Monday, September 22, 2025

Feds, States Sue Live Nation and Ticketmaster Over Ticket Prices

By ANDRÈ COLEMAN, Managing Editor

Live Nation, which promotes major concerts at the Rose Bowl stadium in Pasadena, is under fire from federal regulators and state attorneys general who accuse the entertainment giant and its ticketing arm of inflating prices and failing to rein in scalpers.

The company was the promoter in September for the Oasis “Live ’25” world tour, which included two sold-out concerts at the Rose Bowl on September 6 and 7. Last April Live Nation staged AC/DC’s POWER UP Tour at the iconic venue.

Those blockbuster bookings spotlight Live Nation’s dominance in the United States concert business — and the scrutiny it now faces in court.

The Federal Trade Commission and attorneys general from seven states filed suit Thursday against Ticketmaster and its parent company, Live Nation Entertainment, alleging the company allows ticket brokers to skirt purchasing limits and resell seats at inflated prices, forcing fans to “pay substantially more than face value” for popular events.

Monday, September 22, 2025

Curating Joy & Access: Black Education Expo Returns October 4

Southern California Families & Educators Unite for a Joyful Reunion at the Pasadena Convention Center

The free K-12 Black Education Expo (BEE), co-presented by Pasadena Councilmember Tyron Hampton, is back on Saturday, October 4, from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Pasadena Convention Center. Designed as a joyful family reunion, the Expo welcomes families, students, and educators from across Southern California—from Altadena to South Los Angeles to Riverside to San Diego—for a day filled with learning, laughter, and community connection.

“As a community builder with over a decade in higher education, I look forward to welcoming educators, parents, and students who are rebuilding their lives after the LA fires, as well as those eager to connect with new resources or simply reunite with old friends,” said Victoria Williams, Founder of the Black Education Expo. “The Expo is about more than resources—it’s about centering joy, promoting literacy, expanding career pathways, building futures, and bringing our SoCal community together.”

The curated Expo Hall will feature more than 70 exhibitors,

Sunday, September 21, 2025

Altadena Ratepayers Face Electricity Bill Hike as Utilities Commission Approves SCE Request

Southern California Edison customers in Altadena will see higher electricity bills starting Oct. 1 after state regulators approved a 9.1% rate increase tied to wildfire liabilities, including costs from the deadly Eaton Fire.

The California Public Utilities Commission voted 4-0 on Sept. 18 to authorize SCE’s 2025 revenue requirement at $9.664 billion — $819 million less than the utility’s original request of $10.483 billion, but still a 12.61% increase over 2024’s authorized revenue of $8.582 billion. The decision followed public opposition and comes amid growing scrutiny of utility-driven cost burdens in fire-prone communities.

For a typical household using 500 kilowatt-hours monthly, the increase translates to an additional $15.52 per month, or about $186 annually for non-CARE customers. CARE customers — income-qualified participants in California’s discounted rate program — will see monthly increases of $9.79. The rate hike takes effect Oct. 1.

The CPUC’s vote came despite initial reports suggesting a 10% hike and continues a pattern of rising costs for SCE customers.

Sunday, September 21, 2025

Newsom Signs Immigration Bills Authored by Pasadena’s Senator Pérez

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed two immigration-related bills authored by Sen. Sasha Renée Pérez (D-Pasadena) on Saturday in Los Angeles, enacting measures that immediately affect school safety protocols and law enforcement identification standards across California.

The legislation—SB 98, the SAFE Act, and SB 805, the No Vigilantes Act—both contain urgency clauses and take effect immediately. SB 98 requires K-12 schools and higher education institutions to issue alerts when immigration enforcement authorities are present on campus, mirroring emergency notification systems already in place.

“California must ensure that our schools and colleges remain places where students can learn and thrive, teachers can teach with confidence, and classrooms provide a safe environment for our next generation,” Pérez said. “The SAFE Act will help inform and empower school communities to make the best decisions about their safety and their family’s safety.”

SB 805 expands existing laws against impersonating peace officers by making it illegal to impersonate federal agents and requiring all law enforcement operating in California to clearly display identification that includes their agency and either a name,

Saturday, September 20, 2025

Metro Celebrates A (Gold) Line Expansion, Begins Rail Service to Glendora, San Dimas, La Verne and Pomona

CITY NEWS SERVICE

Metro celebrated the grand opening of its A (Gold) Line Extension Project Friday, bringing new local rail service through Pasadena to the San Gabriel Valley cities of Glendora, San Dimas, La Verne and Pomona.

Metro hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony featuring an inaugural A Line train breaking through a commemorative banner as confetti cannons exploded overhead at the new Pomona North Station, located at 241 Santa Fe St. Following the ceremony, Metro provided an opportunity for guests to explore the four new stations — Pomona North Station, La Verne/Pomona Fairplex, San Dimas and Glendora — as part of its Rock the Rails event, which featured DJs, live local bands and food trucks from the San Gabriel Valley area.

The $1.5 billion light rail project added another 9.1 miles to the 48.5-mile Long Beach to Azusa Metro Line. Completion of the line will boost public transportation access for communities in the SGV, which have lacked rail service since 1951 when the Pacific Electric Railway ceased its operations.

Friday, September 19, 2025

Taste of Dena Returns, Celebrating Altadena’s Resilience

Library Foundation event reconnects community, honors leadership, and supports healing

As Altadena begins a new chapter after the devastation of the Eaton Fire, the Altadena Library Foundation is set to rekindle the community’s spirit through its annual ‘Taste of Dena: The Next Chapter’ event.

Scheduled for Saturday, October 4, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Altadena Library, the evening is designed as an act of community healing, honoring leadership and fostering connection among neighbors as Altadena moves forward—lots cleared, hearts mended, and hope renewed.

“Our event is so different this year. The goal is to honor two local heroes who lost homes while continuing to serve others and inviting displaced Altadenans to return for a night,” said Mark Mariscal, president of the Altadena Library Foundation.

Taste of Dena has long served as a celebration of Altadena’s creativity and togetherness, featuring a variety of local food, drink, live music and performances.

This year’s event will take place in the library’s whimsical garden where guests will enjoy a spoken word performance by renowned poet Arielle Estoria and share a meal as a collective act of healing and hope.

Friday, September 19, 2025

AT&T-Backed Bill to Phase Out Landline Phone Service Advances in California Legislature

STAFF REPORT

After being rebuffed last year by state regulators, telecommunications giant AT&T is pressing forward with a new plan to end most of California’s traditional landline service.

Assembly Bill 470, which passed the Assembly in June and is now before the state Senate appropriations committee, would allow AT&T to drop its “carrier of last resort” obligation requiring it to provide copper-wire phone service to anyone who wants it.

The company says only about 5% of Californians still use landlines, mostly older residents.

Supporters say the bill would speed the replacement of aging copper wires with fiber-optic networks and expand broadband service to underserved communities. Opponents warn the measure could strip hundreds of thousands of Californians of a reliable communications lifeline, particularly during disasters when cell towers and internet service can fail.

The legislation, authored by Assembly Member Tina McKinnor, D-Inglewood, would require AT&T to invest heavily in fiber expansion, with half of that investment directed to areas with poor service.

Friday, September 19, 2025

Are California’s Tax Loopholes And Rebates Good Business Or Questionable Kickbacks?

By Dan Walters, CALMATTERS

When Gov. Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders were negotiating a final state budget last June, they reduced some health and welfare programs to help close a multi-billion-dollar gap between income and outgo.

Nevertheless, they agreed to more than double the state’s subsidy to Southern California’s film and video industry, which enjoys strong political clout, by setting aside $750 million for tax credits, to induce producers to shoot in California rather than in some other state or country.

“You’ve got to be competitive, and now we’re competitive,” Newsom said as he signed Assembly Bill 1138 at a Burbank studio. “Not to be the cheapest place to do business — that’s never been California’s brand or motto going back a century. We want to be the best place.”

The film and video subsidy is only one way that California’s state and local governments steer money into favored economic sectors or even specific corporations. There are dozens of “tax expenditures” in the state’s tax systems — so many that the state Department of Finance annually publishes a report on who gets them and how much they cost.

Friday, September 19, 2025

Local Congresswoman Demands Federal Disaster Aid for California Be Included in Funding Bill

Lawmakers urge supplemental disaster assistance in Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations, citing urgent recovery needs in California and nationwide

Pasadena Congresswoman Judy Chu joined U.S. Representative Brad Sherman in Washington to call on House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune to guarantee disaster relief funding for California and other affected regions in the Fiscal Year 2026 government appropriations package.

Their “demand” responds to the extensive destruction caused by recent wildfires and similar disasters across the country.

“In January, the Eaton and Palisades Fires in Los Angeles County destroyed more than 16,000 structures, displaced tens of thousands of people, and took 31 lives,” Chu and Sherman wrote.

“Since these devastating firestorms, federal, state and local authorities have worked together to clear toxic hazardous waste, remove debris and begin the process of rebuilding the communities of Altadena, in Pasadena, the Pacific Palisades and Malibu. This progress is made possible by the support and assistance provided by FEMA and other federal agencies pursuant to the Major Disaster Declaration on Jan.

Friday, September 19, 2025

Newsom Taps Climate ‘Architect’ To Lead California Air Board As Trump Fights Heat Up

By Alejandro Lazo, CALMATTERS

The California Air Resources Board is getting a new leader at a pivotal moment, as it battles the Trump administration in court and contends with growing scrutiny from Democrats and voters questioning the price of the state’s climate principles.

Liane Randolph has chaired the board of the state’s top air and climate regulator since 2020. She oversaw a range of policies including landmark clean-car and truck rules, a fuel standard with implications for gas prices and the state’s signature carbon trading program, cap-and-trade. This week, Gov. Gavin Newsom nominated his senior climate advisor, Lauren Sanchez, to replace her.

Randolph, in an interview, told CalMatters her departure was part of her “personal journey,” something she began considering earlier this year.

“I’ve worked really hard over the last almost five years, and I’m ready for a break,” she said. “I am confident that the transition will go incredibly smoothly.”

Observers say the handover highlights the air board’s key role at a time of political pushback and consumer resistance.