Wednesday, September 10, 2025

Army Corps Concludes Debris Removal in Eaton Fire Zone, Restoration Work Advances

By ANDRÈ COLEMAN, Managing Editor

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has completed debris removal operations within the Eaton Canyon fire footprint and turned the project back over to the County for closeout work, officials said.

The cleanup, which wrapped up about a week and a half ago, marked a major step in recovery efforts following last year’s devastating blaze.

Restoration of the Eaton Canyon Golf Course remains on schedule, with the city’s Department of Parks and Recreation expected to regain full control by the end of the year.

Todd Ober, commander of the Corps’ Los Angeles District, said the mission underscored both the agency’s commitment and the resilience of the local community.

“Serving this community has been one of the highlights of my 16-year career with the United States Army,” Ober said. “Getting to witness firsthand the strength and resiliency of each of you has been truly inspiring. I look forward to coming back in a few years to see this community rebuilt and prospering.”

Nineteen people died in the fire,

Tuesday, September 9, 2025

‘Something Can Be Done About This’: New Plan Aims To Stop Sex Abuse In California Schools

By Matt Drange, CALMATTERS

A beloved teacher arrested for soliciting a minor. A coach convicted of sexual abuse. A school district hit with a multi-million-dollar jury verdict for failing to protect students.

The steady drumbeat of stories in recent years about educator sexual abuse in K-12 school districts across California shows the scope of misconduct is much wider than previously known. Yet the stories only hint at how common sexual harassment and grooming behavior has become in schools, with the best available data from the U.S. Education Department suggesting that 1 in 10 children is targeted for grooming at some point in their K-12 education.

A new bill, which is poised to pass the Legislature in the coming days, would give local and state officials more tools to identify and combat sexual abuse, and educate students to better identify the most common signs of grooming behavior. Senate Bill 848, or “Safe Learning Environments Act,” was authored by Sen.

Tuesday, September 9, 2025

Steadfast LA, Banc of California Award First Altadena Fire Recovery Grants

Three local businesses receive $125,000 as Altadena rebuilds after the January Eaton Fire

Steadfast LA and Banc of California awarded the first round of Altadena small-business recovery grants to three local fixtures hit hard by January’s Eaton Fire. The $125,000 in grants went to Webster’s Community Pharmacy, Fair Oaks Burger, and Altadena Cookie Co., providing direct financial support to sustain operations and keep these businesses rooted in the community.

“Meeting with and hearing stories from the Millers at Webster’s Pharmacy, the Lees at Fair Oaks Burger, and Jessica and Michelle with Altadena Cookie Co. was moving and underscored how ingrained they all are in the community,” said Rick Caruso, founder and chairman of Steadfast LA.

“I’m really proud that, through this initiative, they’ll have the resources to overcome the adversity they’ve faced since the fires and get back to doing what they do best: serving their customers and remaining part of the fabric of Altadena.”

Caruso and Banc of California Chairman and CEO Jared Wolff personally visited each business last Tuesday,

Tuesday, September 9, 2025

Pasadena Assemblymember’s Disaster Housing Task Force Bill Clears Legislature, Awaits Governor’s Decision

The legislation aims to streamline wildfire recovery efforts and rebuild housing in impacted communities

Legislation by Assemblymember John Harabedian to create a state-led disaster housing task force advanced Monday, with Assembly Bill 239 now headed to the governor’s desk for final approval. Harabedian represents Pasadena and Altadena,

AB 239 passed the California Assembly on Monday and aims to streamline wildfire recovery efforts by establishing a centralized task force convened by the California Department of Housing and Community Development.

The bill awaits the governor’s decision, due by Oct. 12.

The legislation seeks to cut through bureaucratic delays and ensure that resources are delivered swiftly to rebuild housing in communities impacted by wildfires.

“Thousands of families have lost their homes, and the need for a unified, efficient recovery effort is urgent,” said Assemblymember Harabedian.

The task force will coordinate efforts among the California Department of Housing and Community Development, the Office of Emergency Services, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and local governments.

Tuesday, September 9, 2025

School District Offers Free Teletherapy to Support Student and Family Mental Health

The district’s partnership with Daybreak Health provides no-cost therapy and monthly mental health classes for families

Pasadena Unified School District is providing free teletherapy services to students and their families through a new partnership with Daybreak Health, aiming to address rising mental health needs across the community.

The initiative, which the District said it launched in response to ongoing stressors affecting youth and caregivers, connects students with licensed clinicians who specialize in treating anxiety, depression, stress, focus issues and relationship challenges.

Services are available at no cost and can be accessed by submitting a Care Request through the District’s website.

Submit a Care Request here to get started.

In addition to one-on-one therapy, Daybreak Health offers free monthly online mental health classes for families.

Topics include the impact of screen time on mood and focus, strategies to reduce device use and tips for protecting children from online threats.

In the next online class,

Tuesday, September 9, 2025

Pasadena Unified to Confront $31 Million Deficit at Sept. 11 Meeting

The Pasadena Unified School District Board of Education is set to certify unaudited financial data on Thursday showing the district ended the 2024–2025 fiscal year with a deficit of more than $31 million.

The filing of unaudited actuals, required annually by state law, is arguably the most consequential item on the board’s Sept. 11 agenda. Certification will formally place the district’s financial shortfall on record and serve as the basis for state and county oversight and budgeting in the new fiscal year.

Also on the agenda is Resolution 2837, approving the district’s GANN calculations for 2025–2026. The measure establishes PUSD’s estimated spending limit under Proposition 4, the state law requiring districts to control appropriations growth.

In addition to fiscal matters, the board will weigh approval of a design-build contract for Franklin Elementary School. The project calls for the construction of a new multi-purpose room, kitchen, and administration offices.

The board will also consider revised education goals for the district,  and Resolution 2838,

Tuesday, September 9, 2025

State Attorney General’s Office Sues Over ‘Inhumane’ Conditions at LA County Jails

CITY NEWS SERVICE

The state Attorney General’s Office sued Los Angeles County and the sheriff’s department Monday alleging persistent unconstitutional and inhumane conditions inside the jail system, including lack of access to health care, rat and roach infestations and feces smeared on walls.

“We need comprehensive reform now, and that’s what this lawsuit is about,” Attorney General Rob Bonta said during a downtown Los Angeles news conference announcing the suit.

The legal action is the result of an investigation that began in 2021, and Bonta said the probe uncovered continued issues such as increasing inmate deaths despite a drop in the jail population, overcrowded facilities, inadequate or delayed access to medical and dental care, limited access to basic hygiene supplies such as soap, subpar plumbing and inadequate air conditioning.

“While the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and Sheriff (Robert) Luna have made a number of reforms to patrol operations during the course of our investigation, they have remained obstinate on the issue of improving the unsafe and unconstitutional conditions at county jails,”

Monday, September 8, 2025

Supervisor Barger Extends Loma Alta Pool Season Through October to Support Altadena’s Recovery and Recreation

Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger announced today that the pool at Loma Alta Park will remain open through Oct. 31, 2025, extending its season to support Altadena’s recovery, recreation, and community connections. The extension, funded by Supervisor Kathryn’s Barger’s office, offers residents continued access to affordable aquatic programs well into the fall.

The expanded schedule includes lap swimming, water exercise classes, swim lessons, and free swim hours. The move is aimed at fostering physical activity, social connection, and emotional healing in a community that Barger described as “incredibly resilient.”

“Altadena has shown incredible resilience and I want to make sure County services match that spirit by creating opportunities for both healing and joy,” Barger said in a statement. “Extending the pool season at Loma Alta Park means families can continue to connect, stay active, and enjoy a cherished community space. Recreation is an important part of recovery, and I’m committed to investing in programs that bring people together and support Altadena’s wellbeing.”

The Loma Alta Pool is located at 3330 N.

Monday, September 8, 2025

Supreme Court Lifts Temporary Restraining Order, Freeing ICE to Resume Large Scale Stops in Los Angeles

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday lifted a temporary restraining order that had barred federal immigration agents from conducting “roving patrols” and detaining individuals without reasonable suspicion of unlawful presence. The 6–3 decision now permits agents to stop and detain people in Pasadena and other Southern California cities based solely on ethnicity or occupation.

The ruling overturns a July order issued by U.S. District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong in Los Angeles, which had prohibited immigration stops based on race, language, location, or employment status. That order had been upheld by the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, but the Supreme Court’s decision clears the way for expanded enforcement tactics across Los Angeles County, including in Pasadena neighborhoods with large immigrant communities.

In the majority opinion, the court held that immigration agents may detain anyone they suspect is living in the United States illegally, even if that suspicion is rooted solely in a person’s appearance or job type. Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh, concurring, cited longstanding federal precedent allowing brief detentions based on “reasonable suspicion” of unlawful presence.

Monday, September 8, 2025

They Were Convicted Of Gang Crimes. New California Supreme Court Rulings Trim Their Sentences

By Joe Garcia and Nigel Duara, CALMATTERS

The California Supreme Court handed down two decisions last week that could impact decades of sentencing for gang-related offenses and allow thousands of people to petition courts to reexamine their cases.

Both rulings turned on a 2021 law that raised the standard of evidence for proving that someone broke a law as part of  “criminal street gang activity.” In different ways, the Supreme Court chose to apply the new standard to past convictions.

One decision took an incarcerated person off Death Row; the other sided with two incarcerated people who contested past “strikes” on their records that set them on course for lengthy sentences.

It’s uncertain how far-reaching the two rulings will be. Both of them came in split decisions, reflecting disagreements about how to apply the 2021 law retroactively.

In one case, a 4-3 majority determined that prior gang-related charges did not hold up under new legal standards and thus could not be used as strikes.