Author: KEYT

Mike Klan

ORANGE, Calif. – The Chargers were so close to a perfect season.

Dos Pueblos lost in a thrilling CIF-Southern Section Division 2 boys lacrosse final 8-7 to San Clemente.

DP entered the championship game with a 21-0 record which included a 7-5 victory over San Clemente on April 11.

But the Tritons got their revenge by winning this back and forth title game at Fred Kelly Stadium.

“This one hurts,” said Chargers head coach Lucas Martinez. “The boys on this team put in so much work, sacrificed so much and went through such a long road to get to this point…to lose at the end is a gut punch. Credit to San Clemente, they are a heck of a team and they out fought us for the title. But I told the boys: I’m so proud of them, both as a team and as individuals. The way they all worked to improve themselves, the way they lifted each other up, the way they fought and pushed themselves over the last 4 years to bring this program to this point is something I will always remember and always be grateful for. I’m so proud to be their coach and to have gone on this journey with them.”

Dos Pueblos never led but it was tight all the way.

The Chargers trailed 2-1 after the first quarter and 5-3 at halftime.

DP entered the fourth quarter down 7-6.

Koa Birchim led Dos Pueblos with 3 goals while Jack Finneran and Gus Miller had two goals apiece.

Senior goalie Danny Perez made 12 saves.

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Mike Klan

UC SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The UC Santa Barbara Baseball team (36-17, 16-14 Big West) played out a dramatic regular-season finale against Cal State Bakersfield (18-38, 9-21 Big West) on Saturday, a back-and-forth game with 25 total runs scored. But, when the see-saw came to a stop, it was the Gauchos who were down, losing 13-12. Regardless, Santa Barbara will continue on to play in The Big West Championship, taking on either UC San Diego or Hawai’i as the No. 5 seed in Wednesday’s play-in game.

HOW IT HAPPENEDPrior to the game, UC Santa Barbara honored 10 graduating members of their program: interns and student managers Devon Kost, Noah Lyons, Justin Han and Isaac Shinbrot as well as six graduating student-athletes Elliot Gallegos, Isaac Kim, Hayden Hattenbach, Jack Holman, Reiss Calvin and LeTrey McCollum. When the game got underway, the pendulum swung the Gauchos’ way first, with starting pitcher Calvin Proskey retiring the side in order in the top of the first and Kim hitting a line-drive opposite-field home run in the bottom half.

But the pendulum swung right back the other way in the top of the second, when the Roadrunners took their first lead of the day with a two-out, two-RBI single. The lead lasted a whole two thirds of an inning. In the bottom of the second, Xavier Esquer was hit by a pitch to spark a two-out rally, with Cole Kosciusko’s single up the middle putting Gauchos on the corners. Corey Nunez tied the game with an RBI single, and after McCollum was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Holman cashed in on some Senior Day luck. The lefty popped an 0-2 pitch up toward left center, but the wind pushed it into the one spot no Roadrunner could reach, giving the Gauchos’ slugger a three-RBI double and Santa Barbara a 5-2 lead.

A solo homer to lead off the top of the third brought Bakersfield back within two, but then the score sat at 5-3 until the top of the fifth, when the pendulum made another big swing. The first five Roadrunners of the inning reached base, with an RBI single plating a run and an RBI error tying the game. They went on to re-take the lead, 7-5, on a sacrifice fly and a double steal with runners on the corners, where the throw down to second sailed into center field.

It took until the bottom of the sixth for the pendulum to swing again, with another Senior Day moment bringing it back to Santa Barbara’s side. After Rowan Kelly led off with a double, Esquer was hit by another pitch, and the two Gauchos each moved up 90 feet on a failed pick-off throw. Nunez walked, then McCollum was hit by a pitch to force home a run. With the bases still loaded, Holman hit a drive to straightaway center field, clearing the wall for a grand slam, giving Santa Barbara a 10-7 lead.

The Gauchos held that lead until the top of the eighth, when everything seemed to go wrong. Bakersfield pinch hit for two of their first three hitters that inning, and both substitutes smacked singles, the latter scoring a run. After a sacrifice bunt moved ‘Runners to second and third, a strikeout put Santa Barbara one out away from getting out of the inning with their lead intact, but that out did not come for some time. A two-RBI single tied the game, and since the batter was able to advance to second on the play, another single scored him to put the visitors up, 11-10. A double into left center made it 12-10 before the Gauchos could get out of it, stranding two runners in scoring position. Bakersfield added another run on a sacrifice fly in the top of the ninth, meaning Santa Barbara headed into their final at-bats needing three runs to prolong the game. They would get two of them.

Kim singled to start the inning, then Nate Vargas was hit by a pitch. A walk to Jonathan Mendez loaded the bases, and Kelly’s fielder’s choice groundout got a run on the board for the Gauchos. Esquer was hit by a pitch yet again to re-load the bases, and again a fielder’s choice grounder got a run home, this time Kosciusko picking up the RBI. That left the Gauchos with runners on the corners and two outs, but they were not able to get that tying run the last 90 feet to home.

BY THE NUMBERSSaturday’s loss snaps a 20-game winning streak against Cal State Bakersfield, which had dated back to 2017. The Gauchos’ longest active win streak against a Big West opponent is now eight, against UC Riverside.Despite the loss, Holman had one of, if not his best game as a Gaucho on Saturday, racking up a career-high seven RBIs in the game. The last Santa Barbara player to plate seven or more runs in a game was Jonah Sebring, who brought home nine against UC Riverside on May 24, 2024.Esquer was another outlier on the stat sheet on Saturday, being hit by four pitches in the game. He is the first Gaucho to be plunked that many times in a single game since at least 2011, which is as far back as UC Santa Barbara individual hit-by-pitch records for single games go.Esquer is now one painful trip to first away from tying the Gauchos’ single-season hit-by-pitch record of 24, set by Andrew Calica in 2015.McCollum was hit by three pitches himself on Saturday, which was the previous single-game high, with Justin Trimble, Broc Mortensen (twice), Eric Yang and Calica all having worn a trio of pitches in a single game.As a team, the Gauchos were hit by eight pitches on Saturday, the most in a single game since 2016, when they were plunked eight times in a March 5 meeting with Oregon. With 101 hit-by-pitches in 2025, the Gauchos are one away from tying the team record for HBP in a season of 102, set in 2021.

UP NEXTSanta Barbara is off to The Big West Championship, where they await the winner of Sunday’s game between UC San Diego and Hawai’i in Manoa. The Gauchos will be the No. 5 seed, the away team in the play-in game on Wednesday, May 21. Under Head Coach Andrew Checketts, the Gauchos are 14-7 when batting first in neutral-site games. First pitch in Wednesday’s play-in game is set for 12 noon from Goodwin Field in Fullerton. Tickets are on sale now at ucsbgauchos.com.

(Article courtesy of UCSB Athletics).

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Mike Klan

SAN LUIS OBIPO, Calif. – Right fielder Dylan Kordic tied a school record by driving in eight runs, half of them with a fifth-inning grand slam, and Cal Poly pounded out 21 hits for the third time this season in a 16-7 romp past UC Riverside on Saturday inside Baggett Stadium.

The victory completed the Mustangs’ sixth Big West series sweep of the 2025 campaign, propelling Cal Poly to 37-16 overall and 23-7 for second place in conference play. Cal Poly finished one game behind UC Irvine (39-13, 24-6 Big West), which outlasted Cal State Fullerton 12-10 on Saturday at Cicerone Field.

In winning eight of 10 Big West series for the second straight year, Cal Poly’s runner-up finish is the eighth in Larry Lee’s 23 seasons as head coach, including five in the last eight full campaigns. The Mustangs have won 35 or more games for the ninth time in Lee’s tenure.

UC Riverside closed an early 4-0 deficit to 5-2 before Kordic belted his big fly off the batter’s eye well over the 405-foot sign in center field. UC Riverside scored five times in the sixth to pull within three runs at 10-7, but Cal Poly regained control of the game with four runs in its half of the sixth and added two more in the eighth.

Key hits in the game for the Mustangs were a two-run single up the middle by left fielder Dante Vachini in a four-run second-inning rally, a two-run home run to left by third baseman Alejandro Garza in another four-run uprising in the sixth and a two-run double by Kordic to right-center field in the eighth. Garza and Kordic each have six homers for the year.

Kordic and center fielder Casey Murray Jr. added RBI singles while Kordic and second baseman Ryan Fenn contributed sacrifice flies.

Kordic equalled the record of eight RBIs in a single game set by Steve Pettit against Westmont College in 2004.

Kordic finished 4-for-4 at the plate, his second career four-hit game as a Mustang. He also was 4-for-4 against Ohio State in 2024. Murray also had four hits Saturday, all singles, his first at Cal Poly.

Fenn produced his 14th three-hit game of the year, including a double. Vachini (fourth), shortstop Nate Castellon (ninth) and designated hitter Cam Hoiland (fourth) all had three hits as well — Castellon with two doubles — as Cal Poly accumulated double-digit hits for the 34th time in its last 46 games.

With seven of the nine starters collecting at least one hit Saturday, Cal Poly has received hits from at least seven of its nine starters eight times in its last nine games, including all nine on three occasions. The Mustangs have hit .418 in those eight games with 28 doubles, nine home runs and a slugging percentage of .611 and an on-base percentage of .486.

Cal Poly scored double-digit runs for the 18th time this season and outscored the visiting Highlanders 36-21 in the three-game series. With four rallies of two or more runs Saturday, the Mustangs have posted crooked numbers 96 times in 53 games.

For the weekend series, Vachini was 10-for-14 with three RBIs and three runs scored while Fenn went 8-for-13 with six RBIs and six runs scored. Castellon and Murray both were 7-for-14 at the plate, Castellon driving in four runs, while Garza went 6-for-14 with three home runs, five RBIs and six runs scored.

Pitching in just his third game of the season, junior lefty Luke Kovach (1-0) earned his first victory as a Mustang, tossing three innings with six strikeouts and no walks, allowing a run and two hits. Josh Morano tossed 2 1/3 scoreless frames in relief, with Ethan Marmie throwing a scoreless ninth frame.

The loss was charged to UC Riverside starter Nolan Milliman (2-3), a senior right-hander who gave up four runs and six hits in one inning of work on the mound. Center fielder Robert Pitts homered twice and singled once to lead the Highlanders offensively. He was 5-for-14 in the series.

Cal Poly, which swept Cal State Fullerton in a Big West series in March at Baggett Stadium, will face the host Titans on the second day of the Big West Conference Championship on Thursday at 7 p.m. at Goodwin Field. The Mustangs will be the second seed and the Titans are seeded third.

Also on Thursday, top-seeded UC Irvine plays the winner of Wednesday’s first-round game between fourth-seeded UC Santa Barbara and either Hawai’i or UC San Diego at 3 p.m. The Rainbow Warriors and Tritons play a one-game winner-take-all contest Sunday to determine the final entrant in the tournament. That game was scheduled for Sunday due to graduation ceremonies at Hawai’i on Saturday.

(Article courtesy of Cal Poly Athletics)

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Mike Klan

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The Santa Barbara Dons went the distance but they could not quite reach the top of the mountain.

The Dons boys volleyball team lost in five sets to Sage Hill in the CIF-Southern Section Division 4 championship match (25-15, 13-25, 25-18, 20-25, 8-15).

Santa Barbara won two of the first three sets but the visiting Lightning rallied back to make it back-to-back CIF-SS titles as they won last year in D5.

The Dons offensive attack was led by Hayes Costner and Benicio Duarte who each had 12 kills.

(Hayes Costner blasts one of his 12 kills. Entenza Design).

(Benicio Duarte ended the match with 12 kills. Entenza Design).

“I am proud of our guys. We did not look this good at the start of the season, they’re a good team, but we battled well,” said Dons senior Jack Goligski, “Just not the outcome we wanted.”

Hayes Costner appreciated the fans cheering them on in the stands.

“We were just hyped up, we wanted to win so bad. We all did pretty good we just couldn’t get it done today” “it was an exciting game today, loved to see everyone in the crowd..it was cool…it was really cool,” said Hayes Costner.

Santa Barbara will find out on Sunday if they will play in the State Regional Tournament.

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Andie Lopez Bornet

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – People gathered at the Carriage and Western Art Museum in Santa Barbara for the 2025 Fiesta poster and pin reveal.

Old Spanish Days’ La Primavera kicks off Fiesta festivities. “Fiesta brings the community together, that’s what I love about it,” said 2025 El Presidente Fritz Olenberger.

Saturday people gathered and enjoyed performances from the 2025 Fiesta Spirit and Junior Spirit. During the event the introductions to the Fiesta honoraries and Grand Marshals were given.

The event officially revealed the poster and pin for Old Spanish days Fiesta. 2025 El Presidente Fritz Olenberger shares a little of the posters’ inspiration.

“Every year it’s kinda the idea that the poster and the pin reflect a little bit about the president of that year. So the little bit of me is going to be my photography,” said Olenberger.

Your Newschannel spoke to one of the artists who contributed in the creation of the 2025 Fiesta poster.“Well he had a photograph that he wanted the concept based on, so then I had Kate come in and model for it and pose for it and created it from his concept,” said Derek Harrison, artist who contributed to the poster.

“I had to find some outfit that mimicked what the dress was and pose in the exact thing so that we could get the face and right orientation for it and had to get the hand right,” said Kate Maddaloni, who modeled and helped Harrison.

“There’s a what- hundred and one years of history of these posters and when Fritz first asked me to do it I went to the history museum and looked through all of them. I think it’s very suitable and fitting for this year. You know, it’s modern, but it’s still a classical oil painting. It still has that Fiesta energy and vibe to it,” said Harrison.

Old Spanish Days Fiesta 2025 kicks off July 30-August 3.

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Tracy Lehr

CAMARILLO, Calif.-While Dana Isabel Joaquin Juat sang the Star Spangled Banner, Sarah Ysordia signed it.

Ysordia lost her sight and hearing due to Usher Syndrome as a child, but that didn’t stop her from minoring in dance and performing with American Sign Language.

“I know that I can’t see the audience, but that is gift to everyone, so they can see my hands moving and my biggest smile,” said Ysordia.

They are among 1500 students who took part in two graduation ceremonies on the Camarillo campus on Saturday.

Some of the students carried banners with their majors during the procession.

Congratulations to the Class of 2025.

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Patricia Martellotti

VENTURA, Calif. – A newly approved type of test has been released that is helping increase access to HPV and cervical cancer screenings for women. 

In 2024, the FDA approved a self-collection screening for cancer-causing types of human papillomavirus (HPV). While the new tests must still be done in a healthcare setting, people can collect samples themselves if they cannot have or do not want a pelvic exam. 

According to the National Cancer Institute, almost 30% of eligible people with a cervix don’t get screened for cervical cancer at the recommended intervals. HPV is the leading cause of cervical cancer, so it is important to diagnose it early and prevent it if possible. HPV vaccine rates continue to decline. As a result, about 11,500 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year. 

Dr. Benjamin Capper is an internal medicine physician with Dignity Health Medical Group – Ventura, where this new self-collection is now being offered. 

For more information, visit: https://www.dignityhealth.org/ourdoctors/1437544699-benjamin-capper.

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KESQ

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Remains found at the scene of Saturday’s Palm Springs explosion were a positive match for the suspect after DNA testing, the FBI confirmed.

FBI officials have said they are “fairly confident” that 25-year-old Guy Edward Bartkus of Twentynine Palms was responsible for Saturday’s bombing. Bartkus was killed in the blast, which happened just before 11 a.m. near American Reproductive Centers on the 1100 block of N Indian Canyon, near E Tachevah Drive

DNA testing of the decedent’s remains found at the scene of the Palm Springs vehicle explosion is a positive match to Guy Edward Bartkus, the suspect in the clinic attack. Anyone with information is urged call 1 800 CALL FBI or upload images/video to https://t.co/CnxyRN1YIv

— FBI Los Angeles (@FBILosAngeles) May 19, 2025

“We are fairly confident that Mr. Bartkus is our primary subject, our primary suspect, a person of interest,” Akil Davis, assistant director in charge of the FBI in Los Angeles, added that the suspect was not previously known to the FBI.

PSPD Chief: Other people could face charges if they had prior knowledge of Palm Springs explosion

Davis said Bartkus was driving a 2010 silver Ford Fusion sedan with license number 8hws848.

“That’s critical because we need the public’s help in identifying the gaps in our investigation,” Davis said. “We know where Mr. Bartkus was at about 6 a.m. We know the timeline of when he entered the city; however, we need the public’s help for identifying where he traversed within the city before the explosion.”

Several neighborhoods in Twentynine Palms were evacuated on Saturday due to a potential blast zone.

“Make no mistake. This is an intentional act of terrorism,” Davis said in a news conference on Saturday. “This is one of the largest bombing investigations we’ve had in Southern California.”  

Road Closure Updates/Resource List from City of Palm Springs

On Sunday, Davis went a step further, saying: “This is probably the largest bombing scene that we’ve had in Southern California. This does eclipse the bombing matter in Aliso Viejo (at a day spa in 2018); it’s that big. For reference, to throw pieces of vehicle hundreds of feet in the air, and several blocks away, you can use your imagination how big that bomb device was.”

Authorities reiterated Sunday that all the embryos inside the fertility clinic building were safe.

Check Out: Heroic first responders save embryos after Palm Springs bomb explosion

“This is an isolated incident,” Palm Springs Police Chief Andy Mills in a news conference on Saturday. “The community is not at risk any longer.”

Multiple media reports suggest that Bartkus was motivated by an intense opposition to in vitro fertilization.   

“Officials are also aware of a rambling audio recording posted online in which a man describes his intention to attack an in vitro fertilization clinic, and they are working to determine whether it is associated with the incident,” CNN reported, citing an unnamed law enforcement source.

“In the oftentimes incoherent audio message, the speaker discusses various grievances about his life, but the specific connection to IVF is unclear,” according to CNN.

Other media reports said the speaker on the recording described himself as anti-life, or pro-mortalist.

Davis said Sunday that “the suspect had nihilistic ideations.”

The FBI also said officials believe Bartkus was trying to live-stream the attack, but failed.

Asst Director Davis confirmed the FBI is investigating the Palm Springs explosion as an act of #terrorism being investigated by the #JTTF. There is no known threat to public safety at this time. Call 1800 CALLFBI or visit https://t.co/a8bqmmwqXT with info. Check here for updates. pic.twitter.com/xU8G2IWRys

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

Four people were injured in the explosion. Desert Regional Medical Center confirmed on Sunday that the patients who were treated at its hospital have since been released.

“Desert Regional Medical Center is grateful to the emergency services agencies who quickly responded to the explosion that took place on Saturday. The injured who were taken to Desert Regional on Saturday have been treated and released from the hospital. Our thoughts go out to the families impacted by this tragic incident. Desert Regional remains open to care for our community,” reads a statement by DRMC officials.

Palm Springs Mayor Ron deHarte told the Los Angeles Times he could “confirm it was a bomb in or near a vehicle parked at the building.”

Dr. Maher Abdallah, who runs the clinic, posted a message on social media saying the facility’s office space was damaged, but the lab was untouched. He confirmed that no employees of the clinic were injured.   

Abdallah said “a vehicle exploded in the parking lot near our building.”   

We. Choose. Hope.

This morning, an unexpected and tragic incident occurred outside our Palm Springs facility when a vehicle exploded in the parking lot near our building.

We are heartbroken to learn that this event claimed a life and caused injuries, and our deepest condolences go out to the individuals and families affected.

We are immensely grateful to share that no members of the ARC team were harmed, and our lab—including all eggs, embryos, and reproductive materials—remains fully secure and undamaged. We are heavily conducting a complete safety inspection and have confirmed that our operations and sensitive medical areas were not impacted by the blast.

Our mission has always been to help build families, and in times like these, we are reminded of just how fragile and precious life is. In the face of this tragedy, we remain committed to creating hope—because we believe that healing begins with community, compassion, and care.

Out of every tragedy, there is an opportunity to come together with deeper purpose. While today’s events have shaken us all, they also shine a light on the strength of our community, the bravery of our first responders, and the resilience of the families we serve.

At ARC, we believe in creating life—not just in the biological sense, but in the emotional and spiritual sense, too. We see this moment as a reminder to hold loved ones close, to show kindness whenever possible, and to continue our work with even more intention and heart. From adversity, we choose hope.

ARC will be fully operational on Monday morning, and our team is here to answer any concerns you may have. We appreciate the incredible support from our patients and local community, as well as the swift action of Palm Springs Police, Fire, and emergency responders.

This moment has shaken us—but it has not stopped us. We will continue to serve with strength, love, and the hope that brings new life into the world.

With heartfelt gratitude,

Dr Abdallah & Your ARC Family

U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli posted a message on X saying, “We are aware of the explosion that occurred this morning in Palm Springs. FBI is on scene and will be investigating whether this was an intentional act. We will release as much information as possible once we are able to confirm details.”

The FBI posted that it “is responding with police and fire partners to the scene of an explosion on N. Indian Canyon Drive in Palm Springs. FBI assets being deployed include investigators, bomb technicians and an evidence response team. Please contact local authorities for safety precautions in the area.”  

Nicole Lozano, spokeswoman for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in Los Angeles, said ATF personnel were en route to the scene of the explosion.

“We have no solid information at this point and don’t want to speculate,” she said. “Once we get our agents there, we will be better prepared to respond to questions.”

Several viewers reported hearing a loud explosion throughout the area.

Courtesy: Carl Schreier

Authorities request that residents stay away from the area so that emergency crews can work on the incident.

Images from viewers shows damage at several nearby buildings, including Desert Regional Medical Center, Denny’s, and Palm Springs Liquor.

Officials from DRMC issued a statement on Saturday confirming that the emergency department remained open and the hospital is fully operational.

“On Saturday morning an explosion occurred at an unaffiliated office building across the street from Desert Regional Medical Center. Hospital staff is cooperating with police as they investigate the cause. Our emergency department remains open and our hospital is fully operational. We are temporarily asking visitors to refrain from coming to the hospital as police have limited access to the road in front of our campus. Some windows were broken in a medical office building directly facing the explosion. Hospital operations have not been affected.” – Statement from DRMC

City officials said the main entrance to Desert Regional can be accessed on Paseo El Mirador from Via Miraleste. If access to the Emergency Room is needed, emergency personnel will be at Tachevah and Via Miraleste to facilitate.

The Governor’s office issued a statement that Governor Gavin Newsom has been briefed on the situation:

“I’ve been briefed on the explosion near a fertility clinic in Palm Springs. Jen and I are keeping everyone affected in our hearts. The state is working closely with local and federal authorities as the investigation unfolds. Please avoid the area.- Governor Gavin Newsom

.@CAGovernor Newsom has been briefed on the explosion at a health facility in Palm Springs.

The state, through @Cal_OES, is coordinating with local and federal authorities to support the response.

— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) May 17, 2025

Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing updates.

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CNN Newsource

By Matthew Rodriguez

Click here for updates on this story

    PALM SPRINGS, California (KCAL) — Federal and local authorities are investigating an explosion that occurred Saturday morning near a fertility clinic in Palm Springs, California.

Palm Springs city officials said in a Facebook post that the blast occurred just before 11 a.m. local time along North Indian Canyon Drive, near East Tachevah Drive. Several health care facilities, including American Reproductive Centers, an IVF clinic, and Desert Regional Medical Center, are along that roadway.

American Reproductive Centers said in its own Facebook post that a “vehicle exploded in the parking lot near our building.”

The clinic said that it learned one person was killed and several more injured in the explosion, but that has not been confirmed by officials. No clinic employees were injured in the blast, the clinic added.

“Our lab—including all eggs, embryos, and reproductive materials—remains fully secure and undamaged,” the clinic also wrote.

In a statement, the office of California Gov. Gavin Newsom said that Newsom had been “been briefed on the explosion at a health facility in Palm Springs.”

An FBI spokesperson told CBS News in an email it was “responding with our partners with investigators, bomb techs and ERT.”

A spokesperson for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives also told CBS News by email it was “aware of the situation and enroute to assist our State and local counterparts.”

Bill Essayli, U.S. attorney for the Central District of California, wrote in a post to X that the Justice Department was “aware of the explosion that occurred this morning in Palm Springs. FBI is on scene and will be investigating whether this was an intentional act. We will release as much information as possible once we are able to confirm details.”

The city of Palm Springs asked residents to stay away from the area. Newsom’s office stated it was coordinating with local and federal authorities to support the emergency response.

Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

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KESQ

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Remains found at the scene of Saturday’s Palm Springs explosion were a positive match for the suspect after DNA testing, the FBI confirmed.

FBI officials have said they are “fairly confident” that 25-year-old Guy Edward Bartkus of Twentynine Palms was responsible for Saturday’s bombing. Bartkus was killed in the blast, which happened just before 11 a.m. near American Reproductive Centers on the 1100 block of N Indian Canyon, near E Tachevah Drive

DNA testing of the decedent’s remains found at the scene of the Palm Springs vehicle explosion is a positive match to Guy Edward Bartkus, the suspect in the clinic attack. Anyone with information is urged call 1 800 CALL FBI or upload images/video to https://t.co/CnxyRN1YIv

— FBI Los Angeles (@FBILosAngeles) May 19, 2025

“We are fairly confident that Mr. Bartkus is our primary subject, our primary suspect, a person of interest,” Akil Davis, assistant director in charge of the FBI in Los Angeles, added that the suspect was not previously known to the FBI.

PSPD Chief: Other people could face charges if they had prior knowledge of Palm Springs explosion

Davis said Bartkus was driving a 2010 silver Ford Fusion sedan with license number 8hws848.

“That’s critical because we need the public’s help in identifying the gaps in our investigation,” Davis said. “We know where Mr. Bartkus was at about 6 a.m. We know the timeline of when he entered the city; however, we need the public’s help for identifying where he traversed within the city before the explosion.”

Several neighborhoods in Twentynine Palms were evacuated on Saturday due to a potential blast zone.

“Make no mistake. This is an intentional act of terrorism,” Davis said in a news conference on Saturday. “This is one of the largest bombing investigations we’ve had in Southern California.”  

Road Closure Updates/Resource List from City of Palm Springs

On Sunday, Davis went a step further, saying: “This is probably the largest bombing scene that we’ve had in Southern California. This does eclipse the bombing matter in Aliso Viejo (at a day spa in 2018); it’s that big. For reference, to throw pieces of vehicle hundreds of feet in the air, and several blocks away, you can use your imagination how big that bomb device was.”

Authorities reiterated Sunday that all the embryos inside the fertility clinic building were safe.

Check Out: Heroic first responders save embryos after Palm Springs bomb explosion

“This is an isolated incident,” Palm Springs Police Chief Andy Mills in a news conference on Saturday. “The community is not at risk any longer.”

Multiple media reports suggest that Bartkus was motivated by an intense opposition to in vitro fertilization.   

“Officials are also aware of a rambling audio recording posted online in which a man describes his intention to attack an in vitro fertilization clinic, and they are working to determine whether it is associated with the incident,” CNN reported, citing an unnamed law enforcement source.

“In the oftentimes incoherent audio message, the speaker discusses various grievances about his life, but the specific connection to IVF is unclear,” according to CNN.

Other media reports said the speaker on the recording described himself as anti-life, or pro-mortalist.

Davis said Sunday that “the suspect had nihilistic ideations.”

The FBI also said officials believe Bartkus was trying to live-stream the attack, but failed.

Asst Director Davis confirmed the FBI is investigating the Palm Springs explosion as an act of #terrorism being investigated by the #JTTF. There is no known threat to public safety at this time. Call 1800 CALLFBI or visit https://t.co/a8bqmmwqXT with info. Check here for updates. pic.twitter.com/xU8G2IWRys

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

Four people were injured in the explosion. Desert Regional Medical Center confirmed on Sunday that the patients who were treated at its hospital have since been released.

“Desert Regional Medical Center is grateful to the emergency services agencies who quickly responded to the explosion that took place on Saturday. The injured who were taken to Desert Regional on Saturday have been treated and released from the hospital. Our thoughts go out to the families impacted by this tragic incident. Desert Regional remains open to care for our community,” reads a statement by DRMC officials.

Palm Springs Mayor Ron deHarte told the Los Angeles Times he could “confirm it was a bomb in or near a vehicle parked at the building.”

Dr. Maher Abdallah, who runs the clinic, posted a message on social media saying the facility’s office space was damaged, but the lab was untouched. He confirmed that no employees of the clinic were injured.   

Abdallah said “a vehicle exploded in the parking lot near our building.”   

We. Choose. Hope.

This morning, an unexpected and tragic incident occurred outside our Palm Springs facility when a vehicle exploded in the parking lot near our building.

We are heartbroken to learn that this event claimed a life and caused injuries, and our deepest condolences go out to the individuals and families affected.

We are immensely grateful to share that no members of the ARC team were harmed, and our lab—including all eggs, embryos, and reproductive materials—remains fully secure and undamaged. We are heavily conducting a complete safety inspection and have confirmed that our operations and sensitive medical areas were not impacted by the blast.

Our mission has always been to help build families, and in times like these, we are reminded of just how fragile and precious life is. In the face of this tragedy, we remain committed to creating hope—because we believe that healing begins with community, compassion, and care.

Out of every tragedy, there is an opportunity to come together with deeper purpose. While today’s events have shaken us all, they also shine a light on the strength of our community, the bravery of our first responders, and the resilience of the families we serve.

At ARC, we believe in creating life—not just in the biological sense, but in the emotional and spiritual sense, too. We see this moment as a reminder to hold loved ones close, to show kindness whenever possible, and to continue our work with even more intention and heart. From adversity, we choose hope.

ARC will be fully operational on Monday morning, and our team is here to answer any concerns you may have. We appreciate the incredible support from our patients and local community, as well as the swift action of Palm Springs Police, Fire, and emergency responders.

This moment has shaken us—but it has not stopped us. We will continue to serve with strength, love, and the hope that brings new life into the world.

With heartfelt gratitude,

Dr Abdallah & Your ARC Family

U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli posted a message on X saying, “We are aware of the explosion that occurred this morning in Palm Springs. FBI is on scene and will be investigating whether this was an intentional act. We will release as much information as possible once we are able to confirm details.”

The FBI posted that it “is responding with police and fire partners to the scene of an explosion on N. Indian Canyon Drive in Palm Springs. FBI assets being deployed include investigators, bomb technicians and an evidence response team. Please contact local authorities for safety precautions in the area.”  

Nicole Lozano, spokeswoman for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in Los Angeles, said ATF personnel were en route to the scene of the explosion.

“We have no solid information at this point and don’t want to speculate,” she said. “Once we get our agents there, we will be better prepared to respond to questions.”

Several viewers reported hearing a loud explosion throughout the area.

Courtesy: Carl Schreier

Authorities request that residents stay away from the area so that emergency crews can work on the incident.

Images from viewers shows damage at several nearby buildings, including Desert Regional Medical Center, Denny’s, and Palm Springs Liquor.

Officials from DRMC issued a statement on Saturday confirming that the emergency department remained open and the hospital is fully operational.

“On Saturday morning an explosion occurred at an unaffiliated office building across the street from Desert Regional Medical Center. Hospital staff is cooperating with police as they investigate the cause. Our emergency department remains open and our hospital is fully operational. We are temporarily asking visitors to refrain from coming to the hospital as police have limited access to the road in front of our campus. Some windows were broken in a medical office building directly facing the explosion. Hospital operations have not been affected.” – Statement from DRMC

City officials said the main entrance to Desert Regional can be accessed on Paseo El Mirador from Via Miraleste. If access to the Emergency Room is needed, emergency personnel will be at Tachevah and Via Miraleste to facilitate.

The Governor’s office issued a statement that Governor Gavin Newsom has been briefed on the situation:

“I’ve been briefed on the explosion near a fertility clinic in Palm Springs. Jen and I are keeping everyone affected in our hearts. The state is working closely with local and federal authorities as the investigation unfolds. Please avoid the area.- Governor Gavin Newsom

.@CAGovernor Newsom has been briefed on the explosion at a health facility in Palm Springs.

The state, through @Cal_OES, is coordinating with local and federal authorities to support the response.

— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) May 17, 2025

Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing updates.

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