Friday, March 7, 2025

What I Learned About Earth After a Year on “Mars”

By Elise Cutts (BS ’19), CALTECH

Ross Brockwell (MS ’01) had plenty of time to mull over what he wanted for his first meal back on Earth.

On June 25, 2023, the Caltech alum and three crewmates sealed the door of their 3D-printed habitat at Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. The door would stay shut for 378 days. During this year-plus, the crew inside resided, for all practical purposes, on Mars, eating astronaut rations and living just like a crew on the Red Planet would.

Brockwell served as the flight engineer on this, NASA’s first CHAPEA (Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog) mission, a simulated journey to Mars carried out on Earth under the watchful eyes of NASA scientists and engineers. The idea was to study how astronauts cope with isolation and other challenges so that mission planners can set up future space pioneers for success on other worlds. It is an increasingly practical problem, given plans to establish a long-term human presence on the Moon and the eventual goal of putting astronaut boots on the Red Planet’s rusty ground.

Thursday, March 6, 2025

Rebuilding Loma Alta Park: A Community’s Renewal After the Eaton Fire

By EDDIE RIVERA

As a steady rain fell Wednesday afternoon, the community room at Loma Alta Park was filled with residents, tribal leaders, and county officials for the announcement of plans to rebuild Loma Alta Park following the Eaton Fire.

Loma Alta Park will reopen on May 10, serving once again as a community hub. The project’s restoration was made possible by a substantial $2.4 million donation from the January 30 Fire Aid benefit concert held to support wildfire recovery efforts.

The park, though damaged, was the only LA County park in Altadena to survive the fire.

Chief Red Anthony Morales of the Gabrielino-Tongva tribe, his son Andrew “Young Cloud” Morales, and fellow tribal member Samuel Lopez led the announcement with a prayer and ceremonial song.

“This is a beginning,” said Chief Morales. “Today starts the Lenten season, a time for prayer, family, and healing. And that’s exactly what needs to be done in these areas that were so devastated by these fires.”

Samuel Lopez,

Thursday, March 6, 2025

LA County Officials Urge Residents to Meet March 31 Debris Removal Deadline

New hazardous tree removal waiver gives local homeowners control over which trees stay during cleanup process

Los Angeles County officials are pressing remaining Altadena fire victims to opt into the Army Corps of Engineers debris removal program before the March 31 deadline. At a Wednesday press conference marking the two-month anniversary of the Los Angeles County wildfires, officials announced a new hazardous tree removal waiver while reporting that over 75% of Altadena residents have already submitted their forms.

“Residents deserve a sense of ownership over the entire debris removal process,” said the County Board Chair Kathryn Barger at the press conference. “I want Altadena residents to know that when the debris is removed from your property, you’ll be able to have full control over what trees are taken out and which you want to stay.”

The newly introduced hazardous tree removal waiver allows property owners to specify exactly which trees they want to keep, even those identified as hazardous. The form is now available at recovery.lacounty.gov,

Thursday, March 6, 2025

California’s List Of Failed Tech Projects Just Added An Agency

By Dan Walters, CALMATTERS

While twiddling his thumbs in the powerless office of lieutenant governor 12 years ago, Gavin Newsom wrote a book titled “Citizenville,” touting information technology to improve governance.

California would seem to be the perfect place for governmental technology to be employed, given its seminal role in the global technological revolution.

When the book was published, the state had already launched several major programs to upgrade early generation technology and create new applications. Newsom inherited them when he became governor in 2019.

Sadly, the state’s efforts to incorporate cutting-edge technology have seen mediocre success at best, and in some cases outright failure.

The state’s most ambitious effort, the Financial Information System for California, or FI$Cal for short, has been a poster child for very expensive, much delayed and only partially implemented technology.

Launched in 2005, FI$Cal was to replace multiple outdated systems and become a one-stop application for managing state government finances.

Thursday, March 6, 2025

Alleged Anti-Armenian Bank Discrimination Probed in Los Angeles

CITY NEWS SERVICE

Los Angeles officials are investigating bank account closures allegedly based on Armenian heritage, it was announced Wednesday.

The Los Angeles Civil Rights + Human Rights and Equity Department and other law enforcement organizations are encouraging victims to file claims if their bank accounts may have been closed or restricted based on their perceived Armenian heritage, particularly those with last names ending in “-yan” or “- ian.”

According to the department, staff received reports that suggested banks may have engaged in discriminatory practices, closing or restricting accounts without legitimate explanation, often targeting individuals of Armenian heritage.

A private law firm and the Armenian Bar Association are actively reaching out to L.A.’s Armenian community for the investigation.

If proven, the actions may violate local civil rights laws against national origin discrimination.

“We need the community’s help to fully understand the scope of this potential discrimination against the Armenian community in L.A.,” Capri Maddox,

Thursday, March 6, 2025

County Board of Supervisors Meet March 11, Will Address Major Area Plans and Review Emergency Responses

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors will hold their next regular meeting on Tuesday, March 11 at 9:30 a.m. in the Board Hearing Room 381B at the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration, located at 500 West Temple Street in Los Angeles.

Among the significant items on the agenda:

1. General Plan Amendment Resolution (Item 13) – The Board will consider adopting resolutions for three major area plans: the West San Gabriel Valley Area Plan, South Bay Area Plan, and Westside Area Plan. These plans will establish updated land use policies, zoning changes, and development standards for multiple unincorporated communities across LA County. This is a voting item that will significantly impact development and land use in these regions.
2. January 2025 Windstorm and Critical Fire Events Emergency Response (Items 15, 20, and 24) – The Board will review ongoing emergency actions taken in response to the January 2025 windstorms and fires, including the Palisades, Eaton, Hurst, and Kenneth fires. These items involve reviewing contracts issued without competitive bidding due to emergency circumstances,

Thursday, March 6, 2025

City Files Lawsuit Against Southern California Edison for Damages to Public Infrastructure in Eaton Fire

By ANDRÈ COLEMAN, Managing Editor

On Wednesday, the City of Pasadena filed a lawsuit against Southern California Edison (SCE) seeking compensation for extensive damages sustained to municipal property and infrastructure during the devastating Eaton Fire that began on January 7.

The Eaton Fire, which spread rapidly through wind-driven conditions, destroyed critical community assets throughout the city, including police facilities, water infrastructure, and multiple public service buildings. The fire burned more than 14,000 acres, destroyed approximately 9,400 structures, damaged over 1,000 structures, claimed 17 lives, and affected thousands of residents throughout the region.

There were no deaths in Pasadena.

“The destruction of public facilities essential to Pasadena’s operations requires significant investment to restore and rebuild,” said Lisa Derderian, Public Information Officer for the City of Pasadena. “While our restoration efforts continue, we have a responsibility to pursue appropriate compensation for the costs of rebuilding the public infrastructure our community relies upon.”

According to a copy of the complaint obtained by Pasadena Now,

Thursday, March 6, 2025

Arrested: Monrovia Murder Suspect Known to Frequent Pasadena and Altadena

Arturo Gonzalez Jr., who was wanted in connection with the Feb. 22 killing of his father in Monrovia and known to frequent Pasadena and Altadena, has been arrested, according the Monrovia Police Department.

Gonzalez was wanted in connection with the Feb. 22 killing of his father, who was found dead in his apartment in the 100 block of West Olive Avenue, near South Myrtle Avenue in Monrovia, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Anyone with information about the homicide is still urged to contact Sgt. Delia or Sgt. Mezzano at (323) 890-5500. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or visit lacrimestoppers.org.

Wednesday, March 5, 2025

Sierra Madre Sues Edison Over Eaton Fire Damage

The city of Sierra Madre filed a lawsuit Wednesday against Southern California Edison seeking damages for destruction to public lands, trails and infrastructure caused by January’s devastating Eaton Fire.

The legal action follows the reported Feb. 6 disclosure by Edison to state regulators allegedly admitting a “fault was detected” on its Eagle Rock-Gould transmission circuit coinciding with the fire’s ignition time and location.

“The January fire devastated irreplaceable wilderness areas that are central to Sierra Madre’s identity and character,” Sierra Madre Mayor Robert Parkhurst said. “Our historic wilderness areas and the Mount Wilson Trail – treasured community resources that draw visitors from across Southern California – now require extensive rehabilitation that will burden our city for years to come.”

The lawsuit contends Edison failed to adequately de-energize equipment in high-risk areas despite National Weather Service warnings about extreme fire danger and forecasted winds reaching 100 mph in the foothills.

“What makes this disaster particularly troubling is its preventability,” Parkhurst added. “The documented weather warnings provided Edison with ample notice of the dangerous conditions developing in our community.”

Wednesday, March 5, 2025

City of Pasadena Files Lawsuit Against Southern California Edison for Damages to Public Infrastructure in Catastrophic Eaton Fire

The City of Pasadena today filed a lawsuit against Southern California Edison (SCE) seeking compensation for extensive damages sustained to municipal property and infrastructure during the devastating Eaton Fire that began on January 7, 2025.

The Eaton Fire, which spread rapidly through wind-driven conditions, destroyed critical community assets throughout the city, including police facilities, water infrastructure, and multiple public service buildings. The fire burned more than 14,000 acres, destroyed approximately 9,400 structures, damaged over 1,000 structures, claimed 17 lives, and affected thousands of residents throughout the region.

“The destruction of public facilities essential to Pasadena’s operations requires significant investment to restore and rebuild,” said Lisa Derderian, Public Information Officer for the City of Pasadena. “While our restoration efforts continue, we have a responsibility to pursue appropriate compensation for the costs of rebuilding the public infrastructure our community relies upon.”

The filing details extensive damage to several key municipal assets including, among others:

• The Pasadena Police Department’s Advanced Officer Training Facility
• The Pasadena Municipal Assistance,