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.

Wednesday, December 20, 2023

Metro Reports Year of Steady Ridership Growth Amid Pandemic Recovery

Metro, or the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, has reported a year of continual ridership growth, with November 2023 marking a significant milestone. In its most recent ridership report, Metro had 24.2 million boardings on its bus and rail services, reaching 82 percent of its pre-pandemic level in 2019.

The average weekday ridership was 907,343 boardings, the third consecutive month that weekday Metro ridership surpassed 900,000 boardings. Weekend ridership also saw a boost, with Saturday boardings averaging 635,228, and Sunday boardings averaging 524,632, almost reaching pre-pandemic levels, the report showed.

The A and E Lines, which have been operational for five months, contributed significantly to the numbers. The A Line, serving customers from Azusa to Long Beach, saw 1.63 million boardings, while the E Line, serving customers from East L.A. to Santa Monica, had 1.13 million boardings. The subway, including the B/D lines, recorded the highest number of rail boardings with 1.7 million trips taken.

A 13 percent year-over-year increase was observed in Metro bus ridership in November,

Tuesday, December 19, 2023

L.A. County Supervisors Tackle Increasing Local Oversight of Battery Energy Storage Facilities

STAFF REPORT

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a motion authored by Supervisor Kathryn Barger that directs Los Angeles County’s Department of Regional Planning to develop an ordinance that will regulate and prevent the overconcentration of battery energy storage sites (BESS) in North County.

The discussion among the Supervisors focused on finding a balance between supporting energy reliability and clean energy goals that will help reduce greenhouse gasses by developing new energy storage solutions like BESS facilities, while adequately mitigating fire risks posed by the storage of lithium ion batteries and safeguarding the equitable distribution of these storage facilities–which are prone to be developed in parts of the County where undeveloped land is available.

Supervisor Kathryn Barger’s motion adds more teeth to the County’s ability to have local oversight in approving BESS site locations.

“I believe in being proactive and realistic,” said Supervisor Kathryn Barger. “The push to create renewable energy storage sites will continue to grow.

Monday, December 18, 2023

Altadena Resident to Lead NASA-Funded Project Inspiring STEM Pursuits at Cal State LA

Dr. Arezoo Khodayari, an Altadena resident who’s Associate Professor of Civil Engineering at Cal State LA, is the principal investigator for a groundbreaking project funded by NASA that aims to foster student engagement in NASA research and steer them towards degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

The project is a collaboration among Cal State LA, Pasadena’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and Cal Poly Pomona, according to a recent Cal State LA press statement.

Dr. Khodayari will steer the initiative, titled “Diversifying Student Pipelines in STEM: Environmental Pollution Reduction Inspired by Planetary Science.”

“This grant will bring exciting opportunities for our students and our college, and I hope this will lead to inspiring our students and cultivating them to make significant impacts in STEM fields,” Khodayari said. “I’m thankful for all the support from my collaborators.”

The $570,000 grant, spanning two years, is part of NASA’s Bridge Program, strategically designed to bolster diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility within the NASA workforce and the wider U.S.

Wednesday, December 13, 2023

Average LA County Gas Price Drops for 74th Time in 75 Days

CITY NEWS SERVICE

The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Los Angeles County dropped Wednesday for the 74th time in the last 75 days, falling 1.8 cents to $4.801.

The average price has dropped $1.513 over the past 75 days, including 1 cent Tuesday, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service.

It is 6.9 cents less than one week ago and 36.6 cents less than one month ago, but 19.3 cents more than one year ago. The average price has decreased $1.693 since rising to a record $6.494 on Oct. 5, 2022.

The national average price dropped for the 73rd time in 76 days, falling 1.6 cents to $3.121. It is 9.5 cents less than one week ago, 24.4 cents lower than one month ago and 12.4 cents cheaper than one year ago.

The national average price has dropped $1.895 since rising to a record $5.016 on June 14,