Thursday, July 10, 2025

Los Angeles County to Begin Annual Sediment Removal at Devil’s Gate Dam on July 15

County Launches Major Watershed Maintenance Project with Extensive Truck Hauling Plan

Los Angeles County Public Works will begin its annual sediment removal operation on July 15, moving up to 300 trucks daily to transport approximately 100,000 cubic yards of sediment from the Devil’s Gate Reservoir watershed.

The project will run Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding holidays.

Trucks will follow a designated route west on the 210 Freeway, then via Foothill Boulevard, Osborne Street, Glenoaks Boulevard, and Sheldon Street to Sheldon Pit in Sun Valley.

The maintenance effort stems from a comprehensive restoration project completed in August 2021, which originally removed 1.3 million cubic yards of sediment and restored 70 acres of habitat in the Arroyo Seco Watershed. The annual program aims to maintain flood protection for downstream communities and preserve ecological balance.

“LA County Public Works maintains a sustainable Devil’s Gate Reservoir to provide flood protection to downstream communities while preserving the ecological value of the Hahamongna Watershed,”

Thursday, July 10, 2025

Pasadena Community Foundation Awards $395,000 in Education Grants to Local Nonprofits

Nonprofit organizations receive funding to support student success across Greater Pasadena

The Pasadena Community Foundation has awarded $395,000 in education grants to 11 local nonprofit organizations to support student success in the Greater Pasadena area.

The 2025 Education Grants will support dynamic educational initiatives targeting early childhood learning, youth development, academic interventions, and college access. Programs range from STEAM education to literacy support across the Pasadena Unified School District community.

“After six months of healing and rebuilding from the devastating Eaton Fire, we recognize the extraordinary challenges each organization continues to face—whether it’s trauma-affected students, damaged facilities, or interrupted programming,” said Jeannine Bogaard, PCF’s Vice President of Community Impact. “These grants are a commitment to restoring strength, stability, and hope in our educational community.”

Grant recipients include programs like the Girls’ Empowerment Program at YWCA Glendale and Pasadena, which provides leadership skills and STEAM education for girls in grades 6-9. Partnership for Success! will receive funding for its summer educational experience,

Thursday, July 10, 2025

Fire Survivors to Learn About Affordable Housing Options

Pasadena Senior Center forum will feature four organizations offering lower-cost rebuilding solutions

Homeowners affected by the Eaton fire can learn about affordable rebuilding options at a free forum next week.

The Pasadena Senior Center will host the “Rebuilding our Community” forum Tuesday, July 22, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The event targets Altadena and Pasadena residents considering reconstruction after the fire.

The Assistance League of Pasadena is presenting the forum. Four organizations will share information about cost-effective housing alternatives.

The Foothill Catalog Foundation will discuss more than 30 design concepts. The nonprofit helps fire survivors rebuild while saving money, particularly when rebuilding together.

CityLAB-UCLA will present modular housing options. The research center operates within UCLA’s Architecture and Urban Design Department. Officials will explain how modular construction can reduce both time and costs.

Habitat for Humanity representatives will address affordability and sustainability options.

Sunset Mesa Collective will explain their single point of contact approach to reduce and control costs.

Thursday, July 10, 2025

First California Care Convention Brings Free Health and Wellness Event to Pasadena

Community-focused gathering aims to connect adults and seniors through healthcare innovation and local business networking

The first annual California Care Convention will open its doors July 19 at the Pasadena Convention Center, offering free admission to community members seeking health and wellness connections.

The event runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 300 E. Green Street. Doors open at 9:45 a.m.

Organizer Neo Nalu LLC describes the convention as focused on “creating community connections — helping adults and seniors connect, learn, and grow together.”

Neo Nalu, LLC is a Camarillo-based health and wellness company dedicated to a holistic approach that blends mental, emotional, social, and physical well-being. Through initiatives like the California Care Convention and the “Spring Wellness Challenge,” Neo Nalu aims to empower individuals – especially seniors – to live healthier, happier lives.

The free event features local businesses and community members centered on health and wellness. Attendees can explore healthcare industry innovations and network with vendors showcasing medical care and wellness products.

Wednesday, July 9, 2025

Pasadena Unified School District Marks Six Months Since Eaton Fire

Academic progress continues as community rebuilds from devastating wildfire

On Monday, PUSD Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Blanco joined Gov. Gavin Newsom and other leaders to discuss ongoing wildfire recovery efforts statewide as Pasadena Unified acknowledged the six-month mark since the Eaton Fire 

The January fire disrupted education across the district and displaced numerous families, a PUSD statement said. All school properties have since been cleared and tested for safety by district teams, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and public health agencies. 

“Six months ago, the Eaton Fire disrupted lives and learning across our district,” Blanco said. “Today, we reflect on how far we have come.” 

Schools reopened just 23 days after the fire through coordination between district staff, local agencies and community partners. 

The Pasadena Educational Foundation established the Eaton Fire Response Fund two days after the fire started. The fund has distributed more than $3 million to support affected employees, students and families. 

Emergency housing and financial support reached more than 150 district employees impacted by the fire. 

Wednesday, July 9, 2025

LA County Supervisors Approve Changes to Mental Health Court Program

Board seeks to improve referral process for first responders, boost community awareness

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to improve the county’s CARE Court program for people with untreated mental health disorders.

The motion, authored by Supervisor Janice Hahn and co-authored by Board Chair Kathryn Barger, directs the Department of Mental Health to streamline the referral process for first responders.

CARE Court, the county’s Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment program, launched on Dec. 1, 2023. The state-funded program allows qualified individuals to petition the court for treatment of people with untreated schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders.

Family members, spouses, roommates, emergency responders and licensed medical or mental health professionals can file petitions. The program aims to stabilize symptoms and support recovery.

“CARE Court is a critical tool that has offered hope to families who love someone with severe untreated mental illness,” Hahn said. “But we saw the need for improvements, so we studied them and now we’re finally moving forward with them.”

Wednesday, July 9, 2025

Cal Fire Rolled Out An AI Chatbot. Don’t Ask It About Evacuation Orders

By Malena Carollo, CALMATTERS

California government agencies are going all-in on generative artificial intelligence tools under  Gov. Gavin Newsom’s 2023 executive order to improve government efficiency with AI. One of the first to roll out is a chatbot from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the primary agency tasked with coordinating the state’s wildfire response.

The chatbot is meant to give Californians better access to “critical fire prevention resources and near-real-time emergency information,” according to a May release from Newsom’s office. But CalMatters found that it fails to accurately describe the containment of a given wildfire, doesn’t reliably provide information such as a list for evacuation supplies and can’t tell users about evacuation orders.

Newsom has announced AI applications for traffic, housing and customer service to be implemented in the coming months and years. But Cal Fire’s chatbot issues raise questions about whether agencies are following best practices.

Wednesday, July 9, 2025

Metro to Host ‘State of Agency’ Address to Mark 2024-25 Accomplishments

CITY NEWS SERVICE

New Board of Directors Chair Fernando Dutra will receive the gavel from Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn Wednesday as part of Metro’s annual “State of the Agency” address at Union Station.

Dutra has been a member of the Board of Directors since 2021 and the Whittier City Council since 2012. He is president of Allwest Development Company and holds licenses for general building contractor and general engineering.

The board chair serves a one-year term from July 1 to June 30. The position rotates annually among the mayor of Los Angeles, a member of the Board of Supervisors and a City Selection Committee member.

Dutra, Hahn, Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins and members of the agency’s Youth Council will discuss the past year’s accomplishments and outline priorities for the 2025-26 fiscal year. In May, Metro’s Board of Directors approved an approximately $9.4 billion budget that prioritized funding in public safety and boosting the frequency of bus and rail service.

Tuesday, July 8, 2025

Los Angeles County Seeks to Join Civil Rights Suit Against ICE

County and cities of Los Angeles, Culver City, Montebello, Monterey Park, Pasadena, Pico Rivera, Santa Monica, and West Hollywood File to Participate as Intervenors, Ask Court to Stop Illegal Tactics by Immigration Enforcement Agents

Los Angeles County filed court documents today—alongside the cities of Los Angeles, Culver City, Montebello, Monterey Park, Pasadena, Pico Rivera, Santa Monica, and West Hollywood —seeking an end to warrantless seizures and arrests and relief from wide-ranging economic damages caused by Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids authorized by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

The County and cities, led by the City of Los Angeles and City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto, are each seeking status as “intervenors” in a federal class-action lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union, Public Counsel, Immigrant Defenders Law Center and the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights and others asking the courts to find that DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel, and other key members of the Trump administration have exceeded their statutory authority and violated the Constitution.

Tuesday, July 8, 2025

Supervisors Approve Motions to Defend Immigrant Communities Amid Escalating Federal Immigration Enforcement

Los Angeles County Chair Pro Tem and First District Supervisor Hilda L. Solis Led the Charge with Three Motions

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors today passed three motions introduced by Chair Pro Tem and First District Supervisor Hilda L. Solis to defend immigrant communities amid a sharp escalation in federal immigration enforcement over the last month.

The first motion, co-authored by Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath, directs multiple County departments to assess the effects of federal immigration operations on access to food, health, and social services. County hospitals and clinics have reported a significant rise in appointment cancellations and no-shows following the start of increased enforcement in early June. The motion calls for an expansion of telehealth services, mailed prescriptions, food delivery, and multilingual and culturally competent outreach to ensure residents know County services remain accessible regardless of immigration status.

“Families across our communities are living in fear,” said Chair Pro Tem Solis. “People are skipping medical appointments,