Category: kesq-local-news

Dakota Makinen

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – August is National Breastfeeding Month, highlighting both the benefits of breastfeeding and the challenges some new moms face.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has set a goal of 42% of mothers exclusively breastfeeding through six months. The latest rate is 29.8%, according to the CDC.

Desert Regional Medical Center offers lactation support for moms facing challenges such as latching problems, concerns about milk supply and questions about medications.

Stay with News Channel 3 for the latest updates.

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Jesus Reyes

DESERT EDGE, Calif. (KESQ) – A person was rushed to the hospital with serious injuries after a fire at a mobile home in Desert Edge Thursday night.

The fire was reported at around 10:10 p.m. on the 18100 block of Langlois Road, in an unincorporated community between Sky Valley and Desert Hot Springs.

Upon their arrival, firefighters were in rescue mode for a reported victim trapped. The person was taken to the hospital via an ambulance.

The fire has since been contained to the structure. Firefighters will remain on-scene for another four hours working on overhaul.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. ‬

The Palm Springs Fire Department has been called to assist.

Stay with News Channel 3 for any updates.

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City News Service

LA QUINTA, Calif. (KESQ) – Imperial Irrigation District customers in the Coachella Valley will have an opportunity to enter into a lottery to have a shade tree professionally installed at their residence starting Monday.

Customers will be able to sign up for the program Monday through Sept. 11 online at https://www.iid.com/customer-service/save-energy-and-money/your-home/tree-for-all.

The “Residential Shade Tree” program offers customers the chance to receive one shade tree installed free of charge by a licensed contractor. Lottery winners will be selected and contacted by representatives within four to six weeks after the sign-up period.

Officials said the trees provide natural shade around a home, which can help reduce cooling costs and improve air quality.

“Shade trees are a simple but meaningful way to help customers save energy and improve their homes,” Karin Eugenio, board chairwoman, said in a statement. “This program provides a direct benefit to customers while also supporting healthier, more beautiful communities across IID’s service area.”

Each tree was selected to thrive in desert areas, officials said.

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Jesus Reyes

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) – Investigators have identified the final unidentified victim of serial killer Keith Hunter Jesperson, known as the “Happy Face Killer,” 34 years after the discovery of her body near Blythe.

The woman, previously referred to by investigators as “Claudia,” was officially identified on Thursday as Lydia Jane Wade McWhorter, a 26-year-old from Texas, the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office announced on Thursday.

Lydia’s body was found on Aug. 30, 1992, along Highway 95, approximately seven miles north of Blythe.

Jesperson later confessed to her murder and told investigators he had met her while working as a long-haul truck driver. He referred to the woman as “Claudia,” but investigators were never able to confirm that was her real name.

In 2024, the Riverside County Regional Cold Case Homicide Team publicly appealed for information that could help identify her. At that time, advances in DNA technology and genetic genealogy had allowed investigators to identify relatives on Lydia’s paternal side, but a maternal connection was still needed to confirm her identity.

An investigative lead received by the DA’s team led to a direct maternal relative of Lydia’s. Following that lead, investigators identified a possible genetic connection to a member of Lydia’s maternal family.

Earlier this week, a DNA sample confirmed the connection, allowing investigators to positively identify the woman as Lydia Jane Wade McWhorter.

Lydia’s sisters that she grew up with spent decades not knowing what happened to her after she disappeared from Texas in the 1990s.

“I want to thank the public for the role you play in our investigations,” said Billy Hester, Supervising Investigator of the Cold Case Unit. “When people take the time to share information, submit a tip or simply pay attention to what is happening in their community, it can make a real difference. You may not know where a piece of information will lead, but our investigators will follow it. Most importantly, I hope this will finally bring closure to Lydia’s family.”

The District Attorney’s Office Division of Victim Services is working with Lydia’s family as they determine how they would like to honor and lay her to rest.

Jesperson pleaded guilty to Lydia’s murder in Riverside County on Jan. 8, 2010, and was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. He is currently serving multiple life sentences in Oregon.

PHOTO: 2009 booking photo (mugshot) of Keith Hunter Jesperson, the “Happy Face Killer,” taken after he was extradited to Riverside County, California from Oregon, Photo Date: 2009

With Lydia’s identification, the Riverside County Regional Cold Case Homicide Team has closed the final case associated with the murders for which Jesperson was convicted.

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Luis Avila

THERMAL, Calif. (KESQ) — Questions are being raised about how Coachella Valley Unified School District handled a power outage at two Thermal schools Thursday as temperatures climbed well above 100 degrees.

The power outage affected John Kelley Elementary School and La Familia High School, leaving parts of the campuses without air conditioning.

The Imperial Irrigation District says the outage began around 10 a.m.

According to IID, the outage was caused by a vehicle hitting a pole guy wire. That caused a primary conductor to make contact with the ground, creating a permanent fault in IID’s system.

The fault also damaged equipment inside an IID substation, which the utility says slowed restoration efforts.

IID says crews eventually isolated the damaged substation equipment and a downed conductor near Higgins Drive and Lightning Street in Thermal.

Power was restored to 298 customers at 1:02 p.m., according to IID. The utility says the remaining 36 customers were expected to remain without power for approximately four to eight hours while repairs were completed.

The Coachella Valley Teachers Association says the outage created unsafe conditions for students and staff because of the extreme heat.

The union claims students remained on campus after the power went out and says staff members were directed to stay.

CVTA President Carissa Carrera said the situation highlights concerns about the district’s emergency heat response.

“Forcing educators and children to remain inside uncooled desert classrooms during a power grid failure … is not just reckless — it is a clear violation of California labor law,” Carrera said.

The union is pointing to California’s indoor heat illness prevention requirements and says CVUSD should have an emergency plan in place for situations involving extreme indoor temperatures.

However, CVUSD says the initial power disruption at John Kelley Elementary affected only part of the campus.

The district says students in the affected classrooms were moved to classrooms with working air conditioning so instruction could continue in a safe and comfortable environment.

As conditions changed and electrical service was lost at both John Kelley and La Familia High School, CVUSD says it activated its emergency dismissal and transportation procedures.

The district says La Familia students were dismissed early and transported home by bus.

At John Kelley, parents and guardians were given the option to pick up their children. CVUSD says transportation was also coordinated for students who needed bus transportation home.

CVUSD also says its Heat Advisories and Heat Illness Prevention Plan were implemented in accordance with applicable requirements.

In response to concerns about future electrical disruptions, CVUSD says it will take an additional preventative step by strategically placing generators throughout the district.

Stay with News Channel 3 for more.

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KESQ News Team

Rancho Mirage, CA (KESQ)- As Labor Day weekend approaches, Walter Clark Legal Group is encouraging Southern California residents to make responsible transportation choices after celebrating with friends and family. The personal injury law firm is once again offering its Safe Ride Home Program, which reimburses eligible participants for the cost of a cab or rideshare when they choose to leave their vehicle behind rather than drive while impaired.

The program is scheduled to operate from 10:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 5; Sunday, September 6; and Monday, September 7, 2023. Participants must register in advance for a free Reimbursement Coupon through Eventbrite to qualify.

Walter Clark Legal Group says the program is designed to provide people with an alternative when they realize they are not safe to drive. The firm encourages residents to register before the holiday weekend because the need for a ride home can arise unexpectedly at a bar, restaurant, or private gathering.

Even people who do not plan to become intoxicated can find themselves more impaired than anticipated after drinking. Having a ride option available can make it easier to leave a vehicle behind and get home safely.

Under the program, reimbursement coupons cover a single one-way ride from a bar, restaurant, or party to a safe destination, such as a residence or hotel. The maximum reimbursement is $50.

To participate, riders must meet the program’s eligibility requirements, including:

Being at least 21 years old.

Having a valid driver’s license.

Registering in advance for a free Reimbursement Coupon.

Using the coupon for an eligible one-way trip home during the program hours.

The program is offered in communities served by Walter Clark Legal Group, including the Coachella Valley, Victor Valley, Yucca Valley and the Morongo Basin, Banning/Beaumont, and El Centro areas.

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Kiera McKinney

IDYLLWILD, CALIF. (KESQ)- As hot and humid conditions continue across the Coachella Valley, some residents and visitors are heading to higher elevations for a break from the desert heat.

Idyllwild, located in the San Jacinto Mountains, offers cooler temperatures just a short drive from the valley. For local businesses, the change in weather can also mean a boost in customers.

Shops and restaurants in the mountain community say summer visitors often come from the desert looking to spend the day in cooler weather, walk around town, shop and grab something to eat. For local gift shops, those extra visitors can make a difference, especially when uncomfortable conditions in the valley encourage people to make the trip up the mountain.

Visitors say the cooler temperatures and mountain atmosphere give them an easy way to escape the heat without traveling far from home.

The drive also comes with a significant change in elevation, taking visitors from the desert floor to Idyllwild at more than 5,000 feet above sea level.

With more hot weather still ahead in the Coachella Valley, businesses in Idyllwild could continue seeing visitors looking for a nearby escape from the summer heat.

See my full story tonight at 5 on News Channel 3.

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Raymond Kalra

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – As automated license plate readers continue to face scrutiny locally and nationwide, a Rancho Mirage resident says an official notice from the California Highway Patrol linked him to a vehicle he has never owned.

Michael Harrington said he received a CHP notice involving a 2024 BMW registered in Colorado. According to Harrington, the notice suggested he was responsible for the vehicle and referenced a previous warning that he says he never received.

Harrington said the notice immediately raised concerns about fraud, identity theft and how his name became connected to the car.

“It wasn’t a question. It was a criminal accusation,” Harrington said. “Then I found out… that’s registered to someone with your name, different date of birth.”

Harrington said he contacted officials in Colorado and was told the BMW is registered to another person with the same name, but a different date of birth, Colorado driver’s license and Colorado residency.

The case is raising broader questions about what happens after information is generated through automated license plate reader technology — and where human verification comes into the process.

Palm Springs Police Captain Gustavo Araiza told News Channel 3 that information produced through technology still needs to be independently checked.

“A lot of the information that comes out of it is a lot of times inaccurate. So it’s very important for everybody to verify that information,” Araiza said.

Palm Springs Police recently opened its Real Time Intelligence Center to the public, explaining how the department uses Flock Safety license plate readers and other technology.

Araiza said officers can review the actual image captured by a camera and compare it with the plate number generated by the system. Even after that check, he said the information remains an investigative lead rather than a final determination.

“We still have to do follow-up,” Araiza said. “At the very least, it’s an investigative lead.”

News Channel 3 also reached out to Flock Safety about Harrington’s concerns.

A Flock spokesperson said the company’s cameras are license plate readers that capture still images of vehicles and read license plates. The company said its system does not identify the driver or registered owner of a vehicle and cannot be searched using a person’s name.

Flock also said any determination connecting a vehicle to an individual is made by law enforcement, not by Flock’s technology.

The company’s response highlights an important distinction that a license plate reader can provide information about a vehicle, but identifying the person associated with that vehicle requires additional steps outside of the camera system itself.

For residents who receive an official-looking letter, phone call, text or email that does not appear accurate, Araiza said the best step is to verify it independently rather than ignore it.

“If it’s coming from a specific agency, just verify that information is accurate,” Araiza said.

He recommends searching for the agency independently and calling a verified phone number rather than relying only on contact information or links included in a message.

Harrington said he has filed a complaint with CHP Internal Affairs and, so far, has only received confirmation that the complaint was received.

News Channel 3 also reached out to the California Highway Patrol requesting comment on Harrington’s case and how the vehicle became associated with him. As of publication, CHP had not responded.

Palm Springs Police says regardless of whether information originates from Flock or another technology, human verification remains a necessary part of the investigative process.

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Garrett Hottle

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) The Palm Desert man arrested in an attack on a Flock Safety contractor posted bail and was released from custody Wednesday, and the case was submitted to prosecutors Thursday for a decision on formal charges, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office confirmed to News Channel 3.

Nathan Daniel Ceballos, had been expected to appear in court Thursday afternoon at the Larson Justice Center in Indio. Earlier Thursday, the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office told News Channel 3 it had not yet received the case and no filing decision had been made. The sheriff’s office said Thursday afternoon the case was submitted to prosecutors that day. Jail records show Ceballos is now due back in court Oct. 9.

Ceballos has not been charged with a crime. News Channel 3 went to his Palm Desert home Thursday morning; no one answered the door.

As we first reported Tuesday, deputies from the Palm Desert Sheriff’s Station were called to the 73000 block of Fred Waring Drive around 10:25 a.m. Monday, Aug. 24, for a report of an assault with a deadly weapon, according to the sheriff’s office.

Investigators said the victim was a contractor hired by Flock Safety to replace an automated license plate reader camera for the city of Palm Desert that had previously been vandalized.

While the contractor was working on the camera, a man approached him, slashed all four tires on his utility vehicle, damaged the newly installed camera and threatened to stab him, the sheriff’s office said.

Deputies identified Ceballos as the suspect and arrested him that evening during a traffic stop near Palm Desert Drive and San Marcos Avenue. Jail records show he was booked into the John J. Benoit Detention Center in Indio just after 10 p.m. on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, criminal threats and multiple counts of felony vandalism.

He posted bail and was released the following day, according to the sheriff’s office.

A search warrant served at his home in the 73000 block of San Nicholas Avenue turned up evidence tied to the assault and to additional vandalism of Flock Safety cameras, according to investigators. Deputies said they also found videos of teenage girls that investigators described as sexually intrusive, recorded in both public and private spaces, and are working to identify the people in those recordings.

Neighbors who spoke with News Channel 3 on Thursday were split. Some, who declined to appear on camera, said they were troubled by the allegations involving the videos. Others described Ceballos as friendly and part of a hardworking family that runs its own repair business.

The sheriff’s office warned that intentionally damaging or tampering with Flock cameras can carry felony charges. The case comes as license plate reader technology faces growing scrutiny across the Coachella Valley, including questions about what happens when the system gets it wrong.

Anyone with information about the assault is asked to contact Deputy Jake Paull at the Palm Desert Sheriff’s Station at (760) 836-1600. Anyone who believes they may have been recorded is urged to contact Investigator Katheryn Evans at the same number.

This story will be updated if the district attorney’s office confirms receipt of the case or announces a filing decision.

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Jesus Reyes

LA QUINTA, Calif. (KESQ) – Hundreds gathered in La Quinta Wednesday night to honor local fallen Marine Corporal Hunter Lopez and the 12 other U.S. service members killed in the Kabul airport attack five years ago.

(Top row left to right) Maxton Soviak, Kareem Nikoui, David Espinoza, Rylee McCollum, Jared Schmitz, Taylor Hoover, Nicole Gee (bottom row left to right) Ryan Knauss, Hunter Lopez, Johanny Rosario, Humberto Sanchez, Daegan Page, Dylan Merola

The 5th annual Hunter Lopez Lightsaber Vigil transformed the Civic Center Campus into a sea of lights as community members raised lightsabers in tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

“So as we raise our sabers, we do so in honor of the fellow fallen heroes. May their memory continue to shine through us like these lights cut through the darkness,” said La Quinta Mayor Linda Evans.

Lopez, a 22-year-old La Quinta High School graduate and lifelong Star Wars fan, was remembered not only for his service to the country, but for the impact he continues to have on the community he called home.

“We have a monument there in Hunter’s name, but Hunter’s true memorial isn’t carved in stone. It’s carried in the hearts of his family, his fellow Marines, his friends, and this community. It’s there every time we say his name, every time we tell a story, every time a young person hears about Hunter and learns what service, courage, and duty looks like. And that’s why tonight it shouldn’t only be about how Hunter died; it should be about how Hunter lived,” said La Quinta Councilmember Steve Sanchez.

This year’s vigil also honored military members and first responders, with families sharing photos of loved ones who have dedicated their lives to serving others.

The Lopez family launched the Hunter Lopez Memorial Foundation to raise money to help those who protect and serve our country, including a scholarship fund for students at La Quinta High School. Click here to donate and/or learn more.

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