Friday, October 31, 2025

Pasadena Unified School District Budget Committee Completes Ranking of School Service Cuts

Pasadena Unified facing $30-35 million in reductions; Board to vote Nov. 20

The Pasadena Unified School District’s Superintendent’s Budget Advisory Committee concluded months of difficult deliberations Wednesday, delivering rankings that chart a path toward $30 million to $35 million in budget cuts for 2026-27 that the District must make. The rankings were released Thursday night.

PUSD needs to cut the millions from its budget for the 2026-27 school year to address a major structural deficit and avert insolvency.  Failure to make these reductions could trigger a takeover by the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) as soon as January 2026.

The committee ranked school-based service reduction packages totaling up to $20 million, prioritizing cuts to career technical education programs, athletics and family engagement services as most acceptable. The remaining $10 million to $15 million in cuts will come from seven other concurrent workstreams focused on central office operations and contracts.

The Board of Education will review the recommendations at a Nov.

Friday, October 31, 2025

Two Federal Judges Ordered the USDA to Resume SNAP Food Payments

STAFF REPORT

In separate rulings issued Friday, U.S. District Judges Indira Talwani of Massachusetts and John McConnell Jr. of Rhode Island directed the U.S. Department of Agriculture to tap into $5.3 billion in contingency funding to continue Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payments, despite the ongoing federal shutdown. Both judges gave the agency until Monday to determine how it will comply.

The decisions came just hours before the Nov. 1 deadline, when SNAP benefits for nearly 42 million Americans were scheduled to lapse. Talwani, ruling from Boston, said it was “hard to understand how this isn’t an emergency” given the scale of need and the existence of a fund designed for crises. McConnell’s ruling echoed that sentiment, finding the administration’s refusal to use the fund likely unlawful and harmful.

The USDA has argued that the contingency fund cannot cover the full $8.5 billion to $9 billion needed for monthly SNAP disbursements. Officials also warned that even if compelled to act,

Friday, October 31, 2025

CHP: Drive Safe, Sober on Halloween, or Consequences Could Be Scary

CITY NEWS SERVICE

Police, sheriff’s deputies and California Highway Patrol officers will be on the lookout for anyone who drives after imbibing alcohol or taking other intoxicants during Friday’s Halloween celebrations

With kids out trick or treating, the need for safety is paramount, authorities say.

The CHP announced that a 12-hour maximum enforcement period, or MEP, is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. Friday, during which all available officers will deploy onto freeways, highways and unincorporated roads throughout Los Angeles and Orange counties, and statewide, to nab DUI suspects and other lawbreakers.

“Impaired driving destroys lives, and even one life lost is one too many,” CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee said. “This Halloween, we’re asking everyone to do their part before the festivities begin, arrange a sober ride and help us keep California’s roads safe for everyone who uses them.”

During the agency’s 2024 Halloween MEP, there were about 500 crashes in the CHP’s jurisdictions statewide, with nearly 100 of those caused by drunk or drugged motorists.

Friday, October 31, 2025

Unions Brace for Tough Talks as PUSD Budget Crisis Deepens

By EDDIE RIVERA

As the Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) moves toward a November 20 deadline to identify deep budget cuts, the district’s two largest unions say they are preparing for tough, uncertain talks — and hoping to protect both jobs and the identity of local schools.

Jonathan Gardner, president of United Teachers Pasadena, said his members have yet to receive any concrete proposals from the district.

“We haven’t been asked to be flexible,” he said. “There have been zero proposals that have come our way.”

Still, Gardner said the union remains open to discussion.

“We would consider everything in its time,” he added. “But without a clean, clear proposal that we can agree to, we would never want to speed the process up just for some arbitrary cutoff.”

The looming decisions could reshape the district. Teachers worry that limiting cuts to central administration could shift the financial burden to individual school sites, eroding student programs and community identity.

Friday, October 31, 2025

Norton Simon Museum to Mark 50th Anniversary With Free Celebration Weekend

Three-day event features live music, art activities and gold-themed exhibitions

Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena will open its doors free to the public Nov. 7-9 to celebrate its 50th anniversary.

The three-day event features live music and art-making activities. Visitors can explore two special exhibitions: “Gold: Enduring Power, Sacred Craft” and “Retrospect: 50 Years at the Norton Simon Museum.”

The museum is waiving admission fees for the weekend celebration. All activities are designed for visitors of all ages.

No reservations are required. Events begin Friday and continue through Sunday at the museum, located at 411 W. Colorado Blvd.

The museum opened in 1975 after industrialist Norton Simon assumed leadership of the financially troubled Pasadena Museum of Modern Art. His vast “museum without walls” – artworks previously on loan to institutions worldwide – finally assembled within permanent walls.

Simon built one of the world’s greatest private art collections over 30 years. He began collecting in the 1950s with works by Degas,

Friday, October 31, 2025

Senator Demands Edison Provide Housing Aid to Fire Survivors Without Legal Waivers

Utility company faces pressure to allocate $2.4 billion as insurance coverage expires for displaced families

A California lawmaker is calling on Southern California Edison to stop requiring wildfire survivors to waive their legal rights in exchange for housing assistance.

State Sen. Sasha Renée Pérez, who represents Pasadena and the 25th Senate District, urged the utility’s parent company to allocate $2.4 billion for immediate housing relief. The funds would help Eaton Fire victims displaced since January 2025.

The senator criticized Edison International for tying aid to legal waivers. She said survivors cannot make fair decisions while living in unstable conditions.

“Emergency housing relief must be kept entirely separate from any settlement process,” Pérez wrote to SoCal Edison CEO Pedro J. Pizarro.

A Department of Angels survey found 80% of Eaton Fire survivors remain displaced. Families face mounting financial and emotional crises as insurance coverage expires.

Pérez said requiring waivers forces families into decisions made under duress.

Friday, October 31, 2025

Animal Experts Caution Halloween Candy Can Be Deadly to Pets

CITY NEWS SERVICE

Los Angeles Animal Services officials are offering residents tips on how to keep their pets safe during Halloween celebrations Sunday.

“For some pets … this night can be a nightmare because the sweet treats and some of the Halloween decor can be dangerous and even fatal to our animal companions, and even normally mellow pets can get spooked by the strange sounds, frightful sights, and people in masks or dressed up in costume,” the department said Saturday.

Officials offered the following guidelines:

• No sweets for your animals. Chocolate and other Halloween candies can be poisonous to dogs and cats. Ensure sweet treats are out of the pet’s reach and throw wrappers away in the trash. This may be a good teaching opportunity for children who may not understand why pets can’t share their treats.

•  Costumes are optional because not all pets enjoy dressing up. A decorative collar is far more comfortable than a costume for your pet.

Thursday, October 30, 2025

Radio Station Convenes Fire Victims and Edison Officials for Public Questioning

STAFF REPORT

Community event aims to ensure Altadena-Eaton Blaze survivors “have all the facts” on claims

A community town hall Thursday evening, November 6, will bring together survivors of the Altadena-Eaton fire and executives from Southern California Edison to examine the utility’s wildfire compensation fund, an event organizers say is designed to ask “tough questions” before victims make critical decisions about their claims.

KBLA Talk 1580 will host the free public event, “Understanding the Wildlife Recovery Compensation Fund,” from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Victory Bible Church in Pasadena. The gathering will feature consecutive panel discussions focused on eligibility requirements and the claims process for SCE’s settlement fund, with panels moderated by radio hosts Tavis Smiley and Nii-Quartelai Quartey.

“Southern California Edison refers to its fire settlement fund as a ‘fast pay program,'” said Smiley, founder of SmileyAudioMedia, Inc. and Chief Visionary Officer for KBLA Talk 1580. “We intend to slow things down a bit and ask the tough questions to ensure that survivors of the January 7th Altadena/Eaton fire have all the facts before making critical decisions.”

Thursday, October 30, 2025

Altadena’s Town Council Election Begins Saturday. Here’s What to Know.

STAFF REPORT

The tract-by-tract vote unfolds over three days at libraries and neighborhood sites. Any Altadena resident 18 or older may cast a ballot; citizenship isn’t required.

Altadena will open polls Saturday at libraries and neighborhood gathering places for the first of three voting days in its Town Council election, a local contest designed to give each census tract a direct voice in county-facing issues.

“It truly is a pivotal moment for our community,” said Isis Moulden, the election chair.

The council’s role is straightforward but influential: members are elected by—and represent—specific census tracts, helping residents navigate Los Angeles County departments and services. Terms last two years.

This election arrives with a record field of 21 candidates, an unusually large slate.

“A successful election isn’t just about numbers — it’s about trust, inclusion, and continuity,” said Isis Moulden, the election chair. “The record number of candidates already signals that Altadenans are ready to step up,

Thursday, October 30, 2025

Lawsuit: UCLA Officials Said School No Longer Wants to Play in the Rose Bowl

By ANDRÈ COLEMAN, Managing Editor

According to a copy of the lawsuit obtained by Pasadena Now, UCLA told city officials it was leaving the Rose Bowl, ending a century-old partnership and setting off a high-profile legal battle over one of college football’s most storied venues.

In the lawsuit, the City of Pasadena and the Rose Bowl Operating Company (RBOC) accuse The Regents of the University of California, acting on behalf of UCLA, of breaching multiple long-term agreements requiring the Bruins to play home football games at the Rose Bowl through 2044.

The complaint alleges UCLA has now “chosen to disregard previous promises,” informing Pasadena officials that it was “moving on” nearly two decades before its contractual commitment expires.

The suit argues that monetary damages alone would be insufficient to repair the harm, instead asking the court to compel UCLA to honor the contract and continue playing at the city-owned stadium.

Filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court,