Thursday, Feb. 19 | 🌤️ 59°/45°
Happy Thursday, where you should hold onto your hats — and maybe your trash can — because the valley has been turned into a giant wind tunnel this week. The National Weather Service extended its wind advisory through Friday morning; expect 15 to 30 mph winds with gusts as high as 55 mph. With all that wind, may come power outages (our power went out briefly Tuesday evening!). If these breezes decide to take your power along for the ride, IID wants you to stay prepared: you can track and report outages via the IID Connect app, on their live map, or by calling 1-800-303-7756.
🎶 Setting the mood: "Dust in the Wind" by Kansas
Leading Off
Residents have been protesting immigration enforcement since June of last year when federal authorities began to ramp up efforts to detain and deport U.S. citizens, legal residents, and undocumented immigrants.
Indio City Council acts to restore trust with new immigration enforcement transparency policy
The Indio City Council voted Wednesday to adopt a resolution restating and clarifying the city's policies on cooperation with federal immigration authorities, aiming to bolster community trust and ensure all residents can safely access municipal services.
Driving the news: The resolution was introduced following a direct request from the City Council during its Feb. 4 meeting and was drafted to address community concerns about how the city interacts with federal immigration agents.
In context: The vote followed weeks of advocacy from local community groups calling for clearer boundaries between local police and federal immigration officers.
What they're saying: Councilmember Oscar Ortiz said regular law enforcement activities have caused panic in Indio neighborhoods, adding that fear has discouraged even legal residents from seeking help from municipal services such as code enforcement.
"It provides a distrust, an issue, for our law enforcement where people may not be willing to talk to our law enforcement when there's real issues in our community," Ortiz said.
The details: The resolution declares Indio a city where all residents should be able to seek law enforcement protection and municipal services without fear. A key component establishes specific protocols for transparency and public disclosure of records.
Under the new guidelines, any city-owned record documenting federal civil immigration enforcement activities within city jurisdiction is now officially a public record, including body-worn camera footage, security or surveillance footage from city facilities, and written reports.
Briefly
Los Tucanes de Tijuana perform at the Coachella Music and Arts Festival in 2019.
🎡 Indio updates tax revenue expectations ahead of festival season
Indio's City Council voted to raise its general fund revenue target to $129.8 million, up from $123.7 million, following a mid-fiscal year budget report showing the city in a strong financial position ahead of the Coachella and Stagecoach Music Festivals in April.
Finance Director Ruby Walla rated the city's financial health at "nine or 10" on a 10-point scale. A significant portion of the revenue growth comes from Transient Occupancy Tax, now projected at $16.5 million, up from $15.7 million, with 75% of that coming from short-term vacation rentals.
Bottom line: The city's Measure X transaction and use tax is projected to reach $18.2 million by fiscal year's end, trending better than anticipated, though staff cautioned that rising labor and materials costs could affect future projects.
🎓 Date Festival awards scholarships to 16 Riverside County students
The fair is about a lot more than monster trucks and Ferris Wheels! The Riverside County Fair & National Date Festival named 10 scholarship recipients and six honorees through its 2026 Date Festival Scholarship Program.
Four Indio residents were among the recipients and honorees: Elizabeth Guerra, Alexander Diaz, Mario Irrera, Roberto Sanchez, and Joanna Bushnell Crist. Congratulations!
Judges Becky Bailey-Findley and Gary Findley contributed an additional $6,000 to the program, allowing the six remaining finalists to be recognized as honorees, ensuring every finalist received a scholarship. All 16 also received season passes to the fair.
Bottom line: Scholarships are distributed directly to recipients' colleges or universities. The program is supported by Butler Amusements and Pickering Events.
📅 Featured events
The Riverside County Fair & National Date Festival
Thursday - Sunday | Riverside County Fairgrounds
The Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival continues this weekend. In addition to the usual attractions, exhibits, and midway games, Friday, pay extra for an interactive cocktail class and on Saturday come down to enjoy Gran Jaripeo-Tadeada. Kids get in free all day today, and from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. adults get in free by telling ticket agents, “I’m a kid at heart.” ($12-$85)
Drag Lotería
Today | 7 p.m. | Dune Room
Welcome Indio High School 2014 graduate, Future Farmers of America livestock ribbon winner turned international superstar Mizz Beehiven! Come down for five Lotería games, prizes, and drink specials. ($20)
Pet License, Vaccine, and Microchip Clinic
Friday and Saturday | 10 a.m. | ABC Recovery
Coachella Animal Network is on hand offering low cost spay, neuter, and vaccine treatments for pets. Request an appointment online for spaying or neutering, no appointment needed for vaccines.
LGBTQIA+ Legal Services
Friday | 2 p.m. | Indio One Stop Help Center
Hosted by Molina Healthcare and Inland Counties Legal Services, learn about affirming advance health care directives, navigate the court process for gender and name changes, and pursue identity document updates.
Book Club: “Frankenstein”
Friday | 3 p.m. | Indio Library
Stop by for a discussion about Mary Shelley’s classic work, “Frankenstein.”
Women's Self-Defense Workshop
Saturday | 8 a.m. | Indio Community Center
Empower yourself with practical self-defense skills in this focused two-hour workshop designed specifically for women. No prior experience necessary.
Coachella Valley Invitational, National Women's Soccer League
Saturday | 10:30 a.m. | Empire Polo Club
It’s the final day of the invitational, featuring matches between the Houston Dash and Portland Thorns FC, San Diego Wave FC and Denver Summit, and Angel City FC and Seattle Reign FC. ($37)
Silent Listening: "Master of Puppets"
Sunday | 2 p.m. | Rosemary HiFi
Hosted by Chris Costa, celebrate 40 years of Metallica's "Master of Puppets" album by attending this Silent Listening. Listen to the album in full with a group, then discuss it after. ($18)
BROUGHT TO YOU BY
📣 And Finally …
The Palm Springs Airport Commission met to discuss the increase in noise complaints from residents across the Coachella Valley. (File photo)
Okay, as if the wind wasn’t enough this week … did anyone else notice those super loud planes flying overhead at night?
Driving the news: The Palm Springs Airport Commission heard a presentation Wednesday about rising aircraft noise complaints from across the Coachella Valley, including from residents as far away as Indio.
At issue: The culprit appears to be a change the FAA made to flight approach paths into Palm Springs International Airport around June 2025 — a change made without notifying the airport.
What the airport can do: Not much, it turns out! Under the Aircraft Noise and Capacity Act of 1990, the airport legally can’t do anything to improve noise levels.
What they’re saying: “PSP cannot impose curfews, limit the number of flights, restrict aircraft types based on how noisy they are, or change flight paths or altitudes,” Jake Ingrassia, a member of the airport’s communications team said. “Those decisions lay squarely with the FAA.”
What's next: Airport Executive Director Harry Barrett said the airport plans to hold a Zoom session in the coming weeks to address resident concerns.
Residents can also submit noise complaints directly at flypsp.com/noise.
The workaround: Barrett encouraged residents to contact their congressional representatives, saying federal elected officials are the most effective avenue for pushing changes to FAA airspace decisions.
In Case You Missed It
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