Friday, June 12, 2026

Watch the World Cup on Green Street

You could watch USA-Paraguay alone on your couch — or you could not.

The World Cup is finally close enough to feel personal, the matches matter, and watching the big ones alone feels like a waste. Friday, June 12, the city turns the Pasadena Civic Auditorium Plaza into one big open-air viewing party, free and open to everyone.

The setup: food trucks, a beer garden, and live music to carry you from the 4:30 p.m. kickoff of the party to the 6 p.m. kickoff of the actual game. There are soccer-themed games for the kids, raffles and giveaways from Angel City FC, and an iron-on station for the jersey you’ve been meaning to personalize — bring it. Take the A Line to Memorial Park or Del Mar, skip the parking entirely, and you might ride home with a limited-edition World Cup Metro card, while supplies last.

The transit-first part isn’t just a parking workaround. Metro is turning Memorial Park and Del Mar into part of the show,

Friday, June 12, 2026

Pasadena School Board Ends Its Closure Consultant’s Contract, But Leaves the Underlying Plan in Place

Two weeks after rejecting a consultant’s school-closure report, the Pasadena Unified board voted Thursday, June 11, to terminate the firm’s contract. Yet the resolution that authorized the right-sizing effort remains on the books — and parents warned the closures could “come back from the dead.”

Two weeks after rejecting a consultant’s school-closure report by a 6-to-1 vote, the Pasadena Unified School District Board of Education went a step further on Thursday, June 11, and moved to cancel the consultant’s contract altogether — while stopping short of repealing the resolution that set the closure process in motion in the first place.

The board terminated its agreement with Total School Solutions (TSS), the firm hired to study school closures and consolidation.

The vote came after a procession of speakers — the entire final round of public comment, and much of the opening round of 21 — pressed the board to do two things: cancel the contract with TSS and rescind Resolution 2852,

Friday, June 12, 2026

Eaton Fire Survivors Seek $25 Million Recovery Fund

Eaton Fire survivors and housing advocates Thursday called on state lawmakers to include a proposed $25 million recovery fund in California’s final budget, arguing the aid is needed to help residents rebuild and avoid displacement.

Days before the Legislature’s June 15 budget deadline, advocates urged state leaders to fund the proposed Community Aid for Rebuilding and Equity (CARE) Fund, introduced by state Sen. Sasha Renee Perez, D-Pasadena. Supporters said the program would help homeowners cover rebuilding gaps and support efforts to preserve and restore affordable housing in communities affected by the Eaton Fire.

According to organizers, California has already funded debris removal, emergency response and infrastructure recovery efforts following the fire, but no program currently exists to provide direct rebuilding assistance for many survivors.

Supporters contend the proposed fund would help displaced residents return to their communities and prevent permanent displacement of fire victims.

Housing advocates working on recovery efforts said many fire-impacted residents continue to face financial and housing challenges months after the disaster.

Thursday, June 11, 2026

Lawyers Say New Edison Evidence Ties Idle Utility Line to Eaton Fire ignition

New surveillance video and other evidence from Southern California Edison show that a century-old, idle transmission line the utility failed to remove ignited the Eaton Fire, lawyers for property insurers said in a court filing, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The footage, captured by a security camera at the Gerrish Swim & Tennis Club in Pasadena, shows two bright flashes at the tower holding the idle line at 6:11 p.m. on Jan. 7, 2025, according to the Times. The flashes match the moment Edison recorded two faults, three seconds apart, on another transmission line more than five miles away, the lawyers said, citing new data from the utility.

Soon after, nearby residents recorded video of a fire burning at the base of the tower, designated M16T1, according to the Times.

The Eaton Fire ignited that evening above Eaton Canyon and tore through Altadena and parts of Pasadena, ultimately killing at least 19 people and destroying more than 9,400 structures.

Thursday, June 11, 2026

Pasadena Unified Budget Shows Improved Outlook, But Long-Term Pressures Remain

Pasadena Unified School District’s proposed 2026-27 budget shows an improved short-term financial outlook after board-approved stabilization actions, but the presentation for tonight’s special school board meeting shows declining enrollment, rising employee benefit costs, Special Education expenses and fire-related uncertainties continue to pressure the district’s long-term finances.

The budget presentation says the district’s unrestricted multi-year projection maintains positive ending fund balances while meeting the state-required 3% reserve for economic uncertainties. Projected reserves for 2026-27 total 10.81%, including Fund 17 committed stabilization reserves.

But the presentation also says its multi-year projection is a planning tool, not a prediction, and is based on current economic and budget assumptions. The projections assume full implementation of Local Control Funding Formula funding, including cost-of-living and enrollment adjustments.

PUSD projects enrollment will decline by about 2.3% annually through the multi-year projection period. The district also projects a 3% decline in its unduplicated pupil count. For 2026-27, the district’s unduplicated pupil percentage on a three-year rolling basis is projected at 68.44%.

Thursday, June 11, 2026

County Seeks Updated Fiscal Plan as Pasadena Unified 2026-27 Budget Undergoes Final Review

District’s spending plan reflects layoffs already taken and leans on one-time Eaton Fire insurance money expected to run out by 2027-28

The Pasadena Unified School District Board of Education is scheduled to review its final draft 2026-27 budget Thursday at a moment when the Los Angeles County Office of Education has asked the district for an updated Fiscal Stabilization Plan — a request the district says it will answer while continuing to work with both the county office and the state’s Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team.

In the budget presentation prepared for the board, the district characterized the county office’s request as part of its “ongoing fiscal oversight process.” But several features of that oversight reach beyond the routine annual budget review every California school district undergoes.

First, the Los Angeles County Office of Education did not simply review the budget — it requested an updated stabilization plan, meaning a stabilization plan already exists and the district is operating on a documented remediation track.

Thursday, June 11, 2026

Altadena Fire Survivors to Press Lawmakers for $25 Million Rebuild Fund Before Budget Deadline

Advocates say the CARE Fund is the only state program targeted at individual Eaton Fire survivors as the June 15 deadline approaches

Eaton Fire survivors, housing advocates and community leaders will hold a news conference at 9 a.m. Thursday at 42 E. Manor St. urging state lawmakers to include a proposed $25 million rebuild fund in the final California state budget to support wildfire recovery and prevent displacement.

The Community Aid for Rebuilding and Equity Fund, introduced by state Senator Sasha Renée Pérez (D-Pasadena), would provide rebuild-gap grants for homeowners and land-banking to preserve affordable housing in Altadena, according to a coalition press release issued by Dena Rise Up. The state budget deadline is June 15. Advocates say the CARE Fund would be the only state program of its kind for fire recovery, and warn that without it, many survivors will face permanent displacement.

The Eaton Fire started on Jan. 7, 2025, near Altadena Drive and Midwick Drive. It burned 14,021 acres and destroyed more than 9,000 structures,

Thursday, June 11, 2026

Pasadena Lawmaker’s Wildfire Insurance Bill Passes California Senate Committee

Legislation by Assemblymember John Harabedian would extend non-renewal protections for Eaton Fire survivors as they rebuild

A bill that would give Pasadena and Altadena wildfire survivors more time before insurers can drop their coverage passed the California Senate Insurance Committee, the office of Assemblymember John Harabedian announced in a press release.

AB 2038, authored by Harabedian (D-Pasadena) and jointly authored with Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur (D-Hollywood), would extend existing insurance moratorium protections to better reflect the years-long reality of rebuilding after a major disaster, according to the press release.

The bill is directly relevant to Altadena, which along with Los Angeles County was devastated by the Eaton and Palisades Fires in January 2025, according to the press release.

Under existing law — Senate Bill 824, authored by Lara in 2018 — insurers face a one-year moratorium when they attempt to cancel residential policies after a natural disaster if the home is in a disaster zone, and a two-year moratorium if the house was lost in the disaster,

Thursday, June 11, 2026

FoodieLand Food Festival Returns to Rose Bowl for Fourth of July Weekend

Three-day outdoor festival adds Independence Day drone show; $12 daily admission, online only

A three-day outdoor food festival will return to the Rose Bowl Stadium over Fourth of July weekend, drawing more than 200 food, drink, and artisan vendors to the Pasadena landmark from July 3 through July 5, 2026.

FoodieLand Food Festival, organized by FoodieLand LLC, will open Friday at 3 p.m. and run from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, according to the organizer’s official event page. The 2026 Pasadena edition adds a new element to the weekend: a synchronized drone show on Saturday, July 4, billed by Visit Pasadena as a special Independence Day program for festival attendees.

General admission is $12 per single-day ticket, sold online only through Eventbrite. Tickets will not be sold at the door. Children 5 and under are admitted free, the organizer’s site states.

The festival’s Eventbrite listing describes the 2026 lineup as featuring more than 250 vendors offering global flavors,

Thursday, June 11, 2026

Metrolink Launches Contactless Payment Pilot Ahead of World Cup

CITY NEWS SERVICE

As Los Angeles prepares to host World Cup matches, Metrolink Wednesday launched a contactless fare payment pilot program intended to make it easier for visitors to use Southern California’s transit network during the tournament.

The six-month pilot allows passengers to pay fares by tapping a credit card, debit card, mobile wallet or wearable device instead of purchasing tickets through a vending machine or mobile app.

Metrolink officials said the new payment option is designed to streamline travel during the World Cup, which begins Thursday and runs through July 19. Riders using the system also can connect with Metro’s transit network, including special bus service to SoFi Stadium on match days.

“The timing of this pilot couldn’t be better, as Southern California prepares to welcome the world over the next 39 days,” Metrolink Board Director and Pomona Mayor Tim Sandoval said in a statement.

The contactless payment option is currently available on Metrolink’s San Bernardino Line and the Arrow rail service.