Redlands News Weekly | Feb. 19, 2026
Rules define legal e-bikes, limit sidewalk speeds and impose fines for unsafe riding.
Lincoln Memorial Shrine among more than two dozen institutions participating in annual Museums Free-for-All.
Redlands News Weekly | Feb. 19, 2026
Last month, Redlands Unified authorized up to 138 position reductions as it works to close a $20 million budget gap. Since then, many readers have asked: Why is this happening — and is there anything families can do?
This week, I sat down with district leaders to unpack one of the biggest variables affecting school funding: attendance. The takeaway is surprisingly simple: even a small increase in student attendance could generate millions in additional revenue and reduce the number of layoffs ultimately needed.
Here’s how attendance works, why even “excused” absences matter, and what families can do right now.
Read the full explainer below:
Stephanie Hastings Miranda
💧 Redlands City Council approved a $1.82 million allocation tied to a legal settlement involving alleged damage from the city-owned Mill Creek Zanja canal. The property transaction stems from a lawsuit filed in 2022 by property owner Miller & Associates LLC, alleging government infrastructure damaged its private property at 611 W Redlands Blvd. Read more about the agreement and property purchase here:
Stephanie Hastings Miranda
🚲 Redlands advances new e-bike safety rules. The Redlands City Council unanimously introduced an ordinance Tuesday night aimed at regulating electric bicycles, or e-bikes, on city and private property. Officials say complaints about unsafe riding — including wheelies, speeding on sidewalks and activity in parks and along the Orange Blossom Trail — have increased as e-bike use grows. If adopted, the ordinance would define legal e-bikes, ban “unsafe” riding, cap sidewalk speeds at 5 mph and impose fines of up to $2,000 for repeat violations. Read the full breakdown of what it means for riders here:
Stephanie Hastings Miranda
📣 Students from five Redlands Unified secondary schools walked out of class Friday afternoon to protest Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and call on the school board to listen to student concerns. About 450 students gathered at the intersection of Redlands Boulevard and Orange Street, also known as Peace Corner. Read more about the walkout here:
N. Wynter Muro
📚 A graphic novel sparked debate among RUSD school board members, leading to a discussion about how books enter district libraries and oversight. The book, “Gender Queer: A Memoir” by Maia Kobabe, had recently been added to a school library as a donation and has not yet been checked out. The board agreed to direct Superintendent Juan Cabral to develop a district-wide procedure to improve oversight of library materials. Read more here.
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🚔 The Redlands Police Department will conduct DUI screenings at 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20 through 1 a.m. Saturday at an undisclosed location chosen based on data showing incidents of impaired driving-related crashes. Read more here:
Community Forward Redlands
🚨 Redlands police weekly update: During the week of Feb. 5 - Feb. 12, Redlands police responded to incidents including a woman who fired a rifle at a perceived intruder, a series of vehicle burglaries, multiple DUI cases and drug investigations. Read more here:
Community Forward Redlands
🎨🌱 REACH Takes Root at Sylvan Park: A new community garden is sprouting in the southeast corner of Sylvan Park, and it’s about to become a hub for art, environmental learning and neighborhood connection. Built by volunteers and University of Redlands students, the garden will host free monthly workshops led by artists in the newly launched REACH residency program, a partnership between Artlands Creative, the university and the city of Redlands.
Read more about the community garden and meet the artists here:
Siw Heede
Community Forward Redlands
Friday, Feb. 20
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REV wrestler makes program history. Redlands East Valley High School senior Savannah “Vannah” Gutierrez has signed her National Letter of Intent to wrestle at Utah Tech University, becoming the first female wrestler in the program’s history to advance to the collegiate level. Coaches called the moment a milestone for REV athletics and a breakthrough for girls wrestling locally. Gutierrez will join the Division I Trailblazers this fall. Read more here:
Community Forward Redlands
Community Forward Redlands
Community Forward Redlands
In case you missed it... Award-winning authors and illustrators will headline the 29th annual Charlotte S. Huck Children's Literature Festival March 6-7. The festival offers professional development for educators and librarians while fueling enthusiasm for children's books. Read more about the festival here:
Siw Heede
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