
Special Reports


Special Report: Trash Talk – Tuesday at 6PM
RIVERSIDE COUNTY, Calif. (KESQ) – Illegal dumping, a battle spanning years for Riverside County code enforcement. “There was a lot of concerns from the community about this property. News Channel 3 investigates. “How do you guys determine if this is technically illegal?” Find out what citizens and officials are doing to fight back and why
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Rep. Calvert defends Medicaid cuts in “Big Beautiful Bill”
THOUSAND PALMS, Calif. (KESQ) – Local 41st District Rep. Ken Calvert (R) is hoping President Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill will be passed in the Senate and House this week advancing the President’s agenda. The bill includes an extension of the President’s first term tax cuts along with cuts in Medicaid spending to offset some of
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Weather to Launch: How weather impacts rocket launches at Vandenberg Space Force Base
Often, we look up into our skies and see rockets. The rockets are launched at Vandenberg Space Force Base. Just recently making history with more than 50 launches in a year. So, how does weather play a role in those launches? Vandenberg Space Force Base is one of only a few places across the nation
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‘In the Line of Fire’ – An inside look at what it takes to become a firefighter
The wildfires to our west are a stark reminder of the importance of first responders during emergency situations. That’s why local fire departments are ramping up hiring efforts and looking for the next generation of heroes. News Channel 3’s Tori King spent the day with the Palm Springs Fire Department to show you what it
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Use of Force: Inside look at protocols police officers use
Recruits from different law enforcement agencies are the region with one thing in common. They’re completing basic academy at the Ben Clark Training Center in Riverside. A total of 70 hours is dedicated to defensive tactics – or use of force – which includes ground fighting. “Our curriculum is based on Jiu-Jitsu and they’ll also
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Combating the Fentanyl Crisis: A Town Hall Discussion
News Channel 3 and the Women Leaders Forum of the Coachella Valley held a town hall meeting earlier this month, “Combating the Fentanyl Crisis.” The event was hosted by News Channel 3 Anchor Karen Devine. Multiple panelists including professionals in healthcare, education, and law enforcement spoke at the town hall. They all shared the work they’ve
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News Channel 3 In-Depth: Pets on Meth
In light of National Pet Poison Prevention Week, a Palm Desert woman has an urgent warning after she recently rushed her dog to the animal hospital to find something she never expected: Her dog had ingested meth. And veterinarians say this is becoming increasingly common. El Paseo is one of the Coachella Valley’s most high-end
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News Channel 3 Exclusive: Inside the Homeless Navigation Center in Palm Springs
It’s a major project the city of Palm Springs is calling a “game changer” for addressing the homeless crisis. City and county officials gave News Channel 3’s Peter Daut an exclusive tour of the new Palm Springs Navigation Center, ahead of its opening. While most of the Navigation Center remains under construction, the early-entry facility
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Winds of Change: A look at the history of wind in Palm Springs
Chief Meteorologist Haley Clawson collected and organized years of data recorded at Palm Springs International Airport to answer the frequent viewer question, “Is it getting windier”? Straight to the point… there doesn’t appear to be a long-term increase in the average wind speed. However, it’s a different perspective in the short term, as the last
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Riverside County judge discusses backlog of criminal cases
Courts in Riverside County continue to be clogged with a tremendous backlog of cases, a year after hundreds of criminal cases were dismissed. News Channel 3’s John White sat down with Presiding Judge Hon. Judith Clark for a rare interview. “This is a growing convergence of issues, that sort of all came to a peak
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Our Wild Desert: Where and when to see wildlife
We live in an incredible valley! Part of what makes our valley so amazing is our native wildlife. From birds to snakes to bighorn sheep, the Coachella Valley is absolutely brimming with life. What animals you can see are heavily dependent on factors such as time of year and time of day. For instance, winter,
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Ancient Culture, Modern Presence: First look at Agua Caliente’s Cultural Plaza and Museum
The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians is about to redefine the visitor experience in Palm Springs. More than five years after breaking ground, the long-awaited Cultural Plaza and Museum will open to the public on November 3rd. But before that happens, News Channel 3’s Peter Daut got an exclusive tour of the new state-of-the-art facility. “Every video,
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In-depth: School Safety Transparency
Campus crime is an unfortunate reality for Coachella Valley students heading back to school. State law requires districts to keep track of safety problems and their plans to solve them. It’s a topic that’s front of mind for Bianca Acuña, as she helps get her daughter prepared to head back to school. Acuña said she’s
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Housing boom in north Palm Desert raises concerns over lack of services
A massive housing development boom on the north side of Palm Desert is expected to bring up to 10,000 new residents. With more than 1,000 new homes already completed and nearly 5,000 total expected to be built in the near future, concerns are mounting over the lack of necessary services and amenities to support the
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Veterinarian shortage impacting valley’s only 24/7 emergency pet hospital
Coachella Valley pet owners risk being turned away during emergencies when minutes matter most. A nationwide shortage of veterinarians has forced the valley’s only 24/7 emergency pet emergency hospital to close at certain times. Melissa Hull-White and her family loved their long-haired terrier Kobe for 13 years. But on April 15th, things took a turn
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In-depth look at E-bike battery fires and what you need to know if you’re looking to buy
Grabbing an E-Bike and hitting the trails is becoming a favorite pastime for many here in the Coachella Valley and beyond. While fun and convenient, the lithium-ion batteries that power some of them have been linked to explosions and deadly fires. We checked in with Cal Fire Riverside and confirmed no such incidents involving electric
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Courting Injustice: Why are so many local court cases being dismissed?
Since October, more than 1,700 court cases have been dismissed in Riverside County. These dismissals include cases involving child sexual assault, attempted murder, DUIs, and domestic violence. This is due to a backlog caused by the pandemic. Riverside Superior Court officials cited a lack of available judicial resources and courtroom space as they reinstated defendants’
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News Channel 3 Exclusive: Surviving the Night
A prominent Coachella Valley business owner is grateful to be alive after he recently crashed his dirt bike in Morongo Valley and could not be found for more than a day. “I just praise God for making the best out of a terrible situation,” Nate Otto told Peter Daut. Speaking from bed at his physical
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News Channel 3 Exclusive: In-Depth with Agua Caliente Tribal Chairman
In his first sit-down interview since recently being elected as tribal chairman of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, Reid Milanovich spoke with Peter Daut about his goals for the tribe, the new cultural museum, and his late father’s legacy. “My focus really is day to day,” Milanovich told Daut, adding that it’s an
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