Thursday, July 10, 2025

First California Care Convention Brings Free Health and Wellness Event to Pasadena

Community-focused gathering aims to connect adults and seniors through healthcare innovation and local business networking

The first annual California Care Convention will open its doors July 19 at the Pasadena Convention Center, offering free admission to community members seeking health and wellness connections.

The event runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 300 E. Green Street. Doors open at 9:45 a.m.

Organizer Neo Nalu LLC describes the convention as focused on “creating community connections — helping adults and seniors connect, learn, and grow together.”

Neo Nalu, LLC is a Camarillo-based health and wellness company dedicated to a holistic approach that blends mental, emotional, social, and physical well-being. Through initiatives like the California Care Convention and the “Spring Wellness Challenge,” Neo Nalu aims to empower individuals – especially seniors – to live healthier, happier lives.

The free event features local businesses and community members centered on health and wellness. Attendees can explore healthcare industry innovations and network with vendors showcasing medical care and wellness products.

Wednesday, July 9, 2025

Pasadena Unified School District Marks Six Months Since Eaton Fire

Academic progress continues as community rebuilds from devastating wildfire

On Monday, PUSD Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Blanco joined Gov. Gavin Newsom and other leaders to discuss ongoing wildfire recovery efforts statewide as Pasadena Unified acknowledged the six-month mark since the Eaton Fire 

The January fire disrupted education across the district and displaced numerous families, a PUSD statement said. All school properties have since been cleared and tested for safety by district teams, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and public health agencies. 

“Six months ago, the Eaton Fire disrupted lives and learning across our district,” Blanco said. “Today, we reflect on how far we have come.” 

Schools reopened just 23 days after the fire through coordination between district staff, local agencies and community partners. 

The Pasadena Educational Foundation established the Eaton Fire Response Fund two days after the fire started. The fund has distributed more than $3 million to support affected employees, students and families. 

Emergency housing and financial support reached more than 150 district employees impacted by the fire. 

Wednesday, July 9, 2025

LA County Supervisors Approve Changes to Mental Health Court Program

Board seeks to improve referral process for first responders, boost community awareness

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to improve the county’s CARE Court program for people with untreated mental health disorders.

The motion, authored by Supervisor Janice Hahn and co-authored by Board Chair Kathryn Barger, directs the Department of Mental Health to streamline the referral process for first responders.

CARE Court, the county’s Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment program, launched on Dec. 1, 2023. The state-funded program allows qualified individuals to petition the court for treatment of people with untreated schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders.

Family members, spouses, roommates, emergency responders and licensed medical or mental health professionals can file petitions. The program aims to stabilize symptoms and support recovery.

“CARE Court is a critical tool that has offered hope to families who love someone with severe untreated mental illness,” Hahn said. “But we saw the need for improvements, so we studied them and now we’re finally moving forward with them.”

Wednesday, July 9, 2025

Cal Fire Rolled Out An AI Chatbot. Don’t Ask It About Evacuation Orders

By Malena Carollo, CALMATTERS

California government agencies are going all-in on generative artificial intelligence tools under  Gov. Gavin Newsom’s 2023 executive order to improve government efficiency with AI. One of the first to roll out is a chatbot from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the primary agency tasked with coordinating the state’s wildfire response.

The chatbot is meant to give Californians better access to “critical fire prevention resources and near-real-time emergency information,” according to a May release from Newsom’s office. But CalMatters found that it fails to accurately describe the containment of a given wildfire, doesn’t reliably provide information such as a list for evacuation supplies and can’t tell users about evacuation orders.

Newsom has announced AI applications for traffic, housing and customer service to be implemented in the coming months and years. But Cal Fire’s chatbot issues raise questions about whether agencies are following best practices.

Wednesday, July 9, 2025

Metro to Host ‘State of Agency’ Address to Mark 2024-25 Accomplishments

CITY NEWS SERVICE

New Board of Directors Chair Fernando Dutra will receive the gavel from Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn Wednesday as part of Metro’s annual “State of the Agency” address at Union Station.

Dutra has been a member of the Board of Directors since 2021 and the Whittier City Council since 2012. He is president of Allwest Development Company and holds licenses for general building contractor and general engineering.

The board chair serves a one-year term from July 1 to June 30. The position rotates annually among the mayor of Los Angeles, a member of the Board of Supervisors and a City Selection Committee member.

Dutra, Hahn, Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins and members of the agency’s Youth Council will discuss the past year’s accomplishments and outline priorities for the 2025-26 fiscal year. In May, Metro’s Board of Directors approved an approximately $9.4 billion budget that prioritized funding in public safety and boosting the frequency of bus and rail service.

Tuesday, July 8, 2025

Los Angeles County Seeks to Join Civil Rights Suit Against ICE

County and cities of Los Angeles, Culver City, Montebello, Monterey Park, Pasadena, Pico Rivera, Santa Monica, and West Hollywood File to Participate as Intervenors, Ask Court to Stop Illegal Tactics by Immigration Enforcement Agents

Los Angeles County filed court documents today—alongside the cities of Los Angeles, Culver City, Montebello, Monterey Park, Pasadena, Pico Rivera, Santa Monica, and West Hollywood —seeking an end to warrantless seizures and arrests and relief from wide-ranging economic damages caused by Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids authorized by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

The County and cities, led by the City of Los Angeles and City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto, are each seeking status as “intervenors” in a federal class-action lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union, Public Counsel, Immigrant Defenders Law Center and the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights and others asking the courts to find that DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel, and other key members of the Trump administration have exceeded their statutory authority and violated the Constitution.

Tuesday, July 8, 2025

Supervisors Approve Motions to Defend Immigrant Communities Amid Escalating Federal Immigration Enforcement

Los Angeles County Chair Pro Tem and First District Supervisor Hilda L. Solis Led the Charge with Three Motions

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors today passed three motions introduced by Chair Pro Tem and First District Supervisor Hilda L. Solis to defend immigrant communities amid a sharp escalation in federal immigration enforcement over the last month.

The first motion, co-authored by Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath, directs multiple County departments to assess the effects of federal immigration operations on access to food, health, and social services. County hospitals and clinics have reported a significant rise in appointment cancellations and no-shows following the start of increased enforcement in early June. The motion calls for an expansion of telehealth services, mailed prescriptions, food delivery, and multilingual and culturally competent outreach to ensure residents know County services remain accessible regardless of immigration status.

“Families across our communities are living in fear,” said Chair Pro Tem Solis. “People are skipping medical appointments,

Tuesday, July 8, 2025

‘No More Rate Hikes’ Say Eaton Fire Survivors

By EDDIE RIVERA

On six-month anniversary of the Eaton Fire, frustrated residents confront insurance failures

Six months after the Eaton Fire swept through the San Gabriel foothills, killing 18 people and wiping out thousands of homes in Altadena and northeast Pasadena, survivors gathered at the Good Neighbor cafe in Altadena on Monday morning to demand accountability — not just from the government or fire officials, but from their insurance companies.

Flanked by photographs, handwritten signs, and hundreds of postcards addressed to Governor Gavin Newsom and State Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, more than 200 people filled the outdoor patio, many wearing T-shirts with the slogan “Don’t Mess With Fire Survivors.” The event, organized by the grassroots Eaton Fire Survivors Network, was not only a commemoration of loss but a fierce call to action against what survivors describe as industry-wide neglect.

“They ghosted us,” said Alejandro Lopez, a resident of upper Lake Avenue whose home narrowly survived the flames. Lopez described how he and his son returned to the smoldering neighborhood with shovels,

Tuesday, July 8, 2025

BofA Gives Additional $1 Million for Fire Recovery, Will Rebuild Altadena Financial Center

CITY NEWS SERVICE

Bank of America Monday announced an additional $1 million in philanthropic funding to Los Angeles nonprofits for wildfire recovery efforts, bringing its total fire-related contributions to over $3.5 million.

The funding supports various recovery initiatives, including small business reopening, legal assistance, insurance navigation and health services, according to the bank.

BofA also said it is rebuilding two financial centers — one in Altadena, the other in Pacific Palisades — that were destroyed by fires, and has successfully helped over 2,000 safe deposit box clients recover their possessions from the destroyed locations.

“Having helped clients through disasters over many years, Bank of America has the expertise, capital and connections to help Los Angeles rebuild following this tragedy,” BofA Business Banking president Raul A. Anaya said in a statement. “From our immediate initial response to the fires in January to pivoting as needs change over time, our aim is to help all Angelenos recover. We’re doing this together with the region’s incredible public,

Tuesday, July 8, 2025

LA County Launches ‘Shop Local’ Campaign to Promote Fire-Impacted Businesses

CITY NEWS SERVICE

Los Angeles County launched a public awareness campaign Monday aimed at supporting small and micro businesses impacted by January’s wildfires.

The “Shop Local. Dine Local. Recover Local” campaign encourages residents and visitors to spend money at local businesses, particularly those hardest hit by the Eaton and Palisades fires. Monday marked six months since a devastating windstorm fueled fires across parts of the county.

The cities of Pasadena, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, and Malibu, along with organizations such as Together for LA, the California Restaurant Association, Regarding Her, the Latino Restaurant Association, the Independent Hospitality Coalition and the Economic Development Corporation, are partnering with the county to promote the campaign.

Local businesses in or near fire-impacted areas can sign up at shoplocal.la to be included in the Recovery Local Business Directory, an online list of highly-impacted businesses, that will be featured during the campaign. Participating businesses will receive promotional support, marketing tools and other services.