Category: kesq-local-news

Gavin Nguyen

THOUSAND PALMS, Calif. (KESQ) – We all dread it: energy bills skyrocketing during the hot summer months as we rely on our air conditioners to cool off.

One program throughout Southern California is offering a way for homeowners to ensure their air conditioning & climate control is working as efficiently as possible.

Synergy Companies partners with local utilities, like Southern California Edison, to provide the no-cost upkeep and energy efficiency services. They check ducting for leaks, maintain air conditioning units, and install smart thermostats – all ways to help you save on energy.

Edison customers already pay a certain amount on their bill for a “Public Purpose Program Charge.” This money is used to fund services like the one Synergy provides.

Stay with News Channel 3 to see a full breakdown of the program tonight.

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Luis Avila

THOUSAND PALMS, Calif. (KESQ) – Evacuations order remain for areas around the Rosa Fire, displacing people and animals. The Riverside County Department of Animal Services is assisting and taking in impacted animals at its Coachella Valley and San Jacinto shelters.

As of Tuesday, officials say eight dogs are being housed at the Coachella Valley Animal Campus while twelve horse, twelve dogs, seven goats, and five turkeys are being cared for at the San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus.

Officials are seeking the public’s help to foster un-owned shelter dogs at both shelters.

Stay with News Channel 3 for more.

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Cynthia White

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – Three people were injured in a crash on Interstate 10 between a car and a CAL FIRE ambulance Monday night, causing traffic and prompting a SIG Alert from California Highway Patrol.

The crash was reported just before 9:15 p.m. on eastbound Interstate 10 west of Jackson Street in Indio, and CHP issued a SIG Alert in the area shortly thereafter. Traffic was moving again and the SIG Alert was lifted by 10:45 p.m.

CHP reports that the crash happened as a CAL FIRE ambulance was leaving the site of an earlier traffic accident with one patient on board. The ambulance was hit by a car while it was merging from the center median into the lanes of traffic.

The driver of the car sustained major injuries. Two CAL FIRE employees riding in the ambulance sustained minor injuries, and the patient inside the ambulance had minor injuries that were from the earlier, original crash. 

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Cynthia White

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) – United Parcel Services, Inc., UPS Supply Chain Solutions, General Services, Inc., and UPS Supply Chain Solutions, Inc. (collectively “UPS”) has been ordered to pay $1.745 million as settlement in a civil lawsuit alleging unlawful disposal of hazardous waste and medical waste.

Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin along with 44 District Attorneys around the state announced the settlement Monday, saying that the amount covers $1.4 million in civil penalties, $140,000 in costs, and $205,000 in Supplemental Environmental Projects.

Hestrin says Riverside County will receive $230,000 in civil penalties and $25,000 in cost recovery as part of the settlement.

The judgment in the lawsuit is a result of an investigation into the waste disposal by UPS over the last several years at its 140 facilities, including ten facilities in Riverside County.

The lawsuit alleges that UPS unlawfully disposed of hazardous and medical waste in regular trash bins and took it to local landfills that were not permitted to receive such waste. The waste included, but was not limited to, ignitable, reactive, toxic and corrosive materials, and items containing Drug Facts.

In his announcement, Hestrin says that UPS cooperated with prosecutors during the investigation and the company has since implemented improved waste management practices and employee training to improve their handling of California regulated hazardous waste and medical waste.

Hestrin adds that all California businesses are required to properly dispose of hazardous waste and medical waste that is generated in the normal course of business and to manage such waste in separate labeled containers to ensure that incompatible waste does not mix and cause dangerous chemical reactions or harm to the environment.

The DA’s Offices involved in the investigation include Riverside, San Bernardino, San Joaquin, and Yolo. The judgment was entered in San Joaquin County Superior Court on July 25, 2025. Deputy District Attorney Lauren R. Martineau of the Environmental Protection Team handled the case for Riverside County.

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City News Service

BANNING, Calif. (KESQ) – A parolee accused of fatally beating a 92-year-old man with whom he was rooming at an assisted living facility in Banning must undergo psychiatric examinations to determine his mental competency, a judge ruled today.

Sam Ato Timaloa, 77, allegedly inflicted grave injuries on Attilio Cecchetto of Banning in May.

Timaloa is charged with assault resulting in great bodily injury, elder abuse resulting in great bodily injury and battery resulting in injuries.   

During a status hearing at the Banning Justice Center Monday, Riverside County Superior Court Judge Jay Kiel received motions from Timaloa’s public defender requesting comprehensive psychological tests to gauge the defendant’s mental health and whether he may be eligible for treatment at a state hospital, which would mean a possible indefinite suspension of criminal proceedings.  

Kiel ordered the case transferred to the Riverside Hall of Justice, where another judge will handle the appointment of doctors and reports on their evaluations.

Timaloa is being held in lieu of $1 million bail at the Smith Correctional Facility.

Banning Police Department Capt. Brandon Smith said that in the predawn hours of May 8, patrol officers were called to Banning Healthcare at 3476 W. Wilson St. to investigate reports of an assault on one of the nursing home’s residents.

“Officers discovered that the 92-year-old male victim had sustained severe injuries from an assault,” the captain said. “He was treated by Cal Fire paramedics and then transported to a trauma hospital for further treatment.”  

Smith said the ensuing investigation determined Timaloa was assigned to the same room as the victim and had allegedly attacked him, but there was no word regarding why.  

The defendant was taken into custody without incident.   

Cecchetto died three days later.   

The captain said a background check confirmed Timaloa was a registered sex offender.  

Court records show he has prior convictions for forcible rape, attempted murder with a sentence-enhancing knife allegation and domestic violence. He was sentenced to 23 years in state prison in 2008 but qualified for early parole last year.

Documents indicated that he violated his parole in the summer of 2024, at which point the court ordered placed him in the skilled nursing facility, possibly due to health complications.

A county Adult Protective Services case worker had been assigned to handle his affairs, documents stated.

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Haley Meberg

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ)– A woman was taken into custody following a hit and run involving a fire hydrant early Monday afternoon in Indio. 

Indio Police Department reports that they responded to a call on Monroe and Bella Gate for a hit and run collision that ended with a broken fire hydrant.

The crash caused water to shoot up out of the structure flooding the street during this week’s heatwave. 

The 21-year-old woman attempted to flee on foot following the incident but was taken into custody nearby soon after the crash. 

No further information has been released at this time. 

Stay with News Channel 3 for more updates.

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Jesus Reyes

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – The California Highway Patrol issued a SIG Alert along Interstate 10 in Indio due to a vehicle fire that has caused a heavy traffic backup.

The incident was reported at around 1:45 p.m. on the I-10 east of the Monroe exit.

As of 2 p.m., traffic is backed up from Monroe to Jefferson heading eastbound.

Stay with News Channel 3 for any updates.

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Jesus Reyes

UPDATE 8/5/25 11:35 AM – The fire has been mapped at 1,535.7 acres by Intel Aircraft

UPDATE 8/5/25 10:45 AM – Highway 74 will remain closed until at least Wednesday, according to CHP. People are not being let up on Tuesday due to high wind warnings.

UPDATE 8/5/25 6:00 AM – Containment now at 5%. The remains are at 1,200 acres.

ANZA, Calif. (KESQ) – Highway 74 remains shut down as a vegetation fire has burned around 1,200 acres between Anza and Pinyon Pines, with zero percent containment.

Evacuation orders include these areas: RVC-1983-A, RVC-1984, RVC-2051, RVC-2052, RVC-2121, RVC-2122-A, RVC-2122-B. These zones are in the area of Alpine Village and Pinyon Pines. See Genasys Protect for exact parameters.

Evacuation warnings have been issued for these areas: RVC-1915, RVC-1916, RVC-2123.

CAL FIRE reports on social media that Care and Reception and Animal Evacuation sites are located at:

Desert Community Center, 43900 San Pablo Ave., Palm Desert

Anza Community Center, 56630 Highway 371, Anza

Animal evacuations at San Jacinto Animal Shelter, 581 S. Grand Ave., San Jacinto

Animal evacuations at Coachella Valley Animal Campus, 72050 Pet Land Place, Thousand Palms

The fire was first reported just before 12:30 p.m., on Highway 74 east of Santa Rosa Truck Trail.

“Firefighters are on scene of 10 acres of vegetation burning at a rapid rate of spread. Additional air and ground resources have been requested,” CAL FIRE wrote on social media.

By 4:30 p.m., the fire has burned approximately 1,200 acres, according to incident command.

Evacuation orders were issued for scattered properties on the west side of Pinyon Pines.

Click here to search evacuation areas

Care and reception centers opened at the Anza Community Hall and Palm Desert Community Center, Supervisor Manuel Perez announced on social media.

The following animal evacuation shelters are open:

San Jacinto Animal Shelter – 581 S. Grand Avenue, San Jacinto

Coachella Valley Animal Campus – 72050 Pet Land Place, Thousand Palms

The California Highway Patrol shut down both sides of the two-lane highway between the junction at Highway 371 and Big Horn in Palm Desert.

#AIRQUALITY ADVISORY: WILDFIRE SMOKE (Monday, August 4th – Tuesday, August 5th):Smoke from the #GiffordFire, #RosaFire and #GoldFire is expected to impact parts of the South Coast Air Basin and Coachella Valley: https://t.co/Y158OoPtBX pic.twitter.com/wffdYY2EE0

— South Coast AQMD (@SouthCoastAQMD) August 5, 2025

We have a crew at the scene gathering the latest information. Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing updates.

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Jesus Reyes

BANNING, Calif. (KESQ) – 19 people are displaced after a fire damaged seven structures Sunday in Banning.

The fire was first reported at around 12:55 p.m. on the 1100 block of W. Hays Street.

A fourth alarm was requested to support ongoing fire ground operations, CAL FIRE said. The fire was contained by 4 p.m.

A firefighter sustained a minor injury and a civilian sustained major injuries; both were treated and transported by ground ambulance.

CAL FIRE noted that 13 adults and six children are displaced.

There is no word on the cause of the fire.

Stay with News Channel 3 for any updates.

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Gavin Nguyen

THOUSAND PALMS, Calif. (KESQ) – It’s been hot and hazy across the Coachella Valley, leading to poor air quality in recent days.

Rick Miller, who often takes his dog to the David H. Ready Dog Park in Palm Springs, noticed the usual group of dog owners was thinner on Monday.

Miller and his dog, Luca, at a Palm Springs dog park

“Some friends of mine have asthma and so they don’t come on days when the air quality is bad,” Miller explained. “One of my friends is on an oxygen tank and he comes here and when the air quality is bad, he notices that it malfunctions and it overheats much quicker. He can’t stay very long.”

At times, air quality dipped into the “Unhealthy” range over the weekend. As of Monday, most of the valley is seeing “Moderate” air quality.

Haze looking southwest, towards the Banning Pass, from Edom Hill

You can check your air quality using South Coast Air Quality Management District’s air quality map.

The Gifford Fire, which is burning over 200 miles to our northwest, has torched upwards of 65,000 acres as of Monday morning. According to the National Weather Service, our weather pattern is helping fuel westerly winds, which are funneling the smoke from that wildfire across Southern California and beyond. That haze is being pushed as far as Las Vegas!

Adam Roser, a Lead Meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s San Diego forecast office, said, “We have a trough of low pressure up to the north and then an area of high pressure over the southwest desert region. So those two pressure systems are kind of in between those, so that wind pattern is just kind of funneling some westerly winds across the area.”

A new wildfire, the Gold Fire, burning near Big Bear, is also expected to contribute to smoky conditions in the low and high deserts.

Over the weekend, the Coachella Valley also saw elevated levels of ground-level ozone, a primary pollutant in smog. This type of ozone (which is different from stratospheric ozone) is created through a chemical reaction: emissions from cars are heated on hot, sunny days, resulting in this pollutant.

Ozone in the upper atmosphere is great for us. It helps protect us from the sun’s harmful UV rays. Ground-level ozone, however, can cause breathing problems and is one of the main ingredients of the smog we’re seeing across the valley.

Mix the ozone with the wildfire smoke being funneled into the valley, and the result becomes poor air quality and hazy skies.

“We haven’t really seen a lot of, you know, windy conditions. It’s been kind of lighter winds in the atmosphere as well, so not as much movement of air. A couple of those factors in the weather can really contribute to that as well,” said Roser.

“Those hot temperatures combined with, you know, some of the smoky skies will make for poor air quality for those sensitive groups.”

Rick Miller and the dogs he’s looking after hoped the hazy skies give way to better air quality sooner rather than later.

“[These conditions are] not good because we need to get out and enjoy this, especially what’s going on in the world,” Miller said. “It’s good to have some positive things to look forward to and being outside when the weather is nice and the air is clear, it makes a big difference.”

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