Redlands News Weekly | Jan. 29, 2026
Agenda includes a public hearing on the keeping of hens in residential zones, commission and board appointments and a discussion of the Food Security Task Force.
A national general strike tied to protests over immigration enforcement is planned for Friday, with demonstrations in Redlands scheduled for Saturday.
Redlands News Weekly | Jan. 29, 2026
Redlands Unified school board members voted 3-2 Tuesday to authorize the elimination of more than 130 positions for the 2026–27 school year, a move that drew strong reaction from parents, educators and students.
District officials say the action is aimed at closing a projected $17 million budget deficit driven by several intersecting, long-term pressures, many of which trace back to the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nearly all of the positions identified are school-site, student-facing roles, including counselors, nurses, librarians, PE teachers and special education staff.
Read more on how the district got to this point — and what parents and staff are warning:
Stephanie Hastings Miranda
🍊 The Redlands City Council will meet on Feb. 3 to discuss whether to permit the keeping of hens in single-family residential districts, the Food Security Task Force and Block Grant projects to fund in 2026-27. Read more here:
Kathryne Mccann
🪧 Activists are calling for a nationwide general strike on Friday, Jan. 30, urging a day of no work, school or shopping in response to killings by federal immigration agents in Minnesota earlier this month. In the Redlands area, several locally owned businesses have announced plans to close in observance of the strike. Protests are also scheduled in Riverside on Friday and in downtown Redlands on Saturday. Local impacts on Redlands and the surrounding area are still taking shape. Read more here:
Stephanie Hastings Miranda
📊 Jobs report: The Inland Empire added 1,000 jobs in December as unemployment dipped to 5.1%, according to new state data. Much of the gain came from seasonal transportation and warehouse hiring tied to the holiday shopping rush. Economists caution, however, that the unemployment drop reflects seasonal patterns and a shrinking labor force rather than broad-based growth. Health care and local government continue to drive most long-term job gains, while construction and manufacturing lag. Read more here:
Community Forward Redlands
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🚨 A resident narrowly avoided being struck by a bullet fired from a neighboring apartment. Police later found multiple unsecured firearms accessible to a child. Other significant cases from Jan. 15 through Jan. 20 include a potential hate crime, a knife assault that led to a high-speed pursuit and multiple juvenile arrests involving stolen vehicles.
Community Forward Redlands
☕️ New in Downtown Redlands: RoadRunner Coffee
Desert-inspired design, organic brunch and a family-friendly vibe have arrived on State Street. RoadRunner Coffee co-owners and sisters-in-law Teresa Baguyo and Sierra Duro Baguyo reimagined the former café space to create a welcoming community gathering spot. With a full brunch menu, locally sourced baked goods and thoughtful details throughout, the women-owned coffee shop has quickly drawn crowds since opening last fall.
Read the full story on RoadRunner Coffee and the vision behind it here:
Siw Heede
Friday, Jan. 30
Saturday, Jan. 31
Sunday, Feb. 1
Check out more Redlands events here.
🥇 Citrus Valley makes history in girls wrestling: The Citrus Valley High School girls varsity wrestling team made school history this month, becoming the first female varsity team to win a Citrus Belt League championship. The Blackhawks clinched the title with a victory over Cajon High School in a league dual on Jan. 21. The milestone marks a major achievement for the program and for girls athletics at Citrus Valley.
Editor’s note: Community Forward Redlands is looking for a freelance sports reporter to help expand our local prep sports coverage. Interested? Email news@communityforwardredlands.com with a short introduction and any clips or writing samples.
In case you missed it... Family Paint and Donut Series returns to Redlands Feb. 7
Families are invited to spend their Saturday mornings painting, snacking and spending time together during the annual Family Paint and Donut Series at the Joe R. Gonzales Community Center. The free, drop-in program presented by Redlands Recreation will be held Saturdays on Feb. 7, Feb. 21, Feb. 28 and March 7 from 10 a.m. to noon at the community center, 111 W. Lugonia Ave.
Community Forward Redlands
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