Category: Deserts

Temperatures cooled down in the Valley but the Friday Night Lights brought the heat from end to end in the desert. Another jam-packed week of high school football delivered and then some. Our Game of the Week between Coachella Valley and Desert Hot Springs gave us a clearer picture of the front runners of the Desert Valley League. Meanwhile, the Yucca Valley Trojans shutout Banning to remain undefeated and the Cathedral City Lions returned to the win column tonight in similar fashion. The Palm Springs Indians get their first win behind new Head Coach Darryl Goree against Palo Verde Valley, a good momentum starter with league now less than a week away for the Desert Empire. And this week, we reveal our players of the week over at Coachella Valley High School. Thanks to Gil Ruttenberg with Honda of the Desert, one offensive and defensive player gets $250 for their performance.  Our Tim O’Brien and Tali Letoi break it all down on this week’s Friday Night Lights. 

With heightened inflation, necessities like food, gas, and other items have risen in price. Here in the valley, many parents are already struggling to make ends meet. One organization decided to lend a helping hand, it came in the form of free eyeglasses, for students at one Palm Springs Unified School, all apart of Vision To Learn’s Program to provide students with the necessary tools to succeed in school. Several students at Vista Del Monte Elementary School received their first pair of eyeglasses this afternoon, helping them succeed both in and outside of the classroom. “I feel brand new.” one student says. A couple weeks back, the students received free eye exams. Friday morning, Vision To Learn handed the students in need of eyeglasses, just that, a new pair of eyeglasses. “Absolutely wonderful program, having a vision to learn to support our students, especially with glasses so that they can see is obviously such an important tool. Our kids come here every day trying to do their best. Giving them a tool such as glasses so they can see better, is absolutely phenomenal.” Dr. Tony

Thursday evening, The Boys and Girls Club of Palm Springs celebrated their 75th anniversary. The celebration started at 4 p.m., with a community open house showcasing the many programs that are offered at the facility. Adding onto the celebration, the Desert Care Network donated a $5000 check to the Boys and Girls Club of Palm Springs for ensuring the health and well-being of the youth for the past 75 years. The organization also showcased its most renovated room, the Panda Care, Center of Hope Homework room. Margaret Keung, the Executive Director for the Boys and Girls Club of Palm Springs says, although it’s been a great 75 years, there’s still a lot of work to be done. “It’s really the city coming together and what we do, is a needs assessment of what the community really needs through, talking to the kids, observation, talking with the schools… and then once we know what those needs are, we then provide programs to help support them.” Keung says. The Director of Operations at the facility, Leonard Perez said, “It’s a privilege to be here 75 years, to

COACHELLA (CNS) – A dust advisory was expected to be in effect until Saturday morning for parts of Riverside County, mostly in the Coachella Valley. The advisory went into effect at 1 p.m. Thursday and is expected to be in place until 8 a.m. Saturday, according to the South Coast Air Quality Management District. Blowing dust and very unhealthy air quality index levels in the eastern Coachella Valley were caused due to wind gusts of over 60 miles per hour since Wednesday night, SCAQMD officials said. In areas directly impacted by high levels of windblown dust, people were advised to limit their exposure by remaining indoors with windows and doors closed, avoid vigorous physical activity, run their air conditioner or air purifier, and avoid using whole house fans or swamp coolers that bring in outside air. Officials added that serious health problems can occur as a result of exposure to high-particle pollution levels. More information about air quality in the area can be found at aqmd.gov. Copyright 2023, City News Service, Inc.

PALM SPRINGS (CNS) – Actor and comedian Leslie Jordan, who died after suffering a medical emergency and crashing into a wall in Hollywood last year, will be honored next month with the 462nd star on the Palm Springs Walk of the Stars. “We are immensely thankful that we have the honor to pay tribute to the remarkably talented and dearly departed, Leslie Jordan, with the 462nd star on the Palm Springs Walk of the Stars,” Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce CEO Nona Watson said in a statement. The star, sponsored by donations through the Del Shores Foundation, will be unveiled at 11 a.m. Oct. 20 — four days before the one-year anniversary of his death — in Downtown Palm Springs Park, according to chamber officials. Jordan served as the Honorary Co-Chair of the Del Shores Foundation. The ceremony will feature stories from friends including Newell and Rosemary Alexander, Ann Walker, Dale Dickey, Cheyenne Jackson, and Bart Stevens, chamber officials said. “Leslie Jordan was my friend, my muse, my confidant, my brother for over 37 years. Leslie would love this honor,” Del Shores said in a

The Lady Golden Eagles can now call themselves trailblazers after the girls flag football team officially kicks off. Head Coach Kaleb Leyva leads the team full of multi-sport athletes who jumped at the opportunity to create something new at Desert Hot Springs High School. Coach Leyva, also an alumni from DHSHS, says, “Coming back and giving out to the community, it’s great. It’s fun to see the excitement of the girls.” A lot of the girls couldn’t wait for the moment this became a reality like Ciera Light and Nylah McClelland. “Last year around powder puff time we had been seeing the CIF was finally officiating it as an official sport. And so we went to Mr Lyles, our athletic coordinator and I was like, we need a team. We need a team!” Well, they have that new beginning of their own — they say it’s more than a team and closer to a family.  “No, it’s nice to have a new sisterhood like these ladies I couldn’t like bond with,” says Emelly Corona-Hernandez. Rita Leyva, the assistant to and wife of Coach Leyva, says it’s important to lead these girls by example. “It is our first time ever, so we’re making history. I have a lot of girls that came and actually do other sports. And we’re teaching the girls, you know, to give back to your community,” says Leyva. “I feel like we’re really like empowering them, uplifting him up, lifting them and really giving like a lot of recognition to our girls here that work so hard female athletes.” But being the first to ever do something anywhere, will always feel a little special for a lot of these girls. “I mean, it feels great to be part of the first generation of starting flag football for DHS,” says Corona-Hernandez. “It’s something new for our school and I hope it gets bigger than it is right now.  And it all comes down to helping the team towards a goal. Maliyah Manning confirms it feels like that across the board.  “We help each other out and support each other.” Corona-Hernandez adds that they’re off

LA QUINTA (CNS) – Fishing at Lake Cahuilla Veterans Memorial Park was closed Friday as 2,000 pounds — literally, a ton — of catfish stock was being added to the lake as county officials prepared for Saturday’s free Catfish Derby. The Riverside County Regional Park and Open Space District announced Friday morning that due to fish stocking, fishing will be closed at the park, but will resume at 4 pm. Saturday at the start of the fishing derby. “As the weather finally starts to cool, we thought this would be a great time to celebrate Lake Cahuilla Veterans Regional Park with a free fishing derby for the community,” Perez said in a statement. The derby will feature prizes set to be awarded for the heaviest catfish caught in adult and children’s divisions, according to a statement from Perez’s office. The lake was being stocked Friday with 1,500 pounds of catfish funded by a grant provided by Perez and 500 pounds, a value of $2,200, donated by local business Yellow Mart, according to officials. The lake was last stocked Sept. 1 with 900 pounds of catfish.

RIVERSIDE (CNS) – The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Riverside County dropped Friday for the second consecutive day following the run of 54 increases in 60 days totaling $1.058 that boosted it to its highest amount since Oct. 18. The average price dropped 1.9 cents Friday to $5.875, 35.4 cents more than one week ago, 63.1 cents higher than one month ago and 43.4 cents above what it was one year ago, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service. The average price has dropped 49.8 cents since rising to a record $6.373 on Oct. 5. “Refinery production and imports have improved the Southern California fuel supply situation, causing wholesale prices to drop for the last few days,” said Doug Shupe, the Automobile Club of Southern California’s corporate communications manager. “According to Oil Price Information Service, the PBF Energy refinery in Torrance and the Wilmington portion of the Phillips 66 refinery have both started multi-week planned maintenance projects this week. However, OPIS analysts say large shipments of imported gasoline are expected to arrive on the West Coast

All eyes are on the east valley once again as the two undefeated teams look to remain flawless this Friday with Desert Valley League play officially underway. The Coachella Valley Mighty Arabs host the Desert Hot Springs Golden Eagles. Both teams have been having quite the season and both are coming off big league wins so now it comes down to who will take their first loss of the season and fall one in the DVL. We caught up with Coach Johnson on the sidelines to talk about the game plan and just how far this CV program has come.

New local rules are impacting a Southern California staple: street vendors. Now, they are taking a stand. “This ordinance would impact vendors,” Coachella Valley Organizer Alejandro Meza Aguilar said. “The prohibition is set to exclude street vendors from the tourist focused economy that we have here.” Last week, Palm Springs City Council voted on new rules to regulate where, when and how street vendors can operate throughout the city. They require permits for vendors, limit where and when they are able to sell food or goods and say they must follow safety regulations. But the biggest rule many of them are worried about is the limits of operation during tourist season. “The current prohibition as it stands is from October 1st to April 30th every year, Friday to Sunday, 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. That’s economic protectionism,” Aguilar continued. “It could be more equitable and be reduced to say, 4 to 8 p.m. since a lot of the businesses downtown close a little earlier.” Palm Springs City Council discussed implementing the rules for over a year. The city didn’t have any regulations for street vendors

COACHELLA (CNS) – A dust advisory was in effect Thursday for parts of Riverside County, mostly in the Coachella Valley. The went into effect at 1 p.m. Thursday and is expected to be in place until 8 a.m. Saturday, according to the South Coast Air Quality Management District. Blowing dust and very unhealthy air quality index levels in the eastern Coachella Valley were caused due to wind gusts of over 60 miles per hour since Wednesday night, SCAQMD officials said. In areas directly impacted by high levels of windblown dust, people were advised to limit their exposure by remaining indoors with windows and doors closed, avoid vigorous physical activity, run their air conditioner or air purifier, and avoid using whole house fans or swamp coolers that bring in outside air. Officials added that serious health problems can occur as a result of exposure to high-particle pollution levels. More information about air quality in the area can be found at aqmd.gov. Copyright 2023, City News Service, Inc.

PALM SPRINGS (CNS) – The Palm Springs Art Museum will host a day of programming for its “Mythopoetica: Symbols and Stories” exhibition Saturday, featuring lectures and discussions from half of the exhibit’s artists. The exhibit, which is set to be on display until Jan. 15, 2024, features the work of 10 artists including Daniel Gibson, Fay Ray, Sky Hopinka, John Flores and Chris Sanchez, whose works incorporate mythologies, iconographies and cultural codes, according to museum officials. They each create new visual imaginings by reworking historical and contemporary symbols and narratives. The artists who are featured in the exhibit work in diverse mediums such as photography, painting and sculpture, drawing attention “to the multiplicity of powerful stories that permeate the region,” museum officials wrote. The artists prompt viewers to ask questions and to have new considerations of what’s possible. Saturday’s event will get underway at 1 p.m. Saturday with a lecture with Ray and Gibson in the Annenberg Theater of the museum, 101 Museum Drive, according to museum officials. After the lecture, attendees can remain in the theater for a screening of “Lore” by Hopinka. Meet-and-greets

The first Desert Empire League Cross Country Meet kickstarts Wednesday over at Xavier Prep High School. All six teams were back in action, but the Shadow Hills Lady Knights continue to move the needle behind Head Coach Richie DeTamble. Girls Varsity Results:  Shadow Hills –  25 La Quinta – 34 Xavier Prep – 73 Varsity Boys Results:  La Quinta – 24 Shadow Hills – 49 Palm Desert – 74 The next DEL Meet is slated for October 11th! The Shadow Hills Lady Knights have already started their year off with a bang, breaking another school record. The Varsity Girls Cross Country Team broke the overall time record with a total of 1:33:44 over the weekend at Woodbridge Classic. SCHOOL RECORD ALERT Running in the varsity girls rated race at the Woodbridge Classic, Shadow Hills breaks the Knights overall team time record with a total of 1:33:44 (breaking 1:34:41 set last season). @AthleticsSHHS @DesertSunSports @takesbytal @BaileyKESQ pic.twitter.com/QDxDsRKRsn — Shadow Hills TrackXC Coach (@CoachDeTamble) September 17, 2023  

PALM SPRINGS (CNS) – The Boys & Girls Club of Palm Springs will celebrate its 75th anniversary Thursday with a community open house. The celebration will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday on the club’s campus located at 450 S. Sunrise Way and will feature demonstrations of many club programs, tours of the new Health and Wellness Center and the opening of its new Panda Cares homework room, according to a statement from the organization. “At this open house, we will be able to showcase some of our important programs that offer needed structure for kids and help us provide a vital place of stability,” BGC Palm Springs CEO Margaret Keung said. At 4:15 p.m., the new Panda Cares Center of Hope homework room, renovated with support from Panda Cares Foundation, will be officially unveiled with a ribbon cutting ceremony, according to club officials. After the unveiling, participants will proceed to the club’s gymnasium, where Keung will deliver opening remarks and receive a donation check from Desert Regional Medical Center. Attendees will be able to indulge in food donated by Panda Express, and BGC

RIVERSIDE (CNS) – A run of 54 increases in 60 days totaling $1.058 that boosted the average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Riverside County to its highest amount since Oct. 18 ended Thursday with a decrease of six-tenths of a cent to $5.894. The average price is 39.9 cents more than one week ago, 65.7 cents higher than one month ago and 49.5 cents above what it was one year ago, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service. It has dropped 47.9 cents since rising to a record $6.373 on Oct. 5. The national average price dropped for the third consecutive day following an 11-day streak of increases totaling 7.8 cents, decreasing eight- tenths of a cent to $3.867. It is nine-tenths of a cent more than one week ago, two-tenths of a cent higher than one month ago and 18.6 cents above what it was one year ago. The national average price has dropped $1.149 since rising to a record $5.016 on June 14, 2022. Copyright 2023, City News Service, Inc.

The Cathedral City Lions started this year off with a bang behind Head Coach Richard Lee. Despite taking their first loss of the season to the Yucca Valley Trojans, they’re back in GO mode and focused on getting back into the win column against Twentynine Palms. Coach Lee says, “It’s the little things matter and make a difference.” But the Lions are playing with a different intensity than in years past. According to Junior running back Noah Gannon, it’s all about mentality. “It’s really a hunt, hunt, hunt, hunt mentality out there,” says Gannon. “We’ve gotten a couple new coaches and a lot of new players on offense and defensive. And that really helped bring us together, that’s all we needed.” Meanwhile, Lineman Luis Landa says, “It’s concentration and chemistry.” Landa goes on to say it’s a brotherhood out there and they’re out there playing for each other. “Man, we would ride for each other, fight for each other. We’d do anything for each other and I think that’s all it is.” Coach Lee says it comes down to playing 100 miles an hour and

“It’s in your teeth. It’s in your ears. It’s in everything,” Ray Vega said. “You got hot, you got humid, you got dust,” Sue Derrico shared. “I wear a mask when I walk to keep the sand out,” Mark Fornwall explained. “Otherwise, your teeth get dirty.” Those are just a few of the words to describe what living in the desert has been like over the past month. In part, thanks to what Tropical Storm Hilary left behind: lots of sand and piles of unattended mud. “We get up in the morning and go outside and on the back patio, you used to be able to see both mountains. Facing north, looking west and east, can’t see anything anymore,” Vega continued. “A couple of my relatives that are here are kind of acting like they have a cold and they don’t have a cold so probably allergy symptoms,” Derrico said. “Definitely my mom, she gets sneezing fits and coughing. There’s just a layer of dust all over her patio. It is crazy.” During the desert summer months, there’s usually more dust and sand in the

One month later, and deeply impacted businesses like Desert Promotions are still facing major barriers, trying to recover from what they were left with, after Tropical Storm Hilary. “It is week four right now and it sometimes it gets very depressing, to everyday come back here, go home, come back here, clean, go home clean, come back here, clean, go home.” Somu Desai, the owner of Desert Promotions says. The Cathedral City business was one of the most deeply impacted properties within the Coachella Valley. With two and a half weeks dedicated to clearing mud out of the business, and Somu says there’s no clear finish-line. “We are hoping maybe a couple of months, two months, three months, you know because everything we’re doing we’re doing by ourself.” Desai says. Desert Promotions lost everything, including equipment, forcing business to be put on a pause. “Just in equipment and losses right now we are over close to I want to say more than a million dollars you know, we lost everything. We are trying our best to do the things which we can do.” The community

The first Desert Empire League Cross Country Meet kickstarts Wednesday over at Xavier Prep High School. All six teams are back in action will compete today as the schedule follows below: JV Girls – 4pm JV Boys – 4:30pm Varsity Girls – 5pm Varsity Boys – 5:30pm The Shadow Hills Lady Knights have already started their year off with a bang, breaking another school record. The Varsity Girls Cross Country Team broke the overall time record with a total of 1:33:44 over the weekend at Woodbridge Classic. SCHOOL RECORD ALERT Running in the varsity girls rated race at the Woodbridge Classic, Shadow Hills breaks the Knights overall team time record with a total of 1:33:44 (breaking 1:34:41 set last season). @AthleticsSHHS @DesertSunSports @takesbytal @BaileyKESQ pic.twitter.com/QDxDsRKRsn — Shadow Hills TrackXC Coach (@CoachDeTamble) September 17, 2023 Tune in at 11pm with our Tali Letoi who will have the results from the first league meet of the year!  

Another transaction for the Coachella Valley Firebirds ahead of their second ever season. The Firebirds signed Forward Patrick Curry to an AHL contract. bringing some spice to the Firebirds this season #LetsFly read more here: https://t.co/DRZSW8SQB6 pic.twitter.com/iexnHTI3Tc — Coachella Valley Firebirds (@Firebirds) September 20, 2023 The lefty skated 64 games last season with the Iowa Wild, notching four goals and six assists. Curry also made two Calder Cup Playoff appearances. But the center has spent time with the Grand Rapids Griffins and even the ECHL’s Toledo Walleye. Before turning pro, the now 27-year-old suited up at Boston University. Curry notched 39 goals and 40 assists in 141 NCAA games during his time with Boston and helped his team to a Hockey East Championship in 2018.  For years, he’s called the Midwest home but now the Coachella Valley will be his new home. He was also named the Hockey East’s Best Defensive Forward during 2019-20 season, so he’ll great asset to the team on both ends of the ice. The Firebirds hit the ice to open up their season on October 13th at Acrisure Arena.

PALM SPRINGS (CNS) – The Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce will host its Business Expo and Taste of Palm Springs event Wednesday, featuring more than 40 Coachella Valley restaurants and live entertainment. The event will be from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Indian Canyon Golf Resort, 1100 E. Murray Canyon Drive. A $30 admission ticket will cover live entertainment and an array of tastings including food, wine and beer. “Against the picturesque backdrop of the San Jacinto Mountains at the historic North Indian Canyons entrance, this event brings together over 100 local businesses to present their products and services,” chamber officials wrote. Among the restaurants that will be featured throughout the evening are 4 Saints, High Bar, Boozehounds Palm Springs, BuzzBox, Ice Cream and Shoppe, Jagermeister, Las Casuelas Terraza, Sol Agave Restaurant, Wabi Sabi Jaman Living and The Sandwich Spot. Tastings from each restaurant and bar will be available for attendees through the evening. A tribute performance to the rock band Queen from the Kings of Queen band will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., and chamber officials encourage attendees to take their