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BANNING, Calif. (KESQ) – Opening statements began in the trial of a real estate developer accused of providing six-figure bribes to former Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet, who pleaded guilty last week to a slate of felony charges connected to his support for the defendant’s projects. John Elroy Wessman, 86, is charged with nine counts
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PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – We’re hearing directly from some of the first responders who arrived at the scene of Saturday’s explosion in Palm Springs. Fire crews found themselves at the site of the largest bombing in Southern California history on Saturday, but that didn’t stop them from going beyond the call of duty. The
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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,
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PALM SPRINGS, Calif. — A powerful explosion rocked downtown Palm Springs Saturday, leaving damage scattered over a 100-yard radius according to investigators. The blast shattered windows, rattled nerves and left local businesses like The Velvet Rope reeling. Owner David Rios said he’s spent days sweeping up debris and repairing broken windows — without the help
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PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – A miracle in more ways than one. News Channel 3 is learning more about the patients of American Reproductive Centers, the target of Saturday’s bombing. Officials confirming while the facility’s office space was damaged, the lab was untouched and no embryos were were injured. A relief for patient Emery Baucas.
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PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Palm Springs Mayor Ron deHarte spoke live with News Channel 3’s Shay Lawson to share his message to the community after a bomb explosion rocked the city on Saturday. “It’s going to take time to heal the wounds that have been caused and the emotions and the incredible stress, not
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PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – In the aftermath of the terror attack in Palm Springs, experts are weighing in on how you can keep your mental health in check. Research shows generally, experiencing a traumatic event leads to increased rates of acute stress disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depression, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder,
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Update 6/4/25 A Washington state man was arrested in connection with the Palm Springs bombing. Daniel Park, of Kent, Washington, was charged with providing and attempting to provide material support to a terrorist. More Details: WA man arrested for allegedly aiding Palm Springs fertility clinic bomber Original Report: 5/19/25 PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Police
Continue ReadingBy Hannah Rabinowitz and Holmes Lybrand, CNN (CNN) — The Department of Justice charged Democratic Rep. LaMonica McIver with assaulting federal law enforcement during a chaotic melee that erupted outside of an ICE detention facility in her home state of New Jersey, acting US Attorney Alina Habba said Monday. Prosecutors will, however, drop the federal
Continue ReadingBy Alexandra Skores, CNN (CNN) — A close call earlier this month at LaGuardia Airport in New York between two commercial jets is under investigation, the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board confirmed Monday. The incident is one of many close calls, go-around and aviation accidents that has prompted calls for changes to
Continue ReadingBy Merlin Delcid, Ivonne Valdés and Michael Rios, CNN (CNN) — Authorities in El Salvador have arrested a prominent attorney critical of President Nayib Bukele, in a move criticized by rights groups who say it reflects an increasing trend of “authoritarianism” in the country. Ruth Eleonora López, the head of the Anti-Corruption and Justice Unit
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NORTH PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – A fire damaged a North Palm Springs home today, displacing two residents and causing minor injuries to one person and a firefighter. The fire was reported shortly after 1:30 p.m. near North Indian Canyon Drive and 18th Avenue in the unincorporated area of North Palm Springs, according to the
Continue ReadingBy Alex Marquardt, Kristen Holmes and Natasha Bertrand, CNN (CNN) — The Trump administration first approached Qatar to inquire about acquiring a Boeing 747 that could be used as Air Force One by President Donald Trump, four sources familiar with the discussions told CNN. That’s contrary to the narrative from the president that Qatar reached
Continue ReadingBy Tierney Sneed, CNN (CNN) — A federal judge said that she had concerns about being “hoodwinked” by plans put forward in her courtroom Monday by a Trump appointee to rebuild three offices focused on civil rights oversight within the Department of Homeland Security that were eviscerated with mass layoffs set to take effect this
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INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – Two men accused of killing a man and wounding two others in an attack in Palm Springs must stand trial for murder and other charges, a judge ruled today. Anastascio Jesus Machuca, 23, and Antonio Marins, 24, were arrested in 2022 following the alleged shooting in the area of East Ramon
Continue ReadingBy Sean Lyngaas, CNN (CNN) — A Harvard Medical School professor who works with the Veterans Affairs Department to assess veterans’ risk of suicide hopes his project can survive a fierce internal debate at the department on whether to cancel research contracts with Harvard. VA and the Pentagon have the level of access to data
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By Josh Campbell, CNN (CNN) — Before the man police believe detonated a large explosive that blasted through a fertility clinic in the California desert community of Palm Springs on Saturday, people who knew Guy Edward Bartkus should have alerted authorities about his warning signs, the city’s police chief said. “There were people in chat
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LOS ANGELES (KESQ) – Federal prosecutors in Los Angeles today announced the launch of a program to file complaints and arrest warrants to allow federal law enforcement to take defendants into federal custody from state jails. The program, called Operation Guardian Angel, seeks “to neutralize California’s sanctuary state policy and protect Americans from criminal
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La explosión de un auto fue calificada como un acto de terrorismo el sábado a las 10:50 de la mañana afuera de una clínica de fertilidad ubicada cerca de la calle Indian Canyon frente al hospital de Palm Springs. El incidente movilizo a las autoridades incluyendo al FBI quien identifico al sospechoso como Guy Bartkus
Continue ReadingBy Michael Rios and Elvin Sandoval, CNN (CNN) — The first flight carrying migrants who chose to self-deport from the United States as part of a new Department of Homeland Security initiative offering free flights and $1,000 stipends has landed in Honduras. A group of 38 Hondurans arrived at Ramón Villeda Morales International Airport on
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