Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Heavy Rain Forecast Prompts Safety Reminders for Outdoor Holiday Lights

With a powerful rainstorm expected to bring heavy rain and strong winds to Pasadena and Altadena this week, residents with outdoor Christmas light displays are being urged to take precautions to reduce the risk of electric shock and fires.

Forecasters say rain is expected to begin Tuesday, with heavier rainfall developing Tuesday night into Wednesday as a strong Pacific storm system moves through the region.

Electrical safety guidance warns that these conditions increase the likelihood of water reaching outdoor electrical outlets, plugs and extension cords, particularly where connections sit on the ground or outlets are exposed to wind-driven rain. Moisture at these points increases the risk of short circuits and electrical arcing, and raises the risk of shock when electrical devices are handled in wet conditions.

Safety guidance consistently notes that the safest option during periods of sustained heavy rain is to turn off and unplug outdoor lighting displays until conditions improve.

For households that keep lights installed and on during the storm,

Tuesday, December 23, 2025

How A Speeding Ticket Can Be Worse Than Running Someone Over

By Lynn La, CALMATTERS

You can kill someone with your car in California and not even have a point on your license.

A criminal justice reform bill passed in 2020 allows judges to effectively erase a misdemeanor case from existence, shielding people accused of “low-level” crimes from the stigma of having a conviction on their record, something that can limit work and housing opportunities.

But CalMatters investigative reporters Robert Lewis and Lauren Hepler found that the new misdemeanor diversion program has also had an unintended consequence: It allows some people charged with vehicular manslaughter to keep the case off of their driving record.

That means you could face more penalties for a speeding ticket than for running someone over.

• Allison Lyman, whose 23-year-old son, Connor Lopez, was killed when a woman hit his motorcycle in April: “I’m 43 and I will have to live the rest of my life without my son. But there’ll be no record of it for her?”

It’s part of a larger anger and frustration Lyman has at how the system is treating her son’s death.

Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Atmospheric River Brings Flood, Mudslide Risks to Altadena, Pasadena Through Christmas

A long-duration atmospheric river is expected to bring heavy rain, strong winds and an elevated risk of flooding and debris flows to Altadena, Pasadena and the San Gabriel foothills from late Tuesday through nightfall on Christmas Day, according to the National Weather Service office in Los Angeles/Oxnard.

Forecasters have issued a Flood Watch for Altadena and Pasadena from Tuesday afternoon through late Thursday, warning that the most dangerous conditions are likely from late Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, when rainfall rates are expected to peak.

The storm system is classified as an atmospheric river, with National Weather Service meteorologists and partner agencies indicating the event aligns with an AR3-category system for parts of Southern California.

According to the National Weather Service’s Area Forecast Discussion and quantitative precipitation outlooks, rain will begin increasing across the San Gabriel Valley late Tuesday afternoon, intensifying Tuesday night as the first major surge of the storm moves through the region.

For Altadena,

Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Storm System Triggers Mudflow Warnings for Local Foothills as County Orders Early Evacuations

Altadena and Pasadena residents in foothill neighborhoods in burn scars are being urged to prepare for mud and debris flows as a storm system moves into Los Angeles County beginning Tuesday, according to a county press release. A Flood Watch will be in effect from Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday evening.

County officials said areas burned in the January wildfires remain highly susceptible to dangerous runoff, including communities along the San Gabriel Mountains that border Pasadena.

The Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Management and law enforcement agencies are advising residents in designated at-risk zones to evacuate before the rain begins.

Evacuation warnings and orders for vulnerable homes identified by LA County Public Works will take effect at 11 a.m. Tuesday.

“GET SET for possible evacuations if you are near San Gabriel Foothills in Altadena. Gather loved ones, pets and supplies. Those who need more time evacuating should consider leaving now,” the alert said.

Sheriff’s deputies are conducting door-to-door outreach at those residences,

Monday, December 22, 2025

Pasadena’s Bad Weather Shelter to Open Tuesday Night Ahead of Incoming Storm

STAFF REPORT

Friends In Deed will open its Bad Weather Shelter on Tuesday night, Dec. 23, just two days after the official shift of seasons and the winter solstice, the nonprofit announced in a statement. Capacity and additional services will be limited during opening week, with full operations expected to resume in January.

The shelter opens on weather?activated nights when the National Weather Service forecasts temperatures of 40 degrees or below, a 40% or greater chance of rain, or high winds of 40 mph or more. When fully activated in January, guests will receive a hot dinner, a cot to sleep on overnight, access to restrooms, warm clothing, and individualized assistance from trained staff and case managers who can help connect them to housing, employment and other essential resources. The program is intended to help guests stay safe during inclement weather.

“With storms on the horizon, we know how critical it is to respond quickly and provide warmth, food, and safety,” Laura Van Alstine,

Monday, December 22, 2025

California to Crack Down on Extreme Speeding on Highways

CITY NEWS SERVICE

In an effort to crack down on excessive speeding and prevent deadly vehicle collisions, the California State Transportation Agency announced a pilot program Monday to immediately review drivers cited for driving more than 100 mph.

The state transportation agency is working with the Department of Motor Vehicles and California Highway Patrol on the initiative known as Forwarded Actions for Speeding Tickets, or FAST. It’s part of a statewide effort to reverse what state officials describe as an alarming rise in traffic fatalities.

Under the pilot initiative, citations for excessive speeding will be automatically forwarded to the DMV’s Driver Safety Branch — no matter their prior record. The DMV will then review the case and the driver’s history to determine next steps, which could include suspension or revocation of their driver’s license.

This administrative process can happen independently of any court conviction, according to CalSTA.

The pilot program builds on the DMV’s existing Driver Safety Branch enforcement and Negligent Operator Treatment System partnership with CHP.

Monday, December 22, 2025

BofA Commits $10 Million in Loans for Residents, Businesses Impacted by Wildfires

CITY NEWS SERVICE

Bank of America Monday announced $10 million in zero-interest loans to Community Development Financial Institutions for housing, nonprofit facilities and small business recovery following the Eaton and Palisades wildfires.

The loans will be managed through three West Coast CDFIs involved in the region’s disaster recovery efforts.

• Clearinghouse CDFI will use its fire-designated funding to finance property acquisition or single-family home development by nonprofits. It will also make funds available to small businesses for rebuilding expenses that outpace insurance proceeds and for resuming operations;
• Genesis LA will provide loans to support homeownership, economic development, and nonprofit facilities in the Altadena and Pasadena areas. It is working with various Altadena groups to acquire vacant lots for redevelopment, with nonprofit developers working with local residents to rebuild multiple homes simultaneously, and local businesses rebuilding their storefronts; and
• Pacific Community Ventures’ RESTORE LA Fund will offer no-fee loans to small businesses of $10,000 to $100,000 at a 3% interest rate that can be used to replace damaged property or equipment,

Monday, December 22, 2025

Free Sandbags Available for Home Protection in Altadena and Pasadena

Officials in Altadena and Pasadena are offering free sand and sandbags to help residents protect homes from storm runoff and debris flows.

In Altadena, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department noted that “properly filled and placed sandbags can be used by residents to divert moving water, redirecting storm and debris flow away from your property.”

The county program requires proof of Altadena residency, and residents may collect sandbags only from locations within their own city.

The Sheriff’s Department noted that “properly filled and placed sandbags can be used by residents to divert moving water, redirecting storm and debris flow away from your property.” The county program requires proof of residency.

Altadena’s sandbag site is at the Los Angeles County Public Works Fleet Maintenance Yard, at 252 Mountain View St. in Altadena.

Pasadena Distribution Sites

The City of Pasadena designates two fire stations as permanent sandbag distribution locations: Fire Station 37, 3430 East Foothill Boulevard, and Fire Station 38,

Monday, December 22, 2025

Altadena Workshop to Guide Eaton Fire Survivors Through County Rent Relief Applications

Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger will highlight the county’s Emergency Rent Relief Program on Monday, Dec. 22, during an in-person workshop in Altadena aimed at helping Eaton Fire survivors and other eligible applicants navigate the grant process.

The session runs from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Altadena Community Center, 730 E. Altadena Drive, and will offer one-on-one assistance with applications, document uploads, and troubleshooting, according to county outreach materials. The event is hosted by the Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs (DCBA) in partnership with Klimt Consulting, LLC. Support will be available in English and Spanish.

The workshop is part of Los Angeles County’s broader effort to stabilize housing for residents affected by the January 2025 Eaton Fire, the Palisades Fire, related windstorms, and other emergency financial hardships. The Emergency Rent Relief Program, directed by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and administered by DCBA, opened its application window on Dec. 17, 2025, at 9 a.m. PST.

County materials describe the program as providing grants to eligible landlords and displaced homeowners to cover up to six months of unpaid rent or other eligible housing costs,

Monday, December 22, 2025

Norovirus Cases Rising; Huntington Hospital Urges Precautions, Vigilance

Local health officials warn residents to take precautions as cases increase nationwide

Health officials are warning residents to take precautions as norovirus cases increase nationwide, with Huntington Health in Pasadena reporting concern over hospitalizations linked to the highly contagious stomach virus.

Norovirus, often called the “stomach flu,” causes vomiting, diarrhea and dehydration, and is responsible for 56,000 to 71,000 hospitalizations and 570 to 800 deaths each year in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Kimberly Shriner, medical director of infection prevention and control at Huntington Health, said dehydration related to the virus is the leading cause of hospitalizations of patients suffering  from norovirus.

“The symptoms can make people not only feel genuinely bad — with nausea and diarrhea — but they can also lead to dehydration, making compromised people quite ill, causing hospitalization,” Shriner said.

The CDC estimates about 20 million Americans contract norovirus each year. Officials say the virus spreads easily in crowded settings such as senior living facilities and can survive on surfaces for weeks.