QuarexNews

Mother's Day is bringing a surge of customers to businesses across the Coachella Valley, especially for florists and restaurants preparing for one of their busiest weekends. Flower shops are seeing a spike in orders for bouquets and custom arrangements, while restaurants across Palm Springs and nearby cities are filling up with families celebrating the holiday.

The BOOST Conference is also helping drive more foot traffic, bringing visitors into local shops and eateries during the busy weekend. Business owners say the combination of holiday demand and out-of-town guests provides a strong boost for local and small businesses throughout the valley.

The economic impact comes at a crucial time for Coachella Valley businesses as they continue to adapt to evolving market conditions. Local restaurants are simultaneously preparing for the upcoming Greater Palm Springs Restaurant Week, which begins May 29.

Current conditions in Palm Springs: Clear sky, 67°F (feels like 65°F). Humidity: 47%. Wind: 5 mph.

Today's forecast: High of 95°F, low of 66°F. No active weather alerts.

Data from OpenWeatherMap as of May 07, 2026.

Over on the ice, the Coachella Valley Firebirds faced a tough setback Friday night, falling 5-1 to the Ontario Reign, which evened their playoff series. Despite the loss, the Firebirds remain in a strong position after stealing Game 1 on the road. Now, the series heads back to the desert, where the Firebirds will host Game 3 on Cinco de Mayo.

With home ice advantage and momentum still within reach, fans will have a chance to play a key role as the team looks to regain control of the series and move one step closer to advancing.

Meanwhile, local high school football showcased promise for the future. Football fans got a glimpse of the future at Desert Christian Academy, which hosted the third annual Coachella Showcase. The three-day event featured athletes of all ages, combining skill development sessions with a competitive seven-on-seven tournament. This year, Palm Springs High School emerged as the tournament champion, showcasing the depth of local talent.

California's unemployment rate increased steadily to 5.4 percent by February 2026, up from a low of 3.8 percent in the summer of 2022. The rate remains below the state's 25-year average of 6.9 percent. However, California's unemployment rate is higher than in the rest of the country, and increases in unemployment have been particularly stark for Black women.

While the slowdown in the labor market is affecting all of California's regions, it has been especially dramatic in the San Francisco Bay Area—the only region to experience net job loss since 2022 (-0.4%). Job growth has been strongest in the Central Valley (4.7%) and Inland Empire (3.4%) since mid-2022.

Dozens of demonstrators gathered across the Coachella Valley on Friday to mark International Workers' Day, using the occasion to highlight concerns about economic pressures, workers' rights, and policies they say are affecting working families. In Rancho Mirage, participants lined the streets holding signs and chanting in support of labor rights. Many Californians feel pessimistic about the economy and their place in it: 69 percent expect bad economic times in 2026 and only 29 percent believe in the American Dream—the idea that if they work hard they can get ahead.

A growing dispute is unfolding between the Coachella Valley Teachers Association and the Coachella Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees, with union leaders accusing board members of making misleading public statements and undermining union leadership.

The controversy centers around remarks made by trustees, including Jesus Gonzalez and Joey Acuna, who have publicly discussed a lawsuit filed in early 2024 by union president Carissa Carrera against the district. During an April board meeting, Gonzalez referenced the cost of ongoing litigation, stating the district has spent more than half a million dollars defending itself against the lawsuit. "I think it's imperative that we talk about where we are at, and how much money we're spending fighting a lawsuit against the school district and board members," Gonzalez said during the meeting.

The dispute comes at a time when The Coachella Valley Education Foundation (CVEF) is accepting applications to fill one to three vacancies on its Board of Directors. CVEF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to securing financial resources to support CVUSD students and staff. The application deadline is May 22, 2026.

Greater Palm Springs Restaurant Week, presented by Agua Caliente Casinos runs May 29 through June 7, and along with it comes a bevy of delicious meals created by innovative chefs. Prix fixe menus and exclusive special offers abound, too, offering locals and visitors 10 days of exceptional dining experiences throughout a nine-city oasis.

Palm Springs VillageFest takes place every Thursday on Palm Canyon Drive in downtown Palm Springs, CA. The street fair features art, entertainment, shopping, and food. The Rancho Mirage Certified Farmers Market is held on Fridays from October until May. Time: 8am - 2pm. Featuring Fresh Local Produce, Chef Prepared Foods, and Artisan Vendors.

On Sunday, May 3, 2026, JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort in Palm Desert presents the "2026 The Beat Goes On" pickleball tournament. Hosted by the Greater Palm Springs Marriott Business Council, this all-day event (8 a.m.–4 p.m.) benefits the American Heart Association of Coachella Valley. Jim Caruso's Cast Party, the iconic Manhattan variety extravaganza, returns to the McCallum Theatre on Thursday, May 7, 2026 at 7PM, promising another unforgettable evening of musical brilliance, Broadway pizzazz, and the kind of showbiz surprises only Cast Party can deliver.

With eight major Democratic candidates splitting the liberal vote, both Republican candidates, former Fox News host Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, could come in first and second in the June 2 primary and move on to the November ballot. He has embarked on an unprecedented effort in Riverside County to recount ballots from last year's special election based on what local elections officials say is inaccurate and flawed raw ballot data, a move that mirrors the Trump administration's seizure of 2020 ballots in Georgia. But Bianco has insisted it's not political. The investigation, he said this week, is on hold amid legal challenges.

The court accepted a case challenging an unusual investigation by Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, who is running for California governor as a Republican. Riverside County Sheriff and California governor candidate Chad Bianco focused on claims from an activist group when he kicked off a voter fraud inquiry.

Meanwhile, upcoming elections affecting the region include the May 5, 2026, De Luz Community Services District Mail Ballot Special Measure Election and the June 2, 2026, Statewide Direct Primary Election.

Greater Palm Springs continues to evolve as a culinary destination, and this Locale Magazine roundup highlights some of the newest restaurants shaping the valley's dining scene. From chef‑driven concepts to stylish neighborhood spots, the list offers fresh flavors, bold design, and exciting additions for locals and visitors eager to explore what's new.

Step into Bar Issi inside the Thompson Hotel and feel like you've teleported to an Italian beach town. With pink pineapple chandeliers, bold maximalist décor and a menu rooted in coastal Italian flavors, it's a place that flirts with your senses. Cowboy Cantina's vibe leans into Southwestern flavor with bold twists. Located at The River in Rancho Mirage, this newcomer joins the growing lineup of new restaurants in Palm Springs that mix rustic cooking with modern fun.

Opened in 2026, So-Cal Sunset boasts a large outdoor bar and patio with views of the San Jacinto Mountains. Perfect for a romantic sunset date and big enough for large parties to enjoy gathering. Orange County-based chain plans to open a brunch club and drive-thru in the former KFC location at Sunny Dunes Road in the spring of 2026.

Mark's Burgers brings classic comfort to Cathedral City with a menu that's all about juicy, made-to-order perfection. You'll find hand-pressed patties between buttery brioche buns, melty cheese on shrimp quesadillas and crispy coleslaw atop the Mango Blaze chicken sandwich. The vibe is casual but cool, part roadside diner, part neighborhood hangout.

As part of the ongoing Indian Canyon Bridge Widening and Improvements project, the City of Palm Springs is installing approximately 8,900 feet of new sewer pipeline along North Indian Canyon Drive. This new infrastructure will extend from south of Palm Springs Station Road to W. Tramview Road. Construction is projected to continue through May 2026.

Traffic control for the Indian Canyon Sewer Project was placed south of Palm Springs Station Road on 9/4/2025. Traffic will is reduced to one lane in each direction shifted to the southbound lanes for a portion of the road. The installation will involve a combination of tunneling beneath concrete pavement in certain areas and open trench methods for the majority of the pipeline. As work progresses, the project will impact both the No. 1 North and Southbound lanes of Indian Canyon Drive, necessitating periodic lane closures in specific sections of the road.

A new bridge under construction on South Palm Canyon Drive across Tahquitz Creek, just south of e. Sunny Dunes Road. The existing bridge, constructed in 1930, is outdated and structurally deficient. Anticipated completion date is late 2026. Because traffic signal poles require a significant fabrication period, major construction activity is not expected to begin until late Spring or early Summer 2026. The project is anticipated to be completed between late Summer and early Fall 2026.

Based on the California Association of Realtors' 2026 forecast, median prices are set to rise about 3.6% in 2026, after a 1% gain in 2025. Palm Springs is likely to follow, with values moving up slowly. The average home value in Palm Springs, CA is $620,302, down 5.4% over the past year. In February 2026, Palm Springs home prices were down 4.4% compared to last year, selling for a median price of $650K. On average, homes in Palm Springs sell after 94 days on the market compared to 83 days last year.

Inventory is starting to open up. Listings may grow 10%, giving buyers more choices and easing the tight market of recent years. Active listings in Greater Palm Springs could continue to rise in 2026, with some predicting as much as a 10% increase, easing the tight supply that defined recent years.

New construction is picking up in North Palm Springs and Cathedral City. The National Association of Realtors expects home prices to rise roughly 4% in 2026, and existing home sales could jump 14% after a slower 2025. Market experts note that The Greater Palm Springs market in 2026 will be defined by moderate price growth, expanding inventory, and lifestyle-driven demand. For buyers, patience and preparation will pay off.