Author: KESQ

Garrett Hottle

Sheriff Chad Bianco’s campaign is asking supporters for money ahead of Monday’s California Supreme Court arguments over his seizure of ballots from the November 2025 special election, calling Attorney General Rob Bonta’s legal challenge “pure lawfare.”

The fundraising email, sent by the Bianco for Sheriff campaign and reviewed by News Channel 3, claims an audit found 45,896 more votes counted than ballots received and says Bonta went to court “not to challenge the merits of the investigation, but to shut it down entirely.”

Court records tell a fuller story. The figures cited in the email originated with the Riverside Election Integrity Team, a community group whose review was based on public records requests, according to the attorney general’s writ petition.

The petition notes no election contest was ever filed over the results.

The email says two lower courts “rejected” Bonta.

The Court of Appeal denied his petition solely because he had a remedy in Superior Court, according to a declaration filed by his office. The email does not mention the Supreme Court granted Bonta’s petition for review April 8 and ordered Bianco to pause his investigation.

That order remains in effect.

The email also claims Bonta has spent $250,000 in taxpayer money on the case. News Channel 3 has not been able to independtly verify the figure.

The court hears arguments at 10 a.m. in San Francisco. Bonta will argue both his own case and in support of Riverside County voters suing Bianco, whose cases will be heard back to back.

The ruling will decide the fate of roughly 650,000 seized ballots and the attorney general’s authority over California’s sheriffs.

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Tommy Gallegos

RIVERSIDE, Calif. — (KESQ) — Riverside County residents are being warned about a jury duty scam in which callers falsely claim that people have missed jury service and now have an outstanding warrant.

The Superior Court of California, County of Riverside issued the warning, urging residents to be cautious of calls and text messages that threaten arrest, claim a warrant has been issued, demand immediate action or request personal or financial information.

According to the court, scammers may attempt to create a sense of urgency by telling residents they failed to appear for jury duty and must immediately pay money or take other steps to avoid arrest.

Riverside Superior Court said it will not call or text residents to threaten them with arrest, pressure them to immediately report to a courthouse, request personal or financial information, or demand payment.

Residents who receive a suspicious jury-related call or message are advised to:

Do not provide personal, financial or identifying information.

Do not make a payment or follow payment instructions provided by the caller.

Do not assume a call is legitimate simply because the caller knows personal information about you.

Do not click links included in suspicious text messages or other communications.

Contact the court directly through official court contact information to verify questions about jury service.

Report suspicious or threatening communications to the appropriate law enforcement agency.

The court also noted that jurors will not receive text-message notifications about jury service unless they have opted in to receive them.

Residents who have received an actual jury summons can use Riverside Superior Court’s official Jury Services page to check information about their service. The court’s jury services system allows prospective jurors to check their status, request postponements and access reporting instructions.

The court currently provides several ways to check jury status, including its juror web portal, automated telephone systems and an SMS option for jurors using their badge number. Residents should use contact information obtained directly from the court rather than numbers or links supplied by an unsolicited caller or text message.

The Judicial Council of California also maintains information about jury-related scams and encourages the public to be aware of fraudulent requests for money or personal information.

Riverside Superior Court is encouraging residents to share the warning with family members, friends and others in their communities to help prevent additional victims of jury-duty scams.

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Matthew Pearce

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) — As of May 2025, FIND food bank reported one in six Coachella Valley residents are food insecure.

Proper nutrition and regular breakfast consumption directly influence student classroom performance and health. A study from the Human Appetite Research Unit at the University of Leeds linked regular breakfast consumption to increased academic performance. Research also indicates that eating breakfast affects attention and working memory used in daily classroom learning.

Sarah Boyd, a registered dietitian and nutritionist, observed how adding a balanced breakfast impacts how students learn throughout the school day.

“You might tell yourself ‘I’m fine’, but when I tell the youth to bring in a little breakfasts, they’re like wow I actually can focus better in school and I remember what I learned and it was easier to take my test,” Boyd said.

Beyond immediate school performance, poor dietary habits can have lasting physical impacts on children as they grow.

“A lot of kids don’t they don’t talk about their tummies,” Boyd said. “Unfortunately the body becomes accustomed to those poor habits and and digestion throughout those years. And then going into their adulthood, they can’t ever go to the bathroom or they start having tummy aches or they have a lot of bloating.”

Officials from Palm Springs Unified School District shared that 90% of students are socioeconomically disadvantaged, with family incomes falling below the poverty line.

To combat this, the district provides free meals to all students across district schools regardless of family income status.

“The kids can come to school and eat, don’t have to worry about, you know, getting those meals at home… so that way the families can worry about taking their their funds to be able to pay for their bills,” Nutrition Services Director at PSUSD Sarah Phelps said.

Boyd advised parents to monitor signs of poor nutrition or inadequate sleep, such as low energy at the end of the day or difficulty summarizing classroom events.

Additionally, involving children in grocery shopping and meal preparation by letting them select fruits or vegetables can help lighten the burden on parents while building a healthy relationship with food.

For resources in Riverside County near you, check here.

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Tommy Gallegos

LA QUINTA, Calif. — Aug. 19, 2026 — Old Town Artisan Studios has been recognized as a Certified Autism Center by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES), strengthening its commitment to creating an inclusive and accessible environment for all visitors.

91% percent of Old Town Artisan Studios staff completed specialized autism and sensory training, exceeding IBCCES’ 80% requirement for certification. The process also included an onsite review to develop sensory guides and identify additional opportunities to enhance accessibility.

“Achieving autism certification is a meaningful milestone for Old Town Artisan Studios and a reflection of our deep commitment to inclusivity,” said Executive Director Roccie Hill. “We are taking intentional steps to remove barriers and create an environment where everyone feels seen, respected, and inspired.”

The certification makes Old Town Artisan Studios part of a broader accessibility initiative led by Visit Greater Palm Springs, which helped the region earn its Certified Autism Destination designation. The designation gives visitors access to multiple trained and certified options across entertainment, recreation and lodging.

Old Town Artisan Studios is also featured on the free IBCCES Accessibility App, which provides information on certified destinations, sensory-friendly spaces and accessibility resources. Families can also find certified locations through AutismTravel.com and AccessibilityCertified.com.

With its new certification, Old Town Artisan Studios continues working toward making creativity, community and the arts accessible to everyone.

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KESQ News Team

DESERT HOT SPRINGS, Calif. — Authorities are asking for the public’s help in locating 40-year-old Victor Virgen, who has been missing since May.

According to Cathedral City police, Virgen was last seen leaving his father’s home in Desert Hot Springs in May. He has not been located since.

The Cathedral City Police Department says it received a missing-person report for Virgen on July 16. Detectives have since been working the case and following up on leads, but authorities say they have been unable to locate him.

Police are urging anyone who may have information about Virgen’s whereabouts or who may have seen him since May to contact the Cathedral City Police Department.

The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information on Victor is asked to contact Detective Sergeant Jeff Barnett, jbarnett@cathedralcity.gov or (760)770-0381

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Kiera McKinney

THOUSAND PALMS, CALIF. (KESQ)- Recent research presented at the American Society for Nutrition meeting shows that popular photo-based AI food-tracking apps underestimate meal calories by 250 to 345 calories and miss about 30 grams of fat per meal, which amounts to roughly one-third of a meal’s actual energy content.

Silvia Delgado, a registered dietitian with Kaiser Permanente, explained that caloric discrepancies can influence health outcomes. “The truth is this,” Delgado said. “You know, these apps, they might be off by 200 or 300 calories. It can make a difference.” However, Delgado noted that the margin of error should not deter people from logging their food, as tracking tools help users recognize eating habits and make healthier choices.

Valley resident Kain Ducusin uses the Cal AI application to monitor his daily intake. Ducusin noted that he has learned to double-check the application’s automated entries to ensure accurate records.

“If I put in one egg, sometimes it shows up as two and it gives me double the protein, calories, everything,” Ducusin said. “So you just gotta go and like just fix that stuff.”

Delgado urged users to concentrate on overall nutritional balance. “I want people to really focus on the quality as well …the antioxidants, phytonutrients, the fiber, those things that are really going to help our overall health,” Delgado said.

For individuals managing chronic health conditions, dietary priorities can vary. Delgado noted that for someone with diabetes, tracking carbohydrates and their direct impact on blood sugar levels is often more critical than counting calories alone, adding that consulting a dietitian can help individuals determine which specific nutrients to monitor.

Options

MyFitnessPal: Best overall for a huge global food database, recipe imports, and macro breakdowns.

Cronometer: Best free features and deep tracking for vitamins and minerals alongside calories.

Lose It!: Best for simple goal-setting, a fun interface, and easy weight tracking.

MyNetDiary: Best clean design with an ad-free basic tier and verified food labels.

Noom: Best for behavioral coaching, color-coded food systems, and weight-loss psychology.

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Dakota Makinen

COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) – The new school year is officially underway in the Coachella Valley.

Students in Coachella Valley Unified and Desert Sands Unified headed back to class today, marking the first day of the 2026-27 school year.

Campuses across the valley welcomed students back after summer break, with teachers and staff preparing classrooms and helping families get back into their school-year routines.

For parents, both districts recommend checking with individual schools for information on bell schedules, transportation, meals and any first-day changes.

And with temperatures still soaring, schools are also reminding families to stay hydrated and take precautions in the desert heat.

Stay with News Channel 3 for the latest updates.

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Dakota Makinen

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – As students head back to school across the Coachella Valley, Variety Children’s Charity of the Desert is highlighting the needs some local families face throughout the school year.

The nonprofit supports all students in need, helping provide resources and opportunities that families may otherwise struggle to access.

Nick Rossi with Variety says the need can become especially apparent when students return to school and families begin navigating new expenses and challenges.

The organization works with families throughout the Coachella Valley and relies on community support to continue providing those resources.

August 17 is National Nonprofit Day, highlighting organizations like Variety that work to support local families year-round.

Stay with News Channel 3 for the latest updates.

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City News Service

CHIRIACO SUMMIT(CNS) – A motorist and her dog had to be extricated from a pickup today after the vehicle rolled over on eastbound Interstate 10 in Chiriaco Summit.

The crash was reported at 6:30 a.m. Monday near Cottonwood Springs Road, according to the Riverside County Fire Department

TRAFFIC COLLISION WITH EXTRICATION – rpt @ 6:30AM. Eastbound I-10 / Cottonwood Springs Road near Chiriaco Summit. Firefighters responded to a solo vehicle rollover with one patient and one dog trapped. The patient was quickly extricated and transported to a trauma center with… pic.twitter.com/ZVGJqOVeEh

— CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department (@CALFIRERRU) August 17, 2026

Fire officials said the trapped person was quickly removed from the vehicle and taken to a trauma center with moderate injuries, while the dog did not suffer any injuries.

According to the CHP, the white Ram 1500 pickup was being driven at an unspecified rate of speed in the No. 1 lane when the motorist lost control and overturned into the center median.The driver, identified only as a woman from Arizona, was taken to Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs.

No other vehicles were involved, the CHP said. The cause of the crash was under investigation.

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Athena Jreij

Near Palm Springs, CA (KESQ) A 36-year-old Desert Hot Springs man, identified as Lester Cordero, was killed Sunday morning in a two-vehicle crash in unincorporated Palm Springs, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The crash occurred around 7 a.m. on August 16, 2026, at N. Indian Canyon Drive and Teagarden Drive. CHP investigators said Cordero was riding a black CFHG motorcycle on N. Indian Canyon Drive when a 61-year-old Desert Hot Springs woman driving a silver Kia turned left from westbound Teagarden Drive onto N. Indian Canyon Drive.

The Kia entered the motorcycle’s path, causing Cordero to collide with the left side of the vehicle. He was ejected from the motorcycle and sustained fatal injuries. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Kia driver was transported to Desert Regional Medical Center with complaints of pain. CHP said alcohol and/or drugs are not suspected as factors in the crash.

The collision remains under investigation. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Officer J. Medina with the CHP Indio Area at (760) 772-5300. Media inquiries can be directed to Officer D. Torres at (760) 772-5307.

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