Category: kesq-local-news

Peter Daut

LA QUINTA, Calif. (KESQ) – The parents of fallen Marine Corporal Hunter Lopez are inviting the community to come together Wednesday night to honor their son and other service members who made the ultimate sacrifice.

The fifth annual Hunter Lopez Lightsaber Vigil will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, August 26, at the La Quinta Civic Center Campus on Calle Tampico.

Lopez was a Coachella Valley resident and a passionate Star Wars fan. He was among 13 U.S. service members killed during a suicide bombing at the Kabul airport on August 26, 2021, during the evacuation from Afghanistan.

The Lightsaber Vigil has become an annual La Quinta tradition, with the lightsabers creating a powerful visual tribute to Lopez and his fellow service members.

Attendees are encouraged to bring their own lightsabers to join in the tribute.

This year, Lopez’s parents are also asking community members to bring photos of loved ones who served in the military or as first responders. The photos will help create a broader tribute to the men and women who have dedicated their lives to serving their communities and country.

Mayor Linda Evans, members of the La Quinta City Council and community leaders are expected to attend the vigil.

The family has also set up a memorial foundation to help those who protect and serve our nation.

The event is open to the community and will take place at the La Quinta Civic Center Campus, at 78495 Calle Tampico.

Event Details

What: Fifth Annual Hunter Lopez Lightsaber VigilWhen: Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at 7 p.m.Where: Civic Center Campus, 78495 Calle Tampico, La Quinta, CA 92253What to bring: A lightsaber, if you have one, and a photo of a loved one who served in the military or as a first responder.

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City News Service

RIVERSIDE (CNS) – The Board of Supervisors today renewed an agreement for 211 call center service throughout Riverside County, continuing the service that connects callers with government agencies and nonprofits that can provide crisis intervention and referrals to assist with other needs.

The compact with Riverside-based Inland Southern California 211+ was unanimously approved without comment by the board as part of its policy agenda Tuesday.

The contract takes effect immediately and will expire on June 30, 2027, at a cost of $255,594. However, the agreement permits automatic annual renewals of the 211 service until the end of June 2031 — provided there are no conflicts between the parties. The aggregate cost over that five-year period will be $1.27 million, according to the Executive Office.

A 211 service has been available countywide for over a decade, though the board approved the county’s first contract with Inland Southern California 211+ in early 2022, following termination of a compact with a previous provider.

“These services are a component of the Department of Behavioral Health’s system of care aimed at improving the health and safety of consumers, and the community,” according to an EO statement posted to the board’s agenda.

Call center specialists are available around-the-clock and are trained to refer callers to government offices and nonprofits best able to assist them with obtaining Medi-Cal benefits, veterans aid, food stamps, disability care and free or low-cost transportation.

Specialists are also trained in crisis intervention, much the same as suicide hotline operators, and can additionally field child, dependent adult and senior abuse complaints.

Under the agreement, all calls must be logged, noting callers’ zip codes, needs and whether they received referrals.

The Department of Behavioral Health did not seek competitive bids to determine whether other providers might be able to render similar services in the county at less expense. Officials said the Department of Purchasing & Fleet Services reviewed the matter and found that the single-source option was best.

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City News Service

PALM SPRINGS (CNS) – Arborists will perform annual palm tree maintenance in the Palm Springs downtown and uptown areas starting today.

The work will take place from 7 a.m. to roughly 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday for nearly a month. The work will be done in the areas of Palm Canyon Drive from Tachevah Drive to Ramon Road, Indian Canyon Drive and the Arenas District.

Maintenance crews will remove fruit and seed pods from California fan palms without removing the tree skirts, while fruit and seed pods and skirts will be removed from Mexican fan palms.

Temporary parking restrictions will be put in place in areas where the crews are working, city officials said.

Last month, city council members approved a tree-trimming project to eventually remove skirts from California and Mexican fan palms citywide to remove any potential physical dangers from falling skirts.

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KESQ News Team

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (KESQ) The California Supreme Court heard oral arguments Monday morning in two cases challenging Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco’s seizure of ballots from the November 2025 special election.

Arguments began at 10 a.m. at the Earl Warren Building in San Francisco.

The justices heard Cervantes v. Bianco first, followed by Attorney General v. Bianco. Both cases stem from search warrants Bianco’s deputies served on the Riverside County Registrar of Voters earlier this year, seizing what the Attorney General’s office says was more than 650,000 voted ballots as part of the sheriff’s investigation into the election.

In a statement released Sunday ahead of the hearing, Attorney General Rob Bonta called the seizure “an unlawful attempt to sow distrust and undermine public confidence in our elections,” saying that “six months after my office intervened, we’ve seen no evidence that any elections crimes were committed that would support the Sheriff’s warrants.”

“Now, we hope that the Supreme Court will put an end to the destabilizing, political actions of this rogue sheriff for good,” Bonta said.

Bianco has not been charged with any crime, and no court has ruled that he violated the law. The sheriff has defended the investigation as a lawful exercise of his authority, and his campaign called the Attorney General’s challenge “pure lawfare” in a fundraising email last week. The election-skeptic group whose claims sparked the investigation told News Channel 3 it hopes the justices allow the probe to continue. Registrar of Voters Art Tinoco has disputed the group’s claim of a roughly 45,000-vote discrepancy, saying the actual gap was 103 votes and attributing it to human error.

Solicitor General Sam Harbourt will argue both cases for the state. Bonta is arguing on both fronts: his office filed one case directly, and the court invited him to argue in support of the Riverside County residents who filed the other. Bonta plans to attend in person and take questions outside the courtroom afterward.

The court’s April order pausing Bianco’s investigation and requiring the seized ballots to be preserved remains in effect. The Sheriff’s Department confirmed to News Channel 3 in June that it still has the ballots.

An appeals court justice, Gordon Burns, will sit temporarily with the six current justices to fill the seat left open by Justice Martin Jenkins’ retirement.

Once arguments conclude, the court has 90 days to issue a decision — meaning a ruling is expected by late November.

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Dakota Makinen

COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) – Skywatchers have a reason to look up Thursday night as a partial lunar eclipse will be visible across the Coachella Valley.

The eclipse will peak around 9:12 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 27, with the moon visible toward the east and southeast. During a partial lunar eclipse, Earth’s shadow covers only part of the moon.

The event is also drawing attention from astrologers, who view lunar eclipses as periods of change and reflection.

For the best view Thursday night, find a spot with a clear view of the eastern and southeastern sky.

Stay with News Channel 3 for the latest updates.

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Kiera McKinney

ONTARIO, Calif. (KESQ) -A sold-out crowd packed Ont Field as the Ontario Tower Buzzers hosted “Fly High Jackie Night” to honor the beloved Jackie the Big Bear bald eagle. Half of the ticket proceeds from the event went to the Friends of Big Bear Valley to aid local conservation efforts.

The tribute follows the death of Jackie on August 10, who died after receiving more than three weeks of intensive medical care for injuries sustained in an apparent altercation with other eagles. The team, a Single-A Minor League affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers, partnered with the Friends of Big Bear Valley,, the nonprofit group leading preservation efforts for the bald eagles’ natural habitat.

Alan Benavides, general manager of the Ontario Tower Buzzers, said the idea to host the memorial game came together quickly after the eagle’s passing. “We’re thinking, you know what? Let’s honor Jackie. Let’s do a day with Jackie We reached out to Friends of Big Bear Valley and they were pretty excited to partner with us,” Benavides said.

Fans packed the stadium for the tribute, participating in activities, purchasing merchandise and signing their names in honor of Jackie. Kimberly Giffen, a fan who traveled from Tarzana to attend, said she felt compelled to make the trip. “I’ve been following them for eight years… no matter how far it is, I was determined to be here because I could not imagine not being here,” Giffen said. She added that seeing the turnout was deeply meaningful.

“I’m very touched by it. It’s just fulfilling my heart. And I just know that she’s flying high. Flying high, Jackie,” Giffen said. Representatives from the Friends of Big Bear Valley noted that Jackie and her mate, Shadow, reached a worldwide audience, with viewers tuning in from every country in the world except four.

Representatives from the Friends of Big Bear Valley said Jackie and her mate, Shadow, became known around the world. People watched them online from almost every country. Their story also helped raise nearly $5 million in about five months to help protect the forest around Big Bear Lake.

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Matthew Pearce

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) — Recent infection outbreaks have prompted residents to question the safety of fresh produce, leading Coachella Valley farmers to highlight the health and safety benefits of buying food directly from local growers.

Contaminants such as cyclospora and salmonella have raised questions among consumers regarding produce safety.

Weekly farmers markets across the Coachella Valley feature local farmers and small businesses offering direct-to-consumer produce.

Stay with News Channel 3 tonight for more information.

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KESQ News Team

CABAZON, Calif. (KESQ) – Update: 08/26

A man accused of fatally shooting an acquaintance and burying his remains near Interstate 10 in Cabazon has been charged with first-degree murder and other offenses.

Jesse Bruce Kennedy, 48, of Cabazon, made his initial court appearance this afternoon at the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta.

Investigators with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office arrested Kennedy on suspicion of murder after human remains were discovered during an ongoing homicide investigation.

At approximately 12:23 a.m. on Aug. 22, investigators from the Sheriff’s Office Central Homicide Unit located human remains in the area of Williams Avenue and Poplar Street in Cabazon.

According to court records, the victim was identified as Cristian Nieto Valenzuela, who was reported missing last week. Nieto, 33, was last seen on Tuesday, August 11, in the Cabazon Area.

During the investigation, detectives identified Kennedy as a suspect in the homicide. Kennedy was located near Williams Avenue and Poplar Street and taken into custody without incident.

The investigation remains active and ongoing.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Central Homicide Unit Investigator Nick Ramirez at (951) 955-2777 or Cabazon Sheriff’s Station Investigator Birmingham at (951) 922-7100.

Update: 08/23

An arrest has been made in connection to human remains found in Cabazon early Saturday morning, during a homicide investigation.

Around 12:23 a.m. on August 22, investigators from the Riverside Sheriff’s Central Homicide Unit located human remains in the area of Williams Avenue and Poplar Street.

During the investigation, the Central Homicide Unit identified a 48-year-old resident of Cabazon, as the suspect in this murder.

The suspect was then located and taken into custody without incident.

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office said the 48-year-old was booked into the Cois Byrd Detention Center for murder. Authorities say this remains an active and ongoing investigation.

Stay with News Channel 3 for any updates.

Original Report: 08/22

CABAZON, Calif. (KESQ) – Human remains were discovered in Cabazon early Saturday morning as investigators followed up on an ongoing homicide investigation, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office.

The Riverside Sheriff’s Central Homicide Unit was conducting follow-up work around 12:23 a.m. on August 22 in the area of Williams Avenue and Poplar Street.

The Sheriff’s Office has not released additional details about the remains or identified the person.

Authorities say the investigation remains active.

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Jesus Reyes

TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. (KESQ) – A woman was killed, and two men were injured following an explosion and house fire in Twentynine Palms Friday night.

The incident was first reported just before 8:30 p.m. on the 6400 block of Ocotillo Avenue.

Deputies from the Morongo Basin Station were dispatched to a residence to assist the fire department with a house fire, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department. Deputies arrived and learned the house had exploded.

A 46-year-old woman and two men, ages 41 and 72, were confirmed to have been inside the home when it exploded. Police said the woman was unable to escape the residence and was pronounced dead at the scene. Her identity has not been released.

The two men were hospitalized with burns.

Sheriff’s Arson/Bomb Detail also responded and has assumed the investigation. The cause is still being investigated.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Arson / Bomb Detail at (909) 805-4937. Callers wishing to remain anonymous should call or text REPORT to We-Tip at 844-909-3006.

Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing updates as we continue to learn more about the incident.

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Kiera McKinney

THOUSAND PALMS, CALIF. (KESQ)- Two dog food manufacturers have issued product recalls following reports of contamination risks. On Aug. 21, 2026, Fromm Family Foods LLC recalled Fromm wet canned dog food due to potential metal contamination.

That announcement followed an Aug. 17, 2026, recall by Oma’s Pride for raw canine food linked to potential salmonella contamination.

The Oma’s Pride recall involves 639 bags of frozen Woof Complete Canine Chicken Recipe. Food and Drug Administration testing triggered by a consumer complaint confirmed the presence of salmonella in a product sample. Three dog illnesses have been reported in connection with the product, while no human illnesses have been identified.

The affected Oma’s Pride product is sold in six-pound gusseted stand-up pouches containing 12 individually wrapped, eight-ounce vacuum-sealed portions.

The recalled lot was manufactured on Jan. 27, 2026, with a best-by date of Jan. 27, 2029. Between Feb. 12 and May 15, 2026, the bags were distributed to retailers and wholesalers in 11 states: Arizona, Calif., Ind., Ky., La., Md., Nev., N.J., N.Y., Pa. and Virginia, as well as directly to consumers through online orders.

Salmonella contamination poses health risks to pets consuming the food and to humans handling it, particularly if hands and surfaces are not thoroughly washed. Infected animals may experience lethargy, diarrhea, fever, vomiting, decreased appetite and abdominal pain, though healthy pets can also act as symptomless carriers. Humans exposed to salmonella can experience symptoms including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever, with potential risks for severe complications such as arterial infections, endocarditis and arthritis.

Pet owners who purchased the recalled raw dog food are instructed to stop feeding it to their animals immediately, dispose of the product safely and contact Oma’s Pride for a full refund. Consumers should also wash and sanitize all pet bowls, cups and storage containers that came into contact with the food. Oma’s Pride addressed the recalled lot in a statement to customers. “The health and safety of pets and the people who care for them is our highest priority,” the company said. “We are proud of the food we make and we remain committed to producing high-quality, biologically appropriate pet food.”

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