The Desert Sun reporters, editors and photojournalists have won 35 prizes including eight first-place recognitions in the annual California Journalism Awards organized by the California News Publishers Association.
Two first-place laurels went to environment reporter Mark Olalde, who was recognized both for his coverage of the Salton Sea (in the land-use reporting category) and best writing, for his profile of a Niland bird sanctuary owner who vowed to rebuild after a wildfire. Said the judges: “Very descriptive language that puts the reader at the scene. Lengthy story that doesn t feel long thanks to its colorful vocabulary and details that keep the interest level high.”
USA TODAY
I m Kristin Scharkey, features editor for The Desert Sun in Palm Springs, wishing you a happy Friday and sincere apologies for missing our Thursday edition. The news cycle never sleeps! We re still here : Palm Springs historic gay bars see light at the end of the tunnel. Despite more than a year of pandemic-related closures, many of the bars located in the Southern California destination are open again.
The city has long been one of the most popular LGBTQ destinations in the country. These bars are more than just drinking places, Rob Giesecke, owner of Chill Bar Palm Springs, told Desert Sun reporter Amanda Ulrich. This is where the community comes together.”
Email
‘We’re still here’: Historic gay bars in Palm Springs see light at the end of the tunnel
Despite more than a year of closures, many of the bars on Arenas Road are open again. These bars are more than just drinking places, one owner said.
Story by Amanda Ulrich | Photos by Taya Gray
Published
2:55 pm UTC May. 7, 2021
Bartenders at Chill Bar are slinging drinks a vodka soda here, a couple “margarita martinis” there beneath two glittering, life-size mannequins suspended from the ceiling.
Outside, a group of women in all pink and matching cowboy hats arrive on the back of a bar bike. Up the street, a server at Hunters offers up a tray of neon Jello shots to customers sitting on the patio. Masks, occupancy limits and social distancing aside, it could be any pre-pandemic Friday night on Arenas Road, an entire block lined with gay bars and businesses in downtown Palm Springs.
Plus: Native American COVID deaths believed under-reported and the Moraga coyote has been captured and killed
I m Winston Gieseke, philanthropy and special sections editor for The Desert Sun here in sunny Palm Springs, where it is illegal to walk a camel down Palm Canyon Drive between the hours of 4 and 6 p.m., according to california.com. Therefore, I will leave the camel be and instead bring you the latest headlines from this great state of ours.
In California brings you top Golden State stories and commentary from across the USA TODAY Network and beyond. Get it free, straight to your inbox.