Author: KESQ

Athena Jreij

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – After an Indio family lost everything in a house fire last week, one local business has stepped up to provide donations.

Taqueria Mazatlan, located at 83598 Indio Boulevard, is providing a place for customers to donate in the shop.

For owner Carlos Lopez, the fire hit a sore spot, after his own business burnt down last year.

“Oh I remember when the same thing happened to me and my business. So I was like, ‘Oh I know how it feels.’ So I send a message to them and, invite them to go eat, make them feel a little bit special,” Lopez said.

It’s one of several doors that has opened for the Garcia family after News Channel 3’s story. A family member told News Channel 3 they have now connected with the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission to receive housing for the next month and future rental assistance.

Now, Lopez is calling on other business owners to support their local customers in trying times.

“I was trying to invite, because I know a lot of them, food vendors, restaurant owners, and, I wanted to invite them to help.”

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City News Service

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (KESQ) – A road project designed to reduce windblown sand and improve traffic safety in Rancho Mirage will start Monday, prompting lane closures on some routes.  

The Ramon Road Widening and Sand Fence Installation project will take place along Ramon Road between Los Alamos Road and Bob Hope Drive, with construction anticipated to be completed by early May.   

Lane closures will be in effect for:   

— the westbound outside lane of Ramon Road from Bob Hope Drive to Los Alamos Road; and– the southbound outside lane of Bob Hope Drive from the Interstate 10 off-ramp to Ramon.

“By minimizing dust and easing congestion, the improvements support regional air quality efforts and enhance overall traffic operations,” officials said.

Motorists were encouraged to use alternate routes to avoid the work area.

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City News Service

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) – Credit One Bank has agreed to pay just over $10 million to settle a civil consumer protection lawsuit alleging the company or its vendors made repeated, intrusive and harassing debt collection calls, the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office announced Friday.  

The Nevada-based company — which did not admit wrongdoing — was ordered to pay $9 million in civil penalties and $1.2 million in investigative costs in connection with the judgment entered Thursday in Riverside County Superior Court in a lawsuit filed by the district attorney’s offices of Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego and Santa Clara counties.   

The settlement also requires the company to comply with state and federal law involving consumer debt collection, according to the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office.

The lawsuit alleged that Credit One had a policy that allowed its vendors to make eight calls per day along with an additional two calls per day under certain circumstances on overdue credit card accounts and that the calls could be placed on consecutive days.

“Credit card companies do not have the right to badger consumers and invade their privacy with non-stop phone calls to collect debt,” Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said in a statement announcing the settlement. “We are sending a strong message today that companies will not get away with harassing consumers in our state.”

The District Attorney’s Office said Credit One had previously been found liable by a federal jury in 2019 for violating the Rosenthal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, which allows debt collectors to make calls with frequency that is reasonable under the circumstances.

The case stemmed from an investigation by the California Debt Collection Task Force, a statewide law enforcement team composed of the district attorney’s offices of Los Angeles, San Diego, Riverside and Santa Clara counties

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Jesus Reyes

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (KESQ) – The legendary Venus Williams will return to the Indian Wells Tennis Garden later this month. Williams was awarded the first wild card of the 2026 BNP Paribas Open.

The tennis icon has received both a singles and doubles wild card entry into the event, where she will make her first appearance since 2024, tournament organizers announced on Friday.

“It’s an honor to award the first wild card of this year’s event to Venus Williams,” said Tommy Haas, BNP Paribas Open Tournament Director. “Venus is a legend of the game, and one of the most accomplished players our sport has ever seen. We are thrilled to welcome her back to Tennis Paradise and give the fans the chance to see her compete in both singles and doubles.”

Williams made her WTA Tour debut in 1994, and her 30-year career includes 49 Tour-level singles titles, a World No. 1 ranking in both singles and doubles, and a combined 23 Grand Slams across all competitions, including seven in singles. The Southern California native has also won four Olympic Gold Medals and captured the 2008 WTA Tour Championships.

“I’m so excited to be heading back to Indian Wells and can’t wait to return home to play in California. This tournament is always such a special experience, and there’s nothing like competing in front of these incredible fans. I’ve made so many fun memories here over the years, and I’m grateful to the tournament for having me back and giving me the opportunity to compete in both singles and doubles,” said Venus Williams.

The 2026 BNP Paribas Open will mark Williams’ tenth career appearance at Indian Wells. She has reached the semifinal three times (1998, 2001, 2018) and competed most recently in 2024 as a wild card.

Williams has entered the singles draw at the two most recent Grand Slam events – the 2025 US Open and 2026 Australian Open – and also paired up with Leylah Fernandez in doubles at the US Open where the duo reached the quarterfinals. Williams is scheduled to compete in the ATX Open, a WTA 250 event in Austin, Texas from February 21-March 1.

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

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Garrett Hottle

BLYTHE, Calif. (KESQ) The Palo Verde Healthcare District Board of Directors has approved a 180-day agreement with Riverside County aimed at stabilizing emergency services at Palo Verde Hospital.

The Management Services Agreement, approved during a special meeting Thursday, authorizes leadership from Riverside University Health System Medical Center and Clinics to deploy a county-led strike team to the hospital beginning Monday, Feb. 23.

The agreement establishes a defined six-month stabilization period focused on maintaining uninterrupted operations at the Emergency Department and hospital clinic.

Under the terms of the agreement:

• Palo Verde Healthcare District remains the licensed hospital operator.• Hospital employees will remain employees of the district.• Ownership of the hospital does not change.• Riverside County will have temporary operational authority over the Emergency Department, clinic, and directly supporting departments for the 180-day period.

According to the release, the county’s team will assess current operations with a focus on patient safety, staffing stability, and emergency department processes.

Fourth District Supervisor V. Manuel Perez said the agreement is designed to protect access to care in the region.

“This has always been about the people of Blythe,” Perez said in the release. “Access to care in this region is essential.”

The county says the 180-day period will allow for operational support and evaluation. During that time, recommendations will be compiled for consideration by the healthcare district.

Riverside University Health System CEO Jennifer Cruikshank said the team is prepared to immediately begin supporting hospital staff and ensuring continuity of care.

The Riverside County Board of Supervisors is also expected to review options to fill current vacancies on the Palo Verde Healthcare District Board during its March 3 meeting.

Officials say emergency services and clinic operations will remain open during the stabilization period.

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María García

COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) — Recent legislative proposals have explored utilizing private contractors or “bounty hunters” for immigration enforcement to track down and locate undocumented immigrants.

They use surveillance and location verification in order to increase arrest numbers. The reward is said to start at $1,000.

One nonprofit, “United Youth We Stand” says they’ve received reports of bounty hunters across the valley through social media raising concerns about safety and legality. “What we do is we look at all the photos of cars being used to detain undocumented immigrants in the valley on social media. From there, after verifying, we are able to alert the community and keep each other safe,” said Marilyn Aguilar.

“Ford Explorers, gray and white Ram 1500s. The Ford Explorer is more often black or a dark blue, and I think I’ve also seen them using minivans a few times, ” said Aguilar.

Organizers say their goal isn’t to create fear, but to make sure families know their rights as immigration enforcement continues in the valley and nationwide.

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Garrett Hottle

SALTON CITY, Calif. (KESQ)- As the murder case against 51-year-old Abraham Feinbloom moves forward, newly disclosed details are shedding light on how he became connected to 17-year-old T’Neya “TT” Tovar, how her remains were identified leading to Feinbloom’s arrest, and what prosecutors revealed at his arraignment about how T’Neya was killed.

Feinbloom has been formally charged with murder and resisting a peace officer. He entered a not guilty plea at his arraignment and is being held without bail. He is scheduled to return to court February 23 for a preliminary hearing.

During the arraignment, a judge stated investigators believe T’Neya died from a gunshot wound. Bullet fragments were found in the leg recovered December 21 in Vista Del Mar near Portsmouth Avenue and Newhaven Court, less than a mile from the Harlequin Court home where Feinbloom was later arrested.

The court further indicated Feinbloom and T’Neya had been in contact since October 2025. When he was arrested, authorities said he attempted to run from deputies and had a passport and Thai currency in his possession. It was also stated in court that someone brought T’Neya to the Harlequin Court home.

Earlier this month, News Channel 3 was the first to report that the partial human remains recovered Dec. 21, 2025 had been identified as T’Neya’s through DNA testing. Her mother, Charro Tovar, confirmed to News Channel 3 one day before law enforcement publicly announced the identification that investigators told her the DNA matched her daughter.

Charro said she was initially told the leg recovered in December was believed to be male and not thought to belong to T’Neya. Weeks later, investigators requested a DNA sample from her. The results confirmed the remains were her daughter’s.

She also told News Channel 3 she learned Feinbloom had been arrested in connection with her daughter’s death through News Channel 3 reporting. According to Charro, neither the FBI nor the Imperial County District Attorney’s Office personally informed her before it was publicly reported.

According to her mother, T’Neya had been in foster care. Charro said she lost custody when T’Neya was six and later served three years in prison. T’Neya was reported missing from her group home in Hemet in June, according to her mother.

Friends described T’Neya as someone who frequently ran away, sometimes calling those periods “adventures.” Charro acknowledged her daughter had active warrants and was on probation but said she regularly checked in with family and her probation officer and shared her location on social media.

Charro believes her own past and her daughter’s history in foster care and the juvenile system contributed to authorities not initially treating her concerns with urgency when T’Neya stopped responding in December.

Multiple friends told News Channel 3 they witnessed an encounter in October 2025 at the 7th Street/Metro Center station in Los Angeles in which Feinbloom appeared to be staring at T’Neya. Friends said they questioned her about it and she responded that she knew him. Law enforcement has not publicly detailed how the two first met.

News Channel 3 has also reviewed video showing law enforcement vehicles outside the Harlequin Court home on multiple nights in December, including the night the leg was discovered. Authorities have not publicly detailed what investigative steps were taken during those visits.

Court records show Feinbloom previously faced felony kidnapping and false imprisonment charges in Imperial County in 2018. That case was dismissed in January 2019. His former defense attorney confirmed to News Channel 3 that prosecutors dismissed those charges because they were unable to proceed. In statement received by News Channel 3 on Feb. 17, Feinbloom’s former defense attorney stated:

“As to the matter I previously handled, I can only say that the District Attorney dismissed all charges against my client under the advisement that they were unable to proceed.

As to the current matter: Mr. Feinbloom, like all persons accused of a crime in this country, is shrouded by the presumption of innocence.  That means he is innocent of all charges unless, and until, the prosecution can prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. 

This matter is best handled in the courts and should not be tried in the media.  Indeed, despite the recent reporting as of this time, I have not yet heard it published that a death certificate has been authored by a medical examiner in this matter.  And that is, I presume, because the proper authorities know that limb loss, without more, is not equivalent to death.  If it were, the 2.3 million amputees in this country would be surprised to know they are not counted among the living.

Reporting that the manner of death in this case is a murder without a death certificate stating the cause of death and that there is even a death, is tantamount to putting the cart before a horse.  It should not be reported as such, until the proper authorities have completed their investigation and determined such.”

A memorial for T’Neya is scheduled for Sunday. Charro said she plans to attend both the memorial and the upcoming court hearing.

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Jesus Reyes

MECCA, Calif. (KESQ) – A suspect was arrested in connection with a stabbing that left a person in critical condition after being stabbed Thursday night in Mecca.

The stabbing was reported just before 7:00 p.m. on the 91000 block of 2nd Street, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office confirmed.

“… deputies located a subject with injuries consistent with a stab wound. The subject was transported to a local hospital in critical condition,” Lieutenant Deirdre Vickers, RSO spokesperson, told News Channel 3.

Additional details on the stabbing were not available.

RSO confirmed a suspect was taken into custody on Friday, just before 10:30 a.m. in the 91000 block of 3rd Street.

As of Friday, authorities said the victim was in stable condition.

The investigation remains ongoing. Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing updates.

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City News Service

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) – A former solar power developer sued by Riverside County and other jurisdictions over deficient business practices settled the legal action in a pretrial agreement requiring the remnants of the enterprise to pay $4.3 million in restitution and penalties, it was announced today.

Vivint Solar Inc., previously headquartered in Lehi, Utah, reached the settlement with the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office as part of a stipulated judgment formally entered at the Riverside Historic Courthouse Wednesday.

Along with Riverside County, prosecuting agencies in Alameda, Fresno, San Diego and San Francisco were also plaintiffs in the civil action and will receive portions of the payout. The case originated in Riverside County, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

Vivint Solar was absorbed by Sunrun Solar, which existed prior to the lawsuit and was not in any way involved in Vivint Solar’s disputes, according to prosecutors. A Utah company now bearing the Vivint brand specializes in home security. Its representatives emphasized in an email to City News Service that it is a “different company” and requested that there not be “and misidentification” so as to implicate it in the civil suit.   

Attorneys for the defunct Vivint Solar Inc. were not listed in the Riverside County Superior Court register.

According to the District Attorney’s Office, Vivint Solar repeatedly misrepresented its terms of sale of residential photovoltaic systems to customers between August 2016 and October 2020.

Prosecutors further alleged that disclosures which should have been made to buyers were not, including projected savings from “Solar Power Purchase Agreements.” The civil complaint also alleged that consumers’ ability to cancel solar PPAs were not adequately addressed prior to sales.

The settlement calls for $1.3 million in civil penalties, and that $3 million be set aside in a “restitution fund” that consumers who were allegedly harmed by agreements covering the period in question may qualify to access.

Riverside County will receive $510,000 from the penalty distribution, according to the DA’s office.

The agency said directions on how parties may apply for disbursals from the restitution fund will eventually be posted on the Sunrun web portal, www.sunrun.com.

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City News Service

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – A jury was seated today for the trial of a man accused of providing a deadly dose of fentanyl to a 22-year-old Rancho Mirage resident on New Year’s Day 2022.

Riley Jacob Hagar, 28, of Cathedral City is charged with second-degree murder for the death of Travis O’Brien.   

After more than a week of jury selection, a panel was seated on Thursday at the Larson Justice Center in Indio. Riverside County Superior Court Judge Kristi Hester scheduled opening statements for Monday morning.   

Hagar is being held without bail at the Benoit Detention Center.  

The defendant 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 a property 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.

Based on undisclosed evidence amassed over the ensuing months, Hagar was identified as the supplier who allegedly sold the fentanyl that precipitated O’Brien’s death, according to Marcuse.  

No other details were disclosed.   

The defendant has no documented prior felony convictions in Riverside County.

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

Public health statistics indicated there were 328 known fentanyl-related fatalities countywide in 2024, compared to 571 in 2023, a 42% decline. Numbers for 2025 haven’t been finalized.

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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