🗞️ Riverside News- September 17, 2026

Thursday Gazette: September 17, 2026

Hello Riverside, and Happy Thursday! Today is Responsible Dog Ownership Day, a fitting nudge to book that overdue vet visit or finally sign up for the training class you've been putting off. If you want a bigger way to help animals in town, save the date: Saturday, October 10, Foster Army Animal Rescue hosts its annual Ghouls for Drools fundraiser at 6520 Magnolia Ave from 10am to 3pm. There will be a bake sale, a raffle with prizes like an escape room outing and a haunted motel stay, half off store-wide at the thrift store, and professional pet photos for $30. Proceeds go straight to FAAR's rescue work and its mobile spay and neuter program for Riverside.

Here's what else is happening around town:

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CITY HALL

From Grant Applications to Permit Rules, a Busy Stretch at City Hall

Council authorized grant applications for Nichols Park and Eastside projects, a committee moved to ease entertainment permit rules for businesses with code violation histories, and staff will soon brief on code enforcement practices and a proposed manufacturing tax incentive.

Riverside advanced a data center moratorium, two multimillion-dollar grants, and new entertainment permit rules this week.

Why it matters: The moratorium would pause new data center proposals citywide, and Arlanza, Arlington Heights, and Casa Blanca could see up to $27.5 million in clean energy, housing, and infrastructure funding.

Driving the news: The Land Use Committee voted unanimously Monday to recommend a 90-day pause on new data center proposals, citing Riverside's single link to the statewide power grid and recent outages.

• That's short of Councilmember Philip Falcone's push for an outright ban; a permanent policy moves next to Land Use, then Planning Commission, then the full Council.

What's new: The committee also voted 2-1 to let the police chief approve entertainment permits for businesses that fix past code violations and accept added conditions.

• Appeals stay with a hearing officer rather than Council — Chair Clarissa Cervantes dissented. Both items head to the full Council next.

By the numbers: Council authorized two grant applications: up to $10 million toward a $30 million Nichols Park Community Center rebuild, and up to $27.5 million for Arlanza, Arlington Heights, and Casa Blanca.

• The Thrive grant needs a $13.75 million city match; the Nichols Park grant needs none and is due in December alongside a separate $8.5 million parks bid.

What's next: The Economic Development Committee meets Thursday, Sept. 17, to review Code Enforcement's vendor-citation practices and weigh a property tax break for manufacturers investing $25 million or more.

• Neither action commits the city to anything binding yet.

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ARTS

Elidé Sanchez Paints Culture, Connection and Grief Into Every Canvas

Now on view at Division 9 Gallery, her paintings draw on Riverside roots, family loss and the mystical bond between women and cats.

When you walk into Division 9, you're greeted by her painting of a sphinx cat surrounded by butterflies, with a mystical woman depicting the artist resting atop the cat's head. The piece poured out of Elidé's soul after the passing of her beloved cat, Benny, who she credits with offering unconditional love at any moment's notice. She believes animals have a direct line to the spiritual plane.

Elidé drew throughout her life, even during six years at a military school whose curriculum never included creativity. "I didn't see art as a creative outlet until my early twenties, when I was introduced to spray cans through mutual local artists," Elidé said about her start in art. She instantly fell in love with spray-can art, which sparked a desire to experiment with acrylic paint.

Over the past seven years, Elidé has continued to craft her style with oil, aerosol and acrylic paint, working with local businesses, nonprofits and galleries across LA, the Inland Empire and San Diego. She's currently studying at Riverside Community College to earn her Studio Arts AA, with plans to transfer to a Cal State.

Elidé Sanchez is a Chicana artist who has worked within the Inland Empire for a couple of years now. Her pieces are derived directly from her cultural background, drawing on fragments of inspiration from cultures around the world, music and real-life experience.

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Noteworthy

UCR's $3.5 million NIH grant will fund biomedical researcher Erica Heinrich's five-year effort to build a machine-learning tool detecting shortness of breath in ICU and COPD patients unable to communicate it.

Seventeen RCC students toured UC Berkeley, UC Davis, and Sacramento State as part of a Black Excellence college trip strengthening transfer partnerships and connecting them with Black student support communities.

Junior running back Cruz Cuba rushed for 105 yards and four touchdowns as King High School beat Poly 37-6 in the Battle for the Propeller on Sept. 11, extending King's rivalry win streak to six.

What's Happening in Riverside

Today

• 2026 Turfgrass and Landscape Research Field Day at Agricultural Operations
• Constitution Day at University of California, Riverside
• Faith Chat with Mother Kelli Grace Kurtz at Online via Zoom
• Family Storytime at Lincoln Park
• History on the Rocks! Presented by The Mission Inn Foundation at Mission Inn Foundation ($71.21)
• Men's Soccer vs UC Irvine at UCR Soccer Stadium
• Women's Soccer vs. Northern Colorado at UCR Soccer Stadium

Tomorrow

• Open Mic Night at Riverside Baha'i Center
• FOOS GONE WILD: The FOOS GONE WILD Tour 2026 at Riverside Municipal Auditorium
• Gasolina Reggaetón Party (18+) at Riverside Municipal Auditorium
• Murder Mystery Co. Dinner Theater Show at The Old Spaghetti Factory ($69)

Save the Date

• Sep 19: FREE YOGA - The Art of Vinyasa with Catherine Murray at Community Yoga Center
• Sep 19: FREE YOGA - Yin Yoga with Kristin Varner at Community Yoga Center
• Sep 19: Magic Underground at Back to the Grind ($30.00 - $45.00) 
• Sep 20: FREE YOGA - The Evolution of Ashtanga with Kristin Varner at Community Yoga Center
• Sep 21: FREE YOGA - Moody Mondays with Cherie Amour at Community Yoga Center
• Sep 23: FREE Beginning Square Dance Lessons with Line Dancing at Cowtown Square Dance Center
• Sep 23: FREE YOGA - Seated Yoga with Kristin Varner at All Saints Episcopal Church
• Sep 24: Where are Riverside County's Ballots and How Secure Are Its Elections? at The Cheech Marin Center
• Sep 25: Moon Festival at Heritage House
• Sep 25: Riverside Sunrise Rotary Club Meeting at Zacatecas Café 
• Oct 3: Aquamotion Aquathon at Shamel Pool
• Oct 4: Riverside Historical Society Local History Book Fair at Villegas Community Center 
• Oct 7: Fifty & Better Health Fair at Janet Goeske Center
• Oct 24: Vintage Car and Warbird Show at Riverside Airport - Commemorative Air Force Hanger and Museum
• Nov 14: Riverside Veterans Parade - Downtown Riverside/Market St.

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