Noteworthy

The Riverside Community Flower Show Committee is awarding $100 grants to 20 Riverside County classrooms to support horticultural projects for the April 25-26, 2026 show, with applications due February 1.

The City of Riverside's Spring 2026 Activity Guide is arriving in mailboxes soon and available online now, with registration open for classes and activities running January through April.

UCR researchers discovered that fathers' exposure to microplastics can trigger metabolic disorders in their children—with female offspring showing increased diabetes risk while male offspring exhibited decreased fat mass.

Christmas tree disposal runs January 5-24 with regular trash pickup, requiring trees cut into 4-foot sections for green bins while flocked trees go in brown/gray containers.

Riverside County Animal Services achieved its highest dog lifesaving rate in 4 years and cat lifesaving in 7 years, with live release rates rising to 81% for dogs and 72% for cats while euthanasia decreased by nearly 2,000 animals from January through September 2025.

UCR scientists developed a small-scale black soldier fly bioreactor that transforms food waste into high-protein animal feed and fertilizer, producing about a pound of larvae per square yard daily with basic oversight.

A UC Riverside study reveals the Great Recession caused Americans who lost homes or jobs to identify with lower social classes, particularly among those who experienced foreclosure.

RCC cross country runner Mason Murray earned All-American honors by placing 19th at the NJCAA national championship in Tallahassee, Florida, marking the program's first individual national recognition in its modern era.

Travel + Leisure featured Riverside's Mission Inn Festival of Lights as one of the best holiday light displays in the U.S., highlighting the historic hotel's 5 million lights, animated shows, and free admission that draws visitors through January 6.

RCC and computer information systems professor Mark Lehr were honored with the 2025 ICPC North America Excellence in Service Award on November 15, recognizing their extraordinary contributions to competitive programming education and the International Collegiate Programming Contest community.

A UCR Center for Community Solutions report identifies clusters of tax-defaulted properties across Riverside and San Bernardino counties—including Lake Elsinore (18% delinquency rate) and Lake Arrowhead (15%)—as potential land banking opportunities for affordable housing despite infrastructure and environmental challenges.

Scientists identify a small RNA molecule that controls cholesterol production and atherosclerosis development, offering a potential "upstream" drug target that regulates metabolism earlier than existing statins.