Tuesday, June 18, 2024

Average LA County Gas Prices Drop

CITY NEWS SERVICE

The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Los Angeles County dropped eight-tenths of a cent to $4.806.

The average price has dropped 51 cents over the past 43 days, but was unchanged Monday, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service. It is 6.6 cents less than one week ago, 37.7 cents less than one month ago, 12.6 cents less than one year ago, and has dropped $1.688 since rising to a record $6.494 on Oct. 5, 2022.

The national average price dropped seven-tenths of a cent to $3.44, a day after it was unchanged.

It is one-tenths of a cent less than one week ago, 15.3 cents less than one month ago, 13.6 cents less than one year ago, and has dropped $1.576 since rising to a record $5.016 on June 14, 2022.

“Since the national average price of gasoline fell to its lowest June level since 2021 last week,

Friday, June 14, 2024

Metro Ridership in Los Angeles Continues 18-Month Climb, Nearing Pre-Pandemic Levels

Los Angeles County’s Metro recorded more than 27 million boardings in May, marking the 18th consecutive month of year-over-year growth, officials reported in a statement on Friday.

The transit agency carried an average of 980,865 passengers each weekday, an 8.2 percent increase from May 2023, the statement said. Weekend ridership saw particularly strong gains, with Saturday boardings reaching 90.6 percent and Sunday boardings exceeding 101.5 percent of their levels from May 2019.

Officials attributed the weekend surge to numerous special events, including the Cruel World Music Festival and Just Like Heaven Music Festival in Pasadena, Pride celebrations, and professional soccer and baseball games.

“Metro is building the most ambitious transportation infrastructure program in the United States and is working to greatly improve mobility,” the agency said.

Rail ridership totaled 5,887,366 in May, with the A Line recording the highest number of boardings at 1,946,782, a 4.6 percent increase over April. The recently reconfigured A and E lines now exceed their pre-pandemic weekend ridership levels.

Thursday, May 9, 2024

New Public Health Report Shows LA County Homeless Mortality Rate Plateaued in 2022

STAFF REPORT

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has released its fifth annual report on mortality among people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles County. From 2021 to 2022, the most recent years of data available for the report, the overall mortality rate increased by just 2% from 3,215 per 100,000 people to 3,282 per 100,000 people.

This is a welcomed plateauing of the mortality rate among people experiencing homelessness, which previously saw a devastating increase of 56% from 2019 to 2021, the County said in a statement.

The recent plateau in the overall mortality rate can be attributed largely to a leveling off of the rate of drug overdose deaths, the leading cause of death among PEH for the past six years, and a sharp decline in COVID-19 mortality. From 2021 to 2022, the distribution of doses of naloxone, an opioid overdose reversal medication, saw a two-and-a-half-fold increase in communities most affected by fentanyl overdoses, and the number of reported naloxone-induced overdose reversals nearly doubled.

Wednesday, May 8, 2024

LA County Library Observes Mental Health Awareness Month with Programs Promoting Mental Health and Wellbeing

STAFF REPORT

LA County Library is deeply committed to all its neighbors’ mental health and well-being. The Library recognizes May as Mental Health Awareness Month and proudly highlights the Mental Health Promoters Program, which is a transformative initiative created by the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health aimed at reducing mental health stigma in the underserved.

“LA County Library has 86 locations that serve as trusted safe spaces for families throughout the County. The Library is a valued partner with the Department of Mental Health in supporting the well-being of Los Angeles County residents,” said Dr. Lisa H. Wong, Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health. “Throughout the year, and especially during May, which is Mental Health Awareness Month, we look forward to sharing resources and information through our Mental Health Promoters Program stationed in various libraries across the County.”

“No matter the challenge, LA County Library is here to support our customers,” said Skye Patrick,

Tuesday, May 7, 2024

Altadena Man Arrested for Alleged 10-Day Kidnapping and Assault of Pasadena Woman

A 38-year-old man from Altadena was arrested early Tuesday morning on charges of kidnapping and domestic violence following a distressing 10-day ordeal involving a 40-year-old Pasadena woman, according to Pasadena Police Lieutenant Edgar Sanchez.

The incident began on April 28 when the suspect, Edgar Garcia, and the victim, who have had an intermittent relationship over the past two years, met to exchange personal property, Sanchez said.

During the encounter, Garcia allegedly punched the woman and threatened further assault if she refused to get into his vehicle.

The victim was then forcibly detained by Garcia for the next ten days.

On the evening of May 6, Garcia allegedly compelled the victim to perform a sexual act against her will.

He later contacted the victim’s mother, informing her of the location where she could pick up her daughter. The reunion led the victim’s mother to drive her directly to the police to report the crimes, according to Sanchez.

Wednesday, April 24, 2024

Altadena Community Toastmasters Club Launches Weekly Meetings to Build Leadership and Public Speaking Skills

STAFF REPORT

New club seeks to recruit at least 20 charter members and will meet Wednesdays from noon to 1 p.m.

The newly formed Altadena Community Toastmasters Club is launching a series of weekly meetings starting April 24 aimed at building leadership and public speaking skills. The meetings will be held Wednesdays from noon to 1 p.m. in a hybrid format, with in-person attendance at the Altadena Community Center and virtual participation available through Zoom.

According to Sue Dekany, the initiative’s contact person, the club needs at least 20 people to officially charter. “It might take a couple of weeks to get there. We plan to meet weekly at the Community Center,” Dekany said.

The club’s flyer, distributed around town and on Nextdoor, touts the benefits of joining, including crafting stories, receiving feedback, and connecting with the community. It also highlights the opportunity to become a charter member and guarantees “fun and connection” along with prepared and impromptu speaking practice.

Monday, April 22, 2024

LA County Proposes $45.4 Billion Budget for Fiscal Year 2024-25

CITY NEWS SERVICE

Noting slower-than-average growth in revenues and the winding down of some federal and state funding, Los Angeles County’s CEO released a $45.4 billion budget proposal for 2024-25 Monday, a decrease of $1.4 million from the 2023-24 fiscal year, which ends June 30.

While the proposed budget is lower than the current fiscal year, Fesia Davenport, county CEO, assured that the spending plan will maintain the county’s priorities, such as efforts to address housing and homelessness, promote mental health services, bolsters public safety, and ensure other county services. The proposal would also add 835 new positions — more than half of them in the Department of Mental Health — for a total of 116,159 budgeted positions in the county workforce.

“This recommended budget represents a balanced plan for the county’s future in the face of multiple uncertainties,” Davenport said during an online briefing Monday morning. “It invests our limited discretionary resources in the board’s highest priority programs,

Saturday, April 20, 2024

LA County Unemployment Rate Unchanged in March

Los Angeles County’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate held steady at 5.4% in March, the same rate as February, according to figures released Friday by the state Employment Development Department.

The 5.4% rate was above the rate of 4.9% rate from March 2023.

The March 2024 unemployment rate in Orange County, where seasonally adjusted rates were not immediately available, was 3.9%, down from 4.2% in February.

Statewide, California’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.3% in March, the same rate as February but above the 4.5% rate in March 2023, the EDD reported. The comparable estimates for the nation were 3.8% in March, 3.9% in February and 3.5% a year ago.

Total non-farm employment in Los Angeles County increased by 14,900 jobs between February and March to reach more than 4.56 million.

The private education and health services sectors led the way by adding 8,400 jobs.

Friday, April 19, 2024

Bach to Basics with Free Tunes at Altadena Church

STAFF REPORT

The Mt. Lowe Chamber Players are set to deliver an engaging chamber music concert featuring Johann Sebastian Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 on Sunday, May 5, at 3:00 p.m. The event will be held at the Altadena Community Church, located at 943 East Altadena Drive, Altadena, with both admission and parking free of charge.

Johann Sebastian Bach, an influential composer of the Baroque period, created the Brandenburg Concerto No. 5, notable for its pioneering use of the harpsichord as a solo instrument. This particular performance will highlight a reproduction harpsichord crafted by Curtis Berak, a distinguished harpsichord builder from Los Angeles.

The concert will feature Ian Pritchard, a skilled harpsichordist from Tesserae Baroque, along with Larry Kaplan on flute and Agnes Gottschewski on violin. Supporting them will be Michael Siess on violin, Kate Vincent on viola, Tina Soule on cello, and Steve Edelman on bass. The ensemble will also perform selected works by Mendelssohn and Mozart,

Thursday, April 18, 2024

Authorities Seek Public Help Locating 73-Year-Old Woman With Alzheimer’s

A 73-year-old woman diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease was reported missing after being last seen in Altadena Wednesday.

Donna Louise Bertiger was last seen in the 1700 block of Alta Wood Drive, two blocks north of Altadena Drive, around 1 p.m. Wednesday, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Deputies described Bertiger as a 5-foot-6-inch tall white woman weighing 110 pounds with blonde hair and blue eyes. She was last seen wearing blue jeans and blue shoes.

Anyone with information regarding Bertiger’s whereabouts was urged to call the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau Missing Persons Detail at 323-890-5500. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or visit lacrimestoppers.org.