Category: kesq-local-news

Luis Avila

COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) – The Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District is advising residents that recent rain and a warm-up this week have created ideal conditions for mosquito breeding.

Standing water left behind from last week’s storms can quickly produce mosquitoes, officials said. The advisory follows confirmation of the first mosquito-borne virus detected locally this year — St. Louis encephalitis virus.

Residents are urged to drain standing water around their homes and use insect repellent to prevent bites.

Stay with News Channel 3 for more.

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Daniella Lake

SALTON SEA, Calif. (KESQ) –  California State Parks is preparing a new general plan for the Salton Sea State Recreation Area and is inviting the public to participate in the process through a series of workshops this month. 

“It’s in need of some rehabilitation, in need of some increased public spaces. And so in order to invest significant amount of capital, we are in need of a general plan which helps guide that type of improvement,” says Enrique Arroyo, Ocotillo Wells district superintendent.

The general plan will establish a long-term vision for the park, which has changed significantly since the park was designated as a state recreation area in 1963.

“It’s really actually pretty trippy to see this big body of water in the middle of Southern California and there’s nobody in the water,” says Cyrus Chen, a visitor.

Declining water levels have reshaped recreation opportunities at the park and impacted the park’s ecosystem, leading to death of wildlife throughout the past two decades. By creating a new general plan, California State Parks is hoping to increase opportunities for land-based recreation.

“It’s really just a beautiful place for people to come in and walk around and just take in the unique natural environment that exists here,” says Joe Shea with California Natural Resources Agency.

Governor Gavin Newsom’s new proposed budget for the state includes 30 million dollars towards habitat restoration and new public access opportunities.

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Timothy Foster

SALTON CITY, Calif. (KESQ) – Dozens of family members, friends, and neighbors gathered Sunday afternoon in Salton City to honor the life of 17-year-old T’Neya “TT” Tovar.

The vigil was held outside the home of 51-year-old Abraham Feinbloom, who has been charged with murder and resisting a peace officer in connection with her death. He has pleaded not guilty and is being held without bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for February 23.

While the case continues to move through the court system, those in attendance said the focus of the afternoon was on remembering T’Neya and celebrating her life.

Loved ones stood together holding candles and photos of T’Neya. Balloons were released into the sky as family members embraced, shared memories, and leaned on one another for support.

According to investigators, human remains were discovered in Salton City in December. T’Neya’s mother said she was initially told the remains were believed to belong to a man. Weeks later, authorities requested a DNA sample, which confirmed the remains were her daughter’s.

T’Neya had been reported missing from a group home in Hemet in June, according to her mother. Friends described her as adventurous and said she often kept in touch with loved ones, even during difficult times.

Court records show Feinbloom previously faced felony kidnapping and false imprisonment charges in Imperial County in 2018. Those charges were dismissed in 2019 after prosecutors said they were unable to proceed.

Family members described T’Neya as bubbly, energetic, and full of personality. They said she loved to dance, sing, and make videos, bringing light and laughter wherever she went.

Her uncle said the loss still feels surreal and that he struggles to understand the motive behind what happened.

Throughout the afternoon, community members stopped by to offer hugs, prayers, and words of encouragement. Family members said the strong turnout was a reminder of how deeply loved T’Neya was and how much support surrounds them during this difficult time.

As candles continued to glow into the evening, her family said they plan to attend upcoming court hearings as they continue seeking justice.

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Gavin Nguyen

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Visitors to the Palm Springs Art Museum were greeted with a pleasant surprise this Sunday!

The museum waived admission fees, which are typically $25 for adults, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. It’s part of a regional push for free admission to museums throughout Southern California as a part of an annual Free-for-All Day. Over 30 museums across SoCal are participating.

Palm Springs Art Museum invited guests to enjoy hands-on workshops and art activities designed for all ages. As museums across Southern California opened their doors, they encouraged visitors to enjoy a full day of exploring art, culture, and creativity.

The museum typically invites families at its FAMILY+ day every third Sunday of the month, but that event was shifted to also line up with this Sunday’s Free-for-All event.

Admission is free for the Main Museum and the museum’s Architecture and Design Center, Edwards Harris Pavilion.

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Daniella Lake

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Every third Sunday, The Palm Springs Retro Market features vintage clothing, furniture, jewelry, records and more. Today, they’re hosting a silent auction with all proceeds going to the Palm Springs Cultural Center.

The market runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Palm Springs Cultural Center.

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Athena Jreij

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – Traffic was stalled for hours Saturday evening after a pedestrian was struck and killed crossing the I-10 westbound near Golf Center Parkway.

Shortly after 6 p.m., California Highway Patrol reports the man was crossing from the right shoulder to the center media when a Ford truck struck him.

The man has been identified as a 40-year-old. He was pronounce dead at the scene.

This is a developing story. Stick with News Channel 3 for any updates.

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Timothy Foster

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) -Nearly a year after a frightening stunt went wrong at the Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival, daredevil Chachi “The Rocketman” Valencia has reflected on the incident and his recovery.

Valencia, known for his daring cannon-launch stunts, was seriously injured when a sudden gust of wind pushed him off course, causing him to hit the edge of a safety net and then fall onto the pavement.

The accident left him with broken ribs, a broken wrist, and a lacerated liver. He said that, in retrospect, he considers himself fortunate, as a complete miss of the net could have been fatal.After months of recovery, Valencia has returned to performing and plans to continue his stunt career for a few more years before retiring.

He expressed his enthusiasm for returning to the fair, noting how much he enjoyed performing there and the positive experiences he had with the local community.

Fair officials confirmed that Valencia remains on their list of potential returning performers. Raffi Frinsley, marketing manager for the fair, emphasized that safety remains a top priority.

The event coordinates with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office, Indio Police Department, emergency services, and private security to ensure the well-being of both guests and performers.Opening weekend of the current festival saw higher attendance than the previous year, with organizers reporting roughly three times the crowd size compared to 2025.

Fans of Valencia, who had expressed concern for his well-being after the accident, continue to support him and eagerly anticipate his future performances.

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Gavin Nguyen

DESERT HOT SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – The Coachella Valley’s regional KidWind competition returned for its 16th year on Saturday.

The event drew nearly 200 students from ten local middle and high schools. Desert Hot Springs High School hosted the event, filling the gym with fan blades, motors, and more.

Those students have spent the past several months learning about the science of wind energy and turbine construction. Using that knowledge, they designed and built their own wind turbines. Saturday’s competition allowed them to test their designs in wind tunnels.

A panel of judges, which included industry partners, as well as several alumni of the program, also evaluated the designs students submitted.

Organizer and Vice President of Regional Strategy at OneFuture Coachella Valley, Kim McNulty, said the annual event helps introduce a vast numbers of kids to important life and professional skills.

“Over a thousand kids have been introduced to the science of wind energy,” she said. “So we’re really building capacity and it’s fun to see it take place. It’s wonderful for our workforce. It’s a great experience and skills development for the students, and [it’s] just a very fun day.”

The top three teams at both the middle and high school level have advanced to KidWind Worlds, which will take place in May in Madison, Wisconsin.

The overall winners receiving invitations to the KidWind World Competition include the following:

Middle School Division:• 1st Place – Green Energy // Bobby Duke Middle School• 2nd Place – Skull Troopers // Valley View Elementary• 3rd Place – Dynamic Wind // Bobby Duke Elementary SchoolHigh School Division:• 1st Place – Flower Power // Coachella Valley High School• 2nd Place – A&A Engineering // Coachella Valley High School• 3rd Place – Valley Boys // Coachella Valley High School

Judges also awarded six teams with Power Output Awards, which is a local award that does not advance the team to Worlds. Those teams include:

Middle School Division:• 1st Place: Skull Troopers // Valley View Elementary• 2nd Place: Fast N’ Curious // Bobby Duke Middle School• 3rd Place: Wind Emperors // Bobby Duke Middle SchoolHigh School Division:• 1st Place: Flower Power // Coachella Valley High School• 2nd Place: A&A Engineering // Coachella Valley High School• 3rd Place: Valley Boys // Coachella Valley High School

This year’s competition was jointly sponsored by OneFuture Coachella Valley, Palm Springs Unified School District, Coachella Valley Unified School District (CVUSD), The AES Corporation, Riverside County Office of Education, College of the Desert and KidWind.

Stay with us for the latest – and best of luck to these future innovators!

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Isaiah Mora

UPDATE 02/22/26:

The coroner identified the man killed in a two crash car on interstate 10 on Saturday as 65-year-old Jose Crespo Guevara of Bell.

ORIGINAL REPORT 02/21/26:

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. (KESQ) – One person is dead and five others are in the hospital following a two vehicle crash on interstate 10, west of Bob Hope.

Around 6:37 a.m., California Highway Patrol received reports of a two vehicle crash on eastbound interstate 10, just west of Bob Hope Drive.

California Highway Patrol says a Lexus was traveling eastbound in the number one lane and was reported as driving recklessly. At the same time, a Toyota was also traveling in the same direction within the number three lane with five passengers.

Officials confirm the vehicle veered to the right and crashed into the Toyota.

At this location, there was a standing body of water from previous rainfalls just south of the eastbound lanes. The Lexus came to rest on its wheels within the body of water. However, the Toyota overturned on its roof and was submerged in the water.

The driver of the Lexus self extricated while only four passengers in the other vehicle were able to exit. It is believed the driver of the Toyota remained underwater.

The driver of the Toyota was then extricated, but remained unresponsive at the scene and was taken to Desert Regional Medical Center. We’re told the driver succumbed to his injuries. 

The driver of the Lexus was also taken to the hospital for evaluation, but was later arrested for suspicion of DUI.

Our crew on scene confirmed tow trucks were on hand to get both of the cars out of the water.

Stay with News Channel 3 for any updates on this story.

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Isaiah Mora

DESERT HOT SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – The Desert Hot Springs Police Department confirmed with News Channel 3 it is investigating a stabbing on 7th Street that left one person injured on Friday.

Police confirm a stabbing took place around 3 p.m. along the 66400 block of 7th Street in Desert Hot Springs. We’re told the suspect is known and detectives have taken over the investigation.

We’re told the injury sustained by the victim is non-life threatening. Stay with News Channel 3 for the very latest on the investigation.

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