Friday, June 6, 2025

John Muir High School Graduates Celebrate Resilience After Fire-Marked Year

Class of 2025 overcomes January wildfire challenges, with eight students earning college degrees alongside diplomas

Against the backdrop of a year marked by wildfire devastation and community recovery, John Muir High School’s Class of 2025 crossed the graduation stage Thursday afternoon at Pasadena Civic Auditorium, transforming a ceremony of achievement into a testament to resilience.

The graduation, held from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the auditorium on 300 E. Green St, celebrated not only traditional academic accomplishments but also the extraordinary perseverance students demonstrated following January’s devastating Eaton Fire.

Pasadena Unified’s graduation ceremonies got underway Wednesday with the Center for Independent Studies and Rose City High School, followed by Blair High School and Pasadena High School. John Muir High School graduation exercises were on Thursday at 2 p.m., with Thurgood Marshall Secondary School concluding the ceremonies at 6 p.m.

Eight graduating John Muir seniors achieved the rare distinction of earning both high school diplomas and a combined total of 14 associate degrees from Pasadena City College.

Friday, June 6, 2025

California’s Stubborn Problems Keep Thwarting Its Ballooning Budget

By Dan Walters, CALMATTERS

The first quarter of the 21st century has been, in a sense, a test of whether California — a state enormously blessed but enormously troubled — can be effectively governed.

For decades, California’s two political parties had struggled for dominance. Control of its governorship, its Legislature, its congressional delegation and its presidential electoral votes had shifted back and forth as the mood of voters oscillated.

However, by the turn of the century, Democrats had captured all the levers of political power. And over the last 25 years their dominance has grown ever stronger, interrupted only by the performative seven-year governorship of action film actor and nominal Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The disappearance of inter-party competition means Democrats have been free to implement their responses to multiple issues spawned by the state’s economic and cultural complexity — such things as erratic water supply, low-performing public schools, homelessness, housing shortages,

Thursday, June 5, 2025

Altadena Chamber Asks Community Members to Write to Congressional Leaders

Local business groups seek support for $39.8 billion disaster funding package before June 15 deadline

Two regional chambers of commerce are urging locals to write congressional leaders before June 15 in support of Governor Newsom’s $39.8 billion supplemental appropriation for disaster funding.

The Altadena Chamber of Commerce & Civic Association was joined by the Malibu Pacific Palisades Chamber of Commerce to launch the letter-writing campaign because Congress has yet to approve Newsom’s request submitted in February 2025.

“We ask that you submit the form no later than Sunday, June 15th,” according to a joint letter from chamber leaders. Their effort aims to present a compelling case to Congress for the time-sensitive relief funding.

The chambers invited affected businesses to sign a draft letter available online and write personal stories about how wildfires have impacted their business, community and family.

Participants can submit responses through an online form at https://form.jotform.com/251026783133149 that also accepts photographs.

Thursday, June 5, 2025

California Democrats Push to Block ICE From Schools, Hospitals And Shelters

By Jeanne Kuang, CALMATTERS

Hospitals. Schools. Shelters.

Those are some of the places that California lawmakers want to shield from immigration arrests and raids. They advanced a package of bills this week as President Donald Trump’s administration continues its ramped-up deportation campaign around the country.

The Democratic-dominated Legislature can’t block federal agents from entering places where someone has allowed them to be. They also can’t stop ICE from going where officers have the  legal authority to be, such as immigration courthouses. But the bills the state Senate passed Monday push local officials to limit cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and to require agents to get a warrant to enter.

One bill would bar immigration agents from entering “nonpublic” parts of schools without a warrant. Another would do the same in hospitals, and prohibit health care providers from sharing patients’ immigration status with federal authorities unless they have a warrant. Another would limit immigration agents from accessing homeless or domestic violence shelters.

Thursday, June 5, 2025

Young & Healthy Partners With Mental Health Center to Provide Free Therapy for Eaton Fire-Affected Children

Organization expands services to address emotional toll on families through play-based therapy sessions

Young & Healthy has partnered with The Center for Connection to offer free mental health support specifically targeting children ages 2-12 who were affected by the devastating Eaton Fire.

The collaboration, funded by a generous donation from Direct Relief, aims to address the mounting emotional needs of low-income families as they approach the critical six-month mark following the disaster.

“This partnership is about healing hearts and restoring hope,” said Liz Arnold, Co-Executive Director (Interim) of Young & Healthy.

“If your child is struggling in the aftermath of the fire, they need compassionate support. These therapy sessions can help families rebuild emotional resilience, reconnect, and move forward together.”

The program provides play-based family therapy sessions at no cost to enrolled families.

Children can express their feelings, manage stress, and begin healing in a safe, supportive environment through this gentle, engaging therapeutic approach.

Thursday, June 5, 2025

Nearly Five Months After The Eaton Fire, Only 15 Permits Issued To Altadena Homeowners

By ANDRÈ COLEMAN, Managing Editor

On Monday, Supervisor Kathryn Barger expressed frustration with the lack of building permits issued to homeowners to rebuild following the devastating Eaton Fire.

As of last Friday, just 15 building permits have been issued to property owners that lost their homes in the Eaton Fire.

“We are simply not meeting the mark,” Barger said during her weekly address updating the progress of efforts to rebuild the community.

“I hear your frustrations and quite frankly I share them.”

The fire led to the deaths of at least 18 people, destroyed more than 9,000 buildings and scorched more than 14,000 acres, making it one of the deadliest fires in the state’s history.

After the fire, County officials guaranteed a swift rebuild process.

However, for most people that has not been the case.

Many local residents were underinsured and face further burdens due to the high cost of building permits and delays in the County’s burdensome process.

Thursday, June 5, 2025

Mosquito Control Operation Nears Completion In Eaton Fire Burn Area

Multi-agency effort targets 1,475 fire-damaged pools to prevent disease outbreak by month’s end

The San Gabriel Valley Mosquito & Vector Control District expects to complete anti-mosquito treatment of 1,475 fire-damaged swimming pools in the Eaton Fire burn area by the end of June, marking a critical milestone in preventing a potential mosquito-borne disease outbreak.

The unprecedented local operation targets pools that became high-risk breeding sources due to fire-related damage, inaccessibility, or loss of utilities.

“Each untreated pool can produce thousands of mosquitoes every week,” said SGV Mosquito District Manager Jason Farned. “With the help of California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, our partner agencies, and the tireless dedication of our team, we are now able to treat every non-functional pool in the burn area. This rapid and effective response will help prevent a second public health crisis in the aftermath of the Eaton Fire.”

The West Covina-based operation represents the first response of its kind in the region, treating pools that pose risks for diseases like West Nile virus and dengue.

Thursday, June 5, 2025

County to Collaborate with City of LA on Establishing an Independent Homelessness Department

CITY NEWS SERVICE

Following the decision to establish a new County department to oversee homelessness programs, the Board of Supervisors is directing the County CEO today to work in collaboration with the City of Los Angeles to define the partnership.

On April 1, supervisors voted to establish a new department to centralize all homelessness funding and programs, including the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, a collaborative project with the City.

City officials had expressed concern over the move, which reduced the County’s investment in Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority. In a letter, Mayor Karen Bass argued the decision would only introduce new bureaucracy and hinder ongoing efforts.

Supervisor Lindsey Horvath introduced Tuesday’s motion to delineate shared responsibilities before establishing a new authority.

“Given the urgent threat posed by the homelessness crisis, and the multiplying impact that impaired relationships have on progress, it is necessary that the County and the City of Los Angeles create new channels of direct,

Wednesday, June 4, 2025

LA County Backs Federal Tax Credits For Disaster-Hardened Homes

Board of Supervisors unanimously supports FIREWALL Act following devastating January wildfires

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion yesterday to formally support federal legislation that would provide tax relief to homeowners who upgrade their properties to withstand natural disasters, including wildfires and floods.

The Board endorsed the Facilitating Increased Resilience, Environmental Weatherization, and Lowered Liability Act, also known as the FIREWALL Act. The bipartisan measure was introduced by U.S. Sens. Adam Schiff and Tim Sheehy as S. 1323.

Board Chair Kathryn Barger, in collaboration with Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath, introduced the motion.

The proposed legislation would allow homeowners to claim a tax credit for 50% of eligible disaster-hardening expenses, up to $25,000. These home hardening improvements are critical for long-term community resilience and public safety. Households earning less than $200,000 annually would qualify for the full credit. The credit would phase out gradually for those earning up to $300,000.

Qualifying upgrades include fire-resistant building materials,

Wednesday, June 4, 2025

California Accelerates Wildfire Plant Ban Despite Scientific Opposition

Governor expedites regulations requiring homeowners to clear vegetation within five feet of structures, but researchers question the science behind blanket prohibitions

California is fast-tracking controversial regulations that would ban most plants and vegetation within five feet of homes in high-risk wildfire areas, following Governor Gavin Newsom’s executive order to accelerate implementation of long-delayed Zone 0 rules. The regulations aim to create “ember-resistant zones” around structures to prevent wind-blown embers from igniting homes during wildfires.

“These steps will spur proactive actions to defend the most vulnerable homes and eliminate combustible material within five feet of homes to reduce the risk of a home igniting in an ember-driven fire,” said Wade Crowfoot, California Natural Resources Secretary.

The State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection must complete rulemaking by December 31, 2025, under Newsom’s Executive Order N-18-25 signed February 6. The regulations stem from Assembly Bill 3074, authored by Assemblymember Laura Friedman and passed unanimously in 2020, but implementation has been delayed over two years from its original 2023 deadline.