Among those charged are Bryan Omar Roa, 24, of Calimesa, and Michael Alan Thomas, 32, of Pinon Hills. Also named in the case are Tycen C. Proper, 19, of Danville, Ohio; Daniel K. Eskridge, 32, of Kidder, Missouri; and Abraham Hermosillo Alvarez, 31, of Omaha, Nebraska.

 According to federal prosecutors, the group conspired to organize an attack during the UFC Freedom 250 event, allegedly planning to use drones equipped with explosives to trigger panic and force an evacuation. Investigators said the suspects then intended to position snipers to target selected individuals as crowds fled the area.

 The FBI said it became aware of the alleged threat on June 10 and launched an investigation that ultimately led to the arrests and charges.

 Court documents describe a mixture of anti-government beliefs, antisemitic rhetoric and conspiracy theories among members of the group. Investigators said some participants expressed anger over the federal government’s handling of files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and promoted claims involving secret elites controlling the government.

 “Protecting the President of the United States and the White House grounds is priority number one for the U.S. Secret Service,” Secret Service Director Sean Curran said in a statement. “The landscape has changed, and as a result we have seen a dramatic rise in threats against our protectees.”

 Authorities said the investigation gained momentum after Proper’s mother contacted law enforcement with concerns about her son’s recent firearm purchases and online activity.

 Federal investigators allege members of the group communicated through encrypted messaging platforms, where discussions reportedly included targeting elected officials, business leaders and critical infrastructure such as power grids.

 According to an FBI affidavit, Thomas allegedly told investigators the group’s objective was to overthrow the U.S. government. The affidavit states Thomas subscribed to conspiracy theories claiming that powerful individuals secretly controlled government institutions and were being protected by public officials.

 Investigators also cited messages allegedly exchanged in a group chat on June 7. In one message, Thomas reportedly wrote, “$1300 gets us the drones and the charges. Yes we should all pitch in and we need it asap.”

 Federal authorities further allege that Thomas discussed meeting with Roa in Southern California for firearms and marksmanship training. Investigators said messages referenced preparing for what participants described as “gorilla style warfare.”

 During a June 13 search of Thomas’ residence, FBI agents reportedly recovered a rifle, multiple extended-capacity magazines, a pistol and approximately 180 rounds of ammunition.

 A search of Roa’s home and vehicle allegedly uncovered a rifle, handgun, ammunition, tactical gear, a two-way radio and an infrared laser aiming device. Investigators also reported finding messages on Roa’s phone linking him to conversations about the planned attack.

 According to court filings, Roa told agents he intended to attend the event as a protester but said he was unable to travel after experiencing vehicle problems.

 If convicted of conspiracy to commit murder, each defendant could face a maximum sentence of life in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Prosecutors said a separate charge involving conspiracy to commit violence on White House grounds carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

 President Donald Trump attended the UFC Freedom 250 event Sunday, which coincided with his 80th birthday celebration. Trump previously had a social relationship with Jeffrey Epstein years before Epstein’s criminal conduct became public. Epstein died in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.

Sources: Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Secret Service, federal court filings and charging documents.

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    The Inland Empire-based organization focuses on supporting childcare professionals while strengthening the communities they serve. A recent grant awarded through the Inland Empire Community Foundation’s CIELO Fund is helping expand those efforts by increasing access to quality childcare services in underserved and minority communities throughout the region.

    “Considering the decrease in funding to nonprofits over the last year, this grant is a miracle, and we are more than grateful,” said Yvonne Choyce, founder and CEO of Providers Need Care.

    According to Choyce, the funding has allowed the nonprofit to reach more participants and broaden opportunities for childcare providers, particularly within Latino communities.

    “This funding represents an opportunity to continue investing in our children, families and communities,” she said. “The support has allowed us to grow participation in our programs over the last year, leading to a successful increase in Latino providers and business owners.”

    She said the impact extends beyond the providers themselves. As childcare businesses become more sustainable and successful, they are better positioned to serve families and meet growing childcare needs within their neighborhoods.

    “That, in turn, strengthens their sustainability and ability to expand access to much-needed childcare services within their own communities,” Choyce said. “That’s an important impact, especially right now.”

    The grant arrives at a critical time for many Spanish-speaking families and childcare providers who continue to face financial and structural barriers. Choyce believes investments like this can create lasting change.

    “This is a major investment in childcare, and it changes lives,” she said.

    Reliable childcare plays a vital role in helping parents remain in the workforce while ensuring children receive quality care and early learning opportunities. Programs supported through grants such as those distributed by the Inland Empire Community Foundation also help address ongoing childcare shortages across the region.

    Providers Need Care was founded three years ago, but the inspiration behind the organization began much earlier.

    Before launching the nonprofit, Choyce operated a home-based childcare business for more than two decades. Several years ago, she was recruited by a Women’s Business Center to train aspiring childcare providers who were looking to start their own businesses.

    As she worked with those entrepreneurs, she began noticing something troubling.

    “They asked me to train providers based on a grant they had, and these were startups,” Choyce recalled. “In the middle of that second cohort, I started hearing a lot and seeing a lot of red flags.”

    Many of the women she encountered were struggling with the aftermath of the pandemic, including job losses, family hardships and financial instability.

    “A lot of them were starting a business because they needed a fresh start,” Choyce said. “I didn’t feel right training them to take care of children when they themselves were carrying so much.”

    She said that realization sparked an idea that eventually became the organization’s name and mission.

    “I had this overwhelming feeling that I needed to do more than just train them on how to get licensed,” she said. “It just came to me that providers need care.”

    Soon afterward, Providers Need Care was established and has continued to expand its reach across the Inland Empire.

    One of the organization’s strongest areas of focus is self-care. Choyce believes childcare providers often spend so much time caring for others that they neglect their own well-being.

    “We do a lot of self-care training because of all the challenges providers face,” she said. “Every year we hold a retreat where they can take a step back and allow us to care for them for a day. That’s really important to me.”

    Choyce credits much of the nonprofit’s success to the professionals who believed in the mission from the beginning. In the early days, financial resources were limited, but many facilitators agreed to participate because they believed in the organization’s purpose.

    “I started recruiting facilitators from within the industry,” she said. “I told them there wasn’t going to be much money, but I needed them to believe in the dream. They did.”

    Looking ahead, Providers Need Care plans to continue expanding its services, including business counseling, professional development training, compliance support, resource sharing and wellness programs designed specifically for childcare professionals.

    “We want to equip providers with all the right tools and knowledge they need for success,” Choyce said.

    More information about the organization can be found at providersneedcare.org.

    The Inland Empire Community Foundation works to strengthen communities throughout Inland Southern California through philanthropic partnerships and community investment. Its CIELO Fund, established in 2022, supports initiatives that empower Latino communities through education, leadership development, capacity building and community-based programs. Additional information is available at iegives.org.

Source: Information provided by Providers Need Care and the Inland Empire Community Foundation.

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The agency’s bimonthly report, based on metrics for western Riverside County and the cities of Ontario and San Bernardino, indicated that the Inland Empire’s Consumer Price Index was up exactly 1 percent.

BLS officials said Wednesday the principal driver behind the increase was retail gasoline prices, which jumped 11.6 percent between the beginning of April and the end of May. That in turn pushed the energy component of the CPI up 8.6 percent for the entire two-month period.

Prices went stratospheric as a result of the Mideast war.

Other contributors to the index’s upward trajectory were food prices and apparel costs, which advanced 1.5 percent and 3.3 percent, respectively.

Conversely, shelter costs — or property rents — trended marginally downward throughout the region in April and May, slipping 0.1 percent, and costs in the household furnishings category fell by 2.3 percent, according to the BLS.

Nationwide, the overall CPI registered a .5 percent increase for the month of May. The impetus, again, was energy costs. For the one-year period ending May 31, the national CPI was 4.2 percent.

In the Inland Empire, the year-over-year CPI was 3.4 percent, measuring a host of economic inputs from May 2025 to May 2026, data showed.

The most notable upward pressures in the annualized CPI were reflected in the energy and healthcare components of the regional index, moving up 20.9 percent and 5 percent, respectively.

The current rate of inflation reflects the price trajectory impacting most sectors of the economy.

Energy price shocks that began at the end of February are directly connected to commodities markets and oil trading, which turned bullish immediately after the joint Israel-U.S. military operations against Iran, beginning with a missile attack on a girls’ school, where almost 200 Iranians were killed. The nation’s supreme leader and multiple members of his family were also assassinated. Hostilities abated amid peace overtures in April and May but have recently resumed with intensity.

Iran declared a quasi closure of the Strait of Hormuz, where tankers carrying nearly one-fifth of the world’s energy supplies must pass. The U.S. Energy Information Administration has characterized the narrow Persian Gulf sea lane as a “chokepoint.”

Accelerating consumer price hikes have also been blamed on loose monetary policy and excessive federal spending, decaying the dollar’s purchasing power.

The national debt is now $39.2 trillion, according to the congressional Joint Economic Committee’s “Debt Dashboard.” Some projections indicate the debt load will almost double in 10 years or less.

Fortune magazine reported in April that federal payments just to cover interest on the debt total $88 billion a month.

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MAIL DELIVERY: Mail will not be delivered Monday.

FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS: Will be closed Monday.

STORES: Most major stores and supermarkets will be open Monday.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION:

Riverside Transit Agency, Dial-A-Ride buses will not operate on Monday. The administrative offices and the Customer Information Center will also be closed. Bus services and facilities will resume regular operations on Tuesday.

Omnitrans buses will not operate on Monday. Administrative offices and the San Bernardino Transit Center will also be closed Monday. Bus service and facilities will resume regular operations on Tuesday.

Foothill Transit buses will run on weekend or Sunday schedules on Monday. All Transit Stores will be closed. Service at 800-RIDE-INFO will be available 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Metrolink trains operate on a weekend schedule for the Antelope Valley, Inland Empire-Orange County, Orange County, San Bernardino, Ventura County and 91/Perris Valley Lines. The Riverside Line does not operate on weekends.

The $10 Holiday Pass can be purchased on the Metrolink Mobile App or at Metrolink station ticket machines under “special ticket options.” The $10 Holiday Pass allows for unlimited rides throughout the system for the day

Amtrak Rail 2 Rail and Codeshare will be suspended May 22-26.

SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES: Not in session.

TRASH PICKUP: City of Riverside, city of Redlands, Burrtec Solid Waste, Waste Management of the Inland Empire, CR&R and CAL Disposal will not have service on Monday; service will be delayed by one day. Riverside County and San Bernardino County landfills will be closed Sunday and Monday.

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    One of the latest cuts comes from Geodis, a France-based transportation and logistics company, which recently notified the state that it plans to permanently lay off 238 workers from its facility located at 1710 West Baseline Road in Rialto. According to California WARN filings, the layoffs are expected to take effect by early July.

    The announcement follows other recent reductions throughout the region’s warehousing and distribution sector. Earlier this month, CJ Logistics America, headquartered in Illinois, disclosed plans to eliminate 71 positions at its Fontana warehouse operation.

    Meanwhile, Eclipse Advantage, a Florida-based staffing and workforce support company that serves logistics and manufacturing businesses, announced it will close its Rancho Cucamonga facility by May 30.

    The Inland Empire, long considered one of the nation’s largest logistics and warehouse hubs, has seen steady growth in massive distribution centers over the last decade. However, the sector has recently faced increasing uncertainty as companies adjust operations amid changing economic conditions.

    Industry analysts point to several contributing factors behind the layoffs, including inflation, rising energy costs, tariffs, political uncertainty and the growing use of artificial intelligence and automation throughout supply chain operations.

    The slowdown is not limited to Southern California. According to FreightWaves, which covers the transportation and logistics industry, WARN notices and company announcements show similar workforce reductions occurring in states including Alabama, Georgia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.

    Recent employment figures released by the California Employment Development Department also reflect the strain on the Inland Empire job market.

    The unemployment rate in Riverside County stood at 5.1% in March 2026, while San Bernardino County recorded a 5.0% rate, according to the EDD’s May 1 labor report. By comparison, California’s statewide unemployment rate was 5.2%, while the national unemployment rate was reported at 4.3% during the same period.

    Between February and March, the Inland Empire’s trade, transportation and utilities sector posted the region’s largest monthly job losses, declining by approximately 2,600 positions overall. Of those losses, transportation and warehousing accounted for roughly 2,200 jobs, according to state data.

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    The demonstration was organized by the People’s Collective for Environmental Justice alongside several regional groups, including the Warehouse Workers Resource Center, Inland Empire Labor Institute, Inland Empire Labor Council and the Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice. Participants gathered at Feldheym Public Library before beginning the march around 1:30 p.m.

    Marchers moved through the downtown area, making stops near San Bernardino City Hall and the city’s Immigration Field Office before converging at the intersection of E Street and Rialto Avenue. Protesters temporarily blocked traffic while chanting, holding signs and listening to speakers during the afternoon rally.

    May Day, also recognized internationally as International Workers’ Day, traces its roots back to labor demonstrations connected to the 1886 Haymarket affair in Chicago and the push for an eight-hour workday. In recent years, May Day events throughout the United States have increasingly tied together issues involving labor rights, immigration reform, affordable living and public safety concerns.

    San Bernardino resident Ron Alvarado, who is currently running for the city’s First Ward council seat, said he attended the march to advocate for stronger labor protections and community-centered development projects.

    “I’m here because I want to stand for the community, for public sector jobs, for living wage jobs and for community benefit agreements,” Alvarado said during the event.

    Alvarado said local leaders need to focus more on keeping tax revenue and economic opportunities within San Bernardino neighborhoods. He added that developers should be required to create agreements that directly benefit residents through better wages and job opportunities.

    Ontario resident Andrea Galvan said the event highlighted how closely labor issues, environmental concerns and immigration policies are connected throughout the region.

    “I’m here today to be part of this movement of labor groups, immigrant rights groups and environmental justice groups that have come together across the Inland Empire to fight for our communities,” Galvan said. “All of these issues are connected.”

    Galvan said residents deserve cleaner air, safer neighborhoods and fair treatment for workers while also ensuring immigrant families feel welcomed and protected.

    Fontana resident Luz Perez, who is also running for city council in Fontana, said immigration enforcement actions have created fear for many local families and negatively impacted small businesses.

    “It has really affected our communities, especially our small businesses,” Perez said. “People are afraid to come out, and families are living in fear.”

    Perez said demonstrators were urging leaders to end immigration raids and expand protections for immigrant communities throughout the Inland Empire.

    Even as temperatures climbed throughout the afternoon, marchers from communities including San Bernardino, Fontana and Ontario continued walking through downtown streets while carrying banners and chanting in support of workers and immigrant families.

    Organizers said the turnout reflected the Inland Empire’s growing labor and community activism movement, particularly in a region heavily impacted by warehouse industry growth, air quality concerns and immigration-related issues.

    For many attendees, the demonstration served as both a show of solidarity and a call for broader investment in working-class communities, safer neighborhoods and stronger protections for immigrant residents across the region.

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David Anthony Burke, 21, was taken into custody at a home in the Hollywood Hills, a law enforcement source who has knowledge of the investigation, but is not authorized to speak publicly, told The Times. He is being held without bail.

Celeste Rivas Hernandez was reported missing in 2024 from the Inland Empire, according to authorities, but her whereabouts since then remained a mystery. Though her name was initially listed as Celeste Rivas with the county medical examiner’s office, it has since been updated with the Hernandez surname.

According to police, the girl’s severely decomposed body was found in the vehicle at Hollywood Tow on Sept. 8, 2025 after it was impounded. Someone noticed a foul odor coming from the vehicle and detectives arrived at the tow yard to investigate.

Law enforcement sources familiar with the investigation, but not authorized to discuss the case publicly, told The Times the vehicle was abandoned in the Hollywood Hills five days before it was impounded.

Detectives served a search warrant at a home in that upscale neighborhood on Doheny Drive, north of Sunset Boulevard. Law enforcement sources with knowledge of the case but not authorized to speak publicly said the detective received various items, including electronics and computers.

Burke was raised in Houston and has collaborated with musicians Kali Uchis, Stray Kids’ Hyunjin, Laufey and 21 Savage. He also created an anthem for the game “Fortnite.”

Burke had been on a national tour promoting his debut album, “Withered,” since early August. He performed in Boston, Montreal and Toronto in late August and in early September had stops in Detroit, Chicago and Indianapolis. But the tour was canceled amid the investigation.

The Withered World Tour includes themes of death and remembrance. Fans entering Burke’s show are greeted by a casket and guest book, where they can pay condolences to a character Burke sometimes reprises in his performances and music videos. Part of that character’s uniform includes a shirt covered in bloody handprints and a blindfold.

“Withered” was released on Darkroom and Interscope Records in April. The album charted at No. 13 on the Billboard 200 and has more than 521 million streams on Spotify. On Sept. 7, in his last social media post, Burke announced on Instagram he was going to drop a deluxe version of the album. It was one of his last social media posts before Rivas’ body was discovered.

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The Riverside County Department of Animal Services found the ducks Tuesday after investigating overcrowding conditions at a property in unincorporated Riverside County, according to the agency. The birds were taken to the San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus, where officials urgently called on the public and rescue organizations to help place them beginning Wednesday.

According to a social media update from the San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus, all 480 ducks have been rescued or adopted, marking one of the largest single intake-and-placement efforts for the department in over a decade.

“This large-scale operation required extensive teamwork and coordination across our department,” Riverside County officials said in the social media update.

Animal service officials were not available to explain who had adopted the animals and whether they were adopted as pets or food. But Daniel Markichevich told KABC that he and his fiancée Savannah Burgardt visited the San Jacinto shelter on Wednesday and planned on adopting 20 ducks for their San Jacinto property.

“We have a 3.5-acre farm, so they will just go right into the area and enjoy, and we’ll get out there and look at them, eat their eggs and have a whole full life for them,” said Markichevich, who recently completed construction on a pond in their backyard.

An animal sanctuary in Vacaville, dubbed the Funky Chicken Rescue, took in eight of the ducks, according to a social media post.

Officials said the original owner of the ducks had intended to create a sanctuary for the animals but animal control officers ultimately determined that conditions required intervention, citing improper husbandry and concerns about the number of birds being housed.

Before taking in the ducks, the animal services agency coordinated with the California Department of Food and Agriculture to test a sample of the ducks for zoonotic diseases, according to the county. All results came back negative but early assessments indicated the birds had not received adequate care, according to authorities.

“Overcrowding can contribute to stress and decreased immune function,” Itzel Vizcarra, chief veterinarian for the county animal services agency, said in a statement. “Inadequate nutrition, particularly vitamin A deficiency, can impair the lining of the digestive tract, predisposing birds to inflammation and secondary illness.”

The swift placement effort was supported in part by community donations, including more than 70 bags of waterfowl feed provided by a local business, according to the San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus.

While the ducks now have new homes, officials said the investigation into overcrowding conditions at the original property is ongoing.

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The latest bimonthly report, which tracks prices in western Riverside County as well as the cities of Ontario and San Bernardino, shows the region’s Consumer Price Index rose 0.8%. Officials pointed to a steep jump in gasoline prices as the primary factor behind the increase.

Gas prices surged roughly 30% between late February and the end of March, pushing the overall energy index up 15.4% during the same period. That spike alone accounted for most of the region’s inflation gains, underscoring how closely local costs remain tied to global energy markets.

Beyond fuel, modest increases were also recorded in other categories. Prices for general goods and services rose 2.2%, while recreation-related costs — including entertainment and theme park activities — climbed 3.2%.

There were, however, a few areas where consumers saw relief. Food prices, both at grocery stores and restaurants, dipped slightly across February and March, falling about 0.4%. Education-related expenses also declined, dropping 3.9%, according to the report.

On a broader scale, inflation trends in the Inland Empire largely mirrored what’s happening nationwide. The national Consumer Price Index rose 0.9% in March alone, again fueled by energy costs.

“The index for energy increased 10.9%, the largest monthly increase since September 2005,” the Bureau of Labor Statistics said in its report. “The gasoline index increased 21.2% over the month, the largest monthly increase since the series was first published in 1967.”

Looking at the longer-term picture, prices in the Inland Empire are up 3.1% compared to a year ago. Energy and healthcare costs have been among the biggest contributors to that increase, rising 13.4% and 5.9%, respectively.

Nationally, inflation stands at 3.3% over the same 12-month period.

Much of the recent pressure on energy prices can be traced back to geopolitical developments overseas. Escalating conflict involving Iran and disruptions in the Persian Gulf have rattled global oil markets. In particular, concerns over restricted access through the Strait of Hormuz — a key shipping route for roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply — have pushed prices higher.

Although a tentative ceasefire was announced earlier this week, oil markets remain volatile. U.S. benchmark crude is still trading just under $100 per barrel, reflecting ongoing uncertainty.

Economists also point to broader domestic factors contributing to inflation, including federal spending levels and monetary policy. The national debt currently stands at approximately $38.98 trillion, according to the Congressional Joint Economic Committee. Rising interest payments — now estimated at about $88 billion per month, based on recent reports — continue to add pressure to the overall economic outlook.

For Inland Empire residents, the immediate impact is clear: higher prices at the pump and across key sectors, even as some everyday expenses show slight signs of easing.

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Deputies with the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, Mojave Station, arrested three Inland Empire men in connection with the case. The suspects were identified as Jose Lopez, 37, of San Bernardino; Ruben Lopez Flores, 25, of Los Angeles; and Freddy Hernandez Polinar, 35, of Chino. All three face multiple felony charges, including cargo theft, possession of a stolen vehicle and conspiracy.

The investigation began April 8 when deputies were called to the 400 block of Silver Queen Road after reports of suspicious vehicles. When law enforcement arrived, two box trucks attempted to flee the area. Deputies conducted traffic stops and detained the drivers without further incident.

Inside the trucks, authorities discovered a large quantity of Lego merchandise. Further investigation revealed the cargo had been taken while in transit from Fort Worth, Texas, and was headed to Moreno Valley in Riverside County.

According to Kern County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Lori Meza, the shipment was destined for Moreno Valley but was not en route to an official Lego retail store. Additional details about the intended destination and whether any items are still missing remain under investigation.

The recovery comes amid a growing number of theft cases involving high-demand retail goods in the Inland Empire.

In a separate incident last month, Hemet police uncovered a retail theft operation involving stolen merchandise, including Lego sets, being resold at a local swap meet. Authorities said thousands of dollars worth of items — ranging from Star Wars-themed Lego sets to toys and power tools — were seized during that investigation.

Hemet Police Chief Michael Arellano said at the time that the crackdown reflects a broader effort to combat organized retail theft and protect local businesses from financial losses.

It remains unclear whether the two cases are connected.

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