Tuesday, March 3, 2026

UCLA Historian Keynotes African American Parent Council Event Honoring Six PUSD Black Educators in Altadena

The parent council’s “Black Educators Matter” gathering takes place tonight at the Eaton Fire Collaborative

The Pasadena Unified School District’s African American Parent Council tonight will honor six Black educators tonight at a gathering in Altadena featuring Robin D.G. Kelley, a UCLA Distinguished Professor whose scholarship on Black history and social movements has earned him a Guggenheim Fellowship and membership in the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

The Tuesday event, called “Black Educators Matter,” reflects the AAPC’s ongoing work to recognize the educators who serve Black students across the district. The AAPC, chartered by the PUSD Board of Education since 2010, has been a driving force behind the district’s equity initiatives, including Board Resolution 2566, adopted in 2020, which committed PUSD to addressing disparities affecting Black students. Kelley’s appearance brings a nationally prominent voice to a community-level celebration — one held at a venue that doubles as a recovery hub for families affected by the Eaton Fire.

The six honorees span the district’s schools and administrative offices.

Tuesday, March 3, 2026

These Public Documents are Hidden from View. Two California Lawmakers Want to Change That

By Ryan Sabalow, CALMATTERS

Two California lawmakers are trying to open up legislative documents that are technically public records, but difficult for even the most seasoned Capitol insiders to access.

The documents are letters registered lobbyists and advocacy groups send the Legislature to support or oppose bills. CalMatters has been seeking greater access to them for more than a year.

Assembly members Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, a Democrat representing the San Ramon area, and Republican Greg Wallis of Rancho Mirage each introduced legislation in February that would require the Legislature to post the letters online.

“Candidly, I had no idea that the public didn’t have access to support and opposition letters,” said Wallis, who authored Assembly Bill 2063. “It sort of blew my mind when I found out that that wasn’t readily available.”

Bauer-Kahan’s office didn’t respond to an interview request to discuss her Assembly Bill 2557, which is similar to Wallis’ bill.

Monday, March 2, 2026

Californians Are Staying Insured — But Settling For Health Coverage They May Not Use

By Ana B. Ibarra, CALMATTERS

Despite the loss of federal subsidies that lowered costs for millions, California’s private health insurance marketplace held nearly steady this enrollment season. In all, 1.9 million Californians renewed their plan or selected one for the first time — a 2.7% drop compared to last year.

A closer look, however, shows that Californians are making concessions to afford staying insured.

More enrollees are opting for “bronze-level” plans. These plans have lower monthly premium costs but higher deductibles and copays; they cover 60% of medical expenses — leaving enrollees to pay the rest. One in three new enrollees chose bronze plans for 2026, compared to one in four last year, according to Covered California. And 130,000 Californians renewing their coverage switched from a silver or higher-metal tier plan to bronze.

“Many Californians see the value in remaining covered, but they had to make sacrifices and shift to lower-tier plans. We see it as a commitment to health and the value that Covered California provides,” Jessica Altman,

Sunday, March 1, 2026

Altadena Breaks Ground On Main Library Renovation

By EDDIE RIVERA

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Modernization will preserve mid-century landmark while expanding access and honoring legacy

Nearly six decades after it first opened its doors, the Altadena Main Library is beginning a new chapter.

Community members, elected officials and library leaders gathered Saturday to celebrate the groundbreaking of the library’s first major renovation since 1967, a project supporters say will preserve its mid-century character while preparing it for generations to come.

“For nearly 60 years, this building has been more than just a place to borrow books,” said U.S. Rep. Judy Chu. “It’s been a gathering place, a learning center, and a cornerstone of civic life.”

The Boyd Georgi–designed building along Mariposa Street near Santa Rosa Avenue became an even more vital hub after the Eaton Fire, speakers said.

“After surviving the Eaton Fire, it stood as a symbol of resilience and hope for Altadena,” Chu said. In the aftermath, she noted, the library partnered with hundreds of organizations to connect residents with recovery resources,

Sunday, March 1, 2026

Altadena’s Bob Lucas Library Offers Free Monthly Spice Kits Through May

Altadena’s branch library features Chili Powder in March as part of its ongoing Spice Club

The Bob Lucas Memorial Library is giving home cooks a reason to visit beyond the bookshelves: a monthly Spice Club that provides free kits with a featured spice and two recipe cards to try at home.

The program, offered by the Altadena Library District, runs through May at the Bob Lucas branch, which has become the district’s primary in-person location since the Main Library at 600 E. Mariposa St. closed Feb. 1 for an 18-month renovation. The March spice is Chili Powder.

Each kit contains a sample of the month’s spice along with two recipe cards designed for home cooking with the featured ingredient, according to the library district. Patrons can pick up a kit during the branch’s regular hours.

The Bob Lucas Memorial Library, at 2659 Lincoln Ave., reopened in August 2025 after its own 16-month renovation that expanded the facility by about 1,000 square feet.

Saturday, February 28, 2026

Supreme Court Justice Sotomayor Brings Civic Message to Pasadena Schools, Playhouse

U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor made three stops in Pasadena during a multi-day visit to the Los Angeles area in early February, speaking to high school students, reading her children’s book to fifth graders at the Pasadena Playhouse and joining a panel of fellow Latina jurists at nearby Occidental College. Her visit was not widely publicized at the time.

Sotomayor, the first Hispanic and first Latina justice on the nation’s highest court, delivered a message of civic engagement and education during appearances on February 6 and February 9. The visits were part of a national tour connected to her children’s book Just Shine! How to Be a Better You, published in September 2025 by Philomel Books.

On Friday, February 6, Sotomayor held a fireside chat with students at Pasadena High School, 2925 E. Sierra Madre Blvd. She spoke about her personal journey to the Supreme Court and urged students to see their own stories as sources of strength, according to a Pasadena Unified School District account of the visit.

Saturday, February 28, 2026

DHS Clears Billions To FEMA For Disaster Aid, But California Is Excluded

Billions in delayed federal disaster aid were released this week, but California received no Public Assistance awards in the new tranche — leaving Altadena’s ongoing Eaton Fire recovery without new FEMA support even as other states receive major awards, according to federal documents.

The Trump administration released more than $5 billion in FEMA Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation funding during the week of Feb. 24–28, according to The Hill and CNN. The release occurred while the Department of Homeland Security remained in a partial shutdown that began Feb. 14. FEMA said the money covers recovery projects nationwide, some dating back more than 15 years, with five jurisdictions excluded.

California — along with Illinois, Minnesota, Colorado, and the U.S. Virgin Islands — did not receive any Public Assistance awards in this round.

Media reports indicated that “some recently released funds were allocated to two tribes in California,” but the state itself was excluded from the core disaster-recovery awards.

The omission leaves Los Angeles County and fire-affected communities such as Altadena still waiting for reimbursements tied to the January Eaton and Palisades wildfires.

Saturday, February 28, 2026

Pasadena Student Wins National Reagan Oratory Competition

Polytechnic School 8th grader emerged from more than 2,000 entrants across all 50 states

An 8th-grade student at Polytechnic School won the middle school division of the Ronald Reagan Oratory Competition, the Reagan Foundation announced, besting more than 2,000 students who submitted entries from all 50 states and Puerto Rico.

DJ Mavis delivered a version of President Reagan’s 1982 Radio Address to the Nation on Armed Forces Day at the competition finals on January 10 at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley.

The competition, now in its second year, asked students to record video presentations of themselves reciting excerpts from Reagan radio addresses and submit them through the foundation’s online portal.

Polytechnic School, at 1030 East California Blvd. in Pasadena, is a private K-12 school founded in 1907 and was the first nonprofit, independent school in Southern California. It descends from the Throop Polytechnic Institute, the same institution that became the California Institute of Technology.

Five middle school finalists and five high school finalists were selected from the submissions to compete at the championship round,

Saturday, February 28, 2026

Metro Touts Decrease in Crime for Second Year in a Row

CITY NEWS SERVICE

Violent crime on the bus and rail system decreased by 6.7% in 2025 compared to 2024, reaching its lowest level since 2021, Metro announced Friday.

The transit agency touted violent crime on its system decreased for the second consecutive year with customer satisfaction with safety measures reaching record highs.

“The Metro Board has made public safety our highest priority, and we are seeing measurable returns on those investments,” Metro Board Chair and Whittier City Councilman Fernando Dutra said in a statement.

“By strengthening access controls, expanding frontline presence and building a modern Department of Public Safety, we are creating a safer transit environment for riders, employees, and communities across Los Angeles,” Dutra added.

Metro also reported Friday it experienced a 33% decrease in crimes such as trespassing, narcotics and weapons. Crimes against property such as theft and vandalism remained relatively flat year-over-year, in part due to increased copper wire theft.

The agency stated it is working on mitigation efforts to address and reduce copper wire theft.

Saturday, February 28, 2026

57th NAACP Image Awards Return to Pasadena Civic Auditorium Saturday

The 57th NAACP Image Awards will be held Saturday evening at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, 300 E. Green St., continuing a decades-long relationship with the venue, which has hosted the ceremony 15 times between 1992 and the 56th awards in 2025.

A red-carpet pre-show begins at 3 p.m. streaming on BET.com, followed by the live ceremony at 5 p.m. airing on CBS and other Paramount platforms, according to event organizers. Publicists for the show can be reached at NAACPImageAwards@ssmandl.com, ImagePublicist@naacpnet.org, Mercedes.Smith@bet.net, Erica.Knox@bet.net, Autumn.Griffin@bet.net, KHFisher@cbs.com and Victoria.Saavedra@paramount.com.

Sterling K. Brown, Regina Hall, Halle Bailey and Ryan Coogler are among the scheduled presenters. Salt-N-Pepa and DJ Spinderella are set to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Oscar-nominated actor Colman Domingo will receive the President’s Award, which recognizes special achievement and distinguished public service. He was also nominated for two Image Awards for his role in and directing Netflix’s The Four Seasons.