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Historic Animal Sanctuary Hosts Rescue Event see page 5
Friday, August 5, 2016 Vol. 9 No. 63
Rio Olympics 2016 Olympic organizers to give away 240,000 tickets in bid to boost attendance By Desert Star Staff On the eve of the Olympic Games in Rio, Brazil is embroiled in its deepest political and economic crisis in decades. The countries elites are ensnared in scandal and President Dilma Rousseff is facing possible impeachment. The organizers of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games will give away 240,000 tickets to underprivileged children following low attendance at
the opening football matches of the sporting celebration. The global showcase opened on Wednesday with women’s soccer action, as Sweden took on South Africa and Brazil faced China at the 60,000-capacity Olympic Stadium. However, an official attendance of 13,439 left the stadium looking barren and the fans isolated, with little-to-no atmosphere
in an underwhelming start for the Games. Brazil opened its campaign with a 3-0 victory, while Sweden also won 1-0. Consequently, Rio 2016 director of communications Mario Andrada has confirmed that almost a quarter of a million tickets will be handed to local children at no cost. “There will be 240,000 kids across
different projects in different areas,” he said.
By Carlos Herrera, Video Journalist PALM SPRINGS, Ca. -The chambers were packed tonight for discussion on two issues important to the Palm Springs community. As usual, a very lengthy meeting, but after several hours, the city council decided to postpone a vote on giving easier access to ride sharing companies at the airport and approve the return of the “Forever Marilyn” statue to downtown. While the return of the 26-foot tall sculpture to
what will be its forever home, received full support. “It got a lot of buzz all around the world about Palm Springs, and just a lot of fun, so I’m really glad,” Palm Springs resident Joy Meredith said. It was the plan that would allow companies such as Uber and Lyft to pick up and drop off passengers at the airport that caused mixed reactions. The proposal would ban those drivers from circling the airport and would instead require them to wait
for passenger pickups in a staging area. Cab companies criticize the plan, saying it offers the ride sharing services a more strategic location to pick up passengers. “Uber drivers come in from any county wherever just to profit on tourists,” Palm Springs cab driver Joy Southerland said. In fact, Uber and Lyft drivers disagree with that belief. They say it creates a healthy competition and most importantly keeps tourists satisfied. “Since we can drop
off, why can’t we pick up, it doesn’t make sense to me,” Lyft driver Barbara Klickstein said. The council will vote on the Uber and Lyft proposal at their next meeting. As for the Marilyn statue, PS Resorts, who is fundraising to pay for the costs of the statue’s return,
Palm Springs Approves the Return of “Forever Marilyn”
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will negotiate with the city manager to find a location for it. According to PS Resorts Chairman Atftab Dada, the sculpture will reside in the city’s new park in downtown.