Category: kesq-local-news

City News Service

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) – More than 200 citations were written and over 2,000 pounds of unlicensed pyrotechnics seized during the recent Fourth of July weekend multi-agency fireworks enforcement campaign throughout Riverside County, according to a report the Board of Supervisors will review next week.

The Executive Office’s “After-Action Report,” which will be part of the board’s consent agenda Tuesday, showed that, compared to the same period last year, there was a 22% jump in the number of citations issued — 212 this past July 4 weekend, as opposed to 172 in 2025.

Those figures combine the aggregate citations handled by the county Sheriff’s, Fire and Code Enforcement departments.

The number of 911 fireworks-related calls for service and complaints also rose — 3,776 during the holiday weekend this year, compared to 3,696 last year, according to the narrative.

Authorities confiscated 2,105 pounds of alleged illegal pyrotechnics during operations earlier this month, a drop from last year, when 2,194 pounds were seized over the same period, the report stated.

County fire personnel were sent to 69 fireworks-related blazes during the most recent holiday weekend, a one-third drop from 2025, when they responded to 102 fires, officials said.

“As a result of a robust public information campaign and enforcement program, the safety of our communities was enhanced with the reduction of fire risks associated with illegal fireworks,” according to the Executive Office.

For the last five years, the board has implemented a “You Light It, We’ll Write It” countywide messaging campaign, utilizing digital and traditional media sources to make the public aware of the potential perils and consequences of igniting unlicensed pyrotechnics.

In April 2021, the county Office of County Counsel, in collaboration with the Sheriff’s Department and Cal Fire, drafted amendments to Ordinance No. 858 that augmented civil penalties for possession,transportation or ignition of illegal fireworks, ranging between $1,000 and $5,000. The amount depends on the number of violations within a 36-month period. The previous fines werebetween $500 and $1,000.

The revisions also created liabilities for property owners who knowingly permit someone to light unlicensed pyrotechnics.

The final provision of the revised ordinance granted the fire chief authority to designate specific locations in unincorporated areas where so-called “safe and sane” fireworks can be sold and ignited by residents. In Blythe, Coachella, Desert Hot Springs and Indio, the devices — such as sparklers, fountains and snappers — are permitted.

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Dakota Makinen

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – An Indio Middle School teacher is getting new classroom resources to help students experience history in a more hands-on way after receiving a One Class at a Time grant.

Eighth-grade U.S. history teacher Dessa Keuilian was given with the award, sponsored by the Walter Clark Legal Group, to purchase classroom globes and a three-dimensional topographic map.

Keuilian said the new tools will help students better understand the geography behind major events in American history, from westward expansion to the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

“One thing that I want to buy with the grant is a topographical map so that they can feel the mountains or the different areas of the country,” Keuilian said. “I think it’ll make history more engaging for them to look at it and feel it and touch it.”

A Coachella Valley native, Keuilian returned home to teach in the same community where she grew up. She hopes to pass along the same excitement for learning that her own teachers inspired in her.

“I loved going to school as a kid, and I hope that I can give them just a crumb of the good energy that I got from my teachers here in the Valley,” she said.

Indio Middle School Principal Robert Cullinan said the grant recognizes both Keuilian’s creativity in the classroom and her commitment to students.

“She’s still new at the trade, but she actually acts like a veteran teacher and does amazing things with our students,” Cullinan said.

The globes and topographic map are expected to remain in Keuilian’s classroom for years, allowing hundreds of students to explore history through hands-on learning.

One Class at a Time, sponsored by the Walter Clark Legal Group, recognizes outstanding educators across the Coachella Valley by providing grants for classroom projects and supplies. Community members can nominate a deserving teacher through News Channel 3’s website.

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City News Service

MECCA, Calif. (KESQ) – The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday is slated to sign off on a $325,000 allocation to support a project at the Mecca Sports Park, enabling the addition of amenities intended to enhance the space.

The Riverside County Executive Office is seeking the appropriation from the Unincorporated Communities Initiative Fund. A funding agreement between the county and Desert Recreation District, stipulating how the money can be used, will additionally be under consideration as part of the board’s policy agenda.

The 6.67-acre park, located in the area of 66th Avenue and Highway 111, officially opened in October 2023.

“The park has fields for the community to play sports, outdoor exercise equipment, a splash pad for cooling off and a gazebo,” the Desert Recreation District stated at the time.

In February 2020, the district secured $5.8 million in state funding for construction, according to published reports. With the $325,000 in UCI funding, the goal now is to build on that original investment.

The funds would go toward placement of benches, a flagpole, a plaque, a planter box with irrigation and lighting and a shade structure over the existing playground, according to the Executive Office.

“Through the community outreach process, residents expressed a desire for additional amenities since the opening of the park,” the EO stated in documents posted to the board’s agenda.

UCI was established during the 2021-22 fiscal year to address infrastructure, service and other needs in the most “disadvantaged communities” within the county. Funding has increased each fiscal year since then, based largely on the support expressed in community surveys.

About $10 million was set aside in the previous fiscal year.

The funding is generally divided equally among the county’s five supervisorial districts for a variety of projects.

Under the proposed funding agreement, if contractors hired by the Desert Recreation District are unable to complete the project by June 30, 2027, the district must return any unspent county funds.

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City News Service

THERMAL, Calif. — The Coachella Valley Unified School District (CVUSD) Governing Board has approved a resolution formally expressing its opposition to data center development within district boundaries, citing concerns over the potential impacts on students, staff and the broader community.

The resolution was approved during Thursday’s Board of Education meeting. District officials said they are concerned about the possible effects data centers could have on local water resources, electrical infrastructure, environmental quality, community sustainability and the operation of CVUSD schools.

Although the district has no authority over where data centers are built or how they are regulated, officials said the board can adopt resolutions to communicate its position on issues that may affect the quality of life for the school community.

The resolution comes off the heels of recent moves from local city governments to implement moratoriums and bans against data center development, in both Indio and Coachella.

The action follows a statement released by CVUSD on June 23, in which the district first publicly outlined its concerns over proposed data center projects near its campuses. The newly approved resolution reinforces that stance and formally places the board’s opposition on record.

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KESQ News Team

FAWNSKIN, Calif. (KESQ) The land where Big Bear’s beloved bald eagles Jackie and Shadow nest is officially safe from development.

Friends of Big Bear Valley announced Friday it has secured the full $10 million needed to save Moon Camp, a 63-acre stretch of forested open space and shoreline on Big Bear Lake, according to a press release from the nonprofit.

The property was slated for a luxury development of 50 custom homes and a marina. The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors approved the project last September despite receiving more than 5,000 emails from people opposed to it, the release said.

The nonprofit launched its fundraising campaign in mid-February. More than 25,000 donations from supporters around the world raised nearly half the total, according to the release. A donation of more than $5.5 million from Anna and Greg Brockman pushed the campaign over the finish line.

“We are beyond grateful for the tireless support of so many people these past six months,” said Jenny Voisard, spokesperson and fundraising lead for the nonprofit.

The money clears the way for the San Bernardino Mountains Land Trust to buy the property, with leftover funds covering closing costs, taxes, legal fees and long-term care of the land. The land trust expects to complete the purchase by July 31, the release said.

Moon Camp is the last undisturbed shoreline on the lake, according to the nonprofit. The parcel supports a rare endemic plant, San Bernardino flying squirrels and other wildlife, and experts have warned since the 1980s that developing it would cause significant harm to biological resources, including the bald eagle.

The announcement comes months after the death of Sandy Steers, the nonprofit’s longtime executive director, who died Feb. 11. Steers helped negotiate the purchase agreement with the property owners before her death, and the release called it her most important priority.

The land trust plans to preserve Moon Camp permanently.

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KESQ News Team

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – The next St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway is officially underway in the Coachella Valley, marking the eighth Dream Home built by GHA Companies in support of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Before construction can begin, organizers must first find the perfect location. During a preview tour, News Channel 3’s Angela Chen and a St. Jude representative visited the future homesite in a quiet Palm Desert neighborhood, highlighting its peaceful cul-de-sac setting, spacious lot, and scenic mountain views.

Organizers say Palm Desert has consistently been one of the most popular locations for Dream Home ticket buyers, making it an ideal community for the next giveaway. The selected lot also offers the flexibility to build a home suited for a variety of families, with no homeowners association fees.

Construction is expected to be completed by the end of January, with the official reveal of the lot and home details scheduled for Monday, July 27 at noon.

The St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway raises funds to support the hospital’s lifesaving research and treatment for children battling cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Families at St. Jude never receive a bill for treatment, travel, housing, or food, allowing them to focus entirely on their child’s care.

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Timothy Foster

DESERT HOT SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – A Desert Hot Springs man accused of critically injuring a pedestrian in a hit-and-run crash was arrested before investigators say he could leave California.

According to police, detectives used Flock Safety Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) cameras to quickly identify the suspect vehicle, obtain its license plate, and develop key investigative leads.

As the investigation continued, detectives learned the suspect had purchased bus and train tickets in what investigators described as an apparent attempt to leave the area and avoid arrest.

The suspect, identified by police as a 53-year-old Desert Hot Springs man, was arrested Friday around 5 p.m. in Palm Springs, just hours before he was scheduled to leave the state.

He was booked into the Riverside County Jail, where he is being held on $500,000 bail. He is facing one count of felony hit-and-run resulting in serious injury or death.

While court records list the charge as involving “serious injury or death,” the injured person’s caretaker told News Channel 3 the victim is alive and remains hospitalized. Out of respect for the family’s privacy, News Channel 3 is not identifying the victim.

The caretaker said the victim continues to receive medical treatment and also claimed the victim’s apartment has been targeted by break-ins while they remain hospitalized.

News Channel 3 plans spoke with the caretaker about the victim’s condition and recovery.

The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Palm Springs Police Department.

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Kiera McKinney

PALM DESERT, CALIF. (KESQ)- The desert sun can do more damage than people realize. Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the U.S., and experts say years of UV exposure can silently damage your skin before you ever notice it.

With extreme UV levels common in the Valley there are warning signs people often miss, the biggest sunscreen mistakes, and the simple steps people can take to protect themselves.

According to skincancer.org 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer by the age of 70. When it comes to suburns, having five or more doubles someones risk for melanoma. In the United States more than 9,500 people are diagnosed with skin cancer every day.

Natalie Nasser, MD, FAAD, a Dermatologist at Kaiser Riverside said “We hear so much about sunscreen, but that’s just a small part of the story. It has much more to do with a mindset of sun protection. And, safe sun habits.”

Nasser says real protecting is about building daily healthy habits- those including wearing long sleeves, a wide brim hat, finding shade, and limiting time outside during intense UV hours.

Some of the first places that damage are often the most forgotten. Chandace Sylvester, a Medical Esthetician for SkinLab Palm Desert said the “neck and chest and back of hands are the areas that age the quickest on us. “

Nasser also says don’t ignore skin that is trying to tell you something, such as new or changing spots, spots that are bleeding, scabbing, or crusting. Catching those signs early can save your life.

“I’ve had patients that I’ve lost to skin cancer and we never want to see that happen. I don’t want to lose one person to skin cancer, especially since it’s preventable,” Nasser said.

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Tommy Gallegos

Cathedral City, Calif. — A Cathedral City family is asking for the public’s help in locating their 17-year-old son, Tristan Franz, who has reportedly been missing since Tuesday, July 21, 2026.

According to the family, Tristan is 5 feet 11 inches tall, weighs approximately 145-150 pounds, and has not been seen since Tuesday. Additional details about the circumstances of his disappearance have not been released.

The family is urging anyone who may have seen Tristan or has information about his whereabouts to come forward.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Cathedral City Police Department, their local law enforcement agency, or call 911 immediately.

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Dakota Makinen

COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) – What looks like a full-sized dining room, cozy living room or family home is actually small enough to fit in the palm of your hand.

The National Association of Miniature Enthusiasts is holding its annual convention this weekend at La Quinta Resort & Club, bringing together hundreds of artists, collectors and hobbyists from across the country.

The convention showcases handcrafted dollhouses, furniture and detailed room displays, with many pieces created entirely by hand. Enthusiasts build in a variety of scales, from the traditional one-inch-to-the-foot scale to even smaller miniatures, using techniques that range from crafting every detail from scratch to assembling kits or incorporating work from other artisans.

For many attendees, the convention is about more than tiny creations.

“It’s a passion. It’s a real love,” said NAME President Nancye Claypool.

In addition to browsing exhibits and shopping from miniature artisans, visitors can take classes, watch demonstrations and connect with fellow hobbyists who share a love for the craft.

The convention continues through Sunday. Public hours are Saturday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is $6 for adults and $3 for children ages 6 to 12, with two-day wristbands available for $10 for adults and $5 for children. Children 5 and under are admitted free.

Organizers say they hope the event inspires newcomers to discover that miniature building is about more than making things small — it’s about creativity, craftsmanship and community.

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