Nov. 1 Daily Briefing: Conviction in murder case, flood channel repairs needed, our pet of the week, and more

Happy November, which, if you didn’t know, is Native American Heritage Month. In Palm Springs, we’re fortunate to live among the members of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, who are kicking off the month with two exceptional events this week. On Friday, tribal leaders will officially open the highly anticipated cultural center downtown at 10 a.m. On Saturday starting at 9 a.m., the tribe holds “Kewet,” a Native American learning day and market at Palm Springs High School. The public is invited and encouraged to attend both.

🎶 Setting the mood: “Autumn in New York” by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong

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IN THE NEWS

⚖️ Man convicted again in Palm Springs murder

The retrial of a 41-year-old man suspected in the 2008 financially-motivated killing of Clifford Lambert, a Palm Springs retiree, came to a close Tuesday with jurors again finding him guilty.

• Daniel Carlos Garcia was found guilty of 10 felony counts, including murder, burglary, grand theft, and using another’s personal identity to obtain credit. 
  
  
• During the retrial, prosecutors said the motive for the murder was financial gain, with Garcia’s hatching a plan that eventually involved six people and shifted from an investment scheme to milking Lambert of his worth. 
  
  
• All six were eventually charged in the case, and several entered plea deals or were convicted. They were subsequently granted retrials because of the behavior of the judge in their original trials. Earlier this year, one of those six, 40-year-old Miguel Bustamante, was also found guilty during a retrial.
  
  
• Up next: Garcia’s sentencing is scheduled to begin on Nov. 17.

🚧 Emergency repairs needed for damaged flood channel 

Riverside County elected officials on Tuesday were expected to authorize spending $300,000 to make fixes to a stretch of the wash northwest of where South Gene Autry Trail and East Palm Canyon Drive meet.

• The restorative measures are needed after damage occurred during August’s tropical storm. They include fortifying eroded side slopes, installing local drainage, and implementing other emergency work.
  
  
• Bottom line: A similar repair and readiness project following Hilary has been authorized for the Tahquitz Creek channel and basin.

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TODAY’S EVENTS

Sunshine Sisters Breakfast
Elmer’s | 7:50 a.m.
Join the Sunshine Sisters for breakfast and conversation to start the day off right. (Attendees will cover the cost of their own breakfast)

Rainbow Flag unfurling
10 a.m. | Desert Regional Medical Center
The city’s annual Pride Festival kicks off with the unfurling of a giant flag from the Stergios Tower at the hospital, located at 1150 North Indian Canyon Drive.

Sneak Peek Gallery Opening
5 p.m. | Kee Gallery at the Backstreet Art District
The latest Palm Springs art gallery is holding a sneak peek during this month’s first Wednesday art walk.

Día de Los Muertos
5 p.m. | Demuth Community Center
Join your neighbors for food, arts and crafts, music, dance, and lotería in honor of Día de Los Muertos.

Conversation with Ken Page
6 p.m. | Mizell Center
Mizell Center is proud to present the multi-talented Ken Page in conversation with Corey Roskin speaking about his illustrious career on stages and screens.

OutBook Book Club
6 p.m. | PS Public Library
This book club meets on the first Wednesday of the month in The Learning Center at the Palm Springs Public Library. The book discussion starts at 6:30 p.m. following a mixer at 6 p.m.

British Film Invasion: “The Queen”
7 p.m. | Cultural Center
The “crown jewels” of cinema are featured in this series. This week’s pick, “The Queen,” stars Helen Mirren as the late Queen Elizabeth II. Check out other films that will be on offer during this series. ($12)

SAVE THE DATE

• Agua Caliente Cultural Center opening on Nov. 3.
  
  
• Native American Learning Day & Market on Nov. 4 at PSHS.
  
  
• Palm Springs Pride events from Nov. 2 through Nov. 5.  
  
  
• Pickleball community meeting on Nov. 8.
  
  
• Veterans Day Drive-Thru Appreciation Lunch on Nov. 10.
  
  
• Veterans Day Parade on Nov. 11.

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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 the sweet little Tuna, a four-year-old female terrier mix who’s been at the Palm Springs Animal Shelter since August.

• Staff at the shelter say Tuna is one of their more shy large dogs, but once you’re in her inner circle she is quite the affectionate and loving pup.
• Staff said she enjoys walks and hanging out with other dogs.

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 Tuesdays (open for intake and clinic 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. And get a jump start on adoption by completing the form here.