Category: Deserts

A local group, Coachella Valley Foster Kids, has been awarded a $10,000 grant from the Bart Berger Foundation to purchase beds for foster youth. The organization, founded by advocates, aims to provide comfort and stability to children facing sudden separation from their families. With a shortage of foster families in the Coachella Valley, many children are placed outside the area, further away from their friends and schools. The new beds will help support these children and alleviate some financial concerns for prospective adopters, ensuring a safer and more stable environment.

The scorching triple-digit temperatures in California’s Central Valley are posing challenges for farmers. The heat is impacting crop ripening and livestock health, with experts noting delays in harvest and adjustments to protect workers and animals. Ryan Jacobson from the Fresno County Farm Bureau explains how farmers are adapting to the conditions to ensure safety and maintain productivity. Despite the challenges, efforts like early morning work shifts and cooling measures for dairy cows aim to mitigate the heat’s effects on agricultural operations.

Kroger and Albertsons have released a list of 579 stores to be sold as part of their proposed mega-merger, including four locations in the Coachella Valley. The Vons stores in La Quinta and Palm Springs, and the Albertsons stores in Palm Desert and Palm Springs, are potentially part of the sell-off to C&S Wholesale Grocers. The Federal Trade Commission is challenging the merger, arguing it could lead to higher grocery prices due to reduced competition.

A preschool teacher and two staff members at Granada Hill Montessori School in Los Angeles have been fired for allegedly duct-taping a student’s mouth shut and physically abusing others. Parents were informed of the terminations via a letter from the school administration on Sunday, prompting some to consider legal action. Distressed parents shared their children’s experiences of abuse, expressing a deep loss of trust. The school is now offering counseling services, implementing an anonymous reporting system for misconduct, and requiring all staff to complete formal child abuse prevention training.  

  On Monday, dozens of United Health Care workers gathered at Inner Care in Centro to protest unfair labor practices. The demonstration highlighted concerns over working conditions, wages, and the overall environment at Inner Care facilities. This protest coincides with a union election involving about 500 Inner Care employees seeking to join United Health Care Workers in Imperial County. Inner Care centers in Mecca, Coachella, and Salton City are also involved.

The Palm Springs City Council is set to make a final decision tonight on the “Forever Marilyn” statue’s future. The proposed resolution would permanently vacate a portion of Museum Way, currently housing the statue, transferring it from public to private ownership. This street vacation would also close the street to car traffic. The council’s decision could bring the ongoing debate over the statue to a conclusion.

A new evacuation order has been issued for parts of central California as the Lake Fire expands to over 26,000 acres, growing by more than 5,000 acres overnight. Containment stands at 12%, with evacuation orders covering Figueroa Mountain and Kuma Mountain in the Los Padres National Forest. Over 1,800 firefighters are battling the blaze, facing steep terrain, hot temperatures, and low humidity, leading to increased fire activity. The fire, which began Friday near Zaca Lake, remains under investigation. A red flag warning is in effect, indicating critical fire weather conditions.