Jan. 8 Weekly Briefing: Horse rescue troubles, the latest housing report, budget priorities, and more

Happy Thursday! Before you head out on the roads, make extra sure you’re not driving on Monroe Street from Avenue 48 to Avenue 52. That’s where the city is repairing the road, grinding away top layers of asphalt and replacing it with new pavement. Sounds great! But…not if you’re the one stuck in traffic. The work ends after Jan. 15 and the crews will be out there from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. (but not on the weekends!).

🎶 Setting the mood:  “A Horse With No Name” by America

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LEADING OFF

Coachella Valley Horse Rescue faces financial struggles with second ranch

The Coachella Valley Horse Rescue is entering 2026 managing two fronts — its original Indio-based programs and its 20-acre “Come Back Ranch” sanctuary in Eagar, Ariz., which houses senior and abused animals.

Driving the news: The original rescue, located north of I-10 and east of Monroe Street, offers free therapeutic equine programs for local veterans and first responders, alongside youth camps, and 4H instruction. But leadership says they face a tough economic outlook at its Arizona ranch.

• “We are in great need of donations and volunteers to keep this sanctuary going,” the organization’s Vice President Annette Garcia wrote online in a New Year’s update.

How we got here: The organization purchased the property in Arizona as a backup plan during the 2020 Covid shutdown and now considers it an extension of the Coachella Valley Horse Rescue that also rescues cats, dogs, goats, and it even takes in very old or sick animals from the Coachella Valley.

What they’re saying: “It is not easy in this economy to raise funds to continue our programs and care for our rescues,” Garcia said.

Why it matters: The local rescue has helped serve more than a thousand people, 350 children and 750 adults with their many programs ranging from their Horse Tales literacy program teaching kids to read to horses and their veterans horse boot camp.

The challenges: Garcia said they struggle to raise money in Arizona and the ranch is located in one of the state’s poorest counties. She said they are now relying heavily on California donors and grants to keep the ranch going. Learn more about the rescue here.

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BRIEFLY

🏠 Indio’s December housing report shows stable market

• The median price of an average-sized detached home in the Coachella Valley last month was $660,000 a decrease of less than one percent from the year before but a $15,000 increase from November. In Indio, detached home prices fell 4% to $615,000 in December compared to the year before.

• Indio recorded 69 sales during the three-month period ending in December, exactly equal to the number of sales the year before, but down slightly compared to November. At the end of December, Indio had 371 homes listed for sale, also exactly equal to last year.

• In context: The median price in the city had been on a decline for at least eight months, but prices valley-wide and in Indio started trending upward last month. Home prices tend to hit their seasonal lows now and highs in spring.

Dive deeper with our complete story here.

🇺🇸 Foundation honoring Indio Marine killed in Afghanistan hopes to raise money for Marine families, local students

• The Hunter Lopez Memorial Foundation will host its third annual “To All Who Lead the Way” memorial fundraiser on Jan. 17, continuing its mission to support military families and local students.
  
• Cpl. Hunter Lopez, raised in Indio, was killed in action during the 2021 Kabul, Afghanistan airport attack when he was just 22. His family established the foundation to address a heartbreaking gap they witnessed: many young Marines graduate from boot camp without family present because their parents cannot afford the travel.
  
• The big picture: The foundation also offers the Hunter Lopez Memorial Scholarship—originally limited to La Quinta High—and now open to all graduating seniors in the Desert Sands Unified School District pursuing public service careers.
  
  • Tickets for the Jan. 17 fundraiser at J&J Ranch in La Quinta start at $100.

Dive deeper with our complete story here.

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FEATURED EVENTS

Indio Movie Night
Today | 6 p.m. | Downtown
Before there was “Finding Dory” in 2016, there was the original classic Disney/Pixar film “Finding Nemo” released in 2003. Enjoy a free outdoor screening (with free popcorn!) downtown this weekend. Gates open at 5:30 p.m.

Indio Food Truck Friday
Friday | 5 p.m. | Downtown
Enjoy music from DJ Nate Goss and food and drink specials.

Indio’s Food Truck Fridays
Friday | 5 p.m. | Downtown Indio
This week’s food truck lineup is packed with taco joints as well as Nick’s Pizza, Churros El Bochito, El Reaper Chicken, Hot Dogs Los Carnales, and more.

Road Run
Saturday | 6 a.m. | The Vintage Coffee House
Join Desert Run Club for a road run this weekend starting bright and early at The Vintage Coffee House. 

Fighting Against Racism Peaceful Demonstration
Saturday | 9 a.m. | Our Lady of Soledad Catholic Church, Coachella
Local activist groups Comité Latino, Danza Azteca Citlaltonac, and Coachella Valley Immigrant Dignity Coalition host a peaceful demonstration this weekend.

Mercado Indio
Saturday | 9 a.m. | Downtown
The weekly artisan outdoor market is back this weekend, featuring baked goods, curated vintage clothing, and more from local vendors and artists.

Book Club
Saturday | 3 p.m. | Indio Library
It’s the second book club hosted in the new library. This month attendees will discuss “The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma” by Bessel van der Kolk M.D. The hosts, Props 2 Poetry, said it’s okay to come by even if you haven’t read the book and just want to be a part of the conversation.

Rock Night
Saturday | 6 p.m. | Center Stage
It’s Noche de Rock featuring Luna Roja and Corazón de Maná this Saturday in Downtown Indio. Come by the free all-ages show and enjoy Rock Night!

Sunday Riposo
Sunday | 4 p.m. | Rosemary HiFi
Chase away the Sunday Scaries with an evening of wine and jazz this Sunday.

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AND FINALLY …

If you find yourself baffled at what elected officials spend money on, or wish public money was used differently, now is your chance to officially have your opinion heard. 

Driving the news: Riverside County launched its annual budget priorities survey, inviting residents to provide input on how taxpayer dollars should be spent across county departments and services for the upcoming fiscal year.

What’s at stake: We know talk about budgets can be pretty boring if you’re not an accountant, but budgets are where a governing body puts their money where their mouth is by prioritizing some programs and slashing the funding of others.

What’s inside: The survey asks about broad priorities like infrastructure, health, and public safety and specific initiatives like affordable housing or more money for law enforcement.

• It even asks what you think should receive less funding in the county.

Context: Last year, more than 24,000 residents participated in the survey, which was reviewed before the current budget was presented to the Board of Supervisors.

• According to last year’s survey, 65% of respondents said public safety was most important to them and the top initiatives were road maintenance, affordable housing, and social assistance programs.

What to watch for: The county will host five budget workshops in April, with details to be announced soon, followed by annual budget hearings on June 8 and 9.

Details:  More information is available at www.rivco.org/budget. The survey, available online in English and Spanish, runs until Feb. 28.