Remote Surveillance Trailer in Riverside, CA

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — Hundreds of properties in Riverside County are set to hit the auction block next month.

The Office of the Treasurer-Tax Collector is partnering with hosting site Bid4Assets.com to conduct the internet-based auction of 826 tax-defaulted homes and vacant parcels.

The sale begins April 23 and concludes April 28. See a map of available properties here or visit www.countytreasurer.org/tc-223 and click on Parcel List-PDF.

To view more details about each available property, use the Riverside County Assessor-Clerk-Recorder's search tool here. The search tool requires a property address or a nine-digit property ID number (PIN).

Registration and a deposit (plus a $35 non-refundable processing fee) are required to participate in the sale. Deposits must be received by Bid4Assets no later than 4 p.m. April 20. All deposits to non-winning bidders will be refunded via eCheck within 10 business days after the close of this auction, according to Bid4Assets.

To encourage participation in the auction, 25 parcels will have a minimum bid of $100, and four will have a minimum bid of $500.

For bidders without internet access, contact Bid4Assets at 877-427-7387 to obtain an offline bidding form.

"The purpose of offering tax-defaulted properties is to collect unpaid taxes and return the property to a revenue-generating status by conveying the property to another owner, or motivating the (assessed party) to redeem," according to the county.

Under state law, before a property under lien can be sold off, it must be held in abeyance for at least five years.

This will mark the 14th year that the county has turned to internet-based auctioning for its entire portfolio of assets with liens.

"Our office is committed to delivering a tax sale process that is transparent, secure, and efficient," said Matthew Jennings, Riverside County Treasurer-Tax Collector. "The online auction format modernizes the experience, increases participation, and makes bidding more accessible than ever."

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — Stay cool, Southern California. It's officially still winter, but the thermometer is about to tell otherwise, and that's been the story of winter 2025-26.

The last few days of winter — spring begins March 20 — will likely confirm that this normally cool season is the warmest on record in Southern California.

A very hot, dry upper-level ridge is forecast to move over the region this week, bringing daytime high temperatures approaching 100 degrees across the inland valleys, according to the National Weather Service.

"Record high temperatures [are] expected for several locations Thursday and Friday," the agency reported. "Flow turns weakly onshore for the weekend, which may provide some relief to coastal areas. However, most of Southern California remains hot and dry through the weekend.

"Another (potentially stronger) ridge will begin to take shape by early next week with more record high temperatures currently in the forecast," the NWS continued.

A heat advisory is in effect across the Southland from 10 a.m. Thursday until 8 p.m. Friday.

During the period, daytime high temperatures are expected to reach the mid-90s in the Inland Valleys and mid- to low 80s in the mountains.

For those wanting to escape the heat by heading to the beach, don't expect a lot of relief.

Temperatures are forecast in the upper 80s to near 90 for the coast. The probability of exceeding 85 degrees on Thursday and Friday this week is 80% for downtown San Diego, according to the NWS.

Looking ahead to next week, weather models indicate another upper ridge from the west.

"Therefore, there is high confidence in well-above-normal temperatures and dry conditions to continue through next week," according to the NWS. "In fact, there is some indication that temperatures next week could be even higher than what is forecast for this week. However, exactly how hot it will be and for how long is still to be determined."

If you think this winter feels like the warmest on record, you would be right. From December 2025 through February 2026, all Southern California counties experienced their highest average temperatures ever recorded for the three-month period dating back to 1896, according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

"The West and Southwest each experienced their warmest winter on record, while the Northwest, Northern Rockies and Plains as well as the South each ranked second warmest," according to a March 9 NOAA report.

The anomaly was the Northeast. The region was cooler than average, ranking in the lowest third of its historical record.

Overall, this meteorological winter (December through February) ranked as the second-warmest in the contiguous U.S., according to NOAA.

The program remains one of the state's most important ways to celebrate exceptional schools, districts, teachers, and classified employees.

SACRAMENTO — California's most "Distinguished Schools" were announced Tuesday, and 15 Riverside County campuses are on the list.

The California Distinguished Schools Program recognizes exceptional schools that demonstrate exemplary student outcomes. For 2026, 408 middle and high schools across California made the list, including these Riverside County campuses:

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond said all the campuses selected for the program worked to "move the needle for student achievement, no matter what."

He continued, "An excellent public education has the power to transform lives, and I commend the educators and school communities who have dedicated themselves to producing exemplary results. This year’s California Distinguished Schools represent the hard work of our middle and high school educators and school staff, who provide our secondary students with life-changing educational opportunities."

The California Distinguished Schools Program was launched in 1983, and it remains one of the state’s most important ways to celebrate exceptional schools, districts, teachers, and classified employees for their innovation, talent, and success in supporting students.

California has the largest public school system in the United States.

The 2026 California Distinguished Schools, along with 2025 California Blue Ribbon Schools, 2026 Green Achievers, 2026 Exemplary Dual Enrollment Award Schools, and 2025 Civic Learning Awards of Excellence, will be recognized at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim on April 24.

From Diamond Valley Lake to the region's Wildflower Festival planned for Saturday, here's what's happening this weekend.

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — Wildflowers are blooming and across Riverside County, experts offer some great ideas on where to enjoy them.

The 19th annual Coachella Valley Wildflower Festival will take place Saturday at Civic Center Park Saturday, from 9 a.m. through 4 p.m. at 43900 San Pablo Avenue. Here, community members have the opportunity to learn and enjoy the region's desert environment. The event is hosted by Friends of the Desert Mountains.

The nonprofit's Executive Director, Tammy Martin, discussed the bloom in a statement.

"We've had the kind of winter rains that get us excited," Martin said. "It may not be a full super bloom, but conditions are lining up for a really beautiful wildflower season -- and the festival is the perfect way to kick it off."

The free, family-friendly event will feature native plants, hands-on activities, art vendors, food vendors and an environmental education area for children and families.

More information can be found at www.desertmountains.org.

Also available for wildflower blooming in Riverside County is the k Judy Abdo Wildflower Trail at Diamond Valley Lake.

The 1.3-mile path is available for trekking from Wednesdays to Sundays from 6:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Starting March 8, access will be permitted until 5:30 p.m.Trailhead parking passes run $11, and the trail access fee is $4.

"Thanks to the late fall and early winter storms, colorful blooms are already dotting the hillsides above the reservoir," the MWD said in a statement Wednesday. "Visitors can typically expect to see vibrant California poppies, deep blue arroyo lupines, purple Canterbury bells, yellow rancher's fiddleneck, delicate white popcorn flowers and pink red maids."

Anza Borrego is seeing its share of wildflowers in 2026, however. With the rapid warming weather, the desert wildflowers are bursting, according to the Anza Borrego Foundation. They released a wildflower viewing map for those who want to head to the desert to photograph and see the blooms.

Near Diamond Valley Lake, however, the vast Judy Abdo Wildflower Trail abutting Diamond Valley Lake is part of the Southwestern Riverside County Multi-Species Reserve, encompassing 9,000 acres of protected space.

This pathway runs in a loop and can be accessed from the DVL Marina parking area, near the intersection of Domenigoni and Searl parkways, according to the MWD.

"It's rated as an easy-to-moderate hike with some rugged terrain," the MWD stated. "Along the route, visitors are treated not only to seasonal colors but also panoramic views of the Southland's largest drinking water reservoir."

The agency emphasized that hikers must obey all the rules of the preserve.

"Wildflowers must not be picked, and guests are asked to remain on designated trails to protect sensitive habitat and wildlife," according to the MWD. "Rattlesnakes are common in the area, particularly during warmer months, and hikers should remain alert."

Rangers will close access on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Additional information is available at www.dvmarina.com