Category: kesq-local-news

City News Service

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) – The Board of Supervisors today unanimously approved the appropriation of $78 million to fill a budget gap left over from the previous fiscal year.

In a 5-0 vote without comment Monday, the board cleared the Executive Office to implement the “cleanup” allocations connected to expenses that weren’t on the books when the 2024-25 fiscal year officially concluded on June 30.

The irregular Monday meeting was scheduled because of an unexpected cancellation of the Sept. 16 meeting, which stemmed from supervisors’ absences and the lack of a quorum for votes. Meetings are generally always held on Tuesdays.

“While most adjustments are resolved during the year, certain year- end adjustments, often resulting from unanticipated costs in the final fiscal month, require board approval to ensure that all budgetary units remain balanced,” the Executive Office said. “(We) request board approval to increase appropriations where necessary to address these final adjustments.”  

The board formally approved the 2025-26 budget, totaling $9.98 billion, on June 24.

Generally every September, the EO identifies a series of budgetary holes that require draws on the General Fund or reserve accounts to fill.   

The agencies currently requiring delayed appropriations include the Office of the Public Defender, the Emergency Management Department, the Department of Code Enforcement, the Fire Department and multiple others. Three-quarters of the $78 million in required infusions will be from the General Fund, while the remainder will be from contingency accounts, as well as the individual agencies’ own appropriations for the current fiscal year, according to officials.

The board approved a tentative hiring freeze in 2025-26 for most agencies to limit outgo in the face of an anticipated deficit.   

“The freeze … will require (some departments) to shrink by attrition,” county CEO Jeff Van Wagenen said. “Revenue is not decreasing across the system, but we are seeing it flatten and go down in certain areas.”

The last payroll pause to rein in spending occurred in 2016-17, and he said that saved $40 million to $50 million.   

The current deficit stems from “inflationary pressures, growing labor costs, unpredictable state and federal funding and necessary investments in aging infrastructure (that) strain our financial capacity,” according to the 500-plus-page budget book.

The Executive Office predicts a year-end reserve pool of $655 million. It had been projected at $728 million, but the total will have to be pared down to fix the gap.

Payrolls continue to consume half of outlays. The county employs 25,632 people on a regular or rotating temporary basis.

More than two-thirds of the county budget is composed of programmed spending, including federal and state earmarks for specific uses, along with grants and related external source revenue. The board has little control over those dollars.

Direct property taxes remains the county’s largest source of discretionary income. It rose to $574 million in 2024-25, compared to $542.6 million in 2023-24, according to figures. The projection is for a $54 million, or 10%, jump in 2025-26.

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Jesus Reyes

BANNING, Calif. (KESQ) – Two westbound lanes on Interstate 10 in Banning were temporarily closed after an Amazon Prime truck caught on fire. The lanes have since been reopened after crews cleared the area.

The fire was reported just after 11:05 a.m. between 8th Street and 22nd.

As of 11:40 a.m., traffic was backing up into Cabazon.

No word on whether there were any injuries reported. Stay with News Channel 3 for updates.

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City News Service

LAKE ELSINORE (KESQ) – Big questions remain today in the investigation into the death of a 15-year-old girl whose decomposing body was found cut up in a Hollywood tow yard in the front trunk of a Tesla owned by popular singer d4vd.   

PHOTO: Celeste Rivas Hernandez, 15-year-old reported missing, Photo Date: undated

Community members gathered for a vigil in Celeste Rivas’ hometown of Lake Elsinore on Sunday to remember the teen whose remains were found in the trunk of a car registered in Texas to D4vd, real name David Anthony Burke, whose performing career appears to have come to a halt.

The vehicle had been abandoned in the Hollywood Hills for an extended period before it was towed to an official police impound lot.   

Rivas had been reported missing by her mother last year, when the girl was just 13.  

Her remains were found on Sept. 8, a day after what would have been her 15th birthday.

The Tesla had been abandoned near a home in the 1300 block of Doheny Place, not far from a home D4vd had rented.   

Last week, police served a search warrant at the house and took several items as possible evidence in the ongoing investigation into Rivas’ death, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

D4vd has been in the last leg of a U.S. tour when Rivas’ body was discovered. Several shows were cancelled, including one that had been scheduled for Saturday night at Los Angeles’ Greek Theatre.

According to various reports, his label, Interscope Records, has halted all promotion of D4vd latest record, “Withered,” and a deluxe version of the LP that was to have dropped on Friday.

David Anthony Burke, who uses the stage name d4vd

At Sunday’s vigil, several people expressed grief and suspicion over the Rivas’ death.  

“I’m feeling heartbroken, devastated for hearing about the news. I didn’t know Celeste personally but it hits home,”  Lake Elsinore resident Gabriela Flores told KABC 7.

A neighbor recalled seeing Rivas walking home from school before she ran away, something she had done before, according to news reports.   

“Even though I didn’t know her, I just couldn’t even breathe, knowing that a child had to go through that,” Kayleigh Cortez told KABC, Channel 7.   

“My nephew went to school with her since kindergarten and I just want to say as a… if it was my daughter, I wouldn’t want her to be forgotten. I just want justice for this little girl because whatever happened to her wasn’t just an accident… I don’t want her to be forgotten,” said another resident.  

D4vd reportedly has a tattoo that matches the one reading “Shhh” that the Los Angeles County medical examiner revealed was on Rivas’ index finger.   

A representative for the singer has said that his client is cooperating with the investigation.

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City News Service

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – Ex-Riverside County Sheriff’s Deputy Oscar Rodriguez, 44, received probation after being convicted of manslaughter in the 2014 shooting of a romantic rival.

Despite prosecutors’ objections, the judge sentenced Rodriguez to one year in county jail, with 194 days subtracted for time served, sparing Rodriguez from serving any time in state prison.

He was also sentenced to 10 years probation.

Family members of the victim, Luis Morin, urged the court to find the maximum punishment for Rodriguez: 21 years in prison.

Five of Morin’s relatives – including his youngest daughter, Eliana Morin – provided testimony before the judge read the sentencing decision to the outrage of Morin’s family.

Many walked out of the room after the decision was read, with some calling the proceedings “a joke.”

Outside of the courtroom, News Channel 3 crews caught up with Eliana. She said, “The system works in so many different ways that you really don’t know what you’re going to get. You don’t know. You know, so many people are capable of so many things, and so many people get away with a lot of things, too.”

Prosecturors also voiced their objection to the sentence.

“The People vehemently disagree with the recommendation from the probation department and the court’s decision,” said Chief Deputy District Attorney Jennifer Garcia. “This sentence minimizes the gravity of Rodriguez’s actions and the devastating impact on Mr. Morin’s family, while also disregarding the significant effort the jury devoted to reaching a just verdict. We firmly believe a stronger sentence was warranted to  reflect the seriousness of this crime and to hold the defendant fully accountable.”

Rodriguez was convicted of voluntary manslaughter and a sentence-enhancing gun use allegation for the 2014 slaying of 39-year-old Luis Carlos Morin of Coachella. Jurors acquitted Rodriguez of first-degree murder. 

“It’s not an easy job, especially when you have a courtroom full of people who are going to be unhappy,” said Rodriguez’s defense attorney, Mark Fredrick. “[Rodriguez’s] position was all along that his life was in danger. The jury’s finding supported that, so that was liberating for him in a sense.”

During Tuesday’s hearing at the Larson Justice Center in Indio, Superior Court Judge Otis Sterling heard victim impact statements, as well as arguments from the prosecution and defense, regarding the most appropriate sentence for the shooting.

Rodriguez was eligible for a maximum sentence of 21 years behind bars.

“Mr. Rodriguez is a liar and a deceitful person,” Deputy District Attorney Jennifer Garcia told jurors in her closing statement in June. “He employed cowboy tactics.”

At the time of the shooting, the defendant was romantically involved with Diana Perez, the mother of Morin’s two children. She and the then-deputy originally met in the winter of 2013, when he responded to 911 calls from her complaining about Morin, whom she didn’t want around her home because he had a criminal past and active warrants connected to alleged auto theft and narcotics sales.  

“Diana had the motive, and Rodriguez had the ability,” Garcia said.   

She recalled how the defendant and Perez were regularly together from early March to early December 2013, reflected in the numerous credit card receipts for one-night stays at a Motel 6.

“He was taking advantage of her for sex,” the prosecutor said.

Rodriguez became emotionally involved in the woman’s ongoing conflicts with Morin, developing animosity toward the victim, Garcia said, adding it culminated in “reckless” behavior that caused him to ignore all of his training.

Rodriguez decided to act independently in apprehending Morin, prosecutors said. On the night of Jan. 27, 2014, the defendant learned the suspect had joined family members for a birthday celebration in Palm Desert and would be returning to his mother’s home in the 48-800 block of Camino Real in Coachella.  

The prosecution said Rodriguez went to the neighborhood alone in a patrol unit, without informing his superiors, parking out of sight and placing Maria Gomez’s house under surveillance.

At 9:40 p.m., Morin and his mother arrived, and the suspect got out to direct Gomez as she backed her vehicle into a tight space. The prosecution said Rodriguez sneaked up behind Morin, but he tried to bolt, at which point the deputy swept his legs, causing both of them to fall down, Rodriguez landing on his back.   

Gomez was heard shouting, “Don’t do it!” Rodriguez then pulled his gun and opened fire, fatally wounding Morin in the chest. The defendant wasn’t hurt.

“Mr. Rodriguez had no right to self-defense,” Garcia told jurors. “He created this situation.”

Defense attorney Mark Frederick asked jurors to remember his client’s own testimony, in which he asserted, “I feared he was going to use a weapon,” prompting him to shoot to protect himself.

“(Pepper) spray and a baton were not feasible at an arm’s-length struggle,” Frederick said.

He reminded jurors Rodriguez was an experienced peace officer “known to make felony arrests.”

Morin was notorious for fleeing from law enforcement, so Rodriguez didn’t want to take any chances by giving the man an opportunity to run, Frederick said.

He questioned the reliability of Morin’s mother’s testimony, saying she was unclear about the position of her son’s hands during the botched arrest.

The attorney referred to Morin as a “career criminal,” angry about the relationship between his ex-girlfriend and Rodriguez. He noted that several months before the deadly shooting, Perez received a message from Morin, stating, “Cop lover … Tell him to bring his A-game, because no matter what he does, he’s going to lose.”  

The ensuing investigation culminated in a grand jury indictment in 2017.   

Morin’s family sued the sheriff’s department and county for wrongful death, netting a $7 million payout.

Perez was indicted along with Rodriguez, charged as being an accessory to a felony. However, the charge against her was dismissed in April.

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Gavin Nguyen

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – A Los Angeles Times analysis identified the City of Indio as a spot that saw some of the worst income growth of any community or city in the state from 2017 to 2022. That’s according to tax records from that time period, which compared the average adjusted gross income (AGI) of all communities in the state that submitted 3,000 or more tax returns.

This same report listed Thousand Palms and Indian Wells as seeing immense income growth during that same time period. News Channel 3 spoke with a realtor on the subject and broke down the numbers in those unincorporated places last week.

According to new numbers from Indio, both median household income and per-capita income have increased significantly in the post-pandemic years. Since 2022, an increase of nearly $20,000 (representing 24% growth) has occurred in median household income.

But aside from the numbers, Mayor Glenn Miller pointed out existing development and long-term investment that the city has made is inviting growth.

“We appreciate the Times putting out the information, but, you know, it just wasn’t accurate,” Miller said. “All you gotta do is look around through the city of Indio, see all of the movement from new buildings, from investment from the city, our business partners, the community.”

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Garrett Hottle

OAK GLEN, Calif. (KESQ) We’re learning new details as crews continue working around the clock to clear roads and assess damage after sudden, destructive debris flows tore through Forest Falls and Oak Glen late last week.

The San Bernardino County Fire Department confirms three single-family homes in Forest Falls were destroyed and eight others damaged when fast-moving mud and debris surged downhill Thursday.

Damage assessments for Oak Glen are still pending; News Channel 3 has reached out for those details.

The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department says the storm’s impact was worsened by wildfire burn scars that left slopes unstable. Saturated hillsides collapsed under the weight of sudden rainfall, unleashing walls of mud, logs, and boulders.

As of Sunday night, several road closures remain in place. State Route 38 is closed from just east of Angelus Oaks at Mill Creek Road to Lake Williams Drive in Big Bear. Oak Glen Road is shut down from Chagall to Potato Canyon. Valley of the Falls Drive is also blocked at SR-38, with additional slides cutting off Forest Falls.

The National Weather Service reported that Forest Falls saw 1.5 inches of rain in just one hour, followed by another half inch soon after nearly triple the rate of a typical summer thunderstorm.

No injuries or rescues have been reported. Evacuation warnings that were issued for multiple mountain communities have since been lifted, but county officials urge residents to remain alert with cleanup ongoing and more rain possible this week.

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Allie Anthony

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, a time to focus on one of the most common cancers affecting men. The American Cancer Society estimates more than 313,000 new prostate cancer cases will be diagnosed in the U.S. in 2025.

To help raise awareness and share the latest medical advancements, Desert Care Network is hosting a free seminar on September 23, from 12 to 1 p.m. at the Stergios Building on the Desert Regional Medical Center campus in Palm Springs.

Prostate cancer affects about one in eight men during their lifetime. Early detection significantly improves treatment success, and recent improvements in screening and non-invasive therapies are making a difference in outcomes.

The seminar will offer men in the Coachella Valley expert guidance on when and how to get screened, as well as an overview of the latest treatment options from local specialists. The event is open to the public.

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KESQ News Team

CALEXICO, Calif. (KESQ) – Imperial Irrigation District said crews were working around the clock to restore power to more neighborhoods following Thursday’s storm.

IID called the damage severe and unusual.

Large mobile generators were deployed in some hard hit areas.

After Thursday’s storm, IID reported 5,400 customers had been impacted by the storm, with about 100 power poles taken down between Holtville and El Centro.

Stay with News Channel 3 for the latest on this story.

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Kristen Outlaw

 

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – Deputies made an arrest Saturday night after they reportedly found fentanyl intended for sale during a traffic stop.

The incident reported around 8:45 p.m. off Harris Lane and Washington Street.

Deputies with the Palm Desert Special Enforcement Team arrested the subject, who was on probation.

The suspect was booked into John Benoit Detention Center, accused of possession for sale.

Investigators said fentanyl continues to be one of the most significant threats to community safety.

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Athena Jreij

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – It’s a girl! The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens announced a baby girl giraffe was born on September 7th.

The baby was born to Mama Vicki Lou at a whopping 6 feet already.

Zoo officials say the baby is alert, healthy and curious. They’re now inviting others to come check out the new addition to the zoo family.

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