Thursday Gazette: October 14, 2026
Good morning, Riverside.
Last Wednesday morning, a Riversider signed up for The Raincross Gazette and became our 20,000th subscriber.
Twenty thousand.
Wow, what an honor.
As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a family man. In elementary school I wasn't doodling in my Trapper Keeper, I was sketching architectural plans for my dream house. My favorite had a home office "study" with its own exterior entrance, so community leaders could stop by, of course. And a spiral staircase in the back corner that popped directly into a LEGO room for my kids.
I don't know why I'm even having this memory right now, let alone why I'm sharing it with over 20,000 of my neighbors, except to get at how simple my own ambitions have always been. I was fortunate enough to snag the raddest wife in Riverside and have four incredible kids with her, and our whole goal is to raise them so that when they're grown they still want to spend time with us when they don't have to.
And there it is, that's why I'm having these memories. The Gazette is an extension of that vision.
I said something at the Chamber's Good Morning Riverside event last week that I've been saying for years, because I believe it more every time:
What we know about our city determines what we believe about it, and what we believe about our city determines its future.
Twenty thousand of you now start your day knowing more about Riverside than you did the day before. And because I'm a dreamer, I can't shake the idea that if we keep coming together like this, and if our newsroom lives up to our commitments to you, together we can shape the future of Riverside, just like those house drawings and LEGO creations.
I haven't written one of these notes in a while. I've had my head down building the revenue and the backbone that make a newsroom last, and if a few things fall into place the way I've been working to make possible, this is the first of several exciting updates I'll get to share over the next several months.
Thank you for reading. All 20,000 of you.
Advertisement (Become an advertiser)
2026 ELECTION
Ward 2 and 4 Candidates Outline Positions on Accountability, Ethics and Campaign Finance
Two of four candidates respond to questions on misconduct, oversight, ethics and campaign money — including follow-ups to Ayra on police and business group support.
How should Riverside hold city leaders accountable — and how much independence should the people investigating them have?
For the second installment of its City Council election questionnaire series, the Gazette asked candidates in wards 2 and 4 how they would respond to misconduct by senior city staff, protect the inspector general's independence, strengthen ethics oversight and approach campaign donations.
The Gazette sent the questions to all four candidates on Oct. 7. Ward 2 candidate Aram Ayra and Ward 4 candidate Rich Vandenberg responded. Ward 2 candidate Gracie Torres and Ward 4 Councilmember Chuck Conder did not respond by press deadline.
The Gazette also asked Ayra two additional questions about allegations that he sought support from police and business groups despite earlier statements rejecting certain contributions and endorsements. Those questions and his responses follow the shared questionnaire.
Read and share the complete story...
Advertisement (Become an advertiser)
EDUCATION
At STEPCon, Inland Empire Students Chase Their Dreams of Scientific Discovery
High school researchers shared their passion for science with younger students at the Bourns Technology Center, showing them anyone can pursue research.
About 1,500 Inland Empire students got hands-on science at STEPCon — and heard from teen researchers just a few years older.
Why it matters: Now in its 27th year, the Science and Technology Education Partnership Conference aims to spark science enthusiasm in kids in grades 4-12 across the region.
Driving the news: The Oct. 8 event at the Bourns Technology Center offered esports, arcades, interactive workshops and poster presentations.
- In the auditorium, students gasped as a ping-pong demonstration crushed soda cans.
What’s new: Invited high school scientists from Riverside and San Bernardino counties presented their research to younger students.
- Projects ranged from filtering volatile organic compounds to help firefighters to genetically engineering crops.
What they’re saying: Faustin Zhang, a Los Osos High senior and International Science and Engineering Fair finalist, said the kids’ reactions stuck with him.
- Seeing them realize “anyone could pursue science research” was “truly meaningful,” Zhang said.
The big picture: Regional programs are working to widen access to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) for historically marginalized communities.
- UC Riverside runs summer biotechnology internships for local high school and college students.
Read and share the complete story...
Advertisement (Become an advertiser)
Noteworthy
Starting Monday, Oct. 19, Riverside Superior Court jury summonses will arrive as a postcard instead of the familiar multi-page packet, and it’s an official notice, not a scam, that directs recipients to respond through the court’s online Juror Portal.
The Civil Rights Institute of Inland Southern California is seeking photos, documents and stories from the region’s historic Black churches founded before 1952 for “The Tie That Binds,” an upcoming pop-up exhibition; call (951) 682-5307 to share.
UC Riverside’s new PATH program lets aspiring elementary school teachers earn a bachelor’s degree and teaching credential in four years, skipping the costly fifth year while staying eligible for undergraduate financial aid amid California’s teacher shortage.
What's Happening in Riverside
Today
- Family Storytime at Lincoln Park
- History on the Rocks! Presented by The Mission Inn Foundation at Mission Inn Foundation ($71.21)
Tomorrow
- Riverside Sunrise Rotary Club Meeting at Zacatecas Café
- International Sloth Day | Grab n' Go at Marcy Library
- Clue at California Baptist University's Wallace Theatre ($12- $15)
- Movies on the Lawn: "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" (1941) at Heritage House
- Noche De Exitos #2 at Fox Performing Arts Center
Save the Date
- Oct 16: FREE YOGA - The Evolution of Ashtanga with Kristin Varner at Community Yoga Center
- Oct 16: Riverside Sunrise Rotary Club Meeting at Zacatecas Café
- Oct 17: 14th Annual Good Neighbor Awards Dinner at The Old Spaghetti Factory ($35)
- Oct 17: Dark Carnival at Heritage House
- Oct 17: FREE YOGA - The Art of Vinyasa with Catherine Murray at Community Yoga Center
- Oct 17: FREE YOGA - Yin Yoga with Kristin Varner at Community Yoga Center
- Oct 17: Knights of Columbus Annual Italian Dinner! at St. Catherine of Alexandria Catholic Church ($20- $35)
- Oct 17: Spooky Music Organ Concert at First Congregational Church of Riverside ($30)
- Oct 19: FREE YOGA - Moody Mondays with Cherie Amour at Community Yoga Center
- Oct 21: FREE YOGA - Seated Yoga with Kristin Varner at All Saints Episcopal Church
- Oct 22: Experience RUSD, Riverside Unified State of the District at Riverside Municipal Airport
- Oct 24: Fall Festival at the R'Garden! at R'Garden
- Oct 24: Magic Underground at Back to the Grind ($30- $45)
- Oct 24: Skeleton Keys at First United Methodist Church of Riverside
- Oct 24: Vintage Car and Warbird Show at Riverside Airport - Commemorative Air Force Hanger and Museum
- Oct 25: A Glorious Celebration of America at 250 at Calvary Presbyterian Church ($15- $25)
- Nov 5: Les Miserables at Woodcrest Christian School ($15- $20)
- Nov 7: Art in the Gardens at UCR Botanic Gardens
- Nov 14: Riverside Veterans Parade - Downtown Riverside/Market St.
🗓️ See More Events 📝 Submit Your Event
📸 Submit a photo to be featured in our newsletters and social media accounts.
🏆 Nominate a remarkable Riversider as Neighbor of the Week.