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🎶 Setting the mood: "Empire State of Mind" by Jay-Z, ft. Alicia Keys
Leading Off
A part of the Guide Dogs of the Desert campus in Whitewater. (File photo)
Guide Dogs of the Desert chairman resigns, organization restructures leadership
The chairman of Guide Dogs of the Desert's board of directors has resigned and the nonprofit has overhauled its leadership structure, weeks after a joint investigation by The Palm Springs Post and Coachella Valley Independent revealed safety, management and financial concerns at the organization.
Driving the news: Richard Clapp confirmed he will step down as board chairman on June 30, to be replaced by current Vice Chair Guido Portante. The organization has also elevated Executive Director Robert Maher to chief executive officer and hired Rosa Verduzco as chief operations officer.
Clapp said the restructuring was intended to align the organization more closely with how other nonprofits in the valley operate, and that the new arrangement will allow Maher to focus on fundraising.
Background: The changes follow a six-month investigation published April 23, which cited safety complaints, leadership concerns and financial warning signs. The investigation was prompted by an Aug. 16, 2025, sexual assault and murder attempt against a female employee by an intruder at the organization's campus; the assailant was sentenced March 19 to 25 years to life in prison.
Reporter Maggie Miles spoke with more than 15 current and former employees and reviewed internal documents, emails and court records, which revealed concerns about campus security gaps — including a broken lock on a door to the building where the attack occurred — as well as concerns about management practices and financial mismanagement.
Also resolved: A lawsuit filed by former Human Resources and Community Engagement Director Caryn Gates — alleging whistleblower retaliation, discrimination, harassment and failure to implement required workplace violence prevention measures — has been settled.
"I can confirm that my lawsuit against Guide Dogs of the Desert has been resolved. I'm not able to discuss the terms of the resolution," Gates said in a statement Monday.
Briefly
Greg Rodriguez has resigned from the Desert Healthcare District & Foundation Board to apply for the agency's CEO position.
🏥 Rodriguez resigns from Desert Healthcare District board to pursue CEO job
Greg Rodriguez resigned from the Desert Healthcare District & Foundation Board, it was announced Thursday, saying he plans to apply for the agency's CEO position.
Rodriguez was elected as the Board's Zone 1 representative — which includes Palm Springs — in November 2024. He served as vice president in 2024 and 2025. The CEO role opened after the Board voted unanimously on May 26 to remove then-CEO Chris Christensen.
Up next: Rodriguez's resignation leaves a vacancy on the Board with two and a half years remaining in his term. The Board must now notify Riverside County election officials and determine how to fill the seat — either through an appointment or a special election.
A MESSAGE FROM
CITY OF PALM SPRINGS
PS/NExT returns in 2026 bigger, broader, and more immersive than ever. Over 1.5 dynamic days, innovators, creators, educators, businesses, and community leaders will explore AI and emerging technology through hands-on experiences, bold ideas, and inspiring conversations designed to build skills, fuel creativity, and expand opportunity across the region.
📆 Your Weekend
Multiple Days
XOXO Palm Springs 2026 all weekend at Various locations
Truck Stop Art Fair Friday and Saturday at Downtown Park at 6:30 p.m.
Desert Shakespeare Festival: "A Midsummer Night's Dream" on Saturday and Sunday at The Plaza Theatre ($38)
Summer Workshop Series: Vintage Sign Painting on Saturday and Sunday at Palm Springs Art Museum at 10 a.m. ($96–$120)
Today
Arthur Elrod: Desert Cool at Palm Springs Cultural Center at 6 p.m. ($15)
Hyatt Palm Springs: Friday Night Happy Hour at Hyatt Palm Springs at 6:30 p.m.
Comedy Night at Revolution Stage Company at 7 p.m. ($28)
Mikael Healey's Baby Grand: Broken Broadway at Hotel Zoso at 7 p.m. ($32)
Saturday
3rd Annual SHE is Women's Conference at Mizell Center at 10 a.m.
Equality Wine & Food Fest at Hyatt Palm Springs at 1 p.m. ($105)
Annabelle Gurwitch in Conversation with Corey Roskin at Palm Springs Cultural Center at 6 p.m.
The Dinner Detective True Crime Murder Mystery Dinner Show at Palm Springs Surf Club at 6 p.m. ($85)
”If It Goes There”: A Staged Reading at Palm Springs Cultural Center at 7 p.m. ($18)
Unbuttoned, A Boylesque Social Experience at Social Cafe & Lounge at 7:15 p.m. ($29)
Sunday
Coachella Valley Radio Control Club Flyable Model Airplanes at Palm Springs Air Museum at 10 a.m.
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🚠 And Finally …
From left: Keisha D, Sweet Baby J’ai, and Bernard Hoyes. (Photos courtesy Sunset Music and Education Foundation)
Palm Springs is marking Juneteenth with a three-day Freedom Weekend — a lineup of community events presented by the Palm Springs Black History Committee and partner organizations celebrating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans and the region's deep Black history.
Driving the news: Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, learned of their freedom — more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. The date is recognized nationally as Independence Day for African Americans.
The lineup: Freedom Weekend opens Thursday, June 18, with a Juneteenth Kickoff at VillageFest in Downtown Palm Springs at 5 p.m., followed Friday, June 19, by a Juneteenth Unity Picnic at Downtown Park at 5 p.m.
Saturday, June 20 brings two events: a Juneteenth Youth Pageant at the James O. Jessie Desert Highland Unity Center, 480 Tramview Road, with doors opening at 5:30 p.m.; and the Sunset Music and Education Foundation's Juneteenth Celebration, part of XOXO Palm Springs at Revolution Stage Company, from 2 to 4 p.m., with doors at 1:30 p.m.
Admission to the SMEF event is free, though tickets are required due to limited seating and are currently sold out. A waiting list is available.
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