Author: KESQ

City News Service

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – A program to provide money to businesses impacted by the Palm Springs fertility clinic bombing in May was announced Thursday.   

“The Palm Springs City Council and I are unwavering in our commitment to our local businesses,” Mayor Ron deHarte said in announcing the program. “That’s why we’ve allocated $50,000 to directly invest in and help our small businesses not just reopen but truly rebuild and thrive after the May 17th attack.”  

The city’s “Recovery Fund” is aimed at paying expenses not covered by insurance or other recovery programs.   

The fund will benefit businesses located within the Disaster Overlay Zone.   

“Our community thrives when our businesses thrive. This fund is designed to support them as they rebuild and return to doing what they do best,” City Manager Scott Miles said.

Visit engagepalmsprings.com and contact Wayne Olson, Chief Economic Development Officer to begin the application process at business.info@palmspringsca.gov.

The car-bombing largely destroyed the American Reproductive Centers clinic at 1199 N. Indian Canyon Drive, while damaging businesses in a several-block radius. The bomber, 25-year-old Guy Edward Bartkus, was the only person to die in the blast.

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City News Service

COACHELLA, Calif. (KESQ) – Three men were arrested after Indio police officers seized illegal fireworks and firearms in the Coachella Valley, police said today.

A search warrant was served around 6 p.m. Wednesday in the 1500 block of Second Street, in Coachella, regarding a market allegedly selling illegal fireworks to minors.

Authorities recovered “a substantial amount of illegal fireworks, a handgun and an AK-47 rifle,” said police. The seized firearms were not legally registered.

Two men from the market were arrested.   

Another man was arrested following a served search warrant regarding illegal fireworks in the Coachella Valley.   

All three men, whose identities were not revealed, were booked into the Benoit Detention Center in Indio.

Officers advised residents that fines up to $2,000 can be issued to people using illegal fireworks as a first time offense.   

“We’re committed to helping everyone enjoy the holiday safely,” said Police Chief Brian Tully. “By conducting proactive enforcement like last night’s operation, we’re working to prevent injuries, fire and crimes, so our community can celebrate responsibly.”

Anyone with information regarding illegal fireworks was urged to contact a dedicated hotline at 442-300-3104, or anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 760-341-7867.

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Kendall Flynn

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – California Highway Patrol is reminding residents and visitors about staying safe during July 4th, especially as over 72 million Americans are forecasted to travel throughout the weekend, according to AAA.

While CHP and residents say traveling is good for everyone, officers say it raises concerns over traveler safety. Because of the number of people potential spending the holiday throughout the Valley, CHP says it will be engaging its maximum holiday enforcement period.

Officers across the state will be on patrol from Thursday night through Sunday, looking out for the five main collision factors they see each Fourth of July – DUI’s, distracted driving, speeding, seatbelt violations and drug impairment.

While all violations are serious, CHP says DUI is its biggest concern over the weekend, especially as people join nightly celebrations. Last year, CHP made 1,300 DUI arrests statewide during its holiday enforcement period, with 13 of those arrests in the Indio area.

One thing they feel people don’t realize is DUI extends beyond drunk driving and reaches to cannabis or prescription drug use. They say no matter what substance people take and no matter how much, it has the potential to impair their ability to drive.

Their message to the public is stay safe, stay sober and don’t risk it. If any residents see reckless drivers on the road, CHP advices anyone that sees something to say something and call 911.

Stay with News Channel 3 to hear from a concerned resident and CHP on the importance of staying sober and safe this Fourth of July.

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Jesus Reyes

MALIBU, Calif. (KESQ) – Actor Michael Madsen, known for his frequent collaboration with director Quentin Tarantino in films such as “Reservoir Dogs,” “Kill Bill” and “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” died today at his Malibu home. He was 67.

His publicist, Liz Rodriguez, said Madsen suffered what appeared to be a cardiac arrest, and he was found unresponsive Thursday morning.   

“In the last two years Michael Madsen has been doing some incredible work with independent film including upcoming feature films `Resurrection Road,’ `Concessions’ and `Cookbook for Southern Housewives,’ and was really looking forward to this next chapter in his life,” Rodriguez said in a joint statement with Madsen’s managers, Susan Ferris and Ron Smith. “Michael was also preparing to release a new book called `Tears For My Father: Outlaw Thoughts and Poems,’ currently being edited.”

“Michael Madsen was one of Hollywood’s most iconic actors, who will be missed by many.”  

A Chicago native, Madsen broke into films with a small part in the 1980s thriller “WarGames,” followed by appearances in productions including “The Natural,” “Thelma & Louise,” “Donnie Brasco” and “Die Another Day.”

But he made a splash in his work with Tarantino, beginning with the brutal crime drama “Reservoir Dogs,” playing a sadistic criminal known only as Mr. Blonde. He worked with Tarantino again in the films “Kill Bill: Vol. 2,” “The Hateful Eight” and “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.”   

Madsen was the brother of Oscar-nominated actress Virginia Madsen. He was married three times and had six children. His son Christian is also an actor, known for his work in “Divergent.”

According to Palm Springs Life, Madsen owned a house in Thunderbird Heights in Rancho Mirage in the late 90s.

In 2021, Madsen was apart of the documentary, “The Jewels of the Salton Sea.”

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Athena Jreij

DESERT HOT SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) — The owners of a Desert Hot Springs home are asking the community for help in finding homes for dozens of pets abandoned in the home by squatters.

Betty Kerr, the real estate agent representing the home, says the property owners recently won an eviction case against a family member squatting in the home. When they finally gained access to the home, they found a mess they never expected.

“I’ve been selling real estate here in Coachella Valley in the High Desert for over 26 years. I can honestly say this is the worst eviction and the condition of the property that I’ve ever seen in 26 years,” Kerr said.

She says they found about 46 cats in need of a home, as well as several dogs, but she says shelters across the Coachella Valley were too full to accept any animals.

“I’ve called every shelter around here. They’re all full. I’ve called shelters in Yucca Valley where I live. They’re all to capacity,” Kerr said.

Even Desert Hot Springs Animal Control, who responded to the home with several officers, said they can’t rescue cats unless they are deemed to be “irredeemably suffering.”

Now, they’re asking local rescues for help to rehabilitate the cats and assist in finding them homes.

“It’s just hard. They’re starving. When I put the food down, there were like 15 cats just devouring the food so quickly I thought they were going to eat each other. Help me find a home for these animals. I don’t want to leave them here.”

It’s why they reached out to News Channel 3 in hopes of connecting with more rescues.

On Thursday, Christina Sanchez with Kitty Corralers in Joshua Tree, arrived to set up traps for some of the pregnant cats. She says she already took in two that were sick from heat exhaustion and a respiratory infection.

“I’ve been to several hoarding situations, this is the worst that I’ve been to. In the sense that, the person was living in a home that had no electricity, no running water, and their cats and dogs wereforced to live in those conditions and there was no food,” Sanchez said.

Sanchez says she’s already overwhelmed with cats from another hoarding case in Yucca Valley, and she’s not the only one. Several local rescues are reporting over-capacity with little relief.

So, the call to action continues as the animals survive on borrowed time.

News Channel 3 will continue following this story as rescues respond. Tune for continuing coverage.

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Luis Avila

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – A new bill designed to keep you from being drugged is now in effect.

Bars across the state must now have a stack of lids available to protect drinks from being spiked. If you want a lid to protect your drink, just ask.

The law, which went into effect Tuesday, aims to deter drug-facilitated sexual assault.

Local bars, like Hunter’s Palm Springs, are equipped and optimistic.

“I hope it helps a lot of my customers. They will put something over their drink like paper but that’s not what we want happen. We want these where it’s more secure, tightly over the top of the drink. You’d have to see someone actually get in there and you have time to say ‘hey, what are you doing to my drink.’”

Mary Bongard, Hunter’s Palm Springs manager

Some patrons see possible holes.

“People start drinking, you get a little more liberated, mentally, physically, and I don’t think people really think it through.” 

Conrad Miller, Palm Springs resident

California bars and nightclubs are already required to post signs letting customers know that drug-testing kits are available. Now they have to keep a stack of lids handy — one more method for protecting patrons.

It’s supported by the LGBTQ+ community and alcohol safety organizations.

Stay with News Channel 3 for more.

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Cynthia White

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – In an effort to expand community access to specialty care services, Desert Healthcare District & Foundation awarded a grant of $236,555 to Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest.

The grant primarily will fund 50 percent of the salary of the organization’s first Coachella Valley-based physician. The staff addition is expected to expand sexual and reproductive healthcare access, including among low-income and traditionally underserved patients across desert communities.

In recent years Planned Parenthood has increased efforts to remove barriers to access, streamline care, and improve community health outcomes. These efforts began with a renovation and expansion of its Rancho Mirage health center, followed by the hiring of an obstetrician-gynecologist, purchase of new equipment for diagnosis and treatment, and staff training to operate the equipment.

With a new physician, funded in part by the grant, the Rancho Mirage clinic will provide consultations, screenings, diagnosis and treatment for a variety of healthcare needs.

“Through this grant, the District is also addressing a significant health-care challenge in the Coachella Valley,” said Chris Christensen, Desert Healthcare District & Foundation CEO. “Bringing on this one physician will enable a local facility to increase patient volume and offer a broad range of lifesaving services.”

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Cynthia White

THERMAL, Calif. (KESQ) – Riverside County Sheriff’s investigators were looking for a suspect in a shooting in the 75000 block of Pierce Street in Thermal on Wednesday night.

Deputies were called to that location just before 8:00 p.m. for a report of an assault with a deadly weapon and found a man there with injuries consistent with a gunshot wound.

The victim was taken to a local hospital in stable condition.

Authorities said no arrests had been made, and the investigation was ongoing.

Stay with KESQ News Channel 3 for any updates.

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Cynthia White

BANNING, Calif. (CNS) – A felon accused of gunning down a 50-year-old man in a drive-by attack on the edge of the Morongo Indian Reservation northeast of Banning was charged on Wednesday with first-degree murder and other offenses.

Robert Eugene Leonard, 43, of Beaumont, was arrested over the weekend following a Riverside County Sheriff’s Department investigation into the slaying of Orlando Lara of Banning.

Along with murder, Leonard was charged with being a felon in possession of a loaded firearm, being in possession of controlled substances while armed, a special circumstance allegation of perpetrating a murder in a drive-by and sentence-enhancing gun and great bodily injury allegations.

The defendant made his initial court appearance Wednesday before Superior Court Judge Jay Kiel, who appointed him a public defender and scheduled his arraignment for July 16th at the Banning Justice Center.

Leonard is being held without bail at the Robert Presley Jail in Riverside.

Lara’s remains were discovered shortly before 11 p.m. June 25 in the 47000 block of Morongo Road, near Cottonwood Road, along the upper boundary of the reservation, according to sheriff’s Sgt. Alberto Loureiro. He said passers-by discovered the remains and called 911.

“Upon arrival, deputies found the male with a traumatic injury,” Loureiro said, confirming there were “obvious signs” the victim had been shot to death. The likely circumstances and motive were not disclosed.

Within two days, Central Homicide Unit detectives amassed sufficient evidence pointing to Leonard as the alleged shooter. He was tracked to a residence on the reservation, where he was taken into custody without incident late Friday night.

Court records did not list Leonard’s prior convictions, which occurred in another jurisdiction.

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Athena Jreij

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) — The American Reproductive Centers, the fertility clinic targeted in the Palm Springs terrorist attack, are now demolishing their old office and preparing for a new beginning.

Dr. Maher Abdallah, the clinic’s founder and chief doctor, says the rebuild will cost $17 million, not including the cost of new equipment.

While they did receive some insurance coverage, Dr. Abdallah says it’s only a fraction of that cost.

It’s why the $500,000 secured by Assemblyman Greg Wallis from the California state budget, comes at a perfect time.

“It’s a major change because we’re so used to lots of space in our buildings. Our own surgery center, IVF lab, andrology lab. It’s a smaller operation now,”

Dr. Abdallah says the clinic is quickly outgrowing it’s temporary home, across the street at the El Mirador Plaza. He estimates they’re working with a fifth of the space they’re used to, and it’s limiting their procedures.

Now, Dr. Abdallah says he’s eager to rebuild ARC, with plans to finish construction and reopen the new offices by May 2026.

“It will be the same as our last office, but it will be one building instead of two and it will have two stories. It will be better protected too. We’ll have higher walls and armed guards at all time.”

It’s a new, safer home, where he says ARC and it’s embryos will not just survive, but also thrive.

Following up on several embryos that reached blastocyst and fully developed despite the bombing, Dr. Abdallah told News Channel: “The patients that had active, embryos, they continued division. They became perfect blastocysts, and they’re genetically normal. Now we’re preparing for a surrogacy for that couple. I guarantee 99% those embryos will turn into a pregnancy.”

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