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Los Angeles Times •

In the Coachella Valley, a team of middle school girls is helping keep escaramuza alive 

COACHELLA, Calif. — Donning a bright red Adelita dress, a large beige sombrero and a silky bow tied to her hair, Rashel Zamorez rode her horse Bombón up to the starting line.She was preparing to compete in a friendly, untimed carrera con giros — an event in which riders guide their horses at top speed around a circular arena while completing three rotations at designated intervals.The race was the last act of her team’s performances, meant to show off their new skills to a small crowd of relativ...
Los Angeles Times •

The Chicano artist melting ice blocks in Riverside has a bigger story to tell

Some SoCal residents spent their summer at the beach, or at their local rooftop pool; others spent it indoors, hiding from ICE agents. It’s why Riverside artist Perry Picasshoe spent his summer documenting the melting of 36 ice blocks on sidewalks across the Inland Empire.He traveled to nine locations, a mix of parks, storefronts and gas stations, where immigration enforcement raids have taken place in the past few weeks. In each spot, he placed four 25-pound ice blocks on the ground and took ph...
Los Angeles Times •

After decades in prison, he transformed himself into the Inland Empire's homeboy news anchor

In prison and seemingly unable to escape a destructive cycle that began when he was a child, Ahmed Bellozo spent hours watching investigative journalism shows, educational documentaries and Huell Howser’s homespun travelogue, “California’s Gold.” It was a way, he said, to distract from his pain.Years later, out of prison and wanting a drastic change in his life, Bellozo turned to those shows for inspiration as he reinvented himself on social media as the star of “On the Tira” — a video series th...
Los Angeles Times •

Regional Mexican acts contributed millions of dollars at L.A.’s venues post-pandemic

During the final night of Grupo Firme’s 2021 stint of seven sold-out shows at what was then called Staples Center, frontman Eduin Caz launched into “En Tu Perra Vida” — “In Your Bitch Life” — by singing its chorus a capella.Standing in the back and wearing matching white Dodgers-inspired jerseys that read “Gracías L.A.,” the rest of the septet waited for Caz to finish before joining in. The crowd exploded with cheers and applause. “It was like a party happening onstage,” recalled Hallie Yavitch,...
KQED •

Tio's Tacos, a 30-Year Journey of Authentic Mexican Cuisine and Recycled Art

“I saw an opportunity in the garbage, in recycling,” Sanchez said. “I don’t have money to buy materials, but I have bottles. I have cans. I have what the restaurant throws away.”

Sanchez’s love for his hometown of Sahuayo, in the Mexican state of Michoacánis, is reflected in many of his pieces.

“Here we have ‘The Dance of the Old Men,’” Martín said as he pointed to a statue of traditional folk dancers in his back patio. “I always wanted to create different spaces. If you notice here, this dini
KQED •

Salvadoran American Voters in San Francisco Divided Over Tough-on-Crime Approach

Salvadorans are the second-largest Latino population in San Francisco, and with concerns about rising crime throughout the city, the idea of voting for a more law-and-order-leaning candidate is a political force in the community. Bukele’s popularity, however, has also moved progressives in the area to mobilize against the Salvadoran president’s influence abroad and in San Francisco.

Calderon, 73, is firmly in the law-and-order camp. She recounted the danger she faced in El Salvador from both it
Golden Gate Xpress •

Profesores de CFA participan en huelga en SFSU para un mejor contrato laboral

Daniel Hernandez (he/him) is a transfer student from the Inland Empire majoring in bilingual journalism. He also oversees Golden Gate Xpress' Spanish section. His passion for storytelling and journalism started after he bought his first camera six years ago. What began as a fascination for taking photos and videos grew into a passion for multimedia journalism. When he isn't researching for an article or working as the Spanish editor, he explores the Bay Area or falls down a YouTube rabbit hole.
Golden Gate Xpress •

Live Updates: CSU Board of Trustees votes to increase tuition

California State Student Association president Dominic Quan Treseler and students sitting in the meeting walk out.

The proposed amendment to reduce the five year tuition increase to four years fails 8-12.

Student trustee Diana Aguilar-Cruz has motioned to reduce the five-year hike proposal to four years as a way to compromise on students paying up to $7,682 by fall 2028. With this proposed amendment, tuition would be raised by $7,248 by fall 2027.

However, trustee Jack McGrory believes that t

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The Riverside Record •

RUSD To Hold Additional Meetings In 2026 To Study Student Achievement Data

After originally proposing to hold three fewer meetings next year, the Riverside Unified School District (RUSD) Board of Education voted 4-2 December 18 to instead add seven workshops to the 2026 meeting calendar.


This change came after Trustee Dale Kinnear pushed for adding the meetings over concerns about not having enough time to dive deep into complex topics around student achievement. 


“It’s not sufficient to say that we can or will add some special study sessions,” Kinnear said at th...
The Riverside Record •

A Century Of Peace: Riverside Residents Celebrate Mt. Rubidoux Landmark

As a child, longtime Riverside resident John VanDenburgh began climbing Mt. Rubidoux and interacting with the small stone tower located near the top. 


“I lived at the base of Mt. Rubidoux when we moved to Riverside, so for me, it really was a respite,” VanDenburgh said. “If I was having a rough day or I just needed some time to reflect, I used to have some spots I would sit, and the Peace Tower was one of those.”


Decades later, VanDenburgh still walks up the city’s historic hill on an almo...
The Riverside Record •

Riverside Launches App-Based Rewards Pilot Program To Support Local Businesses

Riverside shoppers are now able to earn rewards for shopping or dining at 500 different local shops through Open Rewards, a free mobile app.


The Riverside City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to approve the one-year pilot program, run by Bludot Technologies, for a total cost of $55,940. Councilmember Steve Hemenway was absent.


“As we are, more and more, seeing people shop online, it’s becoming harder for the city to be involved in that economic development process,” Councilmember Steven...
The Riverside Record •

Riverside City Council Approves Changes To Ethics Board Procedures 

The Riverside City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to approve revisions to the city’s code of ethics, which includes a change in how the community-led board responsible for overseeing allegations of ethical misconduct reviews evidence prior to an official hearing. Councilmembers Steve Hemenway and Clarissa Cervantes were absent.


The change was approved as part of the required annual review process. Councilmember Philip Falcone, who chairs the Governmental Processes Committee (GPC), explaine...
The Riverside Record •

Dispatches From Riverside County: Sofie Star

While standing next to her booth December 4 on downtown Riverside’s Main Street, local arts vendor Sofia Tsakanias admitted she recently broke a three-month streak of not making a sale.


“I actually lost money, because I paid for the booth,” Tsakanias said. “I’m so passionate about my art, I want this to be my whole life so bad that I don’t even care that I’m not making a lot.”


The 19-year-old Riverside native is one of dozens of local artisans who regularly participate in Riverside Artswal...
The Riverside Record •

Riverside City Council Designates Shareholder Representatives For 5 Local Water Companies 

The Riverside City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to give city staff positions, including the Riverside Public Utilities’ (RPU) general manager, the power to vote as shareholders on behalf of the city in the Gage Canal Water Company and four other Inland Empire-based water service systems. 


It’s part of a process the council undertakes annually to allow a representative, also called a shareholder proxy, to vote in each company’s annual board elections. The proxy is also able to make board...
The Riverside Record •

Festival Of Lights Kicks Off In Riverside, Honors Late Hotel Owner Weeks After Death

The city of Riverside kicked off the holiday season last night with a switch-on ceremony for the Mission Inn Hotel and Spa’s annual Festival of Lights.


“Oh my God, they were so beautiful,” Olga Leon, a longtime Riverside resident, said minutes after the hotel illuminated downtown Riverside’s night sky for the first time this year. 


Leon was just one of thousands of people who filled Mission Inn Avenue November 22 to celebrate the start of the 33rd annual Festival of Lights. More than 10 mi...
The Riverside Record •

Riverside City Council Approves $16M Animal Services Contract With County

The Riverside City Council this week voted 5-2 to approve an updated three-year, $16.8 million agreement with the Riverside County Department of Animal Services (RCDAS) to cover rising operating costs as the agency works to lower its euthanasia rate.This vote came after some council members took issue with the increased cost and the contract’s language requiring the city to pay an hourly rate for meetings with county staff that go over the allotted time. Councilmembers Philip Falcone and Chuck C...
The Riverside Record •

Riverside City Council Votes To Create Inspector General Role

One year after residents overwhelmingly voted in support of its creation, the city of Riverside is one step closer to appointing a local government watchdog.


The Riverside City Council voted 6-1 Tuesday to formally create the Office of the Inspector General, which would serve as a neutral party responsible for investigating fraud, waste and abuse within the city.


“I want to emphasize, this is a starting point,” Councilmember Steven Robillard said at the November 18 meeting. “This is litera...
The Riverside Record •

Riverside Residents Encouraged To Apply For City Boards, Commissions

With the November 14 deadline fast approaching, the city of Riverside is encouraging residents to apply to fill open seats on a majority of its community-led commissions for the next four years.


“We have an open recruitment now for positions for a number of different boards and commissions,” Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson said in a video posted to social media. “We would love to have your help, helping us make decisions on boards and commissions.” 


There are vacancies, both current and upcomin...
The Riverside Record •

Tim Strack Park Opens In Riverside’s Arlanza Neighborhood

Riverside resident Cristina Escobar decided to move into the Arlanza neighborhood 12 years ago after falling in love with the idea of living in a house next to a long, grass-filled neighborhood park.


Now, the mother of two said she’s even happier with her decision after attending the city’s event unveiling the estimated $3 million renovation to the once-empty space.


“Overnight, we started to see machines and people working, and it was really fast and it turned out really beautiful,” Escoba...
The Riverside Record •

RUSD Schools Get Upgraded Playgrounds, New HVAC Systems

Riverside Unified School District (RUSD) has completed almost half of the 48 districtwide maintenance projects slated for completion between 2024 and 2026.


That’s according to a report shown at Thursday night’s board meeting highlighting the finished upgrades and upcoming repairs across several of RUSD’s campuses.


“I’ve been with the district for 29 years and, [in] all of those years, we’ve done maybe three [or] four projects [per year] and we were very proud of that,” Reggie Royster, the...
The Riverside Record •

Test Scores Up At Riverside Unified, But Not Yet At Pre-Pandemic Levels

Students at Riverside Unified School District (RUSD) have shown improvement in English language arts and math exams compared to previous years but still lag behind pre-pandemic scores, according to data released last month.


In English, 47% of RUSD students scored at or above the benchmark, while in math, 33% reached the state standard on the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress. Both scores were slight improvements from the year before. 


“We are encouraged by the stead...
The Riverside Record •

Riverside Redirects $100k To Local Food Pantry To Help Residents Amid Federal Government Shutdown

The Riverside City Council November 4 voted unanimously to redirect $100,000 from the city’s senior rental assistance fund to the Salvation Army’s emergency food program. The money, according to a report to the council, would go to help Riverside residents, like federal employees and food aid recipients, impacted by the shutdown.


“This just simply demonstrates what we can do at the local level,” Councilmember Jim Perry said at the November 4 meeting. “Not only by working together, [but] by do...
The Riverside Record •

Thousands Flock To Downtown Riverside For Annual Day Of the Dead Festival

Standing next to a pile of uncut marigolds and a few boxes filled with decorations, Alondra Paredes and her family put the finishing touches on an intricately designed ofrenda. Paredes and her relatives had been preparing the altar’s layout since June, setting aside time on the weekends to perfect every last detail. 


The final product was a multilayered table filled with photos of late loved ones and trinkets bought in Mexico over the years in front of a papel picado-inspired backdrop that st...
The Riverside Record •

Riverside City Council Talks Funding For New Water Treatment Facilities

The Riverside City Council Tuesday voted unanimously to set aside lawsuit settlement funds and further discuss new monthly water bill fees to pay for the construction and yearly maintenance cost of three new water treatment facilities. Councilmember Chuck Conder was absent.


The decision came as city officials work to decrease the amount of synthetic chemicals in the city’s water supply to comply with looming federal regulations. 


“The city has been doing everything we can to deal with this...
The Riverside Record •

Riverside Council Pushes Vote On Inspector General Role To November

The Riverside City Council voted 4-3 this week to delay the creation of the Office of the Inspector General until next month after Councilmember Steven Robillard, who headed the subcommittee tasked with establishing the parameters of the office, requested an extension.


“It’s just little keyword changes that we would like to do,” Robillard said at the October 21 meeting. “When you are doing little keyword changes, it’s very difficult to do that from the dais as we kind of talk in general terms...
The Riverside Record •

Riverside Council Extends Temporary Moratorium On New Tobacco Retail Permits

The Riverside City Council Tuesday voted unanimously to extend the temporary pause on new tobacco retail permits for another 10 months and 15 days.


The extension, according to Deputy Chief Charles Payne, would give staff more time to study the city’s current regulations, develop new regulatory tools and reach out to impacted communities for feedback. 


“I’ll tell you that those discussions have already started,” Payne said at the October 21 meeting. “We’re working with community stakeholder...
The Riverside Record •

RUSD Gets Update On Mahmoud Opt-Out Policy

The Riverside Unified School District Board of Education last week received an update on an opt-out policy that allows parents to pull their children from required lessons where fictional LGBTQ+ characters or themes are the main focus.


Daniel Sosa, the district’s assistant superintendent, said the district’s policy was created in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s June decision in Mahmoud v. Taylor where the court’s conservative majority sided with Maryland parents who wanted to be able to...
The Riverside Record •

Thousands Rally Against Trump Administration At Riverside ‘No Kings’ Protest

Wendy Rodriguez and her husband, Armando, stood together on Mission Inn Avenue in downtown Riverside for hours on Saturday to protest President Donald Trump and his administration’s actions.


They have been frustrated with the country’s treatment of immigrants, citing the increase in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids. They were also worried about the future of their young daughter, Aubrey, believing that her democratic freedoms were at risk.


“That’s what’s really importan...
The Riverside Record •

RUSD Adopts AI Guidelines As It Moves To Implement Tech In Classrooms

The Riverside Unified School District Board of Education unanimously approved a new policy at Thursday night’s meeting setting guidelines for the use of artificial intelligence (AI) by staff and students.


“Students are using AI constantly,” Jessica Salas, the board’s student trustee, said. “I think that it’s great, because we need to teach responsibility, instead of saying things like, ‘Don’t use it at all,’ because it’s going to happen anyway.”


The policy sets nine principles the district...
The Riverside Record •

Riverside Approves Resolution Encouraging More Transparency From Federal Immigration Agents

The Riverside City Council Tuesday night voted 4-3 to adopt a resolution encouraging transparency for federal immigration officials while tasking Riverside police with monitoring the agents within city limits. 


Council members Clarissa Cervantes, Sean Mill, Philip Falcone and Steve Hemenway voted in favor, while council members Jim Perry, Steve Robillard and Chuck Conder voted against.


“Your taxpayer dollars fund this city,” Cervantes, who championed the effort, said at the October 14 spec...
The Riverside Record •

RUSD Highlights Student Success, Digital Innovation At State Of The District

Riverside Unified School District (RUSD) has one of the top graduation rates in the county, saw a 5% drop in chronic absenteeism year-over-year and has a number of campuses that have been recognized locally and by the state.


That’s according to new RUSD Superintendent Sonia Llamas, who highlighted the district’s achievements at Thursday evening’s State of the District event, her first since taking on the role in July. 


“This success is not because our work is easy,” Llamas said to the crow...
The Riverside Record •

‘It’s Really Significant’: Celebrating 50 Years Of Riverside City Hall

After spending years researching the history of Riverside City Hall, months planning its celebration and countless days writing a book on the building, Councilmember Philip Falcone took to the Benjamin Franklin stage in downtown Riverside to talk about the importance of celebrating the city’s headquarters. 


“I urge all of you to think about the symbol for what city halls, in general, stand for and what they mean,” Falcone said in his Monday speech to the crowd. “It’s really about these local...
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