Raincross Rundown: The Best of Riverside in April 2026
A curated list of upcoming events and happenings The Gazette team is most excited about.
Public Safety
52 articles
Opinion: Large Fire Impacts Riverside Businesses, Overwhelms Fire Department Resources
A major Northside blaze left four businesses in ruins and exposed just how stretched Riverside's fire department has become.
The Night Isn't Over for Downtown Experiment
Community support and commissioner skepticism of outright closure bought the nightclub three more months to work out a deal with the city.
Planning Commission Delays Downtown Experiment Bar Permit Hearing
Owner requests more time to prepare; city cites two shootings, years of code violations.
City Pushes Wildfire Preparedness With Free Inspections, Firewise Program
The city is offering free home assessments and encouraging neighborhoods to form Firewise communities to reduce wildfire risk.
Council Committee Cracks Down on Nitrous Oxide, Kratom Sales
The committee's vote sends both bans to the full City Council, putting Riverside ahead of state lawmakers who failed to pass kratom regulations last year.
Fire Department Unveils Water-Saving Pump Pod for Training Exercises
The new equipment will save approximately 4.5 million gallons annually by recirculating water during firefighter drills.
Fire Chief Warns Department Can't Keep Pace; Seeks 84 Firefighters, 2 New Stations
Staffing has held flat for seven years while calls increased 26% — and the city has no funding identified for the proposed fix.
Riverside Police Cite 57 Violations in Commercial Truck Checkpoint
The enforcement action on Central Avenue targeted trucks illegally using city streets as freeway shortcuts.
RPD Targets Trucks Using Central Avenue as Cut-Through
Checkpoint follows committee recommendation to increase truck route violation fines from $100 to $1,000.
Rental Scam Targets Riverside Home, Victims Out $6,500
A fraudster collected cash from victims after breaking into a home for sale and posing as the landlord. RPD's Economic Crimes Unit fields 4-5 similar reports monthly.
Fire Department Seeks Community Input for Long-Term Master Plan
Survey open through Sept. 29 to guide department priorities for next 10-15 years.
Riverside Rescue Team Returns from Texas Flood Response
Five firefighters, two search dogs spent 15 days assisting with recovery efforts after July 4 flooding.
