Friday, January 2, 2026

Altadena Homes Face Lingering Indoor Smoke Hazards After Wildfires, Newly-Published UCLA Study Finds

BASED ON A STORY BY CITY NEWS SERVICE

Homes in the Altadena-Pasadena foothills continued to pose air?quality risks long after the January 2025 wildfires were extinguished, with some residents potentially exposed to elevated levels of carcinogenic pollutants after returning, according to a UCLA study released Friday.

Researchers with the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health found that in some homes within burn zones, levels of certain volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, were higher during the post?fire recovery period than while the fires were actively burning.

The study, published in Environmental Science & Technology Letters, examined indoor and outdoor air quality during and after the January 2025 wildfires in the Pacific Palisades-Malibu area and the Altadena-Pasadena foothills.

The findings suggest that smoke?impacted building materials and household items continued releasing harmful pollutants over time.

“These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions to minimize indoor exposures during the recovery phase,” Dr. Michael Jerrett, a professor of environmental health sciences at UCLA Fielding and a co?author of the study,

Friday, January 2, 2026

Low Numbers of Arrests, Medical Calls at Rose Parade and Bowl Game Continue Recent Trends

Public safety officials reported a low number of arrests and medical emergencies at the 2026 Rose Parade and Rose Bowl Game, continuing a multi-year trend of minimal incidents at the New Year’s Day events, according to a city spokesperson.

Pasadena Police made three arrests, while the Pasadena Fire Department handled a handful of minor medical calls during the 137th Rose Parade and 112th Rose Bowl Game.

The figures stand in stark contrast to historical data from pre-pandemic years when the number of incidents was significantly higher.

“Overall, nothing significant and numbers are low for the thousands of Parade viewers and participants, Game attendees and tourists in town,” Pasadena Chief Communications Officer Lisa Derderian said in a statement released Friday.

The Rose Bowl said 90,278 spectators attended the bowl game on Jan. 1.

Police arrested one man for assault with a deadly weapon at 12:30 a.m. on Jan. 1, alleging he struck a victim with a metal chair following an argument.

Friday, January 2, 2026

After Hours in the Sky and Scrapped Parade Flyover, B-2 Crew Waited—and Finally Got Their Moment

The stealth bomber was already deep into a 15-hour mission when rain and clouds canceled the Rose Parade flyover. The pilots stayed airborne anyway

Somewhere over the western United States on New Year’s morning, two Air Force pilots sat in the cockpit of a B-2 Spirit stealth bomber, hours into a mission that had begun in the darkness over Missouri, watching the clock tick toward 8:00 a.m. Rose Parade stepoff.

They had already completed multiple mid-air refueling operations—maneuvering their angular, bat-winged aircraft into position behind a tanker at altitude, a task their commander calls “the most challenging kind of hands-on flying event that we do in the B-2.”

Four thousand airmen across 15 squadrons at Whiteman Air Force Base had contributed to the mission that put them in position. The parade route was ready, under low clouds and steady rain. The television cameras were in place. Millions awaited.

But then came the word: Stand down. The clouds were too low.

Friday, January 2, 2026

California’s Budget Outlook is Grim. Here’s What You Need to Know

By Yue Stella Yu, CALMATTERS

Gov. Gavin Newsom opened this year with a rosy forecast: Buoyed by $17 billion more in revenue than previously planned, the state would have a modest surplus of $363 million for fiscal year 2025-26, he told reporters in January.

But life turns on a dime.

The January wildfires that ripped through Los Angeles forced the state to spend billions in disaster aid and delay tax filings for LA residents. The cost of Medi-Cal, the state-run health insurance program for low-income residents, ballooned to $6 billion more than anticipated. President Donald Trump’s on-again-off-again tariff policies rocked the stock market, which California heavily relies on for tax revenue. And the state lodged a flurry of lawsuits against the Trump administration over its threat to withhold federal funding for food assistance, disaster recovery and other grants.

By May, Newsom no longer predicted a modest surplus, but a $12 billion deficit.

Thursday, January 1, 2026

2025 In Review: Devastating Fires, Federal Pushback, and Contentious Climate Compromises

By Alejandra Reyes-Velarde, CALMATTERS

Days after 2025 began, two fires scorched through Los Angeles neighborhoods, the most destructive in California’s history. The Eaton and Pacific Palisades fires also renewed attention to issues such as utility oversight, insurance coverage, and the broader challenges of wildfire planning in a changing climate. And their harms rippled outward, leaving thousands of low-income workers and immigrants without jobs. 

But California found pushing its climate agenda forward to be an uphill battle this year: Ambitious climate goals faced  a hostile federal government economic pressures.

Anticipating opposition from President Donald Trump, state leaders chose to abandon important clean-air rules before he even took office, including plans to phase out diesel trucks and transition to cleaner trains. Nearing mid-year, Trump and his allies in Congress blocked the state’s clean-car mandate, a blow to emissions reduction plans.

Nevertheless,

Thursday, January 1, 2026

Sheriff Luna Declares `Remarkable’ Public Safety Progress in 2025

CITY NEWS SERVICE

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Wednesday declared “remarkable success” has been made as a result of improvements to public safety in 2025, although the number of rapes reported county wide rose from the previous year.

“In 2025, the department made substantial progress in public safety, accountability, operational improvements, employee wellness and technology modernization, all while managing unprecedented operational demands such as the wildfire natural disaster and major public demonstrations,” according to a statement from the department released on the final day of the year. “These achievements reflect the collective leadership, direction and management of the department’s executive staff, but most importantly the professionalism, resilience and dedication of the men and women, sworn and professional, volunteers, and reserve deputies, who serve our communities across Los Angeles County each day.”

Among the progress cited by Sheriff Robert Luna was a 12.5% drop from 2024 in so-called Part I crimes, which include violent and property crimes. He also pointed to “notable decreases”

Thursday, January 1, 2026

Two Women Pastors United by Faith, Mentorship Navigate Eaton Fire Crisis

Episcopal priests mentored by civil rights icon Rev. George Regas share vestments, sisterhood after Altadena church burns

When the text arrived at 4:30 a.m. on Dec. 22, Rev. Susan Russell understood immediately what her friend needed. 

Rev. Carri Patterson Grindon had lost everything in the Eaton fire. Her church, St. Mark’s Episcopal in Altadena, was gone. So was the school. And all her vestments. 

Christmas services were days away. Patterson Grindon needed a chasuble, the outer garment priests wear during Eucharist. 

Russell’s answer was an immediate yes. 

“I thought what it must be like to be the leader of a church that’s gone through the fire to be awake at 4 a.m. and realizing you don’t have what you need for Christmas worship,” Russell said. 

The two women share more than friendship. Both worked under Rev. George Regas, the civil rights advocate who led All Saints Church in Pasadena from 1967 to 1995. 

Regas championed women’s ordination,

Thursday, January 1, 2026

Altadena Literacy Program Marks 37 Years of Free English Classes

Community initiative continues volunteer-led language instruction at renovated library

For 37 years, the “Let’s Read Altadena” program has quietly transformed lives just north of Pasadena. This January marks another session of the community literacy initiative.

The program has helped thousands of immigrants and non-native speakers master English. Free classes meet Monday through Thursday at Bob Lucas Memorial Library. They continue a nearly four-decade tradition of volunteer-led language instruction.

The program costs participants nothing. But it opens countless opportunities.

Classes run from 10:30 a.m. to noon four days a week. They’re designed for beginning English learners in small, casual group sessions.

The program operates at the library’s location at 2659 Lincoln Avenue in Altadena. The facility recently completed a major expansion in August 2025 after 16 months of renovations.

The expansion added over 1,000 square feet – approximately 50 percent more space. New features include a dedicated literacy center with learning rooms and classroom space.

Thursday, January 1, 2026

Altadena Library Turns to Culinary Program for Fire Recovery

Monthly spice kits offer unconventional approach to trauma healing in community rebuilding after Eaton Fire

While fire-affected communities typically focus on mental health counseling and housing assistance, the Altadena Library District is taking a different path to trauma recovery: teaching residents to cook with exotic spices. 

Starting Jan. 2, the Bob Lucas Memorial Library will distribute monthly spice kits as part of a five-month program library officials designed to be accessible, joyful and community-building during a year of continued healing. 

The Spice Club runs through May 2026. Each month features a different spice with samples and two recipe cards. January’s featured ingredient is sumac, a tangy Middle Eastern spice with lemony tartness. 

The program launches seven months after the library’s grand reopening. The facility survived the January 2025 Eaton Fire despite wooden construction, prompting community investment in a $4.5 million renovation funded by Measure Z, a 2020 local bond measure. 

Adults 18 and older can pick up free kits during regular business hours at the Bob Lucas Memorial Library and Literacy Center,

Thursday, January 1, 2026

Violent TikTok Challenge Has Homeowners Reaching for Guns

Southern California police warn teens arrested nationwide as prank damages property, triggers self-defense fears

A dangerous TikTok challenge sweeping Southern California has teenagers violently kicking residential doors, prompting police warnings and frightening homeowners into grabbing firearms.

The viral dare represents a violent twist on ding-dong ditch. Participants bang on or kick doors hard enough to damage them, then post videos online.

Murrieta police initially investigated the incidents as attempted burglaries. They later discovered the vandalisms were linked to social media.

“It might look like harmless internet fun, but it’s really vandalism that can escalate into criminal charges, injuries, or worse,” Murrieta police said in a report by The Press-Enterprise[a].

Teens have been arrested in Florida, Washington state, Texas, New Jersey and Illinois, the report said. Orange County authorities have also taken vandalism reports.

The challenge puts participants at serious risk. Residents don’t know the intentions of someone violently striking their door.