Thursday, August 13, 2026

With Time Running Out, Torres Qualifies for PUSD District 7 School Board Race

By ANDRÈ COLEMAN, Managing Editor

Cynthia Torres will face Dennis J. McNamara in November after Yarma Velazquez declined to seek reelection

Cynthia Torres has qualified for the race for the District 7 trustee in the November election for the Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) School Board.

Torres submitted her papers on Tuesday and qualified on Wednesday, the final day to make the race. She will face Dennis J. McNamara for the seat currently held by Yarma Velazquez, who is not seeking reelection.

McNamara filed his nomination papers July 27 and qualified for the ballot the same day.

Because Velazquez did not seek reelection, the deadline to qualify for the seat was extended to Aug. 12.

The field for the elections is now complete.

In District 1, Felita R. Kealing and incumbent Kimberly Kenne have both qualified for the ballot. Kealing filed July 29 and qualified Aug. 3, while Kenne filed July 22 and qualified July 24.

Thursday, August 13, 2026

PUSD Board to Examine Framework That Will Guide School Closure, Merger Decisions

The Pasadena Unified School District Board of Education is scheduled to begin shaping a future, community-informed process that could lead to school consolidations or closure decisions when the board hears a two-part presentation and reviews related materials during tonight’s study session.

The two-part presentation, titled “Facilitated Discussion: Initiating the District Transformation Process (Resolution No. 2894),” lays out a road map for defining the process, identifying the information needed for later decisions, determining a deadline for a Board vote on school consolidations or closures, and considering a committee structure and membership for the next phase.

The session is designed to develop process and governance direction rather than make final consolidation or closure decisions.

Thursday night’s presentation calls for the Board to reflect on the previous school-consolidation process implemented over the years, develop a working definition of the District Transformation Process that identifies its components and intended outcomes, and identify the areas and datasets that should be considered before informed decisions are made.

The second part of the presentation turns to the scope and structure of the process ahead.

Thursday, August 13, 2026

CA Gig Workers Clear New Milestone In Push For Union

By Levi Sumagaysay, CALMATTERS

California Uber and Lyft drivers, who won the right to unionize last year, on Tuesday celebrated the formation of what they say will be the biggest ride-hailing driver union in the world.

California is the second state to allow ride-hailing drivers to unionize after Massachusetts, and Illinois last week passed a law to allow its drivers to do the same. The milestone is notable because the companies treat their drivers as independent contractors, a worker classification that does not typically have the right to bargain collectively.

The Public Employment Relations Board notified the California Gig Workers Union last week that it had signed up at least 30% of active drivers, a threshold allowing it to represent ride-hailing drivers statewide.

Drivers and Service Employees International Union leaders spoke at a press conference in Los Angeles, saying they expect to bargain over issues such as drivers getting kicked off the apps, low pay and the effects of the companies’ algorithms on drivers’ work.

Thursday, August 13, 2026

Pasadena Unified Kicks Off New School Year With Awards, Optimism

By EDDIE RIVERA

Superintendent Blanco calls on staff to build district’s own future

Coffee cups and breakfast burritos disappeared quickly under a hot morning sun as Pasadena Unified School District employees gathered at Pasadena High School Wednesday for the district’s annual Welcome Back event, an all-staff gathering that mixed celebration with a call to action ahead of the 2026-27 school year. 

Baskets of apples greeted arriving teachers, and a student drum line kept the mood upbeat as staff filed into a packed auditorium for the program, themed “The Power of Us: Forward Together.” Student musicians, singers and Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps cadets opened the event, before district administrators spoke. 

Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Blanco addressed the full house, telling employees the district was focused on academic success, stronger operational systems and building a vision for what comes next. 

“This year, we’re building on what we have accomplished, learning from what we’ve been through, and creating our own future instead of waiting for it to happen,”

Thursday, August 13, 2026

Judge Denies Government Bid to Dismiss SoCal Immigration Raids Lawsuit

By FRED SHUSTER, City News Service

A Los Angeles federal judge has rejected the Trump administration’s attempt to end a closely watched lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security alleging immigration raids in Southern California are not just unlawful, but deliberately designed to target Latino communities, according to court papers obtained Wednesday.

Residents, workers and advocacy groups sued the DHS in July 2025, alleging unconstitutional stop and detention practices by agents tied to arbitrary enforcement quotas. An amended complaint filed in Los Angeles federal court earlier this year adds new claims of violations of equal protection and use of unreasonable tactics by DHS agents.

Government attorneys then asked the court to immediately toss the case, arguing that accusations in the updated version of the complaint are not enough to support plaintiffs’ legal claims.

On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Maame Frimpong, who is overseeing the case, determined in a written ruling that “the accusations are enough for this case to go forward at this time,”

Wednesday, August 12, 2026

Two Men Accused of Working Altadena’s Burn Zone Without a License Return to Court

Andrew and Daniel Escarzaga are due in Department D on Wednesday morning, where a preliminary hearing date is scheduled to be set in their felony case

Eight days after investigators named the spark that burned Altadena, a courtroom on East Walnut Street will take up one of the crimes that followed it.

Andrew Escarzaga, 27, and Daniel Escarzaga, 29, both of Chino, are scheduled to appear at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday in Department D of the Pasadena Courthouse. 

Each man is charged with a single felony count of contracting without a license during a natural disaster. Unlicensed contracting is ordinarily a misdemeanor in California. It becomes a felony when the work involves structures damaged or destroyed by a disaster for which the governor has proclaimed a state of emergency or the president has declared an emergency or major disaster. Gov. Gavin Newsom proclaimed an emergency for Los Angeles County on Jan. 7, 2025, the day the Eaton Fire started. Conviction carries up to three years in state prison and a $10,000 fine.

Wednesday, August 12, 2026

Pasadena Unified Releases Campus-by-Campus Soil Remediation Status Ahead of Monday’s School Year Start

In a community email issued Tuesday night, the Pasadena Unified School District published a campus-by-campus status report of soil remediation and restoration work at each affected campus, less than a week before its new school year begins Monday, Aug. 17.

“We have made significant progress, but some campuses will still have outdoor areas under remediation or restoration when school begins,” the district said in the email. “The update … shows where each site stands today, what work remains, and most importantly, what students and families can expect when campuses reopen.”

Nine of the 11 Pasadena Unified School District campuses and facilities affected by soil-remediation and restoration work are expected to be accessible when the new school year begins Monday, Aug. 17, but none is expected to be both fully complete and fully unrestricted, according to the report.

Blair High School, Cleveland Elementary Site, the Education Center, Jefferson Children’s Center and Octavia E. Butler Magnet will open with work, excavation or restoration areas closed and fenced.

Wednesday, August 12, 2026

Newsom Makes Last-Minute Push to Help California Utilities Facing Wildfire Bills

By Jeanne Kuang and Levi Sumagaysay, CALMATTERS

In the final few weeks of his last legislative session as California governor, Gavin Newsom is asking lawmakers to help reduce how much profit-making utility companies must pay out after wildfires.

His administration has for weeks floated to lawmakers a wide-ranging but still-vague package of bills to address the spiraling costs of wildfires that has made a slew of different interests unhappy.

Insurance companies have launched an ad campaign against what they call a potential “utility bailout,” that would leave them unable to recover from the power companies the costs of paying homeowners’ insurance claims. Attorneys representing fire survivors and other plaintiffs that sue utilities don’t want to see their fees reduced.

Wildfire survivors worry the governor’s proposal would prevent them from being made financially whole for suffering trauma. Local government leaders are demanding that they continue to be paid the full cost to rebuild incinerated infrastructure.

On the other side are the politically influential utilities,

Wednesday, August 12, 2026

One Pasadena Unified Board Election Candidate Faces 5 o’clock Qualifying Deadline Today; Balance of Field Set

Because District 7 incumbent Yarma Velázquez did not pull papers to run again, state law reopened that seat for five more days after the filing deadline for the rest — and that window shuts at 5 p.m. Wednesday

Candidate filing for the upcoming Pasadena Unified School District Board of Education election in November closed Aug. 7 in every race but one. In District 7, where incumbent Yarma Velázquez decided not to run for reelection, California election law reopened the seat for five additional days — and that extension expires Wednesday.

Applicant Cynthia Torres has filed but has not yet qualified. She has until 5 p.m. today to turn in the necessary signatures to qualify to run against newcomer Dennis McNamara, the only other candidate running for District 7.

Torres pulled nomination papers late last week.

At the other end of the filing calendar, one Pasadena Unified seat is set to be decided without a vote.

District 5 incumbent Patrice Marshall McKenzie will be appointed to another term in lieu of an election in November.

Wednesday, August 12, 2026

Want Your Child to Succeed in School? Start With These Healthy Habits

As families in Pasadena prepare for the new school year, parents can take a few simple steps to help their children start strong both academically and emotionally, according to a health expert.

“Getting ready for school is about more than buying supplies,” said Dr. Jerry Cheng, chief of pediatrics and assistant area medical director at Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center, which serves members in the Pasadena community, and is operated by Pasadena-based Kaiser Permanente Southern California. “Healthy habits, routine medical care and open communication with your child’s doctor can make a big difference in their success throughout the new school year.”

Reestablish Healthy Sleep Habits

One of the most important back-to-school adjustments is returning to a consistent sleep schedule after summer break. “Children learn and focus better when they’re well-rested,” Dr. Cheng said. “Aim for 9 to 12 hours of sleep each night and start adjusting bedtimes before school begins for elementary age children and encourage teenagers to get 8 to 10 hours of sleep.”

Adequate sleep supports learning,