June 3 Daily Briefing: First responders share story, nonprofit honored, our pet of the week, and more

Welcome to Tuesday, everyone, where we have what we hope is a helpful tip if you are participating in Restaurant Week (running through Sunday, June 8). If you have one of the city’s Love Local gift cards, you should know that not all restaurants participating in Restaurant Week accept the cards. So, if you’re hoping to use some of the bonus bucks associated with the card you purchased, make sure to double check here before heading out to your favorite eatery. 

🎶 Setting the mood: “Fire In The Hole” by Steely Dan

LEADING OFF

‘There’s hopes and dreams in there’: First responders recall risks as they entered clinic after bombing

Deputy Fire Chief Greg Lyle had 10 seconds to convince an FBI agent to let him enter the bomb-damaged American Reproductive Centers fertility clinic on May 17. His plea was simple: “There’s hopes and dreams in there.” That moment of persuasion would lead to one of the most unusual rescue missions in Palm Springs Fire Department history.

Driving the news: Two weeks after a terrorist attack devastated the clinic on North Indian Canyon Drive, Lyle and other first responders are reflecting on their decisions that day. For Lyle, the decision was to personally enter a structurally compromised building to save embryos and critical patient records rather than order his crew into danger.

• The explosion left the building with blown-out windows, exposed electrical wiring and standing water, but the cryogenic tanks holding embryos needed immediate attention to prevent loss of power.

The decision: For the first time in his 30-year career, Lyle faced a situation so dangerous he wouldn’t ask anyone else to do it.

• “I wasn’t comfortable with sending any of my guys in but I would do it,” Lyle said of his decision to enter the building with FBI Agent Chris Meltzer.

The human stakes: The mission became deeply personal when Lyle received a text from a fellow firefighter whose wife was undergoing fertility treatment, thanking him for saving the embryos.

• “That’s when it really hit home, how small the world is,” Lyle said.

What they saved: The team restored power to 15 cryogenic tanks and retrieved thousands of patient files for people at critical stages of fertility treatment.

• Some patients were scheduled for procedures within days, making the records essential for continuing their treatments.

Looking back: Battalion Chief Ali Harandi, who was one of the first on the scene and led the power restoration efforts, said the successful mission represents the best possible outcome from a devastating situation.

• “I mean, for me, just that is absolutely like the best-case scenario, best-case outcome that could have happened. I’m really proud of everyone’s work,” Harandi said.

Read our complete story online

BRIEFLY

🏆 State lawmaker honors local nonprofit as organization of the year

Assemblymember Greg Wallis recognized Do the Right Thing Greater Palm Springs as the 2025 Nonprofit of the Year for Assembly District 47 last week.

• Do the Right Thing, founded in 1990 by Dr. Terri Ketover, has focused on empowering youth, building trust between young people and law enforcement, and strengthening community connections across the region.
  
• Wallis presented a legislative resolution to honor the organization’s impact and dedication to public service during the ceremony.
  
• Bottom line: Anyone can nominate a student for the award. The local chapter accepts up to 350 nominations each month from teachers, parents, and other community members.

🤖 Palm Springs to host AI and creativity expo this month

The city and Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce will host the first AI and Creativity Expo this month at the Palm Springs Convention Center, featuring speakers that include Emmy-nominated host Baratunde Thurston and “Lion King” director Rob Minkoff.

• The one-day event runs from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and aims to explore AI’s real-world impacts and creative possibilities through sessions designed to demystify AI for non-tech community members and showcase business applications with local entrepreneurs.
  
• Attendees can look forward to “Ask the Experts” group sessions with AI tech professionals and an afternoon networking reception with GenJam Showcase, an AI creative workshop for students and artists led by Machine Cinema (College of the Desert, Palm Springs Campus).
  
• Bottom line: General admission costs $50 and includes morning coffee and pastries, access to keynote presentations, expert sessions, lunch and the networking reception. Registration is available at pschamber.org/aiexpo.

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TODAY’S FEATURED EVENTS

Knits + Purls
9 a.m. | The Center
This six week course taught by Douglas Morris begins this week at The Center. It will teach you how to knit within the first hour, and eventually take you through knitting forwards, backwards, and in the round. ($85) 

Queer Colon Care Collective
5 p.m. | Virtual
This support group is open to LGBTQ+ colorectal cancer patients, survivors, or caregivers. Organizers will offer resources and a sense of community in a safe place to share experiences.

Palm Springs Historic Site Preservation Board
5:30 p.m. | City Hall
Board members will meet to go over applications for alterations to historically significant properties or nominations for new historic properties.

Palm Springs Power
7 p.m. | Palm Springs Stadium
Your Palm Springs Power baseball team goes up against the San Diego Bombers tonight. Deals includes $3 draft beers. ($5-$10)

See all events here

SAVE THE DATE

• Palm Springs Firefighters Fish Fry on Saturday.
  
• Palm Springs Equality Wine & Food Fest on Saturday.
  
• Palm Springs Young Playwrights Festival Sunday at the Cultural Center.
  
• Juneteenth Freedom Weekend from June 19 through 21. 
  
• Palm Springs AI & Creativity Expo on June 23 at the convention center.
  
• 2025 All American 4th of July Weekend July 3-5 in Palm Springs.

Submit your event here

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AND FINALLY …

🐾 Each week, The Post partners with a local animal shelter to feature one or more of the many animal companions ready for a new home in our community. 

Today, we invite you to meet this charming fellow, Handsome. Fairly new to the shelter, this 2-year-old Husky boy is ready to give a lot of love. Staff at the shelter say he’s not only exceptionally good-looking, but also great with new people and affectionate with those he’s familiar with

• Staff also said he’s very well behaved in the car and knows his basic commands.

If you’re interested: You can visit the shelter at 4575 E. Mesquite Ave. Hours are 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. on all days except for Mondays (open for intake only) and Thursdays (1 p.m. until 7 p.m.). You can always call the shelter at (760) 416-5718.

• Make sure to check out all the other pets at the shelter here.