The Desert Sun
Quartz countertops driving health crisis
If you walk into a Costco, Home Depot or Lowe’s and order a countertop for your kitchen renovation, the store will likely contract with a local fabrication shop, instructing them to make one from a material called engineered stone. h Often marketed as...
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1 dead, 3 remain missing in Alcatraz boat incident
One person died, and three people were missing after a boat capsized in the San Francisco Bay on Tuesday, July 14, spurring search-and-rescue operations that were expected to continue throughout the night. San Francisco Fire Department received a...
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Program gives struggling artists $1,000 a month
Though artificial intelligence is making it easier than ever to produce images, music and text, the technology is also making it harder for the people who have traditionally produced this work to earn a living. A photographer who once was commissioned...
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‘Connected to the cosmos’
Joe Canoura practices the flute every morning, performs every Wednesday at Shadow Mountain Golf Club, and spends Sundays at The Dune Room’s Café Rumba dancing with his wife. At 92, the rhythm of his life hasn’t slowed a beat. Canoura, a professional...
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Rodents, permit issues close 2 Palm Springs bars
Two Coachella Valley facilities were shut down this week by inspectors while another two were downgraded, according to Riverside County health reports. Copa Nightclub in Palm Springs was shut down by inspectors for operating without a valid...
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Safety issues beset Silicon Valley defense startup
Ayear ago, Ryan Tseng, the head of U.S. defense tech startup Shield AI, announced his company had turned a new page. After a gory incident that partially severed a U.S. Navy official’s fingers during a test of its V-BAT drone, Shield AI had addressed...
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‘Skirts’ on many palm trees to get a trimming
Palm Springs will move forward with trimming the natural “skirts” of many palm trees on public property after a contentious city council meeting. In a 4-1 vote with Councilmember David Ready dissenting, the council approved a new trimming policy that...
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New restaurants dishing up barbecue, beer and tamales
The start of summer typically heralds the dawn of the “slow season” in the Coachella Valley, as the onslaught of relentless triple-digit temps can keep even hardy souls away. h But there hasn't been much slow about it this year. The season’s arrival...
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Design concerns delay final In-N-Out approval
In-N-OutA proposal for the first In-N-Out Burger in Palm Springs has tentatively cleared one of its last hurdles, but a city panel withheld final approval over concerns about the restaurant building's design. On Monday, July 6, the Palm Springs...
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Clean, sleek design style perfect for desert climate
Palm Springs is known around the world as a haven for mid-century modern architecture. But aside from looking good, the style is perfectly adapted for the region’s desert climate. As the name suggests, mid-century modern homes began to be designed in...
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PARTY IN THE U.S.A.
Fourth of July celebrations in every corner of the Coachella Valley felt particularly special this year because they marked a huge milestone: America’s 250 birthday. The City of Coachella kicked off the festivities early on Thursday, July 2 at...
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The year of America’s birth
In 1776, as colonists along the Atlantic declared independence from Britain, there were no European settlements in what we know as the Coachella Valley. h California was then Alta California, under Spanish control. Missions were expanding along the...
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SUDOKU
Insert numbers 1-9 in each box with every row, column and 3x3 box containing the digits just once. Difficulty level ranges from Bronze (easiest) to Silver to Gold (hardest) RATING: GOLD YESTERDAY’S ANSWER
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California woman reflects on a century
The thought of living to 100 is not one most people share, and for Elizabeth Gonce, who will become a centenarian on July 4, it was not either. From the Great Depression through World War II and into today’s digital era, the California native has...
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¡SÍ SE PUEDE!
Elias Banegas, center, and fellow Mexico fans cheer while watching a live stream of the World Cup round of 32 knockout match against Ecuador at Las Palmas Brewing in Palm Springs on June 30. Mexico won 2-0. Mayovie Guzman dons a foam finger while...
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In soccer stronghold California, World Cup is a seismic event
SAN JOSE—Flying high in their best-ever start to a season, the San Jose Earthquakes rule soccer in these parts of California, but they’re making way for new kings as the United States prepare for a World Cup knockout match against Bosnia on...
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WHERE THE WIND TAKES US
ABOVE: Blowing sand builds up on the wall at Gene Autry Trail railroad overpass, which remained closed to through traffic due to strong winds causing hazardous conditions in Palm Springs on June 28. AT RIGHT: A camera flash makes blowing sand more...
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Comedy club, axe throwing club, more now open
The desert’s most famous city center has seen a bevy of new business openings in the past few months, everything from a comedy club to a place where you can smash old glass bottles for stress relief (really!). The pace of change in downtown Palm...
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RESERVOIR DROPS
Lake Powell — the massive Colorado River reservoir that helps supply water and power across the West — is entering peak summer at its lowest level on record, raising fresh concerns about water supplies that millions of Californians depend on. Federal...
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KNOCKOUT QUEEN CROWNED
The Knockout Queen, a new California State Athletic Commission-sanctioned boxing event featuring female content creators, OnlyFans models and a few professional boxers, ended with Australian model/creator Rebecca McLeod’s first-ever boxing belt. McLeod...
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Strait of Hormuz traffic rebounds
DUBAI – Oil prices fell to prewar levels on June 25 as the United States said flows through the Strait of Hormuz were nearing normal and its top diplomat wrapped up a Gulf tour aimed at winning support for a preliminary Iran deal. Energy Secretary...
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Family affair
New York City is synonymous with die-hard basketball fans, endless debates over the best bagels or pizza and its love affair with bodegas. Inside these small neighborhood convenience stores are a plethora of household items and snacks. But for the...
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POST-PANDEMIC, PATIOS DEBATED IN PALM DESERT
Little Bar in Palm Desert may soon have to remove its popular deck due to an unresolved issue between its landlord and the city over liability. The bar along Highway 111 faces a June 30 deadline to comply with the city’s rules for temporary outdoor...
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How Holocaust artifacts found at thrift store will be preserved
Susan Cox was just a few weeks into a job volunteering at Revivals, a popular thrift store in Palm Springs, when she recently made an unforgettable discovery. As Cox was sorting through donated items in the store’s back room, she came across a couple...
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Review: Shakira got all the she wolves on their feet
If Shakira’s performance at Acrisure Arena was her audition tape for headlining a future Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, consider her at the top of our list. The Colombian superstar took the Palm Desert stage by storm on Wednesday, June 17,...
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Desert stories get their spotlight
Move over, Hollywood, the Coachella Valley is ready for its closeup. h The upcoming Palm Springs International ShortFest, which runs June 23-29, will feature more than 300 short films from all around the world. Screenings will take place at Festival...
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New restaurants wrap
The new restaurant at Indian Wells’ Renaissance Esmerelda Resort & Spa takes its name — and guiding ethos — from the seven gallons of olive oil sourced from the first harvest of the resort’s on-site olive trees. As the website explains, those gallons...
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A new desert event?
The WTA Finals is scheduled to be played in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in November as the third year in a three-year contract, but according to reports the WTA may be looking to move the end-of-year event and Indian Wells could be a possible a potential...
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America turns 250: How to celebrate in the desert
This Land of Liberty has a big birthday coming up. The 250th anniversary of the United States will be recognized on July 4, marking 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. That means that every fireworks show, barbecue and...
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SUDOKU
Insert numbers 1-9 in each box with every row, column and 3x3 box containing the digits just once. Difficulty level ranges from Bronze (easiest) to Silver to Gold (hardest) RATING: BRONZE SATURDAY’S ANSWER
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‘You can overcome anything’
History books may not dive into the extraordinary life of Lee F. Simmons, who served four presidents as the first African American steward on Air Force One from 1963 to 1977, but a new children’s book by his son aims to tell his story. h “The Lee F....
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25 million people lost Medicaid after pandemic
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of people covered by Medicaid rose month after month – an unusual pattern for the government’s insurance program for people with low incomes and disabilities. Why? A policy of continuous coverage during the...
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Artists drop out; California stays in
Artist after artist has canceled performances during the Great American State Fair in Washington, D.C., with some raising concern that the nation’s 250th birthday party, backed by President Donald Trump, has become too partisan. But the exodus hasn’t...
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7 unique ways to spend your summer in the desert
It’s no secret that the Coachella Valley slows down during the summer, but that doesn’t mean you can’t cross off a few things from your bucket list. Whether you’re an adrenaline seeker, an animal lover or just looking for a fun weekend adventure,...
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ONWARD
TOP: Desert Hot Springs High School graduates listen to the evenings speakers as a nearly full moon rises to over the commencement ceremony in Desert Hot Springs on May 29. RIGHT: Graduates watch the drone show after the Class of 2026 commencement...
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Joshua trees face grim odds even as soil life survives fire
When the Dome Fire swept across California’s Mojave Desert in August 2020, it left behind a landscape few thought possible. h The lightning-caused wildfire burned more than 43,000 acres through the Mojave National Preserve, killing an estimated 1.3...
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Ads for GLP-1 drugs flooding the internet
If you watched the Super Bowl in 2026, you likely saw Serena Williams share her weight-loss journey on GLP-1 medications in a commercial. h Like millions of others around the country, if you’ve ever considered taking one of these drugs, you probably...
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Matzner’s family friend purchases Spencer’s Restaurant
Local entrepreneur Nachhattar Singh Chandi will buy Spencer’s Restaurant in downtown Palm Springs from the estate of his friend and colleague, Harold Matzner. The two parties announced the sale of the upscale eatery the morning of Thursday, June 4....
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Hilton, Becerra lead, but race too close to call; vote count goes on
California’s crowded 2026 gubernatorial race captivated the nation as the state’s jungle primary system left many wondering which candidates would appear on the November ballot — a question many are still asking the morning after the primary. As of...
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‘I’ve been on the right path’
When Ethan Lee graduated from Palm Desert High School recently, he had a long list of people on his mind who helped him get there. There were the classmates he led through rallies and homecoming events as president of the student council, then the...
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Teacher honored for a career of inspiring students
Nanette Davis-Kirchhevel teaches her eighth graders at Palm Desert Charter Middle School that history is not just a list of dates, names or events to memorize and regurgitate. In her classroom, the humanities are a way to reflect on the choices people...
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Marilyn Monroe lookalikes shatter world record
It doesn’t get much more Palm Springs than that. h On Saturday, 1,037 people—the official total verified by Guinness World Records officials, though it’s entirely possible a few went uncounted—descended on downtown Palm Springs to set a new world...
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Council to vote on data center moratorium
The Coachella City Council called for a data center moratorium after hundreds of people protested outside city hall — and scores spoke before the council — in opposition to a controversial data center project. The move came near the end of its marathon...
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Cannabis legalization spurs innovation
Innovation in health care saves lives. But not all health innovations have enough evidence to actually benefit patients. Barriers to innovation are often higher in illicit or restricted markets, including cannabis, stem cells and cryptocurrencies....
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‘He’s a Hall of Fame journalist in every sense’
Most people dream of having their story told in the newspaper. h Desert Sun golf columnist Larry Bohannan is not most people. h For more than 40 years, he has held onto one hard and fast rule he learned in his college journalism classes: Never be part...
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Staying local, giving back
Brenda Franco Alcala could have graduated from college early. Instead, she added a second concentration, extending her time at the California State University, San Bernardino Palm Desert Campus by a year as she continues the work that helped her grow...
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Evacuations remain for 16K over chemical tank
The worst threats from a damaged chemical tank in Southern California have passed, with authorities saying a major explosion was no longer imminent, but fire officials said evacuation orders remained in place for about 16,000 residents May 26 amid...
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Threat of massive chemical tank explosion ‘has been eliminated’
A chemical tank in California that appeared at risk of exploding has stabilized, local fire officials said on May 25, resolving what authorities said could have been a “worst-case catastrophic event.” “The threat of [an explosion] is now off the...
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Rural hospitals close in increasing numbers
Some Pennsylvania hospitals are being pushed beyond the brink of closure. Taylor Hospital in Ridley Park closed in April 2025, Crozer-Chester Medical Center in Upland closed in May 2025, and Heritage Valley Kennedy Hospital, formerly the Ohio Valley...
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Graduation season kicks off
RIGHT: Oliver Martinez pops open a confetti container at the conclusion of the Palm Valley School commencement ceremony at the private school in Rancho Mirage on May 21.
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Thousands of rainbow trout rescued in NorCal
Thousands of trout were rescued after becoming stranded in a creek, marking the largest recovery effort for the rare species in more than a decade, California wildlife officials say. About 5,800 Eagle Lake rainbow trout at risk of becoming stranded in...
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Same Same But Different fest lives up to its name
In an industry dominated by corporate music promoters and brands that attract social media influencers, the Same Same But Different music festival took another approach. The founders asked their fans to become investors, and they raised $750,000 on...
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Misinformation spurs vitriol and vandalism
When vandals did thousands of dollars worth of damage to a local contractor’s equipment at a Cathedral City construction site, company leaders went public to try to find the culprits. But many online commenters offered hate instead of...
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AMP pauses operations; future is uncertain
The Academy of Musical Performance in Indio, a nonprofit program that offers hands-on “rock band” style music education for youth, announced on Thursday that it has temporarily paused operations after 11 years. This decision was described as due to a...
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Capital Grille steakhouse may come to former Roy’s
An upscale steakhouse with a nationwide footprint could soon be coming to the space that used to be Roy’s restaurant in Rancho Mirage. h The Capital Grille, which offers a wide range of dry-aged steaks and other specialties, has started to work on...
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Charting his own path
It’s been nearly 1,000 years since King Henry IV stood barefoot in the Italian snow to beg forgiveness after clashes with Pope Gregory VII, and over two centuries since Napoleon imprisoned Pope Pius VII in France. Now, a battle is underway between a...
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AI-integrated cameras raise alarms
For decades, cars dictated urban planning in the United States. h Few could have predicted that they would one day also double as nodes for surveillance. h In thousands of towns and cities across the United States, automatic license plate readers have...
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MUST WIN?
The Coachella Valley Firebirds had their playoff momentum snuffed in Game 1 against Colorado as the Eagles came into Acrisure Arena on Wednesday night and shut out Coachella Valley 3-0 to open the Pacific Division Finals. h Game 2 is set for Friday...
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MARINE HEAT WAVE
The ocean off California’s coast is heating up again — and this time, the impacts are showing up on shore. The marine heat wave has developed across much of the West Coast, stretching from Washington to California. In some areas, ocean temperatures...
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Residents blast data center at heated town hall
A town hall meant to explain Coachella’s plan for a municipal utility and the approval process for a proposed data center instead became a heated two-hour public debate over whether the city should even let the project move forward. At least 100...
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HEAT WAVE
Families avoid the hottest parts of the day by playing just before sunset at Panorama Park in Cathedral City on May 10. A heat warning was in effect from Sunday to Monday.
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AN ‘OASIS’ IN NORTH INDIO
The City of Indio is set to consider a developer’s proposal to turn 183 acres of mostly vacant land just north of Interstate 10 into a major mixed-use development that could include thousands of homes, a hotel and 1.8 million square feet of “light...
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Detained by ICE and telling her story
Milena Araya-Davis went to her green card interview in San Diego expecting to take the next step toward becoming an American citizen. Instead, she left in handcuffs. h Ten days before Christmas, what began as a routine appointment for the Palm Springs...
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‘MORE LIKE A PIECE OF ART’
Bob Arzano spent his teenage years hanging out at his father’s gas station — which doubled as a hot rod club called “Connecting Rods” — after school in Queens, New York. h He was the club’s youngest member. h “It was a bunch of older guys that restored...
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A DOZEN DINING DELIGHTS
When Greg and Eleanor Rivers learned in 2025 that their lease for the Palm Canyon Roadhouse wouldn’t be renewed after 19 years, the couple decided the time was right to do something different than the rock-and-roll-oriented bar, which had become a...
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‘This is our home’
Nearly a year after a man detonated a car bomb, destroying the American Reproductive Centers fertility clinic in Palm Springs, the clinic dedicated its new home at the same site on Monday, May 4. Despite the bomber’s attempt, none of the embryos at...
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WINDS COOL VALLEY BEFORE HEAT RETURNS
Palm Springs city employees secure road closed signs to North Indian Canyon Drive in Palm Springs on May 3. Wind and cooler temperatures rolled into the valley on Sunday and will stick around for a few days until triple-digit heat returns later in the...
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New bronze sculptures on display in downtown
Two new sculptures have been added to downtown Palm Springs’ ever-growing art scene. h “Resonance” and “Family Group,” two bronze sculptures that reach around 10-feet-tall, have been installed in front of the Kimpton Rowan Palm Springs Hotel, giving...
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1.1 million-square-foot warehouse coming soon
Plans for a large cannabis development along Interstate 10 in Desert Hot Springs have been cancelled, and the project could now become a 1.16 million-square-foot distribution warehouse. This change comes at a time when the cannabis industry is...
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Bet on an election — or Taylor Swift’s wedding
Though prediction markets have been legal in the United States for less than 18 months, they can’t stop making news and making money. On prediction markets such as Kalshi and Polymarket, users can stake real money on just about anything, from the...
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