While neither the tribe nor seller Kelly Roberts disclosed financial details when the sale was announced in early May, county transaction records indicate the deal was finalized on May 28. The acquisition adds the Mission Inn to a growing collection of hospitality properties owned by the tribe through its San Manuel Investment Authority.

    The estimated purchase price was confirmed through filings reviewed by the Riverside County Assessor-Clerk Recorder’s Office. The transactions were completed through entities controlled by Roberts, a former Orange County resident and billionaire businesswoman.

    “The sale price is within $1,000 of the actual price,” said Melissa Garcia, chief deputy assessor-clerk recorder for Riverside County.

    County officials noted that the final valuation could be refined in the coming months as additional documentation is reviewed and processed to establish the complete chain of title and updated property assessments.

    “This could take a few months,” Garcia said.

    Records show the sale involved several separate properties. One transaction transferred ownership of the 238-room Mission Inn itself, while another included the adjacent parking structure located between Fifth and Sixth streets and bounded by Main and Orange streets. The deal also encompassed a vacant parcel and annex building that houses a bookstore along with offices for the Mission Inn Foundation and Museum.

    Based on transfer taxes and associated fees filed with the county, the hotel property accounted for roughly $29.23 million of the total sale price. The garage, vacant land and annex building were valued at approximately $3.68 million.

    Those figures were derived using documentary transfer taxes and local city taxes assessed during the transfer of ownership, according to county officials.

    A separate filing documented the transfer of the property’s alcoholic beverage license. The license was sold for $331,394.16 to Mission Inn Riverside BevCo LLC, a limited liability company operated by the San Manuel Nation.

    The filings were submitted by Historic Mission Inn Corp. and Mission District Associates LLC, both controlled by Roberts. County records identify attorney Patrick O’Brien as the designated agent authorized to receive legal notices and government correspondence on behalf of those entities.

    The buyer was listed as Mission Inn Riverside LLC, a company established by the tribe on April 24. Corporate filings with the California Secretary of State show the entity was created specifically to facilitate the purchase of the downtown Riverside properties.

    “The San Manuel Investment Authority is continuing to abide by the confidentiality of the agreement and aren’t able to provide additional comment,” said San Manuel spokesman Kenneth Shoji.

    Representatives for Roberts and her attorney did not respond to requests seeking additional comment regarding the transaction.

    Officials with the Riverside County Assessor-Clerk Recorder’s Office cautioned that large-scale property transactions often involve multiple documents and filings, meaning additional records connected to the sale could still emerge.

    “It is important to note that large or complex property transfers may be recorded through multiple documents,” said county spokesman Steven Nguyen. “As a result, the information reflected in any single recorded document may represent only one portion of the overall transaction.”

    The sale marks the end of an era for the Roberts family, which played a pivotal role in preserving the iconic Riverside landmark.

    Duane and Kelly Roberts became closely associated with the Mission Inn after stepping in to save the property from an uncertain future. The hotel had closed during the mid-1980s and passed through several owners before Duane Roberts purchased it in 1992 for $15.6 million.

    Before that acquisition, the Riverside Redevelopment Agency had purchased the property in 1976 and later sold it to Carley Capital Group in 1985. Carley launched a major restoration effort but filed for bankruptcy in 1988. According to a previous Press-Enterprise report, Chemical Bank and the redevelopment agency ultimately completed the $50 million renovation project before Roberts took ownership.

    Duane Roberts, widely credited with helping spark the revitalization of downtown Riverside through the reopening of the Mission Inn, passed away on Nov. 1, 2025.

    When the sale was announced earlier this year, Kelly Roberts said she planned to relocate to Palm Beach, Florida, as she entered a new chapter in life. Florida remains a popular destination for wealthy residents because it does not impose state income taxes, estate taxes or luxury taxes on qualifying residents.

    For the San Manuel Nation, the acquisition continues a decades-long strategy of expanding beyond gaming and diversifying its investment portfolio.

    The tribe began broadening its holdings in the early 2000s with investments in the Four Fires Residence Inn by Marriott in Washington, D.C., and the Three Fires Residence Inn in downtown Sacramento.

    In 2021, the tribe made headlines with its $650 million purchase of the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, marking a significant expansion of its gaming interests beyond California.

    Its hospitality portfolio also includes the Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort & Club in Dana Point, the Bear Springs Hotel in Highland, and The Draftsman hotel in Charlottesville, Virginia.

    The tribe further expanded its real estate holdings in 2016 with the acquisition of the historic Arrowhead Springs Hotel property in San Bernardino’s Waterman Canyon from Cru, formerly known as Campus Crusade for Christ, which had owned the 1,900-acre site since 1962.

    With the addition of the Mission Inn, one of Southern California’s most recognizable historic landmarks now joins an expanding portfolio of hospitality properties owned and operated by the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation.

Source: Riverside County Assessor-Clerk Recorder records; statements from Melissa Garcia, Steven Nguyen, Kenneth Shoji; Southern California News Group reporting.

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    The report, obtained through the city’s public records system, details allegations against former senior code enforcement officers Mark Ilagan and Mark Hernandez. Investigators found evidence suggesting the pair may have engaged in improper conduct ranging from unauthorized property seizures and unlawful entry onto private property to confrontational encounters with vendors and residents.

    According to the investigation, much of the alleged misconduct appeared to be directed toward individuals who were Latino or Asian, did not primarily speak English, or may have lacked legal immigration status. The report noted that such individuals are often less likely to report mistreatment due to fears of retaliation or concerns about interacting with government agencies.

    Investigators also criticized city supervisors for failing to adequately address complaints raised by a subordinate who repeatedly questioned the officers’ actions. The employee later alleged she experienced retaliation after bringing concerns forward through official channels.

    The report concluded that the conduct of the officers and their supervisors exposed Riverside to significant legal liability while undermining public trust in city government.

    None of the individuals named in the investigation remain employed by the City of Riverside. Hernandez could not be reached for comment. Ilagan, who now works for the City of Chino, denied the allegations. Former Community and Economic Development Director Jennifer Lilley told the Los Angeles Times that portions of the report lacked context and contained inaccuracies.

    Several current and former employees described Ilagan and Hernandez as working closely together and often responding to calls as a team. Witnesses told investigators the pair frequently adopted tactics that blurred the line between code enforcement and law enforcement.

    Unlike police officers, code enforcement personnel do not have arrest powers, cannot carry firearms, and generally have limited authority to seize property. However, investigators found evidence that the two officers routinely pursued street vendors on foot, blocked vehicles from leaving, and confiscated merchandise and equipment beyond what regulations permitted.

    The report describes what investigators called a long-running pattern of unauthorized property seizures. Vendors allegedly had merchandise taken without receiving receipts, making it nearly impossible to recover their belongings. Several employees stated that confiscated items were stored in City Hall offices and included products commonly sold by vendors such as flowers, toys, hats, and novelty items.

    Investigators also documented multiple incidents involving physical confrontations. During Riverside’s Festival of Lights celebration in 2023, officers reportedly attempted to seize a vendor’s cart while the owners were briefly away making a sale. When the couple returned, a confrontation followed that drew a crowd and eventually required police intervention.

    In another incident during Fourth of July enforcement operations in 2024, a dispute involving a taco vendor escalated into a physical struggle. Witnesses alleged one officer used a wrist-lock technique during the confrontation before police arrived at the scene.

    The report further alleges that the officers sometimes entered or facilitated entry into properties under questionable circumstances. In one case, officers reportedly requested police assistance to force entry into a residence believed to be occupied despite ongoing probate and eviction proceedings. Another incident involved allegations that officers misrepresented the status of properties to law enforcement in order to have residents removed.

    Investigators concluded that the officers repeatedly sought to project the image and authority of sworn police officers. The report notes they favored tactical-style gear, advocated for police-style identification, and pushed for equipment that would make code enforcement officers appear more like law enforcement personnel.

    Some city employees expressed concern that such efforts increased risks for both officers and the public. The investigator warned that encouraging code enforcement staff to appear police-like could create confusion and expose the city to significant liability.

    The investigation also examined workplace culture within the department. Several findings pointed to a hostile work environment, including allegations of inappropriate behavior, retaliation against employees who raised concerns, and failures by supervisors to properly investigate complaints.

    A former code enforcement officer who reported the alleged misconduct told investigators she repeatedly warned management about what she believed were unlawful actions involving vendors and residents. According to the report, her concerns were largely dismissed, and after escalating her complaints, she was later identified as the source and publicly escorted from City Hall shortly before leaving her position.

    The investigator concluded that the city’s response to the complaints sent a troubling message to other employees and may have discouraged future reporting of misconduct.

    The report was submitted to city officials in August 2025. It remains unclear what actions, if any, were taken afterward. City leaders declined to discuss personnel matters when contacted by the Los Angeles Times.

    The Los Angeles Times first reported on the investigative findings after obtaining the report through Riverside’s public records portal.

Credit: Original reporting and source material from the Los Angeles Times.

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A small group of Republican state lawmakers considered vulnerable by Democrats has drawn multiple challengers, setting up races that could help determine the balance of power in Sacramento after November. Under California’s top-two primary system, the two candidates who receive the most votes advance to the general election, regardless of party.

Democratic candidates in swing districts are hoping President Donald Trump’s declining popularity in California, along with voter reaction to his policies on tariffs, immigration enforcement and the war in Iran, will create problems for Republican incumbents. GOP lawmakers, meanwhile, have sought to avoid making Trump the focus of their campaigns while still holding support from the party’s pro-Trump base.

One of the Inland Empire’s most closely watched races is in Riverside County, where Assemblymember Leticia Castillo, a Corona Republican, is expected to face a rematch with Riverside City Councilmember Clarissa Cervantes, a Democrat. Cervantes narrowly lost to Castillo two years ago after raising substantial campaign funds. Tuesday’s results could provide a preview of how competitive their November contest may be.

In the Coachella Valley, Republican Assemblymember Jeff Gonzalez of Coachella is being challenged by three Democrats. Gonzalez has taken a more moderate position on immigration than many of his Republican colleagues, a stance that could be tested in a district where Democrats see an opportunity.

Similar dynamics are playing out in other purple districts across the state, from northern Sacramento County to Orange County, where Republican incumbents are trying to hold off Democratic efforts to flip seats.

Democrats are also defending seats in Southern California. In San Diego County, Sen. Catherine Blakespear, an Encinitas Democrat, faces Republican Laura Bassett in a district expected to be competitive.

Elsewhere in the state, heavily Democratic areas are featuring crowded intraparty contests for open seats. In the coastal district that includes Malibu and Santa Monica, several Democrats are competing to replace Sen. Ben Allen, who is running for state insurance commissioner. In Los Angeles, a five-way race to succeed Assemblymember Mike Gipson, who is leaving office because of term limits, has divided major labor unions and Democratic organizations.

San Diego County also has a Republican contest that may signal where the state party is headed. The race to replace GOP Sen. Brian Jones, who is termed out, has become a fight between two wings of the party: a more moderate San Marcos city councilmember backed by Jones and a far-right conservative contender.

Together, the results will offer an early measure of how much national politics may shape California’s legislative races — and whether Democrats can turn concerns about Trump into gains in competitive districts across Southern California and beyond.

Original source: CalMatters

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The VotingMatters series was designed to help voters sort through a primary that includes nine statewide offices, 61 candidates for governor and redrawn congressional districts. Over the month, CalMatters held 17 events with about 30 local partners, drawing more than 600 participants from Vallejo to Riverside.

The events used CalMatters’ 2026 voter guide, videos of gubernatorial candidates answering questions and printed “Choose your next governor” zines to prompt conversations among voters. CalMatters partnerships director Dan Hu traveled roughly 3,000 miles during the effort.

In Southern California, events were held in Montecito, Camarillo, Los Angeles and Riverside. The Riverside gathering brought together as many as six partner organizations, including Mindful Media Makers, which featured its puppet character Panchito in an interview with Hu.

Organizers said the goal was not to tell residents how to vote, but to give them reliable information and a setting where they could discuss issues with neighbors. At several events, attendees watched video clips of leading gubernatorial candidates before discussing what they heard in small groups.

At a Montecito event co-hosted by Noozhawk, Santa Barbara resident Marty Conoley said the candidate videos were more useful to him than televised debates, which he said often became dominated by attacks. He said the videos should be shown on television in prime time without interruption.

Celeste Barber, who also attended the Montecito event, said her table included six strangers who avoided partisan arguments and instead focused on issues. She said that kind of exchange reflected what she believes civic engagement should look like.

The statewide tour also included Central Valley stops in Modesto, Merced, Fresno and Bakersfield, where events were held at bars, community colleges and other gathering places. In Modesto, about 100 people attended a program at Contentment Brewing Company, co-hosted by The Modesto Focus, where participants played state and local political trivia before discussing the governor’s race.

Attendees across the events included election workers, business owners and college students preparing to vote in their first midterm election. At the Camarillo event, some participants who had not known one another before the discussion exchanged contact information afterward.

CalMatters also provided materials in Spanish. In Bakersfield, Merced and Modesto, attendees picked up stacks of Spanish-language voter guide zines to share with students, relatives and friends.

The VotingMatters events were organized with local news outlets, nonprofits, churches, county registrar offices, League of Women Voters chapters and the California State Library. In Yolo County, Abridged from PBS KVIE used the series for its first event there as it works to expand local coverage.

CalMatters also made a VotingMatters event kit available for people who wanted to host their own gatherings. Members in Petaluma and Long Beach organized small groups of more than 10 people to review ballots and the voter guide. One Long Beach attendee described the gathering as the kind of community event that democracy should encourage.

CalMatters said VotingMatters will return for the 2026 general election.

Original source: CalMatters

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    Police identified the suspect as Toai Pham, who detectives say was taken into custody on May 8 at a local driving range. After being booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center, Pham was later released and is expected to appear in court on June 23 at the Riverside Superior Courthouse.

    Investigators believe there could be additional victims who have not yet contacted authorities. Riverside Police Detective Steven Espinosa said detectives are encouraging anyone who may have encountered Pham, or someone matching his description, around the Mt. Rubidoux area to come forward.

    “If you have seen Pham or someone with a similar description approaching women around the area of Mt. Rubidoux, we encourage you to come forward,” Espinosa said.

    The investigation began after a woman contacted the department’s Public Safety Communications Center on the morning of March 9 at approximately 8:30 a.m. to report that she had been sexually battered while hiking in the Mt. Rubidoux area.

    According to investigators, detectives later learned that Pham regularly hikes Mt. Rubidoux during the morning hours.

    Police said the victim told investigators that Pham approached her during the hike and allegedly touched her inappropriately without consent.

    Anyone with information related to the investigation is being asked to contact Officer James Payne at (951) 353-7113 or by email at JPayne@RiversideCA.gov.

    Anonymous tips may also be submitted through the Riverside Police Department’s “Atlas 1” mobile app using the department’s secure “Send a Message” feature, which is available on both Apple and Android devices, authorities said.

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“Directing Change gives young people the opportunity to speak openly, support one another and help shape school communities where every student feels valued, understood and encouraged to reach out for help,” Riverside County Superintendent of Schools Edwin Gomez said. “Recognizing our students for expanding mental health awareness is a meaningful opportunity to show how much we value their powerful insights and inspiring creativity.”

Selected entries from the 2026 contest will be shown after a Red Carpet arrival, beginning shortly before 5 p.m. Wednesday at the Fox Performing Arts Center in downtown Riverside.

The competition is held annually as part of the “Youth Creating Change” program. Students are invited to produce vignettes, comparable to public service announcements, that are 30 to 60 seconds long.

A total 213 entries from two dozen schools and nonprofit organizations countywide were submitted this year, according to the Riverside University Health System, which sponsors the contests.

“Supporting the well-being of Riverside County’s young people is one of the most meaningful investments we can make in our future,” Board of Supervisors Chair Karen Spiegel said. “Directing Change gives students a powerful platform to share their voices, uplift one another and inspire change through creativity and compassion. These films reflect the insight, courage and heart of our youth, reminding us that honest conversations build stronger schools, healthier communities and a hopeful future.”

Along with the regular categories focused on suicide prevention and mental health awareness, this year’s event established two additional categories — substance abuse and Boys & Young Men Media Challenge — according to RUHS.

“By encouraging honest storytelling and peer connection, the program helps foster empathy, awareness and a culture of care among youth,” the agency stated.

The event is slated to conclude about 8 p.m. Wednesday.

More information is available at hopeandjustice.art/riversidecounty.

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Angel Baby Cruz of Riverside was arrested last year following a California Highway Patrol investigation into the deadly wreck.

At the end of a preliminary hearing Tuesday, Riverside County Superior Court Judge Timothy Hollenhorst found there was sufficient evidence to bound Cruz over for trial on the murder count, along with a sentence-enhancing allegation of committing a felony offense while on bail.

The judge scheduled a post-preliminary hearing arraignment for May 27 at the Riverside Hall of Justice.

Cruz remains held without bail at the Robert Presley Jail.

According to the CHP, shortly before 5 a.m. April 26, 2025, the defendant was at the wheel of a Mercedes 300 going westbound on the 60 when the sedan went out of control and slammed into the center divider wall between La Rue Street and Rubidoux Boulevard.

“The vehicle then went across all lanes and struck a tree,” Officer Javier Navarro said. “The vehicle became fully engulfed by fire.”

Good Samaritans stopped and went to help Cruz and his front-seat passenger, a young man identified in court documents only as “D.G.”

Navarro said they managed to pull Cruz to safety but couldn’t get to the victim, who was unconscious, before the Mercedes was consumed by the blaze.

“After the Riverside County Fire Department put out the flames, the body was located in the front seat,” the CHP spokesman said.

No one else had been in the car. No other vehicles were involved in the crash.

Cruz underwent treatment at a Riverside hospital for unspecified minor injuries, at which point he was also determined to be intoxicated, Navarro alleged.

The defendant was formally taken into custody without incident. After a brief hospitalization, he was cleared for booking into the downtown Riverside jail.

Cruz has no documented prior felony convictions in Riverside County. There were no details available concerning the circumstances of his prior arrest, or how long he had been on bond leading up to the fatal crash.

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According to the Riverside Police Department, a teenage girl was in the area of Market and Sixth streets, near the Mission Inn Hotel & Spa, when an unknown man physically assaulted her, possibly inflicting injuries, shortly after 3 a.m. on April 25.

The circumstances were unclear.

Witnesses who were not acquainted with either party called 911, but when patrol officers reached the location, “They learned the parties involved had left the area prior to police contact, and no identifying information was provided,” police Lt. Steve Espinosa said.

“Officers obtained surveillance footage from a nearby business and gathered witness statements,” Espinosa said. “The suspect was identified as an adult male seen in the area at the time of the incident.”

Still-frame video images circulated by investigators did not clearly depict the individual, showing him only as a light-skinned Hispanic or Caucasian man with facial hair and partially bald. His dark-colored tank-top shirt appeared to have been torn open in the picture.

Detectives want to interview the victim, but her identity, too, is a mystery, according to Espinosa.

Her friends and family, or anyone who may have been in the downtown area during the predawn hours of April 25 and who spotted anything unusual in the vicinity of where the attack occurred, was asked to come forward.

Espinosa can be reached at 951-826-5959. Alternately, police dispatch is available at 951-354-2007.

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The Sunday social is scheduled from noon to 4 p.m. on May 17 in the museum’s Heritage House, 8193 Magnolia Ave.

The museum described the event as “a sweet afternoon that pairs 250 years of American history with one of Riverside’s favorite traditions: the old- fashioned ice cream social.”

The U.S. will officially turn 250 on July 4th, the date on which the Declaration of Independence was formally recognized in 1776. The instrument was then publicized and circulated far and wide, while war with Great Britain intensified.

The Museum of Riverside is among a variety of organizations throughout Riverside County hosting different functions ahead of the Fourth of July to mark the “Semiquincentennial.”

“This free family-friendly event will include live music, crafts, games, house tours and, of course, plenty of ice cream,” the museum stated.

Thrifty Ice Cream will be providing the treats, without charge, according to officials.

They said that one of the “surprise additions” is the red, white and blue sherbet.

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The crash occurred on the northbound 215 freeway near Eucalyptus Avenue around 7:30 p.m., KABC reported.

The circumstances of what caused the crash were not immediately available, but two adults and two infants were left trapped in the wreck, NBC4 reported. One person died but it was not immediately clear if they were an adult or child, the station reported.

The Riverside Fire Department responded to the scene and took multiple people to the hospital, including one minor to a trauma center, according to KCBS.

First-responders used the jaws of life to free the vehicle’s passengers, according to media reports.

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