Wednesday, February 7, 2024

Divided LA County Board Votes to Support Appeal of Homeless Camping Ban Issue

CITY NEWS SERVICE

A divided Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has voted to support an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court of a court case questioning if cities and counties can legally enforce outdoor camping restrictions in an effort to clear homeless encampments, and is joining an Oregon city’s call for action Wednesday.

Supervisors Kathryn Barger and Janice Hahn introduced the motion calling on the county to support the city of Grants Pass, Oregon, in its appeal to the Supreme Court of two 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rulings that struck down cities’ ability to enforce public camping restrictions against the homeless unless there is adequate alternative shelter space available.

“I want to be clear that this is not an advocacy push for the criminalization of homelessness, but rather a call for comprehensive, compassionate action,” Barger said in a statement after the board’s 3-2 vote in support of the appeal. “This motion encourages the Supreme Court to clarify our state and local governments’

Thursday, February 1, 2024

LA County Health Officials Confirm Local Measles Case

CITY NEWS SERVICE

Los Angeles County health officials said Thursday they have confirmed a case of measles in a resident who recently traveled through Los Angeles International Airport while infectious, and they urged people who may have been exposed to check their vaccination status, monitor their health and contact a doctor if necessary.

The unidentified patient arrived on Turkish Airlines flight 009 at the Tom Bradley International Terminal, Gate 157, at 5 p.m. Jan. 25, according to the county Department of Public Health. People who were in the terminal between 5 and 9 p.m. could be at risk of measles due to exposure, health officials said.

Other passengers who were seated near the patient on the flight are being notified, officials said.

The patient also visited a Chick-Fil-A restaurant at 18521 Devonshire St. in Northridge at some point between 8 and 10:30 p.m. Jan. 25, possibly exposing people there.

“Public Health encourages residents to confirm their measles vaccination status,”

Thursday, January 25, 2024

20-Day Streak of Dropping Average LA County Gas Prices Ends

CITY NEWS SERVICE

A 20-day streak of decreases totaling 21.8 cents that dropped the average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Los Angeles County to its lowest amount since Jan. 24, 2023, ended Thursday when it was unchanged, remaining at $4.539.

The average price is 4.5 cents less than one week ago, 18.2 cents lower than one month ago and a half-cent below what it was one year ago, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service. It has dropped $1.955 since rising to a record $6.494 on Oct. 5, 2022.

The national average price rose six-tenths of a cent to $3.102, the third consecutive increase after a four-day streak of decreases totaling 1.7 cents. It has risen 2.5 cents over the past three days, including 1.2 cents Wednesday.

The national average price is eight-tenths of a cent more than one week ago, but 2.5 cents less than one month ago and 37.9 cents lower than one year ago.

Wednesday, January 17, 2024

Homes Sales Decline in California, Prices Down in LA County

CITY NEWS SERVICE

Home prices declined across Los Angeles County in December 2023, mirroring a statewide trend, while statewide homes sales in 2023 experienced their steepest decline since 2007, the California Association of Realtors said Wednesday.

The median price of an existing single-family home in Los Angeles County in December was $853,340, down from $897,990 in November but higher than the $799,670 in December 2022. The median price for the Los Angeles metro area in December was $760,000, down from $785,000 in November but higher than the $716,500 in December 2022.

Orange County’s median price was unchanged in December at $1.3 million, up from $1,131,760 one year ago.

Statewide, the median price of an existing single-family home was $819,740 in December, down slightly from $822,200 in November, but above the $770,490 in December of 2022.

The state’s highest median home price in December was San Mateo County’s $1.8 million.

December’s sales pace was essentially unchanged from the revised 223,940 homes sold in November and was down 7.1% from a year ago,

Tuesday, January 9, 2024

L.A. County Board of Supervisors Call for Release of Armenian Hostages Held Captive by Azerbaijan

STAFF REPORT

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors today unanimously approved a motion introduced by Supervisor Kathryn Barger and co-authored by Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell that throws the weight of Los Angeles County behind calls for the release of Armenians being held hostage by Azerbaijan.

At least 36 Armenian prisoners are captive and remain in Azerbaijani custody. Additionally, Azerbaijan is holding eight former military and political leaders of Artsakh captive as political prisoners as of September 2023.

“This is about accountability,” said Supervisor Kathryn Barger. “We need to hold Azerbaijan accountable for violations of humanitarian law. As leaders of a County that is home to the greatest number of Armenians outside of Armenia itself, we must do what is within our power and use our voice to condemn Azerbaijan’s violations of human rights and urge the return of all Armenian hostages and prisoners of war. We have a moral obligation to do so. I am proud to stand in solidarity with the Armenian community.”

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has approved several motions authored by Supervisor Barger related to the ongoing humanitarian violations and acts of violence committed by the Azerbaijani government against the ethnic Armenian people of Artsakh.

Friday, January 5, 2024

LA County Health Department Urges Post-Holiday COVID-19 Testing

CITY NEWS SERVICE

With COVID-19 transmission levels and respiratory viruses increasing, the L.A. County Department of Public Health Thursday urged residents to test if they have COVID-19 symptoms to prevent the spread of the virus in the post-holiday period.

County health officials said free at-home COVID-19 tests remain readily available throughout the county at libraries, from many community-based organizations, food banks and senior centers, through the federal government by mail and at retail pharmacies with a California health insurance plan.

Most at-home tests can be safely used past the expiration date on the box, according to Public Health. For more information on how to check home test expiration dates and how to get free COVID-19 tests, visit ph.lacounty.gov/COVIDtests.

People who test positive for COVID-19, especially those with underlying risk factors, should talk to a health care provider right away about COVID-19 medications. Taking an oral antiviral, such as Paxlovid, can prevent people from becoming very sick,

Sunday, December 31, 2023

Average LA County Gas Prices At Highest Amounts To End Year

By STEVEN HERBERT, City News Service

The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Los Angeles County rose Sunday to its highest amount to end a year, despite a recent run of 78 decreases in 79 days totaling $1.587.

An increase of two-tenths of a cent Sunday to $4.755 extended the run of increases to eight in nine days totaling 6.5 cents that began five days after the run of decreases ended Dec. 18 when the average price was unchanged.

The average price is 4.5 cents more than one week ago and 26.9 cents higher than one year ago but 19.5 less than one month ago, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service. It has dropped $1.739 since rising to a record $6.494 on Oct. 5, 2022.

The run of decreases started Sept. 30, two days after Gov. Gavin Newsom sent a letter to the California Air Resources Board directing it to allow refineries to begin making and distributing winter-blend gasoline,

Sunday, December 31, 2023

CITY NEWS SERVICE

Los Angeles County has reinstated a mask-wearing requirement for staff and visitors at all licensed health care facilities in light of an upswing in coronavirus metrics, officials said Saturday.

The county recently entered the “medium” level of COVID-19 hospital admissions, as defined by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“Over the past week in Los Angeles County, there have been notable, yet not unexpected, increases in COVID-19 reported cases, hospitalizations and deaths,” the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health said in a statement. “While recent increases are significant, they remain considerably below last winter’s peak and common-sense protections are strongly recommended to help curb transmission and severe illness as the new year begins.”

The threshold for the CDC’s medium level is between 10 and 19.9 new COVID hospital admissions per 100,000 population over seven days. The CDC reported 10.5 new COVID hospital admissions per 100,000 people in Los Angeles County for the week ending Dec.

Friday, December 29, 2023

The Altadena Chamber of Commerce & Civic Association Sets Centennial Celebration

STAFF REPORT

The Altadena Chamber of Commerce & Civic Association will mark one hundred years of serving Altadena with a Centennial Celebration. This very special occasion will also honor Doug Colliflower as Citizen of the Year and El Patron as Business of the Year for 2023. The Celebration and Awards Banquet will be held from 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. on February 2, at the Altadena Town & Country Club. “It’s going to be a wonderful event. We are so excited to be celebrating one hundred years of the Altadena Chamber,” said Altadena Chamber President Judy Matthews.

Citizen of the Year recipient, Doug Colliflower, is a long-time resident of Altadena who has been active in the community for more than thirty five years. A realtor who specializes in the real estate needs of senior citizens, Mr. Colliflower is well known to many in Altadena. He is a Director and Immediate Past President of the Rotary Club of Altadena, serves on the Altadena Town Council,

Wednesday, December 27, 2023

California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Unveils Upgrades to Online Services, Focusing on Commercial Drivers

STAFF REPORT

The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has unveiled significant upgrades to its online services, focusing on streamlining processes for commercial drivers. The improvements aim to facilitate easier license applications, efficient driving tests, and quick renewals, contributing to the state’s economic vitality, a DMV statement said.

“By harnessing technology and implementing this streamlined process, the DMV aims to reduce wait times and eliminate unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles for California’s commercial drivers,” DMV Director Steve Gordon said.

Under the Newsom Administration and Gordon’s leadership, the DMV has doubled its online services from 20 in 2019 to 48 today. Transaction times have been reduced by two-thirds, and in-office wait times have significantly decreased.

One of the notable enhancements is the more efficient Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) skills testing experience. CDL applicants now benefit from a modernized skills test using tablets for exams, eliminating paper score sheets and data entry. This improvement has resulted in a 9% increase in the number of tests conducted statewide since implementation.