accessible to all residents helping spread the knowledge of lifesaving water skills. 

For more information on how to utilize these programs visit www.palmspringsca.gov/recreation

call (760) 323-8272 or email recinfo@palmspringsca.gov

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Cynthia White

THOUSAND PALMS, Calif. (KESQ) – On Friday this week, you’ll have a chance to join News Channel 3 by helping us to donate blood at our station.

The drive to collect live saving blood donations will be from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., in the LifeStream bloodmobile at our building located at 31276 Dunham Way in Thousand Palms.

Your donation can help make a difference for medical patients, accident victims, and even newborn babies.

LifeStream Blood Bank reports that 500 blood donations are needed in our local community every day. To set up an appointment to make a blood donation at News Channel 3 on Friday, June 27, call 800-879-4484 or visit lstream.org/thousandpalms/.

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