Category: kesq-local-news

Jesus Reyes

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KESQ) – Governor Gavin Newsom addressed Californians from Los Angeles. You can watch the address below:

Newsom said President Donald Trump “chose theatrics over public safety” in deploying the National Guard to respond to protests in Los Angeles.

He criticized the Trump administration for carrying out mass deportations.

When immigration raids took place in Los Angeles, “everyday Angelenos came out to exercise their constitutional right to free speech and assembly, to protest their government’s action,” Newsom said.

Instead of targeting undocumented immigrants and criminals, the Trump administration is focusing on mass deportations, according to Newsom.

The Trump administration is “indiscriminately targeting hardworking immigrant families regardless of their roots or risk,” Newsom said Tuesday.

Newsom’s address comes a few hours after a federal judge denied a request by the state of California for an emergency order blocking the deployment of additional federalized National Guard troops and U.S. Marines to the Los Angeles area.

The ruling came hours after California filed an emergency motion against the Trump administration asking the court to take immediate action to block President Donald Trump and the U.S. Department of Defense from expanding the current mission of National Guard personnel and Marines in Los Angeles.

U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer scheduled a hearing for Thursday afternoon in San Francisco federal court on the state’s request for a restraining order.

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Athena Jreij

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) — As President Trump orders over 4,000 troops to Los Angeles, the reaction among former Marines in the desert is mixed.

That number also includes 700 Marines from 29 Palms.

The protests, which have now entered their fifth day, have gone from peaceful to chaotic at times, with scenes of burning cars and some protesters looting buildings.

“You have to be on the side of public safety and law and order, and that’s what it’s going to take, law and order. We have to squash this riot,” Former Marine and La Quinta Councilman Steve Sanchez said.

For Jonathan Rich, a Palm Desert veteran, Trump’s deployment strikes a different chord.

“It’s difficult for somebody like me because the military means a lot to me. To be put in the position where what you’ve learned and trained for is to carry a weapon, but you’re not supposed to carry that weapon against civilians,” Rich said.

Rich says he fears a military presence will only escalate tensions.

“Neither the mayor nor the governor authorized or asked for these people, and by putting them there, he’s putting them and civilians in harm’s way.”

Sanchez disagrees with that.

“The rioters escalated it. The looters escalated it. The burning of buildings, police vehicles, attacking law enforcement. They’re the ones that escalated it.”

There’s also been questions if military personnel are properly trained to handle civilian protests.

Rich denies it, but Sanchez says his experience in the Marines did include riot training.

“We’re trained obviously in combat, but we’re also trained in riots. Because when we go overseas, often we have to take part in riot control or the, possibility of riots happening.”

One thing they can agree on is that demonstrations should continue peacefully.

“What we’re seeing is people taking advantage of peaceful protesters, taking the opportunity to do violence,” Sanchez said.

“Do not confront the National Guard or the Marines. Don’t confront them. Go somewhere else. Do it peacefully,” Rich said.

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Garrett Hottle

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KESQ) Assemblyman Jeff Gonzalez is calling on Governor Gavin Newsom to immediately withdraw a proposal that would slash $700 million from California’s In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS), program a move Gonzalez says would devastate seniors, people with disabilities, and rural families across the state.

“IHSS is not a luxury…it is a lifeline,” said Gonzalez, speaking Tuesday at a press conference on the Capitol steps in Sacramento. “Cutting this support puts real people at risk, especially families in rural areas and families raising those with disabilities.”

Gonzalez, whose son has cerebral palsy, was joined by fellow lawmakers, caregivers, and advocates who said the proposed cap on caregiver overtime and travel would force some families into crisis.

“These cuts would force families to make impossible choices: between work and care, between safety and survival,” Gonzalez said. “Governor Newsom must find a way to balance the budget without cutting critical care away from the people who need it the most. It is absolutely unacceptable.”

The IHSS program supports in-home care for low-income seniors and people with disabilities, allowing them to live independently rather than in institutions. Advocates warn the proposed cuts would not only strain families, but also threaten caregiver jobs and lead to increased costs elsewhere in the healthcare system.

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Angela Chen

As the school year comes to a close, KESQ is taking a deeper look into the psychology behind school fights and what schools are doing to address it. The Covid-19 pandemic worsened behavior issues across the nation,  and schools had to pivot to address the troubling trend. These fights can create hostile environments and affect student mental health.

“I think it can cause a lot of fear and anxiety and sadness in the kids that are viewing it [the fights],” said Melissa Hawkins, a mental health therapist at the Betty Ford Center. “I also think it questions their own safety, right? Like, am I going to be safe? Is this going to happen to me?” 

Here in the Coachella Valley, parents and students sent videos of fights into the KESQ newsroom. Now, years later, fights continue to be an issue at some schools.

I-team reporter Angela Chen looked into school suspensions across the desert — and found an interesting shift.

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City News Service

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (KESQ) – A federal judge Tuesday denied a request by the state of California for an emergency order blocking the deployment of additional federalized National Guard troops and U.S. Marines to the Los Angeles area.

The ruling came hours after California filed an emergency motion against the Trump administration asking the court to take immediate action to block President Donald Trump and the U.S. Department of Defense from expanding the current mission of National Guard personnel and Marines in Los Angeles.

U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer scheduled a hearing for Thursday afternoon in San Francisco federal court on the state’s request for a restraining order.

The lawsuit brought late Monday by Gov. Gavin Newsom and state Attorney General Rob Bonta follows Trump’s escalation of military forces in the Los Angeles area through the takeover of 4,000 National Guard soldiers and what state officials call the unlawful deployment of 700 Marines to act beyond simply guarding federal property.  

“The federal government is now turning the military against American citizens,” Newsom said in a statement. “Sending trained warfighters onto the streets is unprecedented and threatens the very core of our democracy. Donald Trump is behaving like a tyrant, not a President. We ask the court to immediately block these unlawful actions.”  

The request was filed as part of the state’s lawsuit filed against Trump, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and the DOD, charging violations of the U.S. Constitution and the president’s authority, not only because the takeover occurred without the consent or input of the governor, as federal law requires, but also because, Newsom said, it was unwarranted.   

A U.S. Department of Justice spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the litigation.   

“The President is looking for any pretense to place military forces on American streets to intimidate and quiet those who disagree with him,” Bonta said. “It’s not just immoral — it’s illegal and dangerous. Local law enforcement, not the military, enforce the law within our borders. The President continues to inflame tensions and antagonize communities. We’re asking the court to immediately block the Trump Administration from ordering the military or federalized national guard from patrolling our communities or otherwise engaging in general law enforcement activities beyond federal property.”   

According to state officials, in the early hours of Sunday morning, the DOD, at the direction of Trump, redirected hundreds of National Guard troops from San Diego to Los Angeles, without authorization from the governor and against the wishes of local law enforcement. In total, the department deployed 4,000 National Guard troops from across the state, as well as an additional 700 Marines, “an inflammatory escalation unsupported by conditions on the ground,” according to Bonta.

Trump has said that the deployment of the National Guard was a matter of law and order carried out in response to protests that erupted Friday during a series of immigration raids in the Los Angeles area, then worsening protests on Saturday.

On Monday, Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform that Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass should be thanking him for the deployment, saying that without it, “Los Angeles would have been completely obliterated.” He did not elaborate on the actions of Guard members, who were primarily deployed around federal buildings such as the Metropolitan Detention Center downtown, rather than actually working to quell the protests in the streets.   

In the lawsuit, Newsom and Bonta ask the court to hold that the orders federalizing the National Guard are unlawful, arguing that:   

— The federalization of the National Guard deprives the state of resources to protect itself and its citizens, and of critical responders in the event of a state emergency;

— the rarely used order in which the president may call the National Guard into federal service requires that the governor consent, which Newsom was not given the opportunity to do prior to their deployment; and   

— the president’s order infringes on Newsom’s role as commander-in- chief of the state National Guard and violates the state’s sovereign right to control and have available its National Guard in the absence of a lawful invocation of federal power.

Trump’s decision to deploy troops to Los Angeles amid mass deportation protests will likely cost $134 million, the Pentagon’s budget chief told lawmakers during a budget hearing Tuesday with Hegseth, who said the president is enforcing “law and order.”

Bonta said Trump’s order attempts to usurp state authority. He said the law cited by Trump has been invoked on its own only once before — when then-President Richard Nixon called upon the National Guard to deliver the mail during the 1970 Postal Service strike.

It is also the first time since 1965 — when President Lyndon Johnson sent troops to Alabama to protect civil rights demonstrators — that a president has activated a state’s National Guard without a request from the state’s governor, Bonta said.

On Sunday, Tom Homan, acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, made comments suggesting Newsom and other officials could face arrest if they interfere with federal enforcement actions. The agency later walked back the comment, saying Homan was not threatening to arrest Newsom. But on Monday, Trump told reporters he would support Homan arresting the governor.

“I think it’s great,” Trump said. “Gavin likes the publicity. … He’s done a terrible job. I like Gavin Newsom, he’s a nice guy, but he’s grossly incompetent, everybody knows.”

Newsom responded during an appearance on MSNBC over the weekend.   

“Come after me, arrest me. Let’s just get it over with, tough guy, you know?” Newsom said. “I don’t give a damn. But I care about my community. I care about this community. The hell are they doing? These guys need to grow up. They need to stop, and we need to push back. And I’m sorry, to be so clear, but that kind of bloviating is exhausting. So, Tom, arrest me. Let’s go.”

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Jesus Reyes

UPDATE 06/10/2025: As of 6:04 p.m., CAL FIRE reports that the fire remains at 175 acres and is now 50% contained.

All evacuation orders and warnings have been lifted. Crews will remain on scene throughout the night improving containment lines.

ANZA, Calif. (KESQ) – Firefighters are working to contain a fast-growing fire in Anza Tuesday afternoon.

The Cahuilla Fire was first reported at around 12:25 p.m. at the 52700 block of Highway 371.

By 4:30 p.m., the fire was mapped at 175 acres with 15% containment.

#CahuillaFIRE [UPDATE]:An evacuation ORDER has been put into place in zone CBI-CAHUILLA1.

NORTH of Cooper Cienega Truck TrailSOUTH of Wellman RoadEAST of Cahuilla Road/Pawnee CourtWEST of Terwilliger Road

An interactive map can be found here: https://t.co/KWAWyx2t6D

— CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department (@CALFIRERRU) June 10, 2025

News Channel 3 crews have reported seeing a bit of smoke over the mountains in the Coachella Valley.

CAL FIRE said that multiple engine and hand crews were sent to the location and encountered flames moving at a rapid rate to the southeast, burning onto a hillside by the time the first Cal Fire air tankers reached the scene.

A total of six tankers and four water-dropping helicopters were requested, though as of 1:20 p.m., only two tankers were overhead.

There was no word regarding what might have triggered the fire. The area has been plagued by re-occurring summertime brushers for the last several years.

Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing updates.

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City News Service

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) – The Board of Supervisors today approved a $100,000 contract with a media marketing firm to conduct a public awareness campaign emphasizing the penalties for illegal use of fireworks in Riverside County.   

In a 5-0 vote without comment, the board signed off on the Executive Office’s agreement with Fountain Valley-based 3 Olives Media LLC to handle social media, traditional media and other messaging focused on fireworks education outreach.

The compact will be in effect until Aug. 31. The same media company was retained for fireworks safety campaigns in 2023 and 2024.   

“A robust public information campaign regarding the use of illegal fireworks and enforcement programs will enhance the safety of our communities by lessening associated risks,” according to an Executive Office statement.   

The fireworks education effort will focus on highlighting the county’s regulations on pyrotechnics and the penalties that can be assessed for igniting them around the Fourth of July, or any other time of year.

In April 2021, the Office of County Counsel, in collaboration with the Sheriff’s Department and Cal Fire, drafted amendments to long-standing regulations codified under county Ordinance No. 858 prohibiting illegal pyrotechnics.

Under the amendments, higher civil penalties were established, ranging from $1,000 to $5,000. The amount depends on the number of violations within a 36-month period. The previous fines were between $500 and $1,000.   

The revisions also created liabilities for property owners who knowingly permit someone to light illegal fireworks, further increasing penalties.

This year’s awareness campaign will rely on roadside digital billboards, newspaper space, satellite radio, conventional radio and social media to reach residents.

Officers from the Department of Code Enforcement, along with sheriff’s deputies and Cal Fire law enforcement officers, can issue citations and make arrests.

Igniting fireworks for recreation or entertainment is prohibited in all unincorporated communities countywide, as well as in most municipalities. However, cities can issue permits for pyrotechnics shows.   

Illegal fireworks can be reported via https://www.riversidesheriff.org/555/fireworks, or at 800-950-2444.

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Kendall Flynn

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – The Indio mall, now known as the Indio Grand Marketplace, is nearly vacant with just Coachella Valley Optometry occupying a space – something Mayor Glenn Miller hopes will change in the future.

The property is owned by Haagen Company, which also owns The Empire Polo Club and Calhoun Ranch. The Haagen Company’s plans to redevelop the area, starting with phase one of constructing two new commercial buildings in the mall’s north parking lot, facing Highway 111.

The Indio Planning Commission gave the OK to the plans, after the CEO of Haagen Company discussed his plans to redevelop the area in the May 28 meeting, bringing new tenants and stores to the nearly vacant retail center.

Stay with News Channel 3 to hear from Mayor Miller and local businesses on the potential impacts of redevelopment on the community.

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Luis Avila

COACHELLA, Calif. (KESQ) – As Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations continue across Southern California, immigrant rights advocates are urging individuals and families to prepare a set of critical documents that could help protect them in case of detention or deportation.

Having the right paperwork on hand can make a significant difference in asserting your rights and protecting your family. Experts recommend keeping both physical and digital copies of the following:

Identification: Passport, birth certificate, state ID, or consular ID.

Immigration Records: Green card, visa, work permit, or any paperwork from immigration court.

Legal Preparedness: A “Know Your Rights” card, Power of Attorney documents, and contact information for an immigration lawyer.

Family Documentation: Children’s birth certificates, school and medical records, and guardianship papers.

Proof of Residency: Rent receipts, utility bills, and pay stubs showing long-term U.S. residence.

Storing these documents in a safe, easily accessible place, and letting a trusted family member or friend know where to find them is crucial.

Advocates also recommend creating a family emergency plan and making sure children know who to contact if a parent is detained.

Preparation can’t stop enforcement, but it can help families stay together and better navigate the legal system during difficult times.

Stay with News Channel 3 for more.

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City News Service

COACHELLA, Calif. (KESQ) – Firefighters today battled a blaze at a single-story home in Coachella, and no injuries were reported.   

The fire was reported at 9:02 a.m. in the 52100 block of Morgan Avenue, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.   

The agency said crews arrived to find heavy smoke coming from the side of the residence. 

Firefighters were expected to remain on scene for about three hours to fully contain the blaze.

No further information was immediately available.

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