Coral sunset over a lush Riverside nursery along the Gage Canal, with distant mountains silhouetted against the glowing sky. (Wayne Romain) Have a photo that captures the spirit of Riverside? Share it with us and help celebrate the beauty of our community!
Wednesday Gazette: October 22, 2025
Hello Riverside, and Happy Wednesday! Today is National Make a Dog's Day, the perfect time to spoil your pup with extra treats and belly rubs. While you're celebrating your furry friend, remember those still waiting for homes at Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption Center. Browse their available dogs at petsadoption.org, where your new best friend might be just a click away.
Don't forget to check back every Friday for our featured adoptable pet right here in newsletters.
Inspector General Approval Delayed Nearly Year After Voter Mandate, Council Cites Independence Language
Four council members vote to push decision to mid-November, citing need to strengthen language about independent legal counsel.
Riverside's City Council postponed approving the Inspector General position in a 4-3 vote, nearly a year after voters supported creating the independent watchdog. The decision is now pushed to November 18 to clarify language protecting the office's independence from council influence.
Driving the news: The delay centers on concerns about when the Inspector General can retain outside legal counsel independent of the City Attorney's office.
Critics worry the proposed structure undermines the watchdog's independence.
Why it matters: The Inspector General office is meant to provide independent oversight, replacing the existing Internal Audit Division with expanded responsibilities.
The office would manage ethics complaints and conduct operational efficiency reviews.
The opposition: Some council members criticized the delay, arguing the item should move forward immediately to honor voters' wishes.
Councilmember Philip Falcone called the continuance "very disingenuous."
What's next: When the item returns on November 18, the council will consider creating the Inspector General classification with an annual salary range of $161,000 to $217,000.
The proposal includes adopting an ordinance establishing the office as an administrative department and transferring the Internal Audit Division budget and staff.
Doors Open Riverside Returns Oct. 25 With Free Tours of 14 Historic Sites
Eighth annual event provides rare public access to Harada House, Trujillo Adobe and other architectural landmarks.
A glimpse into Riverside's hidden treasures - stunning views and architectural gems discovered during Doors Open events, where our community opens its most beautiful spaces to the public. (Courtesy of Doors Open Riverside)
The City of Riverside will offer free public tours of 14 historic buildings and cultural sites during the eighth annual Doors Open Riverside event on Saturday, Oct. 25, from 1 to 5 p.m.
Driving the news: The event provides special access to architectural landmarks and cultural sites throughout the city, including the nationally significant Harada House, the Victorian-era Peter J. Weber House, and the 1862 Trujillo Adobe.
Last year's event drew more than 1,000 visitors.
Why it matters: Doors Open events aim to increase awareness of historic architecture and communities' collective heritage, originating in France over 30 years ago.
The Riverside event earned the 2019 Governor's Historic Preservation Award, California's highest recognition for historic preservation efforts.
The details: Most sites offer docent-led tours from 1 to 5 p.m., with some exceptions:
Calvary Presbyterian Church requires pre-registration for a single tour at 2 p.m.
The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture opens only at 5:15 p.m.
What's next: Visitors can stop by the information center at the Mission Inn Foundation & Museum to claim a collectible Doors Open pin while supplies last.
March Field Air Museum unveiled an F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jet after volunteers spent 1,100 hours restoring the aircraft transported from Arizona's Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, ABC7 reports.
UC Riverside researchers discovered that inhaling Salton Sea dust rapidly alters lung microbiomes in healthy mice, triggering up to 60% immune cell inflammation and marking the first observed environmental—not disease—cause of such changes.
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