Riverside Local Headlines: CARE Court update, wildfire readiness, and City Hall moves
Riverside, CA – February 26, 2026 – CARE Court marks two years, wildfire readiness ramps up, and City Hall decisions shift into early March.
Top local headlines
CARE Court reaches two-year milestone
A two-year check-in on Riverside County’s CARE Court program put new numbers on a still-new approach to helping people living with untreated severe mental illness. Local officials said 260 petitions have been filed in the county so far, with dozens of participants on active CARE plans and many more cases still moving through the process. The program is designed as a voluntary, court-supervised path to treatment and services for people with schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders, and referrals can be initiated by family members and others.
Looking ahead, county leaders also pointed to the planned Wellness Village in Mead Valley as a major addition to the region’s behavioral health and substance-use care capacity later this year.
Wildfire preparedness push as hazard zones expand
With more Riverside properties now flagged in higher fire-risk areas after a recent state map update, the city is urging residents to get ahead of defensible-space and home-hardening work. A key piece is free home assessments requested through the city’s 311 system, along with neighborhood-level efforts like forming Firewise communities. The reminders matter for homeowners in designated zones, where clearance requirements and inspections can come into play, including during home sales.
City Hall agendas: ethics concerns, safety upgrades, and public input
At City Council this week, residents raised concerns about oversight and decision-making, while one highly watched item, a Measure Z vote, was moved to an evening meeting on March 3. Separately, a corridor safety project on Mission Inn Avenue is moving forward with plans that include a raised median and high-friction surface treatment intended to reduce serious crashes.
Court and community notes
Regional public radio also flagged a court appearance scheduled for February 27 in Riverside involving a man described as a suspected federal agent, a case that has drawn local attention. And in campus politics, student journalists continued to debate the city’s earlier rejection of a state-funded supportive-housing proposal tied to a motel conversion near University Avenue.
Sources
https://www.raincrossgazette.com/riverside-news-february-26-2026/
https://www.raincrossgazette.com/riverside-news-february-25-2026/
https://www.kvcrnews.org/local-news/2026-02-26/2-26-kvcr-midday-news-moreno-valley-city-holds-special-meeting-about-city-malls-future-jacky-and-shadow-welcome-new-egg-suspected-ice-agent-set-to-appear-in-court-more
https://www.highlandernews.org/95647/riverside-city-council-stop-using-ucr-students-as-an-excuse/
