The city has experienced unreliable trash service since the pandemic and a recent heat wave has only worsened the problem. Riverside Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson said it’s become a public safety and health issue, prompting the city council to declare it an emergency during a closed session meeting on Tuesday.

“On Thursday, we will have a private hauler out who will be helping us on nine routes and we’re going to do those nine routes until we catch up,” Lock Dawson said. “Then scale back six, and three and then catch up.”

The city is partnering with Athens Services in order to alleviate the backlog. In a statement, the city said it was “committed to supporting Riverside by providing residents and businesses with reliable and timely waste, recycling and organics collection during this difficult time.”

 The mayor shared more trucks have been out of service than the number of trucks that are operational.

“One of the things that was a problem in our extreme heat that we just had is some of the trucks don’t operate in that heat. They just don’t,” she said. “Also, it’s unsafe for the drivers because they don’t have A/C and they couldn’t be inside.”

Additionally, the high temperatures overheated some service trucks, preventing workers from refueling with compressed natural gas.

“At one time, we had not enough drivers and we had enough trucks, but we solved that problem of not having enough drivers with increased salaries and retention bonuses,” Lock Dawson said. “Now, our problem is the opposite. We have drivers but not enough trucks.”

Two of the 16-year-olds were taken into custody earlier on Thursday, Riverside Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson said, adding the brush fire, which destroyed seven homes and damaged 18 others, was caused by illegal use of fireworks.

“(The fire) caused immeasurable levels of fear among the residents who were rightly afraid for their safety,” Dawson said. “All fireworks are illegal in the city of Riverside for a reason.”

The two arrested teens were booked into a juvenile detention facilities while the other suspect would face charges out of Riverside County, the mayor explained.

Officials did not disclose the teens’ gender, schools and other details due to their age.

The Hawarden Fire, which was first reported at around 1 p.m. on July 21 as temperatures reached over 100 degrees with moderate winds.

The fire, which scorched over 600 acres, cost the city at least $1.5 million in response while the damages to the homes are estimated to be about $28 million, officials said.

Investigators said video footage showed the suspects running away in a silver pickup truck as soon as the fireworks went off.

“After canvassing the neighborhood, investigators located the silver pickup and subsequently identified three individuals as 16-year-old juveniles,” Chief Larry Gonzalez with the Riverside Police Department said. “Search warrants were obtained and served at their homes where electronic devices were seized as part of this investigation as well.”

Wildfires Jul 23

Fireworks caused Hawarden Fire in Riverside, officials say

California Wildfires Jul 22

‘This is where our children grew up.' Riverside neighbors shaken up as Hawarden Fire destroys homes

While the fire was put contained about eight days later, those who lost their properties continue to suffer in the aftermath.

“To those who lost their homes, we pray for you. We can’t imagine the emotional stress you’ve gone through,” Riverside City Councilmember Chuck Condor said. “To those who had minor damage or no damage, you still suffered tremendous emotional scars. It’s hard for me to imagine what you all thought that day.”

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RIVERSIDE IS HAUNTING: There’s an atmosphere to Riverside, one that hails from its historical buildings, picturesque museums, and the Mission Inn Hotel & Spa, a grand castle-like fantasia that has a long possessed a certain storybook allure. Add a few of the city’s downtown ghost tours to the mix and you have a location that has a sort of velvety, throwback, semi-autumnal character, all year long. But then fall arrives and remarkable Riverside grows even more atmospheric, thanks to an assortment of seasonal attractions. One of these happenings, Castle Dark at Castle Park, returns with a number of new mazes and shows just days ahead of fall’s official start.

CASTLE DARK… opens Sept. 20, ready to pay frightful homage to “16 years of screams.” A quartet of creepy new mazes will debut, including one called “Seance,” eek, and a “5-D Virtual Reality Maze” dubbed “Sinister Inn.” A trio of fresh theatrical experiences will also weave in wicked fashion through the fun, with a tea-inspired show on the docket and one celebrating the dramatic art of sliding. Scare Zones will also be in the mix, with clowns popping up in the midway-inspired area while knights will roam “Dark Lands.” Tickets are available now to the eerie event, which brings the frights every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night from Sept. 20 through Oct. 27.

The Macy Fire was reported at 5:42 p.m. in the vicinity of the El Cariso Campground, north of the Ortega (74) Highway, just west of Macy Street on the west end of Lake Elsinore, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.  As of 10 a.m. Friday, the blaze was estimated at 145 acres, with 15% containment. 

Highway 74 was shut down in both directions between the Orange County line and Grand Avenue in Lake Elsinore shortly before 7 p.m. Thursday after the flames jumped the two-lane corridor and began burning along the southbound side. CHP officers on Friday were trying to arrange escorts in and out of the closure area for residents who have proof of identification showing they have properties there.

Five Cal Fire air tankers and three water-dropping helicopters immediately initiated runs on the brusher, making drops for the protection of homes in the fire’s path, according to reports from the scene.

Evacuation orders were downgraded to warnings Friday. The warning applied to properties north of the Ortega, south of El Cariso Truck Trail, Lancashire and Toft drives, east of North Main Divide Road and west of Macy, Dreycott Way and Lakeview Avenue.

#MacyFire [UPDATE] p.m. – The fire has been mapped at 134 acres and remains 0% contained.

All EVACUATION ORDER remain in place at this time.
A searchable map of the evacuation area is available at https://t.co/PDAXaQ7bZl

The evacuation center was MOVED to Elsinore High… pic.twitter.com/yUYIZf7a9r

— CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department (@CALFIRERRU) July 26, 2024

With nightfall approaching, sundowner winds in the area were expected to abate, giving crews an opportunity to begin digging containment lines. A night-flying helicopter was summoned to make water drops in support of ground crews, while the air tankers and day-restricted choppers were preparing to clear the scene.

There was no immediate word regarding how the blaze might have started.

The exchange, which has been operating for over 50 years, is scheduled to close its doors on Aug. 31.

Known as the BX (Base Exchange) to many, this 86,000-square-foot facility was seen by some veterans as “a hidden gem,” offering tax-free shopping and military-exclusive pricing on a wide range of goods. 

The closure will impact an estimated 100,000 veterans who rely on the exchange for discounted groceries and supplies.

“I feel like this is a tragedy for many of us,” Army veteran Damien Harris said. “This is the closest one in Riverside County.” 

Harris mentioned that “the other one is in Oceanside or 29 Palms or Pendleton,” significantly farther for many Inland Empire veterans. “It will be very difficult.”

Veteran Robert Wengen, who says he drives over 60 miles once a month to buy groceries here, called the closure “monumental,” since many veterans that come here are low-income and rely on the service.

“I also bring other people here,” Wengen said. “I’m a driver for the Highland Senior Center and I’ve got a couple of other veterans that I bring here to shop.”

According to the Army and Air Force Exchange Service, the decision to close the exchange stems from the need for extensive and costly repairs.

It was suggested that the facility requires a new fire suppression system, substantial roof repairs, plumbing upgrades, and improved security measures.

All 35 workers at the exchange will receive severance packages, as customers are being encouraged to transition to online shopping options at the exchange’s website.

The fire, which broke out Sunday afternoon in a south Riverside neighborhood, burned more than 500 acres while destroying three homes and damaging four others, according to city officials.

For many neighbors, including the Doan family, the blaze came too close to comfort until firefighters stepped in.

“This is where my children grew up. They were born here, and all of our memories and history [are] here,” said Vien Doan, a 30-year resident of Riverside, adding he feared that his property may not have survived the fire.

“The firefighter kept telling us, ‘You have to leave now.’” Grace Doan, Vien’s wife, said. “I tried to grab things, but what do you grab? So much goes through your head.”

Neighbors were urged to stay indoors because of the poor air quality Monday as smoldering hot spots continue to concern many families.

“We will get through it, but we fear for others. So many homes are not protected for fire insurance now. It’s difficult,” Vien Doan said. 

The fire was fully contained within the established perimeter with the fire no longer making forward progress, Riverside city officials said Monday.

“Our crews have worked tirelessly through the night to have containment on the fire, Cpt. Paul Seawright said, explaining that  23 engines and 2 hand crews were dispatched to put out the flames.

California Wildfires Jul 21

Fast-moving brush fire burns 3 homes in Riverside

California Jul 13

California reports first wildfire death of the 2024 season as fires persist across the West

The city’s arson task force is also investigating various reports of fireworks to determine the cause and origin of the fire, officials confirmed.

The Hawarden Fire was reported shortly before 2 p.m. as a vegetation fire at the 6500 block of Hawarden Drive.

According to Riverside City Fire Department, deputy fire chief Steve McKinster, an estimated three homes were destroyed in the fire, while four others were damaged. He said at least 1,500 homes were in the surrounding area and at least 20 officers assisted with evacuations.

As Sunday night approached, dozens of families were anxiously waiting to be allowed back into their homes.

Firefighters said the fire was out after it burned about 500 acres, but they were going to work overnight to look for any hotspots.

Fire crews from across the Inland Empire including CalFire, San Bernardino, Murrieta and Hemet quickly jumped into action to battle the blaze, but the fire spread into several neighborhoods. 

An evacuation order forced about 100 people out of their homes, many heading to a temporary evacuation shelter on Orange Terrace Parkway.

By Sunday night, the evacuation was downgraded to a warning.

No one was reported injured in the fire.

The cause is still under investigation.

U.S. Army Air Corps Pvt. Charles Powers from Riverside was only 26 years old when he was captured by Japanese forces in the Philippines in late 1941. After enduring harsh conditions  during his captivity, he became one of the 2,500 POWs who perished in July 1942.

The Army exhumed his body as well as the remains of other deceased soldiers after the war, but Powers’ identity wasn’t confirmed until January 2018 when a DNA analysis was conducted.

For decades, his family said they never lost hope in finding him.

“So many years have passed. Some of the sites turned back into jungle or they turned into farmland,” Charles E. Powers, the fallen soldier’s nephew said. “[It’s] crazy … I mean, the reality is there was only three bones recovered. It’s not like they recovered a full skeleton or something.”

Power’s final resting place is Riverside National Cemetery.

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Concerns grow over gambling addiction in the military

The Riverside Fire Department said nearly two dozen kids were inside a pool around 2:30 p.m. when attendees began to smell a chemical scent coming from the water. Immediately, everyone in the pool got out.

Two kids were taken to a nearby hospital for reasons authorities did not specify. The others were evaluated and treated at the scene.

A hazmat team arrived and began to investigate the incident. Riverside Fire said they believe there was a chlorine spill.

The result came from a $25 bet in addition to a $5 progressive wager while playing Forture Pai Gow.

The winning hand was a seven-card flush, with the progressive wager multiplying the bonus payout.

The final payout for the Inland Empire senior was a hefty $1,517,211. The winner has decided to not disclose her identity.

If you or someone you know has a gambling addiction, please call the National Council on Problem Gambling at 1-800-522-4700 to speak to a counselor. Help is also available via an online peer support forum at www.gamtalk.org, and additional resources can be found at the NCPG website.

That includes 23-year-old Vincent Lozano III of Riverside. 

When authorities with Riverside Police Department’s Technical Services Unit (TSU) and Riverside Fire Department’s Arson Investigations Unit ambushed his home in the 5800 block of Clifton Avenue in the Hillside neighborhood, they discovered 1,000 pounds of dangerous and illegal fireworks on his backyard patio.

Among the dangerous items he had, according to police, there were about 100 individual destructive devices, including M-80 style explosives that are banned by the ATF as they could cause “damage to fingers, hands and eyes.”

Lozano was arrested at his home for possession of more than 100 pounds of dangerous fireworks and destructive devices.

He is also facing weapons violations for having firearms next to illegal explosives.

Lozano was booked for child endangerment as well as the illegal fireworks were accessible to his children living at home. 

Anyone found using illegal fireworks within Riverside city limits could face an $1,500 fine.

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The restored C-53 Skytrooper, called the D-Day Doll, is a centerpiece of the history on display at Riverside Municipal Airport. The event hosted by the Inland Empire Wing of the Commemorative Air Force marks the 80th anniversary of the allied forces‘ June 6, 1944 landing on the beaches of France.

France Jun 6

World leaders, World War II veterans mark 80th anniversary of D-Day invasion on beaches of Normandy

France Jun 4

Centenarian veterans are sharing their memories of D-Day, 80 years later

Commemorative flights on the meticulously restored plane, built at the Douglas factory in Santa Monica, that carried paratroopers over France will be offered Thursday and Saturday.

The plane was delivered to the military on July 7, 1943 and assigned to the 434th Troop Carrier Group. It was stationed at bases in Nebraska and Indiana before arriving Royal Air Force Aldermaston in England in March 1944.

The D-Day mission consisted of towing gliders with reinforcements for troops who landed earlier in the night near Normandy’s Utah Beach, one of the beaches stormed by allied troops. The aircraft flew three missions on D-Day and the following day, most under the cover of darkness.

Fully equipped, the plane carried about 18 paratroopers weighed down with gear and supplies.

“At that time, it was dark,” said Chris Clarke, of the Inland Empire Wing. “They left very late to be over France after midnight. So, they were going to fly over in total darkness, drop in darkness, land in darkness. When they were jumping, in most cases, they were being shot at. And, you can’t shoot back. You were just hoping to get on the ground and do what you had to do.”

Paratroopers didn’t always land in designated drop zones, meaning many first had to figure out where they were.

The plane was part of Operation Market Garden in the Netherlands, the re-supply of Bastogne and the crucial crossing of the Rhine River as the allies closed in on the heart of Germany. The plane also was used to evacuate wounded service members to England.

June 6 marks a day of remembrance and tributes to the service members who landed in Normandy and fought to liberate Nazi-occupied western Europe. World War II veterans from the United States, Britain and Canada are in Normandy this week to mark 80 years since the bold operation that helped lead to Nazi leader Adolf Hitler’s defeat.

Nearly 160,000 Allied troops landed in Normandy on D-Day, including 73,000 from the United States and 83,000 from Britain and Canada. Forces from several other countries were also involved, including French troops.

The Allies faced about 50,000 German forces in the opening battle for western France.

A total of 4,414 Allied troops were killed on D-Day, including 2,501 Americans. More than 5,000 were wounded.

The youngest survivors are now in their late 90, but it is not clear how many D-Day veterans are still alive. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs said it does not track the figures.

UC Riverside Police Department carried out a search warrant on May 3 at a campus residence hall after evidence of a weapon was found. Inside the student’s room at the North District residential apartments, authorities found an assault rifle, ammunition, five high-capacity magazines, and hand-drawn images in a journal depicting a violent act.

The student, whose name and identity were not disclosed per the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, was ordered to leave campus and not return pending the outcome of an administrative hearing.

According to university relations, there is no indication that at this time the incident is related to any recent campus events.

UCPD will submit the case to the Riverside County District Attorney who will decide whether criminal charges will be pursued.

A Utah couple is thanking their lucky stars after they were reunited with their pet cat they accidentally shipped to an Amazon facility in Riverside while trying to make a return.

Galena the cat is back home in the Beehive State after the wayward feline’s tendency to snuggle in boxes inadvertently took her on a trip to Southern California.

According to the cat’s owners, Matt and Carrie Stevens Clark, the pair shipped a box of shoes to Amazon for a return. Little did they know, however, Galena made the mistake of making herself comfortable in that very same box.

“That was the worst part, we just had no idea what happened,” Carrie told NBC affiliate KSL News. “She just mysteriously disappeared. We had absolutely no idea what happened to her.”

Desperate to find their beloved pet, the couple set out fliers in their neighborhood bringing attention to their cat’s disappearance. They also called friends, family members and neighbors inquiring about Galena’s whereabouts.

With no leads on their cat’s location, the couple became disheartened; that is — until they received a shocking phone call that Carrie described as “the most amazing, insane news in the entire world.”

Galena’s microchip was detected 650 miles away in Riverside. An Amazon worker found the cat and took her under her care until the family could be reunited.

“I just couldn’t even believe that she was in California,” she said. “I thought it was a prank. It’s still hard to wrap my brain around.”

According to the Clarks, their cat sneakily went undetected in the large box and was shipped off.

“We had no idea, so Matt took her to the package drop-off without knowing that our dear cat was inside,” Carrie said.

Galena went six days without food or water but according to her owners, she has since recovered.

“We’re just so happy to have her again,” Carrie said. “Oh my goodness.”

The program began as an effort to close the “nature gap” in communities that may not have access to outdoor recreational facilities due to economic and racial disparities, officials said last week.

“We are proud to introduce the RivCoParks Library Pass program, which is intended to close the nature gap. The program represents a significant step towards ensuring that all residents, regardless of background or income, have equal access to the recreational opportunities throughout Riverside County,” Parks Director Kyla Brown said Wednesday.

To obtain a pass, residents can check one out for the day at a participating library and enjoy numerous amenities including regional parks, lakes, educational programs, historic sites and open-space areas.

“Parks are for everyone. All Riverside County residents should be able to experience all that our RivCo parks system have to offer,” Board of Supervisors Chair Chuck Washington said. “These parks passes will allow residents to expand their knowledge of the world around them while exploring many of the natural spaces throughout our diverse county.”

The launch of the program coincides with Earth month, which aims for awareness of environmental causes and appreciation for nature in the month of April.

More information about a list of participating libraries can be found at www.Rivcoparks.org/library-park-pass, or by calling the RivCoParks guest services team at 800-834-7275.

The shooting occurred at 5:30 a.m. in the 3400 block of Chestnut Street, near Fourth Street, according to the Riverside Police Department.

“Our officers responded to a domestic violence call for service at this location when they were confronted by the suspect who was armed with a knife,” said Riverside police.

According to police, “a less-than-lethal force option was utilized, then shortly after, an officer-involved shooting occurred.”

The alleged assailant was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics minutes later.

No officers were injured.

Riverside police said a female domestic violence victim was treated for a serious injury caused by the suspect and taken to a local hospital in stable condition.

Samuel Davalos Pasillas, 47, of Victorville, was arrested March 13 in the Oct. 21 car-to-car shooting of a man who was driving in the Riverside area. The victim was struck several times by gunfire from inside a car that pulled alongside him near Grove Community Drive and Plainview Street, but survived after driving to a hospital for treatment.

In a news release issued Tuesday, Riverside police said the shooting was part of a murder-for-hire plot hatched by Pasillas. He is accused of paying two men to carry out the killing after providing them with information about his daughter’s boyfriend, including where he would be on the night of the shooting, police said.

“Detectives also determined these men were paid almost $40,000 by the father and had conducted surveillance on the victim in the weeks leading up to when they shot him,” police said in a statement.

Photos released by the department showed what appeared to be bullet holes in the windows of the victim’s car.

Pastor Rafael Parras, who runs Centro de Oración Internacional, told NBCLA the church does not have a fixed location and holds services around Victorville. He said Pasillas has been a volunteer with the church for about 10 years and filled in on pastor duties when Parras was away.

Pasillas was arrested on suspicion of solicitation for murder, conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder, and assault with a deadly weapon. Juan Manuel Cebreros, 55, of Long Beach, was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder, and assault with a deadly weapon.

Both men are being held on $1 million bond.

They were taken into custody March 13 — Pasillas in Victorville and Cebreros in Long Beach — and entered not guilty pleas to several charges during a joint arraignment, according to court documents.

Jail and court records indicated a next court date for both men was set for March 26. It was not immediately clear whether they have attorneys. NBCLA has reached out to the public defender’s office of Riverside County.

No one answered the door at the Pasillas family home when NBCLA attempted to contact them for comment Wednesday.

The search continued Wednesday for a third person wanted in connection with the shooting. Anyone with additional information was asked to contact police at 951-353-7104

Adler Dillman, a former professor at the University of California Riverside-turned-pet detective, said he researched a mysterious illness that sickened dogs. First, he determined something all the ill dogs had in common.

“Been swimming in Blythe within two months of being diagnosed with this parasite,” Dillman said.

Blythe, a Riverside County city located about 220 miles east of Los Angeles, has a portion of the Colorado River flowing through the town. After finding the common factor in the sickened dogs, Dillman and his researchers headed to Blythe in search of a cause.

On the shore of river, the team found thousands of tiny snails and collected them for research. After studying them for some time, the team determined they were the cause of the pets’ illness.

“We were jumping up and down in the lab when we were able to definitively say it is this parasite and it is here in the Colorado (River),” Dillman said.

With that in mind, pet parents are warned to take extra precautions when letting their animal companions near the Colorado River.

“If you do take your dog into these waters and a month or two later, it begins to have some of the symptoms — it becomes lethargic, fever, diarrhea, it loses its appetite, starts to lose weight — you need to get that dog tested for this parasite,” Dillman advised.

Further cautioning, Dillman said the snails that carry the parasite are often eaten by raccoons, which may also pose a threat to dogs if the encounter them.

“That’s the next important question that we need to determine, is how far have these snails spread and what other fresh waters are they residing in,” Dillman said.

The Riverside Police Department said it received a call of a noise complaint around 12:20 a.m. Sunday and responded to a home on the 3400 block of Gay Way. After the party was shut down, officers were notified of two teenagers who had been stabbed.

One of the teens died at the scene and the other was taken to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

According to Riverside police, another teenager was treated by paramedics at a home in the same neighborhood. Authorities did not disclose what injuries that teenager had, but they believe he may have been involved in the stabbing.

That teenager was detained for questioning, the Riverside Police Department said.

The name of the teen who was killed has not been released. Details on what led up to the stabbing were not immediately clear.

The threatening social media posts surfaced after some fights broke out last week during or near lunch hour on the campus at 5450 Victoria Ave., Poly principal Darel Hansen said Saturday in a letter addressed to parents.

“Poly High School administration is implementing a plan to restrict lunch activities to designated areas on campus,” Hansen said in the letter, which was posted on the high school’s Instagram account.    

“These measurements aim to improve supervision and mitigate potential disruptions. Restrictions may extend to additional parts of the day,” Hansen added.

The school requested that the community avoid sharing posts and emails with second-hand information as it could delay investigators.

“The Riverside Police Department is aware of the various social media posts being shared threatening school violence to Poly High School and are working closely with the school administration and Riverside Unified School District to investigate their origination,” police wrote Saturday. “We appreciate all the calls to our dispatch center and private messages to our RPD social media, and so far none of those posts have been substantiated. If anyone has NEW information regarding this investigation, please forward it to School Resource Officer Rodriguez at BRodriguez@RiversideCA.gov.”

“… We will again have extra officers and patrols in and around Poly High School this Monday to continue those ongoing efforts of maintaining the safety of students and staff. We look forward to beginning the new week with your students on Monday.”

The names should be “fun, appropriate and creative,” the agency suggests. 

Each qualifying district will award one winner with a $50 gift card. One adult winner will also be eligible to receive an additional grand prize of a $100 gift card. If the winner is a student in grades K-12, they will receive a $100 gift card and a $100 gift card towards their classroom. 

Participants who reside in the following districts are eligible to enter the contest: 

• Los Angeles 
• San Bernardino/Riverside 
• San Diego
• Eureka 
• Redding
• Marysville/Sacramento 
• Bay Area
• San Luis Obispo/Santa Barbara 
• Bishop
• Stockton 

Submission can be on the California Office of Traffic Safety website. The deadline to submit a name is Feb. 15.

Pinball enthusiasts and pros gathered at the Riverside Convention Center for the It Never Drains in Southern California Tournament, a world pinball championship that brings in hundreds of players from around the globe.

Jasmjn de Jong, originally from the Netherlands, has won multiple worldwide competitions and now lives in Seattle with her husband, who also plays.

“I started playing pinball when I was 14 years old,” said de Jong. “A lot of what Dutch people do is we travel to other countries like Sweden, Switzerland, Germany, Finland, to play tournaments there.”

But it’s not just games at the tournament, players like Cayle George come to compete and win the grand prize of $15,000.

“I’ve won the world championships twice,” said Cayle George. “It’s a sport to us, it’s fun to come out here and compete and see these people that are also interested in doing the same thing.

Pinball is so popular that the tournament is now being live-streamed around the world.

“Last year, we had over a million and a half viewers watching the Sunday final for the open the whole day,” said Co-Director Jim Belsito. “And now, there is over a hundred thousand ranked players in the world.”

Although the game does require some serious skill and impressive hand-eye coordination, some players think luck also plays an important role.

“A lot of it is about your skills. Can you catch the ball? Can you make the ball go where you want it to go? But do you know which shot is going to give you the most points,” said de Jong.

No matter who ends up with the most points, everyone leaves a winner when they get a chance to connect and play with some of the greatest pinballers.

“Finding a sense of community has been great, making a lot of new friends,” said pinball player Mayumi Roehm.

On Friday, the Riverside Police Department surprised the Salas family with gifts after their home was damaged in a fire almost two weeks ago. 

“This is the better part of the things that we like to try to do, and if we could do this every single day besides enforcing, we want to show there’s confidence that there’s good in the world and that we’re here to help,” Officer Genaro Escobedo said. 

The bedroom of 13-year-old Stephanie Salas was destroyed, as well as many of her belongings. The roof of the home also sustained heavy damage. 

“I’m thankful for everything that they did for us,” Stephanie said about the RPD. 

The Salas family is staying with relatives until their home is repaired. Stephanie’s school also donated $1,000 to her and her family. 

“We just wanna help these families have a Christmas they might not have been able to have without this help,” Sergeant Erich Feimer said. “And that’s what we do here in our city.” 

Riverside police said the driver was speeding down Arlington Avenue when he drifted into oncoming traffic, colliding head-on with the Carbajal family.

Erika Contreras, who is representing the Carbajal family, argues that it’s the city’s fault for failing to implement traffic calming measures, like stop lights at the intersection of Arlington Avenue and Stover Avenue.

“The city is the one that should be held responsible because they knew about it and they did nothing to prevent it,” said Contreras. “This roadway has been well documented to be dangerous, as early as 2009 the residents were complaining about the speed on that road, the crashes on that roadway. The lack of signs and traffic controls on that roadway.”

Ana Carbajal says she doesn’t wish it upon anyone what she’s been through in the past months.

“Nothing will bring me peace, my son is gone, no one will bring him back,” said Carbajal.

Her three other children are also still dealing with not only tremendous heartache but physical pain, as well.

The oldest daughter Kially, 25, who was driving at the time, had surgeries for a broken foot and arm. Carbajal’s oldest son, 16, suffered brain swelling and had to have spine fusion surgery. Kiara, 10, had severe brain and spinal injuries as well as two broken legs.

The city had already planned to put stoplights at the intersection to slow drivers down before the Carbajal family crash in May. They wouldn’t be installed until five months later due to a supply issue, according to a city spokesperson.

Contreras said the lights should have been installed in 2015 when the city originally planned to. The family’s attorney believes the crash would have been avoided if that were the case, which is why the family is suing.

“So it’s a combination of making sure the Carbajal family receives the necessary care for the rest of their lives, but it is also to make sure the city of Riverside implements all of the safety precautions that they said they were going to implement and then failed to do so,” said Contreras

The city of Riverside was contacted for a statement but a spokesperson said they do not comment on pending litigation.

Major Luke Unrath was killed along with seven other U.S. Service Members during a training exercise.

U.S. Air Force Pilot Major Luke Unrath was a Riverside native who was not only a beloved husband and brother, the 34-year-old was also a loving son to his parents Gregg and Nora, and a hero to our country.

Last month, Major Unrath, along with seven other service members were killed when their CV-22 Osprey crashed during a training exercise off the coast of Japan.

In a statement, his parents said their son chose his path and career because he wanted to help people.

“Mostly I felt for Luke’s mom, because I’m a mom,” said gold star mother Ronda Gilbert.

Gilbert, who is also a Riverside resident says she understands the deep heartache major Unrath’s family must be feeling.

Four years ago, Gilbert’s son, Air Force Colonel Ronald Eric Gilbert, died suddenly from a medical emergency.
The 43-year-old father and husband was an F-22 fighter pilot who, like Major Unrath, dedicated his life to serving our country.

“I know the pain and I know the heartache of being a mom and losing your child, especially an adult child. You have lots of memories and things to cherish,” Gilbert said.

Gilbert says this type of loss is unbearable for loved ones, and the best thing the community can do is come out and show support for the family and that’s exactly what is happening.

“It’s important to pause and reflect and to remember that our freedom isn’t free,” Laura Herzog said.

Herzog is the founder of honoringourfallen.org.

She works alongside the casualty officers who serve the families of fallen military heroes who die during active duty. Herzog helped coordinate major Unrath’s procession from LAX to his hometown of Riverside where he will be laid to rest in the coming days.

“So I was able to work with local law enforcement agencies, firefighters, first responders, that will be out along the route to pay respects and to pay honor to Luke and his family for his sacrifice,” Herzog said.

Gilbert says it’s the type of homecoming every American hero deserves, a way to say thank you for your service and also be there for the family in their grief.

“We call ourselves survivors of military loss and it’s been very very helpful to have other people who are in similar circumstances that can just listen,” Gilbert said.

Major Unrath was escorted by his brother who is an active duty member of the Air Force.

A CHRISTMAS CASTLE… may sound like the fanciful name of a story, the sort of oft-told tale that has weathered the centuries, but the concept isn’t something that only exists on the page or screen. There are storybook-like structures that exist in this world, and you can even visit a few, too. One of the best-known happens to be lavishly located in the heart of Riverside, and calling upon its elegant nooks and fancy crannies can be done at any point in the year. But when Thanksgiving is near, things get brighter and lighter throughout this magical spot, which draws people from near, far, and even farther than far. It’s the Festival of Lights at the Mission Inn & Spa, and it has become, over the last few decades, one of the shimmer-iest and most celebrated lighting displays in all of California, and pretty much anywhere that isn’t California, too. All of those millions of lights — and “millions” is no exaggeration — are free to see, but many visitors opt to spend a night or two, all to up the illuminated adventure.

SEVEN SPARKLY PACKAGES… are now available for booking, and while each boasts a seasonal character, you’ll want to peruse the specific offerings. Eager to have carolers stop by your suite for a twinkly 20-minute singing session? Reserve the Christmas Caroler’s Cheer, which includes a quartet of Casey’s Cupcakes and a bottle of wine from Irvine & Roberts vineyard. The Eat, Drink & Be Merry package takes its uplifting call to action to heart thanks to a $100 dining credit, macarons, and a “holiday craft cocktail for two.” A few sweet packages keep kids in mind — the Holiday Elf Package is one such treat — while the Buon Natale summons the spirit of an Italian Christmas. Whatever you choose to do, keep in mind that weekends will be busier around the Mission Inn as well as holiday-close dates. Find more festive temptations at this site now.

The horrific May 16 crash on Arlington Avenue was captured on security camera video. A car traveling west on Arlington Avenue rounded the curve and slammed head-on into a car carrying 8-year-old Obed Barbosa Carbajal and three young siblings.

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Obed was killed. His siblings were hospitalized with critical injuries.

Video from the scene showed debris scattered in the street, including an engine block that was thrown from one of the cars.

Witness Isabel Cisneros said the scene was something she will never forget. Security camera video at her mother’s home captured video of the May collision.

“Just hearing the noise and seeing pieces of vehicles all over the road,” Cisneros said. “I no longer live there, but I can’t even go to her house because there is just emotion every time I step foot or get near the home.”

Another crash captured on her mother’s camera showed a truck slam into the bedroom of a nearby home. Another crash showed a driver knock down a telephone pole.

Neighbors have told NBCLA that the area has been dangerous and been a source of accidents for years, due to cars going too fast. The collision that killed Obed, which authorities said was due to high speed, led to more calls for safety improvements at the intersection.

“You can tell that driver was going way too fast down that road,” Officer Ryan Railsback said.

About five months later, a traffic signal was installed at Arlington and Stover avenues. The city also installed radar speed signs to remind drivers how fast they’re traveling.

“I think that’s helping a lot and will help a lot,” Cisneros said.

Officer Meghan Gonzalez was presented with the RapidDeploy “Superstar” award by the department for using the text-from-911 feature and Radius Mapping, helping to locate the victim.

“The Superstar Award recognizes individuals for their ‘excellence in action,’ honoring those who made a life-saving impact, demonstrated exceptional use of RapidDeploy technology, and continue to enhance emergency response throughout their community,” Sergeant Deirdre Vickers said. 

This award has only been given to someone once before in the company’s history.

On May 2, 2023 at 9:11 p.m., Gonzalez received a 911 call where she heard noises in the background like the dinging from a car door and a voice. 

Although she could not understand anything, she kept listening for a few minutes to try and detect if this was an emergency.  

“That just didn’t sit right with me,” Gonzalez said. “I had my intuition gut feeling.”

She told the caller to press any number on the keypad if they needed help, but received no reply. 

Gonzalez then used RapidDeploy to contact the caller via message to ask if there was an emergency. She received a “YES” reply. 

They continued messaging and a deputy was sent with the GPS coordinates Gonzalez obtained during the initial call.

The victim informed Gonzalez via text that they had been beaten, bitten and was nude in the back of a truck. 

Gonzalez said the victim had no idea where she was because she was originally in Blythe and was now in Moreno Valley.

The victim provided a description of the vehicle and the kidnapper’s identity. 

Deputies arrived within a minute and found the victim next to a liquor store. The kidnapper was taken into custody. 

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Thrift store Milk & Cookies fell victim to a woman’s use of phony cash when she used a counterfeit $100 bill to purchase clothes, getting $80 back in real cash.

“It was really hard to tell that it was fake,” said Ana Garcia, owner of the store. “We’re a thrift store so it takes us a while to accumulate that amount of money, so it’s a big hit for us.”

According to Garcia, that same customer attempted to pass the fake money at Twinkies Boutique, which is owned by Garcia’s aunt. At that store, the owner spotted the counterfeit cash and refused to accept it, prompting the woman to leave.

It is unclear if the criminal who targeted Milk & Cookies was arrested. Officials did not release the woman’s name.

“You go on the dark web and you can literally buy stacks of these,” Riverside Police Department Detective Javier Cabrera said.

According to Cabrera, thieves will often buy counterfeit money on the black market. They also bleach smaller bills and use high-quality printers to turn them into higher denominations.

Investigators say criminals will typically try to pass fake bills at yard sales and on social media sites like OfferUp and Craigslist. Cabrera offered the following guidance to avoid accepting fake money.

Tips to consider when checking for counterfeit bills

• $100 bills will have a special texture on Benjamin Franklin’s jacket that will feel ridged
• Newer $100 bills will have two security stripes – a black one on the left of Franklin’s side and a thicker blue one down the right side
• $100 bills have color-changing ink that impacts the color of the bills when they are rotated

The owner of Santi’s Fountains, Christopher Ocampo, interacted with the women on Sept. 23. They wanted to look at custom tables in the back of the property, but investigators say this was an excuse to distract Ocampo. 

Ocampo said the women arrived in a group inside a car.

“They had the head dressing, they had long dresses, and they said that they were Russian, but they spoke really good Spanish,” he recalled.

While two women distracted Ocampo, another two broke into a home through a screen window. The home belongs to Jose Guzman, who was attending church with his family during the crime. 

The women, according to Guzman, stole pieces of jewelry and a special birthday gift for his daughter.

Riverside Police Department Officer Ryan Railsback said the women may be part of a network of thieves responsible for breaking into a Riverside Buddhist temple in January, as well as another burglary case at Gone Straw Farms last year. 

“We’ve had some tips come in where people have mentioned something might have happened in Orange County, Anaheim and Corona,” Railsback said, adding that Riverside police will be in touch with other law enforcement agencies to see if they’re all dealing with the same group.

He advised people to remain vigilant. 

“f you see several of them together, kind of looking around like they’re checking out your place for other reasons, just be very careful and keep an eye on them,” Railsback said.

Riverside police say there have been at least 13 car burglaries since June at Crestlawn Memorial Park and Olivewood Memorial Park.

One of the victims is Darlene Borja, whose 21-year-old grandson, Cory Hunter, died in a crash on the 91 Freeway in May.

“I don’t know what I can say to say how much he meant to me. He was everything,” Borja said.

On Wednesday, Borja stopped by Hunter’s gravesite at Crestlawn Memorial Park to leave some white roses. Her car was only about 15 feet away, so she left the doors unlocked.

Borja left the flowers and told Hunter she’d be back, but when she returned to her car, she noticed the passenger door was slightly open. That’s when she realized someone had taken her purse from the front passenger seat.

The thief got away with Borja’s wallet – which had $100 in it – her credit cards (which the thief later used), her car key and her cellphone, leaving her stranded in the heat.

“I’m just really angry. They should be ashamed of themselves,” Borja said.

Riverside Police Department Officer Ryan Railsback said the thieves are not only getting into unlocked cars but also breaking windows to get into locked ones, taking advantage of grieving families who think they are safe and secure when they are at the cemetery visiting a loved one.

He advised people visiting cemeteries to take their purse, wallet and other valuable items with them instead of leaving them in the car.

Crestlawn does have a security officer patrolling the grounds, but it’s a big cemetery. A spokesperson for the cemetery said staff are aware of the crimes and on heightened alert.

Meanwhile, Hunter’s mother, Rhonda, still can’t believe the thieves would stoop so low. “How could somebody do that to people that are going to a cemetery and already at their lowest of lowest times and steal from them?” she said. “I can’t wrap my brain around it.”

With the completion of the School of Medicine Education Building II, UCR is marking its 10th anniversary with a significant expansion that will cater to the increasing demand for healthcare professionals.

“To me, it’s like an emphasis on how UCR cares for its students and listens to feedback. We’ve definitely needed this building” said Sophia Potalivo, a 19-year-old medical student who expressed her excitement about the new building.

“This school was created to produce more physicians in the Inland Empire, which is a medically underserved region,” says Manbier Sandhu, a School of Medicine student, who grew up in the Inland Empire, and plans to return to the area after graduation. “Eventually, I’d like to come back and work in this area because I just love our patient base and population. I’ve had excellent experiences in medicine here, and I want to continue that.”

The building’s architecture is designed to promote collaboration and strengthen the sense of community among students and faculty. The School of Medicine Education Building II at UC Riverside is committed to advancing medical education. As this new building opens, it sets a high standard for medical education nationwide.

The city has experienced unreliable trash service since the pandemic and a recent heat wave has only worsened the problem. Riverside Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson said it’s become a public safety and health issue, prompting the city council to declare it an emergency during a closed session meeting on Tuesday.

“On Thursday, we will have a private hauler out who will be helping us on nine routes and we’re going to do those nine routes until we catch up,” Lock Dawson said. “Then scale back six, and three and then catch up.”

The city is partnering with Athens Services in order to alleviate the backlog. In a statement, the city said it was “committed to supporting Riverside by providing residents and businesses with reliable and timely waste, recycling and organics collection during this difficult time.”

 The mayor shared more trucks have been out of service than the number of trucks that are operational.

“One of the things that was a problem in our extreme heat that we just had is some of the trucks don’t operate in that heat. They just don’t,” she said. “Also, it’s unsafe for the drivers because they don’t have A/C and they couldn’t be inside.”

Additionally, the high temperatures overheated some service trucks, preventing workers from refueling with compressed natural gas.

“At one time, we had not enough drivers and we had enough trucks, but we solved that problem of not having enough drivers with increased salaries and retention bonuses,” Lock Dawson said. “Now, our problem is the opposite. We have drivers but not enough trucks.”

The big rig was stolen last month in the San Bernardino area before the chase early Monday morning. Details about the theft were not immediately available.

Ontario police initially approached the big rig near South Archibald Avenue and Mission Boulevard because it had no license plates, but the driver behind the wheel refused to yield and drove off, an Ontario police spokesman told reporters.

The pursuit continued through the community of Jurupa Valley and onto the 60 Freeway before the driver exited at Market Street in Riverside. The man then rammed an occupied patrol vehicle, prompting police to open fire before abandoning the truck and running into the dense vegetation of a riverbed. Video showed an Ontario Police Department SUV with front-end damage.

Officers opened fire on the driver, but there were no reports of injuries. It was unclear how many officers opened fire. 

The man jumped out of the truck and ran into the thick brush of the Santa Ana riverbed, prompting a large police search.

No arrests were reported Monday afternoon.

The fire took place in the 3700 block of Stoddard Avenue and due to its proximity, Fremont Elementary School was evacuated. 

“Officers are evacuating residents in the area while firefighters are mitigating the fire,” Riverside Police Department tweeted.

Police said students and staff on campus were taken to Calvary Baptist Church on the corner of Orange Street and Strong Avenue.

No injuries were reported.  

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THE FRIDAY AFTER THANKSGIVING… might be the leftover-iest occasion on the calendar, at least according to devoted fans of mashed potato-gravy-yam-cranberry sandwiches, while others think of Black Friday sales, bustling shopping centers, and finding deals on Christmas gifts. But for illumination aficionados based in and around the Inland Empire, the date has long been associated with the first night of lights at The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa, a landmark that has become synonymous with seasonal dazzle over the decades. And we do mean “over the decades”: The historical hotel began its brilliance-drenched run in 1992, giving both locals and guests the chance to bask in a wonderland of yuletide decadence. And all for free, too: While accommodations, food, and drink do have a fee (of course), anyone is invited to swing by the building’s gussied-up exterior to admire the adorable animatronic figures, extra-tall nutcrackers, and millions of colorful bulbs.

BUT THINGS ARE CHANGING… in 2023, and by “changing” we do mean “expanding”: The Festival of Lights will start its season-bright shimmer on Saturday, Nov. 18. The hotel made the announcement on social media earlier in July with the revelation that “we’re proud to break tradition and commence the Festival of Lights early.” That means if you have visitors in town ahead of Thanksgiving, you’ll now have the opportunity to show them a vast display that regularly makes major “best in the USA” lists, specifically those rosters that pay tribute to over-the-top Christmas decorations. But if November’s best-known holiday is just too busy for you and December is always packed-to-brimming, be cheered: Mission Inn will stay illuminated, each and every night, through Jan. 7, 2024.

That man is part of a crew devoted to restoring vintage war planes, many of which are on display at Riverside’s March Field Air Museum. Those people working long hours to bring back to life the incredible examples of aviation history feel that it’s not just their job but their duty to do so.

“We are big believers here that every aircraft, every military aircraft, is a veteran. And as a veteran, they have a story to tell,” said Jeff Houlihan, an Air Force veteran and director of restoration curatorial and collections at March Field Air Museum.

Alex Labonte is a Marine veteran who devotes his time to restoring planes that come to the museum. Some of them are in really rough shape, with missing parts that are often hard to hunt down.

“Especially with a lot of these airplanes, because you can’t go to a store to buy these parts, you have to find a guy who knows a guy who has a buddy with one in his backyard,” Labonte said.

Labonte said hundreds if not thousands of hours are devoted to restoring each aircraft. Work includes sanding, priming and painting, tasks people might also see at an automotive shop.

So far, the crew has restored 108 vintage planes that are on display.

A lot of the aircraft are on loan from the Air Force, Army or Navy, Houlihan said. March Field Air Museum is on a “big list” of groups interested in the airplanes, and when one becomes available, the museum is in charge of transport, he said.

Transporting a plane can cost tens of thousands of dollars, in addition to more tens of thousands in restoration costs.

“Many of them come in missing parts, sometimes significant ones difficult to come across,” Houlihan said.

Fortunately, volunteers help cut the labor cost, and donations as well as money made from the museum help pay for the restorations.

“To see something that was a hunk of junk that we turned into something like it could take to the skies, it’s a real sense of accomplishment,” Labonte said.

March Field Air Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday year-round.

At around 4:46 a.m., Riverside Police Department officers responded to reports of an alleged sexual assault at the trail. The victim said she was entering the trail near San Andreas Avenue and Glenwood Avenue when an unknown man assaulted her.

According to a RPD press release, the suspect is described as a man in his early to mid-20s. He has a slender build and was last seen wearing dark clothing.

The Mount Rubidoux hiking trail is described by AllTrails as “a very popular area for birding, hiking, and mountain biking, so you’ll likely encounter other people while exploring.”

The attacker remains at large. Anyone with information regarding the investigation is asked to contact detective Daniel Suarez at 951-353-7120 or DSuarez@RiversideCA.gov.

The street in the middle of a residential area has been the scene of multiple crashes over the years. The most recent one resulted in the death of an 8-year-old boy after a vehicle lost control and hit another head-on.

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The bend of the street is at Arlington and Stover Avenues in Riverside. Neighbors say that some of the crashes have resulted in damage to their properties.

Residents are expected to voice their concerns to city leaders at a community meeting being held at 6 p.m. at the La Sierra Senior Center. The city has already said that they plan to install a traffic light in October but residents are hoping there can be some type of safety measures implemented sooner.

A nearby neighbor, Isabel Cisneros says her security cameras have captured multiple crashes on the bend including one where the driver of a truck lost control and slammed into her yard and home.

“You watch all my three videos, all the accidents are coming from that hill,” Cisneros said. “Because cars are coming at a good speed and then they don’t see the curve and then they take it and they lose control.”

The location of the accidents is near three schools which raises concern for parents picking up and dropping off their children.

A sea of red, white and blue American flags marking each grave of a veteran and those who have given the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

It’s a tradition for Rachel Fierro, she carefully places each flag at the grave sites and she does it in honor of her father, Guillermo Fierro who was an Air Force veteran. She also does it for two of her uncles who also served and are buried in the cemetery.

“It takes a moment they served our country and it is an honor to give back to our country, what they did for us is an honor and a blessing,” said Fierro.

Fierro is just one of the hundreds of volunteers taking over the Riverside National Cemetery this Memorial Day Weekend.

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“It is important to get the kids out here and let them know the sacrifices others made for our freedom,” said Paul Tsonas, a volunteer.

Father and son Paul and Payton Tsonas set their alarms to be here.

“It is a good person to get up early, it is for a good reason,” Payton Tsonas said.

Families of all ages are grasping the bundles of flags, walking together and huddling up as they honor their loved ones and others they never knew.

“It is emotional but it’s also gratitude we give a lot of thanks,” said Amanda Moreno, a veteran.

Hundreds of veterans and volunteers from the Southwest Mountain Carpenters made the effort to pay their respects.

Ultimately everyone who showed up honor the main reason of Memorial Day.

“I’m really blessed to have my family members who served in the Army, I’m really proud of my uncle and my dad. I’m blessed,” Fierro said.

The family faces not only a lack of shelter, but also a language barrier, as well as a lack of resources and guidance.

The group which includes a father, mother and three children aged 16, 13 and 5, fled Colombia after experiencing a wave of violence.

“Some people came and shot at me and at other people in a pool hall,” said Edicson Marquez, the father. “I played dead until the police arrived.”

Over time, they managed to identify the individuals responsible, but they said they had no protection.

“I don’t know how they found me but they began to threaten me,” Marquez said. “They said I was a ‘toad’ and that I had ‘betrayed them.'”

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His family could feel the danger they were in.

“Threats began. They threatened to kidnap my children and that they were going to kill me,” Marquez said.

Marquez and his family fled to Ecuador and then to the Tijuana, Mexico border. They managed to cross the border along with thousands of other migrants into California.

Now they are staying in the city of Chino Hills, far from the danger of their native country. They are abandoned in a park where they have been homeless for days, with little food and clothing.

“Having my children sleep on the floor when it’s cold, is a very strong feeling as a mother,” said Jenny Lopez Cortes, their mother.

TELEMUNDO 52 provided them with information on Catholic organizations near them. However, they failed to receive a response from the support groups.

This family probably not alone as there could be thousands of migrants living in the same conditions after entering the U.S.

The parents along with their children have managed to go to a relative’s house to bathe, but they do not allow more people to live in the house. For now they are spending most of their time in the park and are hoping to find jobs soon.

They will have to wait until August for the interview with the immigration authorities to try and obtain the work permit they need.

Haz clic aquí para leer esta historia en español.

Several of the hospitalized victims were in critical condition, including a 10-year-old girl and 16-year-old boy.

The two-car crash was reported at Arlington and Stover avenues. Video from the scene showed debris scattered in the street, including an engine block that was thrown from one of the cars.

Footage shows a white vehicle that seems to lose control slam into another vehicle at a very high speed. The driver of the white vehicle was a 22-year-old man who police say was injured.

Various neighbors told NBC4 that the area has been dangerous and been a source of accidents for years, due to cars going too fast.

“I’ve been living here for 13 years and this is the worst accident I’ve seen on this street,” Jesse Marquez said. “There’s been over 20 accidents on this street and a lot of them are caused by people just not slowing down and going too fast.”

The city said preventative measures are on the way. The Riverside Public Works Department confirmed to NBC4 that equipment for a traffic signal has been ordered. It is set to arrive in September and installation is scheduled for October.

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Officers responded to a report of a severed hand found on the sidewalk near Fifth Street and Fairmont Boulevard at around 10:30 p.m. Saturday, police said.

A man in his 60s checked in to a hospital missing a hand around the same time, claiming someone with a sword cut it off, according to Ryan Railsback of the RPD.

The man was expected to survive after having surgery.

No further details were immediately available.

The city has experienced unreliable trash service since the pandemic and a recent heat wave has only worsened the problem. Riverside Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson said it’s become a public safety and health issue, prompting the city council to declare it an emergency during a closed session meeting on Tuesday.

“On Thursday, we will have a private hauler out who will be helping us on nine routes and we’re going to do those nine routes until we catch up,” Lock Dawson said. “Then scale back six, and three and then catch up.”

The city is partnering with Athens Services in order to alleviate the backlog. In a statement, the city said it was “committed to supporting Riverside by providing residents and businesses with reliable and timely waste, recycling and organics collection during this difficult time.”

 The mayor shared more trucks have been out of service than the number of trucks that are operational.

“One of the things that was a problem in our extreme heat that we just had is some of the trucks don’t operate in that heat. They just don’t,” she said. “Also, it’s unsafe for the drivers because they don’t have A/C and they couldn’t be inside.”

Additionally, the high temperatures overheated some service trucks, preventing workers from refueling with compressed natural gas.

“At one time, we had not enough drivers and we had enough trucks, but we solved that problem of not having enough drivers with increased salaries and retention bonuses,” Lock Dawson said. “Now, our problem is the opposite. We have drivers but not enough trucks.”

Two neighbors spotted the dog walking nervously on the roof Friday night.

The neighbors knocked on the door to see if anyone was home but no one answered.

That’s when they decided to call 911.

It was not clear how the dog got onto the roof but firefighters say they were able to get the dog back into the house using some treats. 

Riverside is gearing up for a weekend full of family-friendly entertainment in the skies.

The Southern California March Airshow is April 22-23 at March Air Reserve Base southeast of Riverside.

The event is hosted by the U.S. Airforce Reserve, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary.

The show will feature demonstrations from the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, the Patriot Jet Team, the F-18 Super Hornet and more. A full list of the performers for this weekend can be found here.

Parking and general admission to the airshow is free. VIP experience options are available for purchase, starting at $75.

Gates are set to open at 8:30 a.m. with the show slated to begin at 10 a.m. both dates.

For more information visit socalairshow.com.

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The campus was locked down at about midday after witnesses reported a man armed with a knife and possibly a set of brass knuckles. Riverside police and sheriff’s deputies responded to the initial report and encountered the man, described as homeless, in a water canal or tunnel, according to Riverside Police.

“They eventually found him but the man took off running and eluded them for a bit,” said Riverside Police Officer Ryan Railsback.

About an hour later, officers found the man again, but he ran onto the campus and barricaded himself in a storm drain. Still armed with the knife, the man refused to surrender to police.

“As RCC officers went to physically contact him, the man ran further into the storm drain and eventually escaped through a manhole cover, but they did contact and arrest him a short time later behind a business off campus,” Railsback said.

The lockdown was lifted early Tuesday afternoon after police gave officials an “all clear” notice, the school said.

No injuries were reported. There were no reports of threats made to anyone on the campus in the 4800 block of Magnolia Avenue.

Located in downtown Riverside, the college serves about 30,000 students annually at its 108-acre campus.

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On Wednesday, police officers arrested Jackson, at a shopping center. He has several felony warrants for burglary and has been convicted several times on multiple felony charges. Investigators believe that Jackson is responsible for upwards of 70 commercial burglaries to local businesses, mostly within Riverside.

“He brought power tools with him to cut open a safe or whatever he was going to do,” said Brian Perrone, co-owner of D’Elias Grinders, a sandwich shop that was burglarized by Jackson on April 1. Perrone’s family owns the shop and said that the burglar stole cash and a Samsung tablet.

During a press conference on Wednesday, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco said that his jails are overcrowded, so he has to give early release to many non-violent felons to make room for violent ones. The problem is Assembly Bill 109, which diverts non-violent offenders from serving time in state prison to county jails.

Officer Ryan Railsback said the last time Jackson was sentenced, he pleaded guilty to 23 felonies and was given six sentences of 16 months each, but because of the laws, he won’t actually do prison time. Railsback said that Jackson spent only about ten days behind bars before being released.

“We actually believe since the last time he got out of jail, which was in November of 2022, he’s probably committed about 30 since then,” Railsback said.

Perrone said that the alleged thief is seemingly spending more time burglarizing businesses than spending time inside a jail cell. He urged the public to call the governor and state lawmakers to make an amendment to AB109 so habitual criminals are forced to serve prison time.

“It’s just ridiculous. There’s got to be a point where enough is enough and somebody stays in jail,” said Perrone.

If Jackson gets out early again, Railsback said they are going to send a community alert to business owners warning them that they could be targeted by the serial burglar.