Thursday, August 21, 2025

Eaton Fire Cleanup Outpaces Paradise, Mirrors Maui Recovery

By ANDRÈ COLEMAN, Managing Editor

Less than a year after the wind-driven Eaton Fire ripped through Altadena, the Army Corps of Engineers has removed debris and ash from personal property lots in the area, moving homeowners closer to rebuilding.

The eight-month turnaround is a significant increase over the Paradise Fire.

The Eaton Fire burned more than 9,000 acres in January, leveling neighborhoods in the foothills above Pasadena.

With the debris removal program now complete, county leaders say rebuilding could kick into high gear before the one-year anniversary of the blaze — a milestone unthinkable for Paradise residents in the first years after their catastrophe.

Locally, the Army Corps of Engineers, working in tandem with the EPA and Los Angeles County, hauled away more than a million tons of burned concrete, twisted metal and contaminated soil from hundreds of homes.

Crews also recycled large portions of the material — crushing concrete for reuse in construction, sending scrap metal to mills,

Wednesday, August 20, 2025

Army Corps Says Altadena Golf Course Restoration on Track for Year-End Completion

By ANDRÈ COLEMAN, Managing Editor

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has completed debris removal from private properties in Altadena and is moving on to the restoration of the Altadena Golf Course, with a projected handover to Los Angeles County by the end.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers cleared property of wildfire debris in the wake of the deadly Eaton Fire.

The fire, one of the deadliest in the state’s history, decimated Altadena, killing 19 people, destroying more than 9,000 structures and scorching more than 14,000 acres.

Major Todd Ober told community members at an Aug. 18 meeting that the Corps has finished the private parcel debris removal program and has only two special inclusion parcels left before the cleanup effort concludes.

At the golf course, where crews had used the site for debris processing, Ober said all reduction operations have ceased, equipment has been removed, and soil potentially affected by the work has already been replaced.

Wednesday, August 20, 2025

After Wildfire Destroyed Their School, Children Found Their Voice Through Disposable Cameras and Poetry

By THERESE EDU

Healing through art: How a local charter school helped young students process trauma after losing so much in the devastating Eaton Fire

When the Eaton Fire swept through in Altadena in January, destroying the Aveson Charter School’s TK-5 campus, educators developed an innovative trauma recovery program combining mindful photography with creative writing workshops.

“I chose to really zoom in on the idea of how powerful that their voice is,” said Amelia Weinstock, Fifth Grade Advisor at the campus known as ‘Aveson School of Leaders.’ “That became kind of like the theme of the whole project was the power of their story.”

The project, “The Rise From The Flashes,” provided fifth-grade students with 35mm disposable cameras limited to 24-26 shots, supported by the Greater Los Angeles Foundation. The intentional limitation forced students to carefully consider each image, transforming the process into a mindful emotional exercise.

Byron Flitsch, Coordinator of Community Engagement,

Wednesday, August 20, 2025

Pasadena Unified Implements Heat Safety Measures Ahead of Excessive Heat Warning

Pasadena Unified School District officials on Tuesday outlined measures to protect students from an Excessive Heat Warning issued by the National Weather Service, which forecasts a high of 101 degrees in Pasadena on Thursday.

“The safety and well-being of our students and staff is our top priority, and we want to inform you about the Excessive Heat Warning issued by the National Weather Service this week,” the district said in an email to the school community.

Temperatures are expected to rise from 98 degrees and moderate risk on Wednesday, peaking at 101 degrees with major risk Thursday and Friday, then dipping to 100 degrees with moderate risk Saturday.

Schools will ensure access to water and cool indoor spaces during recess, lunch and nutrition breaks; set up cool-down stations with misting fans and portable shade canopies; shift elementary lunch 30 minutes earlier; and ask families to apply sunscreen and send hats, the district announced.

Outdoor activities and physical education will be reduced or moved indoors,

Wednesday, August 20, 2025

Southern California Grid Stable as Region Braces for Record-Breaking Heat Wave

The state’s electrical system remains resilient as extreme temperatures threaten to push demand toward peak limits

Southern California’s electrical grid remains in normal operating condition with ample reserves as the region braces for the most dangerous heat wave of 2025, expected to peak Thursday and Friday with temperatures reaching up to 109º in some valley areas.

The California Independent System Operator reported early Wednesday that current demand stood at 25,677 megawatts, with 51,733 MW in available capacity and 2,426 MW in reserves. Today’s forecasted peak of 39,642 MW remains well below emergency thresholds.

“CAISO is closely watching conditions and may issue Flex Alerts if demand approaches supply limits during the heat wave,” the agency stated. The last significant Flex Alert period occurred over two years ago.

An Extreme Heat Warning has been issued by the National Weather Service for Los Angeles and Ventura Counties, effective from 11 a.m. Thursday to 9 p.m. Saturday. Urban temperatures are forecast to reach 95 to 98ºF,

Wednesday, August 20, 2025

State Pre-Deploys Fire Resources to L.A. County Ahead of Heat Wave

CITY NEWS SERVICE

As the Southland braces for a dangerous heat wave Wednesday through Saturday, the Governor’s Office of Emergency Management has pre-deployed an array of firefighting resources to Los Angeles County to contend with heightened wildfire danger.

The announcement came Tuesday, with California’s new CalHeatScore tool showing much of the state reaching high and severe levels of extreme heat later this week.

Temperatures are expected to range from the upper 90s at the coast to well over 100 inland as high pressure moves in from the east, creating “a high risk for heat illness and fire danger,” the National Weather Service said.

“Now is the time to check the forecasts for your area and prepare for higher temperatures and dangerous fire weather,” Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office said in a statement.

“While the best thing we can all do is prepare now, the state is also pre-deploying resources to protect communities from catastrophic wildfire.”

According to Newsom’s office,

Wednesday, August 20, 2025

Bill to Safeguard Eaton Fire Survivors’ Insurance Interest Advances Towards Governor’s Desk

Legislation aimed at ensuring wildfire survivors receive the full benefit of their insurance payouts is one step closer to becoming law, following Assembly passage of AB 493 today. The measure, authored by Assemblymember John Harabedian (D-Pasadena), is on its way to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk for final approval.

Known as the Disaster Interest Accrual Act, AB 493 mandates that homeowners earn a minimum of 2% annual interest on insurance proceeds held in escrow after property damage or loss. The bill seeks to close a longstanding loophole that has allowed financial institutions to retain interest earnings—often amounting to thousands of dollars—rather than returning them to families rebuilding after disasters.

“This bill makes sure homeowners—not banks—benefit from the interest on insurance payouts meant to help them recover after disaster,” Harabedian said in a statement. “Eaton Fire survivors need all the help they can get to rebuild their lives and our community. This bill will ensure that thousands of dollars go back to homeowners, rather than Wall Street.

Tuesday, August 19, 2025

From Golf Course to Murals, Altadena Recovery Advances as Families Await Insurance Relief

Altadena’s post-fire cleanup crossed a major threshold Monday as federal engineers declared private-parcel debris removal complete and set a year-end timeline to return the Altadena golf course to the county, while the supervising county official urged insurers and regulators to accelerate claims that residents say are slowing recovery.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has finished the private-parcel phase and has “only two special inclusion parcels” left before the full debris program winds down.

The Corps announced a restoration schedule for the golf course: earthwork finished by mid-October, sod in place by the end of October, the driving range restored by mid-November and a handoff to Parks and Recreation by the end of the calendar year.

“As of today, we have completed the private parcel debris removal program and only two special inclusion parcels remain before we complete our full debris removal program,” Ober said.

He added that processing equipment has been demobilized, stockpiles of reduced material have been shipped off-site, and soils potentially impacted by the work are being removed and replaced with imported fill,

Tuesday, August 19, 2025

California Sues Trump Over New Conditions On Funding For Crime Victims

By Mikhail Zinshteyn and Cayla Mihalovich, CALMATTERS

Attorney General Rob Bonta on Monday filed California’s 39th lawsuit against the Trump administration, challenging new immigration enforcement requirements it placed on federal funding for crime victims.

States were set to receive more than $1.2 billion in federal crime victim funding this year, with California expected to claim $165 million. But last month, the U.S. Justice Department’s Office of Victims for Crime announced that states must agree to support and assist the Department of Homeland Security with federal immigration enforcement in order to access those funds.

Some states view that condition as unworkable and the potential loss of funding could be the second significant hit this year from the Trump administration to California programs that support crime victims. Earlier this year, the U.S. Justice Department slashed grants for violence prevention and victim service programs that were initially valued at $811 million. In California alone, the department cut just over $80 million.

Tuesday, August 19, 2025

LA County Seeks Public Input on Measure A Homeless Spending Plan

CITY NEWS SERVICE

Los Angeles County Monday invited residents to help shape how Measure A funding will be used to address homelessness through the launch of its new Department of Homeless Services and Housing starting next fiscal year.

Earlier this year, L.A. County officials enacted a plan to create a centralized homeless department and move more than $300 million dollars from the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority to this new entity. The decision came in response to scathing audits that faulted LAHSA with issues tracking its homeless service providers and not alleviating the homelessness crisis.

LAHSA has disputed the findings and said it has taken steps to improve data tracking, including the release of online tools.

The meetings will focus on a spending plan for Measure in the 2026-27 fiscal year, and will serve as an opportunity for residents to decide how to shape the county’s homeless response and housing system.

Meetings will take place via Zoom,