Category: kesq-local-news

KESQ News Team

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – A woman drowned in a swimming pool Thursday afternoon at a home in the 74000 block of Chicory Street in Palm Desert.

Riverside County Sheriff’s deputies say they were called out to the home just after 4:00 p.m., with a report of a woman in the pool who was not responding.

Deputies arrived at the scene and pronounced the woman deceased.

The Sheriff’s Office reports that the investigation is ongoing, and they will not be releasing further details at this time.

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Garrett Hottle

YUCCA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) A brown bear was caught on camera wandering through a Yucca Valley neighborhood Wednesday evening, startling residents and prompting renewed reminders about desert wildlife.

Jamie Norcutt and his fiancé were sleeping until a camera alert woke them up around 2:30 in the morning.

“I looked at the live view and I saw that there is a bear on the front porch. . .grabbing a bag of salmon dog food,” Norcutt explained.”

On the camera footage you can see the bear starting to walk off until Norcutt hops on the ring camera.

“I proceeded to yell at him and tell him no, don’t take the food, and he looked back and stopped.”

The bear dropped the bag and disappeared into the night possibly toward the canyon across the street, Norcutt said.

Nobody was hurt and the bear hasn’t come back, but it’s a furry reminder the desert isn’t just ours.

Wildlife officials recommend locking up food, bringing in pet bowls, and securing trash cans.

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Zachariah Perez

San Bernardino, Calif (KESQ)- The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) continues to work on a $21.9 million dollar pavement rehabilitation and shoulder widening project. 

This project takes place on state route 247 this work is funded through the senate bill “The Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017”. Construction signs are now placed throughout the project area as well as clearing in the shoulder areas

Placement of high visibility fencing for environmental protection work operations will take place near Yucca Valley from state route 62 to Gin Road. The project is expected to begin the week of August 3rd and be completed by the fall of 2025. 

Expect delays as traffic control will be located at various locations, wait times per side are expected to be 20 minutes. 

“Plan-ahead and please be mindful of work area signage as law enforcement will enforce applicable laws and regulations. Please proceed cautiously as work vehicles and crews may move in and out of shoulder areas for backfill operations,” said Caltrans officials. 

These operations will take place Sunday to Thursday from 7:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. 

These work activities will begin at northbound State Route 247 near Eureka Rd with lane closure and flagging operation on Friday and Saturday night work may occasionally be required from 7:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.

Motorists are advised to plan their routes accordingly to avoid potential delays.

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KESQ News Team

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. (KESQ) – Residents near Avenida Ximino and Baristo Road in Cathedral City saw a heavy presence of Riverside County Sheriff law enforcement in their neighborhood Thursday afternoon.

The Sheriff’s Office reports that shortly after 12:00 p.m., members of the Emergency Response Team and Gang Task Force went to the 3100 block of Avenida Ximino to serve a narcotics and weapons-related search warrant.

Deputies arrested two suspects related to the investigation, and the area was clear of law enforcement just after 5:00 p.m.

They say that the investigation remains ongoing, and no further details will be released.

Stay with News Channel 3 for updates.

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Hernán Quintas

COACHELLA, Calif. (KESQ)– The FIND Food Bank is helping empower local youth by offering different partnerships and internship programs.  

The FIND organization aims to provide students with skillsets to pursue a higher education, hands-on training, professional development and more.  

“Here at FIND food bank, what we do is we want to give our youth of the community the empowerment to make a difference, and not only that, but to break the cycle of poverty within their families in the local community,” Priscilla Salcedo, Director of Community Impact at FIND says. “Each program focuses on their own specific standards and curriculum. We have multiple [programs] currently for this summer, we have our healthcare career connections, we have Bank of America which focuses on accounting, and then we also have our California Climate Action Corps that focuses on food rescue as well as volunteer recruitment.”

Diana Zaragoza, an intern through Health Career Connections (HCC), a rising junior at UCLA and a Coachella Valley native, shared her experience conducting nutrition workshops for children in the Coachella Valley.

Zaragoza explains, “I come from an immigrant family, and I think just seeing them struggle sometimes when I was younger, I think it’s important for me to educate the future generations about the importance of health and really taking care of your body.” 

The programs get students involved in different organizations connected with their interests and help leave a lasting impact on the community. 

Eric Huerta, a senior at Desert Mirage High School, is hoping to get into the medical field with the help of the Bank of America Student Leaders Program. Huerta hopes his 7-week internship helps him learn skills to achieve his goal. 

Hureta says, “With this workshop, we do a lot of nutritional workshops for the kids. And since I’m really interested in the medical field, I feel like this is really helping me gain that experience and also helping my community.”

Fortunately for Hureta, this year, Bank of America selected him out of 315 students from around the nation to be part of the FIND food bank internship program.

He continued, “I think it’s really teaching me that when we are growing and that we have to come back to our community to help, because this community has a lot of people who sometimes need help, whether it’s by food or like any other financial need.” 

Another proud student from the valley, Carmen Olmos, who wants to be an accountant, joined FIND’s food bank internship program through HCC. She explained, “It is a full circle, because going to college, it’s such a privilege being able to go to college coming from here, I didn’t think it would have been possible for me. So being able to come back and help, it’s such a wonderful experience, truly full circle.”

Salcedo explains that FIND helps young people prepare for the workforce by providing real-world experience and professional environments. She emphasized that through the programs young people begin building skills and experience needed for future careers. 

Olmos explains what being a part of this program means to local students, “I didn’t think I would be having an internship here, and I’m extremely grateful for that. So being able to help this nonprofit here where I was born and raised, it just really is full circle.”

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Haley Meberg

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ)– Americans born in 1990 have four times the risk of developing rectal cancer compared to those born in 1950, according to a new study that reveals how dramatically cancer patterns have shifted across generations.

The alarming trend also extends to gastrointestinal cancers, which have surged by 15 percent in just one decade among people under 50.

The findings were published in the “British Journal of Surgery.” Researchers say most of the cancers were not caused by genetic defects, instead they’re linked to obesity and diets dominated by processed foods.

Dr. Elber Camacho, Medical Director at Desert Regional Comprehensive Cancer Center says, “We hardly ever see cancer in the colon in 20-year-olds, and we’re already seeing it at that age. So we feel that by eating this kind of product, poses a great deal of inflammation in the gi tract, and this can lead to cancer development.” 

The findings also show the rise in cancer among young adults hit minority groups hardest.

For more information stay with News Channel 3.

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Luis Avila

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Concerns are growing among local vendors at Palm Springs’ popular VillageFest as a new wave of tariffs begins to raise uncertainty. Some are worried about how the new tariffs could affect the cost of ingredients—and ultimately, their ability to keep prices affordable.

Eri Nox, owner of the recently launched avocado-based food booth Nice Hass, said the timing of the tariffs couldn’t be worse.

“We rely heavily on avocados and most of ours come from Mexico… so we’re really afraid of prices rising with that. We’re still very new, so our margins are very small.”

Eri Nox, Nice Hass owner

Other food vendors echoed similar concerns. Dadiana Pinto, who runs Five03 Pupusas, said she tries to keep prices low despite the challenges.

“Prices go up and down all the time. We’re going to try to keep our prices from going up.”

Dadiana Pinto, Five03 Pupusas owner

Still, vendors admit that if costs continue to rise, customers will likely feel the impact.

“If the prices go up, we’re definitely going to have to raise our own prices.”

Eri Nox, Nice Hass owner

Some VillageFest-goers said they’re already noticing higher prices across the board.

“I think everything is tripled… But we’ve got to eat. What can you do?”

Alice Ogas, visitor

Despite the concerns, many attendees said they plan to keep coming back and supporting local businesses.

Stay with News Channel 3 for more.

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Cynthia White

BANNING (CNS) – A multi-convicted DUI offender who killed an off-duty Riverside County Sheriff’s deputy and his 19-year-old daughter in a driving under the influence wreck north of San Jacinto pleaded guilty Thursday to two counts of second-degree murder and other charges.

He was immediately sentenced to 32 years to life in state prison.

Scott Brandon Bales, 49, of Moreno Valley admitted the murder counts, as well as two counts of DUI resulting in great bodily injury, under a plea agreement with the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office. No charges were dismissed.

During a hearing at the Banning Justice Center, Superior Court Judge Rene Navarro certified the terms of the plea deal and imposed the sentence stipulated by the prosecution and defense.

Bales killed Sheriff’s Corporal Daniel Jacks Jr., 45, and his daughter, Hannah Jacks, both of San Jacinto.

According to the California Highway Patrol, the collision happened just after 9:00 p.m. on Nov. 13, 2022, along Gilman Springs Road, east of Bridge Street.

CHP Officer Jason Montez said at the time that Bales was at the wheel of a Chevrolet Silverado with a front-seat passenger going westbound on Gilman Springs when Jacks’ Honda Insight approached from the opposite direction on the two-lane corridor, where there is no barrier forming a center median, onlydouble yellow lines.

Montez said that Bales’ pickup “crossed over the divided highway and traveled into the eastbound traffic lane.” The Chevy slammed head-on into the Honda, after which both vehicles came to a stop in lanes, according to the CHP spokesman.

Paramedics arrived a short time later and pronounced Jacks and his daughter dead at the scene.

Bales and his passenger, identified by the CHP only as a 45-year-old Moreno Valley man, were taken to the county medical center in Moreno Valley for treatment of major injuries. Both ultimately recovered.

“Bales was determined to be under the influence of an alcoholic beverage at the time of the crash,” Montez said.

Court records show the defendant had three prior DUI convictions — in 2009, 2011 and 2015. The last one was a felony conviction.

Under California law, a convicted DUI offender who is aware of the risks of drinking and driving and who causes someone’s death because of it can be charged with murder.

Jacks was a 14-year Sheriff’s Department veteran, spending most of that time as a correctional deputy, staffing the Indio Jail, later designated the John J. Benoit Detention Center.

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Cynthia White

PERRIS, Calif. (KESQ) – A man is in custody, accused of causing a major internet outage in Perris in western Riverside County.

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office says a 31-year-old man from Perris is behind a string of fiber optic cable thefts that caused tens of thousands of dollars in damage.

The thefts disrupted service to homes and even public safety agencies.

Investigators say they tracked him down after multiple thefts across the area this month – eventually finding wire in the suspect’s vehicle and evidence at his home.

He was booked into the Cois Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta and is now facing charges for grand theft, felony vandalism, and felony damage to utility lines.

The Sheriff’s Office is encouraging anyone with information about these incidents to contact Investigator Barbee at the Perris Sheriff’s Station at (951) 210-1000.

Stay with News Channel 3 for updates to this developing story.

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Allie Anthony

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – According to a new study, regular walking at a target of 7,000 steps a day can play a vital role in reducing the risk of heart disease and other health complications.

The popular step count goal of 10,000 steps a day can be daunting, but 7,000 daily steps is much more achievable. We spoke with a registered nurse at Desert Regional Medical Center about the benefits of this new study. “It’s showing a lower threshold for walking and the benefits you get from it,” said Lindsey Deans.  

Walking is also proven to lower all-cause mortality by 47%, type 2 diabetes by 14%, and dementia by 38%.

Stay with News Channel 3 to hear more about the positive impact that walking can have on your health.

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