Saturday, January 10, 2026

Saturday Fundraiser at Fire-Victim-Owned Wine Bar Supports Altadena Rebuilding

Three days after the one-year anniversary of the Eaton Fire, a local wine bar whose owner lost their home in the blaze is helping to raise money for Altadena recovery efforts, placing the venue at the center of a pattern of local business owners personally affected by the January 2025 disaster who continue serving their communities.

The event, hosted by owner Lucy Tarin, starts Saturday at 2 p.m. and plans to feature musical performances by Gerardo Morales, a flamenco guitarist with more than 20 years of professional experience who studied at Pasadena City College and the Pasadena Conservatory and serves as a teaching artist at the Neighborhood Music School in Boyle Heights. He performs from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. Alex Sanchez, a Los Angeles-based jazz-pop cellist trained at Berklee College of Music, performs from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. Open mic, poetry, and raffle segments fill the intervals between performances, with a final music slot from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. featuring performers to be announced. Pasadena’s ‘favorite band,’ the NextDoors will close the evening at 7:30 pm.

Saturday, January 10, 2026

LA County to Host Altadena Rebuilding Workshop Saturday

Los Angeles County will host a rebuilding and recovery workshop in Altadena on Jan. 10 to support Eaton Fire survivors with free financial counseling, estate planning, contractor selection guidance and technical assistance, according to event materials from Neighborhood Housing Services of Los Angeles County.

The workshop, organized by NHS LA County and the Restore the Legacy LA Coalition, is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at The Collaboratory, 540 W. Woodbury Avenue in Altadena.

The event marks the one-year anniversary of the Eaton and Palisades fires, which devastated Los Angeles County on Jan. 7, 2025. According to the source materials, the workshop aims to help wildfire survivors navigate the rebuilding process, access financial resources and prevent displacement in communities facing gentrification pressure and predatory real estate speculation.

Services will be provided in English and Spanish and include step-by-step guidance on financing options such as mortgage relief and grant programs; free estate planning services including living trusts and wills; architect and general contractor selection advice;

Saturday, January 10, 2026

Altadena and Pasadena Youth Event Saturday Marks Year After Eaton Fire

As Altadena and Pasadena continue recovery efforts one year after the Eaton Fire wrought destruction across both communities, LIFT Altadena announced a free youth event aimed at support, connection, and healing. 

“Rock the City” is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 10, beginning at 5 p.m., with doors opening at 4 p.m., at 1757 N. Lake Ave. in Pasadena. 

The one-afternoon event is open to youth ages 15 to 24 and will feature live musical performances, worship, games, complimentary food from Chick-fil-A, mental health services, free counseling, and cash and gift prizes. 

Pastor Anthony McFarland of LIFT International Church, one of the organizers with LIFT Altadena, said in a statememt that the event is intended to remind young people “that they are seen, supported, and deeply valued” after the past year. 

He described the gathering as “a night of joy, restoration, community connections and a powerful way to kick off the new year together.”

Cash and gift prizes will be awarded to churches and individuals who register and bring the most students,

Saturday, January 10, 2026

Altadena’s Cars and Coffee Marks Wildfire Anniversary With Fundraiser for Lost Datsun

For the past year, a group of classic car enthusiasts has gathered every Saturday morning in Altadena, turning their shared grief into mutual support. This Saturday, January 10—marking the one-year anniversary of the Eaton Fire—Altadena Cars and Coffee is extending their gathering from its usual two-hour window to a full six-hour fundraising event.

The group’s origin story reflects the deep wounds the fire left on the community. When Dave Stone walked through the fire-devastated neighborhoods, he was struck by the loss. “You notice two things: cars and chimneys, but in particular it was the cars for me. It really wrecked me and broke my heart, and so I thought, what could I do to help people? And, that’s how this started.”

What began as a therapeutic gathering has evolved into something larger. Stone, who runs the “Not EV Altadena” Instagram account, posts twice weekly stories about lost vehicles and their owners, helping families fundraise for replacements.

This Saturday’s extended event—running from 8 a.m.

Friday, January 9, 2026

November Unemployment Rates in LA, Orange Counties Steady in November

CITY NEWS SERVICE

Los Angeles County’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate held steady at 5.7% in November, below the rate of 6.1% a year ago, according to figures released Friday by the state Employment Development Department.

The 5.7% rate was the same as September, the last month figures were available from the EDD.

Civilian employment in the county was at 4.82 million in November, while unemployment was at 292,000. The civilian labor force was 5.12 million.

Statewide, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.5% in November, the same rate as one year ago. The comparable estimates for the nation were 4.6% in November, and 4.2% during the same period last year.

Total non-farm employment in Los Angeles County increased by 19,600 jobs between October and November, and up 11,300 over the year.

Industry sectors that posted the largest month-over job reductions included construction (down 2,400), information (down 1,700), professional and business services (down 1,300), leisure and hospitality (down 1,100),

Friday, January 9, 2026

Sen. Pérez Condemns ICE Raid in Altadena on Eaton Fire Anniversary

State senator denounces immigration enforcement disrupting community memorial in Altadena

State Sen. Sasha Renée Pérez, D–Pasadena, denounced federal immigration enforcement activity in Altadena on Wednesday, calling it “Yesterday marked another deeply troubling moment in our federal government’s war on immigrants.” 

“Locally, ICE desecrated a sacred moment of community mourning when federal immigration agents returned to Altadena on the one–year anniversary of the deadly Eaton Fire. At the very moment our community was gathered to remember the 19 lives lost in the fire, federal immigration enforcement intentionally launched another raid of terror in our town,” Pérez said. 

“These chaotic raids are never justified, but it’s especially cruel when they target our friends and loved ones, including some of the very people who are doing the physical and skilled work to help us recover and rebuild from this disaster.”

“In California, we value all people including our immigrant neighbors who play a vital role in our state and contribute greatly to the cultural fabric and economic success of our state,” she added. 

Friday, January 9, 2026

L.A. County Supervisors Face Pivotal Votes on Fires, Immigration and Homelessness

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors confronts an exceptionally consequential agenda on Tuesday, January 13, dominated by wildfire recovery, immigration policy, and chronic homelessness crises.

The meeting will consider three transformative measures that could reshape County governance for years.

ICE-Free Zones Ordinance: The most politically divisive item would prohibit federal immigration enforcement from using County property as staging areas, processing locations, or operations bases. Supervisor Horvath’s motion requires County Counsel to draft an ordinance within 30 days mandating signage on all County property and establishing permit requirements for civil law enforcement operations. The measure could trigger federal litigation and potential loss of more than $1 billion in annual federal funding while setting a national precedent for local resistance to immigration enforcement.

$40 Million Wildfire Parks Recovery: An emergency measure authorizes $40 million in state Proposition 4 grants for parks devastated by the Eaton, Palisades, Hurst, and Kenneth Fires, including Charles White Park ($5.5 million), Hughes Fire Recovery at Castaic Lake ($5 million),

Friday, January 9, 2026

State Schools Chief was Caught Off Guard by Newsom’s Plan to Pare Down the Future Scope of His Job

By Carolyn Jones, CALMATTERS

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond said he was blindsided by Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposal Thursday to curtail the superintendent’s duties and he disagrees with it, although it’s unclear what he can do to stop it.

“Tony Thurmond is proud and grateful to work with Gov. Newsom. They’re both champions of public education,” said Elizabeth Sanders, spokeswoman for the California Department of Education, which Thurmond heads. Sanders was speaking on behalf of the superintendent.

“Unfortunately, on this particular issue they are not aligned.”

In his State of the State address on Thursday, Newsom proposed shifting oversight of the Department of Education, a 2,000-employee state agency, from the superintendent to the State Board of Education. The move would concentrate more power over K-12 schools with the governor, who appoints the school board.

The superintendent would remain an elected position, but with diminished and less defined duties.

Referencing a December report from Policy Analysis for California Education,

Friday, January 9, 2026

Newsom Touts His Successes, Swipes at Trump in Final State of the State Speech

By Dan Walters, CALMATTERS

California’s constitution requires the governor to “report to the Legislature each calendar year on the condition of the state and may make recommendations.”

For the past seven years, Gavin Newsom has reluctantly and minimally honored that command, usually eschewing the traditional January address to a joint legislative session in the Capitol.

But today, entering the final year of his governorship, he delivered a 64-minute, no-script paean to legislators that catalogued his achievements and portrayed the state as a model for the world, while interspersing harsh criticism of President Donald Trump as an autocrat who is undermining democracy.

Thus it was not only a celebratory swan song but a platform of sorts for Newsom’s all-but-certain campaign to succeed Trump in 2028 — implying that a prosperous, inclusive and generous California could become a model for the nation should he occupy the White House.

Newsom only mentioned Trump by name twice, once while denouncing cutbacks in federal child care funds and near the end,

Friday, January 9, 2026

Pasadena–Sierra Madre YMCA Event Delivered $450,000 in Aid to Wildfire Survivors

A year after wildfires devastated communities in Los Angeles, families gathered Wednesday at the Pasadena–Sierra Madre YMCA, where the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles announced nearly half a million dollars in direct financial assistance and extended relief benefits.

The Jan. 7 event at the YMCA branch in Sierra Madre included the announcement of a $450,000 direct relief fund for wildfire-impacted families, funded by the California Community Foundation.

The YMCA also said it extended its comprehensive survivor benefits — including free memberships, summer camps, mental health supports, child care and youth sports — through the end of 2026.

A group of 100 invited families received immediate financial assistance and grocery distribution during the event.

Rize Credit Union was on-site to announce a partnership offering matched funds for families who signed up for a financial services account through the credit union, according to the YMCA.

The YMCA said that in the immediate aftermath of the fires one year ago, it spearheaded food and clothing donations and provided forms of aid,