Thursday, August 7, 2025

Study: Actual Death Toll from LA Wildfires May Be Much Higher Than Reported

CITY NEWS SERVICE

While the official death toll from January’s Palisades and Eaton fires stands at 31, a research paper published Wednesday suggests the actual number of fire-related fatalities is likely much higher — in the hundreds.

The research paper published in the Journal of the American Medical Association concluded that there were 440 more deaths between Jan. 5 and Feb. 1 in Los Angeles County than would be typically expected. Many of those are likely attributable to the wildfires, which erupted Jan. 7.

The additional deaths are likely attributable to fire-related factors such as lung or heart conditions that were exacerbated by smoke or stress and indirect causes such as disruptions to health systems and mental health impacts, according to the paper.

“Attributing deaths properly to a wildfire is just almost an impossible task,” Andrew Stokes, an associate professor at Boston University and a mortality demographer who co-authored the research, told the Los Angeles Times. “The research highlights the need for these types of modeling efforts to really get at the true burden of these disasters.”

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Thursday, August 7, 2025

Democracy Be Damned: Texas and California Plot Dueling Congressional Gerrymanders

By Dan Walters, CALMATTERS

Under pressure from President Donald Trump, Texas’ dominant Republicans are attempting to redraw the state’s congressional districts and thus increase the number of GOP-held seats after the midterms.

Republicans have a paper-thin majority in the House of Representative. Trump obviously fears that Democrats could win control next year and he wants mid-decade redistricting to make congressional regime change less likely.

Meanwhile, Gov. Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders want to counter the nakedly partisan effort in Texas by gerrymandering California’s congressional districts to neutralize whatever Texas does. It’s faintly reminiscent of the Spy vs. Spy comic strip in MAD Magazine that baby boomers might recall, or perhaps the classic Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote cartoons.

However, there’s nothing funny about trampling — in the lust for partisan political power — the quaintly democratic notion that congressional districts should fairly represent the characteristics and values of their constituents.

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Thursday, August 7, 2025

Pasadena-Based Immigrant Rights Group Condemns Federal “Trojan Horse” Raid in Los Angeles, Citing Court Order Violation

A Pasadena-based immigrant rights organization on Wednesday denounced a federal immigration raid in Los Angeles that it says violated a court order and targeted vulnerable workers.

The National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON), headquartered on South Arroyo Parkway in Pasadena, joined the Central American Resource Center of Los Angeles (CARECEN-LA) in condemning the early morning operation outside a Home Depot near MacArthur Park. According to a joint statement from the groups, federal agents concealed inside a Penske moving truck solicited day laborers and street vendors before detaining approximately 16 individuals around 6:40 a.m.

The raid occurred directly in front of CARECEN’s Day Labor Center and was reportedly accompanied by a Fox News camera crew. Both organizations said the tactics used appeared to violate a federal court order recently upheld by the Ninth Circuit, which prohibits indiscriminate immigration stops in Southern California.

“Today’s raid staged by agents in cowboy hats jumping out of a rented van with a TV crew in tow marks a dangerous escalation in the Trump Administration’s assault on immigrant communities,

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Thursday, August 7, 2025

Settlement Bars ICE Officers From Impersonating Local Police in Southern California

By ANDRÈ COLEMAN, Managing Editor

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers will no longer be permitted to impersonate local police or use deceptive tactics during home arrests in Southern California, following a settlement approved by a federal judge on Monday.

The agreement, issued by U.S. District Judge Otis D. Wright II in the class-action lawsuit Kidd v. Noem, bans ICE agents from misrepresenting their identity or purpose when conducting home enforcement in seven counties, including Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside, Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo.

This legal resolution comes amid years of reports from immigrant-rights groups about ICE executing “knock and arrest” tactics, particularly in cities like Pasadena, Pomona, and Highland Park. Documented cases reveal ICE agents have posed as local police investigating issues such as stolen vehicles or probation checks, then arrested individuals once they exited their homes.

Filed in 2020 on behalf of Osny Sorto-Vazquez Kidd, the Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice, and the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA),

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Thursday, August 7, 2025

County Launches Survey to Reimagine Altadena Community Center After Fire Damage

The Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs invites Altadenans to help shape the future of the facility through a public survey

The Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs is inviting residents in Altadena to participate in the Altadena Community Center Survey to help shape the future of the facility, following its recent takeover and damage sustained during the Eaton Fire. 

The department assumed management of the Altadena Community Center on January 1. Just days later, the Eaton Fire brought widespread damage to the area, including to the Center itself. 

As repairs continue, the department is seeking public input to guide the Center’s redevelopment. 

“This is an opportunity to reimagine a space that reflects Altadena’s needs, values, and resilience,” the department stated in its announcement. 

The survey, available in English and Spanish, asks residents to share their experiences related to the fire, their current support needs, and preferences for future programs and services.

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Wednesday, August 6, 2025

Pasadena Sandwich Shop to Donate All August 9 Sales to Support Local College-Bound Students

Perry’s Joint, a sandwich shop located near the Altadena border, will donate 100 percent of its sales on Saturday, August 9, to fund scholarships for six college-bound students from Altadena and Pasadena, marking the business’s 15th Annual Community Driven Scholarship fundraiser.

The event, held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 2051 Lincoln Avenue, invites community members to support by dining in or ordering takeout. Contributions can also be made through the fundraiser’s official GoFundMe campaign; call (626) 798-4700 for information.

Founded by Perry and Melenia Bennett in 2010, the scholarship program transforms one day of business into a full-scale community investment in education. Unlike traditional corporate donations, Perry’s Joint commits all revenue earned during the event—including every sandwich sold and beverage served—to support higher education opportunities for local youth.

This year’s scholarship recipients include:

• Mariah Ellis – Syracuse University
• Heavyn Harom – Baylor University
• Jaelle Watkins – Columbia University
• Mykia Johnson – UCLA
• Bronx Williams – Morehouse College
• Kennedy Farr – Morgan State University

“These young people represent everything good about our community,” said owner Perry Bennett,

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Wednesday, August 6, 2025

Fuller Celebrates Record-Setting Fundraising Year: Tallies $30 Million in Donations

Courtesy of FULLER THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

Fuller Seminary and The Fuller Foundation are celebrating a record-setting year in philanthropic support, having raised $30.29 million in the 2024–2025 academic year—the most successful fundraising year in Fuller’s history outside of its previous comprehensive campaigns.

This achievement reflects the deep generosity and trust of Fuller’s global community of supporters, who are investing in the seminary’s mission to form Christian leaders for church, culture, and the marketplace.

In a landmark shift, Fuller experienced a year-over-year increase in the number of donors to the seminary for the first time in over a decade—with nearly 1,300 individuals and organizations contributing this past year. This renewed momentum in donor engagement signals a growing sense of connection and confidence among alumni, churches, and supporters around the world.

“This extraordinary year of giving reflects both enduring loyalty and new enthusiasm for Fuller’s mission,” said Lauren Yamaoka, senior vice president of advancement at The Fuller Foundation. “To see donor numbers rise for the first time in over ten years is incredibly encouraging,

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Wednesday, August 6, 2025

Trump’s New Olympic Task Force Could Oversee Rose Bowl Soccer Finals Security, Planning

President Donald Trump has appointed himself chair of a new federal task force that will coordinate security and logistics for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, including the high-profile soccer semifinals and finals scheduled for Pasadena’s Rose Bowl Stadium.

The executive order, which names Vice President J.D. Vance as vice chair, establishes federal oversight of Olympic preparations across all venues, with cabinet-level officials from the departments of State, Treasury, Defense, Commerce, Transportation and Homeland Security serving as members.

For Pasadena, the task force’s creation signals the likelihood of increased federal involvement in planning events that city officials earlier a “huge win” for local tourism. The Rose Bowl is set to host both men’s and women’s soccer semifinals and finals during the Games, pending final approval from the International Olympic Committee.

“The aim is to make the Games safe, seamless and historically successful,” Trump said in announcing the task force, which will coordinate federal planning for security, transportation and entry and exit procedures at Olympic venues.

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Wednesday, August 6, 2025

In Altadena, 1,307 Rebuild Applications Have Been Submitted and 138 Permits Issued

Seven months after the Eaton Fire, Altadena is working through an extensive rebuild process, with 1,307 applications submitted and 138 permits issued, Los Angeles County officials confirmed this week.

At the August 4 Altadena Community meeting, Supervisor Kathryn Barger reported that debris removal is nearly complete, with more than 99% of properties cleared and the final Army Corps-abated site finished. The last private property in the affected area is scheduled for debris clearance on Aug. 14.

Restoration of a local golf course is underway, and clean-up efforts at Elliot School remain on track for early-to-mid September completion.

Permit processing remains a top concern, with 807 plan reviews in progress. County officials outlined turnaround goals of 10 business days for initial reviews and five business days for resubmissions. The County has received 379 refund forms and 127 permit waiver requests and continues to waive and refund fees for eligible homeowners.

Barger also addressed mounting anxiety over insurance, highlighting ongoing investigations into State Farm’s claims handling practices and citing “hundreds” of alleged violations by the California Fair Plan.

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Wednesday, August 6, 2025

Army Corps Nears August 14 Completion in Eaton Fire Debris Removal

Final 1% of properties slated for clearance this week

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is poised to wrap up its monumental debris removal operation in the Eaton Fire zone, with officials projecting full clearance of affected properties by Aug. 14. The effort, which began months ago, has already seen 99% of enrolled parcels cleared.

Of the 5,704 properties that opted into the debris removal program, fewer than 25 remain, according to Corps representatives. More than 5,500 properties have been cleared and formally returned to residents and Los Angeles County.

“This mission is about treating every property with care and compassion, from the first to the last,” said Lt. Col. David Wirt of the Army Corps, highlighting the team’s commitment. He added that while large-scale logistics have driven progress, crews have also adapted to site-specific challenges.

Among the most complex efforts has been the removal of debris from Forest Service cabins located in remote areas. Limited access required aviation assets to airlift equipment and materials.

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