Author: KESQ

Joel Killam

THERMAL, Calif. (KESQ) — The Coachella Valley Unified School District board voted Tuesday night to approve layoffs for 82 employees and reduce hours for 17 others, as part of a sweeping effort to address a multimillion-dollar budget shortfall.

The decision follows a recommendation from an administrative law judge, who reviewed the district’s proposed reduction in force during a formal hearing last month. The layoffs are set to take effect June 30.

District officials say the cuts are necessary to help close a projected budget deficit of more than $50 million. The board initially approved a resolution in February to eliminate or reduce 262 classified positions, citing a lack of work and funding.

During Tuesday’s meeting, some voiced concerns about the impact the cuts could have on student services, including transportation, food services, and special education support.

“I understand there’s a budget crisis. I understand that,” one employee said during public comment. “But to cut so many hours from us… hours and months, it’s impossible.”

News Channel 3 will continue to follow this developing story.

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Jesus Reyes

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, Calif. (KESQ) – Riverside County released updated data from this year’s Homeless Point-in-Time Count.

As we reported last week, the data shows that homelessness in Riverside County continues to grow, but the rate is slowing.

This week, the county provided a breakdown on unsheltered and sheltered homeless in Coachella Valley cities.

The report shows that homelessness is up from two years ago, however, there was a 19% decrease in unsheltered homelessness. The county’s program outcomes also revealed that more than 80% of people maintained housing stability over two years.

Data shows that the top three reasons reported for unsheltered homelessness in the county were Family Disruption, Lack of Income, and Unemployment.

You can check out the full summary below:

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KESQ News Team

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Connecting cultures through art and architecture. Students in Palm Springs participated in a cultural exchange with students from San Miguel de Allende in Mexico, which is Palm Springs’ sister city.

The four-day cultural exchange involves bilingual students from Vista Del Monte Elementary in Palm Springs and students from Newland School in San Miguel de Allende….

It is centered around a project called “Modernism Art in a Box.” Through virtual meetups, the students are exploring modernist architecture, climate, and culture — and even built their own designs inspired by what they learned.

“Students have been able to interact with each other through Zoom through video, and so we’ve had some positive feedback along with the teachers being in communication,” said Jamie Santos, principal at Vista Del Monte.   

This is one of the many efforts between Palm Springs and San Miguel de Allende to work together to exchange culture and uplift students.

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City News Service

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) – The Board of Supervisors today unanimously approved a resolution declaring that Riverside County’s animal shelters will promote “no-kill” polices and practices that seek to ensure 90% of canines and felines who are impounded leave alive.   

“It took us a while to get here with this resolution,” board Chairman Manuel Perez said. “This is from the county coming together and understanding the gravity of the issue. The goal is to save as many animals as possible.”

The measure, among other things, contains a pledge that the county will “work collaboratively with public and private partners, animal welfare organizations, veterinary professionals, contract cities and residents … to reduce euthanasia.”

The 90% no-kill goal will entail greater emphasis on free or low-cost spay and neuter clinics, enhanced “return-to-owner” programs that unite lost pets with their loved ones, adoption campaigns and expedited “trap-neuter-return-to-field” programs that were inaugurated in March 2024.

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County CEO Jeff Van Wagenen said a complement to the resolution is the newly activated “data dashboard” available via the Department of Animal Services’ web portal that depicts “intakes,” or the number of pets impounded on a given day, along with “outcomes,” showing whether animals have been adopted, transferred, returned to owners or euthanized.  

“With the goal of 90%, we’re not prepared to plant a flag and say by `X’ date, this will be done,” Van Wagenen said. “We’re reporting results as we go. Yes, there will be a financial impact.”

He indicated the upcoming 2025-26 budget hearings may include a request from the Department of Animal Services for a $5 million outlay to hire over two dozen new employees to serve as caretakers, processors, control officers and administrators. The next fiscal year likely will also include a request for appropriations to expand space at each of the county’s four shelters, where the kennels are constantly operating at maximum capacity, he said.

While no one complained about the motives behind the resolution, several residents addressed the board about its application.   

“This is nothing more than wasted paper,” a woman identified as “Jennifer” said in a call-in comment. “If this is merely to placate the public, it will not do. All these people at the helm are not going to change anything. We will wait and wait and wait for change to occur.”  

Another woman, “Mara,” further dismissed the dependability of the leadership now overseeing the Department of Animal Services.   

“These self-proclaimed saviors gave you a pitch, and you fell for it,” she said. “These so-called consultants have caused so many problems in California and other places. They’re charlatans who show up and say, `We’re the answers to your problems.'”

She was particularly incensed by the trap-neuter-return-to-field policy, which entails surgically fixing cats impounded at shelters, then turning them loose to become “community cats,” free to roam where they were originally found.

“They’re getting run over in the street every day,” she said. “While searching for safety, they’re getting mangled.”

Perez expressed dismay at the criticism, noting, “It seems like, no matter where we turn, it’s never enough. We’re willing to take it. But after a while, that’s not going to lead us … where we need to get to.”

The department is in the early stages of a reformation initiated last year by the county board.   

A lawsuit filed in August by Rancho Mirage-based Walter Clark Law Group is seeking a permanent injunction against the department’s euthanasia programs. Clark called it a “ground-breaking case” that’s predicated on the 1998 Hayden Act. That legislation, authored by then-state Sen. Tom Hayden, D- Santa Monica, states in part, “no adoptable animal should be euthanized if it can be adopted into a suitable home.”   

One organization has alleged the county has the highest pet “kill rate” in the nation. In September, the board hired Austin, Texas-based Outcomes for Pets LLC Principal Adviser Kristen Hassen to rectify problems within the agency.

In February, the supervisors approved the Executive Office’s selection of Mary Martin to head the department following a nationwide executive recruitment drive. Martin, who most recently served as assistant director for Dallas Animal Services of Texas, officially started her new job at the end ofMarch.

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Garrett Hottle

A neighbor of Guy Edward Bartkus — the 25-year-old man identified by the FBI as the suspect in the deadly Palm Springs fertility clinic bombing — says they are “shocked” to learn explosives may have been assembled next door.

“He had an explosives laboratory in there, and although he built a pretty big bomb that he took down in Palm Springs, there is still enough material in there to do serious damage. That’s why it took almost three days for them to clear the area, because they had to be really careful. And so that’s pretty much what they told me,” said Thomas Bickel, a neighbor. 

Bartkus was killed in the blast early Saturday morning at the American Reproductive Centers in Palm Springs, an explosion now investigators said was an act of intentional terrorism.

The FBI has identified Guy Edward Bartkus, 25, of 29 Palms as the primary suspect in the #PalmSprings vehicle explosion. The vehicle was a silver Ford Fusion sedan, plate 8HWS848. Please call 1800 CALLFBI with information or upload relevant video/images at https://t.co/CnxyRN1YIv pic.twitter.com/dYAG26xCYY

— FBI Los Angeles (@FBILosAngeles) May 18, 2025

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City News Service

AGUANGA, Calif. (KESQ) – Fire crews worked through the night hitting hotspots and improving control lines to contain 85% of a brush fire south of Highway 371 in Aguanga that has scorched 126 acres and destroyed one structure.  

The Crossing Fire was reported at 1:38 p.m. Tuesday in the area of Petes Crossing and Janell Drive, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.

The agency said multiple engine and hand crews from the county, Hemet Fire Department, Riverside Fire Department and surrounding agencies were sent to the location, encountering flames moving at a moderate rate in light brush.   

One Hemet firefighter suffered heat exhaustion and was taken by ambulance to a regional trauma center for treatment. Temperatures in the Anza Valley Tuesday topped out in the low 90s.

One outbuilding in the fire’s path was destroyed, but no occupied properties were damaged or destroyed.   

At the fire’s peak, five Cal Fire air tankers and three water-dropping helicopters were making runs on the brusher as it pushed eastward. An evacuation order was issued for the dozen or fewer properties near Dove Drive and Gold Creek Lane.

The aircraft fire retardant and water drops had largely cut off the fire’s prospective fuel, enabling ground crews to establish tentative containment lines, relying on dirt roads to fortify defensive space, according to officials at the scene.   

The fire’s rate of spread was halted at 5:02 p.m. Tuesday.  

Minutes later, all fixed-wing aircraft departed the location. Several helicopters remained for targeted drops on hot spots threatening to jump containment lines.

The flames were 40% contained by 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, and working through the night, fire crews were able to bring containment up to 85% by 8 a.m. Wednesday.

The cause of the fire was under investigation.

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City News Service

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) – The Board of Supervisors today authorized Riverside County Fire Department Chief Bill Weiser to close access to multiple outdoor recreational locations for the duration of Southern California’s wildfire season to minimize public safety risks.

Since 2007, the agency has sought and received authorization to close designated grounds — located mainly in the central and southwest portions of the county — typically from June to November.   

Weiser intends to implement the closures on June 15.   

“Due to the potential for large damaging human-caused fires, the county fire chief has determined these areas should be closed, except on public roadways and on inhabited areas of private property within the closure areas,” according to a fire department statement. “The potential for large damaging fires this year may be enhanced by the extreme vegetation growth experienced throughout Riverside County.”  

Though precipitation totals from last winter were well blow average, there was growth after several storms in March and April, and that vegetation has already gone brittle and brown across large swaths of the inland region.   

Wildfires in any of the locations slated for closure would be difficult to manage, given their terrain and remoteness, officials said.   

The following sites fall under the closure order:   — Bautista Canyon, southeast of Hemet;   — Eagle Canyon, between Lake Mathews and the county landfill, just north of Cajalco Road;   — Indian Canyon and North Mountain, around San Jacinto;   — the Ramona Bowl, south of Hemet;   — Steel Peek, northwest of Meadowbrook, due west of Good Hope and south of Gavilan Hills; and   — Whitewater Canyon, near Cabazon.  

Officials noted the Ramona Bowl will remain accessible between sunrise and noon daily, with the area off-limits any other time of day.   

By reducing foot and off-road vehicle traffic in each location, the chances of a wildfire starting are much slimmer, according to the fire department.

Closure signs will be posted at entry points to warn potential violators of fines and other penalties. First offenses usually result in a minimum $100 ticket.

Residents will be permitted to come and go as they please.   

The closures are usually lifted at year’s end but can be rescinded before then by the chief, depending on the timing of winter rains.

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Tori King

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – A lot of people in Palm Springs my be wondering how to go back to their normal lives after witnessing Saturday’s bombing that target an IVF clinic downtown.

If you are having those thoughts, you aren’t alone. Most people have never experienced a terror attack in their hometown, so dealing with the effects of such a large scale event like this can be tough for some. Especially those that were nearby the clinic and felt or saw the blast. Several residents have already expressed difficulty moving on from the attack. That’s why some local organizations are stepping in to help people heal and move on.

One of those organizations is a non-profit known as the LGBTQ Center of the Desert.

“Most of us has have never experienced an event like this,” said Dr. Jill Hingston, the Director of Behavioral Health Services at the Center. “So the shock, the trauma of this happening in our small community has impacted us in a way we might even not realize yet.”

Dr. Hinston says asking help can be difficult and intimidating, but ultimately those sessions can help people process trauma and PTSD. That’s why the Center is hosting several drop-in group therapy sessions for anyone affected by the Palm Springs fertility center bombing.

“Our goal is to provide a space for our whole community here at the Center, and just remind people how important connection is when these things happen,” said Hingston. “A lot of people tend to isolate because they’ve lost trust, they’re scared of the world. And we just want to provide a place where people can come and be together and help process this trauma.”

The center itself is still recovering from the attack, in fact, its building sits across the street from the site of the explosion and sustained damage, including several shattered windows from the force of the blast. Repairs forced the Center to close, temporarily suspending services for two days, but a growing need for mental health resources encouraged the organization to get back to work.

Not everyone may feel like they need mental health support following this attack, but if you do, the Center is offering a safe space for you to get the help you need and heal.

LGBTQ COMMUNITY CENTER OF THE DESERT

GROUNDING AFTER CRISIS: HEALING IN COMMUNITY

A DROP-IN GROUP THERAPY SPACE

Wednesday, May 21: 2:00 p.m.

Friday, May 23: 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

Tuesday, May 27: 4:00 p.m.

Thursday, May 29: 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

All sessions are at The Center’s Scott Hines Behavioral Health Clinic, 1301 N. Palm Canyon Drive, second floor, Community Room 7

“When you walk in, you’re welcomed,” said Hingston. “It’s a space where you’re probably going to see somebody you know or who looks familiar. You don’t have to speak. You can just listen. You can share your experience. I think mostly what we want to do and the value in groups is people sharing how they’re coping.”

For more information or to learn more about The Center’s behavioral health services, please call 760.416.7790 ext 3

According to a report by News Channel 3’s Gavin Nguyen, several local organizations have stepped up in the aftermath of the explosion to address mental health concerns. Research shows generally, experiencing a traumatic event leads to increased rates of acute stress disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depression, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and substance use disorder.

The City of Palm Springs also added mental health resources to its engagepalmsprings.com webpage, which has been used to log updates for the Palm Springs attack.

In a statement, the City addressed concerns for mental health help:

“The bomb blast has severely shaken the nerves of Palm Springs residents. This event was horrific for those who were close to the location and saw the results of the explosion, those who felt the shockwaves all across the City and experienced collateral damage to homes or business, and especially for the clients of the American Reproductive Center.

The City is gathering information and contacts for mental health resources that are readily available to our community.”

CRISIS TEXT LINE

This organization operates nationwide and is available to the public 24/7, free of charge. It is staffed by trained counselors and their service is offered via texting, but texting the number 741741

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Kendall Flynn

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – The Indio Police Department is heightening its focus on the dangers of distracted driving with an enforcement operation on May 20.

Under the hands-free cell phone law, California drivers are not allowed to hold a phone or electronic communication device while operating a vehicle. Indio PD traffic officers will be focuses on drivers suspected of violating this law.

“This includes talking, texting, or using an app,” according to the news release. If caught, officials say driving while using a handheld cell phone is punishable a fine. However, if the law is violated for a second time within 36 hours of a prior conviction, it will result in a point being added to a driver’s record.

Stay with News Channel 3 to hear from officials on the importance of this initiative for the Indio community.

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Gavin Nguyen

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – After Saturday’s deadly bombing in Palm Springs, medical professionals are highlighting those who run towards danger to save others.

Desert Care Network planned its National Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week ceremony well before the blast rocked the Palm Springs community. Hospital leaders, though, used the opportunity to honor first responders from the Palm Springs Fire Department, Cal Fire Riverside County, and American Medical Response (AMR) who performed “extraordinary lifesaving efforts” during emergencies in the Coachella Valley this year.

The ceremony wrapped up just after noon at Desert Regional Medical Center on Tuesday.

In attendance: Luan Mitani, a 15-year-old teenager who went into cardiac arrest at a Palm Springs pool in April. A bystander, Maria Calderon, performed CPR on the teen before ambulance and paramedic crews arrived to rush him to Desert Regional Medical Center, where he made a full recovery.

His mother, Akiko Mitani, expressed her gratitude to the first responders who stepped in to save her son. “My appreciation continues to grow every day, and I can’t express my gratitude in words,” she says.

“This instance is so rare that you could not only get the patient who survived together, but get the EMS crew together, too. … [Having] everybody here to reunite… it pulled on the heartstrings. It was amazing,” says Greg Boyles, the Business Development Manager at Desert Care Network, who served as an emcee of the event.

This led to an emotional moment at the ceremony for Boyles as he introduced the victim and his mother: “To see Luan and Akiko here, smiling in whole. Reminds us … why we do this,” he said, choking up. “It’s about families reunited. Futures restored. And love that endures.”

Assistant Chief Greg Lyle, of the Palm Springs Fire Department, was also recognized for his efforts to save embryos in the fertility clinic that was targeted in the attack.

Hospital leaders also expressed its gratitude to staff who kept the hospital open in the hours following the blast.

“There was a lot we didn’t know when it initially happened, and these caregivers continued to take care of our patients, keep them safe. And we are. We’re just tremendously proud of everything that they do,” said Mike Ditoro, the CEO of Desert Regional Medical Center.

The hospital sustained some damage in the explosion, including a lot of broken glass, but no structural damage. Ditoro provided an optimistic update to the repairs after the event: “We expect to be completely open on the outpatient side by the end of this week. Just truly amazing work. A lot of glass damage, but nothing structural, no integrity issues of the building.”

We’ll have the latest updates as Palm Springs continues to rebuild. Be sure to stay with KESQ.

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