July 1 Daily Briefing: Advice after ICE activity, the benefits of Modernism Week, and more

Happy Tuesday and happy July, where we offer this cautionary tale from our email inbox: Good intentions can sometimes lead to dangerous situations, as Southern California Edison recently learned from two incidents where people risked serious injury trying to rescue a cat from a power pole and retrieve a kite from live power lines. While we all want to help our furry friends or save our belongings, an SCE spokesperson said it’s always better to call SCE’s emergency line at 1-800-611-1911 or 911 and let the professionals handle it safely!

🎶 Setting the mood: “Free Yourself” by Jessie Ware

LEADING OFF

Modernism Week sets scholarship record, helps raise $2.6M for local organizations

Modernism Week reached a milestone by awarding a record 20 college scholarships totaling $93,750 this year while helping local organizations raise nearly $2.6 million through its 2024-2025 festivals.

Driving the news: The 11-day February festival and four-day October event enabled dozens of Coachella Valley organizations to generate funds through ticket sales from official events, with neighborhood organizations alone raising more than $735,000 from home tours.

By the numbers: Since launching its scholarship program in 2011, Modernism Week has awarded more than $400,000 to local students. This year’s festival featured 28 neighborhood tours showcasing around 175 homes and attracting more than 10,000 participants.

• Partner organizations including Palm Springs Historical Society, Palm Springs Art Museum and Palm Springs Preservation Foundation generated more than $1.2 million through official events.

Community impact: Many neighborhood organizations used tour proceeds to fund architectural restoration, infrastructure upgrades, and landscape beautification projects. 

• Several neighborhoods donated portions of their proceeds to local charities including FIND Food Bank and the Palm Springs Police Department Officer’s Fund.

What’s next: Modernism Week will hold its annual fall event from Oct. 16 through 19, with tickets going on sale Aug. 1. The 2026 festival will take place Feb. 12 through 22, 2026, with tickets available starting Nov. 1.

Dive deeper with our complete story

BRIEFLY

🚔 Police offer advice after ICE activity in city Monday

People without uniforms or identification who claimed to be federal officers stopped and detained individuals in Palm Springs on Monday, prompting Police Chief Andy Mills to issue a public advisory about verifying the identity of anyone claiming law enforcement authority.

• Mills said his department initially could not confirm the identity of the individuals after checking with several federal agencies, but an ICE supervisor eventually confirmed they had a team working in Palm Springs. The vehicles used had no outward markings designating them as law enforcement.
  
• One local business owner expressed concern about the impact on workers, saying “My guys are so frightened.” Mills advised residents to call 911 if contacted by people claiming to be federal agents who lack proper identification, adding that verified agents will be allowed to proceed while impostors will be arrested.
  
• Bottom line: The incidents follow other enforcement actions in the Coachella Valley, as federal authorities have increased deportation efforts. In mid-June, ICE officers took multiple undocumented individuals into custody in the Eastern Coachella Valley during a narcotics probe targeting cannabis operations.

Dive deeper with our complete story

🎬 Palm Springs ShortFest awards $30,000 in prizes to filmmakers

The 2025 Palm Springs International ShortFest distributed $30,000 in cash prizes to winners of its juried and audience awards, including five Academy Award-qualifying honors, during an awards ceremony over the weekend. The festival selected winners from 311 short films in its official selection.

• John Kelly’s animated short “Retirement Plan” won the Best of Festival Award, earning the top $5,000 cash prize. Alex Heller’s “You Know You Wanna Stay” received the $5,000 Vimeo Staff Pick Award.
  
• Other major category winners included “Budō” from Sweden for Best Animated Short, “Shanti Rides Shotgun” for Best Documentary Short, and “Susana” from Mexico/USA for Best Live-Action Short Over 15 Minutes, each receiving $1,000 prizes.
  
• Why it matters: ShortFest is North America’s largest short film festival and market, with winners in Oscar-qualifying categories eligible to submit their films to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for Academy Award consideration. Check out all the award winners here.

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TODAY’S FEATURED EVENTS

Freedom Flow Yoga
9 a.m. | The Center
Freedom Flow is a movement class that embraces all people, no experience necessary. Instructor Brandon Peterson will guide attendees through an improvised sequence. The only requirement is an open heart, an open mind, and an open spirit. ($15)

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. 

Palm Springs Historic Site Preservation Board
5:30 p.m. | City Hall
Board members will meet to go over applications for alterations to historically significant properties or nominations for new historic properties.

Palm Springs Power Baseball
7 p.m. | Palm Springs Stadium
Your Palm Springs Power will go head-to-head with the Colton Nighthawks tonight! ($10)

See all events here

SAVE THE DATE

• 2025 All American 4th of July Weekend Thursday through Saturday in Palm Springs
  
• Falsettos begins at Palm Canyon Theatre on July 11
  
• Your Extraordinary Mind on July 12 at the Cultural Center
  
• PSUSD classified job fair on July 16 at the school district office

Submit your event here

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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 Moe. This short coat chihuahua mix has been at the shelter for a short amount of time, but staff say he’s great with familiar and new people.

• Staff members also said he loves to go on car trips and is great on a leash. 

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.