A 5th grade school photo of Justin Pardee, who grew up to found and publish the Raincross Gazette.
Wednesday Gazette: June 18, 2026
Hello Riverside, and Happy Thursday! I remember this one night when I was a kid, our family went to dinner at the home of a couple from our church. They lived on the corner of Arroyo Drrive and Arroyo Drive and I remember being, so confused by that!
The man of the house was named Dennis Finn, a well-known Riverside attorney back in the day. It must have been summer time because at some point in the conversation my birthday, June 30, came up. And Dennis said, “Ah, yes – the fiscal New Year’s Eve.”
Even as I type these words I can feel my eyebrows furrowing with the feeling of confused. “Wait, what - there’s more than one new years eve? This other new one is in the summer time? Am I old enough that I should have already known about this?”
I think I was questioning the very fabric of reality as I knew it, but I simply looked back at Dennis with a polite smile and said “exactly!”
On the drive home I gave my parents a good laugh when I asked what the difference between the two New Year’s Eve was and why the “physical” one was in the summer.
I think about that night more than you’d expect. Not because of the fiscal calendar, but because a grown man took me seriously enough to engage me like I was already part of the conversation. Riverside was full of adults like that for me. So much of who I am now as a man is shaped by those kinds of people. They’re a big part of why I do this work: a city is its people, and the people here made me.
And in all reality, the Raincross Gazette itself exists because the people in this city took me seriously when I, an audacious dreamer with absolutely no journalism experience proudly announced in December of 2020 that I was launching the newsroom our city deserves. I remember that day vividly, seeing the names of Riversiders (all of whom are still reading this message right now) who were becoming paid supporters a month before we’d published a single story.
So here’s my birthday wish. On June 30 I turn 44, and I’m asking 44 of you to join us in this work by become a paid supporters of The Raincross Gazette before the candles blow out.
The news in our pages remains free to read — always, no paywall. This newsroom just needs the subscribers who find value in our work to decide chip in to help us do it. At $5 a month, it’s the most useful birthday gift you could give me, and the best way I know to keep taking this city as seriously as it has always taken me.
Futrell Steps Down as City Manager as Wife Settles Defamation Claim Against City
Futrell's departure follows a defamation claim filed by his wife and a closed-session agenda item listing a possible censure.
Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson speaks at a press conference outside City Hall on Wednesday, announcing that Assistant City Manager Edward Enriquez would serve as acting city manager following Mike Futrell's resignation. (File photo/Raincross Gazette)
City Manager Mike Futrell stepped down Tuesday after a closed-session agenda listed a potential censure — and days after his wife filed a defamation claim against the city.
Why it matters: The departure leaves Riverside without a permanent city manager and opens a leadership search at City Hall, with no timeline yet announced.
Driving the news: The council unanimously accepted Futrell's resignation in closed session and approved a separation package: paid administrative leave through July 5, a nine-month severance lump sum, and one month of health benefits.
His wife, Susan Freeman, has since signed a settlement agreement with the city, with both sides releasing all claims.
The backstory: Conflict between Freeman and city officials escalated late last year after the city sent her a letter alleging she had made unwanted contact with city staff and implied she was part of the city's decision-making team. Freeman called those allegations "absolutely false" and filed a government claim June 10 alleging defamation and First Amendment retaliation.
What's next: Assistant City Manager Edward Enriquez steps in as acting city manager effective immediately. Mayor Pro-Tem Steven Robillard announced the transition at a Wednesday press conference; the council has not yet said whether it will use an executive search firm to find a permanent replacement.
Before the show starts, most of the work is already done. Here's how to set up for fireworks photos that actually work.
(Bob Sirotnik)
Every year, people point cameras at fireworks and come home with the same results: a black sky, a few blurry streaks, too much smoke, and maybe the back of someone's head glowing red, white, and blue. With the country's 250th birthday on July 4, the show over Mt. Rubidoux should be worth getting right.
The good news is that fireworks are not especially difficult to photograph if you prepare before the show begins. You do not need the newest camera or the most expensive lens. You need a tripod, a remote release, manual focus, manual exposure, and a little patience.
This first part is for those using a DSLR, mirrorless camera, or film SLR. In Part 2, we will look at the smartphone method, which is a different process and works best when you use the phone's own strengths.
Here in Riverside, Mt. Rubidoux gives photographers a strong subject. The fireworks are the main attraction, but the mountain, trees, rocks, spectators, city lights, and the outline of the hillside can make the picture more interesting. A firework by itself is just a burst of light. A firework connected to a recognizable place becomes a photograph.
Good pictures can be made from either the east or west side of Mt. Rubidoux. The east side may be the more convenient viewing area, but the west side can produce excellent angles. The best location is the one that gives you a clear view of the launch area, a clean foreground, and enough sky for the largest bursts.
We incorrectly shared that Summer Fun Concerts in the Park began last night at Fairmount Park — the series actually opens Tuesday, June 24 with Stone Soul, a Motown tribute act, from 6–9 p.m.; we apologize for any confusion.
Riverside City College's Class of 2026 celebrated more than 3,674 graduates at Wheelock Stadium on June 12, marking the first time in years the college held commencement on its own athletic fields.
La Sierra University graduated 378 students at its June 14 Conferring of Degrees ceremony, where California State Sen. Sabrina Cervantes urged graduates to use their education to open doors for others.
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