Wednesday, August 5, 2026
Storm clouds catch the last light of day over Hawarden Hills, framing palm trees in silhouette against a pink and gray sky. (Rosalyn Anderson) Have a photo that captures the spirit of Riverside? Share it with us and help celebrate the beauty of our community!

Tuesday Gazette: April 14, 2026

Hello Riverside, and Happy Tuesday! The Ward 2, 4, and 6 candidate forums are just around the corner, and there's still time to register. What do you actually want to ask these candidates? What's the issue in your neighborhood that isn't getting enough attention? What would you want answered before you cast your vote in June?

Register today and send your questions and concerns for your ward to newsroom@raincrossgazette.com.

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GOVERNMENT

City Hosts National Mayors Forum on Economic Development

Mayor Lock-Dawson joins national mayors forum to chart Riverside's green tech economy future.

Mayor Patricia Lock-Dawson speaks during an Accelerator for America Advisory Council panel at the Barbara and Art Culver Center. (Micaela Ricaforte)

Mayor Lock-Dawson says Riverside's economic future is green tech — and it's already in motion.

Why it matters: Riverside is positioning for serious economic growth around industries it already has: aerospace, defense, healthcare, and an expanding green-tech sector. This isn't a vision statement — companies are hiring, UCR is training local students, and the city's fleet is ranked No. 1 green in North America.

Driving the news: Lock-Dawson hosted a two-day Accelerator for America forum at the Mission Inn and Culver Center, joining mayors and civic leaders to map out local economic strategy centered on green tech and university partnerships.

What's taking shape:

  • Riverside-based Voltu Motor is developing fast-charging electric fleet technology designed to eliminate heavy infrastructure costs.
  • UCR is positioning the city as a "living laboratory" where companies test real-world solutions while hiring graduates who stay in the region.
  • UCR's medical school is expanding toward an outpatient clinic and eventually a teaching hospital — training local doctors to stay local.

The big picture: Lock-Dawson cited a Brookings Institution framework for economic clusters — industry-driven, research-supported, policy-enabled — and said Riverside now hits all three marks. Her phrase: "green belt to green tech."

What's next: No formal votes or deadlines emerged from the forum, but the mayor framed the city's goal as aligning UCR, local government, and industry around clean-tech growth.

Read and share the complete story...

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GOVERNMENT

City Hosting Measure Z Informational Meetings Across Riverside Through May

The first session lands Thursday at the La Sierra Senior Center, with three more scheduled neighborhood meetings to follow before the June 2 ballot.

City of Riverside mailers announcing Measure Z informational meetings began arriving in residents' mailboxes this week. 

Riverside is hosting four neighborhood meetings to field questions about Measure Z, the sales tax renewal on the June 3 ballot.

Why it matters: The measure would raise Riverside's sales tax from 1% to 1.25% — with no expiration date — generating revenue the city says would fund fire staffing, police, homelessness programs, and road repairs.

The backstory: Voters first approved Measure Z in 2016 at 1%. The June ballot measure would increase the rate and extend it indefinitely.

Yes, but: Measure Z is a general tax — proceeds go into the general fund and aren't legally restricted to the services named in the ballot measure.

What's next: Meetings are ward-specific. Find yours:

  • Wards 6 & 7 — Thursday, April 16, 6 p.m., La Sierra Senior Center, 5215 La Sierra Ave.
  • Wards 1 & 2 — Thursday, April 30, 6 p.m., Bordwell Park/Stratton Center, 2008 Martin Luther King Blvd.
  • Ward 4 — Wednesday, May 6, 5 p.m., Orange Terrace Center, 20010 Orange Terrace Pkwy.
  • Wards 3 & 5 — Thursday, May 21, 6 p.m., Janet Goeske Senior Center, 5257 Sierra St.

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COMMUNITY

Riverside Artists Invited to Design Official City Poster for Nation's 250th Birthday

The winning design will be displayed at a national mayors' conference in Long Beach this summer.

The City of Riverside is seeking artists to design an official poster for America 250, a national initiative marking the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

Artists of any experience level can submit designs representing Riverside in a national anniversary art project — deadline is Sunday.

Why it matters: Your design could represent Riverside at a national mayors' conference and appear in print and digital publications nationwide — with cash prizes for the top three finalists.

What's new: Riverside is accepting poster submissions for the America 250 City Art Poster Project, a nationwide initiative organized by the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the National Endowment for the Arts.

  • The selected design will represent Riverside at the Conference of Mayors' 94th Annual Meeting in Long Beach.

By the numbers: Cash honorariums go to the top three finalists — $450 for first, $300 for second, $150 for third.

What's required:

  • Include the words "Riverside" and "America 250"
  • Reflect themes of civic pride and historical connection
  • Stay nonpartisan
  • Size at 22 by 30 inches with bleed; submit as high-quality PDF

What's next: Submissions are due Sunday, April 26. Email entries to SpecialEvents@RiversideCA.gov or drop them off at City Hall (Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.), attention Jessica Hernandez. Full details at riversideca.gov.

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Noteworthy

The Mission Inn Foundation is inviting artists to submit dog bandana designs for this year's Mission Inn Run, with the winner featured as a sponsor on the official race t-shirt — entries due April 27 at the Foundation Store on Main Street.

A new UCR study finds Southern California's hybrid honeybees naturally suppress deadly Varroa mites, with locally raised queen colonies averaging 68% fewer mites than commercial counterparts — a potential breakthrough as U.S. beekeepers reported losing up to 62% of managed colonies in 2025.

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