Tuesday, June 23, 2026

SUN Bucks Program Can Help Pasadena Area Families Keep Kids Fed This Summer

As summer arrives and school cafeterias are closed, many local families face a challenge: keeping children consistently fed and nourished while school is out. For households that rely on school meal programs during the academic year, the loss of those daily breakfasts and lunches can create a significant gap.

California’s Summer EBT program, also known as SUN Bucks, is designed to help bridge that gap and ensure children continue to have access to healthy food during the summer months.

The program provides $120 per eligible school-aged child to help families cover grocery costs during the summer when school meals are unavailable. Funds can be used at grocery stores, convenience stores, farmers markets and other retailers that accept SNAP benefits (CalFresh). Families can purchase everyday staples such as milk, bread, fruits, vegetables and healthy snacks to support a balanced diet.

Kaiser Permanente, whose Southern California Region is based in Pasadena, is helping raise awareness about Summer EBT as part of its Food Is Medicine strategy,

Tuesday, June 23, 2026

Pasadena Sees Lessened Risk as Particle Pollution Advisory Extends to Tuesday

A regional particle pollution advisory remains in effect for Pasadena through 12:30 p.m. Tuesday as smoke from a large Boyle Heights structure fire continues to affect air quality, according to the South Coast AQMD.

The fire, which began around 2:30 p.m. on June 17, prompted the agency to extend its advisory as PM2.5 readings improved across Central and Southeast Los Angeles, the San Gabriel Valley and the San Fernando Valley beginning around 1:00 p.m. Sunday. AQI levels near the fire were still elevated, with Very Unhealthy conditions measured throughout the day in Boyle Heights. Other areas were Good to Moderate for PM2.5.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health said the incident is still evolving and continues to monitor the situation.

Residents should follow guidance from responding agencies. Smoke exposure may cause temporary irritation of the eyes, nose, throat and lungs. Individuals experiencing severe or worsening symptoms — including difficulty breathing, chest pain or significant respiratory distress — should seek medical attention immediately.

Tuesday, June 23, 2026

Tournament of Roses’ First Openly Gay President to Speak at Pride Shabbat in Pasadena

By THERESE EDU

A displaced Jewish congregation will mark its second Pride Shabbat at First United Methodist Church on the 11th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s same-sex marriage ruling

The Pasadena Jewish Temple & Center will hold its second annual Pride Shabbat on Friday, June 26, in the borrowed sanctuary of First United Methodist Church — the same evening that marks the 11th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide.

The guest speaker at the post-service reception, called the oneg, will be Terry Madigan, the first openly gay president of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses in the organization’s 136-year history. Madigan also serves as treasurer of the San Gabriel Valley LGBTQ Center, according to JEDI Committee Chair Diane Burr.

The service, organized by PJTC’s JEDI (Jewish Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) Committee, begins at 7:30 p.m., preceded by Shirah with Cantor Ruth Berman Harris at 7:20 p.m. First United Methodist Church is at 500 E.

Monday, June 22, 2026

High-Severity Wildfires Burn 30 Times More Area Than in 1985, UCLA Study Finds

CITY NEWS SERVICE

High-severity wildfires that kill large numbers of trees are now burning far more acreage in California than they did four decades ago, according to a UCLA study published Monday.

The study, appearing in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, found that the area burned by high-severity fires in California increased thirtyfold between 1985 and 2024, while overall forest acreage burned annually increased tenfold.

Researchers said severe fires, which often kill entire stands of trees rather than allowing forests to recover naturally, have overtaken lower- severity fires as the dominant type of forest fire in California.

“These high-severity, forest-replacing fires used to be uncommon, and now it’s the dominant fire type,” senior author Park Williams, a UCLA professor of geography, said in a statement. “Fire is a natural process that can be healthy for ecosystems, but most of California’s tree species have a difficult time coming back following fires that kill huge swaths of trees.”

Monday, June 22, 2026

LA County Approves $50.3B Budget for FY2026-27

By JOSE HERRERA, City News Service

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Monday unanimously approved a $50.3 billion spending plan for fiscal year 2026-27, representing an increase of $1.5 billion compared to the current budget.

The Board of Supervisors finalized the spending plan Monday during a special meeting, authorizing changes to what was initially a $47.9 billion budget proposal in April. The new fiscal year will begin July 1.

County officials said the increase was primarily the result of shifting $1.3 billion in special funds and other restricted funding, and nearly $900 million from the state for behavioral health services. Estimated tax revenue in the proposed budget remained unchanged, according to county CEO Joseph Nicchitta.

He noted there is no new local money in the final changes.

The spending plan accounts for a total of 115,683 budgeted positions compared to what was initially 115,885 positions, a net decrease of 202 positions. Nicchitta said those positions do not represent layoffs but rather a change in departmental operational needs.

Monday, June 22, 2026

Guest Opinion | Calmatters’ Dan Walters: California Turns to Minimum Wage Hikes to Offset High Living Costs. There’s a Downside

By Dan Walters, CALMATTERS

There are three immutable aspects of economic life in California today.

No. 1, Californians face the nation’s highest cost of living. It is 11% higher than the national average, according to the federal Bureau of Economic Analysis, including rents 53% higher than average and utilities 63% higher. It’s why California also has the nation’s highest poverty rate.

No. 2, the high cost of living, especially for housing, is the most important factor in the out-migration of Californians to other states. It has led to a net loss of 900,000 people since 2015, according to the Public Policy Institute of California.

No. 3, California’s unemployment rate, currently 5.3% of its labor force, has been among the highest of any state for the last half-decade, with more than a million jobless workers. It rises to 10.1% when it’s broadened to discouraged job seekers and those who work part-time but want full employment.

Monday, June 22, 2026

Air Quality Advisory Covering Pasadena Extended Through Monday as Boyle Heights Fire Smoke Lingers

Air quality across the San Gabriel Valley, including Pasadena, remained under a particle pollution advisory Monday as smoke from a stubborn Boyle Heights warehouse fire continued to drift across the region, the South Coast Air Quality Management District said.

The agency extended the advisory — which it stressed is not a shelter-in-place order — through 12:30 p.m. Monday, June 22, after fine-particle pollution reached levels rated “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” to “Very Unhealthy” since Saturday night across central Los Angeles County, the San Gabriel Valley, the eastern San Fernando Valley and the northwest San Bernardino Valley.

For Pasadena-area residents, recent readings have hovered in the Moderate range on the federal Air Quality Index, with fine particles the main pollutant, though levels can rise and fall quickly as winds shift the smoke.

The district’s Monday-morning forecast called for smoke impacts north and east of the fire, including the San Gabriel Valley.

The AQMD advised people in affected areas to limit exposure by staying indoors with windows and doors closed,

Monday, June 22, 2026

PUSD Twilight Adult Education to Hold 2026 Graduation in Pasadena

The district’s evening adult program marks its graduates in a June 22 ceremony at Wilson Auditorium, separate from PUSD’s high school commencements

Pasadena Unified School District’s Twilight Adult Education program will hold its 2026 graduation ceremony at 3 p.m. Monday, June 22, at Wilson Auditorium, 300 Madre Street, according to PUSD announcements.

The ceremony is separate from the district’s five high school commencements, which were held June 3 and 4 at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. PUSD includes the Twilight ceremony in its official Class of 2026 recognition.

Twilight Adult Education is a PUSD program offering evening instruction for adults, with pathways toward a high school diploma, literacy and English-language skills, U.S. citizenship preparation, and workforce training. The program operates on the district’s Wilson Middle School campus, where 2025 was its first year, according to PUSD.

PUSD’s broader 2026 graduation season follows the January 2025 Eaton Fire, which destroyed five district campuses in Altadena and displaced thousands of students.

For more information,

Monday, June 22, 2026

Guest Opinion: Dianne Lewis | When Students With Disabilities Become Invisible: A National Warning and a Local Test

The Pasadena Unified School District Board of Education votes June 25 on its 2026–2029 accountability plan. The stakes are local, but the moment is national.

This week, the federal government shifted day-to-day management and administration of federal special education programs from the Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs to the Department of Health and Human Services, while statutory responsibility under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act remains with the Department of Education. The move has prompted concern among advocates, former education secretaries from both parties, and members of Congress who argue that children with disabilities have a legal right to be educated, not simply treated.

That national debate arrives in Pasadena at exactly the right moment. Because embedded inside Pasadena Unified’s own accountability plan is a quieter version of the same risk: when students with disabilities are absorbed into broader goals, their outcomes become harder to see.

According to the district’s publicly posted proposed 2026–2029 Local Control and Accountability Plan,

Monday, June 22, 2026

The National Weather Service Warns of Rising Highs Through Thursday Before Cooler Conditions Return by the Weekend

A significant heat wave will grip Pasadena beginning Monday, with temperatures climbing into the 90s by midweek, forecasters said. The National Weather Service reported the warming trend will peak Wednesday, bringing above-normal afternoon highs and a slight chance of showers.

Today’s high is expected near 82 degrees under partly sunny skies, with light southwest winds shifting south-southwest at 5 to 10 mph. Overnight lows will fall to about 63 degrees.

Temperatures will rise Tuesday to near 89 degrees and reach about 91 degrees Wednesday. Winds will remain light, generally calm in the mornings and increasing slightly in the afternoons. Forecasters said mid-level moisture Wednesday could trigger isolated showers, though rainfall amounts will be minimal.

The warming trend will ease Thursday, with highs near 88 degrees. Cooling continues Friday through Sunday, with highs dropping to 85 degrees Friday, 83 degrees Saturday and 78 degrees Sunday. Overnight lows will range from the upper 50s to mid-60s.

Winds across Pasadena will stay light,