Riverside Daily Local Headlines: Measure Z Vote, Transit Changes, Wind Advisory

Top story: Measure Z sales tax question headed for the June ballot

Riverside City Council voted unanimously to ask voters on June 2 to raise the city’s Measure Z sales tax from 1% to 1.25% and extend it without an end date, with the stated goal of boosting fire staffing and other emergency services.

City leaders pointed to slower-than-target response times and a staffing gap compared with national benchmarks. If approved, the change would add about 25 cents per $100 of taxable purchases, while keeping exemptions for essentials like groceries, gas, prescriptions, and medical devices.

Transit: RTA opens public comment on proposed 2026–27 bus schedule changes

Riverside Transit Agency released a package of proposed service adjustments that would take effect in September 2026. The plan pairs the removal of low-ridership trips on several routes with additions meant to strengthen evening and late-night coverage.

RTA is collecting comments through May 22, with a public hearing scheduled for May 28 at the Riverside County Administration Center. Among the proposals: new late-night weekend trips on Route 1 serving Downtown and UCR.

County government: Supervisors approve steps tied to Palo Verde Hospital stabilization

At the Riverside County Administration Center, the Board of Supervisors ratified a set of stabilization actions connected to Palo Verde Hospital in Blythe, including funding and governance steps tied to Medi-Cal program deadlines.

The county said the actions secure roughly $9.9 million in program funding to support hospital operations, with most of that already received. A Riverside University Health System-led team has been providing temporary operational support under a defined, time-limited plan.

Weather watch: Wind advisory posted for parts of Riverside County overnight

A wind advisory was issued for Wednesday evening into early Thursday, with stronger gusts expected in mountain and pass areas. Drivers of high-profile vehicles are urged to use extra caution, and residents should secure outdoor items in case of downed branches or brief outages.

Sources

https://www.raincrossgazette.com/riverside-news-february-25-2026-2/
https://www.riversidetransit.com/index.php/news-a-publications/latest-news/1013-a-guide-to-rtas-2026-2027-proposed-changes
https://rivco.org/news/riverside-board-supervisors-ratifies-stabilization-actions-and-addresses-palo-verde-healthcare
https://patch.com/california/banning-beaumont/rivco-could-see-wind-gusts-60-mph-wednesday-night