Friday, May 9, 2025

College Football Playoff Foundation and Partners Pledge $1.5 Million To Restore Eliot Arts Magnet School

CFP Foundation, bowl partners, and supplies company School Specialty join forces in historic collaboration following Eaton Fire destruction

The College Football Playoff (CFP) Foundation, in partnership with its six major bowl games and educational products company School Specialty, has pledged a total of $1.5 million toward the restoration of Eliot Arts Magnet School in Altadena, ravaged by the Eaton Fire in January.

The commitment, announced on Thursday at McKinley School of the Arts—Eliot’s temporary home—marks the first time ever that all six CFP bowl partners have joined forces to support a single community recovery effort.

“We are grateful to have so many generous partners willing to come together to help our friends in Pasadena and at Eliot Arts Magnet School,” said Britton Banowsky, executive director of the CFP Foundation. “It’s a historic moment as all of the CFP Bowls are aligned to support this very important project.”

The CFP Foundation will pledge a minimum of $1.2 million with the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic,

Thursday, May 8, 2025

LA County Board of Supervisors to Vote on Firefighter Pipeline for Formerly Incarcerated and Oil Drilling Phase-Out

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors will consider expanding employment opportunities for formerly incarcerated wildland firefighters and advancing the County’s transition away from urban oil drilling during its regular meeting on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at 9:30 a.m.

The meeting will take place at the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration, 500 West Temple Street, Los Angeles, in Board Hearing Room 381B.

Supervisors Solis and Hahn are proposing the creation of a Career Development Intern – Wildland Fire Firefighter specialty position to provide entry-level employment opportunities for individuals with wildland firefighting experience who were previously incarcerated. The proposal would direct several County departments to develop a pipeline program connecting individuals released from custody with workforce opportunities in the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

The motion includes provisions for robust training programs with certifications for wildland, structural, hazardous material, and Emergency Medical Technician skills. It also directs the Public Defender and Alternate Public Defender to develop a proposal for expediting expungement assistance for program participants.

Thursday, May 8, 2025

Sycamores to Break Ground on New Children’s Crisis Programs in Altadena

Project aims to address rising youth mental health needs with expanded crisis services

Health care and social services provider Sycamores announced it will hold a groundbreaking ceremony on Friday, May 16 for new Children’s Crisis Programs at its El Nido campus in Altadena.

The nonprofit’s expansion responds to unprecedented increases in youth depression, anxiety, and suicide attempts by creating dedicated facilities that include crisis beds, a Children’s Crisis Stabilization Unit and a Children’s Psychiatric Health Facility to strengthen the crisis care system for young people in the Altadena/Pasadena area and across Los Angeles County.

“Too many children and teens in crisis are falling through the cracks of a fragmented mental health system. Sycamores’ new Children’s Crisis Programs will help change that,” Sycamores explained in their announcement of the project.

The groundbreaking ceremony will mark the renovation of existing buildings at the El Nido site to accommodate these essential new services.

Special remarks will be delivered by Assemblymember John Harabedian (41st Assembly District),

Thursday, May 8, 2025

California’s Fourth-Ranked Economy Is Also Tops In Unemployment, Poverty And Deficits

By Dan Walters, CALMATTERS

California’s economic output has surpassed $4 trillion a year and in doing so slipped past Japan to become, were it a nation, the globe’s fourth largest economy, surpassed only by the United States, China and Germany.

The news was an opportunity for Gov. Gavin Newsom to exercise his penchant for braggadocio.

“California isn’t just keeping pace with the world — we’re setting the pace,” Newsom declared. “Our economy is thriving because we invest in people, prioritize sustainability, and believe in the power of innovation.”

It was also an opportunity for Newsom to take another shot at President Donald Trump, saying, “while we celebrate this success, we recognize that our progress is threatened by the reckless tariff policies of the current federal administration. California’s economy powers the nation, and it must be protected.”

If California’s economy is booming, as Newsom boasts, one might wonder why the state’s unemployment rate is the third highest in the nation,

Thursday, May 8, 2025

Four Months After Eaton Fire Erupted, LA County Supervisor Reaffirms Support for Wildfire Survivors

Barger highlights rebuilding efforts, mental health resources on anniversay date

Wednesday marked four months since the Eaton Fire erupted and began its massively destructive and deadly rampage through Altadena and surrounding foothill communities. Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger marked the occasion by announcing new initiatives to speed up recovery efforts and provide mental health support to survivors.

“Four months later, our residents are still facing tremendous pressure,” said Supervisor Barger. “The financial burdens of rebuilding, combined with the emotional toll of losing homes and memories, have created a stressful and uncertain environment. One of my top priorities is to make sure the County is doing everything possible to lift those burdens and walk alongside my constituents during their recovery.”

Barger recently introduced and passed a motion establishing a Unified Permitting Authority to streamline and centralize all permitting efforts related to fire recovery. The new framework aims to improve coordination, reduce delays and create accountability to one entity for all County Departments involved in the process.

Thursday, May 8, 2025

Local Gas Prices Could Exceed $8 By 2026 As Refineries Close, Report Warns

STAFF REPORT

Pasadena residents could soon be paying a lot more at the pump. According to one study, gasoline prices in California could surge past $8 per gallon by the end of 2026 due to upcoming oil refinery closures that could slash the state’s refining capacity by more than 20%.

The analysis by Michael A. Mische, senior lecturer at USC’s Marshall School of Business, warns that the scheduled shutdowns of the Phillips 66 refinery in Los Angeles and the Valero facility in Northern California could leave the state with a significant daily supply deficit.

“The estimated average consumer price of regular gasoline could potentially increase by as much as 75% from the April 23, 2025, price of $4.816 to between $7.35 and $8.43 a gallon by calendar year end 2026,” the report states. Mische also cautioned that prices could be even higher in remote areas.

California currently consumes more than 13.1 million gallons of gasoline each day, but produces just under 24% of its crude oil needs.

Thursday, May 8, 2025

Altadena Devastation Spurs L.A. County to Launch Self-Certification Program for Post-Fire Rebuilding

By ANDRÈ COLEMAN, Managing Editor

In response to the widespread destruction from January’s Eaton Fire, which devastated large swaths of Altadena and surrounding communities, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a new pilot program aimed at accelerating residential rebuilding.

The Self-Certification Program, introduced by Board Chair Kathryn Barger and Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath, will allow licensed professionals to certify that home construction plans meet County building codes—bypassing the traditionally lengthy plan check process.

The move is intended to fast-track reconstruction in fire-scarred neighborhoods like Altadena, where residents continue to grapple with the loss of homes and community infrastructure.

“Our residents can’t afford to wait months or even years to begin rebuilding their homes,” said Barger in a statement. “This pilot program is about empowering qualified professionals, cutting red tape, and putting families on a faster track to recovery—without compromising safety.”

The Eaton Fire alone left a trail of destruction in Altadena, damaging or destroying more than 9,000 structures.

Thursday, May 8, 2025

Nate Holden, Trailblazing L.A. Politician and Crenshaw Rebuilder, Dies

Holden remembered for decades of public service and post-riot leadership

Nate Holden, a longtime Los Angeles political figure who played a central role in rebuilding the Crenshaw area after the 1992 Los Angeles riots and helped shape public policy in California for more than three decades, died Wednesday. He was 95.

Holden is survived by his sons Reginald Holden and Chris Holden, a former Pasadena Mayor, Councilmember and State Assemblymember.

Holden’s public service career spanned more than 30 years, including roles as a California State Senator, Los Angeles City Councilmember, and assistant chief deputy to a Los Angeles County Supervisor. From 1987 to 2003, he represented Los Angeles’ 10th District on the City Council, where he chaired key committees including Transportation, Air Quality and Waste Management, and Inter-Government Relations.

According to his website, during his time on the City Council, Holden introduced a gun buyback program in partnership with the Los Angeles Police Department and sponsored legislation requiring toy guns to be brightly colored to avoid confusion with real firearms.

Thursday, May 8, 2025

Pasadena Unified Rescinds Dozens of Layoff Notices, Acts to Preserve Jobs Amid Budget Challenges

The Pasadena Unified School District announced Wednesday that it has rescinded layoff notices for 40 of 66 certificated employees, preserving the jobs of valued teachers and other credentialed staff members even as the district continues to face serious fiscal challenges.

“This was a difficult and complex process that we had to follow because of state law and collective bargaining agreements with our unions. We’re pleased to be able to keep so many of our valued educators,” said Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Blanco.  “That said, we’re not out of the woods yet when it comes to our long-term financial outlook.”

The process of determining which layoff notices could be rescinded was complex and determined by state law and the requirements of collective bargaining agreements with unions, the district said in a statement.

The district said it still intends to eliminate 91 certificated full-time positions for 2025-26 as part of its plan to close a $37 million multi-year budget deficit. However, through a combination of retirements,

Wednesday, May 7, 2025

Authorities Search for Missing Teen from Altadena Area

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department issues critical missing juvenile alert for 16-year-old with mental health conditions

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has issued a special bulletin seeking public help in locating Jonathan Guzman, a 16-year-old resident of Los Angeles County who was last seen on May 3  in the unincorporated area of Altadena.

Detectives from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department say Guzman has been diagnosed with mental health conditions. His family is concerned for his well-being.

Guzman, also known as Eugene Guzman, was last spotted at 10:05 a.m. on the 2900 block of El Nido Drive. At the time of his disappearance, he was wearing a black jacket, gold chain, black t-shirt, and black shoes.

The missing teen is described as a Hispanic man standing 5’7″ and weighing 145 pounds. He has brown hair with blonde highlights, brown eyes, and ear piercings.

Authorities are urging anyone with information about Guzman’s whereabouts to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Altadena Station Detective Bureau at (626) 798-1131.