Hello Riverside, and Happy Monday! I shared with you at the end of April that we had reached the major milestone of 10,000 subscribers—and promised to invite you to celebrate that with us properly!
Well, save the date: on Monday, June 30 (my 43rd birthday), I hope you'll join our team at 6:00 p.m. at Bar Ni Modo in the new Farmhouse Collective for a toast to 10k! We'll share the full details later this week, but for now—just get it on your calendar, and I hope you'll stop by to spend a few minutes with us and other Gazette readers.
Final approval of the City's 1.53 billion budget and new restrictions in the City's retail cannabis rules are up for consideration this week.
Welcome to our weekly digest on public meetings and agenda items worth your attention in the coming week. This guide is part of our mission to provide everyday Riversiders like you with the information to speak up on the issues you care about.
City Council
City Council will meet in closed and open sessions on Tuesday, June 10, at 1 p.m., 3 p.m., and 6:15 p.m. (agenda). The agenda includes:
Considering a $3.3 million contract amendment for the design of a new Downtown Police Headquarters, which would replace the existing 1963 building with a modern three-level facility.
Reviewing recent amendments to the city's retail cannabis regulations that would prohibit cannabis businesses in Downtown and Midtown while establishing 1,000-foot separation requirements between cannabis businesses and parks.
The Cultural Heritage Board meets on Wednesday, June 18, at 3:30 p.m. (agenda) to consider landmark status for City Hall due to its distinctive architectural blend of Brutalist and New Formalist styles, designed by notable local architects, and review the planned demolition of a fire-damaged historic home on Orange Street that engineering reports indicate would require complete reconstruction to maintain safety standards.
'Queen of Science Fair' Michelle Hampton Retires After 17 Years at King High
Beloved AP Chemistry teacher known for 99% pass rate and mentoring award-winning student researchers.
Retiring Teacher Michelle Hampton. (Courtesy of Erik Chen)
After a career spanning more than 26 years, the final chapter of Martin Luther King High School AP Chemistry teacher Michelle Hampton’s career is coming to a close. Known across Riverside as the “Queen of Science Fair,” her teaching has inspired future generations of trailblazers in the sciences. As she steps out of the classroom for the final time, we revisit the memories of Room B204 to shine a light on her story.
Opinion: Governor Newsom Pushes to Expedite Delta Conveyance Project
With permitting stalled, the governor includes the tunnel project in budget trailer bills to begin construction before his term ends in 2027.
The State Water Project is a system of dams, reservoirs, pumping stations, canals, and pipelines that brings water from Northern California to the San Francisco Bay Area, the Central Valley, and Southern California. Construction began in the 1960s, with the first deliveries to the Bay Area in 1962, the Central Valley in 1968, and Southern California south of the Tehachapi Mountains in 1973.
A major feature of the State Water Project is the Harvey O. Banks Pumping Station, located in the southern portion of the Sacramento River Delta northwest of Tracy. The Banks Pumping Station lifts water into the California Aqueduct, which carries it south.
Four candidates are vying for the 63rd Assembly District seat in a June 24 special primary election, with voters able to cast ballots through multiple methods including mail, drop-off locations, and vote centers offering extended hours and accessibility options.
About 300 protesters, including County Supervisor Jose Medina, marched peacefully through Downtown Friday opposing recent ICE raids, though a counter-protester was arrested after allegedly agitating the crowd and leading police on a pursuit that ended in a crash, with officers finding a gun in his vehicle.
A woman participating in Saturday night's "No Kings" protest in Downtown was hospitalized with significant injuries after being struck by a vehicle around 9:40 p.m. on University Avenue in what police are investigating as a felony hit-and-run, with the suspect still at large.
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