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Wednesday, Feb. 25 | ☀️ 86°/61°
Welcome to Wednesday! If you're heading through the intersection of East Sunny Dunes Road and South Palm Canyon Drive today, be prepared for a four-way stop as crews repair the traffic signal. Looking ahead to Monday, you should be aware that the big "Traffic Flip" is happening. That’s when vehicles shift onto the newly reconstructed western bridge span across Tahquitz Creek — a major milestone in the project that moves us us one step closer to completion,
🎶 Setting the mood: "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right" by Bob Dylan
Leading Off
An early rendering of what a new American Reproductive Center building might look like. (File photo)
Clinic rebuilding plans move forward with design concerns, security focus
Roughly nine months after a domestic terrorist attack destroyed the American Reproductive Center, rebuilding plans cleared their first hurdle Tuesday — though commissioners made clear they want a different look for the new facility.
Driving the news: The Palm Springs Planning Commission unanimously approved the site plan for a new 19,347-square-foot, two-story medical office building at 1199 North Indian Canyon Dr., the site of a clinic destroyed on May 17, 2025. The approval came with conditions related to pedestrian access and a recommendation for more contemporary architecture.
The first floor would house a surgery center; the second floor an OB/GYN and fertility center.
On security: The proposed design centers on hardening the facility against future threats, including a single entrance controlled by a 24/7-staffed guardhouse, electronic sliding gates and a seven-foot masonry wall with fencing along both sides of the building.
"The owner feels that these elements are an essential part of ensuring the safety of the staff and patients," said Jennifer Levesque, the project's architect.
Yes, but: Commissioners and community members pushed back on the building's Mediterranean-style design, saying it doesn't fit Palm Springs' midcentury modern character. The Palm Springs Modern Committee submitted a letter requesting a more contemporary look.
"We wish it were a more modern design in keeping with the direction of Palm Springs architecture," said Debra Hovel, representing the committee.
What's next: The project's architecture and landscaping will go before the Architectural Review Committee (ARC) at a later date. Conditions attached to Tuesday's approval include adding a pedestrian entrance along Indian Canyon Drive, reducing the height of the cement wall and a formal recommendation to the committee for more contemporary design.
Briefly
John McDonald (left) and his husband Rob Wright at the dedication of the building that bears their names in November 2016. (Photo: The Center / David A. Lee)
🫶 Longtime Palm Springs philanthropist John McDonald dies at 93
John McDonald, a longtime benefactor of the LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert, died Sunday at the age of 93. McDonald and his husband, Rob Wright, donated a 10,000-square-foot building at 1301 North Palm Canyon Drive to The Center in 2015.
The facility, known as the McDonald/Wright Building, houses The Center's administrative offices, six community rooms, and behavioral health clinic. In November 2019, McDonald and Wright received the 434th star on the Palm Springs Walk of the Stars, and The Center presented them with its Legacy Award in 2024.
Looking back: McDonald built his career at Mullikin Medical Centers, eventually becoming CEO before negotiating the company's sale to Caremark RX in 1995. He held a geology degree and business certificate from UCLA and a law degree from Western States University School of Law.
🏛️ What to watch for at tonight’s City Council meeting
The Palm Springs City Council will review midyear budget reports, consider a $285,750 economic development contract and introduce an ordinance banning vehicle sales in the public right-of-way at its meeting Wednesday, Feb. 25.
The budget items include fiscal year audit reports for Measure J, Measure A and Measure D funds, along with midyear updates for the General Fund, Airport and capital budgets. The council will also consider approving the CVL Economics contract to implement the city's Economic Strategic Framework. Before the public meeting, the council will meet in closed session to discuss three existing legal cases, potential litigation, labor negotiations and real property negotiations involving 125 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way.
Details: Closed session begins at 3:30 p.m. and open session at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall, 3200 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way. Residents may attend in person or watch via the city's website, YouTube or Channel 17. Those wishing to participate via Zoom must register with the City Clerk in advance.
A MESSAGE FROM PALM SPRINGS INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITION
Join us at The Club at Morningside for an incredible evening filled with fine food and magical music. Hosted by KESQ NewsChannel 3's Chief Meteorologist Patrick Evans. Featuring performances by the 2025 International Competition Medalists Caden Lin, Kyle Yeung and Eddison Chen.
📆 Featured Events
Blue Zones Project: Edible Garden Workshop Part 2
9 a.m. | Prescott Preserve Native Plant Nursery
Connect with your community and transform Prescott Preserve's wildlife corridor with Flourish, a 6-week, edible garden workshop series. Today’s activities include a guided hike through the Prescott Preserve.
Simply Meditate
12 p.m. | Dharmachakra Kadampa Buddhist Center
Learn the basics of meditation, including how to integrate meditation into your everyday activities. Meditations will be based on New Meditation Handbook by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche. ($5)
Poetry Club
4 p.m. | Welwood Murray Memorial Library
This group meets on a monthly basis with a new theme every time. Poets of all levels of experience welcome! Led by Donna Fitzgerald.
Palm Springs City Council
5:30 p.m. | City Hall
The city council meets this evening in closed and open session. Check out the agenda here.
Leadership Coachella Valley - 25th Anniversary Celebration
6 p.m. | Palm Springs Surf Club
An evening of connection, reflection, and celebration with alumni, community leaders, and partners who believe in the power of our mission. ($93)
📌 Save the Date
Palm Springs Somatics Ribbon Cutting & Grand Opening on Thursday
Community Traffic Safety Workshop at PSPD on Thursday
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
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🚠 And Finally …
At left: Julie Makinen interviews NPR’s Tonya Mosley. At right: The Post’s Kendall Balchan and Mark Talkington.
Local journalism got its moment in the spotlight Tuesday afternoon when the Coachella Valley Journalism Foundation (CVJF) held its third annual Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa in Rancho Mirage, drawing 300 attendees to celebrate careers that have helped define news and broadcasting in the desert.
The honorees: Six people — including one couple — were inducted into the Hall of Fame, including one CVJF co-founder who was surprised with the award at the event. They were:
Jimmy Boegle, founding editor of the Coachella Valley Independent;
Larry Bohannan, veteran golf writer for The Desert Sun;
Lina Robles, longtime co-host of morning radio show El Show del Greñas;
Ric and Rozene Supple (posthumously), pioneering radio station owners whose philanthropy helped launch both the Palm Springs International Film Festival and Palm Springs Cultural Center;
and Ricardo Loretta, a co-founder of the foundation who now serves as vice president of the board of directors.
Rising stars and a journalist of the year were also recognized during the event, which closed with a conversation with Tonya Mosley, co-host of NPR's Fresh Air, who discussed her path from local TV news in the Midwest to national radio.
Earning journalist of the year honors was Kevin Fitzgerald of The Coachella Valley Independent
Shay Lawson from KESQ received the Rising Star award
Closer to home: Our own Kendall Balchan spoke at the event about how a CVJF grant helped launch The Indio Post. It was also announced that The Palm Springs Post and Coachella Valley Independent received a $5,000 grant from the foundation to collaborate on an investigative piece currently in the works.
In Case You Missed It
Recently published stories
👋 Kendall always has so much fun meeting Post readers and enjoyed meeting so many of you at yesterday’s event!
🏆 Mark has had the privilege of working with both Larry Bohannan and Jimmy Boegle over the years and congratulates them on their induction into the local journalism hall of fame — recognition that speaks to their enduring influence on journalism in this community!
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