🗞️ Riverside News- December 29, 2025

Monday Gazette: December 29, 2025

Hello Riverside, and Happy Monday! Today marks the fourth day of Kwanzaa, a weeklong celebration of African American culture, community, and heritage that runs through January 1. Each day focuses on one of seven core principles, with today centered on Ujamaa, or cooperative economics.

Kwanzaa celebrations are happening in communities across the country, including right here in Riverside. It's a meaningful time for reflection on community values and cultural heritage.

However you're spending this last Monday of 2025, we hope it includes time for what matters most to you.

COMMUNITY

Riverside's Top 5 Stories of 2025

From community milestones to stories of accountability, these five articles captured Riverside's attention in 2025.

What captured Riverside's attention most this year? Three Poly grads turned holiday nostalgia into a thriving business. City Council greenlit negotiations for a massive soccer stadium complex. A national study put us on the map as a potential NFL city. The Festival of Lights returned with special meaning. And one story about our most iconic landmark sparked more conversation than any other—complete with an accountability follow-up that opened important discussions about journalism and transparency.

These five articles garnered the most views, sparked the most debate, and best reflected what 2025 meant for our city. From homegrown success stories to ambitious development plans to the future of the Mission Inn, see which stories defined the year and what they reveal about where Riverside is headed.

Read and share the complete story...

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Noteworthy

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.

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.

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This Week in Riverside

Monday, December 29

• Assistance League Thrift Shop Accepting Donations at Assistance League Riverside Thrift Shop
• Cal Baptist Lancers Women's Basketball vs. Utah Valley Wolverines at Dale E. and Sarah Ann Fowler Events Center ($70.74)

Wednesday, December 31

• Riverside East Rotary Club at Civil Rights Institute of Inland Southern
• Brunch & Beats: NYE 2026 at ProAbition
• Maruchan's Holiday Ramen Cottage Party at Riverside Food Lab at Riverside Food Lab
• 1960s Golden Hollywood Glam NYE at Killer Queens Social House
• All That Glitters: New Year's Eve Gala at The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa
• NYE Party 2026 at The Lobby Cocktail Lounge & Kitchen
• NYE MASQUERADE BALL at The Hideaway Cafe & Lounge
• New Years Celebration at DTE at Downtown Experiment
• Decadent NYE Bash: 2026 at The W at Worthington's
• New Year's Eve 2026 at Mezcal Ultra Lounge
• New Years Eve Party at Club Riv

Thursday, January 1

• Cal Baptist Lancers Women's Basketball vs. Texas Arlington Mavericks at Dale E. and Sarah Ann Fowler Events Center ($70.74)
• UC Riverside Highlanders vs. Hawaii Rainbow Warriors at UC Riverside Student Recreation Center ($70.74)

Saturday, January 3

• Woodcrest Market Collective at Woodcrest Public Library
• Hand Tool Maintenance and Repair at Land Use Learning Center
• Mt. Rubidoux Walking Tour at Mt. Rubidoux Trailhead, a short walk from Ryan Bonaminio Park. ($21.20)
• Animal Kids Camp - Special Sessions: Vet for a Day at Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption Center ($50)
• Cal Baptist Lancers Women's Basketball vs. Tarleton State Texans at Dale E. and Sarah Ann Fowler Events Center ($70.74)
• Who's Bad - The Ultimate Michael Jackson Experience at Fox Performing Arts Center
• 80s Night with Tributes to Duran Duran & Psychedelic Furs! at The Concert Lounge - Romano's Mission Grove

Save the Date

• January 17: Woodcrest Market Collective at Woodcrest Public Library

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