Metro Worker Among 24 Arrested

A Los Angeles Metro worker was arrested at the El Monte Transit Center Tuesday as one of 24 people swept up in a federal takedown of India-based organized crime networks.

Prosecutors unsealed three indictments charging members of the Bishnoi, Bhagwanpuria, and Dhanda groups with murder-for-hire, drug trafficking, extortion, and weapons crimes. One defendant, a 22-year-old Stockton man, allegedly gave a victim’s name to a corrupt officer in India, triggering false charges against the victim’s family.

Dubbed “Operation Hard Ball,” the sweep ran across the U.S., Canada, and Europe, with roughly 50 search warrants executed and 37 people charged in all. The FBI is offering up to $50,000 for information leading to the arrest and extradition of alleged North American leader Satinderjeet Singh, also known as “Goldy Brar.”

In California, agents executed 23 warrants in the Sacramento area and 11 in the Los Angeles area. Over the course of the investigation, authorities said they seized about 1,000 kilograms of cocaine, 1 kilogram of heroin, roughly $40,000 in cash, and a dozen firearms.

Feds Buy Two California ICE Facilities

CoreCivic sold its Otay Mesa and California City immigration detention centers to the Department of Homeland Security for $1.5 billion in a deal that closed July 2.

DHS paid $739.2 million for the 1,994-bed Otay Mesa facility in San Diego County and $732.6 million for the 2,560-bed California City facility in Kern County. CoreCivic expects net proceeds of about $1.1 billion after taxes and transaction costs.

CoreCivic expects to continue running both sites under its existing ICE contracts, which run through August 2027 for California City and December 2029 for Otay Mesa. The company said it is in early talks to sell the government more facilities.

Otay Mesa has drawn scrutiny over its conditions. A California Department of Justice report this year found overcrowding was affecting access to prompt medical care and basic necessities, and San Diego County sued in March after inspectors were blocked from the facility.

Newport Arrests Traced to Out-of-State Youths

Most of the 402 people arrested in Newport Beach over the Fourth of July weekend were believed to have come from out of state, police said Monday, primarily from Arizona and Nevada.

Many of those arrested were juveniles or young adults drawn by a gathering reportedly organized on TikTok, police said. About half were detained in a single incident after refusing to leave once an unlawful assembly was declared.

Police urged parents who send children out of state for the summer to keep tabs on them and encourage them to celebrate responsibly.

The department said it is working with the Orange County District Attorney on potential charges, which could include remaining after an unlawful assembly. City officials have signaled they will weigh new measures before future holidays.

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➤ San Mateo County: A judge dismissed the three attempted murder charges against Dharmesh Patel, the Pasadena radiologist accused of driving his family off Devil’s Slide near Pacifica in 2023. The move followed reports that he was doing well in a court-ordered mental health program. (More)

➤ Concord: Five suspects were arrested after a $100,000 smash-and-grab at a Sun Valley Mall jewelry kiosk. Police tracked them by drone to Richmond, where they recovered stolen jewelry and multiple firearms. (More)

➤ San Francisco: District 8 supervisor candidate Manny Yekutiel denies a 2020 sexual-assault allegation from former political organizer Brad Chapin, calling it false and noting it surfaced after he entered the race. No charges have been filed, but Attorney General Rob Bonta and two other elected officials have withdrawn their endorsements. (More)

➤ Nevada County: Miguel Banuelos, 49, who walked away from the Washington Ridge Conservation Camp near Lake Tahoe on July 4, was captured Monday at a home in Tijuana, about 600 miles away. He will be returned to California and could face escape charges. (More)

➤ Sacramento: Brittany Clark, a 31-year-old Sacramento native, was killed by an alligator on June 28 while swimming in a river near Orlando, Florida, where she had been living. Her family has started a fundraiser to bring her remains home to California. (More)

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➤ Fresno: A Delta flight from San Francisco to Los Angeles diverted to Fresno Yosemite International Airport on Monday due to engine issues. The plane landed safely, no injuries were reported, and the incident remains under investigation. (More)

➤ Merced County: Deputies are warning of a phone scam in which callers posing as sheriff’s staff demand $900 for a loved one’s ankle monitor. Officials say they never request payment by phone and urge residents to report the calls. (More)

➤ Seaside: A time capsule buried in 1976 was opened on July 4, revealing artifacts including a Playboy magazine, a beer, and old newspapers. The city plans to rebury the capsule with new items to be opened on America’s 300th birthday in 2076. (More)

➤ Hanford: Meanwhile, Hanford will open a 50-year-old time capsule during a public ceremony Thursday outside the Hanford Police Department. City officials say the community is invited to attend the event. (More)

➤ Fresno: City Council candidate Rob Fuentes resigned as an assistant U.S. attorney, saying he was pushed out for publicly criticizing ICE. His resignation comes after comments supporting the abolition of ICE drew scrutiny during his city council campaign. (More)

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➤ Lake Elsinore: A driver suffering a medical emergency crashed into a Planet Fitness on Mission Trail on Monday, stopping about 30 feet inside. No one else was hurt, and a gymgoer used a dumbbell to break a window and reach the driver. The gym planned to reopen later that day. (More)

➤ Camp Pendleton: The Pipeline Fire, which broke out Monday on the Marine Corps base in northern San Diego County, grew to about 1,065 acres by Tuesday morning. Evacuation orders remained for one on-base area, and a smoke advisory covered communities including Fallbrook, Oceanside, Pala, and Valley Center. (More)

➤ Compton: Eric Washington, a community activist and former aide to Assemblymember Mike Gipson, was one of two people killed in a shooting at a Fourth of July block party on West Laurel Street. Gipson said Washington was trying to de-escalate a conflict when gunfire broke out. No arrests have been announced. (More)

➤ San Diego County: Health officials confirmed the region’s first locally acquired case of Chagas disease, found in a symptomless donor during routine blood screening. The infection is spread by “kissing bugs,” which locally nest around rodents, making camping and outdoor exposure potential risk factors. Early cases often show no symptoms. (More)

➤ Watts: Los Angeles landed a $10.1 million Bezos Earth Fund grant to build a five-acre park and arts campus at the Watts Towers, with shade trees, a walking path, and an amphitheater. The landmark draws over 50,000 visitors a year and is being upgraded ahead of the 2028 Olympics. (More)

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➤ A former DraftKings sportsbook trader was charged with two felonies in connection with an alleged Fresno State basketball betting scheme. Prosecutors say Samuel Silverman, a former Bulldogs team manager, helped facilitate bets on a player’s intentional underperformance during a January 2025 game against Colorado State. (More)

➤ The Sacramento Kings waived six-time All-Star DeMar DeRozan Monday, making him one of the top free agents on the market. Multiple contenders are expected to pursue the 36-year-old guard. (More)

➤ Dodgers reliever Evan Phillips returned to the active roster Monday, 13 months after undergoing Tommy John surgery. The right-hander is expected to slot into a middle-relief role. (More)

➤ Former Chargers defensive end Marcellus Wiley was arrested over the weekend on a domestic battery charge after his wife alleged he threatened to kill her. He’s since posted bond and been released. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: World Cup | Wimbledon | MLB | WNBA

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➤ Central Valley housing is picking up this summer. Fresno County’s median home price is about $425,000, while Clovis tops $500,000. Both remain well below California’s statewide median of more than $900,000. Homes are selling in about 25 days. (More)

➤ Medical supplier Medline has leased two Northern California warehouses, 925,000 square feet in Tracy and 709,000 in Stockton, less than a month after a June 11 fire destroyed its 1 million-square-foot Tracy distribution center. The new space more than replaces the destroyed facility. (More)

➤ Terrible’s has taken over the Primm casinos and travel stops on the California-Nevada border, the longtime pit stop on the 15 Freeway between Southern California and Las Vegas. Terrible’s retained about 300 employees after the prior operator planned to close everything. The main casino is set to reopen soon. (More)

➤ A San Diego defense company is developing underwater robots to help the military detect and clear sea mines, reducing the risks faced by explosive ordnance disposal teams. Greensea IQ says the Navy and Marine Corps are key customers, with the Marine Corps recently ordering 19 of the $700,000 robots. (More)

➤ California’s labor force shrank by about 142,000 workers over the past year, including declines in Fresno, Kings, and Tulare counties, even as unemployment rates improved. Economists say the lower jobless rates largely reflect fewer people looking for work, driven by retirements, slower immigration, and other demographic shifts. (More)

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➤ Crescent City, a remote Del Norte County town near the Oregon border, was named Northern California’s quirkiest little town by travel site World Atlas, which cited its rugged coastline, old-growth redwoods, and scrappy, weathered charm far from any major city. (More)

➤ Fireworks across Los Angeles on the Fourth of July were bright enough to be seen from space, with the International Space Station capturing video as it passed overhead. NASA shared the footage, calling the celebration “so bright it reached all the way to space.” (More)

➤ A camping guide rounds up seven top campgrounds within an hour of Bakersfield, from the Kern River to the Tehachapi Mountains. The picks range from primitive campsites to full-hookup RV spots, highlighting the variety of camping near the southern end of California’s Central Valley. (More)

➤ A doctored photo of a mountain lion prowling a backyard in Sacramento’s Lemon Hill neighborhood spread on Nextdoor and sent neighbors scrambling to lock up pets, but wildlife officers found no tracks and no cat. Officials said the image was likely created with AI and that such hoaxes waste time and taxpayer money. (More)

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The following stories are featured exclusively on The Flyover Podcast—a daily show that gives you the most important headlines in under 15 minutes. Clicking the links will take you directly to these stories:

➤ Iran has resumed missile strikes on ships in the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. officials say, threatening the peace deal. (Hear Details)

➤ Ukrainian forces have struck deep into Siberia, putting Russia’s largest refineries within reach for the first time. (Hear Episode)

➤ Discarded items found behind a Georgia Cracker Barrel have helped authorities crack a man’s 1985 killing in Ohio. (Listen Now)

On a long road trip, what pit stop do you actually look forward to?

1. A sit-down roadside diner
2. Gas, snacks, back on the road
3. A casino or roadside attraction
4. A scenic overlook to stretch

Yesterday’s Results:

What’s your favorite Beach Boys tune?

1. California Girls: 19%
2. Good Vibrations: 16%
3. Wouldn’t It Be Nice: 15%
4. Surfin’ U.S.A.: 14%
5. Little Deuce Coupe: 13%
6. Other: 12%
7. None: 11%

Crescent City’s Battery Point Lighthouse, reachable on foot only at low tide, has guarded the harbor since it was first lit in which decade?

Show me the answer