City Council will consider $20.1 million in state funds to convert a motel into 114 affordable apartments, review a fire service study recommending 84 new firefighters and two stations, and approve a $4 million increase for Mission Boulevard Bridge replacement.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket streaks across the sky at 6:09 p.m. on Jan. 2, carrying an Italian Earth-observing satellite from Vandenberg Space Force Base. The launch, postponed from late 2024, marked the first of the year. The booster returned to the base rather than an offshore location. Photo taken from Hawarden Hills. (Rosalyn Anderson) Have a photo that captures the spirit of Riverside? Share it with us and help celebrate the beauty of our community!
Wednesday Gazette: January 7, 2026
Hello Riverside, and Happy Wednesday! Today's sunny 62-degree weather is perfect for a midweek stroll through the County of Riverside Certified Farmers' Market at the Riverside County Administration Center (4080 Lemon St., corner of Tenth St. & Lemon St.). Open from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., you'll find fresh produce, eggs, flowers, honey and baked goods from local vendors.
Downtown Street to Get Honorary Name for Late Fire Captain Tim Strack
Captain Tim Strack Parkway" will appear on signs along Lime Street but won't change addresses.
Downtown Fire Station 1 sits along the stretch of Lime Street that will carry the honorary designation "Captain Tim Strack Parkway" following Monday's City Council vote.
An 11-block stretch of Lime Street will be ceremonially renamed Captain Tim Strack Parkway, honoring the 28-year firefighter and union leader who died in 2023.
Why it matters: The honorary designation recognizes Strack's influence on Riverside's fire service and labor leadership — addresses and postal service remain unchanged.
Driving the news: Council voted unanimously Tuesday to rename Lime Street between 3rd and 14th Streets, centered on Fire Station 1 where Strack served. Strack died of a heart attack in April 2023 at age 53 after leading the firefighters union for 21 years.
What they're saying: "Firefighters across the country knew Riverside because of Captain Tim Strack," Councilmember Sean Mill said.
Yes, but: Two residents questioned whether the honor was appropriate since Strack didn't die on duty, and raised concerns about firefighter union campaign contributions. Falcone noted Council followed identical procedures used for previous ceremonial renamings like Veterans Memorial Highway.
The backstory: This is Strack's second city honor — El Dorado Park was renamed Tim Strack Park in 2023 and opened in November.
Landlords must provide refrigerators and stoves to renters, shoppers will no longer get plastic bags at checkout, and residents with diabetes will pay less for insulin under dozens of new California laws taking effect this week.
The laws, signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2025, address housing, health care, consumer protection and education.
Whether you're signing a new lease, heading to the grocery store, or picking up insulin at the pharmacy, you're already noticing some changes around Riverside.
Civil Rights Institute Receives Riverside Hero Award from Chamber
The honor recognizes CRIISC's work preserving local civil rights history and offering educational programming across Riverside County.
The Civil Rights Institute of Inland Southern California at 3933 Mission Inn Avenue in Downtown. (Courtesy of The Civil Rights Institute of Inland Southern California)
The Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce will honor the Civil Rights Institute of Inland Southern California with the 2026 Riverside Hero Award on Jan. 28.
Why it matters: CRIISC has elevated Riverside's civil rights legacy nationally through exhibitions like "Building Our Region's Korean Communities" — which spotlighted Riverside as home to America's first Koreatown — and "Homegrown Heroes," featuring 25 local civil rights leaders.
What's new: The award recognizes organizations that promote Riverside at the state or national level through significant contributions.
CRIISC earned recognition for preserving regional civil rights history and offering year-round educational programming across diverse communities.
The big picture: The institute connects residents to local civil rights history through exhibitions, oral histories and community programming that spans race, ethnicity, gender identity, disability rights and immigrant advocacy.
What's next: Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson will present the award during her "Leveling Up" State of the City Address at the Riverside Convention Center on Thursday, Jan. 28.
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