Thursday, April 10, 2025

Free Health and Lifestyle Event Draws Region’s Older Adults, Caregivers To Pasadena Thursday

Golden Future Marks 15 Years With Pasadena Senior Expo Today

Today in Pasadena, older residents; futures couldn’t be brighter and a one-day convention at the Pasadena Civic Center will help them get there.

The 15th Annual Golden Future Senior Expo, running from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., transforms the Pasadena Convention Center into a hub of resources and activities specifically designed for seniors, their families, and caregivers during its 4-hour-and-30-minute program.

“Baby Boomers and Seniors have redefined every stage of their life and are now redefining the aging process,” said Toyia Moore Borrelli, Event Producer of Golden Future Expos. “The Golden Future Senior Expo is a Power-Up day for people to get out, socialize, access health resources, shop for products and services, be entertained and informed.”

Located at 300 E. Green Street on the Lower Level of the conference center, today’s gathering represents one installment in the broader 15th Annual Golden Future Senior Expo Series collection.

The free admission event features exhibitors presenting innovations in health,

Wednesday, April 9, 2025

KBLA Talk 1580 To Host Town Hall On Eaton/Altadena Fire Recovery in Pasadena

Radio station continues coverage of disaster’s impact on local Black community with 100-day reflection event

[Correction: The original headline indicated this event is today; it is not; it will be held next Wednesday.—Editor]

KBLA Talk 1580 will host and broadcast a community town hall titled “The Eaton/Altadena Fire: 100 Days and Counting” on Wednesday, April 16 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Robinson Park Recreation Center in Pasadena. The event aims to reflect on the aftermath of the fire and address critical questions about the community’s path forward.

“This event is part of KBLA Talk 1580’s continuing coverage of the fire, the aftermath, and its long-term impact on the Black community in Altadena,” the station said in its announcement.

The Town Hall will feature a panel of survivors, community leaders, activists, and experts.

KBLA personalities Tavis Smiley, Dominique DiPrima, and Nii-Quartelai Quartey will participate in the discussion.

James Farr, host of the one-hour weekly live program “Conversation Live: Altadena Rising,”

Wednesday, April 9, 2025

The Pressure On California’s Already Shaky Budget Keeps On Growing

By Dan Walters, CALMATTERS

A month from now, Gov. Gavin Newsom must reveal a revised version of the $322.3 billion budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year that he proposed in January,

It’s not likely to be a pretty picture.

The current budget is already billions of dollars in the hole, thanks to soaring expenses for the destructive and deadly wildfires that were sweeping through Los Angeles County as Newsom unveiled his January budget and a massive increase in outlays for medical care for the poor.

Moreover, President Donald Trump’s heavy tariffs on imported goods and retaliatory tariffs on U.S. exports are already depressing stock values, which could decrease income taxes from California’s wealthiest residents, the most important source of state revenues. If continued, the tariffs would likely have negative effects on the overall economy, which also would adversely affect corporate and personal income taxes.

California’s economy has not fully recovered from the effects of pandemic.

Wednesday, April 9, 2025

LA County Distributes $19.1 Million in Wildfire Relief Funds to Small Businesses, Workers

Public-private partnership delivers aid to thousands affected by recent wildfires

The Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity has awarded $19.1 million in relief grants to more than 3,600 workers and small businesses affected by recent wildfires, officials announced Tuesday.

The LA Region Small Business and Worker Relief Funds distributed $14.52 million to 1,372 small businesses and nonprofits, with awards ranging from $2,000 to $25,000. An additional $4.62 million went to 2,309 workers who each received $2,000.

“These relief funds represent real hope for the small businesses, nonprofits, and workers who lost everything in the fires,” said Supervisor Kathryn Barger, Chair of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. “Recovery won’t happen overnight, but this direct financial support is a critical lifeline to help our communities rebuild and move forward. I appreciate all the partners who stepped up to make this possible. I’ll continue pushing for more resources to meet the ongoing need.”

The relief program launched Feb.

Wednesday, April 9, 2025

County Supervisors Vote to Eliminate Bureaucracy in Permitting Process

By ANDRÈ COLEMAN, Managing Editor

One day after it was revealed that no permits have been issued to Altadena homeowners that lost their homes in the Eaton Fire, the LA County Board of Supervisors passed a motion designed to cut through the red tape and bureaucracy.

The successful motion, introduced by Supervisor Kathryn Barger who represents the area, calls on the County to create a Unified Permitting Authority (UPA) within the Altadena One-Stop Recovery Permitting Center to expedite the residential rebuilding process.

Barger said she has been keeping a close eye on the County’s One-Stop Permitting shop and was not satisfied with the pace.

“No rebuild permits have been issued in Altadena and that’s unacceptable. Today’s motion will cut through the red tape to get my Altadena constituents back on track to rebuilding faster. We don’t have time to waste.”

UPA County departments will identify and fix problems that are slowing down the permitting process.

A “strike team”

Wednesday, April 9, 2025

U.S. Attorney Forms Task Force on Homelessness Fraud Across Southern California

CITY NEWS SERVICE

U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli Tuesday announced the formation of a Homelessness Fraud and Corruption Task Force, which will investigate waste and corruption involving funds allocated to fight homelessness in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.

This task force will comprise federal prosecutors from the Major Frauds Section, the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section, and the Civil Division’s Civil Fraud Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California.

Assisting the office will be the FBI, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General, and IRS Criminal Investigation.

According to Essayli’s office, Los Angeles County alone contains a homeless population of more than 75,000, of which more than 45,000 are within the city of Los Angeles. The total homeless population of the remaining six counties of the district exceeds 20,000.

U.S. officials say that despite voter-approved initiatives and billions of dollars spent on tackling the issue,

Wednesday, April 9, 2025

LA County to Establish a Unified Permitting Authority to Expedite Eaton Recovery

CITY NEWS SERVICE

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Tuesday approved a motion aimed at accelerating rebuilding efforts in Altadena following the Eaton Fire, which destroyed more than 7,000 structures.

Introduced by Supervisors Kathryn Barger and Lindsey Horvath, the motion calls for the creation of a Unified Permitting Authority (UPA) within the Altadena One-Stop Recovery Permitting Center to expedite the residential rebuilding process.

“I’ve been keeping a close eye on the County’s One-Stop Permitting Shop and to be candid — I’m not satisfied with the pace,” Barger said in a statement. “No rebuild permits have been issued in Altadena and that’s unacceptable. Today’s motion will cut through the red tape to get my Altadena constituents back on track to rebuilding faster. We don’t have time to waste.”

According to Barger, the UPA will be empowered to make final permitting decisions across departments, resolve regulatory conflicts in real time and eliminate bottlenecks that have stalled recovery efforts.

Regional Planning,

Tuesday, April 8, 2025

Developing Story: Police Chase Ends at Eagle Rock Recreation Center Following Multi-Vehicle Crash on 134 Freeway

STAFF REPORT

Suspects fled on foot after collision involving several vehicles; one person hospitalized

BREAKING: A police pursuit ended Thursday afternoon when suspects fled on foot to the Eagle Rock Recreation Center following a multi-vehicle crash that shut down portions of the eastbound 134 Freeway.

Police are also investigating a reported shooting, possibly involving officers, near Figueroa Street and the 134 Freeway in the Eagle Rock area.

The incident began around 3 p.m. when authorities responded to a three-vehicle collision on the eastbound 134 Freeway. According to emergency logs, the crash initially involved “a black SUV vs red Tesla vs silver sedan” blocking lanes, with subsequent reports indicating a gold vehicle and white truck were also involved.

By 3:16 p.m., emergency responders reported two Black male adults running eastbound in the fast lane of the freeway, with one described as shirtless. One responder noted they appeared to be “running fast, trying to get away from something.”

Tuesday, April 8, 2025

State Farm Begins First-of-its-Kind Insurance Rate Hearing Today

By Lynn La, CALMATTERS

State Farm will try to justify its need to raise property insurance rates — stat — at an unprecedented public rate hearing starting today.

Rate hearings are rare and usually scheduled months in advance. This one’s different because California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara called it hastily about a month ago, after State Farm made a unique request: It asked Lara to immediately approve emergency interim rate increases of an average 22% for homeowners, 15% for renters and condos, and 38% for rental dwellings. State Farm said its finances are strained because of the Los Angeles County fires, from which it expects to pay more than $7 billion in claims.

A hearing over emergency interim rates has never happened before.

State Farm has pending rate requests from last summer — a separate rate hearing about those will happen by June — but said it needs to increase rates as soon as possible. Under California law,

Tuesday, April 8, 2025

Deadline to Submit Debris Removal Form Just One Week Away

By ANDRÈ COLEMAN, Managing Editor

Local property owners who lost their homes in the Eaton Fire have just one week left to submit Right of Entry forms for debris removal by United States Army Corps of Engineers.

Residents in Altadena and Pasadena have until April 15 to turn in the Right of Entry (ROE) form that allows crews onto their properties.

In total, 8,276 ROE forms have been transmitted to the Army Corps by local residents and people living in the Palisades for cleanup. The department is processing hundreds of ROEs daily and transmitting over 200 each day, ensuring that the cleanup continues at a steady pace.

Local residents can hire a private contractor for debris removal to opt out of the Army Corps of Engineers. However, they are still required to fill out an ROE.

The Army Corps of Engineers has significantly expanded its debris removal efforts in the Eaton footprint, with more than 80 crews now working to clear affected properties,