🗞️ Riverside News- May 26, 2026

Tuesday Gazette: May 26, 2026

Hello Riverside, and Happy Tuesday! One week from today, polls close on the June 2 election. If you haven't voted yet, now is a good time to pull out your ballot — and our 2026 Election Guide is a good place to start if you still have questions about who's on it.

If you're planning to mail your ballot, today is the day. The City's recommended mail-by date is Wednesday, May 27, but mailing by today gives your ballot a bit of extra cushion to arrive on time. No stamp needed: every ballot comes with a prepaid return envelope from the Registrar. A reminder on why the postmark date matters more than you might think.

See you tomorrow!

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COMMUNITY

Riverside Cleanup Group Expands Into Highgrove and University for First Time

Keep Riverside Clean and Beautiful is recruiting volunteers for two Saturday morning cleanups in June across the unincorporated communities.

Keep Riverside Clean and Beautiful is heading outside city limits for the first time, organizing volunteer cleanups in Highgrove and University this month.

Why it matters: If you live in or near these unincorporated communities, you can now join a cleanup effort that's never reached your neighborhood before.

Driving the news: KRCB reached an agreement with Riverside County in March, partnering with First District Supervisor Jose Medina to extend the program beyond city jurisdiction.

What's happening: Volunteer cleanups run 7:30–10:30 a.m. on June 13 (Highgrove) and June 20 (University), focusing on litter pickup, graffiti removal, and brush maintenance.

What's next: Registration is required in advance — meeting location details are provided at signup. Visit krcb.com to register.

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COMMUNITY

Riverside Educator and Nonprofit Founder Lorna Jenkins Receives 2025 Spirit Award

The City Council honor recognizes her nearly two decades building free tutoring services and community events for Riverside families.

Lorna Jenkins, founder of a Riverside nonprofit that has delivered more than 13,000 hours of free and reduced-cost tutoring since 2008, received the city's 2025 Spirit Award in a 6-1 Council vote Monday.

Why it matters: My Learning Studio OUTREACH serves low-income, foster, and court-appointed youth at no cost — if you know a family who could use academic support, Jenkins is asking them to reach out.

Driving the news: Council voted May 19 to honor Jenkins, whom the Gazette profiled as a Neighbor of the Week in February.

• The Spirit Award goes to residents who demonstrate extraordinary dedication to improving quality of life in Riverside. Past recipients include retired Sen. Richard Roth, Rose Mayes, and Gordon Bourns.

Beyond the classroom: Jenkins has hosted Riverside's largest National Night Out event for nine consecutive years, led free civic walking tours through her Explore Riverside Together program, and authored a book about the city.

• She also organizes the Pardi Gras Pub Crawl, the nonprofit's largest annual fundraiser.

What they're saying: "My greatest unmet need is to teach children," Jenkins told the Gazette.

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This Week in Riverside

Today

• MSRPAC's Monthly Community Cat Spay/Neuter Day at Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption Center's Spay-Neuter Clinic ($45)
• Becoming Bimo: Shadow Puppetry and Gamelan of Java Featuring Woro Mustiko Siwi at Culver Center of the Arts
• Karaoke Tuesday Competition at The Hideaway

Tomorrow

• Riverside East Rotary Club at Civil Rights Institute of Inland Southern
• Bordwell Park Advisory Committee at Stratton Community Center
• Community Police Review Commission at Riverside City Hall
• Credit for Prior Learning Drop-in Sessions at Riverside City College
• Eastside Library at Lincoln Park | National Paper Airplane Day at Eastside Library at Lincoln Park
• History on the Rocks - Round Two! Presented by The Mission Inn Foundation at Mission Inn Foundation ($71.21)
• One Book, One Coast: History Lecture at Carbon Nation Brewing

Save the Date

• May 29: Riverside Sunrise Rotary Club Meeting at Zacatecas Café
• May 31: Oscars, Tonys & Grammys at Calvary Presbyterian Church ($10- $20)
• June 1: REEF's 27th Annual Golf Tournament at Canyon Crest Country Club ($140- $175)
• June 3: Paint. Sip. Spark Kindness at HRBC Insurance ($75)

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🏆 Nominate a remarkable Riversider as Neighbor of the Week.