Riverside Daily Local Headlines: Election probe, Mission Inn Avenue safety work, DUI checkpoint results

Riverside wrapped up a busy midweek with public safety and civic trust in the spotlight, plus a big infrastructure move aimed at cutting crashes near a key gateway into the city.

1) Sheriff’s office confirms election irregularities investigation

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office says it has opened an investigation into alleged irregularities tied to a recent special statewide election. County leaders and the registrar of voters said they’re cooperating, while investigators have declined to discuss specific allegations until the review is complete. The dispute centers on claims about differences between ballots cast and ballots counted, with county election officials disputing the scale of the discrepancy.

2) Mission Inn Avenue safety upgrade approved near Buena Vista Bridge

City officials approved a contract to add a raised median and a high-friction surface treatment on Mission Inn Avenue between Scout Lane and Redwood Drive, a segment flagged in local safety data as a collision priority. The work is intended to reduce head-on and fixed-object crashes near the Riverside-Jurupa Valley gateway, building on a prior traffic pilot that limited certain movements from University Avenue. The same corridor is also preparing for a replacement project for the aging Mission Boulevard Bridge to the north, with construction expected to start this spring.

3) DUI checkpoint yields citations in Jurupa Valley

A late-night DUI checkpoint at Mission Avenue and Pedley Road screened more than 200 vehicles, according to authorities. Deputies reported one arrest for driving with a suspended license, along with multiple citations for unlicensed driving and at least one vehicle impound. Results like these are typically used to justify continued saturation patrols and checkpoints on major east-west routes that feed into Riverside.

Quick look ahead

• In court: A federal agent is expected to appear in Riverside on Friday, according to a local midday news roundup.
• On campus: UC Riverside listed midday wellness workshops and weekend programming, including a free Botanic Gardens activity.

Sources

https://www.kvcrnews.org/2026-02-26/riverside-county-sheriffs-office-investigating-alleged-election-irregularities
https://www.raincrossgazette.com/riverside-news-february-26-2026/
https://patch.com/california/banning-beaumont/dui-checkpoint-riverside-county-results-1-arrest-16-citations
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://events.ucr.edu/