> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.raincrossgazette.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # 🗞️ Riverside News- September 18, 2026 - URL: https://www.raincrossgazette.com/riverside-news-september-11-2026-2/ - Published: 2026-09-18T12:00:23.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-18T12:00:23.000Z - Description: Council forms AI working group, overturns Magnolia wine shop denial... - Author: Gazette Staff - Tags: Newsletter ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/b3/b2/b3b29e3b-298e-485f-86ca-3034c21e3784/content/images/2026/09/IMG_1499.jpeg) Sunrise over Citrus Heights, shared by a Raincross Gazette reader. (Raincross Gazette reader photo/Julie Knighton) Have a photo that captures the spirit of Riverside? [Share it with us](https://goldstandardca.notion.site/13eef165d2ee80fa91c3de069cc9ec29?ref=raincrossgazette.com) and help celebrate the beauty of our community! **Friday Gazette: September 18, 2026** **Hello Riverside, and Happy Friday!** Welcome to the weekend. Don't forget to check out our [community calendar](https://www.raincrossgazette.com/calendar/#/) for a wide variety of things to do around town. --- Advertisement ([Become an advertiser](https://www.raincrossgazette.com/advertise/)) [![Advertisement](https://ad.broadstreetads.com/zone_static/169513/image/0?seed=20260918)](https://ad.broadstreetads.com/zone%5Fstatic/169513/click/0?seed=20260918&ref=raincrossgazette.com) --- #### [COMMUNITY](https://www.raincrossgazette.com/tag/community/) ## Nothing Mid About Midtown A looping Midtown walk turns up thrift shops, murals, an ice cream break and a few old habits that refuse a new name. [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/b3/b2/b3b29e3b-298e-485f-86ca-3034c21e3784/content/images/2026/09/RG-Feat-Image-Template-4-9.jpg)](https://www.raincrossgazette.com/nothing-mid-about-midtown/) Low Park's gnarled Prostrate Myoporum, often mistaken for an olive tree, twists low across the grass near Marcy Library. | Larry Burns I have trouble deciding where to park in Midtown. There are several possible routes I can take today; none of them can cover all Midtown has to offer. Choosing a place to park narrows my options. Which I guess I need. Every direction offers something, and I already suspect I've brought more curiosity than time. I settle near San Simeon Way and Brockton Avenue, where uncomplicated free parking requires just a few extra steps to reach dozens of destinations. From here, I can buy shoes or have them repaired, get my hair and nails done, upgrade my car stereo, pick up pet supplies or satisfy a sweet tooth. I don't need any of those things today, but just to be safe I start walking down Brockton away from the cookie shop. Where will my willpower take me next? The Arcade's low storefronts and long overhangs keep its architectural bona fides intact while providing lots of helpful shade for shoppers. While not playing the role of consumer or travel guide, I have done plenty of that back when this area was called Magnolia Center. I imagine I'm not the only one. Rene's Artique and Little Green Onions — I miss you! [Read and share the complete story...](https://www.raincrossgazette.com/nothing-mid-about-midtown/) --- Advertisement ([Become an advertiser](https://www.raincrossgazette.com/advertise/)) [![Advertisement](https://ad.broadstreetads.com/zone_static/169515/image/0?seed=20260918)](https://ad.broadstreetads.com/zone%5Fstatic/169515/click/0?seed=20260918&ref=raincrossgazette.com) --- #### [CITY HALL](https://www.raincrossgazette.com/tag/city-hall/) ## Council Creates Working Group to Develop Citywide AI Strategy The temporary panel will examine AI's impact on city services, the workforce and data centers ahead of a policy proposal. [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/b3/b2/b3b29e3b-298e-485f-86ca-3034c21e3784/content/images/2026/09/_DSC0591-1.jpg)](https://www.raincrossgazette.com/council-creates-working-group-to-develop-citywide-ai-strategy/) (Titus Pardee/Raincross Gazette) Riverside will spend the next 13 months crafting a citywide game plan for artificial intelligence. **Why it matters:** Three councilmembers will decide how City Hall uses AI — and how it affects your privacy, cybersecurity and job security — before bringing recommendations back for a vote. **Driving the news:** Council voted unanimously Tuesday to create the temporary, three-member panel and gave it 13 months to return with policy recommendations. - Councilmembers Steven Robillard, Philip Falcone and Steve Hemenway will serve on the group. **The big picture:** The group's scope reaches beyond city operations, covering Riverside's workforce, schools, businesses and the infrastructure AI demands. - Chief Innovation Officer George Khalil compared AI's impact to "the steam engine, electricity and flight." - Riverside already uses AI through Rivy, a chatbot launched last year to help residents navigate city services. **What they're saying:** Robillard said Riverside shouldn't wait for AI's disruption to hit before preparing. - "We should be intentional about how we prepare," he said. - Falcone, who leads a related data center debate, joked the assignment is something he needs "like I need a hole in the head." **What's next:** The group will hold public meetings under the Brown Act roughly once a month, then dissolve after submitting its final report. [Read and share the complete story...](https://www.raincrossgazette.com/council-creates-working-group-to-develop-citywide-ai-strategy/) --- Advertisement ([Become an advertiser](https://www.raincrossgazette.com/advertise/)) [ ![Advertisement](https://ad.broadstreetads.com/zone_static/169514/image/0?seed=20260918) ](https://ad.broadstreetads.com/zone%5Fstatic/169514/click/0?seed=20260918&ref=raincrossgazette.com) --- #### [BUSINESS](https://www.raincrossgazette.com/tag/business/) ## Council Overturns Denial of Magnolia Avenue Wine and Spirits Shop Planning and construction will start immediately at the former Allin Party Supply location. [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/b3/b2/b3b29e3b-298e-485f-86ca-3034c21e3784/content/images/2026/09/RG-Feat-Image-Template-16.jpg)](https://www.raincrossgazette.com/council-overturns-denial-of-magnolia-avenue-wine-and-spirits-shop/) The former Allin Party Supply site at 6491-6499 Magnolia Ave, currently home to a seasonal Spirit Halloween store, will become Jazzy's Wine & Spirits. | Ken Crawford Council overturned its Planning Commission and approved a wine shop and tasting room for a vacant Magnolia Avenue storefront. **Why it matters:** Jazzy's brings a more than $11 million investment and up to 30 jobs to the long-vacant former Allin Party Supply site — but adds another liquor license to a Midtown census tract regulators already consider overconcentrated. **The backstory:** The Planning Commission rejected the project 2-6 in April, citing existing liquor licenses and neighborhood compatibility concerns. - Council voted 6-0 Tuesday to override that denial; Mayor Pro Tem Clarissa Cervantes abstained, saying she arrived late. **By the numbers:** Census Tract 311 already has 9 off-sale liquor licenses where the state anticipates 2, and 28 on-sale licenses where it anticipates 5. - The new license brings those totals to 10 and 29. **What they're saying:** Councilmember Sean Mill backed the project despite overconcentration concerns. - "Vacancy breeds vagrancy," Mill said. - Resident Dave Lanham, the lone public opponent, disagreed: "You ought to be reducing them," he said. **What's next:** Patel must start construction within a year and close nightly by 10 p.m.; three sustained disturbance complaints within 12 months could trigger revocation. - Patel expects three to six months of city review before construction begins. - "I'm putting my name on the building," said Patel, who plans to run it himself. [Read and share the complete story...](https://www.raincrossgazette.com/council-overturns-denial-of-magnolia-avenue-wine-and-spirits-shop/) --- #### [Adoptable Pet of the Week](https://www.raincrossgazette.com/tag//) ## Meet Betty! Meet this week’s featured furry friend from the Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption Center. Dedicated to eliminating pet homelessness, the center provides compassionate care and facilitates adoptions for animals in need of loving homes. Find your new companion and help support their mission of humane care and responsible pet ownership. [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/b3/b2/b3b29e3b-298e-485f-86ca-3034c21e3784/content/images/2026/09/RG-Feat-Image-Template-4-7.jpg)](https://petsadoption.org/?ref=raincrossgazette.com) A little silly, a lot of love…that’s Betty! At 7 years old, this beautiful Mastiff has a big heart, a wonderfully silly personality, and a whole lot of love to give! Betty is happiest when she’s part of the action, making you smile, and soaking up plenty of affection. She enjoys the company of other dogs and car rides. If you’re looking for a sweet, loving companion with a big personality, Betty might be your perfect match. Could Betty be the girl you’ve been waiting for? Visit her at Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption Center and see if you’re meant to be! To learn more about Betty and how to adopt, visit Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption Center or [petsadoption.org](https://petsadoption.org/?ref=raincrossgazette.com). --- 📣 ****See something? Say something.** Your tips and ideas are what fuel The Raincross Gazette. If you know of something newsworthy happening in our city, please [share it with us](https://www.raincrossgazette.com/contact/). --- ## What's Happening in Riverside ### Friday, September 18 - [Riverside Sunrise Rotary Club Meeting](https://www.raincrossgazette.com/calendar/#/details/riverside-sunrise-rotary-club-meeting/18634391/2026-09-18T07) at Zacatecas Café - [Volunteer Interest Hour](https://www.raincrossgazette.com/calendar/#/details/volunteer-interest-hour/18161070/2026-09-18T09) at Riverside Meals on Wheels - [Sight Unseen Reframed Exhibition](https://www.raincrossgazette.com/calendar/#/details/sight-unseen-reframed-exhibition/19798276/2026-09-18T12) at Civil Rights Institute of Inland Southern - [Open Mic Night](https://www.raincrossgazette.com/calendar/#/details/open-mic-night/19553682/2026-09-18T19) at Riverside Baha'i Center - [FOOS GONE WILD: The FOOS GONE WILD Tour 2026](https://www.raincrossgazette.com/calendar/#/details/foos-gone-wild-the-foos-gone-wild-tour-2026/19346792/2026-09-18T19) at Riverside Municipal Auditorium - [FREE YOGA - The Evolution of Ashtanga with Kristin Varner](https://www.raincrossgazette.com/calendar/#/details/free-yoga-the-evolution-of-ashtanga-with-kristin-varner/19060739/2026-09-18T08) at Community Yoga Center - [Gasolina Reggaetón Party (18+)](https://www.raincrossgazette.com/calendar/#/details/gasolina-reggaetn-party-18/19678899/2026-09-18T21) at Riverside Municipal Auditorium - [LAUGHTER ON THE 23RD FLOOR by Neil Simon](https://www.raincrossgazette.com/calendar/#/details/laughter-on-the-23rd-floor-by-neil-simon/19770266/2026-09-18T19) at Riverside Community Players ($20- $25) - [Murder Mystery Co. Dinner Theater Show](https://www.raincrossgazette.com/calendar/#/details/murder-mystery-co-dinner-theater-show/18734751/2026-09-18T19) at The Old Spaghetti Factory ($69) - [Titus Andronicus presented by Full Circle Players](https://www.raincrossgazette.com/calendar/#/details/titus-andronicus-presented-by-full-circle-players/19563263/2026-09-18T19) at The Box Theater ($23- $30) ### Saturday, September 19 - [Low-Cost Vaccination Clinic](https://www.raincrossgazette.com/calendar/#/details/lowcost-vaccination-clinic/19030194/2026-09-19T09) at Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption Center's Spay-Neuter Clinic ($10- $28) - [Water Smarts 101](https://www.raincrossgazette.com/calendar/#/details/water-smarts-101/18485737/2026-09-19T10) at Western Municipal Water District - [Adrián Uribe: 50 y Pico Tour](https://www.raincrossgazette.com/calendar/#/details/adrin-uribe-50-y-pico-tour/19563335/2026-09-19T19) at Fox Performing Arts Center - [Adult Ballet Class](https://www.raincrossgazette.com/calendar/#/details/adult-ballet-class/19935237/2026-09-19T19) at Riverside Ballet Arts LLC - [Fold, Spindle, Mutilate](https://www.raincrossgazette.com/calendar/#/details/fold-spindle-mutilate/19706222/2026-09-19T12) at UCR ARTS - [FREE YOGA - The Art of Vinyasa with Catherine Murray](https://www.raincrossgazette.com/calendar/#/details/free-yoga-the-art-of-vinyasa-with-catherine-murray/19503669/2026-09-19T07) at Community Yoga Center - [FREE YOGA - Yin Yoga with Kristin Varner](https://www.raincrossgazette.com/calendar/#/details/free-yoga-yin-yoga-with-kristin-varner/19503829/2026-09-19T09) at Community Yoga Center - [Goeske Bingo](https://www.raincrossgazette.com/calendar/#/details/goeske-bingo/17920930/2026-09-19T09) at Janet Goeske Center ($20- $100) - [Its A 2000's Party (18+)](https://www.raincrossgazette.com/calendar/#/details/its-a-2000s-party-18/19697235/2026-09-19T21) at Riverside Municipal Auditorium - [Magic Underground](https://www.raincrossgazette.com/calendar/#/details/magic-underground/19874508/2026-09-19T18) at Back to the Grind ($30- $45) - [Pirates of the Caribbean Movie and Craft](https://www.raincrossgazette.com/calendar/#/details/pirates-of-the-caribbean-movie-and-craft/19764141/2026-09-19T15) at Marcy Library - [Songs Behind the Sun: Open Mic](https://www.raincrossgazette.com/calendar/#/details/songs-behind-the-sun-open-mic/19896576/2026-09-19T15) at Riverside Main Library ### Sunday, September 20 - [Gardening for Butterflies](https://www.raincrossgazette.com/calendar/#/details/gardening-for-butterflies/19328170/2026-09-20T09) at UCR Botanic Gardens - [Prayers and Public Information Meeting](https://www.raincrossgazette.com/calendar/#/details/prayers-and-public-information-meeting/16726617/2026-09-20T11) at Riverside Baha'i Center - [Dancing for Fun](https://www.raincrossgazette.com/calendar/#/details/dancing-for-fun/18329491/2026-09-20T14) at Janet Goeske Center - [Vision Beyond Sight: Tech and Accessibility in Action Panel Discussion](https://www.raincrossgazette.com/calendar/#/details/vision-beyond-sight-tech-and-accessibility-in-action-panel-discussion/19868004/2026-09-20T11) at Civil Rights Institute Inland Southern California - [Juicy Talk Citrus From Ancient Times to California's Second Great Gold Rush](https://www.raincrossgazette.com/calendar/#/details/juicy-talk-citrus-from-ancient-times-to-californias-second-great-gold-rush/19876209/2026-09-20T13) at California Citrus State Historic Park - [Sevendust & Theory of a Deadman: The Dead / Seven Tour](https://www.raincrossgazette.com/calendar/#/details/sevendust-theory-of-a-deadman-the-dead-seven-tour/19346799/2026-09-20T18) at Riverside Municipal Auditorium - [The Sixties Show](https://www.raincrossgazette.com/calendar/#/details/the-sixties-show/19346800/2026-09-20T19) at Fox Performing Arts Center ## Save the Date - Sep 21: [FREE YOGA - Moody Mondays with Cherie Amour](https://www.raincrossgazette.com/calendar/#/details/free-yoga-moody-mondays-with-cherie-amour/19504166/2026-09-21T19) at Community Yoga Center - Sep 21: [FREE YOGA - The Evolution of Ashtanga with Kristin Varner](https://www.raincrossgazette.com/calendar/#/details/free-yoga-the-evolution-of-ashtanga-with-kristin-varner/19060739/2026-09-21T08) at Community Yoga Center - Sep 23: [FREE Beginning Square Dance Lessons with Line Dancing](https://www.raincrossgazette.com/calendar/#/details/free-beginning-square-dance-lessons-with-line-dancing/19511049/2026-09-23T18) at Cowtown Square Dance Center - Sep 23: [FREE YOGA - Seated Yoga with Kristin Varner](https://www.raincrossgazette.com/calendar/#/details/free-yoga-seated-yoga-with-kristin-varner/19504145/2026-09-23T17) at All Saints Episcopal Church - Sep 24: [Where are Riverside County's Ballots and How Secure Are Its Elections?](https://www.raincrossgazette.com/calendar/#/details/where-are-riverside-countys-ballots-and-how-secure-are-its-elections/19898438/2026-09-24T17) at The Cheech Marin Center - Sep 25: [Moon Festival](https://www.raincrossgazette.com/calendar/#/details/moon-festival/19501541/2026-09-25T18) at Heritage House - Sep 25: [Riverside Sunrise Rotary Club Meeting](https://www.raincrossgazette.com/calendar/#/details/riverside-sunrise-rotary-club-meeting/18634391/2026-09-25T07) at Zacatecas Café - Sep 26: [FREE YOGA - The Art of Vinyasa with Catherine Murray](https://www.raincrossgazette.com/calendar/#/details/free-yoga-the-art-of-vinyasa-with-catherine-murray/19503669/2026-09-26T07) at Community Yoga Center - Sep 26: [FREE YOGA - Yin Yoga with Kristin Varner](https://www.raincrossgazette.com/calendar/#/details/free-yoga-yin-yoga-with-kristin-varner/19503829/2026-09-26T09) at Community Yoga Center - Oct 3: [Aquamotion Aquathon](https://www.raincrossgazette.com/calendar/#/details/aquamotion-aquathon/19617601/2026-10-03T09) at Shamel Pool - Oct 4: [Riverside Historical Society Local History Book Fair](https://www.raincrossgazette.com/calendar/#/details/riverside-historical-society-local-history-book-fair/19902224/2026-10-04T11) at Villegas Community Center - Oct 7: [Fifty & Better Health Fair](https://www.raincrossgazette.com/calendar/#/details/fifty-better-health-fair/19338673/2026-10-07T10) at Janet Goeske Center - Oct 22: [Experience RUSD, Riverside Unified State of the District](https://www.raincrossgazette.com/calendar/#/details/experience-rusd-riverside-unified-state-of-the-district/19934891/2026-10-22T16) at Riverside Municipal Airport - Oct 24: [Vintage Car and Warbird Show](https://www.raincrossgazette.com/calendar/#/details/vintage-car-and-warbird-show/19929956/2026-10-24T09) at Riverside Airport - Commemorative Air Force Hanger and Museum - Nov 14: [Riverside Veterans Parade](https://www.raincrossgazette.com/calendar/#/details/riverside-veterans-parade/19624354/2026-11-14T10) \- Downtown Riverside/Market St. 🗓️ [See More Events](https://www.raincrossgazette.com/calendar/)📝 [Submit Your Event](https://hub.cityspark.com/Event/Submission/Raincross?ref=raincrossgazette.com) 📸 [Submit a photo](http://raincrossgazette.com/submitphoto?ref=raincrossgazette.com) to be featured in our newsletters and social media accounts. 🏆 [Nominate a remarkable Riversider](https://rgnotw.paperform.co/?ref=raincrossgazette.com) as Neighbor of the Week.