Category: kesq-local-news

Tori King

HEMET, Calif. (KESQ)– A man was arrested by the Hemet Police Department for impersonating a motorcycle police officer.

According to the Facebook post, the rider was found wearing a uniform closely resembling a local law enforcement agency, along with a duty belt and what appeared to be a Glock-style pistol.

For officer safety, the man was safely detained and disarmed. A further search revealed the subject was also carrying two taser electronic control devices, an ASP baton, and a container of OC Spray. Both electronic weapons were function tested and found to be operational.

Through investigative efforts, it was confirmed that the man is a convicted felon and legally prohibited from possessing firearms or related weapons. Additionally, the man is not licensed to provide any security services through California’s Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS).

The man was arrested and booked on several charges.

But how can you tell whether the person pulling you over is a real or fake officer? News Channel Three’s Tori King is speaking with local agencies about the warning signs. See her coverage at 4, 5 and 6pm.

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Haley Meberg

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (KESQ)– Eisenhower Health received the American Heart Association’s Get with the Guidelines- Stroke Gold quality achievement award for its commitment to appropriate stroke treatment, helping save lives. 

Get with the Guidelines is the American Heart Association as well as the American Stroke Association’s hospital-based quality improvement program that aims to provide hospitals with the latest research-based guidelines.

The goal of the organization is to provide quality care and education to stroke patients to help improve their health and recovery from the hospitals to their homes. 

 “We are incredibly pleased to recognize Eisenhower Health for its commitment to caring for patients with stroke,” says Steven Messe, MD, volunteer chair of the American Heart Association Stroke System of Care Advisory Group. “Participation in Get with the Guidelines is associated with improved patient outcomes, fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates — a win for health care systems, families and communities.”

Along with the Get with the Guidelines recognition, Eisenhower Health has been awarded the American Heart Association’s Target: StrokeSM Honor Roll award and the American Heart Association’s Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll award for their continuous commitment to ensuring patients get the most up to date treatments.  

“We are proud to be recognized by the American Heart Association for our team’s ongoing commitment to excellence in stroke and diabetes care,” says Martin Massiello, President and Chief Executive Officer, Eisenhower Health. “This achievement reflects the dedication of our clinical teams to provide timely, evidence-based care and improve outcomes for stroke patients throughout the Coachella Valley.”

For more updates stay with News Channel 3. 

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Kendall Flynn

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) — Occasionally in Palm Springs, military aircrafts will practice their routine training exercises in the airspace of Palm Springs International Airport. 

Tuesday afternoon, many callers reached out to News Channel 3 with concerns for why military aircrafts were in the sky, but it is no cause for concern, according to PSP. The airport does not have military units or aircrafts based there, but federal law requires it allows military access to the airfield when needed. 

The airport said they do not receive advance notice of these flights. While it can be a shocking loud encounter for anyone near the airport, it is a unplanned show for the Palm Springs Air Museum which sits just outside the tarmac to PSP. 

Stay with News Channel 3 to hear about the training operations from the PS Air Museum, how common they are and why they are important for pilots.

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Athena Jreij

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) – Over the weekend, 443 animals at Riverside County shelters found their new ‘fur-ever’ homes thanks to new initiatives pushing animals out of kennels.

Programs like ‘Ticket to Ride,’ a short-term foster program, and extended weekend hours, have all helped save lives.

Launched earlier this summer, ‘Ticket to Ride’ provides transitional foster homes for animals between shelters and adopters. Just days ago, 66 dogs were transported in the program’s first flight to Maine and New York.

“It’s a great way to help out, make some space at the shelter, and know that pet already has placement,” Marlo Clingman with the Department of Animal Services said.

It comes after months of new measures tackling overcrowding, that saw record numbers of 240% overcapacity just days ago.

Imalia Diego, a Riverside local and parent to three dogs already, was one of the first fosters in the program. She says before the Fourth of July, she went to the shelter hoping to lighten the load of animals left in kennels during the stressful holiday.

But an idea for one foster, quickly became two.

“They had told me that it was one dog and that if I took the one dog, a kennel would free up. So I went in and they were like, oh, actually, it’s two puppies in that kennel, so if I take one then I’m not going to free up that kennel. So I was like, okay, I’ll take both of them,” Diego said.

While she only hosted the pair, Kylo and Sally, for two weeks, she believes it changed her life.

“They were kind of shy, a little skinny. Then I was able to socialize them a little, potty train them, get them walking on a leash. All the progress that they made is so, so rewarding, then to know that they’re going to a family. The day before they had to fly out I was hugging them and crying. It was very emotional.”  

Clingman says folks like Diego are the solution they need to show up in the community.

While this weekend’s progress likely saved hundreds of lives, their work isn’t done yet.

“The more volunteers we can see show up and get involved, they really are like the beating heart of any shelter. We really rely on the volunteers, the fosters, getting those pets out of the shelter,” Clingman said.

For more information on ‘Ticket to Ride’, visit: https://rcdas.org/ticket-ride

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Allie Anthony

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – Mixed Martial Arts, or MMA, is rapidly growing in popularity across the country, with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) helping bring the sport into the mainstream. According to Gitnux, MMA training enrollments jumped 25% in 2022 alone.

The growth of the sport can been seen right here in the Valley. MMA is making an impact for the community.

In the valley, local athletes are training at the Diaz Brothers Training Camp in Indio. For the fighters there, the training camp offers more than skills training. It’s become a place where discipline and community come together.

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Cynthia White

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – Jose Estevan Chavarria, Jr., one of the two suspects arrested and accused of robbing a U.S. postal worker and possibly committing similar offenses in other places, is heading to state prison.

Chavarria, 28, of Los Angeles was arrested in March along with Luis Alberto Gonzalez, 32, of Victorville following a Riverside County Sheriff’s Department investigation in coordination with other agencies.   

On Tuesday Chevarria pleaded to a 2nd degree robbery charge and was sentenced to two years in state prison. He and co-defendant Luis Alberto Gonzalez were charged in the robbery, in which one of them had what appeared to be a handgun and forced the victim to hand over money and other belongings before fleeing.

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Cynthia White

WASHINGTON, D.C. (KESQ) – Congressman Ken Calvert (R-41) announced on Tuesday that more than $67 million for District water and transportation infrastructure projects was included in the Fiscal Year 2026 Transportation and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill.

The bill was approved by the House Appropriations Committee last week and now advances to the House floor for consideration.

If the House passes the bill, local funding for infrastructure projects includes:

$5.6 million for the Cook Street Bridge Project in Palm Desert

$5 million for the Indian Canyon Drive Project in Palm Springs

$3 million for the Inline Baggage Handling System Improvement Project at Palm Springs International Airport

$5 million for the Via Vail Roadway Improvement Project in Rancho Mirage

$5 million for the Washington Street Pavement Resurfacing Project in La Quinta

$5 million for the Whitewater Channel Lining in Indian Wells

Passage of the bill will also include funding for infrastructure projects in other areas throughout the District:

$1.7 million for the Corona Trails Improvement Project

$5 million for the French Valley Airport Contract Control Tower Project

$5 million for the I-10 Singleton Road Interchange Project in Calimesa

$5 million for the I-15 Express Lanes Southern Extension Project

$8 million for the Lake Elsinore Water Quality Project

$4 million for the Magnolia Avenue Widening Project in Corona

$2.5 million for the Norco Recycled Water Distribution and Transmission Mainline Project

$5 million for the Quail Valley Septic to Sewer Conversion Project

$2.5 million for the Scott Road/Bundy Canyon Road Widening in Menifee

“The resources provided for Riverside County projects in this bill will help communities throughout our region,” said Rep. Calvert. “I’m proud to work together with our local leaders to identify and fund projects that will make an impact in reducing traffic congestion, improving water quality, and enhancing our local airports.”

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Shay Lawson

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ)  – Following the death of rock legend Ozzy Osbourne, Coachella Valley advocates are urging residents to learn the early warning signs of Parkinson’s disease — a condition Osbourne publicly battled in his final years.

According to the Parkinson’s Foundation, about 1.1 million people in the U.S. are living with the disease.

In the Coachella Valley Eileen Lynch, Executive Director at Parkinson’s Resource Organization, said there is a higher concentration of people with Parkinson’s disease in Southern California than in the rest of the United States.

“We conservatively estimate that there are anywhere from 10,000 to 12,000 people living with Parkinson’s right here in Coachella Valley,” Lynch said. “That doesn’t include the caregivers and the family that are there supporting them.”

Lynch said there is only one movement disorder specialist, which is the specialist trained to treat Parkinson’s, for that entire population.

“There is a massive gap between the demand and the need for services here,” Lynch said. “Here at Parkinson’s Resource Organization we’re happy to be diving into that gap, providing emotional support and practical resources for people with Parkinson’s and their families as they navigate this. But it is absolutely critical that we get more Parkinson’s specialists here in the Valley in the near future.”

News Channel 3 reached out to that specialist but he was not available for an interview on Tuesday.

The Alzheimers Coachella Valley (ACV) Parkinson’s support group meets weekly.

It offers support for both those diagnosed and their caregivers.

Jeanie Ormiston has attended that group for 6 months.

“I love it,” Ormiston said.

She said she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2012.

“My doctor made me. I didn’t want to go. I didn’t want to know,” Ormiston said. “But then I went from a tremor to a jerk. It was too uncomfortable to be around people. She said go to the neurologist, and I did.”

Now, she said she regularly boxes and attends the ACV Parkinson’s support group.

“Movement is the only thing that helps,” Ormiston said. “Parkinson’s never takes a day off and you can’t either.”

Osbourne’s death comes as new research from the University of Bristol suggests dogs may be able to detect Parkinson’s by smell — possibly years before traditional symptoms appear.

Andrew Imbus, a Physician Assistant with Kaiser Permanente, said this discovery is encouraging.

“They’re allowing us an opportunity to even find these patients even earlier in the stages,” Imbus said. “Finding each person who has Parkinson’s, there’s at least this thought that they have a very unique olfactory scent to them that maybe we are unable to pick up. But a dog certainly can. Being able to find these patients earlier with Parkinson’s, I think is equally great.”

While still in early stages, the scent-based studies offer hope for non-invasive, early screening tools in the future.

Advocates, patients and medical professionals agree that early detection is key.

“We can’t turn back the time or regenerate those cells, at least not yet.” Imbus said. “What we can do is to try and slow it by improving your exercise and getting you the symptomatic care through medication, surgeries, whatever means we have in front of us to try and decrease the impact on your life with those symptoms.”

Stay with News Channel 3 to learn what those early warning signs are in the full report at 10 and 11 p.m.

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City News Service

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – The fall version of Modernism Week in Palm Springs will include more than 50 events featuring free and low-cost programs during its Oct. 16-19 run, officials announced today.

“We are so excited to continue sharing the momentum of our twentieth-year celebration with this popular fall version of our festival,” Modernism Week CEO Lisa Vossler Smith said in a statement. “We will continue to showcase new events and some of the most popular programs that have made Modernism Week in February so famous.”

The four-day event will highlight mid-century and modern architecture, art, interior, landscape design and vintage culture throughout the city.   

A full schedule will be released online Friday at modernismweek.com, and tickets will go on sale Aug. 1 at noon.   

The signature 11-day festival will be held Feb. 12-22, 2026, with tickets available starting Nov.1 at noon.

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Peter Daut

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ)– Scams targeting older adults are on the rise, becoming more deceptive and more costly. An upcoming “senior scam awareness seminar” in Palm Desert aims to give people the tools to stay informed and alert.

The event is being hosted by assemblyman Greg Wallis in partnership with the desert recreation district. Organizers say scammers are targeting older adults every day through fake phone calls, deceptive emails, and online schemes. 

Just this past April, the Palm Springs police department issued a warning about new and ongoing scams affecting local seniors.

Nick Anziano District Director for Assemblymember Greg Wallis says, “Unfortunately, once they engage with the scammer from there it’s kind of a slippery slope. So you can’t wait until someone’s been scammed to act, and that’s the whole point of this event to help protect people. and help people to protect themselves.” 

The District Director reports that a number of state agencies and representatives will be there to present the most current information on this growing topic. 

“With technology and how prevalent AI is becoming, these criminal predators become increasingly sophisticated. and their tactics are quite terrifying honestly,” Anziano adds. 

The free seminar will be held August 13, at the Palm Desert Community Center from 9 to 11 a.m.

For more information stay with News Channel 3.

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