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Thursday, June 4 | ☀️ 105°/77°
Happy Thursday! Tuesday's primary election is in the books — but the counting isn't. The Riverside County Registrar of Voters says an estimated 300,000 Vote-by-Mail ballots and 3,200 Conditional Voter Registration ballots still need to be counted, with the next updated results expected by 6:00 p.m. tonight. As CalMatters explains, that's just how California rolls: mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day are valid if they arrive within seven days, and "cured" ballots (where a signature issue needs to be resolved) can be accepted all the way through June 24. In the meantime, you can track the latest Riverside County results here.
🎶 Setting the mood: "Summer Breeze" by Main Ingredient
Leading Off
The move comes one day before Coachella is set to consider its own moratorium, despite approving a technology campus that could include up to six data centers.
Indio enacts emergency ban on new data centers
The Indio City Council voted unanimously Wednesday to impose an emergency 45-day moratorium on data centers, joining a regional push back against large-scale computing facilities over concerns about water and energy use.
Driving the news: The council voted 5-0 to adopt an urgency ordinance halting the establishment, expansion, or intensification of data centers within city limits, effective immediately through July 18.
The action Wednesday night came one day before Coachella is set to consider its own moratorium at a special meeting this evening, following a series of council meetings there that drew hundreds of residents opposed to a proposed 450-acre technology campus that could include six data centers.
Why it matters: Councilmember Oscar Ortiz, who initiated the urgency request, said residents have expressed concern about increased fossil fuel and water demand tied to artificial intelligence infrastructure.
What they're saying: Mayor Pro Tem Waymond Fermon said preemptive action was necessary even though no data center applications are currently pending in Indio.
"Indio is the biggest city in the Coachella Valley. We have the most land, and that wouldn't preclude [developers] from at least putting an application in," Fermon said.
The fine print: The ordinance broadly defines data centers to include facilities housing servers, cloud computing, AI model training, blockchain operations, and cryptocurrency mining, while exempting standard IT rooms, schools, hospitals, and public safety facilities.
What's next: A broader data center policy is scheduled to go before Indio's Planning Commission on June 24 and return to the full council around July 15, when staff has been directed to include options for a long-term moratorium or permanent ban.
Briefly
The kratom leaf comes in different forms, from capsules and tablets to powders and liquid extracts.
💊 Indio council advances ordinances on kratom, nitrous oxide, drug paraphernalia
The Indio City Council voted 5-0 Wednesday to give first reading approval to three ordinances regulating the sale of kratom, nitrous oxide, and drug paraphernalia — measures prompted in part by two local fatalities “where nitrous oxide was available inside the passenger ccompartment for personal use,” according to Police Chief Brian Tully.
Kratom, an herbal extract from the leaves of a Southeast Asian tree, is used as a stimulant and can be used in higher doses to reduce pain but the FDA warns of server nervous system effects including trouble breathing and hallucinations. Nitrous oxide, commonly known as “laughing gas” is professionally used as a medical and dental sedative, but has increasingly been misused as an inhalant. The FDA said this can cause serious health problems and even death.
The kratom ordinance bans sales to anyone under 21 and prohibits products in which a key compound exceeds 2% of total kratom alkaloids. The nitrous oxide measure broadly prohibits its sale and distribution, with exemptions for dental, food-grade, and automotive uses. The drug paraphernalia ordinance requires video surveillance, locked display cases and no public-facing displays.
Details: All three ordinances must receive formal adoption before taking effect 30 days later. Violations can be charged as a misdemeanor, carrying fines up to $1,000, up to six months in county jail, or both.
🎓 Two Coachella Valley leadership programs opening up for applications
Leadership Coachella Valley is accepting applications through tomorrow, June 5 for its next class, a six-month program offering residents a look at how the region operates. The Indio Leadership Academy is also returning this fall, with applications opening July 1.
The Leadership Coachella Valley program features 10 sessions covering economic development, arts and culture, sustainability, media, education, healthcare and the justice system. The Indio Leadership Academy will include sessions with Public Works, Finance, the Indio Water Authority, the Indio Police Department and other city departments.
Details: Leadership Coachella Valley has graduated hundreds of participants over 25 years; many employers sponsor participants. Board member Kelly Tweedie said the program is open to up-and-coming leaders, not just established ones. Apply online by tomorrow. The Indio Leadership Academy application period opens July 1.
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.
📅 Featured events
Beginner to Advanced Pickleball Clinic
Today | 7 a.m. | Miles Avenue Park
Coachella Valley Paddles Up holds weekly pickleball clinics every Thursday morning at Miles Avenue Park, open to participants ages 16 and older. Registration is required. ($25–$95)
Solidarity Food Drive
Friday | 10 a.m. | TODEC Legal Center, Coachella
TODEC Legal Center hosts a community food drive to support families impacted by immigration enforcement. Community members are invited to drop off food, hygiene products, or household goods at the Coachella location.
Indio's Food Truck Fridays
Friday | 5 p.m. | Downtown Indio
Weekly food truck gathering every Friday from 5–10 p.m. at the corner of Towne Street and Bliss Avenue, featuring a rotating vendor lineup, live music, and family-friendly activities.
Open Mic and Karaoke
Friday | 6 p.m. | The Oasis on Miles
The Oasis on Miles hosts a weekly open mic and karaoke night every Friday, open to performers and audience members alike. ($10 suggested donation)
DoKnow Comedy Show
Friday | 8 p.m. | Spotlight 29 Casino
Comedian DoKnow performs a live stand-up set at Spotlight 29 Casino. ($23)
Museum Community Days
Saturday–Sunday | Coachella Valley History Museum
The Coachella Valley History Museum offers free admission and public programming on the first full weekend of each month. Saturday features a conversation with watercolor artist Terry Simons at 10 a.m.; Sunday features free community yoga with Soul Zenter at 1 p.m.
Sip N' Sound Coffee and Sound Bath
Saturday | 7:30 a.m. | Saguaro Coffee
Tiny Vibez Reiki and Saguaro Coffee co-host a free morning sound bath featuring crystal bowls and ambient sound to ease into the day. No RSVP required.
Coachella Animal Network Clinic
Saturday | 10 a.m. | ABC Recovery Center
The Coachella Animal Network hosts low-cost spay/neuter and pet services for cats and dogs, including rabies vaccines, microchipping, and licensing. Spay/neuter appointments must be booked in advance on their website, no appointment is needed for the vaccine and microchip clinic. Bring cash or credit card, ID, and any existing pet records. ($8–$30)
Skyfest, Skylar Berry Memorial Show
Saturday | 1 p.m. | Music House Indio & The Oasis on Miles
An all-day heavy music celebration honoring Skylar Berry, featuring bands from the Coachella and Inland Empire valleys. The event runs 1–6 p.m. at Music House Indio and 6–10 p.m. at the Oasis on Miles, with proceeds split between St. Johns Community Health and ICE Out of CA. ($10 suggested donation)
Giselle Woo and the Night Owls / St. Camino
Saturday | 6 p.m. | Indio Brewing
Free, all-ages evening of live music featuring St. Camino at 7 p.m. and Giselle Woo and the Night Owls at 8 p.m., with food and drinks available throughout the night.
Indio Open Mic
Sunday | 7 p.m. | Desert Beer Co. Pizza and Pints
A new weekly open mic series hosted by Vanessa Rivera and Brandon Fernandez, welcoming stand-up comedy, music, and poetry. Sign-up procedures will be posted closer to the event.
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📣 And Finally …
Martha's Village & Kitchen and the Dr. Reynaldo J. Carreon Foundation were two of the five valley nonprofits awarded grants.
Five Coachella Valley nonprofits, including two based in Indio, will share nearly $677,000 in grant funding after the Desert Healthcare District & Foundation approved the awards last week.
The grants: The $676,867 total will support programs ranging from homeless recuperative care to air quality monitoring near the Salton Sea to low vision rehabilitation services.
The largest single award, $297,669, went to Alianza Coachella Valley to fund air filter interventions and respiratory evaluations for 50 households near the Salton Sea through its AIRE Initiative.
Also funded: Martha's Village & Kitchen received $167,015 to help break what it describes as the "hospital - street - hospital" cycle for unhoused individuals recovering from hospital stays.
The Dr. Reynaldo J. Carreon Foundation was awarded $143,500 to fund scholarships for 25 students pursuing healthcare careers. Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest received $23,433 for telehealth expansion, and the Braille Institute received $45,000 for low vision rehabilitation services.
What they're saying: "These awards represent the breadth of support the District provides to improve health access and outcomes across the Coachella Valley," said Interim CEO Donna Craig.
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