Check out our Inland photographers' favorite images from May 2026
By Michele Cardon, The Press-Enterprise The Tribune Content Agency
High flying champions; Norco’s Hayden Gunter (a senior), left, and her brother Jack Gunter (a freshman) in Norco on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. The two swept the Division 2 pole vaulting titles at last week’s CIF Southern Section track and field division championship meet. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Terry Pierson
TNS
The month of May brought graduation season as well as spring high school sports.
As temperatures heated up, so did the risk of wildfires in the Inland Empire, forcing evacuations for residents nearby.
It was a busy month, and our photographers were out and about every day to capture these moments and more.
Graduate Kevin Beckwith waits for friends to arrive Monday, May 18, 2026, for the Ruben S. Ayala High School graduation ceremony at the Toyota Arena in Ontario. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
A pair of dogs play tug of war with a cloth at The Bark at Central Park in Rancho Cucamonga on Tuesday, May 5, 2026. The dog park has 3 different areas for different size dogs and is open from dawn to dusk daily. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Efran Guizar, with the city of Temecula, secures one of the approximately 100 American Flags on display at the Temecula Duck Pond in Temecula on Monday, May. 18, 2026. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Montclair High School graduate Brandon Gomez-Ramirez celebrates on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, during the commencement ceremony at Ben Baker Stadium in Montclair. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Rancho Cucamonga resident Cheryl Rex, second from left, mother of late U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola, who was killed in Kabul, Afghanistan on Aug. 26, 2021 along with 12 others, receives support from her future son-in-law Luke Cervantes, left, while her daughter Olivia, center, stands near by following the dedication of the Gold Star Families Memorial Monument during the observance of Memorial Day at Central Park in Rancho Cucamonga on Monday, May 25, 2026. Rex spearheaded the movement for the new monument, the first of its kind in San Bernardino County. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Rancho Cucamonga resident Cheryl Rex, mother of late U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola, who was killed in Kabul, Afghanistan on Aug. 26, 2021 along with 12 others, reacts as she is presented a folded American flag by mayor Dennis Michael, while Rex's daughter Olivia sits near by, prior to the dedication of the Gold Star Families Memorial Monument during the observance of Memorial Day at Central Park in Rancho Cucamonga on Monday, May 25, 2026. Rex spearheaded the movement for the new monument, the first of its kind in San Bernardino County. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
"Rancher" Patrick Ashby, right rear, 48 from Rancho Cucamonga, does laundry before sunrise in the ranchers dorm room at River’s Edge Ranch in Lucerne Valley on Friday, May 8, 2026. River's Edge Ranch, located in the Lucerne Valley, is a faith-based residential drug and alcohol treatment program located on a working ranch that has partnered with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department. It allows inmates at the jail desiring drug and alcohol treatment to begin working the New Beginnings program within 90 days of their release from jail, then transfer to the ranch upon release from custody to begin a structured program, working the ranch and working the 12 steps of recovery, counseling and Bible studies to help them get on their feet and live a drug and or alcohol free life. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
A Riverside firefighter assists residents on Rolling Hills Drive as the Bain fire approaches in Riverside on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. Evacuation orders were given for neighborhoods south of the Santa Ana river bed. As of 2:15 p.m. the fire had burned 250 acres. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
"Rancher" David Howard, 30, from Hesperia, who has been at the River’s Edge Ranch in Lucerne Valley for 5 months, feeds cattle early Friday morning May 8, 2026. River's Edge Ranch, located in the Lucerne Valley, is a faith-based residential drug and alcohol treatment program located on a working ranch that has partnered with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department. It allows inmates at the jail desiring drug and alcohol treatment to begin working the New Beginnings program within 90 days of their release from jail, then transfer to the ranch upon release from custody to begin a structured program, working the ranch and working the 12 steps of recovery, counseling and Bible studies to help them get on their feet and live a drug and or alcohol free life. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Cal Poly Pomona' College of Education and Integrative Studies graduating students Sarah Ruhl, left, 22, from Chino Hills, and Kylee Kamansky, right, 22, from Rancho Cucamonga, both assist Caroline Seong, center, 21 from Claremont, with her graduation cap prior to their commencement ceremony at Cal Poly Pomona on Friday morning May 15, 2026. It was the first of 12 graduations to be held during the university's 70th annual Commencement Ceremonies. Approximately 6,900 students will receive their bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Cal Poly Pomona's College of Education and Integrative Studies doctoral graduate Obi Agwu, from Rancho Cucamonga, stoops down as he receives his hood during commence ceremonies at Cal Poly Pomona on Friday morning May 15, 2026. It was the first of 12 graduations to be held during the university's 70th annual Commencement Ceremonies. Approximately 6,900 students will receive their bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Damian Pineda, graduate of Ramona High School smiles through the many layers of leis after the 2026 commencement ceremony in Riverside on Wednesday, May 27, 2026. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
Graduate Kayleen Gonzalez celebrates Friday, May 15, 2026, during Cal State San Bernardino's Social and Behavioral Sciences graduation inside the Toyota Arena in Ontario. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Claude "Swissman" Nicolet, 71 from Pinetop, Arizona, attaches an American flag to his motorcycle as he prepares to take part for the first time in the 36th annual Run For The Wall at the Ontario Convention Center in Ontario on Wednesday morning May 13, 2026. Nearly 900 riders, many being military veterans, will take part in the cross country motorcycle ride to Washington D.C. and will end over Memorial Day weekend with a visit to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Yucaipa and Redlands softball teams stand for the national anthem before in the Citrus Belt League softball game in Yucaipa on Tuesday, May 5, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Rialto head coach Carla Sittniewski expresses movements to her team against st La Sierra Academy in the CIF Southern Section Division 7 boys volleyball quarterfinal match in Rialto on Wednesday, May 6, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Norco second baseman Zion Martinez (24) knockdown an Ayala line drive in the CIF Southern Section Division 1 baseball pool play elimination game in Chino Hills on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Andrew Maksymowski of Northwood High School jumps over his teammates during the championship celebrations for the CIF Southern Section Division 1 swimming finals at the Mt. San Antonio College aquatic center in Walnut on Saturday, May 9, 2026. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
Redlands Makayla Mendoza (62) loses the ball as Yucaipa catcher Layla Waysz (44) scores on a single by Yucaipa catcher Sophia Bicondova (13) in the Citrus Belt League softball game in Yucaipa on Tuesday, May 5, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Yucaipa defeated Redlands 23-0 in five innings to win the Citrus Belt League softball game in Yucaipa on Tuesday, May 5, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Graduate Giovanni Anthony Delgado celebrates on stage Wednesday, May 27, 2026, during Fontana High School’s graduation at the Toyota Arena in Ontario. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Tears flow as graduate Adrian Primera waves to family during processional Wednesday, May 27, 2026, at Fontana High School’s graduation in the Toyota Arena in Ontario. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Dual-enrolled student Hailey Contreras poses with her academic stoles at Chaffey College on Friday, May 15, 2026. Within weeks of each other, she is graduating from Chaffey College, Hesperia High School and Victor Valley College. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
An American flag is lite on Furyk Way as the Verona fire burns the hillside about a retirement community near Homeland on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Montclair High School graduate Alexis Peralta smiles after receiving her diploma on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, during the commencement ceremony at Ben Baker Stadium on campus. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Cal State San Bernardino graduates file into Toyota Arena on Friday, May 15, 2026, during CSUSB's Social and Behavioral Sciences graduation in Ontario. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Yucaipa catcher Payton DiDonato (7) cheer after a hit against Redlands in the Citrus Belt League softball game in Yucaipa on Tuesday, May 5, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Norco infielder Zion Martinez (24) celebrates after a hit against Ayala in the CIF Southern Section Division 1 baseball pool play elimination game in Chino Hills on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Norco defeated Ayala 9-2 to win the CIF Southern Section Division 1 baseball pool play elimination game in Chino Hills on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Corona High School's Trey Ebel (1) is lifted by teammates after hitting a home run during a CIF Southern Section Division 1 playoff game against Etiwanda High School on Tuesday, May 12, 2026. Corona later won 5-4. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
LA County Fair employees slides down the slide as they prepare on Wednesday, May 6, 2026 for opening day at the Pomona Fairplex. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
Residents flee their homes as the approaching Bain fire threatens surrounding neighborhoods near Jurupa Valley and Riverside on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. Evacuation orders were issued for neighborhoods south of the Santa Ana River bed. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
Resident Leo Marino carries belongings while evacuating from his home on Furyk Way as Cal Fire fighters provide structure protection during the Verona fire near Homeland on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Alfredo Cortez and Moses Quinonez pull in a fish from the pond at Fairmount Park in Riverside on Thursday, May 7, 2026. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
Hazel Spracklin of Wildomar turned 100 in March, she takes a phone call with her daughter, Patty Koch in her home on Tuesday, May 5, 2026. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
Riverside Lawn Bowling Club member Shirley Lewis, 82, from Riverside, rolls her bowl as Ric Rasco, 67, also from Riverside, picks up a bowl before taking his turn at Fairmount Park in Riverside on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. According to the club’s website, the Riverside Lawn Bowling Club is one of many Southern California Clubs which make up the Southwest Division of the Bowls USA. The facility is open Tuesday's and Thursday's and hope to open on some Saturday's this summer. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
