Happy first Saturday of 2026, everyone, and welcome to our look back at the stories shaping life across our entire desert community — The CV Reporter. Each week, we bring together standout reporting from The Palm Springs Post, The Palm Desert Post, and The Indio Post so you can see beyond your own neighborhood and stay connected to the issues, people, and moments that matter across the entire Coachella Valley.

— Mark & Kendall

From mayors and philanthropists to adventurers and acclaimed actors, the Coachella Valley said goodbye to remarkable individuals in 2025 whose contributions continue shaping our desert communities and cultural identity. Hall of Fame entertainment reporter Bruce Fessier looked back on the lives of many of them in his annual In Memoriam in two parts.

The Palm Desert City Council unanimously approved a comprehensive update to the city's mobility element last month, elevating a proposed Portola Avenue interchange with Interstate 10 as a long-term priority in a transportation plan that will guide how residents, commuters and visitors move through the city for the next 15 to 20 years.

Indio and the Imperial Irrigation District (IID) will break ground on a new electrical substation soon, a pivotal step in a multi-year strategy to resolve the capacity shortages that have slowed local development.

The Palm Springs City Council recently approved $1.25 million in design contracts to begin creating a connected convention district around the Palm Springs Convention Center, advancing the city’s broader $135 million modernization of the facility.

Your clicks in 2025 told a story of a year defined by community change, downtown momentum, and deeply personal moments — from neighborhood disputes and civic debates to celebrations of legacy and service. See what Indio Post readers read most.

Standout reporting from trusted sources

⚖️ Get up to speed fast on the new California laws that might change your life in 2026 [Cal Matters]

🎬 Meet Tom Del Ruth, living the good life in La Quinta after a long, successful career behind the camera in Hollywood [CV Independent]

🪧 Amazon workers launch unionization campaign with walkout, picket line [Riverside Record]

Turn to our community calendars to find upcoming events, government meetings, and more all over the valley. Have an event to promote? You can always submit it for free.

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