Category: kesq-local-news

Kendall Flynn

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. (KESQ) – “Esperanza” means hope in Spanish, and residents of the Dream Home neighborhood in Cathedral City have been hoping for a park close to home.

Esperanza Park is 11 years in the making. Officials said it’s been a long process for getting grants, council approval and to even break ground on the project.

The park is funded by over $11 million, with $8.5 in grants from the California State Parks’ Statewide Park Program, which was funded in 2021, and the rest from the City. Mayor Nancy Ross said this includes taxpayer dollars and funds from city officials.

John Corella, the Director of Public Works for Cathedral City, said the project was denied for grant funding three times from the start of the project in 2014. In their fourth round of funding, California Proposition 68 gave officials a way to get the project going.

The proposition, the 2018 Bond Act, aims to create new parks and improve existing ones in underserved communities. As this act passed, Corella said the Cathedral City community stepped up to push it forward. Students from the local Agua Caliente Elementary School created videos saying why they wanted a park in this area. Corella said he believes this helped the project greatly.

Esperanza Park sits on 7.5 acres in the Dream Homes community with facilities for kids and adults. There’s playground equipment, a fitness area, soccer fields, additional grass space, a dog park and more.

News Channel 3 spoke with a resident of the neighborhood, Michael Arredondo, who said this park is beyond important for his family. He said they’ve been having to travel outside of Cathedral City to find a park that’s accommodating for small children.

“It’s really comfortable,” Arredondo said. “Great for my kids. The fact that my wife and kids have such easy access to a comfortable park.”

Stay with News Channel 3 to hear more from residents, officials and from students at Agua Caliente Elementary School on the importance of opening Esperanza Park.

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KESQ News Team

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – A nonprofit group that recognizes youth for positive accomplishments, behavior and good deeds awarded $60,000 in scholarships to 47 graduating seniors across three Coachella Valley school districts.   

The Do the Right Thing program presented scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $1,500 to 47 students representing all 14 high schools in the Coachella Valley districts, according to the organization.

The event was held Wednesday at the Desert Learning Academy, at 2248 E. Ramon Road, in Palm Springs.  

The scholarship recipients were nominated by high school counselors who identified seniors in need of financial assistance to continue their education.

“We had not initially intended to fund every student nominated but in reviewing the applications, we were struck by the level of need that exists and opted to provide scholarships to all of these very deserving students,” DTRT founder Terri Ketover said in a statement. “We believe that our sponsors and donors provide funds to help youth that are struggling today, and are confident they will continue to support this life changing program next year and into the future.”

Wednesday’s event also included the Do The Right Thing organization’s monthly presentation of special recognition awards to eight students for exhibiting socially desirable behavior and making an effort to improve themselves and the community.  

The eight students were selected from 300 nominees submitted by teachers and principals from the Palm Springs, Desert Sands and Coachella Valley Unified School Districts. The program aims to foster self- esteem in young people by reinforcing positive behavior and establish the youth as positive role models for their peers and throughout the community.   

“This program has made a big impact in our community. Young people need to be recognized for doing good deeds and making good choices,” Palm Springs Police Chief and DTRT board vice president Andrew Mills said in a statement. “In just its first two years, DTRT has recognized and honored more than 2,000 youth in our valley for doing the right thing. We are very happy to be part of this great program.”

Do the Right Thing is a partnership between Palm Springs Police Department and News Channel 3. Click here if you would like to nominate a student.

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Luis Avila

YUCCA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) – Days after Saturday’s bombing in Palm Springs, News Channel 3 is sitting down with the father of the suspect, Richard Bartkus.

In disbelief, he says his son, Guy Edward Bartkus, was a good and smart kid.

Despite the bombing, he believes his son meant no harm to anyone.

“I know he wouldn’t kill anybody. That’s the reason I think, they want to know where he was at from 6 and 11. I know where he was at, he was checking out. Nobody else died… Guy was making sure there was no cars on Indian Canyon.”

Richard Bartkus, father

But he says looking back, there were signs something wasn’t right.

An “impressionable” kid, he said one time his son burned the family house down after learning a match trick at school. He also thinks the divorce between mom and dad impacted his son greatly, admitting it was hard and involved many arguments.

During the sit-down, a sense of guilt emerged.

“Mom was a little lenient than I was. I was strict, I kept an eye on Guy… That’s probably the reason why I haven’t talked to him in the past 10 years.”

Richard Bartkus, father

Richard says he’s been trying to get in contact with FBI officials and his daughter and ex-wife, who both lived with his son in Twentynine Palms.

Stay with News Channel 3 for more.

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Athena Jreij

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) — For the first time since a targeted terrorist attack destroyed parts of the American Reproductive Center over the weekend, News Channel 3 is speaking with the clinic’s doctors.

You can watch the full news conference below:

“Our clinic, where hope is nurtured and futures begin, was the target of a senseless and destructive act,” Amer Abdallah, a representative for the American Reproductive Centers, said at a news conference. “Today, we reaffirm our mission to provide the highest-quality fertility care in a safe and compassionate environment, with the highest level of quality, integrity and service. We believe in miracles, we witness it every day.”

That attack resulted in the death of the suspect, Guy Edward Bartkus, and injured four others.

“And just days ago in that very parking lot, our clinic was the target of a senseless and destructive act shook the foundation of what we do and who we serve, it did not and will not break us, “said Amer Abdallah, business parter and cousin of Dr. Maher Abdallah, who heads the clinic.

Amer Abdallah said Dr. Maher Abdallah was supposed to be in the clinic at the time of the bombing, but thankfully took a meeting out of town.

“That very blast site is where he was sitting,” Amir Abdallah said.

Now, doctors and clinicians are counting their blessings that no staff or embryos were harmed.

According to Dr. Abdallah, one incubator housing 14 embryos yielded eight embryos that reached blastocyst, the phase of development where specimen are healthy enough for potential implantation. For perspective, Abdallah says usually only 2 to 3 embryos will reach blastocyst in a typical batch.

Still a miracle persisted as those embryos continued to grow even through the explosion, and now Dr. Abdallah is confident new life will come from it.

“We had the embryos still dividing in the incubators and five days later we looked at those embryos and through a miracle, eight of them were perfect. What we call blastocysts are perfect embryos. I guarantee that the patient that has those embryos will go home with a child. I personally guarantee it,” Abdallah said.

Doctors also say thousands of sperm and egg specimen were untouched in the blast.

Now, they say the focus is rebuilding. ARC says the construction process will take about 2 years and until then, they plan to set up shop in El Mirador Plaza to continuing serving patients.

In the midst of the many emotions, forgiveness has been top of mind for Dr. Abdallah.

At the press conference, Amer disclosed Dr. Abdallah had offered to pay for the suspect’s funeral expenses. He said Bartkus’s family has not yet responded.

PSPD Chief shares exclusive first close-up look at Palm Springs bomb blast zone

News Channel 3’s Athena Jreij will have more from the clinic live at 6 p.m.

On Monday, the Palm Springs Fire Department highlighted the heroic plan to save the embryos in the American Reproductive Center after the explosion.

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Allie Anthony

The Denny’s on Palm Canyon Drive reopened Thursday morning after sustaining damage in Saturday’s bombing. The bomb shattered windows at many storefronts and businesses.

Denny’s managed a quick recovery, but some business owners say their insurance won’t cover repair costs, leaving them to pay out of pocket.

In response, the “Rebuild Palm Springs” initiative launched within 24 hours of the explosion. The campaign is already raising thousands of dollars to support those hit hardest. Applications for aid are being handled by the Desert Business Association and Greater Palm Springs Pride.

 

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KESQ News Team

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – In Washington D.C., some proposed changes to the way SNAP benefits are delivered is raising concerns at FIND Food Bank in Indio.

SNAP is the government’s supplemental nutrition assistance program, known as CalFresh here in California. Lawmakers are looking at shifting SNPAP’s administrative and benefits to the states.

The change could cost California up to $4 billion a year and impact up to 150,000 people who depend on FIND for food.

“So if the state isn’t able to pick up the $3.1 to $4 billion dollars that would become the state’s responsibility as opposed to what’s been funded by federal then they’re going to have to make choices on whether or not we have to shrink the program– people could lose benefits. They could lose dollars. The people who really need it are going to be sacrificing at this point,” said Debbie Espinosa, FIND Food Bank CEO.

Espinosa says is worried that California can’t absorb the increased SNAP costs. She’s reaching out to our local, state and federal elected representatives– urging them to protect cal-fresh benefits– and those who might lose access to what she calls an essential food program…

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Shay Lawson

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ)  – Small business owners in Palm Springs are rallying to support businesses devastated by Saturday’s deadly explosion through a fundraiser.

The initiative, called “Rebuild Palm Springs,” is being led by:

Bob Smiland, Desert Hand Car Wash

Liz Ostoich, FARM, Tac/Quila and Clandestino

Willie Rhine, 849 Restaurant & Lounge

Bill Sanderson, Townie Bagels

Gregory Goodman, My Little Flower Shop

“It’s really an important time to come together,” Ostoich said. “You can see everybody in this town just joining together because we’re built on love.”

The blast caused widespread structural damage leaving many affected small businesses grappling with uninsured losses.

The program is designed to assist businesses directly impacted by the May 17 explosion by covering up to 50% of qualified repair costs including structural damage, broken windows and inventory loss according to organizers.

“It’s all straight donation to the fund,” Sanderson said. “I donated money for my business.”

Organizers said funds will be distributed by the Desert Business Association and Greater Palm Springs Pride to applicants who submit proof of completed work, such as paid invoices, before-and-after photos, etc.

Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing coverage.

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Jesus Reyes

IDYLLWILD, Calif. (KESQ) – The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office released bodycam video of a dramatic hoist rescue after a climber fell 30 feet over the weekend in Idyllwild.

The rescue happened Saturday near Lily Rock.

The climber sustained a limb injury and needed to be hoisted off the cliff, according to RSO.

“Shout out to the Good Samaritan climber who assisted prior to us showing up,” the agency wrote on Instagram.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Riverside Sheriff Aviation (@rso.aviation)

It was actually the second rescue of the day in that same area in Idyllwild.

According to RSO, the hiker sustained a lower leg injury. He was unable to continue under his own power and was hoisted to safety.

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A post shared by Riverside Sheriff Aviation (@rso.aviation)

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Garrett Hottle

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) The rebuilding effort near the blast site of the deadly car bomb explosion in Palm Springs on Saturday is underway. The blast happened in the parking lot of the American Reproductive Centers fertility clinic, in what investigators say was a targeted act of terrorism.

News Channel 3’s Garrett Hottle spoke with crews repairing windows at Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs on Wednesday. The medical center, is across the street from the fertility clinic and sustained multiple broken windows.

The clean-up and rebuilding effort near the blast site will continue into the week.

On Thursday, a press confernce hosted by American Reproductive Centers (ARC) in response to the tragic explosion near their facility is scheduled for 11am.

“This press conference will also serve as a moment to honor those affected and express gratitude for the first responders and community who have stood by ARC during this time.” -American Reproductive Centers (ARC)

In news release, ARC outlined what you can expect in tomorrows press conference.

“This event resulted in loss of life, structural damage, and deep concern across our community. ARC leadership will issue an official statement addressing the facts as known, the impact on our operations and patients, and our plans for moving forward with strength and renewed purpose.”

The news release goes to state the press conference will include an update on the investigation, conformation of safety for patietn, embryos, and staff, as well as ARC’s vision and commitment to families moving forward.

News Channel Three will be in attendance and bring you any updates.

Stick with us on the air and online for continuing coverage of the rebuilding effort near the blast site in Palm Springs.

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Jesus Reyes

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – A missing hiker found dead Monday on a Palm Springs trail has been identified by his friends as iconic gay adult film actor Glenn Soukesian, known professionally as Colton Ford.

Palm Springs police confirmed they received a report of a missing hiker on Monday at 4 p.m. The hiker was last seen on Sunday before going on a hike on the Goat Trails behind 4733 E. Palm Canyon Drive.

“Our Search and Rescue Team found the lost hiker deceased on the hiking trail at 8:16pm that night,” writes PSPD Lt. Mike Villegas.

Villegas added that the coroner’s office ruled out foul play. There was no information available on the possible cause of death.

The coroner’s office has not released the identity of the man, however, friends confirmed Soukesian’s identity to multiple outlets, including News Channel 3.

Stay with News Channel 3 for any updates.

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