Month: August 2026

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. — (KESQ) The City of Palm Springs has announced the speaker lineup for its inaugural Extreme Heat Summit 2026, bringing together experts to discuss how communities can prepare for rising temperatures.

The full-day summit is scheduled for Friday, September 18, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Palm Springs Convention Center. The event, organized by the city’s Department of Sustainability in partnership with the Office of Emergency Management, will focus on practical strategies for building resilience to extreme heat.

The summit, titled “Heat as Infrastructure: Designing Systems, Cities, and Services for Resilience,” will feature specialists in climate resilience, public health, emergency management and urban planning. Discussions will examine ways communities can adapt to extreme temperatures, including cooling infrastructure, emergency response and protecting vulnerable populations.

Palm Springs Sustainability Director Jasmine Fields says climate projections point to a hotter future for the Coachella Valley, making adaptation an important part of the city’s long-term planning.

“Climate projections do indicate that the Valley will become hotter. I am concerned about it, so that’s why we are also incorporating adaptation and resiliency strategies in our climate action efforts.”

The summit comes as the Coachella Valley continues to experience periods of dangerous summer heat. Recent temperatures have climbed into the 110s, with extreme heat warnings issued across the region.

City officials say the summit is intended for both professionals and community members interested in learning more about preparing for extreme heat and creating safer, more resilient communities. Registration for the event is currently open.

The city is also recruiting volunteers to help support the event.

For registration, volunteer information and the complete speaker lineup, click here.

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. – (KESQ) After nearly 20 years with the Cathedral City Police Department, Rick Sanchez has been appointed the city’s next police chief.

City Manager Andrew Firestine selected Sanchez following a national search that included community input and an interview panel of civic leaders, community representatives and law enforcement professionals.

Sanchez, who has served as acting chief since former Chief George Crum retired in December 2025, will become the first Latino to lead the Cathedral City Police Department.

A post shared by Discover Cathedral City (@discovercathedralcity)

Sanchez joined the department in 2006 and has served in patrol, investigations, SWAT and other assignments. He spent 13 years with Desert Regional SWAT, including time as a team leader, and later served as a sergeant, commander and deputy chief overseeing the department’s Operations, Investigation and Support bureaus.

“I’ve spent a significant part of my career with this department and serving this community,” Sanchez told News Channel 3. “So I am humbled by the trust that the city and the public has placed in me.”

He holds a master’s degree in organizational leadership from California Coast University and a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from California State University, San Bernardino. He has also completed several law enforcement leadership programs.

Firestine said Sanchez stood out among a competitive field and demonstrated the leadership qualities the community was seeking, including a commitment to public trust, collaboration, accountability and community-oriented policing.

As chief, Sanchez will oversee a department with 81.5 sworn and professional employees serving more than 52,000 residents. He said he plans to build on the department’s existing foundation while emphasizing professionalism, transparency, innovation and community partnerships.

THOUSAND PALMS, CALIF. (KESQ)- With triple-digit temperatures, it’s tempting to water your plants more often. But in the desert, too much water can actually damage some plants.

We’ll talk to local experts about how to tell the difference between a plant that’s thirsty and one that’s being overwatered and what homeowners should be doing differently during extreme heat.

Data from specific desert cities (such as the City of Palm Desert) confirm that up to 70% of local residential water consumption is driven entirely by outdoor landscaping and turf irrigation.

Randy Meyers, owner of Randy G Myers Nurseries, cautioned against reacting solely to high outdoor temperatures. “Our minds immediately say, oh, it’s 100 degrees. It’s warm. We need to add water. But it’s not necessarily true,” Meyers said.

He recommends a simple soil squeeze test to determine moisture levels. “If you can squeeze the soil and let go and it stays in a ball, that’s perfect. If you squeeze it and it squishes, that’s way too much. If you squeeze it and it falls apart, that’s not enough,” Meyers said. Without proper air space in saturated soil, root health rapidly declines. “Basically, they’ll sit there and rot,” Meyers said.

Water conservation specialists emphasize that efficient techniques are just as important as watering schedules. Nisha Ajamani, a senior public affairs specialist with the Desert Water Agency, explained that plants do not require continuous hydration to survive.

“People think that they should be constantly watering their plants to keep them alive. But actually, the plants here don’t need constant watering,” Ajamani said. She noted that effective care depends on water penetrating deep into the soil.

“What’s really important is to make sure you’re watering deeply so that the water is getting the roots,” Ajamani said. Utilizing drip irrigation systems can deliver water directly to root systems while reducing loss through evaporation.

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ)— The Palm Springs City Council is set to consider a temporary moratorium on new data center development at its meeting Wednesday, Aug. 26, as cities across the Coachella Valley continue to grapple with the potential impacts of large-scale computing facilities.

The proposed measure would establish a 45-day pause on new data center development in Palm Springs, giving city officials additional time to study the potential effects of the facilities and consider whether new regulations are needed.

Palm Springs City Council agenda for Wed. August 26th

The proposal comes as several other cities in the region have taken similar steps. Desert Hot Springs and Indio have approved temporary moratoriums, while Coachella has moved further toward a permanent prohibition on data centers.

The issue has become increasingly prominent across the Coachella Valley following public opposition to a proposed large-scale technology campus in Coachella. The Coachella City Council approved a 45-day moratorium in June and later extended it while officials worked on a permanent ban. The council unanimously approved the first reading of that ban earlier this month, with a final vote scheduled for Aug. 26.

In Desert Hot Springs, city officials approved a 45-day moratorium in June, temporarily blocking new data center development while staff examined issues including water use, electricity demand and potential effects on surrounding communities.

Indio has also been moving toward tighter restrictions. The city extended its initial 45-day moratorium to give officials additional time to develop regulations, with city planning officials recommending that data centers ultimately be prohibited.

For Palm Springs, the discussion on Aug. 26 could mark another significant step in the region-wide debate over whether the desert is an appropriate location for energy-intensive data centers.

Data centers can require substantial amounts of electricity and, depending on their design and cooling systems, water. Supporters of the industry have pointed to potential economic development and tax benefits, while opponents have raised concerns about infrastructure capacity, environmental impacts and the use of scarce desert resources.

The proposed Palm Springs moratorium would not necessarily represent a permanent ban. Instead, the 45-day period would give the city an opportunity to evaluate the issue and determine what, if any, long-term rules should apply to data center projects.

The City Council meeting will take place at Palm Springs City Hall, 3200 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way. Residents and members of the public will have an opportunity to follow the council’s discussion and participate through the city’s public-comment process.

With Coachella, Indio and Desert Hot Springs already taking action, Palm Springs’ decision could add another chapter to a rapidly developing regional debate over the future of data centers in the Coachella Valley.