The Desert Sun
Trump criticizes top U.S. allies over war
President Donald Trump slammed top U.S. allies, including the United Kingdom, as the war with Iran expands and warned Americans that they may have to deal with “a little high” oil prices as crude costs soared and the stock market tumbled. “If we have...
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Amazon shows off its huge new warehouse
Amazon celebrated the opening of its new warehouse in Desert Hot Springs with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and facility tour on Wednesday, Feb. 25. h The warehouse, known as an “Inbound Cross Dock,” is 635,000 square feet and “will receive and consolidate...
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‘YOU HAVE A WHOLE LIFE TO LIVE’
Jean Stewart is the living embodiment of “two things can be true.” Sure, she’s 96 years old. But she’s also been known to plank for two minutes or deadlift more than 150 pounds — leading to a viral internet photo. On a recent Tuesday afternoon,...
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The ‘first in line’
Amy Belshin had just pulled her car up to her new home at Cotino, the Disney-branded development in the Coachella Valley, when she and her husband Joe saw their next-door neighbor strolling by on a sunny day in mid-February. They hadn’t met her yet. h...
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Push to automate science with AI has constraints
Consistent with the general trend of incorporating artificial intelligence into nearly every field, researchers and politicians are increasingly using AI models trained on scientific data to infer answers to scientific questions. But can AI ultimately...
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Home with rumored Marilyn Monroe ties is for sale
A classic mid-century modern home long rumored to have been the Palm Springs getaway of Marilyn Monroe has been put up for sale for $3.3 million. Not surprisingly, the Realtor selling it is sticking by the Monroe story, though there’s never been solid...
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‘He reports from the heart’
Legendary Desert Sun golf writer Larry Bohannan, whose unmatched career has included interviews with the likes of Arnold Palmer and Bill Clinton; coverage of 40 iterations of what’s now the American Express golf tournament; and surely more writing...
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‘FIRES EVERYWHERE’
Jim O’Keefe was about to leave for the grocery store Sunday morning when he noticed the light outside his apartment had changed. The sky had turned gray, something the forecast hadn’t predicted. “I stepped outside and smelled it. I knew it was not...
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Unrest in Mexico after narco killing impacts travel, airports
The killing of a Mexican drug trafficker during a military operation in the state of Jalisco set off flight disruptions in Puerto Vallarta — a city popular with Palm Springs residents and often ranked among the world’s top destinations for LGBTQ...
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Why now is a special time to go hiking in Palm Springs
There are few places around the country for outdoors enthusiasts and avid hikers quite like the Coachella Valley during the winter and early spring months. h The valley, fortunately, doesn’t require the need to take a respite from the cold, there’s...
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DISNEY DESERT DREAMS
Cotino, a new Disney-backed development in Rancho Mirage, has started going from vision to reality over the past two years as homes and splashy amenities emerged from a massive open plot of desert. In recent months, a swimmable lagoon marketed as...
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STUDY: PLANET IS IN WATER BANKRUPTCY
The world is now using so much fresh water amid the consequences of climate change that it has entered an era of water bankruptcy, with many regions no longer able to bounce back from frequent water shortages. h About 4 billion people – nearly half the...
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Big dreams turn into a legal war
A prominent cannabis cultivator in Palm Springs has collapsed into a complex web of fraud allegations and lawsuits. The Kings Garden cultivation facility no longer operates after the breakup of its senior leadership team. The site had been scheduled...
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Avalanche in Sierra Nevada mountain range kills 8
Eight of the nine missing skiers caught in an an avalanche in California’s Sierra Nevada mountain range are dead, Sheriff Shannan Moon of Nevada County said on Feb. 18. Moon said crews were battling harsh weather conditions in a continued search for...
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Storm soaks valley, brings snow to mountains
A storm system moving across Southern California brought rain to the desert and snow to the nearby mountains Monday with more precipitation expected into mid-week. Cloudy skies and steady rain arrived around midday Monday, Feb. 16, in western parts of...
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HISTORIC MISSION
The United States military is leading a major push for nuclear energy, and it took a big step toward accomplishing one of President Donald Trump’s goals in Riverside County on Sunday, Feb. 15. On that day, three C-17 transport airplanes airlifted a...
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New on desert dining scene: Upscale tacos, Italian deli
When the family owners of Olga’s Tacos in Cathedral City started to think about opening a new spot in Palm Desert, their initial idea was for another taco shop. h But they soon started to sense that the area was evolving in a direction that would make...
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Indio restaurant named one of the best in the US
Situated in the California desert about half an hour east of Palm Springs, Indio, California is famous to outsiders as the home of the iconic Coachella and Stagecoach music festivals. But anyone who spends time in the city also comes to know Indio for...
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AI COMPANIES GEAR UP TO SELL ADS
Eighteen months ago, it was plausible that artificial intelligence might take a different path than social media. Back then, AI’s development hadn’t consolidated under a small number of big tech firms. Nor had it capitalized on consumer attention,...
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140,000 waiting for affordable housing
The need for affordable housing in Riverside County is now so great that there’s not only a waiting list for subsidized housing, but no one can even get on that list any longer. The county has stopped accepting new applications for housing assistance...
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MODERNISM WEEK MINDSET
There’s plenty to enjoy in Palm Springs: Sunshine all throughout the year, pools as far as the eye can see and the city’s famous mid-century modern architecture. h As the annual architecture showcase Modernism Week approaches, taking place Feb. 12...
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What’s behind student anti-ICE walkouts?
Abriana Pelayo has developed a new morning routine. As she’s getting ready for school, she sometimes finds herself reaching for her cellphone to scroll through social media, searching for something she hopes not to find. “In the morning, I’ll check to...
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Calif.’s early wildflower blooms are here
Thanks to fall and winter’s onslaught of rain, some California parks are starting to see early wildflower blooms. Visitors can expect to see “moderate-to-strong wildflower blooms this spring in desert state parks,” California State Parks said in a Jan....
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DESERT GRIT
King of the Hammers has come far from its humble beginnings. Just 20 years ago, Dave Cole brought together a dozen racers, including himself, to try to push the limits of rock crawling. Now, drawing as many as 100,000 to the otherwise sleepy lakebed...
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FROM MEXICO TO THE IVY LEAGUE
Erik Huerta noticed the college decision email from his dream university on his phone while riding the bus home from Desert Mirage High School. h He definitely wasn’t opening it there. Once home, he ran straight into his bedroom and shut the door. He...
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Trump actions worry free-speech advocates
The FBI search of a Washington Post reporter’s home on Jan. 14 was a rare and intimidating move by an administration focused on repressing criticism and dissent. In its story about the search at Hannah Natanson’s home, at which FBI agents said they...
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5 spas in Desert Hot Springs worth a look
There is serenity in Desert Hot Springs. h No outside noise bleeds through the expansive nature enveloping Two Bunch Palms, a luxury spa hotel located in the desert city. h Just the rustle of leaves as wind sweeps over palm trees and undergrowth. h...
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SERIOUS PLAY
Indio native Jacob Clause is heading to the Bay Area with the New England Patriots for a shot in the world’s biggest football matchup this week — not at Super Bowl LX, but on the virtual “Madden” gridiron. The 22-year-old will be competing in the...
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HAZY SHADE OF WINTER
The full moon, dubbed the Snow Moon, picks up an abundance of color from the atmosphere as it rises above the Little San Bernardino Mountains north of the Coachella Valley on Feb. 2.
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100 palm trees scorched by Prescott Preserve fire
A 3.5-acre fire at the Prescott Preserve in Palm Springs burned roughly 100 palm trees and forced a partial road closure Sunday, Feb. 1. Fire crews contained the blaze within a couple hours. Police and firefighters were still at the scene as shortly...
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‘Hear our voice’
Hundreds of students across the Coachella Valley walked out of class to participate in a nationwide “ICE Out” strike on Friday, Jan. 30, even as students at several schools planned another walkout for Feb. 9. h Responding to growing discontent over the...
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Ratings, ticket sales soar as event shows its value
What golf fans saw at The American Express PGA Tour event in La Quinta last week was perfect weather, big crowds and an impressive win by world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler over a strong field. h What Frank Marzano saw was the other side of the tournament,...
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Consumer-driven future seen for GLP-1 drugs
LONDON – Ask executives in the health care industry about the future market for weight-loss drugs and the analogies are telling: monthly GLP-1 medicine subscriptions like a streaming video membership; dose decisions managed on a smartphone app; access...
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City says spider sculpture can stay
A famous roadside attraction in Palm Springs has caught new attention recently, with people worried it’s going to be torn down because of a demolition order posted on the property. Fear not, spider fans: The 28-foot-tall black widow sculpture off...
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AI GOES TO SCHOOL
Many students are already using artificial intelligence — at home, on their phones and on their laptops — often without adult guidance. That reality is driving Palm Springs Unified School District to bring AI into classrooms, but in a more structured,...
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Killings by federal agents in Minneapolis spur protest
A quickly organized protest over federal agents’ recent killings of nurse Alex Pretti and poet Renée Good in Minneapolis drew several dozen people to downtown Palm Springs the afternoon of Monday, Jan. 26. Although under 100 people attended, the...
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Some students may be moved to ease school crowding
Palm Springs Unified School District is evaluating school boundary adjustments in Desert Hot Springs as part of a long-term effort to address overcrowding by the 2027-28 school year. During the Jan. 13 study session, the board reviewed three...
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Palm Springs charity aims to expand its work feeding the needy
The newest nonprofit in Palm Springs has a very old mission. Every weekend, The Shared Plate will feed hungry people at the United Methodist Church of Palm Springs, a vital resource for those in need. Although it’s new as a separate nonprofit...
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Palo Verde Hospital receives short-term funding
Palo Verde Hospital in Blythe has received shortterm funding to continue critical medical services while staff look for long-term solutions to its financial woes, the facility announced in a statement on Friday, Jan. 23. The hospital’s emergency room...
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‘They understand what works and what doesn’t’
CAPE MAY, NJ – It was Megan O’Rourke’s dream job. As a top climate scientist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, she oversaw grants for research projects aimed at making food production healthier and more sustainable. But when President Donald...
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Recent quakes don’t make ‘Big One’ likelier
Over the past few days, the Coachella Valley has experienced more than 20 earthquakes, causing concern among some residents. The magnitude 4.9 quake reported about 12 miles north of Indio the evening of Monday, Jan. 20 was the first moderate sized...
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Lawsuit seeks to block Thermal Ranch project
A group of eastern Coachella Valley residents are suing Riverside County over its approval of plans for a massive equestrian facility and related development called Thermal Ranch. The lawsuit, which seeks to overturn the project’s approval, alleges the...
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Trump ups the pressure on Greenland takeover
President Donald Trump launched a fresh blitz of messages aimed at NATO allies over his determination to take control of Denmark’s Greenland territory, ratcheting up tensions with Greenlandic and European leaders just as he prepares to attend the World...
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Wildlife and ‘wonder’
A new wildlife museum along Highway 111 that would feature taxidermized animals received the approval of the Rancho Mirage City Council on Thursday, Jan. 15, even as little is known about who’s behind the project. The Global Wildlife Discovery Museum...
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Desert golf memories include Hope, Palmer, Mickelson
The year was 1987 and the PGA Tour was headed to the Pete Dye Stadium Course at PGA West for the first time as the host of the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, as the desert tournament was called then. The players howled at Dye’s design of deep bunkers,...
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Lawsuit seeks to block city’s tallest building
Environmentalist have sued the city of Palm Springs over a condominium and hotel project proposed for near the convention center that would create the tallest building in the city if built. Supporters Alliance For Environmental Responsibility, a...
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‘Sunset’ spot in Palm Springs a hot addition to food scene
Upon approach to SoCal Sunset, the splashy new addition to Palm Springs’ restaurant scene on Palm Canyon Drive, the eye inevitably is drawn to the expansive patio that takes up much of the square footage. It’s an appealing spot to grab a drink at the...
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How much water is in 17 lakes, reservoirs in 2026
California’s lakes and reservoirs got a big boost from wet holiday storms. A week into 2026, all of the state’s 17 major reservoirs are brimming above their 30-year average after atmospheric rivers dumped heavy rain on much of the state starting the...
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Democrats face scrutiny over Israel-Gaza war
New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker recently visited New Hampshire, where he met with activists and spoke at a town hall meeting, sparking speculation about a potential 2028 presidential run. The trip also underscored a political reality confronting Booker...
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Few homes rebuilt after LA wildfires
LOS ANGELES – One year after deadly wildfires destroyed the vibrant houses on Loma Alta Drive in Altadena, the smoky stench still lingers. On Jan. 7, 2025, the fires began that killed more than 30 people and scorched almost 58 square miles across...
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Maduro, wife plead not guilty in court
Deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro pleaded “not guilty” in federal court on Jan. 5 on U.S. drug trafficking charges, days after he and his wife were captured by U.S. forces in a surprise attack on the oil-rich country. Maduro, dressed in prison...
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STARRY NIGHT
There’s one night every year when the desert shines a little brighter than Hollywood, and that’s because the brightest stars have left Los Angeles for the Palm Springs International Film Awards. The annual celebration of cinema took place Saturday,...
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GROWTH PUTS STRAIN ON GRID
Several Coachella Valley cities have seen their populations boom in recent decades. Indio’s jumped 81.5%, from 49,116 people to 89,137, from 2000 to 2020, while neighboring La Quinta saw a 58.5% jump over the same period, from 23,694 people to 37,558....
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Meet the Coachella Valley’s first babies of 2026
The Coachella Valley rang in the new year with its first baby of 2026 shortly after midnight. h Emilio Ibarra was born at 12:34 a.m. Thursday, Jan 1 at Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, Desert Care Network announced on social media. He...
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MILESTONE AND MORE IN STORE FOR 2026
As a new year dawns, many Americans are reflecting on 2025, a year marked by historic events including the inauguration of a president, the appointment of the first American pope, and major pop culture moments like the release of “Wicked: For Good” and...
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Document offers path in troubled times
The Declaration of Independence’s 250th anniversary in 2026 is certain to be a time of national reflection. Americans tend to look to the Constitution to assess whether the nation is living up to its founding principles when navigating major social...
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Tick off these must-do experiences in new year
2025 is coming to a close, and that means New Year’s resolutions are right around the corner. Whether you’re a full- or part-time resident, or even just visiting, the Coachella Valley offers a host of worldclass experiences for all to enjoy. Make...
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New era, old memories
More than a decade after “The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies” took its final bow at the Plaza Theatre, and after a massive multi-year restoration project, the historic venue reopened Dec. 1 with a performance by Cynthia Erivo. h But as the theater...
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Ending 2025 in style
It’s almost time to bid 2025 adieu, and what better way to welcome in the new year than by celebrating in style in the Coachella Valley? A number of New Year’s Eve events are planned for Palm Springs and other desert cities, including a morning...
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‘DEEP CONNECTION’
The places Indigenous peoples call home have intertwined with their ways of life for millennia. Their stories, foodways and cultures relate directly to their homelands. Lands, waters, plants and animals, the creatures that inhabit the waters below and...
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Wildlife museum planned in Rancho Mirage
City officials in Rancho Mirage are weighing a proposal to develop a new wildlife-focused museum at the former site of the popular Chart House restaurant along Highway 111. h The project, currently referred to as the Global Wildlife Discovery Museum,...
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Working to preserve Native languages
I was hired at the University of Colorado Boulder in 1995 as a language professor. I relocated from Hawaii, where I had learned the Hawaiian language. When I arrived in Colorado, I decided I needed to learn about the Indigenous language of the Boulder...
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JOY TO THE WORLD
TOP: 8-month-old Jaxson Lopez of Cathedral City smiles while meeting Santa Claus for the first time alongside his 5-year-old brother Greyson during a gingerbread lane celebration at Old Town Artisan Studios in La Quinta on Dec. 20. RIGHT: 6-year-old...
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Top view, top dollar
Luxury golf courses deserve to be surrounded by luxury homes. But few homes in the Coachella Valley or across the country can measure up to a property now back on the market at Bighorn Golf Club in south Palm Desert. h Originally built and owned by...
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Nonprofit strained by surge of Marines leaving PSP
A local nonprofit is struggling to transport Marines from the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms base to the Palm Springs International Airport following a surge in demand for its services. 29-PSP has been driving Marines from the...
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States take up conservation goals terminated by Trump
WASHINGTON – With a snappy title and a laudable goal, “30 by 30” was a landmark plan hatched to help save at least 30% of the planet’s land and oceans by 2030. Alongside this multinational push, the United States had its own trailblazing version of...
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Controversial horse park in rural desert gets the OK
The eastern Coachella Valley community of Thermal is now poised to be home to a massive — but controversial — new equestrian sports center surrounded by hundreds of homes, stores and other amenities after the Riverside County Board of Supervisors gave...
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Judge rules city can force sale of land
A few years after the City of Indian Wells began its efforts to force the sale of land near the Indian Wells Tennis Garden for future affordable housing, a judge has initially ruled in the city’s favor. The city decided to use the power of eminent...
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Police arrest son in Reiners’ deaths
Police have arrested Nick Reiner, the son of actor-director Rob Reiner and his film producer wife, Michele Singer Reiner, following the deaths of the couple. Nick Reiner, a 32-year-old screenwriter, was taken into custody on Dec. 14, and is being held...
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Cooler inflation won’t offset cost concerns
WASHINGTON – Even if overall inflation slows next year as the U.S. Federal Reserve anticipates, President Donald Trump will still face political headwinds over the cost of living with home mortgage rates expected to remain comparatively high,...
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Feeling grounded, atop a horse
Eva Alvarez sits atop her horse, Goldie, without a saddle. She feels that it’s the best way to connect with the animal, comparing it to how babies are put on their mother’s bare skin when they’re first born. h She leads Goldie around the arena at her...
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Grubhub reveals most ordered foods of 2025
An assortment of foods and other items were featured on Grubhub’s 2025 Delivered Report, including tinned fish and matcha: Legumes: Chicken nuggets and strips:
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HONORING A LEGEND
Desert Sun sports reporter Larry Bohannan was honored Tuesday during media day for The American Express golf tournament, played every year in La Quinta in January. Citing his dedication to this tournament, which includes writing two books on the event,...
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Residents fight new homes they say could hurt wildlife
A group of Palm Springs homeowners have banded together in an attempt to stop a 98-home development they say is proposed in a critical wildlife corridor. The homeowners worry the development may impede wildlife access to the Tahquitz Creek Channel,...
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Coachella, Palm Springs kickstart holiday season
Two Coachella Valley communities brought neighbors together this past weekend to kickstart the holiday season — desert style. On Friday, Dec. 5, Coachella lit up as locals lined Sixth Street to cheer on the participants in the 2025 Coachella Enchanted...
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