Tuesday, June 17, 2025

Three PUSD Schools Named 2025 California Distinguished Schools

PUSD Principals, Administrators and Tony Thurmond pose together with the awards. Photo courtesy of PUSD

Three PUSD schools – Altadena Arts Magnet, Field Elementary, and Sierra Madre Elementary — have been named 2025 California Distinguished Schools by the California Department of Education. The schools were honored during a special ceremony in Anaheim last week. What an incredible way to close out the school year!

Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD), 351 S. Hudson Avenue, Pasadena, (626) 396-3600 or visit www.pusd.us.

Tuesday, June 17, 2025

JPL Sensor on Space Station Eyes Contamination off California Coast

Instruments in space are helping scientists map wastewater plumes flowing into the Pacific Ocean from the heavily polluted Tijuana River

An instrument built at Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena has revealed a breakthrough in water quality monitoring. The Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation, launched in July 2022, was originally designed to map minerals but has now demonstrated an unexpected ability to detect sewage contamination from its orbit high above Earth’s surface.

A recent study examined a large wastewater plume at the mouth of the Tijuana River near San Diego. Every year, millions of gallons of treated and untreated sewage enter the river, carrying pollutants through communities and a national reserve before emptying into the Pacific Ocean. Contaminated coastal waters can impact human health and harm marine ecosystems, fisheries, and wildlife.

The instrument orbits Earth aboard the International Space Station, using advanced optical components to split visible and infrared wavelengths into hundreds of color bands. This allows scientists to discern molecules based on their unique spectral “fingerprint”

Monday, June 16, 2025

PUSD Issues Report to Community Highlighting Recovery and Achievement After Eaton Fire

District showcases resilience and academic progress despite unprecedented challenges from wildfire devastation

The Pasadena Unified School District released its 2025 Report to the Community this week, documenting the District’s recovery and academic achievements following the devastating Eaton Fire that destroyed or damaged five school sites and displaced numerous students, families, and employees at the start of 2025.

“This year has tested us in ways we could never have anticipated,” Pasadena Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Blanco said. “Our response has shown exactly who we are. A community that stands together, supports one another, and never stops working for the future of our children.”

According to a statement from the District, the comprehensive report, presented at the June 12 Board of Education meeting, demonstrates progress across the District’s five strategic pillars despite unprecedented challenges. 

Four Pasadena Unified School District schools earned California Distinguished School recognition: Altadena Arts Magnet School, Field Elementary School, Sierra Madre Elementary School, and Sierra Madre Middle School.

Monday, June 16, 2025

Vandalism Compounds Internet Woes For Fire-Damaged Altadena Neighborhoods

Attack in Van Nuys affects Altadena service

Altadena residents already struggling with internet service disruptions from January’s Eaton Fire faced new outages Sunday when vandals cut Spectrum fiber optic lines in Van Nuys, affecting more than 25,000 customers across Los Angeles County.

The attack highlights escalating telecommunications infrastructure vandalism particularly impacting Altadena, where crime has surged 250% following the fire that killed 18 people and destroyed thousands of homes and businesses.

“These acts of vandalism are not only a crime, but also affect our customers, local businesses and potentially emergency services,” Spectrum said in a statement following the June 15 incident.

Vandals severed fiber lines in multiple Van Nuys locations before dawn, leaving cut wires scattered after discovering the lines contained no copper. Customer reports began flooding DownDetector.com at 3 a.m. Pacific Time.

Altadena has become a particular target for metal thieves since the fire. Property crimes spiked 450% from January through April 2025 compared to the same period in 2024,

Monday, June 16, 2025

Altadena Town Council To Hold Comprehensive Meeting Tuesday

Community leaders will hear multiple agency reports and committee updates during virtual session

The Altadena Town Council will convene Tuesday evening for a comprehensive agenda covering public safety updates, community services, and committee reports during their virtual meeting.

The meeting, scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on June 17 and to be led by Chair Victoria Knapp, will feature two special presentations. Chief Daniel Berlant, State Fire Marshall, will address the council, along with a second presentation on Regional Planning from a presenter to be announced.

Public safety reports will come from Acting-Captain Ethan Marquez of the Altadena Sheriff’s Station, California Highway Patrol Officers Keller and Bay, and Los Angeles County Fire representative Maria Grycan. Community services updates will be provided by Colonel Avichal from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Altadena Library District Director Nikki Winslow for library services, Samuel Estrada for parks, Southern California Edison representatives Lorena Munoz and Jennifer Ocampo, and Universal Waste Sysyems Vice President Matt Blackburn.

Eight committee reports will cover various community issues.

Monday, June 16, 2025

Hoping For ‘A Miracle’ To Cure Fiscal Woes, California Lawmakers Nix Some of Newsom’s Medi-Cal Cuts For Immigrants

By Kristen Hwang, CALMATTERS

As California lawmakers grapple with a multibillion-dollar deficit and looming federal cuts that could undo the state’s health policies for immigrants, they’re banking on a tenuous budget strategy: hope.

Legislators today rejected some of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s cost-saving proposals to limit Medi-Cal for immigrants without legal status, and expanded others. And in the long run, they hope that some good financial news will help them handle the rising costs of the state health insurance and preserve future access for immigrants.

Newsom in May proposed freezing Medi-Cal enrollment for immigrants 19 and older without permanent legal status, canceling dental care and implementing a $100 monthly copay for immigrants.

In contrast, the legislators want to expand that Medi-Cal freeze to block enrollment by more people — all non-citizens with “unsatisfactory immigration status,” which includes some legal permanent residents. But they also want some provisions designed to help immigrants: Stipulating that people already enrolled in Medi-Cal will not “age out” and awarding a six-month grace period to re-enroll if they fall off of the program because their income rises temporarily or other disqualifications.

Saturday, June 14, 2025

Pasadena Congresswoman, Congressional Delegation Denied Entry to Adelanto ICE Facility

Members of Congress demand answers after being illegally blocked from detention center oversight visit

Rep. Judy Chu, who represents Pasadena and surrounding and who led a congressional delegation that was denied entry to the Adelanto ICE Processing Center last week, is demanding accountability from federal immigration officials.

Chu, along with Rep. Gilbert Ray Cisneros Jr. and Rep. Derek T. Tran, sent a letter dated June 11 to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Acting ICE Director Todd M. Lyons condemning the agencies for blocking their ‘legally authorized oversight visit’ to the San Bernardino County facility.

The three California representatives attempted to inspect the detention center following immigration raids throughout Los Angeles County.

Chu said that despite federal law under P.L. 118-47 guaranteeing Members of Congress access to Department of Homeland Security facilities for oversight purposes, facility employees locked the front gate and denied entry even after the delegation waited nearly two hours.

The congressional letter states that “The Department of Homeland Security is prohibited by Congress from preventing Members of Congress and their staff from entering,

Saturday, June 14, 2025

California Lawmakers Approve $325 Billion Budget ‘Passed On Hope’

By Alexei Koseff, CALMATTERS

The California Legislature passed a state budget today that relies more on borrowing than spending cuts to close a projected $12 billion deficit, aiming to push off difficult decisions about priorities even as that gap is only expected to grow in future years.

The $325 billion legislative spending plan, which was approved by the Democratic majority along largely partisan lines, is something of a formality, because lawmakers are constitutionally required to pass a balanced budget by June 15 or forgo their pay.

Having rejected many of the cuts to social services that Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed last month to stabilize California’s finances long-term, they must now negotiate a compromise in the coming weeks, with the July 1 start of the fiscal year looming.

The two sides remain billions of dollars apart, particularly on Medi-Cal, the state’s health insurance program for the poor, as well as home health services,

Saturday, June 14, 2025

Altadena Model Train Enthusiast Reopens Massive Backyard Layout for Pride After Fire Recovery

Rob Caves and Christmas Tree Lane Model Railroad Society invite public to first open house since Eaton Fire devastation

Nearly six months after the devastating Eaton Fire swept through Altadena, Rob Caves is reopening his massive backyard model train layout to the public for the first time, according to LAist. The Christmas Tree Lane resident will host an open house Saturday, June 14, from 2 to 8 p.m., coinciding with Altadena Pride celebrations.

Caves designed a special Pride model train for the event, decorated with rainbow colors … and the phrase “PRIDE WITH US,” LAist reported.

“Our club has a number of people in the LGBTQ community,” said Caves, who lives with his partner, Larsen. “So we really want to try and pitch in and help out.”

The model train open house at 2085 Santa Rosa Avenue runs concurrently with Altadena Pride events at the Altadena Library, 3330 North Lincoln Avenue, where County Supervisor Kathryn Barger will lead opening ceremonies at 3:00 p.m.,

Saturday, June 14, 2025

Altadena Pride Walkabout Marches On Today Despite Wildfire Devastation

Community celebrates annual event as town rebuilds from January’s deadly Eaton Fire

The 4th Annual Altadena Pride Walkabout will take place Saturday from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Altadena Library, bringing together a community still recovering from devastating wildfire damage.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger will unveil a Pride flag on the library’s east lawn during opening ceremonies at 600 E. Mariposa St. Participants will be provided with free flags during the ceremony. The event proceeds despite the Eaton Fire, which destroyed so much of the town in January.

Organizer Nic Arnzen, an Altadena Town Council member and LA County LGBTQ+ commissioner, founded the walkabout four years ago. This year’s event required a GoFundMe campaign after the fire destroyed most previous venues.

“In addition to the recent natural disaster that leveled half our town, diversity is under attack nationally, but Diversity Equity and Inclusion will always be an Altadena priority,” Arnzen said in May.

The walkabout through Central Altadena will begin at 3:30 p.m.