This Week in City Hall: November 2, 2026
A new City committee on artificial intelligence holds its first meeting, the Board of Ethics reviews a complaint and the Transportation Board weighs an appeal for speed humps.
Opinion: A Familiar Glow and New Traditions Await at Festival of Lights
From the Switch-On Ceremony with Gavin DeGraw to a new illuminated maze at White Park, there is plenty to look forward to Downtown this season.
Ward 2 and 4 Candidates Share Favorite Riverside Spots, Personal Stories and Hometown Pride
In the final installment of our City Council questionnaire series, candidates talk food, free Saturdays, influential mentors and the songs that capture their love for Riverside.
Before the Mission Inn, There Was the Glenwood Cottage
A look back at the Miller home that welcomed its first paying guest 150 years ago this month and became the foundation of Riverside’s landmark hotel.
Latest
Neighbor of the Week: Carol McDoniel
Neighbor of the Week is a series profiling the hidden heroes of Riverside, doing incredible works of service throughout our different neighborhoods.
Raincross Rundown: From Ofrendas to Opening Night, Here's a Month Packed With Events
Day of the Dead, a Veterans Day parade, a pre-Thanksgiving 5K and the Festival of Lights switch-on top the Gazette’s picks for November in Riverside, along with community theater and a few ways to volunteer.
It’s a Loaner
A prompt to encourage your practice of creativity this week from Riversider and local author Larry Burns.
Inland Empire Officials Tour Riverside County Registrar of Voters Ahead of Election
U.S. Reps. Norma Torres, Mark Takano and Raul Ruiz joined Supervisor Karen Spiegel to see the process firsthand.
Most Read
Culture
Art Alliance Fall Fundraiser Turns Riverside Art Museum Into Interactive Cocktail Party
Guests at the Nov. 7 event can watch printmaking and flower arranging demonstrations, bid in a silent auction and buy original works.
His Photographs Reveal a Magic Kingdom Frozen in Time
The Riverside photojournalist's exhibit opens Oct 31 at California Baptist University, showcasing work shot over two days in Seoul.
Voodoo Glow Skulls to Headline Expanded Riverside Day of the Dead Festival
About 80 families will build ofrendas in White Park's Jardín de los Altares during the free weekend celebration
At UC Riverside Conference, Latino Storytellers Challenge Hollywood to go Beyond Representation
At the 38th annual Tomás Rivera Conference, panelists cited studies showing Latinx people hold under 6 percent of lead film roles.
Noteworthy
U.S. Reps. Norma Torres, Mark Takano and Raul Ruiz joined Supervisor Karen Spiegel to tour the Riverside County Registrar of Voters and see the election process firsthand.
Beignet Spot is teasing a new Downtown Riverside patio with a sugar-dusted hint about its next location, daring fans to guess the spot from clues in its latest Instagram video.
City Hall
Council Approves Funding for First-Responder Drones and Real-Time Police Information Center
Police propose six drones across three locations to provide live aerial views during emergencies. The plans still require further council approval.
New Pool, Parks and Community Center Proposed in State Grant Push
State funding could help bring recreation closer to home, but commissioners raised questions about how the city would maintain new facilities.
Riverside Approves Special Tax District for 152 Planned Homes
Buyers in three developments would help pay for infrastructure, maintenance and public safety, with some charges increasing annually.
Chavez Center Could Become Eastside Community Center After Commission Vote
Parks commissioners voted 5-2 in favor of Eastside Community Center, rejecting staff's pick of University Heights for the renamed facility.
Community
Volunteers Give Casa Blanca Center a Kaiser-Backed Refresh
Nearly 60 volunteers spent a single day restoring benches, outdoor areas and the center's donation closets.
Riverside Neighborhood Partnership Celebrates Community Heroes at Good Neighbor Awards
The nonprofit's 14th annual gala recognized volunteers with four distinct honors, including one named for environmental steward Erin Snyder.
University Heights Students Meet Women Mentors at Day of the Girl Event
State Sen. Sabrina Cervantes and a Riverside County judge were among the speakers at the Boys & Girls Clubs gathering in Fairmount Park.
Braver Angels Technique for Constructive Political Discussions
As ballots arrive, the LAPP framework of Listen, Acknowledge, Pivot and Perspective offers a way to disagree without diminishing one another.