Coachella Valley Times News


Desert Recreation District is offering youth a free bike trip to Coronado

The Desert Recreation District has announced that it will be hosting a free Coronado Bayshore Bikeway Coastal Ride this month, inviting young people aged between 10 and 17 to participate.


Date Festival Scholarship Program is now accepting applications

The Riverside County Fair & National Date Festival has opened applications for its 2024 Date Festival Scholarship Program. The annual initiative will grant ten high school students a $2,000 scholarship each.


City of Rancho Mirage invites local artists to participate in Studio Tour and Pop-Up Gallery

The City of Rancho Mirage Cultural Commission has unveiled plans for the 2024 Rancho Mirage Artists Studio Tour and Pop-Up Gallery, extending an invitation to local visual artists and craftspeople to display and sell their work during the event.


Palm Springs International Film Festival kicks off this week

The Palm Springs International Film Festival, now in its 35th year, is set to commence this week. The festival will feature a star-studded gala and film awards ceremony, along with the screening of 179 films from 74 countries. Of these films, 48 are premieres and 40 have been submitted for the international feature film Oscar category.


Coachella Valley Economic Partnership's monthly Morning Insights forum to be held next week

The Coachella Valley Economic Partnership (CVEP) has announced that its 2024 Morning Insights forum will commence next week, featuring a new roster of speakers and topics. The monthly event has also been relocated to a new venue.


Indio opens interim library location as construction begins on new library

The City of Indio has declared the opening of the interim location for the Indio Library at 45130 Oasis Street. The branch, which is part of the Riverside County system, will operate under new hours.


Coachella Valley law enforcement paying close attention to DUI drivers this holiday season

In a recent law enforcement operation, two drivers under the influence were removed from the roads of La Quinta on Friday. The operation was carried out by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office Thermal station and La Quinta Traffic team.


Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce to sponsor Desert Town Hall once again

The Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce (GCVCC) has confirmed its continued patron sponsorship of the Desert Town Hall. The 2024 series is set to commence in January and extend through April, featuring four distinguished speakers.


Approved NDAA conference report includes California Rep. Calvert's priorities

U.S. Representative Ken Calvert (R-Calif.) recently announced his vote, in alignment with the majority of the House of Representatives, for the approval of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Conference Report for Fiscal Year 2024. Calvert highlighted that the approved report incorporated specific provisions he endorses.


Riverside County is turning Christmas trees into compost and mulch

Riverside County is urging its residents to recycle their natural Christmas trees, rather than leaving them unrecycled at landfills. The county has put in place special services to ensure that the trees are recycled in a manner that enriches the soil.


Riverside County Office of Education to host an artificial intelligence summit

The Riverside County Office of Education (RCOE) is set to host its inaugural Riverside County AI Summit next month. The event is designed to gather educators and other school employees to delve into topics surrounding artificial intelligence (AI) in schools.


Mexican wolf with amputated leg rejoins packmates at the Living Desert Zoo

A Mexican gray wolf, which recently underwent a leg amputation, has been successfully reintegrated into her habitat at the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in Palm Desert after a brief recovery period. The female wolf, named Soleil Ellen, was peacefully received by her packmates.


Operations of the Palm Desert Library will be taken over by the city next summer

In the summer of 2024, the City of Palm Desert will assume control of the county library at 73-300 Fred Waring Drive, situated on the College of the Desert Campus. This transition will mark Palm Desert as the third city in the Coachella Valley to manage a municipal library.


City of Rancho Mirage to host a free emergency preparedness seminar in February

The City of Rancho Mirage has announced an upcoming emergency preparedness training event titled "Readiness Seminar: The First 72 Hours." This seminar, organized by the city’s Emergency Preparedness Commission, is scheduled to take place early next year.


Acadia Healthcare holds grand opening for its Coachella Valley Behavioral Health hospital

Last week, Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc. celebrated the grand opening of its Coachella Valley Behavioral Health hospital in Indio with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The hospital is expected to admit its first patients upon finalizing the necessary preparations.


BLM invites public comment on the Sapphire Solar Project

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has announced an invitation for public comment on the Sapphire Solar Project. This proposed solar energy project aims to generate and store up to 117 megawatts of photovoltaic solar energy, with the electricity being delivered to the statewide transmission grid.


Palm Springs International Airport concourse to be renamed Agua Caliente Concourse

The RJ concourse at Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) is set to be renamed the Agua Caliente Concourse, following a sponsorship agreement between the airport and Agua Caliente Casinos. The new name is anticipated to become official in early 2024.


Agua Caliente Casinos deliver hundreds of Christmas gifts to Shelter From The Storm

In a gesture that has become a holiday tradition over the years, Agua Caliente Casinos has donated more than 300 gifts to Shelter From The Storm’s Angel Tree Toy Drop. Casino employees delivered the Christmas presents to various Shelter From The Storm locations across Coachella Valley.


City of Desert Hot Springs to expand animal services with two donated properties

The City of Desert Hot Springs has received a generous donation from the Humane Society of the Desert: an Animal Hospital and Animal Sanctuary. This contribution will enable the city to enhance its animal care services.


Agua Caliente continues annual toy drop tradition supporting local shelter

This holiday season, Agua Caliente Casinos continued their tradition of the Angel Tree Shelter From the Storm toy drop. The annual charity drive, conducted through the Agua Cares program, enables Agua Caliente team members to support the local community. On December 13, more than 300 gifts were delivered by Agua Caliente team members to Shelter From the Storm’s offices in Coachella Valley.