Home About Articles Gallery Contact

Featured Articles

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

All Articles

The Riverside Record •

Riverside Partners With Tech Training Nonprofit As Part Of Push To Create Workforce Pipeline

Riverside officials have taken another step toward establishing a workforce development pipeline for jobs in emerging technologies and advanced manufacturing fields. 
The council voted 4-0 Tuesday to approve a non-binding collaboration with the nonprofit Institute for Veterans and Emerging Technology Skills (iVETS) and its for-profit counterpart StemWorx. 


The nonprofit iVETS would prioritize preparing veterans and underserved communities in the region to work in emerging fields like artifici...
The Riverside Record •

RUSD Vows Greater Transparency After Reviewing State Audit Findings

The Riverside Unified School District (RUSD) Board of Education Thursday vowed it would be more transparent with the public on how it plans to spend bond money after reviewing the findings of a state audit report on the now-shelved STEM academy expansion project. 
“Although we complied with the law, transparency, confusion and mistrust developed by not including new schools in the long-range facility plan and on the ballot,” Trustee Dale Kinnear said at the August 27 school board meeting. “Much...
The Riverside Record •

Dispatches From Riverside County: Center for Employment Opportunities

For almost a year, Miguel Castañeda has supervised a crew of people tasked with clearing piles of trash and overgrown weeds collected on the sides of the freeways across the Inland Empire. 
He loves his job and interacting with his team on a daily basis, he said, especially since he didn’t expect to ever have the opportunity. 


“I’m a former lifer,” Castañeda said, referring to a felony conviction that led to a life sentence. “Before, I used to be the ongoing problem, unfortunately, but now it...
The Riverside Record •

Riverside Proclaims Dell Roberts Day In Honor Of Longtime Community Leader

Residents filled every seat and covered almost every inch of the walls in the Riverside City Council chambers Tuesday as they came together to celebrate longtime community leader Dell Roberts.
“I want to thank everybody from the bottom of my heart,” Roberts said during the August 25 public meeting. “I’ve been in Riverside 81 years, and I came here when I was 9 years old, and I can truthfully say, unlike some others, I’ve never wanted to be [in] any other place.”


Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson pro...
The Riverside Record •

‘I’m Calling ICE Next’: Immigrant Rights Groups Call For Action Following Viral Video

Three Inland Empire immigrant rights organizations called on Riverside officials to take action to protect workers without permanent legal status after a viral video showed a person at a hair salon threatening to call immigration enforcement agents on people standing under the shade of a tree. 
“We want justice, and that means justice for the workers here, that means justice for the people that were recording, and that means justice for all undocumented workers in Riverside,” Eddie Torres, polic...
The Riverside Record •

RPOA Joins Other State Agencies In Opposing Bill To Restrict License Plate Reader Tech

The Riverside Police Officers’ Association (RPOA), the union representing most of the city’s officers, has joined other California law enforcement agencies to oppose a local state senator’s attempt to add restrictions on automated license plate reader (ALPR) technology. 
“Senate Bill 1013 is about one simple principle: Protecting the privacy of all Californians, immigrants and our most vulnerable communities while ensuring law enforcement tools are used responsibly,” Sen. Sabrina Cervantes (D-Ri...
The Riverside Record •

Campaign Finance Filings Show Large Gap In Riverside City Council Races

About a month after results for the June 2 primary election were certified, all 10 Riverside City Council candidates submitted their mid-year financial reports. 
Of the remaining Riverside City Council Ward 2 and 4 candidates who have moved on to the November 3 general election, records showed two candidates have outraised and outspent their competition by wide margins. 


The other six candidates, including those for Ward 6 where one candidate surpassed the 50% threshold required to win the se...
The Riverside Record •

Riverside, Housing Advocates Set To Meet For Mediation Amid State Civil Rights Probe

More than a dozen supporters of a rejected affordable housing project spoke during Tuesday’s Riverside City Council meeting, days before the state’s civil rights agency is set to hold mediation talks between city representatives and housing advocates.
“This week, you will have the opportunity to make a new decision, one that restores this much-needed housing initiative,” resident Ash Davis said at the August 11 meeting. “We can still house 100 people. 


“We can still have something that would...
The Riverside Record •

Riverside’s Healthy Lifestyle Initiative Ramping Up Efforts

After spending months grieving the untimely death of his husband, Jesus Lopez’s friend suggested he should sign up for the Mission Inn Run to help him break out of his routine. 
“It takes something like the passing of a loved one for you to really feel fearless,” Lopez said. “I was trying everything and anything, and I figured, ‘You know what? Yeah, let me at least try running a 5K.’”


With the help of a personal trainer, Lopez began preparing for his first 3.1 mile race, but felt like it wasn...
The Riverside Record •

Food Waste From LA Warehouse Fire Dumped In Corona Landfill

The Riverside County Department of Environmental Health said there have been no issues since Corona-based El Sobrante Landfill began taking in millions of pounds of rotten food from a Boyle Heights warehouse that caught fire in June.
“The waste that they’re bringing in is not hazardous — it is food waste — so that’s something that is assessed at the site before it’s even transported,” Sandi Salas, a spokesperson for the department, said. “As far as smells and odors, we have not had any smells or...
The Riverside Record •

Riverside Gathers Community Input On Future Of Cesar Chavez Community Center

Riversiders came to the table this week armed with ideas for renaming the Cesar E. Chavez Community Center on the city’s Eastside. 


“I think there were some noteworthy contributions, suggestions and names for the city to consider,” said Art Alcaraz, a Riverside Latino Network board member tasked with leading the group through the discussion. “I think the city’s got a lot of content that they can assess and weigh and figure out how they’re going to handle it.” 


The Riverside Parks, Recreati...
The Riverside Record •

Riverside’s Latino Neighborhoods Most Impacted By Year Of Immigration Enforcement, Advocates Say

Guadalupe Flores has spent the last year responding to reports of federal immigration enforcement actions across the Inland Empire. 


“I have vulnerable family members and, just unfortunately, my family got caught in the crossfire,” she said. “It’s just not something that I could allow to happen to other families after it happened to mine.”


Flores, a Riverside resident, is part of a small volunteer network of IE-based legal observers tasked with watching immigration enforcement activities,...
The Riverside Record •

Riverside Appoints Tom Hatch As Interim City Manager Amid Search For Permanent Replacement

The Riverside City Council Tuesday unanimously voted in closed session to appoint Tom Hatch as the interim city manager while the city continues its search for a permanent replacement.  Councilmembers Steve Hemenway and Chuck Conder were absent. 


“I’m so honored by your vote and trust that you put in me,” Hatch told the city council during its July 28 public meeting. “I’m going to work very hard to make you very proud of that vote and work very closely with you, and I’m excited about the oppo...
The Riverside Record •

Riverside Council Interviews Inspector General Candidates In Closed Session

The Riverside City Council this week moved closer to hiring its first inspector general, fulfilling an obligation mandated by voters almost two years ago.


The council met in back-to-back closed session meetings Monday and Tuesday to interview finalists for the role, though Councilmember Clarissa Cervantes announced there had been no reportable action either day. The council is scheduled to continue its discussion in closed session next week.


Maggie Tanner, principal human resources analyst...
The Riverside Record •

Riverside Council Allocates Federal Grant Funds To Senior Center Repairs, Park Upgrades

Four community spaces across the city will receive upgrades after the Riverside City Council voted unanimously to reallocate $1.2 million in unspent federal grant funding to the projects. 


Councilmember Steve Hemenway was absent, and Councilmember Clarissa Cervantes recused herself due to her home’s proximity to one of the projects.“Parks and community centers are some of our most important public assets, and many have gone far too long without the improvements they need,” Councilmember Steve...
The Riverside Record •

Riverside Approves 300-Unit Project On Former Scrap Metal Yard

Correction: A previous version of this story misidentified the Department of Toxic Substances Control as a federal agency instead of a state agency.


An empty scrap yard near the edge of the Eastside neighborhood will soon be turned into a 300-unit mixed-use development after the Riverside City Council unanimously approved the project. Councilmember Steve Hemenway was absent. 


“What’s happening here is very special,” Councilmember Clarissa Cervantes said at the July 14 public meeting, direc...
The Riverside Record •

Riverside Adopts Stricter Rules For Smoke Shops That Could Force Some To Close 

Riverside took another step in placing stricter rules on local drug sales after the council voted 4-1 Tuesday to adopt new regulations on smoke shops that could force some to close their doors. 


Councilmember Chuck Conder voted against the ordinance, Councilmember Luis Hernandez abstained from the vote and Councilmember Steve Hemenway was absent. 


“History has shown us that communities of color and low-income communities are the communities that are most likely targeted with smoke shops an...
The Riverside Record •

Preliminary Police Data Show Drones Caught 59 Riversiders Lighting Illegal Fireworks

Fifty-nine people in the city of Riverside were cited for illegal firework use during the Fourth of July weekend after being spotted by a police drone, according to a preliminary count by the Riverside Police Department (RPD).


Councilmember Sean Mill said an additional 24 were cited through “boots on the ground” efforts, which also led to the seizure of 51 pounds of fireworks. In total, he said, the city cited 83 people July 3-4. 


“Hopefully, next year, these 83 people won’t be shooting of...
The Riverside Record •

Magnolia Corridor Motel Challenges Court Receivership Decision

An attorney for the owner of a motel on Magnolia Avenue said he would continue fighting a court order to assign a third-party agent to take control of the property, which the city called “substandard and hazardous.” 


“From a practical standpoint, the citizens are losing on this,” Frank Weiser, the motel owner’s attorney, said. “We’re wasting a lot of time and money in court when it could be resolved. My clients are willing to meet the city halfway and get it resolved.” 


Last week, the city...
The Riverside Record •

Ward 6 Councilmember Luis Hernandez Sworn Into Office

The Riverside City Council held a special meeting Tuesday to swear in Luis Hernandez as the new Ward 6 council member, a role he will fill for the next four years. 


“I’m happy that the first Latino city council member here in Ward 6 is a [working-class] resident, someone who’s lived in the area for a long period of time [and] who knows the culture,” Hernandez said. “I take pride in that, and I’m happy, and I’m sure a lot of the residents are as well.” 


Residents, city staff and relatives f...
The Riverside Record •

RUSD’s Adopted Budget Shows Increased State Funding, Final Year Of Deficit Spending

The Riverside Unified School District (RUSD) Board of Education Thursday voted unanimously to adopt its annual budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year, which starts July 1. 


Nickie Hoff, the district’s director of business services, said RUSD is expected to bring in $816 million in revenue and spend $846 million over the upcoming fiscal year.


“We have budgeted to spend 86.2%, or $732.6 million of our dollars directly on students and classroom support,” Hoff told the trustees at the June 25 meet...
The Riverside Record •

Riverside Vows To Reform CEDD Amid Internal Reports Alleging Toxic Work Environment 

The city of Riverside said it plans to reform its Community and Economic Development Department (CEDD) after a 14-month internal investigation, made public last week, found the  former director created a hostile work environment and former City Manager Mike Futrell contributed “through his actions and inaction.”


“These findings are deeply concerning and make clear that action is necessary,” Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson said in a statement. “Our employees and residents deserve a city government...
The Riverside Record •

Riverside Council Adopts Budget, Cites Concerns With Long-Term Stability

The Riverside City Council Tuesday voted 6-1 to adopt the biennial budget. Councilmember Philip Falcone was the sole dissenter.


The council approved a $1.57 billion total budget for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins July 1, and a $1.59 billion budget for the year after that. The budgets include the city’s operating budget and planned capital projects.


Deputy Finance Director Sergio Aguilar said the adopted budget, an increase from this year’s amended $1.53 billion budget, showed the c...
The Riverside Record •

Riverside Police Department Rolling Out New AI-Powered Body Cameras

Correction: This story has been updated to reflect that Councilmember Clarissa Cervantes abstained from the vote to approve a five-year $1.66 million contract with Motorola Solutions.


The Riverside Police Department (RPD) is set to receive new body cameras equipped with several artificial intelligence (AI) features to assist officers in their work. 


“It will definitely help our officers in reducing report writing time and allowing our officers to get back onto the field,” Police Chief Larr...
Load More