Category: kesq-local-news

Tori King

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – It’s now been four days since 25 year old Guy Edward Bartkus tried to blow up a Palm Springs fertility clinic in an intentional act of terrorism, and until now, the scene has only been accessible to first responders, emergency personnel, and investigators.

However, today, News Channel Three is the first local station to get a look inside the Palm Springs bomb blast zone. News Channel 3’s Tori King got special permission to enter the area, escorted by Palm Springs Police Chief Andy Mills and Lieutenant Mike Villegas.

Although a lot of the scene has been cleaned up since Saturday, a lot of shrapnel and debris from the blast littered the parking lot. During the tour, News Channel 3 learned that Chief Mills was off duty the day of the blast. In fact, Mills was out playing pickleball nearby when the explosion went off. Mills, hearing and feeling the blast, immediately ran towards the scene, arriving mere minutes after the bomb went off. The second he arrived, Mills said he knew this was not a typical call.

“Based on the debris and the pock marking on the walls, the cracks in the buildings, I realized this was a big device,” said Mills, describing the scene. “It seemed more like Beirut than it did Palm Springs.”

Mills also said the phone lines were clogged with hundreds of calls coming in throughout the day.

Despite the danger, Mills went in to investigate without hesitation, still in his ball cap, sneakers, and t-shirt from playing pickleball. “In my mind, when you see a explosion that large, with the plume that I could see and feel from my house, then you have to start thinking to yourself, what exactly happened here,” said Mills. “Any critical incident like this is chaotic. What you’re doing is you’re coming in, there’s smoke billowing, there’s debris all across the street. You have little time to figure out what actually happened but you have to try.”

Mike Villegas, a Lieutenant at the PSPD says seeing Mills charge into the unknown as Chief was inspiring.

“I mean, this man is a leader,” said Villegas. “He has always been so humble. I just learned he showed up in his pickle ball clothes, right? I didn’t realize he actually ran in here looking for people to see if they were hurt. Chief Mills, in that moment, showed true leadership and why we serve our community. Still active scene, chaotic scene, and he’s looking to save people’s lives running into the scene to see if he can help in any way. Again, with that type of leadership, you will follow that man into war. So for me again, I couldn’t be proud of our department, all our officers, our staff, our community, for their support.”

“Obviously there’s a lot of stuff on fire,” said Mills, describing the first moments on scene. “And there’s no other half of the car, other than big pieces of shrapnel all over the place. And I thought, okay, cars don’t explode on their own. And so what was the cause? How big was it? Those kind of things? Immediately you go into the mode of what’s next? Our rule of thumb is, if there’s one device, there could be two. And so the last thing I want to do is get all the other people here injured or hurt.”

Mills also showed News Channel 3 the exact spot that investigators believe Bartkus parked his car before the blast. The only thing left in its place: a crater, nearly five feet in diameter.

“Chunks of metal were literally all over the street,” said Mills. “It was blown in a variety of places. So what happened is, as part of the evidence collection process, you start looking for pieces of evidence. And these are the big chunks. There were lots of chunks that were just, you know, the size of your hand, all over the place. And so collecting those and the body parts were strewn over a 300 yard radius.”

When asked about the type of bomb used, Mills explained it wasn’t just a measly home-made explosive.

“This isn’t your your light fireworks, in the trunk of the car and it caught the gas tank on fire,” said Mills. “No. This was a purposeful, intentional act of violence. To destroy the building, to to harm, embryos, it was sophisticated. And it blew the car blew in two.”

In the aftermath of it all, Mills says he’s thankful for his local emergency partners, and federal investigators who all played critical roles in piecing together the incident, and ensuring the safety of the community.

“You know, our team is exceptional,” said Mills. “And when you have people leaving their homes, looking at their children and their mates and coming to work and recognizing the uncertainty of what’s taking place, but know that that is their job and their responsibility without hesitation, that’s what we want to celebrate. Their bravery.”

The American Reproductive Center sustained severe damage after a vehicle exploded just outside. The suspected bomber, Guy Edward Bartkus, 25, of Twentynine Palms, was killed, four other people were injured.

The site will remain off-limits to the public for an unknown period of time. Investigators ask that the community still avoid the area for now.

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City News Service

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) – Sen. Sabrina Cervantes, D-Riverside, was cited in Sacramento on suspicion of driving under the influence, according to a report published today.

Cervantes, 37, was driving Monday in downtown Sacramento when her car collided with another vehicle just blocks from the Capitol, a Sacramento Police Department spokesperson told the political news website Politico.   

Cervantes was taken to a nearby hospital before officers arrived at the crash scene around 1:30 p.m. Monday, according to Officer Allison Smith, the department spokesperson. Police met Cervantes at a hospital, where they determined she was under the influence of alcohol, cited her with a misdemeanor and then released her, according to Politico.  

Cervantes forcefully disputed the police account, stating the officers falsely accused her of driving under the influence.   

“I want to be clear: I did nothing wrong,” Cervantes said in a statement late Tuesday. “The lab results I sought in the hospital show conclusively I had no alcohol in my system. I expect this to be quickly and justly resolved.”   

In the statement, Cervantes said she was seeking care in the emergency room because her sedan was T-boned by a large SUV.   

“I was accosted by Sacramento Police Department officers, [who] falsely accused {me] of driving under the influence, and involuntarily detained for several hours at the hospital,” Cervantes said.

A spokesperson for the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office did not respond to a question from Politico about whether Cervantes has been charged with a DUI.

Cervantes  was elected in November to represent the 31st SenateDistrict, which includes Jurupa Valley and portions of Corona, Eastvale and Riverside, after eight years in the Assembly. She became the first member of the Legislature to have triplets while serving office in 2019.

“This ordeal was deeply distressing and left me even more shaken,” Cervantes said in the statement. “As a senator, wife, and mother, I hold myself to the highest standard and expect others that serve our communities to do the same.”

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Kendall Flynn

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – The College of the Desert Board of Trustees has chosen Val Martinez Garcia as its new superintendent/president.

The board approved the hire with a 3-2 vote during a special meeting on May 14. School officials said contract details are finalized and Martinez Garcia was presented for approval during a meeting on Friday.

Stay with News Channel 3 as we sit down with the newly appointed superintendent/president to discuss his goals and plans.

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Athena Jreij

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) — In the aftermath of the Palm Springs fertility clinic terrorist attack, News Channel 3 is holding officials accountable to see how this attack will change enforcement.

Palm Springs Police Chief Andy Mills is no stranger to domestic terrorism. Before Palm Springs, Mills worked in counter-terrorism measures in the San Diego Police Department.

Sitting down with News Channel 3’s Athena Jreij, Chief Mills addressed if the attack could’ve been prevented had there been more surveillance by authorities.

“Yes, if people saw those things and brought them forward to government, to the police.”

Mills says now the department plans to ramp up their counter-terrorism enforcement, which looks at ‘threat domains,’ or extremist groups in the area and the risk they pose to marginalized groups.

According to the Chief, vulnerable groups in the area include the desert’s LGBTQ+, Jewish and Hispanic populations. It’s why they keep a close eye on local hate groups.

“In the county, you have Proud Boys. You also have Oath Keepers and and other Three Percenters. Our biggest fear and concern is white supremacy, the folks in the far, far right who, don’t have an off switch,” Mills said.

The department has also been on the lookout for copy cats, or people who could be inspired by the crime’s infamy.

“I do not believe, in the depths of my heart that there is a, substantial threat to our community. Could, a copycat do this again? Yeah. But you have to remember, it takes time to acquire the resources and materials to put all this together. There are tripwires in place for government to find out. If, if somebody is is doing this kind of thing.”

However, to our knowledge Guy Edward Bartkus wasn’t apart of those extremist groups and rather, used the internet to spread his fringe ideology of pro-mortalism, anti-natalism.

It’s why Chief Mills says keeping a close eye on social platforms is also a priority. The department’s Real Time Crime Center will also bring a new element to public safety. The center has been approved by the City Council and is set up to be the largest radar-enabled drone responder system in the U.S.

“We’ll have not only drones operating, but, software in that Real Time Crime Center. Someone will be sitting in there running the license plate, checking the fly cameras. Was there was there anybody else in the car? We have other cameras that around town that we can pull up,” Mills said.

The most important part to preventing something like this again? Eyes on the ground from the public.

“If you see it, you own it. If you’re the person who’s online, one of these chat groups and I espouse something that is going to harm other people, you own it morally.”

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Allie Anthony

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) — After Saturday’s bombing at a Palm Springs IVF clinic left dozens of buildings damaged, residents and business owners are shaken — but already looking ahead to recovery.

City leaders are assuring the community that Palm Springs is safe and will rebuild. Local businesses have begun repairing broken windows and clearing debris, while city crews continue to assess the damage.

“Our fire department, engineering, and a crew are walking down both Indian and Palm Canyon assessing each physical structure, taking consensus of the damage and then coming up with the list of what needs to be done,” Mayor Ron deHarte said. “We are finding out what type of support is available for not only our business owners, but the residents who sustained damage.”

As part of the recovery effort, residents are encouraged to share their support for the city on social media using the hashtag #ILovePalmSprings.

#ILovePalmSprings

The campaign is aimed at showing resilience, promoting unity, and supporting local businesses ahead of the summer slowdown.

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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:

Attachment-79801Download

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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.

Attachment-80122Download

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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