Category: kesq-local-news

Peter Daut

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) – There are concerns there could be numerous aftershocks In the wake of Monday’s Magnitude 5.2 earthquake near Julian in San Diego County.

Seismologists say an earthquake of this size has an 89% chance of being followed by an aftershock greater than a 3.0 magnitude in the next week.

The chance of a magnitude 5.0 or higher is only 7%.

And there is a likelihood of less than 1% that Monday’s quake was a foreshock of a larger earthquake to happen over the following week.

Monday’s quake hit near the Elsinore fault, which is considered a “junior sibling to the San Andreas.” There were no reports of injuries or major damage, but the quake could be felt across the southern part of the state, including here in the Coachella Valley.

News Channel 3’s Peter Daut spoke with UC Riverside Professor of Geophysics Dr. Abhijit Ghosh about what Monday’s quake means.

Cynthia White

A Joshua Tree man was arrested on Sunday, accused of selling fake gold.

The sale of the supposed fake precious metal happened in Yucca Valley, where the victim reported the transaction to San Bernardino County Sheriff’s deputies.

The victim told deputies he bought what he believed were authentic gold bars through the online marketplace “OfferUp” in exchange for cash.

He then took the bars in for appraisal, and was told the bars were not real.

Deputies got a warrant and conducted a search of the “gold” seller’s home, and recovered nearly $8000 in cash. The seller was arrested and booked at the Morongo Basin Jail.

Cynthia White

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (KESQ) – Cal/OSHA is now looking into the incident that caused injury to the daredevil in a stunt at the Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival.

News Channel 3 was on scene when Chachi “The Rocketman” Valencia was shot out of a cannon, hitting a safety net and then bouncing out of it before hitting the pavement in his live performance.

Valencia says he sustained serious injuries, including broken ribs, a broken wrist and a lacerated liver.

Cal/OSHA is opening inspection with the Riverside County Fairgrounds and has up to six months to issue any citations related to the incident.

Valencia has been released from the hospital and is expected to fully recover.

Cynthia White

BANNING, Calif. (KESQ) – A shooting just before 7:00 p.m. on Monday at Jack’s Market on Eighth Street near Ramsey Street in Banning led to one man dead in the parking lot and one man hospitalized in critical condition.

Banning police say both men suffered multiple gunshot wounds.

The Banning Police Department Detective Bureau and Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Forensics Team and Coroner’s Bureau are processing the scene, with Eighth Street closed between Ramsey Street and Williams Street until the scene is clear.

Police say this is an active investigation, and they will release more information as it is available.

Banning police are urging anyone with information on the incident or who may have witnessed the incident to contact the department at 951-922-3170, and reference Banning Police Case #25-712.

Stay with News Channel 3 for any updates.

Cynthia White

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – Coachella Valley Rescue Mission Executive Director Darla Burkett is retiring after more than 20 years of service, and announces Amanda Galindo as the new Executive Director.

“It has been a singular honor in my life to serve this Mission and witness thousands of lives changed through the love and care extended here every day,” Burkett said. “I have every confidence in Amanda’s leadership and vision. I’m excited to support her in this transition.”

Those at CVRM say Galindo has over 15 years of leadership in nonprofit and social service work, and she brings a “deep passion” for community service. “I am deeply honored to step into this role and carry forward the powerful legacy Darla has built,” said Galindo. “Coachella Valley Rescue Mission is a cornerstone of hope in this community. I look forward to working alongside the incredible staff, volunteers, and supporters to continue changing lives.”

Cynthia White

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) – Ever wondered where your tax dollars go or how the County of Riverside funds the services that keep the communities running?

County officials are offering a new guide, “Budget 101: The County Budget Explained,” to break down the county’s budget in a way that is relatable to everyday life.

Officials say whether it’s housing, healthcare, roads, or emergency support, these services are funded by tax dollars that make up the county’s annual budget. But understanding how that budget is created, where the revenue comes from, and where that money goes can be confusing.

“We created the Budget 101 guide to make our budget process easier to understand and more inclusive,” said Riverside County Executive Officer Jeff Van Wagenen. “When residents are informed, they’re empowered to participate—and that leads to better policy decisions and stronger communities.”

The Budget 101 guide is being released alongside a series of community budget workshops taking place throughout Riverside County. These workshops are an opportunity for residents to learn more about the county’s budget process, ask questions and share their priorities directly with county leaders. The guide will be used as a resource during these sessions.

The workshop for District 4 will be on Tuesday, April 29 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., hosted by Supervisor V. Manuel Perez at the Classic Club, 75-200 Classic Club Boulevard in Palm Desert.

For more information, a copy of “Budget 101: The County Budget Explained,” or to find other upcoming community budget workshops, see www.RivCo.org/budget.

Shay Lawson

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ)  – Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival weekend one was filled with its signature energy, but it didn’t come without its share of frustrations and surprises.

On Thursday, festival campers faced “Carmageddon” arriving to miles of backed-up traffic with many waiting hours to access their camping sites.

Some campers told News Channel 3 they’d been stuck in the heat without access to water or bathrooms, making the festival’s opening day a struggle for many.

Despite the rough start, the festival kicked off with a bang.

Headliners Lady Gaga, Green Day and Post Malone, set the stage for an unforgettable weekend.

American politician Bernie Sanders made an unexpected appearance at the festival, drawing crowds and sparking political conversation amid the music.

The weekend also saw its share of security concerns.

A man was arrested after allegedly threatening to bomb the festival.

Authorities responded quickly, ensuring safety for all attendees.

Several festival-goers reported missing belongings from their hotel rooms at La Quinta Resort and Club while they were at the festival, raising concerns about hotel security.

Attendees leaving the festival grounds backed up traffic on Monday for hours, as tens of thousands made their way home.

Looking ahead, law enforcement is urging attendees to be prepared for the second weekend.

Joel Osmond from the Indio Police Department is advising attendees to remain patient, emphasizing that law enforcement is working closely with Goldenvoice, the festival’s organizer, to ensure everyone’s safety.

Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing updates as the second weekend of Coachella approaches.

Cynthia White

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – The Ranch Recovery Centers hosted its 20th Annual Luncheon Monday at the Palm Desert Resorter Country Club, drawing a crowd of about 250 supporters for a day of fashion and fundraising.

News Channel 3’s Patrick Evans was the auctioneer for one very special item – an exclusive cocktail party at the Vault at Big Horn.

Themed “Runway to Recovery,” the event featured a fashion show highlighting designs by Grayseful and exclusive pieces by Maria Lopez. Some “opportunity drawing” items were also part of the fundraising efforts.

Sponsors included Sean and Leslie McGrath and the Beneto Foundation. All proceeds benefit The Ranch Recovery Centers’ residential alcohol and drug treatment programs, which have supported individuals and families for over five decades.

A former client, Trevor Nelson, shared his story about how The Ranch helped him reach sobriety 25 years ago.

For more information, visit www.ranchrecovery.org or call (760) 329-2924.

Garrett Hottle

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) — A man who allegedly told security guards he would be “responsible for a bombing” at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival was tracked down and arrested with the help of license plate recognition technology, police said.

Palm Springs Police Chief Andrew Mills describes the Flock ALPR camera system that was utilized to track and arrest a man who allegedly threatened to bomb the Coachella music festival. (KESQ)

Security guards at the Agua Caliente Casino in Cathedral City caught wind of Davis Darvish, 40, of Santa Monica saying he intended to bomb the nearby festival. Guards quickly alerted police.

Officers began searching for Darvish’s Tesla within minutes, using Flock ALPR – a system of surveillance cameras capable of reading and tracing license plates in real time. Investigators accessed DMV records to confirm the vehicle’s owner, then followed its movements through the Coachella Valley.

The car was found in Palm Springs, police said. Darvish intially drove away from police, and attempted to walk away from his vehicle, but was ultimately taken into custody without resistance. A search of the vehicle turned up no explosives, weapons, or materials related to bomb-making, according to police.

Though police said there was no immediate threat to festivalgoers or the public, law enforcement at Coachella was informed of the situation as a precaution during the investigation.

Darvish is facing charges of making a false bomb report, and remains in custody on $1 million bail, according to booking records. He’s slated to be arraigned on Wednesday.

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

Kendall Flynn

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – With Coachella Weekend One in the books, Palm Springs businesses could see an increase in foot traffic as festival goers leave the Valley on Monday, but many said the foot traffic never came.

“Oftentimes we do get some business,” Willie Rhine, owner of Eight4Nine Restaurant and Lounge said. “People don’t want to travel on the Monday, so we looked for that this weekend also, and unfortunately that isn’t really happening this year.”

April begins the decrease in Valley visitors and the end of the peak-season for tourists. As the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is held in Indio, Palm Springs does not see as much traffic as it could during the event itself.

But local businesses said this is to be expected with Coachella each year.

“Overall, the Coachella weekends for us are quieter than what people kind of think is the going standard, that it’s really crazy downtown,” Jeff Witthuhn, owner of Peepa’s said. “This year we’ve had a pretty good weekend.”

A “good weekend” during Coachella means a lot for local businesses, especially as the crowds are hard to predict.

“Foot traffic was kind of heavy Thursday and then Friday morning,” Witthuhn said. “And then Saturday and Sunday seemed to be more just regular folks that were here visiting and not so much the Coachella group.”

This Coachella group is in downtown Palm Springs, they just aren’t visiting store like other tourists. News Channel 3 spoke with festival visitors downtown, and they said they were mainly looking for food and a peaceful time to walk around after the festival.

While solutions are scarce, Rhine said he only has one that could possibly help them from an extended lull. With Coachella in April, Rhine and Witthuhn prepare earlier for the summer with reduced labor expenses and product inventory.

But businesses expect the summer to be a low economic time, meaning bringing the festival to those months could help them.

“If I had one wish or my dream would be for them to move Coachella into a different month,” Rhine said. “April is still the height of the season for local restaurants. It would be wonderful if they thought about doing Coachella in June…bringing that influx of Coachella attendees that might actually help us in those months.”

Stay with News Channel 3 for more from downtown Palm Springs businesses and Coachella visitors.