Thursday, January 1, 2026

Altadena Sheriff’s Station Launches Program to Protect Rebuilding Homes

Deputies to monitor construction sites after request from property owners

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has launched a program aimed at protecting homes under reconstruction in Altadena, asking residents to register their construction sites for increased patrol monitoring.

The Altadena Station’s Construction Check Program seeks to deter theft of building materials by having deputies monitor registered properties more closely. Property owners currently rebuilding are asked to provide their address, phone number and construction company information.

“The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department-Altadena Station is committed to working hand-in-hand with our community to deter and prevent crime,” the station said in a social media post announcing the initiative.

Residents should indicate whether construction is active and provide the construction company’s name and phone number when registering. The information will allow deputies to identify legitimate activity at construction sites.

The program relies on community participation beyond just registration. Station officials emphasized the “See Something, Say Something” approach, encouraging vigilance from all residents.

Thursday, January 1, 2026

Rain Pours Down as 137th Rose Parade Steps Off on Colorado Boulevard

CITY NEWS SERVICE

Spectators brave heavy showers as Pasadena’s signature New Year’s Day tradition gets underway

The 137th Rose Parade is now rolling down Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena under heavy rain that has just eased slightly, marking the first time in 20 years that the beloved New Year’s Day tradition has stepped off in wet weather.

Despite the downpour, spirits remain high among spectators, many of whom braved overnight showers to camp along the route and secure prime viewing spots. The rain, courtesy of a storm system that moved over the area Wednesday, was forecast by the National Weather Service with near 100% certainty and is expected to continue into the afternoon.

For people planning to watch the procession in person, ponchos were an essential wardrobe addition, since umbrellas are not permitted along the route during the parade  for fear of blocking the view of other spectators.

Rain has not fallen on the parade since 2006,

Thursday, January 1, 2026

Cal Poly’s Float Wins 2026 Rose Parade Sweepstakes Trophy as Tournament of Roses Announces Awards

The Pasadena Tournament of Roses announced 23 official float award recipients Wednesday for the 137th Rose Parade presented by Honda, highlighting the event’s deep local ties and longstanding role as one of Pasadena’s signature traditions. The announcement came in a Tournament of Roses statement released minutes before 7 a.m. on Jan. 1.

Cal Poly Universities received the 2026 Sweepstakes Trophy, the parade’s top honor, recognizing the most beautiful entry based on float design, floral presentation and entertainment. According to the Tournament of Roses, it marks the first Sweepstakes win for Cal Poly Universities and the seventh time a self-built float has earned the award since the category was established in 1924.

Judges Doris Hardoon, Cathy Hillen-Rulloda and Chaz Perea evaluated each float during decorating-stage sessions before the parade. Their scoring considered creative design, floral craftsmanship, artistic merit, computerized animation, thematic interpretation, floral and color presentation, and dramatic impact. The judges’ scores determined the trophy recipients.

Award-winning floats will be accompanied in the parade by banners carried by members of the Tournament of Roses Troop,

Thursday, January 1, 2026

Rose Bowl Flea Market Returns: A 57-Year Legacy of Treasure Hunting Draws Celebrities and Collectors Worldwide

Pasadena’s most famous monthly marketplace opens its gates Sunday, January 11, drawing 20,000 buyers and 2,500 vendors to the Rose Bowl Stadium for what has become the largest flea market in California and one of the largest in the United States. The event opens at 5 a.m. and runs until 4:30 p.m., earning the distinction of being called the “Flea Market of the Stars” for over 50 years and recognized by the Travel Channel as one of the ten best flea markets in the world.

The market’s story began November 10, 1968, when entrepreneurs R.G. Canning and Bill Tunnell launched the first event with approximately 200 vendors and 12,000 visitors. The City of Pasadena, seeking year-round income from the Rose Bowl, found in Tunnell and Canning the ideal partners. Tunnell explained the venue’s appeal: “an ideal spot for a flea market because of the large parking lot and the enclosed area for the booths.”

The market now attracts celebrities including Angelina Jolie, Cameron Diaz,

Thursday, January 1, 2026

Altadena Marks One Year Since Eaton Fire’s Devastation with Dual Commemorative Vigils

Community gathers to honor 19 victims and affirm commitment to recovery one year after the fire devastated the landscape

On January 7, the Eaton Fire tore through Altadena’s foothills, killing 19 people and forever reshaping the community’s landscape. One year later, residents will gather at two locations to honor those lost and affirm their commitment to recovery.

The Community Coalition for Altadena Recovery will host a community commemoration at 5 p.m. in the Grocery Outlet parking lot, featuring music, remembrances, and light refreshments, open to all “rain or shine.” A second vigil is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the corner of N. Lake Avenue and E. Loma Alta Drive, sponsored by Kinfolk Helping Hands and Connect 2 Rise Inc. The 7 p.m. event will feature a children’s choir, performances by the Benn Family (known from “America’s Got Talent”), and community speakers.

The Altadena Grocery Outlet, which sustained only minor exterior scorching, has become a symbol of resilience. After reopening in February,

Thursday, January 1, 2026

Rain Prompts Tarp Over Rose Bowl Field as Pasadena Braces for Wet Quarterfinal

With steady rain settling over Pasadena ahead of Thursday’s College Football Playoff quarterfinal, the Rose Bowl field was covered by a tarp Wednesday as stadium crews worked to protect the turf from worsening weather, according to AL.com..

An ESPN camera shot showed the tarp stretched across the historic field. The wet conditions continued throughout the day across the Pasadena area.

Alabama and Indiana, scheduled to meet Thursday in the Rose Bowl, adjusted their preparations as rain intensified. The Crimson Tide held their Wednesday walkthrough indoors at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, AL.com reported.

Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer acknowledged earlier Wednesday that weather could influence the matchup.

“I think you just gotta see what it is in the moment,” DeBoer said during a joint press conference with Indiana coach Curt Cignetti, according to AL.com. . “I know it could be heavy at times, I don’t know, it could be light. You just have to adjust. We haven’t played a lot in those elements this season.”

DeBoer said the team has practiced with wet footballs to prepare for potential rain but emphasized that adaptability would be key.

Thursday, January 1, 2026

Forecasters Agree: Rain to Soak Rose Parade; Clearing Expected for Rose Bowl Game

Heaviest rain could occur right at 8 a.m., as the Parade steps off

Spectators and participants of the 137th Rose Parade will likely face a morning of heavy, persistent rain, with the most intense downpours expected to coincide directly with the parade’s 8 a.m. start, according to a consensus of national and local weather forecasts.

Conditions are expected to improve by the afternoon, with only a slight chance of showers for the 1 p.m. kickoff of the Rose Bowl Game.

The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch and a Flood Advisory for the Pasadena area, warning of the potential for localized flooding, particularly in recent Eaton Fire burn areas, as the significant storm moves through Southern California.

Forecasters predict total rainfall between 0.75 and 1.25 inches in Pasadena for the day.

For the duration of the Rose Parade, from 8 a.m. to approximately 11 a.m., the chance of rain is 100%, according to multiple forecasting services including the National Weather Service and The Weather Channel.

Thursday, January 1, 2026

Supervisor Barger to Ride With Pasadena Mayor in Rose Parade, Citing City’s Civic Pride

Mayor Gordo invited Supervisor Barger to ride with him and his family

Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger said she will participate in the 2026 Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade by riding alongside Pasadena Mayor Victor M. Gordo and his family.

In a written statement, Barger said it is “truly an honor to be part of a tradition that celebrates Pasadena and the people who make this community so special.”

She added that “the Rose Parade is more than a New Year’s Day event” and “reflects the strong civic pride that defines Pasadena.”

Barger highlighted “the volunteers who work year-round on the Tournament of Roses,” along with “the neighborhoods and small businesses that welcome the world every January,” saying “this community consistently shows up.”

“As a County Supervisor, participating in the parade is also about representing residents across Los Angeles County, particularly those who continue to move forward with resilience and determination,” she said.

“I am proud to stand alongside Mayor Gordo and others being recognized as Pasadena is showcased to millions around the world,” Barger said.

Wednesday, December 31, 2025

Rose Bowl Advises Early Arrival as Game Parking Will Sell Out; Dodger Stadium Shuttle Added

Parking for the 112th Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential will sell out on New Year’s Eve, stadium officials forecast Wednesday morning, and anticipated heavy rain has limited capacity in the stadium’s grass lots.

The stadium alert reported that, due to sold-out onsite parking, the Rose Bowl Game has added a new shuttle operation from Dodger Stadium, 1000 Vin Scully Avenue, Gates A and E. Parking there will cost $25 at the cashless venue, and free shuttle service will run beginning at 8 a.m. Thursday and continue until 90 minutes after the game.

With the Rose Parade ending and significant surface street closures already in effect throughout Pasadena, event organizers “strongly recommended” that guests plan to arrive early.

Fans are urged to reach the stadium no later than 9:30 a.m. to avoid heavy traffic delays and longer wait times and to access the Rose Bowl Stadium FanFest presented by Honda, which opens at 8 a.m.

Metro’s A Line will provide rail service to Pasadena via the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

Wednesday, December 31, 2025

Before Floats Roll, They’re Already There: The Red Cross Volunteers Who Own the First Eight Minutes

Along the Rose Parade route, a medical operation six decades in the refining prepares to protect hundreds of thousands of spectators

At 4 a.m. Thursday, hours before the first float glides down Colorado Boulevard and long before most of the hundreds of thousands of spectators stake out their curbside spots, more than 160 American Red Cross volunteers will fan out along the 5½-mile Rose Parade route to take their positions at 13 first aid stations. 

They are preparing for what Paul Stephan, the 2024 Rose Parade Incident Commander, called the organization’s defining operational doctrine: “Red Cross teams own the first eight minutes of every medical aid call.” 

In a crowd of that size—hundreds of thousands attended the parade and Rose Bowl Game combined last year—those eight minutes can be the difference between life and death. 

When a spectator collapses from a cardiac event or illness along a packed boulevard, an ambulance dispatched from across the city may take 20 minutes or longer to navigate the crowds.