Feb. 6 Daily Briefing: Nav Center clinics, tribe donations, library still needs temporary home, and more

Welcome to Thursday and a long week that seems to be getting longer. If you were hoping the tribute band that played at Downtown Park last night would belt out “Stairway to Heaven,” you were out of luck, and it’s our fault. In yesterday’s newsletter, we mistakenly said it was Led Zepagain playing (again) when it was actually Twisted Gypsy, a band that plays Fleetwood Mac covers. The error was a somewhat ridiculous team effort, so please accept apologies from both Mark and Kendall. The good news is we get three chances to get it right again as the free concert series continues through May. Find details (and correct band names) here. 

🎶 Setting the mood: “BODYGUARD” by Beyoncé

LEADING OFF

Mobile clinics expand healthcare services for residents at Navigation Center

Desert Healthcare District & Foundation launched a mobile health program at the Palm Springs Navigation Center, offering approximately 110 unhoused individuals free medical care. The initiative aims to remove barriers to healthcare access for vulnerable communities.

Driving the news: Two mobile clinics operated by Desert Physicians Medical Group (DPMG) will make monthly visits to the Navigation Center, providing primary care, mental health services, and medications at no charge.

• Services include chronic disease management, wound care, and telehealth consultations for mental health support.

Why it matters: The program addresses critical health needs for unhoused individuals, supporting their transition to stable housing and improved well-being.

• Alejandro Espinoza, chief of community engagement for Desert Healthcare District & Foundation, emphasizes the importance of addressing physical and mental health after securing housing.

What they’re saying: “As we talk about the social determinants of health, the first step is getting these people housed, making sure that they have a roof over their head,” Alejandro Espinoza, chief of community engagement for Desert Healthcare District & Foundation, said.

• “And now the next step is to ensure that they have good physical and mental health, and I think that’s what we are providing here.”

The details: Three doctors and support personnel will staff mobile clinics, which will visit on the first Wednesday of each month from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

• Patients don’t need appointments, insurance, or documentation to receive care.

Looking ahead: The program aims to expand services, potentially adding dental care in the future.

Dive deeper with our complete story

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BRIEFLY

⛳️ Tribe donates $225,000 to local organizations

• The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians distributed $45,000 each to five Coachella Valley organizations during a ceremony Wednesday, using funds raised from an annual charity golf tournament last December.
  
• Recipients included Desert Cancer Foundation, Palm Springs Mounted Police Search & Rescue, Operation SafeHouse, Inner-Tribal Treatment, and Animal Samaritans, selected by the Tribal Council to support healthcare, public safety, and animal welfare initiatives.
  
• Up next: The tribe will continue its charitable work with the 10th Annual Richard M. Milanovich Legacy Hike & 5K, scheduled for March 8 in the Indian Canyons. Details can be found here.

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TODAY’S FEATURED EVENTS

Pet Vaccine Clinic
9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. | Palm Springs Animal Shelter
The Palm Springs Animal Shelter invites you to bring in your pet for low-cost vaccines, including vaccines for rabies and canine influenza. They are also offering microchip implantation and registration. ($15-$25)

Women’s Chat Group
10:30 a.m. | Online
This chat group is for all women (no matter how you identify) to discuss topics of interest and find connection. Presented by The Center. Register online here.

Art Museum Free Admission
5 p.m. | Palm Springs Art Museum 
From 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., enjoy free admission to galleries and exhibitions, and explore the collection at your own pace. Tonight, the museum is kicking off its celebration of Black History Month with a performance by the Palm Springs High School Choir, the Healing Rhythms West African Drum Circle, and a special Black History Month mural by Allen Maldonado. 

PS Test Fest
5:30 p.m. | Toucan’s Tiki Lounge
PS Test, a sexual health nonprofit, is hosting its annual fundraiser and silent auction to help the organization continue its mission of providing free, anonymous, and confidential STI testing and treatment. 

VillageFest
6 p.m. | Downtown Palm Springs  
The street fair features art, entertainment, shopping, and food. 

“Perfect Arrangement”
7 p.m. | Palm Springs Cultural Center
The Bent, the Coachella Valley’s only LGBTQ+ theater, presents “Perfect Arrangement,” a twisty tale inspired by the story of the earliest stirrings of the American gay rights movement. Performances through Feb. 16. ($40)

Cinéma Français
7 p.m. | Palm Springs Cultural Center
For the fourth year in a row, join movie lovers and Francophiles alike for four days of new, award-winning French films with English subtitles at noon, 3:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. Begins today and continues through Sunday. Check out the list of feature and short films here.

View all events here

SAVE THE DATE

• PS Woman’s Club Annual Patio Sale at the Palm Springs Woman’s Club on Friday.
  
• Tour de Palm Springs bike ride in Downtown Palm Springs on Saturday.
  
• Modernism Week starts on Feb. 13.
  
• “Racist Trees” film screening at the Cultural Center on Feb. 16. ($28)
  
• Black History Month Adult Basketball Tournament at the James O. Jessie Desert Highland Unity Center on Feb. 17.
  
• 38th Annual Black History Parade & Town Fair on Palm Canyon Drive on Feb. 22.
  
• Desert Pet Walk at the Palm Springs Animal Shelter on Feb. 22.
  
• Richard M. Milanovich Legacy Hike and 5K Run on March 8.

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AND FINALLY …

Palm Springs Public Library officials are finalizing design details for a major renovation while grappling with the challenge of finding a suitable temporary location during construction.

Driving the news: During Wednesday’s Board of Trustees meeting, library leaders reviewed interior design elements for the renovation project while addressing concerns about securing an interim facility that can accommodate the library’s high daily visitor traffic.

The challenge: Director of Library Services Jeannie Kays emphasized the need for a temporary location that meets multiple criteria, including adequate parking, accessibility, sufficient space, and affordability.

• The library currently serves between 500-700 visitors daily and will need to house a curated selection of its collection during the transition.

Behind the scenes: Kays showed design samples featuring warm neutrals, muted burnt orange, and blue-green color schemes for the children’s area while ensuring preservation of the William Cody-designed historic building’s character.

What’s next: The project remains on schedule, with staff preparing to initiate the public hearing process for bond issuance and construction bidding in the coming months.