By Dennis J. Freeman Two-times NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard has arrived back home where he started his basketball roots. After leading the Toronto Raptors to their first NBA title, Leonard, who starred at Canyon Springs High School (Moreno Valley) and Martin Luther King High School in Riverside during his prep days, is now an ...

By Dianne Anderson Parents everywhere this week are probably thinking the same thing – what happened to all the money? Thousands of smartly dressed local kids are trekking back to school, and coming out of pocket for backpacks is at least one less thing parents have to worry about. Amanda Vann, SMAART program coordinator with ...

By Dianne Anderson Nothing quite raises the blood pressure like sinking under bad credit problems, or having to come up with tens of thousands of dollars to get through the homebuyer process. Or, probably worst of all, losing a home to imminent foreclosure. With that in mind, National Investment Division – Housing Counseling Agency San ...

Teen Panel to Lead Conversations on Race, Ethnicity, Gender Identity, Immigration Status Let’s Talk! Ethnic and racial tensions and discrimination are raging in our communities and schools. “Racism is hidden in plain sight,” states a prominent student from John W. North High School. Other students assert: “Racism is one of the biggest issues… People don’t ...

By Dianne Anderson Out walking the wards of Riverside, local Ward 3 city council candidate Jalani Bakari is hearing some recurrent concerns on the street, such as access to affordable housing and the growing homeless population. Traffic complaints are also coming up loud and clear. “We need better off-ramps, we definitely need to deal with ...

By Dianne Anderson What part of sexual assault is hard to understand? At least at the teenage level, probably most of it. Debbie Sacks, a longtime educator, past teacher, and principal, said students and parents usually go through the motions of signing off on an agreement at school stating they know the rules, that any ...

By Dianne Anderson All high school students looking for free money for college, and all nonprofits that want to learn where and how to get their next round of grant funding need not look far. The Community Foundation serving Riverside and San Bernardino Counties recently announced the opening of scholarship season. Financially shrewd takers are ...

By Dianne Anderson Never underestimate the power of the Black Student Union, the student group responsible for starting the Black History Month parade in Riverside 40 years ago. This year, Dell Roberts reflects on the major role that his BSU kids took upon themselves to get their vision off the ground. They represented an untapped ...

By Dianne Anderson Some people pay a lot of money for health and wellness coaches, stress management classes, Zumba and POP Pilates, Tai Chi, or any of the many other classes offered up free of charge at several locations across Riverside city. Participants just need to log in to the Riverside Community Health Foundation calendar ...

By Dianne Anderson Different modes of celebration this month will keep Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy alive beyond the holiday, the street festivals, and twirling of batons — although that too holds its place in history. Bishop Kelvin Simmons, acting president of the Inland Empire Concerned African American Churches, said MLK’s legacy continues in ...