Dec. 16 Daily Briefing: Readers’ top stories, meeting over Pride recognition scheduled, and more

Welcome to Tuesday, everyone. Organizers of this evening’s scheduled kickoff to the Palm Springs Speaks series at the Plaza Theatre announced Monday that the event has been canceled following the death of tonight’s scheduled speaker, Rob Reiner. They made the decision with heavy hearts and will be issuing full refunds to all ticketholders. Information about the remainder of the Palm Springs Speaks series, which benefits the Friends of the Palm Springs Library, is available here.

🎶 Setting the mood: “Groove is in the Heart” by Deee-Lite

LEADING OFF

Readers name clinic bombing as city’s biggest story of 2025

The May bombing at a Palm Springs fertility clinic was overwhelmingly chosen as the city’s top story of 2025 in The Palm Springs Post’s annual reader survey. The attack drew national attention and left residents shaken for weeks.

Driving the news: Nearly every survey response — from more than 100 readers — pointed to the bombing, with respondents calling it “a horrifying reminder that violence is possible even in places we think are safe.”

• One reader noted the incident’s broader reach: “This wasn’t just a Palm Springs story — this was a national story that happened here.”

Why it matters: Readers said the attack struck at reproductive freedom, caused lasting community trauma, and carried significant political implications beyond the immediate human loss.

Other notable stories: While no other topic came close to the bombing’s dominance, readers cited homelessness initiatives, City Council disputes, major development proposals, and tourism industry volatility as defining 2025 issues.

Looking ahead: Reader predictions for 2026’s biggest story varied widely but centered on several themes: intensive development pressure on tribal land, housing affordability challenges, stalled hotel projects, and whether Palm Springs can guide rapid change or simply react to it.

• “Climate will be the biggest story whether we want it to be or not,” one reader wrote.

Dive deeper with our complete story

BRIEFLY

🚨 Fatal pedestrian collision and DUI hit-and-run both investigated in Palm Springs

• Palm Springs police investigated two separate traffic incidents Sunday, including a fatal pedestrian collision on State Route 111 between Tipton Road and Snow Creek Road and a vehicle-bicycle crash at Avenida Caballeros and Vista Chino at approximately 7:13 p.m.
  
• The pedestrian death occurred early Saturday morning at approximately 3:23 a.m. when a white Toyota truck struck an object on the highway. The truck’s OnStar system detected the collision, but responding officers were unable to locate what was struck during a nighttime search. A bicyclist discovered the deceased individual Sunday morning more than a half mile south of where the vehicle stopped. The driver was cooperative and not under the influence, and the incident has been classified as non-criminal.
  
• Details: In the evening bicycle incident, the injured cyclist was transported for treatment. Officers located the suspect vehicle and arrested a Palm Springs resident for felony hit-and-run and DUI causing injury. The pedestrian victim’s identity is being withheld pending family notification.

🏳️‍🌈 Palm Desert council to consider Pride rollback at meeting today

• The Palm Desert City Council will hold a special meeting today at 1:30 p.m. to consider Mayor Pro Tem Joe Pradetto’s request to rescind the city’s formal recognition of LGBTQ Pride Month and potentially revise its diversity policy, following public backlash to the proposal.
  
• The meeting will address Resolution 2024-038, adopted in June, which formalized annual Pride proclamations, participation in Pride events, promotional communications and City Hall banner displays. Pradetto argues the city’s existing 2018 diversity resolution already supports LGBTQ residents and additional recognitions are unnecessary.
  
• Bottom line: Critics, including LGBTQ advocates and Assemblymember Greg Wallis, say rescinding the Pride resolution would send a harmful message to the community. Residents may participate in person at City Hall (73-510 Fred Waring Drive) or remotely via livestream and public comment portal.

Read our complete story at The Palm Desert Post

---

TODAY’S FEATURED EVENTS

Leads Lunch
12 p.m. | Hunny’s Restaurant & Bar
Connect, collaborate, and grow your business at the Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce Lead$ Lunch — hosted every Tuesday in December at Hunny’s in downtown Palm Springs.

Queer Colon Care Collective
5 p.m. | Virtual
This support group is open to LGBTQ+ colorectal cancer patients, survivors, or caregivers. Organizers will offer resources and a sense of community in a safe place to share experiences. 

Sustainability Commission
5:30 p.m. | City Hall
The Commission reviews and makes recommendations to the City Council on issues relating to energy and natural resources conservation, including water conservation, air pollution, waste management, and recycling. 

A Very Broadway Christmas
7 p.m. | Annenberg Theater
Join Michael Orland and the talented students and alumni of David Green’s Musical Theatre University for the Coachella Valley’s newest holiday tradition: “A Very Broadway Christmas” — a fully staged, fully costumed holiday spectacular featuring everyone’s favorite music of the season, both classic and new. ($50)

See all events here

SAVE THE DATE

• Palm Springs Santa Pub Crawl on Thursday.
  
• Palm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus food drive outside The Plaza Theatre Friday through Sunday.
  
• Snowtopia at Palm Springs Air Museum starting Friday.
  
• White Christmas Sing-Along on Dec. 21 at Quadz Video Bar.

Submit your event here

---

AND FINALLY …

🐾 Each week, The Post partners with a local animal shelter to feature one or more of the many animal companions ready for a new home in our community. 

Today, we invite you to meet Gucci! This glamorous gal is a 10-year-old Domestic Shorthair, and staff at the shelter say is especially friendly. 

• Staff did note that she can get over-excited easily, though, so an adult-only home would be preferred. 

If you’re interested, You can visit the shelter at 4575 E. Mesquite Ave. Hours are 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. on all days except for Mondays (open for intake only) and Thursdays (1 p.m. until 7 p.m.). You can always call the shelter at (760) 416-5718.

• Make sure to check out all the other pets at the shelter here.