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Thursday, Feb. 26 | ☀️ 90°/76°
Welcome to Thursday, where, like many of you, we’re caught between “This weather is great!” and "OMG, does 90 degrees in February mean 130 in July?!?!” For that answer, we turn to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, which says the following: March will see slightly warmer and drier conditions here; April and May will also be warmer than normal with less rain; and summer will be hotter and drier than usual, with peak heat in early and late June and mid- to late August. Buckle up, folks!
🎶 Setting the mood: "LDN" by Lily Allen (I’ve been loving her recent breakup album, “West End Girl” - Kendall)
Leading Off
Attendees at a January meeting about new zoning regulations look over materials showing potential tall buildings in areas that many do not want them. (File photo)
Zoning maps showing 5-story buildings were based on outdated state guidance, city says
Palm Springs planning officials told the City Council on Wednesday that draft maps showing buildings up to five stories along commercial corridors were drawn from state guidance that has since changed, and that the city's sweeping zoning overhaul remains far from final.
Driving the news: Director of Planning Services Christopher Hadwin said the zoning code update — the city's first comprehensive rewrite since the 1980s — is still in early stages, with roughly another year of work ahead before the council will be asked to make final decisions.
"I want to stress the word draft and preliminary a lot tonight, because everything is very, very early in the process," Hadwin told the council.
Background: The draft maps drew sharp criticism from residents at a Jan. 26 open house at the Palm Springs Convention Center, where they showed three- to five-story buildings potentially rising along corridors adjacent to established low-density neighborhoods.
What's changed: Hadwin said the city is now working with the city attorney's office to determine what state law actually requires, a task complicated by inconsistent guidance from state officials and laws not yet tested in court.
The bigger picture: The zoning update is driven in part by state housing mandates. Palm Springs must plan for 1,700 additional housing units by the end of 2029 and has completed only 848 of the 2,600 units required in the current state housing cycle.
Data from the Jan. 26 open house showed housing costs in Palm Springs have risen 83% over five years while wages increased only 30%, and that 84% of people who work in the city cannot afford to live there.
What's next: City staff plans to return to the council later this spring with a formal recommendation, alternative density scenarios, and options for direction. Draft materials remain available for public comment through March 13 on the city's website.
Briefly
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🚗 Palm Springs bans commercial vehicle sales, rentals on city streets
The Palm Springs City Council on Wednesday approved an ordinance prohibiting vehicle sales and rentals in the public right-of-way, responding to concerns that car-rental apps like Turo have led to an increase in cars parked along city streets for commercial purposes.
Enforcement is triggered when a vehicle is parked within the same 1,000-foot radius for more than 72 consecutive hours. The ordinance is "content neutral," meaning a vehicle does not need to display a "For Sale" or "For Rent" sign for the ban to apply. A narrow exception allows residents to occasionally sell their own vehicle within one-tenth of a mile of their registered address.
Details: Fines start at $100 for a first offense, $250 for a second, and $500 for a third.
A MESSAGE FROM PALM SPRINGS CULTURAL CENTER
Join the Desert Film Society and the Palm Springs Cultural Center for Cinema Français 2026, FEB 26 - MAR 1 presented by Desert Film Society and sponsored by the Supple Foundation. Opening night features Valensole 1965 at the Historic Camelot Theatre, followed by a Q&A with director Dominique Filhol, co-writer Edouard Blanchot, and composer Mark Yaeger. Subtitled in English.
Featured Events
Preschool and Baby Story Times
10 a.m. | Palm Springs Public Library at Rimrock Plaza
Children's Librarian Nancy reads stories, sings songs, and shares early learning concepts. Preschool story time is from 10-11 AM and Baby story time is at 11 AM - 12 PM each Thursday morning, unless otherwise noted.
Cinema Francais Film Festival
12 p.m. | Cultural Center
Once again, the Palm Springs Cultural Center plays host to Cinéma Français, a weekend film festival devoted to contemporary French‑language cinema. Curated by the Desert Film Society’s executive director, Beth Ellen Fromm. ($17)
Palm Springs Somatics Ribbon Cutting
2 p.m. | 650 East Tahquitz Canyon Way
Help welcome Palm Springs Somatics — a trauma-informed somatic coaching practice — to the community at this special event.
Community Traffic Safety Workshop
3 p.m. | PSPD Training Center
The Palm Springs Police Department will give a quick presentation on local traffic data and safety efforts, then open the floor for your questions and ideas to reduce collisions—think speeding fixes, better crosswalks, traffic calming, etc.
Art Museum Free Admission
5 p.m. | Palm Springs Art Museums
From 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., enjoy free admission to galleries and exhibitions, and explore the collections at both museums at your own pace.
VillageFest
6 p.m. - 10 p.m. | Downtown
The street fair features art, entertainment, shopping, and food and takes place every Thursday on Palm Canyon Drive.
In the Wake
7 p.m. | Cultural Center
Set against the presidential election and political turmoil of 2000, Ellen unapologetically weaves her complex passions through the lives of her family and friends in this funny, intelligent and searing play. ($42)
Destroying David
7:30 p.m. | Dezart Performs
A meditative, witty, and heartfelt journey through the history of one of the world’s greatest sculptures — and through the inner world of someone struggling with loss, love, and what it means to preserve what we hold dear. ($57)
📌 Save the Date
Palm Springs Pathfinders "Rock the Yacht" annual gala on Saturday
Richard M. Milanovich Legacy Hike & 5K Run on March 7
Fantasy Prom hosted by Desert Sparkles Fund on March 7
The L-Fund presents: Luck be a Lady on March 14
🚠 And Finally …
Colorectal cancer is the second leading cancer killer in the United States, but experts say it is one of the most preventable — if caught early enough.
Driving the news: Roughly 153,000 Americans receive a colorectal cancer diagnosis each year, a number that could be reduced with wider awareness of early screening, which is recommended starting at age 45 for most adults.
How it develops: Colorectal cancers generally grow from small polyps that form in the inner lining of the colon, often beginning as benign growths before turning cancerous over time.
DAP Health Co-Director of Adult Medicine Dr. Frederick Afari says catching polyps early can eliminate the need for major surgery: "We just remove it then and there [during the colonoscopy]."
Why it matters: When colorectal cancer is found while still localized to the inner lining of the colon, the five-year survival rate is 91%, according to the American Cancer Society. That drops to 73% if the cancer spreads regionally.
Screening options: Screenings can include blood tests, stool tests, or a colonoscopy. For patients with apprehension, less invasive options like the Cologuard stool test are available.
Afari calls colonoscopy "the gold standard" because it allows direct visualization of the colon, with follow-up not needed for another 10 years if results are clear.
Risk factors: Age is the biggest risk factor, but genetics, family history, smoking, alcohol use, lack of exercise, obesity, diabetes, and diets high in red meat and processed food also increase risk.
What's next: Afari urges patients to discuss their individual risk factors with their primary care team and to act on any changes in their body.
"Getting screened is so important," Afari says. "That will help you avoid this very avoidable cancer."
In Case You Missed It
Recently published stories
⛷️ Kendall misses having the Olympics on 24/7.
🦫 Mark is eagerly anticipating the opening of the Buc-ee’s in Goodyear, Az. It’s 1,066 miles closer than the current nearest one!
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