Home Care in Palm Desert, CA

Courtesy of the UCANR News

Scientists to present research on irrigation, nutrients, disease, pests and regulations

The 2025 California Date Palm Workshop will be held on April 23 in Palm Desert at the UC Riverside Palm Desert Center. Anyone who is interested in growing dates is welcome to attend.

“This workshop brings together researchers, growers and stakeholders to discuss recent research data on the ‘state of the date’ crop in California,” said workshop organizer Ali Montazar, UC Cooperative Extension irrigation and water management advisor for Imperial, Riverside and San Diego counties.

The international date research workshop runs from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Scientists will share the latest research and information on various aspects of date production, including irrigation and nutrient management, disease and pest management, and laws and regulations.

Abdelouahhab Zaid, secretary general of the Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, will speak about the development of date palm cultivation regionally and internationally.

Ricardo Salomon-Torres, research professor at Universidad Estatal de Sonora San Luis Río Colorado, will discuss the status of the date palm industry in Mexico.

Montazar will discuss irrigation management. Mark Hoddle, UC Cooperative Extension biological control specialist based at UC Riverside, will give a presentation on South American palm weevil in California., Spider mites, date nutrition and the aspergillus species causing black mold of dates are among other topics that will be discussed.

“We also will have a grower panel discussion on the concerns and the needs of the California date industry,” Montazar said. “This event is such a great opportunity to showcase how impactful date palm production and agriculture is in the low-desert region.”

Participation is free, but registration is requested at https://ucanr.edu/datepalm2025. Onsite registration begins at 7:30 a.m. at the UCR Palm Desert Center at 75080 Frank Sinatra Drive, Palm Desert, CA 92211.

For more information, contact Ali Montazar at amontazar@ucanr.edu or Kristy Kneiding at kkneiding@datesaregreat.com.

What is the best internet provider in Palm Springs?

Spectrum is the best internet service provider in Palm Springs for most households, according to our CNET experts. The provider took the top spot thanks to its wide availability, reasonable pricing and fast speeds. However, Spectrum service isn't available everywhere in Palm Springs, so Frontier Fiber or T-Mobile Home Internet are also solid picks, depending on what's available in your area.

If you’re hunting for the lowest prices or fastest speeds, we’ve also found those top options. The cheapest internet in Palm Springs is Frontier’s 200Mbps fiber offering for $30 a month. Frontier also has the fastest internet speed in town, a 5,000Mbps plan. Availability is limited, though, so check in with Spectrum if you can’t get fiber.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Other available internet providers in Palm Springs

Cheap internet options in Palm Springs

Frontier’s 200Mbps fiber plan is the most affordable in town, with a $30-a-month introductory deal. Pricing is good for a year. Spectrum, however, is the only wired internet option for many neighborhoods in Palm Springs.

The cable ISP’s cheapest plan starts at $50 a month for 500Mbps downloads, with pricing staying at that level for the first year. If you’re struggling to cover your home internet bill, check into eligibility for the federal Lifeline program and Spectrum Internet Assist. Both are designed to help low-income households stay connected.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

How to find internet deals and promotions in Palm Springs

The best internet deals and top promotions in Palm Springs depend on what discounts are available during a given time. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.

Palm Springs internet providers, like Spectrum and Frontier, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Others, however, including AT&T Internet Air and T-Mobile Home Internet, tend to run the same standard pricing year-round.

For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide on the best internet deals.

How fast is Palm Springs broadband?

Spectrum’s broad coverage across Palm Springs means most residents can get access to gig downloads. Those within Frontier’s fiber coverage areas can get up to 5,000Mbps symmetrical speeds. That’s the fastest in town. A recent Ookla speed test report logged a median fixed internet download speed of nearly 274Mbps for Palm Springs. (Disclosure: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.) Nearby Cathedral City pulled down nearly 304Mbps, while California as a whole came in at 250Mbps. The upshot is Palm Springs residents can expect decently fast internet. If blazing speeds matter to you, try to land in a Frontier Fiber zone for multi-gig plans.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

What’s a good internet speed?

Most internet connection plans can now handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you're looking for an internet plan that can accommodate videoconferencing, streaming video or gaming, you'll have a better experience with a more robust connection. Here's an overview of the recommended minimum download speeds for various applications, according to the FCC. Note that these are only guidelines -- and that internet speed, service and performance vary by connection type, provider and address.

For more information, refer to our guide on how much internet speed you really need.

How CNET chose the best internet providers in Palm Springs

Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it's impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. So what's our approach? For starters, we tap into a proprietary pricing, availability and speed database that draws from our own historical ISP data, partner data and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.

But it doesn’t end there. We go to the FCC’s website to check our data and ensure we consider every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power, to evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP's service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate as of publication.

Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:

While the answer to those questions is often layered and complex, the providers who come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend. When selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, though we also factor in things like price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively straightforward. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and consider real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports.

To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.

What’s the final word on internet providers in Palm Springs?

Many neighborhoods in Palm Springs have only one wired internet option, and that’s Spectrum. Some areas can get Frontier with its affordable plans and symmetrical fiber speeds. Just watch out for early termination fees with Frontier. Fixed wireless 5G home internet from T-Mobile, Verizon or AT&T is an option for many. Consider that if you can bundle it with a phone plan for extra savings or if you’re not satisfied with Spectrum’s performance at your home.

Internet providers in Palm Springs FAQs

What is the cheapest internet provider in Palm Springs?

Frontier’s $30-a-month symmetrical 200Mbps fiber plan is the cheapest option in Palm Springs, but availability is limited. If you’re in a Spectrum-only area, look for the $50-per-month 500Mbps cable plan.

Which internet provider in Palm Springs offers the fastest plan?

Frontier’s 5,000Mbps fiber plan is the fastest in town, but it’s not available everywhere. Many neighborhoods will top out at 1,000Mbps through Spectrum’s cable network.

Is fiber internet available in Palm Springs?

Frontier Fiber has patchwork coverage across Palm Springs but offers symmetrical speeds up to 5,000Mbps.

Warren Little

On the golf course, you accept that you share the right of way with local wildlife. This is obvious enough when it’s a venomous snake, bear or alligator—Billy Horschel showed us the proper way to redirect the latter last week—but what happens when it’s not a fair fight, like say with a goose?

Geese can be a nuisance and they aren’t exactly pushovers, as some golfers have learned the hard way, but they are just as much a part of a golf course as that pesky tree that sits between your ball and the green. They should be given a wide berth when possible and treated with respect. Unfortunately, one California golfer didn’t get the memo and is now paying the price after being arrested for animal cruelty following a sickening attack on two geese at Chaparral Country Club last week.

RELATED: This hidden surprise lurking in an Arizona golf hole is as terrifying as it gets

According to NBC Palm Springs, Michael McCutcheon of Palm Desert, Ca. was taken into custody this week after he reportedly chased down two geese with his golf cart on the course’s 5th hole. He struck one of the geese with the cart before beating it with his golf club. He then took the injured goose and threw it in a dumpster while still alive. A worker found the bird the following morning, which had to be euthanized due to the extent of its injuries

Nearby residents, including Betsy Patterson, who spoke to NBC Palm Springs about the incident, were outraged over the news, calling it “unconscionable,” “malicious” and “beyond my comprehension.” Legal efforts are underway, with locals calling for the strictest possible penalties and urging Chaparral Country Club to levy private sanctions, such as a fine or lifetime ban from the golf course.

McCutcheon was released on bond following his arrest, but that’s far from the end of this story. California Penal Code Section 597(A) – Animal Cruelty is defined as “wobbler” under California law, meaning it can be tried as both a misdemeanor or felony depending on the circumstances. If convicted of a felony violation, McCutcheon could face fines totaling $20,000 and up to three years in prison.

Coachella Valley residents hunting for the best deals soon will gain a shopping option that’s new yet familiar, as Pic ‘N’ Save Bargains & Groceries — a revived version of a long-time chain store in California — is opening in Palm Desert.

The store will be located at 34-660 Monterey Ave., occupying the former 99 Cents Only Store near PetSmart and Kohl’s in the same shopping center. (Other Pic ‘N’ Save locations coming to San Bernardino, Fontana and Whittier, as well as one that opened recently in Victorville, are also in former 99 Cents Only Stores, which shut down in April 2024.)

The original Pic ‘N’ Save opened in Culver City in 1950, offering deals on products bought through closeout sales, and it expanded in California and other states in the following years. Later known as Mac Frugal’s, the stores were bought by another company in 1997 and converted into Big Lots in the early 2000s.

Mark Miller, CEO of Pic 'N' Save Bargains and a former president of Big Lots, is now reviving the stores with a new twist. In addition to its main selection of home goods, general merchandise and “treasure hunt” closeouts, the stores will also offer a variety of produce, including fresh milk, eggs, deli products and other groceries.

"While we’re bringing back the same commitment to unbeatable bargains, we’re also offering a wider variety of products that will make Pic ‘N’ Save Bargains & Groceries a true one-stop shop for everyday essentials,” Miller said in a prepared statement. “From treasure hunt to fresh food, we’re focused on creating community stores that are affordable, convenient and fun to shop.”

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It's unclear precisely when the Palm Desert location will open, but a press release from Pic ‘N’ Save says it will be sometime this spring. The following Pic 'N' Save stores are also expected to open across Southern California in the coming months:

Tom Coulter covers the cities of Palm Desert, La Quinta, Rancho Mirage and Indian Wells. Reach him at thomas.coulter@desertsun.com.