Alhambra Press_6/15/2026

Alhambra PRESS

Los Angeles County voters enact half-cent sales tax for health care

By Joe Taglieri

Ahalf-cent sales tax increase in Los Angeles Countytosupport health care services amid federal spending cuts passed Wednesday after voters gave Measure ER a slim come-frombehind victory.

Early vote totals following the primary election June 2 showed the measure falling short, but as ballot counting continued it gained momentum over the weekend and narrowly surpassed the required 50% support.

With virtually all ballots counted as of Wednesday afternoon, the measure received 1,008,914 supportive votes, a difference of 24,436, or roughly 50.6% versus ballots cast against the measure — 984,478, or 49.4%.

LA County Supervisors

Holly Mitchell and Hilda Solis introduced Measure ER, or the Essential Services Restoration Act, in January. The half-cent general sales tax increase lasts through Oct. 1, 2031.

The current sales tax of 9.75% now rises to 10.25%.

County officials said the measure would generate about $1 billion in each of its five years intended to cover reductions in state and federal grant funding for health care programs.

“When you fight, we win,” Solis, who represents District 1, said at a gathering of Measure ER supporters Wednesday. “We have to continue to fight for these residents and their families. If we don’t stick up for them, who the hell is?”

The Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 in February to put the measure on the June ballot.

Supervisor Kathryn Barger dissented, saying the county’s sales tax was already among the highest in the nation and

should not be forced on to residents who are “already stretched thin” as a result of inflation and other forms of economic pressure.

“Backfilling federal funding cuts on the backs of county taxpayers is not acceptable,” the District 5 supervisor said in February.

In a statement Wednesday she said, “The passage of Measure ER marks a significant financial commitment by Los Angeles County residents and businesses.

Although I opposed this measure because of the additional burden it places on taxpayers at a time when the cost of living is already high, I respect the will of the voters.

“Moving forward, my responsibility is to ensure the revenues generated are managed with accountability and measurable results,” Barger said. “Taxpayers deserve to know how these funds are being spent, whether promised outcomes are being achieved. I will

be a strong advocate for rigorous oversight and fiscal responsibility every step of the way.”

Mitchell warned in February of severe reductions to county health care services if no action was taken to restore funding that she said was canceled under the federal budget bill enacted earlier this year. She said the bill included “the largest federal funding cut to Medicaid in our nation’s history.”

“HR 1 pulled the rug out from under all of us. ... That’s how we got here,” Mitchell said.

At the Measure ER victory rally Wednesday, she said, “Today is not a celebration, but more so a declaration of our commitment to be accountable to the public.”

Dr. Christina Ghaly, director of the LA County Department of Health

Services, thanked voters “for standing up for patients and protecting life-saving care for the 10 million people who call LA County home,” she said in a statement.

“Measure ER is a desperately needed lifeline for our safety net healthcare system,” Ghaly said. “LA Health Services estimates it will receive $220 million each year for five years, helping keep our public hospitals and clinics afloat. However, taxpayers alone cannot foot the massive bill we have on our hands. Public hospitals are counting on California state leaders to step up and help close the $700 million gap created by state and federal changes to healthcare funding.”

The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association opposed the measure.

“The sales tax is already too high in Los Angeles County, so high that the

Judge presiding over Rose Bowl suit gets unsolicited mail about case

By City News Service

Federalauthorities

served a search warrant

Wednesday at a Garden Grove aerospace contracting company where a chemical storage tank emergency prompted widespread evacuations.

The warrant was served Wednesday morning at GKN Aerospace at 12122 Western Ave. by the FBI and U.S. EnvironmentalProtection Agency, according to a spokesman with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

According to a search warrant affidavit, investigators were looking to seize any evidence of possible violations of federal requirements to prevent the “accidental release of extremely hazardous substance into the ambient air.”

The warrant calls for the seizure of any documents or records referencing employees involved with the storage and handling of the toxic chemical at the facility, and any records pertaining specifically to the chemical methyl methacrylate, or MMA.

Officials are continuing to monitor the air around the plant to make sure it adheres to public safety measures.

Thousands of residents in Garden Grove and Stanton had to leave their homes for days during the Memorial Day Weekend as authorities worked to neutralize the toxic chemical kept inside a storage tank that had become overheated, amid fears it would lead to an explosion.

Ultimately a crack in the damaged tank wound up relieving pressure inside, negating the risk of explosion.

Orange County Board of Supervisors Chairman Doug Chaffee said the FBI asked

Orange County Healthcare officials to leave the site during the search.

“We had our healthcare people supervising cleanup and they asked them to leave and they could come back later,” Chaffee said. “Who knows why the FBI came in other than (GKN does) provide defense stuff.”

Theinvestigators appeared to be “looking for the same stuff we’re looking for -- were they in violation, should somebody have done a better job, what was going on here? Ultimately, I hope we can hold them responsible and that’s yet to be determined what they’re going to do. They’re a big company. I don’t know if they have an insurance company directing what they’re doing or not.”

Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer issued a statement saying, “From day one, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office has been on the ground and fully engaged in our investigation into potential criminal acts by GKN related to the May 21, 2026, hazmat incident. I am encouraged that the federal government has followed our lead and launched a parallel investigation into the activities at GKN. I welcome any prosecutorial and regulatory agency review to ensure that the 50,000 victims who were forced to evacuate their homes as a result of this emergency situation receive the full restitution to which they are entitled.”

Hundreds of residents packed the Garden Grove City Council meeting Tuesday night, as GKN officials spoke to the council about the emergency and its efforts to provide relief to residents.

Aerospace senior

Orange County Grand Jury dings supervisors for staffing levels

By City News Service

An Orange County Grand Jury report released Wednesday criticized county officials for expanding staffing and funding for the offices of Orange County supervisors.

But Orange County Board Chairman Doug Chaffee and Vice Chair Katrina Foley said the criticism was misguided.

The grand jurors argued that over the past three decades, the staffing and budgeting for the supervisors has “outpaced population growth, inflation and the county’s direct service responsibilities.”

The report suggested the county chief executive officer should take on more of the responsibilities.

The grand jurors noted that the county supervisors have a budget of about $2.5 million, with an average of a dozen paid staffers for each of the five supervisors, who have about $4 million in discretionary funding.

The grand jury again criticized the supervisors for an increase in salaries — as it did in December — despite a retort from the CEO’s office that the salaries were aligned by state law with the compensation for state judges.

The grand jury argued

that the expansion of staffing and budgeting “has increased supervisors’ reliance on politically appointed staff for policy guidance and operational insight. This has the potential to create distance from the board and county executive team, including department heads who hold subject-matter expertise.”

The grand jury noted that the average number of staff positions for supervisors is 35 in Los Angeles County, 15 in San Diego County, 12 in Orange County, nine in Riverside County, eight in San Bernardino County, two in Santa Barbara County and one in Imperial County.

A former county executive said on background it was a goal for years to grow the level of staffing for the supervisors to more closely mirror the levels in neighboring counties such as San Diego and Riverside.

“When I got elected in 2014 I think I had eight staffers,” former Orange County Supervisor Lisa Bartlett said. She added some offices had less, but had taken on less responsibilities for serving on other agencies the supervisors are involved in such as the Orange County Transportation Authority.

TheOrangeCounty Board of Supervisors

Tuesday gave tentative approval to a $10.5 billion budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year, down from the current year’s $10.8 billion spending plan as officials recover from payouts for claims from the Airport Fire and prepare for cuts in programs from the state and federal governments.

Orange County CEO Michelle Aguirre said the county sought 5% cuts from every department as officials “implemented a hiring and expenditure freeze.”

Aguirre said the county receives just 5 cents out of every dollar collected in property tax revenue from the state, “so we are always at a disadvantage.”

Aguirre told the board that the county has been able to avoid layoffs because of a hiring freeze. The county has “more work to do,” she added.

“We continue to monitor the state and federal budgets” for further cuts, Aguirre said.

There are about 20 regional boards such as the AQMD and sanitation districts that supervisors serve on, Bartlett pointed out. It falls on those supervisors and their staff to be up to date on the policies on those agencies as well.

Former Supervisor John Moorlach said he recalled having six staffers.

“If I were to get snarky I’d say are these people just going to events and ribbon cuttings?” Moorlach said. “But I had a staffer who covered OCTA, and on CalOptima, so that’s another several hours of research and study. I can’t speak for now, but I can speak for then and I didn’t think I was overstaffed. We barely had room for interns.”

Chaffee said, “Half my staff are interns. They start on a relatively low salary and work their way up.”

Chaffee said Orange County is nearly the same size as San Diego.

“Each of our offices get the same budget,” Chaffee said. “If there’s anything left over it goes back to the general fund.”

Foley said her budget is “spent on community causes. I’m giving back the taxpayers their money. I’m

spending money on gaps in funding for community support like parks, trees, theaters, workforce development, after-school programs, meals (for the needy) and community services.”

She pointed to a new cafe in Lions Park as an example.

“Now they have a cafe that will generate revenue with half going to the library,” Foley said. “And half to the park to support programming for the park. It’s a revenue generator and

it supports a small business.

The reason I funded that was because the city wasn’t going to build it otherwise.”

A skate park in the city was also aided by county funding, she said.

“The city would not have extended it without the extra funding,” Foley said.

“Our team works extremely hard on policy initiatives.

If I didn’t have policy staff to help me to navigate all of the federal, state and county bureaucracy for

sand replenishment as an example it would be impossible to do it all by myself. If I didn’t have staff I wouldn’t have been able to initiate a lot of the initiatives we now have, like the climate action plan.... They don’t understand how it works.” Foley added, “My staff — every single person on my team — is working very hard every day doing substantive policy that is making substantive changes. I couldn’t do it without them.”

Orange County board tentatively approves $10.5B budget

The county “must be prepared to make additional reductions” if there is a shortfall in state and federal funding, Aguirre said.

“Simply put we have exhausted all resources available, but we are resilient,” Aguirre said.

The county has spent about $133 million settling 1,269 claims from the October 2024 Airport Fire that was accidentally sparked by the Orange County Public Works Department. On Tuesday, the supervisors unanimously approved $22,652,373 to settle claims from 35 families, and $2.75 million for another claim.

The Board of Supervisors signaled hope that District Attorney Todd Spitzer will find a way to keep funding the Orange County Gang Reduction Intervention Partnership, which provides a variety of programs to encourage youths to avoid becoming involved in gangs.

Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento suggested Sheriff

By City News Service

Don Barnes consider defer spending $9 million on new equipment.

Board Chairman Doug Chaffee suggested defunding the Office of Independent Review and appeared to have support for that until county officials said that refunding it would take a fourth-fifths super majority.

Chaffee said the Office of Independent Review, which doesn’t have a director, is “a toothless tiger on a leash and the leash goes back to the

board.”

Chaffee said the office created in 2019 to oversee law enforcement has lacked any authority without subpoena power.

“It’s been window dressing since I’ve been here. It hasn’t done its job,” Sarmiento said. “All it does is report back to us and that’s all the function it has. I don’t see it providing a real benefit... I’d like to see it come back with some authority.”

Board also approved

putting $3.7 million recovered from the corruption case involving former Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do into the discretionary fund for First District. Supervisor Janet Nguyen, who will have to return to the board for approval of how to spend any of the funds.

The general fund budget, which offers the most flexibility, is projected at $5.2 billion, down from the current fiscal year’s $5.4 billion. The remainder of the budget is generally restricted by law, limiting the county’s ability to adjust how those funds are used.

The county does not intend to lay off employees after 314 positions that were vacant have been deleted.

The county expects general purpose revenue of $1.3 billion, $63.6 million more than the current budget. That’s mostly due to a $57.6 million increase in property taxes.

Officials expect 4.5% growth in general fund

property tax revenue over the current fiscal year.

The one-half cent public safety sales tax revenue is projected to be $439 million, which is a 2.7% increase, or $11.4 million, compared to this fiscal year.

Proposition 172 sales tax revenue allots 80%, or $351.2 million to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, and 20%, or $87.8 million to the District Attorney’s Office. Revenue from the state for “realignment” is projected at $890.6 million and includes $642.3 million for public safety and social services, $237.4 million for health, mental health and social services and $10.9 million for juvenile justice. That revenue is down 5.7%, or $53.9 million over last year.

Overall, the county is expected to spend $253.2 million less compared to this year.

The supervisors expect to vote on the final version of the budget June 23.

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DBecerra, Hilton bound for November faceoff after Southland appearances

emocrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton will face each other in November’s race for governor after both made campaign stops in the Southland.

Becerra visited Mercado La Paloma Tuesday in downtown Los Angeles, speaking with merchants, chatting with diners and posting for photos.

“We know we’re in (the runoff), so we’re going to get out there and continue to talk to people the way we did during the primary,” Becerra told reporters. “And we hope that folks stay engaged and that we have an even bigger turnout for the November general election.”

Becerra said he knew the possibility of low voter turnout was a concern going into last week’s primary election, but said, “I think at the end of the day, it’s going to be a decent result.”

“We still want to get more people coming out, but it’s good to see that the reason it is taking a while for the count to be completed is because a lot of folks ended up voting, and so we’re happy about that,” he said.

Hilton held a news conference Tuesday morning outside the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/ County Clerk’s Office in Norwalk, primarily to discuss his call for changes in the election and vote-counting process in California.

At the time, he held off on declaring victory in his effort to secure the second spot in the November runoff.

“In this campaign, as I pointed out last night, we always had a policy that we would wait for the official call of the race from the AP (Associated Press). That is what we are waiting for. We do not know when that will happen ... so we’re not popping the champagne yet.”

As it turned out, the AP called the race for Hilton late Tuesday afternoon when the Secretary of State’s Office issued its latest vote-counting update.

That count showed

Becerra leading the field of gubernatorial candidates with 2,327,237 votes, or 27.9%. Hilton was in second place with 2,076,863 votes, or 24.9%

Billionaire Democrat

Tom Steyer was in third place with 1,883,592 votes, or 22.6%.

“What an incredible honor to be chosen by Californians to lead the movement for change in the greatest state in the greatest nation on Earth,” Hilton said in a statement late Tuesday after the updated returns were released. “There’s

nowhere better than California. But a majority of Californians -- 56% in a recent poll -- believe our state is on the wrong track and needs change. That is the majority we will now have the honor of leading to victory in November, and I can’t wait to get started on the most high-energy campaign this state has ever seen.”

Steyer issued a statement Tuesday evening conceding defeat.

“I have always been an optimist, and today, I remain an optimist,” he said in part.

“Nothing this campaign

fought for is far off. These dreams we dreamt together are not too big. Californians deserve a life they can afford, and they deserve for it to be in California. My commitment to this fight didn’t start last November, and it doesn’t end today. Because the work of winning a better, fairer California is not the work of a campaign. It is the work of my life.”

During his news conference in Norwalk, Hilton again called for changes in how California conducts its elections, expressing dismay at the length of the ballot-counting process. While insisting he has not seen any obvious evidence of massive voter fraud in the election, Hilton called for implementation of voter ID rules in California to ensure fair elections. He urged Becerra to join him in campaigning in support of voter ID, which would require voters to show legal identification to cast a ballot. Proponents of such a system insist it will prevent fraud and ensure every ballot cast is legitimate. Opponents, however, say such a rule would disenfranchise many voters who do not have a valid government ID or passport -- affecting primarily lower-income voters, minorities, the disabled and the elderly.

Victims of SoCal mortgage fraud scheme to receive refunds

By City News Service

Morethan1,800 consumers who were victims of a Southern California-basedmortgage fraud scheme during the COVID-19 pandemic will soon receive refunds totaling nearly $3 million.

Golden Home Services, also known as Home Matters USA, falsely promised to reduce homeowners’ mortgage payments and prevent foreclosures, according to the Federal Trade Commission and the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation.

U.S. District Judge Fernando Aenlle-Rocha issued an order in 2024 in Los Angeles federal court banning the operators of the companies from the telemarketing and debt relief businesses and required them

to pay millions of dollars in penalties and restitution.

The court found that the defendants falsely promised to reduce homeowners’ mortgage payments and prevent foreclosures, defrauding distressed homeowners out of millions of dollars.

The scheme harmed more than 3,000 people nationwide, particularly elders and veterans, the FTC said.

“This case shows what’s possible when state and federal partners work together with purpose to crack down on fraud, hold bad actors accountable, and deliver justice for victims,”

Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement provided by DFPI.

“I’m grateful for the work of our Department of Financial Protection and Innovation

and for their continued commitment to protecting Californians.”

Court papers show the scheme used over a dozen business names, including Golden Home Services, Academy Home Services, and Home Matters USA.

The scammers operated telemarketing call centers and used them to contact distressed homeowners, leading them to believe that their fraudulent programs were associated with federal COVID-19 and mortgage relief programs, prosecutors said.

The FTC said it was currently mailing refund checks to affected homeowners. Recipients should cash these checks within 90 days, as indicated on the check.

“We are pleased to be able

to give refunds to people who have been scammed out of their hard-earned money,”

DFPI Commissioner Khalil

Ssaid. “We will continually pursue all avenues to prevent scammers from preying on and profit-

ing off Californians, including vulnerable homeowners trying to keep a roof over their families’ heads.”

Stormy weather? Powerful El Niño could mean wet SoCal winter

outhern California could be in for a particularly wet winter, with forecasters saying Thursday a potentially powerful El Niño in the Pacific Ocean, possibly ranking as one of the strongest in the past 75 years.

According to the National Weather Services’ Climate Prediction Center, aboveaverage surface temperatures have been recorded in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, and conditions favoring El Niño are expected to intensify in the coming months.

“There is a 63% chance of a very strong El Niño during November- January that would rank among the largest El Niño events in the

historical record going back to 1950,” forecasters said.

While it’s unclear exactly what that will mean for Southern California, it traditionally means dramatically increased precipitation in the region.

“Even very strong El Niño events do not lead to the expected impact everywhere, but stronger events can more significantly tilt the odds in favor of expected outcomes,” according to forecasters. “In summary, El Niño conditions are present and expected to strengthen into the Northern Hemisphere winter 2026-27.”

Typical impacts of El Niño generally include stormier weather in the southern United States

By City News Service

-- meaning more rain and snow. It also can lead to increased risk of flooding during high tides on the West Coast. Harmful algae blooms are also a potential effect on the West Coast.

According to the NWS, El Niño generally leads to a southern shift of the jet stream over the northern Pacific Ocean, resulting in drier conditions in areas such as the Northern Rockies and the Ohio and Tennessee valleys. But it brings stormier conditions to the southern regions.

“Every El Niño is not the same; each one is unique with its own imprint on our weather,” Ken Graham, NWS director, said in a statement. “Advanced monitoring and an improved understanding of El

allow

A US senator pushed to cut firefighting aircraft inspections the same month his former company failed one

By Abe Streep for ProPublica, Co-published with Re:Public

This story was originally published by ProPublica. ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Sign up for Dispatches, a newsletter that spotlights wrongdoing around the country, to receive their stories in your inbox every week.

Alittle over a year ago, Sen.TimSheehy floated an audacious proposal to reshape the way the federal government fights wildfires. It called for expanding the use of private planes and helicopters to quickly attack blazes while also eliminating the U.S. Forest Service’s rigorous airworthiness inspections for those aircraft.

The idea stood to benefit Sheehy, a Montana Republican, personally. Before running for Congress, he founded and ran an aerial firefighting company called Bridger Aerospace, which is known for its scoopers, aircraft built to retrieve water from lakes or oceans and drop it onto fires. Since 2021, the Forest Service has paid Bridger more than $235 million for use of its scoopers, according to public records.

Sheehy’s ownership of Bridger is well known, but what hasn’t been reported is that the same month the proposal leaked, a Forest Service inspector had discovered a crack in a wing of an aircraft Bridger had presented as ready for service. The scooper had failed the very inspection Sheehy sought to eliminate.

Forest Service inspectors have flagged problems with Bridger’s scoopers for years, according to sources and documents obtained by ProPublica under the Freedom of Information Act. The records were heavily redacted by the agency, including the problem that the inspector discovered last April. But a former government official with direct knowledge of the inspection told ProPublica it had revealed a crack in a wing. “It was a big crack,” the official said. Other experts said that kind of finding is rare and could have proved catastrophic.

“Very seldom do you find a crack in a major component,” said Paul Markowitz, a former national aviation maintenance manager for the Forest Service. Detecting such problems is the reason the Forest Service operates an airworthiness program, he added: “It’s to keep people alive.”

Veteran fire officials noted that Sheehy’s proposals would eliminate costly oversight of the company he founded and others like it while increasing spending on aerial firefighting. At the

time the document leaked, he owned Bridger stock worth between $13 million and $15 million.

Within the Forest Service, the company was known to resist oversight, officials told ProPublica.

Five current and former Forest Service officials say Bridger Aerospace has chafed at the agency’s rigorous inspections, even as records and sources indicate the company has presented aircraft in need of maintenance and repairs as ready to fight fires. The sources asked not to be named for fear of reprisal.

Bridger did not answer questions about the failed inspection but said in a statement, “Safety is the bedrock of our company, and we spare no expense.” It added, “Our investment in maintenance and training runs into the tens of millions annually and reflects the high safety standard we believe this work demands.”

Bridger’s aircraft have never been involved in a crash, according to records maintained by the National Transportation Safety Board.

Sheehy’s office did not respond to interview requests. But he has been open about his frustration with the Forest Service’s inspections and contended that Bridger’s scoopers, because they are built to fight fire, require less oversight than other firefighting aircraft that were originally designed for other purposes.

In response to detailed questions about Sheehy’s role in reshaping the fire service, a spokesperson for the senator said he stands by his efforts to eliminate Forest Service inspections. The process is “a relic of a bygone era and has become an unnecessary barrier to asset availability,” the spokesperson said in an email. The spokesperson also said that Sheehy has no conflict of interest because he has since moved his assets into blind trusts, adding, “The senator will continue to be adversarial toward anyone protecting a broken status quo that has allowed cities to burn to the ground.”

Former Forest Service officials say it’s common for companies to complain about inspections. What sets Bridger apart is its connection to a senator who is seeking to change

how wildfire aviation is managed. A spokesperson for the Department of Agriculture, which oversees the Forest Service, did not answer questions about Sheehy’s relationship with the agency.

Last June, President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing agencies to consolidate their wildland fire programs, an idea Sheehy and others have long favored. The order left Forest Service inspections in place. But as fire officials discuss consolidation, an influential industry group that Sheehy helped shape is advocating for ending them.

The United Aerial Firefighters Association was launched in 2022, with Sheehy serving as a founding board member. The group now wants to allow contractors to develop their own inspection standards.

“Industry inspects itself all the time. Industry inspects automobiles. Industry inspects baby formula,” said Tiffany Taylor, UAFA’s senior policy director. “Why can’t we be inspecting ourselves?”

Contractors like Bridger own the vast majority of aircraft that the federal government uses to fight wildfires. In 2022, the last year for which data is available, only 5% of the Forest Service’s flight hours for firefighting came from aircraft it owns. Regardless of their ownership, aircraft must be inspected

NTSB said the accident was caused by unidentified wing cracking.

Since 2010, when the Forest Service implemented its current airworthiness program, the accident rate for aircraft it owns or contracts has plummeted. Between 1993 and 2010, it reported 85 accidents that killed 63 people — an average of nearly four deaths per year. Between 2011 and 2023, the last year for which data is available, the agency reported just 17 accidents and seven fatalities.

Inspectors examine everything from the fuselage to the altimeter. When they find problems, they require the contractor to make changes before they issue a certifying document known as a card. In a separate procedure, inspectors issue cards to contractors’ pilots.

before flying. That job falls to about 25 aviation safety inspectors, most of whom work for the Forest Service.

The Federal Aviation Administration certifies aircraft but does not conduct regular inspections. The agency instead relies on companies to ensure their planes and helicopters are airworthy. Even when the FAA performs inspections, fire officials and contractors say, they do not account for the stresses inflicted by steering aircraft through wildfires. “The Forest Service is way more in-depth,” said Britt Coulson, president of Coulson Aviation, a prominent air tanker contractor.

Forest Service officials often say the agency’s rules governing aviation are written in blood. A pair of shocking crashes in 2002 ignited the push for more rigorous inspections. That June, an air tanker was dropping retardant in California when its wings folded upward, like a bird in flight, and detached. The plane burst into flames and fell to the ground. The harrowing moment was caught on video. Three people onboard were killed, and the NTSB later attributed the accident to undetected cracks in one of the plane’s wings. One month later, in Colorado, another tanker contracted by the Forest Service crashed after a wing separated from the fuselage. Two pilots were killed. Once again, the

holding the damn thing together,” said Markowitz.

According to Sheehy’s account, in 2020, the Forest Service’s airworthiness chief at the time, John Nelson, insisted that Bridger’s scoopers meet an updated standard of maintenance and inspection. Sheehy was extremely upset. “Unfortunately, the relationship between industry and the USFS Airworthiness Branch is at an all-time low,” he wrote in his book. (Nelson did not respond to questions about Sheehy’s characterization.)

The next year, Bridger’s first scoopers received cards, allowing the government to pay for their use.

By 2018, Bridger had a modest fleet of surveillance aircraft, but Sheehy had bigger ambitions. According to Sheehy’s 2023 book, “Mudslingers: A True Story of Aerial Firefighting,” his brother, Matt, a Bridger co-founder, helped connect the company to the Blackstone Group, which invested a reported $150 million. Bridger used the funds to buy six scoopers from Viking Air. Sheehy wrote that the day of the first aircraft’s arrival in 2020 was “among the proudest of my life.”

In his book, he described that aircraft as a “brand new” model CL-415 but according to FAA records and aviation experts, this was inaccurate. The records show Bridger’s first scooper was built in 1985 and that it is in fact a precursor to the CL-415 model. Viking Air is now part of a larger company called De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited. A De Havilland spokesperson declined to comment about the aircraft’s age.

Records also show that Bridger’s first scooper had undergone extensive repairs before the company bought it. The skin of the fuselage had cracked from stress, and both wings had been repaired. One repair, done in 2012, fixed a crack in the left spar — a load-bearing beam extending outward from the fuselage. Experts say any repair to a wing spar is significant. “A spar is what’s

By 2023, the company had six contracted scoopers. Inspectors soon found more problems with the aircraft, according to the records. In January 2024, Bridger presented its first scooper as ready for service, only to have a Forest Service inspector find issues with the engine and electronics. The problems and reasons for the failed inspection were redacted in documents obtained by ProPublica. The scooper received its card the next month.

According to experts who examined the Bridger inspection records at ProPublica’s request, these issues are common in the aerial firefighting fleet. But they said it’s extraordinary for inspectors to find a problem like the one identified last spring.

In early April 2025, Bridger presented two scoopers for carding, saying they were ready for service. During one of these assessments, a Forest Service inspector found a crack in a wing.

The Forest Service records show that Bridger completed a repair in Montana by April 18. Within a week, both aircraft had been cleared for flight. Bridger did not answer specific questions about the repair. In a statement, the company said, “For a 30,000pound aircraft that skims bodies of water repeatedly at 100 mph to scoop 11,700 pounds of water in 12 seconds, regular maintenance and periodic repairs are an inherent part of the job.” The company added, “We welcome the rigorous

ASanta Monica HS grad to command NASA’s next Artemis mission

Santa Monica High School graduate is set to command NASA’s Artemis III mission, the first planned crewed lunar landing of the Artemis program and a key step in the agency’s long-term effort to establish a sustained human presence on the moon and eventually send astronauts to Mars.

NASA announced Tuesday that veteran astronaut and former International Space Station commander Randy Bresnik, who was born in Kentucky but considers Santa Monica his home, will lead the four-person crew when the mission launches from Cape Canaveral next year.

The Artemis III mission will test the rendezvous and docking capabilities of lunar landers being developed by Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin.

The mission will build on the Artemis II flight

conducted in April, during which four astronauts circled the moon, traveling farther from Earth than any previous space mission.

“Artemis III will demonstrate the power of American innovation and international partnership as we test complex rendezvous and docking operations and advance the technologies that will one day carry us deeper into the solar system,” NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said in a statement announcing the four crew members of Artemis III.

“This mission will require the most awe-inspiring coordination of heavy-lift rocket launches in history, drawing on the talent and capability of teams across government and the spaceflight community. The Artemis III astronauts, alongside ESA (European Space Agency) and our international

certification process.”

But the relatively quick repair was not a reflection of the severity of the issue.

Gil Elmy, a former Forest Service official who wrote the agency’s aircraft inspector guide, said such a finding “should not happen.” Markowitz said the finding evoked an uncomfortable historical echo. The 2002 crash, which was caught on camera and precipitated the Forest Service’s reckoning and its modern airworthiness program, was caused by unidentified wing cracking.

As Bridger’s scooper was being repaired, officials in the wildland fire community were responding to a proposal from the senator’s office that would have ended the airworthiness program. In March 2025, Sheehy asked Brooke Rollins, the secretary of the Department of Agriculture, to stop the inspections, and in midApril, a draft executive order that proposed eliminating them leaked from his Senate office. Metadata showed the draft had been edited by one of Sheehy’s policy advisers at the time as well as a lobbyist for Bridger. The United Aerial Firefighting Association also shaped the

draft.

“Senator Sheehy’s office circulated a living, breathing document to members of congress, outside policy experts, and industry stakeholders on ways to improve the way we fight fire in this country,” wrote Sheehy’s spokesperson.

When Sheehy resigned from Bridger in July 2024 to run for the Senate, he owned 21% of the company, making him its largest individual shareholder. Four months after taking office, in May 2025, he moved most of his stock into two revocable blind trusts, claiming they eliminated any conflict of interest he might have.

But the trusts appear to be managed by executives at Tallgrass, an energy infrastructure company that until March was run by Sheehy’s brother, Matt, who was also a significant early investor in Bridger. Neither Matt Sheehy nor representatives for Tallgrass responded to questions about the trusts. In an email, a spokesperson for the senator did not dispute the Tallgrass executives’ stewardship but pointed out that the Senate Select Committee on Ethics had vetted the

By City News Service

partners, and the tens of thousands of the best and brightest across the agency and industry, are ushering in a new Golden Age of exploration carrying forward the hopes and dreams of the next generation just as the Apollo astronauts did for so many of us.”

Bresnik graduated from Santa Monica High School in 1985 and served in the Marine Corps, reaching the rank of colonel. He then went on to earn degrees at The Citadel in South Carolina and the University of Tennessee-Knoxville.

He is a veteran astronaut, having flown on the space shuttle Atlantis and serving as commander aboard the International Space Station. He has more than 32 hours of spacewalk experience.

His father, Albert, lives in Santa Monica.

Another of the Artemis III crew members announced

Firefighters

trusts. The spokesperson wrote, “Senator Sheehy’s blind trusts are completely independent — he has no control over them.”

According to Cynthia Brown, senior ethics counsel at the nonprofit Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a decision to entrust stock to such close associates undermines the purpose of a blind trust, which is to ensure that a lawmaker’s investments are independently managed.

In an email, Brown said, “Selecting a family member’s company appears to do that exact thing that the rules mean to prohibit.”

Since last spring, Sheehy has said little about airworthiness inspections. But he has pushed other policies that would increase business opportunities for aviation companies, such as requiring a response within 30 minutes to all wildfires on federal land. At the same time, he has driven an agenda that could debilitate his longtime foe, the Forest Service.

In statements, on podcasts and in the New York Times opinion section, he has advocated for a single national fire service. And at

almost every turn — including in proposed legislation — he has insisted that the Forest Service’s vast wildfire apparatus be moved within the Department of the Interior’s smaller operation. It would hollow out the Forest Service, which draws more than half its budget from fire operations. “It would be a fatal wound,” said Doug Crandall, the agency’s former legislative affairs director.

There are inefficiencies in a fire aviation system spread between agencies. The rush for a couple dozen inspectors to certify hundreds of planes and helicopters before wildfire season can cause delays, temporarily grounding aircraft and cutting into contractors’ revenues. And the agencies have sometimes required duplicative inspections.

But even officials and firefighting labor advocates who support consolidation, which requires congressional approval, have questioned why Interior should absorb the Forest Service’s fire program. Some liken it to forcing a minnow to swallow a whale. The Forest Service employs about twice as many full-time wildland

firefighters as the Interior Department, and it spends at least three times more on aviation contracting. It is also responsible for the vast majority of inspections. According to a recent organizational chart reviewed by ProPublica, only five aviation safety inspectors currently work for the Interior Department.

Bridger carries significant debt and in 2024 warned shareholders that it had “substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.” But last year, the company reported a profit for the first time since going public. It also purchased two more scoopers and predicted that efforts to unify fire agencies “could increase contracting opportunities for private aerial providers.”

In another recent filing, Bridger said, “the legislative and policy environment has never been more aligned with our mission.”

Last year, six Forest Service aviation safety inspectors resigned or retired, according to the agency. The recent organizational chart reviewed by ProPublica shows the same number of positions remain unfilled, representing more

than 20% of Forest Service aviation safety inspector jobs. It’s unclear what would happen to the rest of the inspectors if the Interior Department were to absorb the Forest Service’s fire operations. In an emailed statement, Adam Mendonca, the Forest Service’s deputy director of fire and aviation management, said the agency “has no intention to change our aircraft inspection standards,” adding that it was “working closely with the Department of the Interior to streamline aviation operations.”

In late March, the Forest Service announced a dramatic reorganization that will move its headquarters to Salt Lake City. The Department of Agriculture reiterated the administration’s desire to fold the Forest Service’s fire operations into the Interior Department. By that point, blazes had ignited in the Midwest. With the arrival of fire season, the Forest Service’s airworthiness inspectors performed their close examinations. At hangars across the country, they looked for cracks. Republished with Creative Commons License (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0).

Los Angeles kicks off World Cup week with events

By City News Service

Ahead of the United States’ match against Paraguayopening its FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign Friday, Los Angeles officials on Tuesday began a week of events marking the start of the tournament and highlighting preparations for the FIFA Fan Festival at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

The Los Angeles World Cup 2026 Host Committee held its Official Los Angeles World Cup 2026 Kickoff Party Tuesday at the Coliseum’s 1923 Club Rooftop Deck overlooking the site of the FIFA Fan Festival.

The event was emceed by Kevin Frazier of “Entertainment Tonight” and was expected to draw soccer legends, celebrity ambassadors, business leaders, civic officials and supporters of the local organizing effort, according to the committee.

On Wednesday, members of the media were invited to an exclusive preview of the FIFA Fan Festival Los Angeles, which was held Thursday through Sunday at the Coliseum during the opening days of the World Cup.

Officials said the Wednesday event included a guided tour of the festival site, previews of fan activations and entertainment areas, a food and beverage showcase, merchandise displays and interview opportunities with organizers.

“The FIFA Fan Festival will be the heartbeat of the FIFA World Cup experience in Los Angeles,” Kathryn Schloessman, CEO of the Los Angeles World Cup 2026 Host Committee, said in an earlier statement. “From the live matches and headline music performances to the food, culture and community celebrations, this will be the place where fans come together to experience the excitement and global spirit of the tournament throughout opening

week.”

Organizers said the festival also featured appearances by FIFA World Cup 2026 mascots Maple, Zayu and Clutch, along with family-oriented attractions and interactive exhibits.

Officials said the FIFA Fan Festival was expected to serve as Los Angeles’ central public gathering place for World Cup fans. The four-day event that began Thursday featured live match broadcasts, musical performances, fan activations, international food offerings and cultural programming.

Scheduled performers included Steve Aoki, Normani, Deorro, Sickick, Los Lobos, Capital Cities and DJ Ravidrums. Organizers said tickets are $10, while children 12 and younger will be admitted free.

Festival highlights were expected to include a Thursday watch party for Mexico’s match against South Africa, along with performances by Los Lobos and Deorro. On Friday, fans were able to watch the United States face Paraguay while Steve Aoki and DJ Ravidrums perform.

Capital Cities was scheduled to perform Saturday, while Sickick and Normani were slated to appear Sunday.

Other opening-week events included the FIFA Countdown Concert on Wednesday at Crypto.com Arena, part of a synchronized celebration linking Los Angeles, Toronto and Mexico City ahead of the tournament. The Los Angeles show was scheduled to feature Diplo’s Major Lazer, Davido and Ava Max.

Adidas also launched its “Home of Soccer” activation Thursday at BMO Stadium. The free event included a public watch party for the World Cup opening match between Mexico and South Africa, activities tied to Adidas’ nationwide adiCup

youth tournament and a second watch party for South Korea’s match against the Czech Republic.

The day concluded with performances by Noodles and Grammy-winning singersongwriter Peso Pluma, according to organizers.

A series of official Los Angeles World Cup 26 Fan Zones will operate throughout the tournament, according to organizers:

-- The Original Farmers Market, June 18-21;

-- the city of Downey, June 20;

-- Union Station, June 25-28;

-- Hansen Dam Lake, July 2-5;

-- Earvin “Magic” Johnson Park, July 4-5;

-- Whittier Narrows, July 9-11;

-- Venice Beach, July 10-11;

-- Fairplex in Pomona, July 14-15 and July 18-19;

-- West Harbor in San Pedro, July 14-15 and July 18-19; and

-- downtown Burbank, July 18-19.

Officials encouraged fans to review the full schedule of events, match listings, transportation options and “Know Before You Go” information by visiting losangelesfwc26. com.

World Cup-related events also were scheduled throughout Southern California during opening week.

On Thursday, Ovation Hollywood, 6801 Hollywood Blvd., launched its World Cup watch party series with a free public viewing of Mexico’s match against South Africa beginning at 10:30 a.m. in the Ovation Hollywood Courtyard.

Also Thursday, Los Angeles County Beaches and Harbors hosted a free viewing party beginning at 11 a.m. at Burton Chace Park, 13650 Mindanao Way in Marina del Rey. The event featured broadcasts of the World Cup

opening ceremony, Mexico vs. South Africa and South Korea vs. the Czech Republic, along with food trucks, arts and crafts, lawn games, a photo booth and live entertainment.

On Friday, Santa Monica Place, 395 Santa Monica Place, hosted a free USA Kick Off Celebration from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. featuring broadcasts of Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina and the United States vs. Paraguay, along with DJs, games, giveaways, food vendors and fan activities.

Pride House Los Angeles/ West Hollywood presented “Celebramos la Cultura Latina” beginning at 4 p.m. Friday at Beaches Tropicana,

8911 Santa Monica Blvd.

The event featured a watch party for the United StatesParaguay match, live entertainment and performances celebrating Latin culture and LGBTQ+ pride.

At 4 p.m. Friday, Los Angeles City Councilwoman Nithya Raman, the Consulate General of Paraguay in Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Parks Foundation and Street Food Cinema were scheduled to host “Fútbol for the People” at the Autry Museum of the American West, 4700 Western Heritage Way in Griffith Park.

The free event included food vendors, games and a large-screen broadcast of the United States-Paraguay match.

Additional Friday watch parties were scheduled throughout the region, including a 4:30 p.m. event at the Carson Event Center, 801 E. Carson St.; a 4:30 p.m. viewing at Ovation Hollywood in Hollywood; a 5 p.m. viewing party at Burton Chace Park in Marina del Rey; a 5 p.m. “One Nation Under Gol” celebration at Duarte Sports Park, 1401 Central Ave.; and a 5 p.m. community watch party at Veterans Memorial Park, 4117 Overland Ave. in Culver City. All featured live broadcasts of the United StatesParaguay match along with food, entertainment or family-oriented activities.

Nick Reiner seeks trust funds to help pay for criminal case defense

By City News Service

Nick Reiner is seeking access to his more than $1.5 million trust fund to help pay for his defense against charges in his parents’ double homicide, according to multiple news organizations.

Attorneys for Nick Reiner, 32, filed a 136-page petition in Los Angeles Superior Court on Monday seeking access to his trust, which he, reportedly,

was supposed to begin receiving two years ago. The petition says that Nick Reiner has been denied access despite “unambiguous instructions” left by his parents, Rob and Michele Reiner, on how to disburse the funds in the trust that was established in 1993, multiple news organizations reported.

“Nick loved his parents, and he is devastated by their deaths,” the petition states,

according to numerous reports. “But the facts about what did and did not happen to them are not at issue in this trust litigation,” the document further states, according to reports by news organizations that have copies of the petition.

The trust was established as part of the Reiners’ estate plan, but is separate from the larger family trust that

includes the estate’s assets, according to the petition, which further states that each of the Reiners’ three children has an independent trust for their individual benefit, including Nick Reiner’s siblings.

According to the petition, Nick Reiner was entitled to half of the trust when he turned 30 and should receive the remainder when

he turns 35 — distributions his attorneys, reportedly, say are mandatory and unconditional.

“They were a commitment by Nick’s parents, in the most binding way the law of trusts allows, that these resources would belong to Nick for his use and benefit,” the petition states, according to multiple news accounts.

A hearing is set for Aug.

17. Nick Reiner has pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder in connection with his parents’ killings in December. Authorities say renowned director Rob Reiner, 78, and photographer and movie producer Michele Singer Reiner, 70, were found stabbed to death in their Brentwood home. Their son was arrested hours later.

Ý: KÈM THEO ĐÂY LÀ BẢN TRÌNH

BÀY TÓM LƯỢC VỀ THÔNG TIN TRONG

TÀI LIỆU NÀY

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO PROPERTY

OWNER: YOU ARE IN DEFAULT UNDER A DEED OF TRUST DATED 08/22/2006. UNLESS YOU TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY, IT MAY BE SOLD AT A PUBLIC SALE. IF YOU NEED AN EXPLANA-

TION OF THE NATURE OF THE PROCEEDING AGAINST YOU, YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LAWYER.

Trustor: JUDITH LYNN WOODSON, A

SINGLE WOMAN Duly Appointed Trustee: Western Progressive, LLC Deed of Trust Recorded 08/25/2006 as Instrument No. 2006-0631469 in book ---, page--- and of Official Records in the office of the Recorder of Riverside County, California, Date of Sale: 07/09/2026 at 09:00 AM

Place of Sale: IN THE COURTYARD OF THE HISTORIC CIVIC CENTER LOCATED AT 815 W SIXTH ST, CORONA, CA 92882

Estimated amount of unpaid balance, reasonably estimated costs and other charges: $ 138,017.48 NOTICE OF TRUSTEE’S SALE THE TRUSTEE WILL SELL AT PUBLIC AUCTION TO HIGHEST BIDDER FOR CASH, CASHIER’S CHECK DRAWN ON A STATE OR NATIONAL BANK, A CHECK DRAWN BY A STATE OR FEDERAL CREDIT UNION, OR A CHECK

DRAWN BY A STATE OR FEDERAL SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATION, A SAVINGS ASSOCIATION OR SAVINGS BANK SPECIFIED IN SECTION 5102 OF THE FINANCIAL CODE AND AUTHORIZED TO DO BUSINESS IN THIS STATE:

All right, title, and interest conveyed to and now held by the trustee in the hereinafter described property under and pursuant to a Deed of Trust described as: More fully described in said Deed of Trust. Street Address or other common designation of real property: 72604 EDGEHILL DRIVE #4, PALM DESERT, CA 92260 A.P.N.: 628210035 The undersigned Trustee disclaims any liability for any incorrectness of the street address or other common designation, if any, shown above. The sale will be made, but without covenant or warranty, expressed or implied, regarding title, possession, or encumbrances, to pay the remaining principal sum of the note(s) secured by the Deed of Trust with interest thereon, as provided in said note(s), advances, under the terms of said Deed of Trust, fees, charges and expenses of the Trustee and of the trusts created by said Deed of Trust. The total amount of the unpaid balance of the obligation secured by the property to be sold and reasonable estimated costs, expenses and advances at the time of the initial publication of the Notice of Sale is: $ 138,017.48.

Note: Because the Beneficiary reserves the right to bid less than the total debt owed, it is possible that at the time of the sale the opening bid may be less than the total debt. If the Trustee is unable to convey title for any reason, the successful bidder’s sole and exclusive remedy shall be the return of monies paid to the Trustee, and the successful bidder shall have no further recourse. The beneficiary of the Deed of Trust has executed and delivered to the undersigned a written request to commence foreclosure, and the undersigned caused a Notice of Default and Election to Sell to be recorded in the county where the real property is located.

NOTICE OF TRUSTEE’S SALE

NOTICE TO POTENTIAL BIDDERS: If you are considering bidding on this property lien, you should understand that there are risks involved in bidding at a trustee auction. You will be bidding on a lien, not on the property itself. Placing the highest bid at a trustee auction does not automatically entitle you to free and clear ownership of the property. You should also be aware that the lien being auctioned off may be a junior lien. If you are the highest bidder at the auction, you are or may be responsible for paying off all liens senior to the lien being auctioned off, before you can receive clear title to the property. You are encouraged to investigate the existence, priority, and size of outstanding liens that may exist on this property by contacting the county recorder’s office or a title insurance company, either of which may charge you a fee for this information. If you consult either of these resources, you should be aware that the same lender may hold more than one mortgage or deed of trust on this property. Please be advised that the trustee may require entity or trust bidders at this trustee’s sale to provide information, documentation and/or certification of the vesting instructions and the data required to be reported pursuant to FinCEN regulations effective for transfers of residential real property to covered transferees on or after March 1, 2026. The required information must be provided to the trustee before a trustee’s deed upon sale will be issued for covered transfers. Additional information regarding these regulations and the required transferee information and certifications can be found at https://www.federalregister.gov/ documents/2024/08/29/2024-19198/antimoney-laundering-regulations-for-residential-real-estate-transfers and https://www. fincen.gov/rre-faqs#d_5

NOTICE TO PROPERTY OWNER: The sale date shown on this notice of sale may be postponed one or more times by the mortgagee, beneficiary, trustee, or a court,

pursuant to Section 2924g of the California Civil Code. The law requires that information about trustee sale postponements be made available to you and to the public, as a courtesy to those not present at the sale. If you wish to learn whether your sale date has been postponed, and, if applicable, the rescheduled time and date for the sale of this property, you may call (866)-960-8299 or visit this Internet Web site https://www. altisource.com/loginpage.aspx using the file number assigned to this case 202600081-CA. Information about postponements that are very short in duration or that occur close in time to the scheduled sale may not immediately be reflected in the telephone information or on the Internet Web site. The best way to verify postponement information is to attend the scheduled sale.

NOTICE OF TRUSTEE’S SALE NOTICE TO TENANT: You may have a right to purchase this property after the trustee auction, if conducted after January 1, 2021, pursuant to Section 2924m of the California Civil Code. If you are an “eligible tenant buyer,” you can purchase the property if you match the last and highest bid placed at the trustee auction. If you are an “eligible bidder,” you may be able to purchase the property if you exceed the last and highest bid placed at the trustee auction. There are three steps to exercising this right of purchase. First, 48 hours after the date of the trustee sale, you can call (866)-960-8299, or visit this internet website https://www.altisource.com/loginpage. aspx, using the file number assigned to this case 2026-00081-CA to find the date on which the trustee’s sale was held, the amount of the last and highest bid, and the address of the trustee. Second, you must send a written notice of intent to place a bid so that the trustee receives it no more than 15 days after the trustee’s sale. Third, you must submit a bid, by remitting the funds and affidavit described in Section 2924m(c) of the Civil Code, so that the trustee receives it no more than 45 days after the trustee’s sale. If you think you may qualify as an “eligible tenant buyer” or “eligible bidder,” you should consider contacting an attorney or appropriate real estate professional immediately for advice regarding this potential right to purchase. Date: May 29, 2026 Western Progressive, LLC, as Trustee for beneficiary C/o 1500 Palma Drive, Suite 238 Ventura, CA 93003 Sale Information Line: (866) 960-8299 https://www.altisource.com/loginpage. aspx ______ Trustee Sale Assistant. Run Dates: 06/08/2026, 06/15/2026, 06/22/2026 RIVERSIDE INDEPENDENT

T.S. No.: 250418335-5 Loan No.: Chehalem Order No. 95531430 APN: 5815005-015 NOTICE OF TRUSTEE’S SALE YOU ARE IN DEFAULT UNDER A DEED OF TRUST DATED 5/3/2023. UNLESS YOU TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY, IT MAY BE SOLD AT A PUBLIC SALE. IF YOU NEED AN EXPLANATION OF THE NATURE OF THE PROCEEDING AGAINST YOU, YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LAWYER. A public auction sale to the highest bidder for cashier’s check drawn on a state or national bank, cashier’s check drawn by a state or federal credit union, or a cashier’s check drawn by a state or federal savings and loan association, or savings association, or savings bank specified in Section 5102 of the Financial Code and authorized to do business in this state will be held by the duly appointed trustee as shown below, of all right, title, and interest conveyed to and now held by the trustee in the hereinafter described property under and pursuant to a Deed of Trust described below. The sale will be made, but without covenant or warranty, expressed or implied, regarding title, possession, or encumbrances, to pay the remaining principal sum of the note(s) secured by the Deed of Trust, with interest and late charges thereon, as provided in the note(s), advances, under the terms of the Deed of Trust, interest thereon, fees, charges and expenses of the Trustee for the total amount (at the time of the initial publication of the Notice of Sale) reasonably estimated to be set forth below. The amount may be greater on the day of sale. No cashier’s checks older than 60 days from the day of sale will be accepted.

Trustor: Guilmar Ruano Duly Appointed Trustee: Mortgage Lender Services Recorded 5/18/2023 as Instrument No. 20230325081 in book xx, page xx of Official Records in the office of the Recorder of Los Angeles County, California, Date of Sale: 7/14/2026 at 10:00 AM Place of Sale: In the Courtyard located in Civic Center Plaza, 400 Civic Center Plaza, Pomona, CA 91766 Amount of unpaid balance and other charges: $1,542,611.77 (estimated) Street Address or other common designation of real property: 941 Chehalem Road La Canada Flintridge, CA 91011 Legal Description: PLEASE SEE ATTACHED EXHIBIT “A” EXHIBIT “A” LEGAL DESCRIPTION LOT 14, OF TRACT NO. 14850, IN THE CITY OF LA CANADA FLINTRIDGE, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, STATE OF CALIFORNIA, AS PER MAP RECORDED IN BOOK 370, PAGE(S) 27 AND 28 OF MAPS, IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY RECORDER OF SAID COUNTY. The undersigned Trustee disclaims any liability for any incorrectness of the street address or other common designation, if any, shown above. If no street address or other common designation is shown, directions to the location of the property may be obtained by sending a written request to the beneficiary within 10 days of the date of first publication of this Notice of Sale. NOTICE TO POTENTIAL BIDDERS: If you are considering bidding on this property lien, you should understand that there are risks involved in bidding at a trustee auction. You will be bidding on a lien, not on the property itself. Placing the highest bid at a trustee auction does not automatically entitle you to free and clear

LEGALS

ownership of the property. You should also be aware that the lien being auctioned off may be a junior lien. If you are the highest bidder at the auction, you are or may be responsible for paying off all liens senior to the lien being auctioned off, before you can receive clear title to the property. You are encouraged to investigate the existence, priority, and size of outstanding liens that may exist on this property by contacting the county recorder’s office or a title insurance company, either of which may charge you a fee for this information. If you consult either of these resources, you should be aware that the same lender may hold more than one mortgage or deed of trust on the property. NOTICE TO PROPERTY OWNER: The sale date shown on this notice of sale may be postponed one or more times by the mortgagee, beneficiary, trustee, or a court, pursuant to Section 2924g of the California Civil Code. The law requires that information about trustee sale postponements be made available to you and to the public, as a courtesy to those not present at the sale. If you wish to learn whether your sale date has been postponed, and, if applicable, the rescheduled time and date for the sale of this property, you may call (916) 939-0772 or visit this Internet website www.nationwideposting.com, using the file number assigned to this case 250418335-5. Information about postponements that are very short in duration or that occur close in time to the scheduled sale may not immediately be reflected in the telephone information or on the Internet Web site. The best way to verify postponement information is to attend the scheduled sale. NOTICE TO TENANT: You may have a right to purchase this property after the trustee auction pursuant to Section 2924m of the California Civil Code. If you are an “eligible tenant buyer,” you can purchase the property if you match the last and highest bid placed at the trustee auction. If you are an “eligible bidder,” you may be able to purchase the property if you exceed the last and highest bid placed at the trustee auction. There are three steps to exercising this right of purchase. First, 48 hours after the date of the trustee sale, you can call (916) 939-0772, or visit this internet website www.nationwideposting.com, using the file number assigned to this case 250418335-5 to find the date on which the trustee’s sale was held, the amount of the last and highest bid, and the address of the trustee. Second, you must send a written notice of intent to place a bid so that the trustee receives it no more than 15 days after the trustee’s sale. Third, you must submit a bid so that the trustee receives it no more than 45 days after the trustee’s sale. When submitting funds for a bid subject to Section 2924m, please make the funds payable to “Total Lender Solutions, Inc. Holding Account”. If you think you may qualify as an “eligible tenant buyer” or “eligible bidder,” you should consider contacting an attorney or appropriate real estate professional immediately for advice regarding this potential right to purchase. Please be advised that the trustee may require entity or trust bidders at this trustee’s sale to provide information, documentation and/or certification of the vesting instructions and the data required to be reported pursuant to FinCEN regulations effective for transfers of residential real property to covered transferees on or after March 1, 2026. The required information must be provided to the trustee before a trustee’s deed upon sale will be issued for covered transfers. Additional information regarding these regulations and the required transferee information and certifications can be found at https://www.federalregister. gov/documents/2024/08/29/2024-19198/ anti-money-laundering-regulations-forresidential-real-estate-transfers and https://www.fincen.gov/rre-faqs#D_5 Date: 6/4/2026 Mortgage Lender Services 7844 Madison Avenue #145 Fair Oaks, CA 95628 Phone: 916-962-3453 Sale Line: (916) 939-0772 BY: Lauren Meyer, Vice President NPP0490088 To: GLENDALE INDEPENDENT 06/15/2026, 06/22/2026, 06/29/2026 GLENDALE INDEPENDENT

Fictitious Business Name Filings

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as Grizzly’s Unique Toys 2220 TREEMONT PLACE PT 107 CORONA, CA 92879

Riverside County JONATHON DAVID JONES, 2220 TREEMONT PLACE PT 107, CORONA, CA 92879

Riverside County

This business is conducted by: a individual. Registrant has not yet begun to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein. I declare that all the information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of the Business and Professions Code, that the registrant knows to be false, is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousands dollars ($1000).)

s. JONATHON DAVID JONES

Statement filed with the County of Riverside on May 18, 2026

NOTICE: In accordance with subdivision (a) of section 17920, a fictitious name statement generally expires at the end of the five years from the date on which it was filed

in the office of the county clerk, except, as provided in subdivision (b) of section 17920, where it expires 40 days after any changes in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. A new Fictitious Business Name Statement must be filed before the expiration. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see Section 14411 Et Seq., business and professions code). I hereby certify that this copy is a correct copy of the original statement on file in my office.

Peter Aldana, County, Clerk File# R-202607397 Pub. 05/25/2026, 06/01/2026, 06/08/2026, 06/15/2026 Riverside Independent

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT

File No. FBN20260004657

The following persons are doing business as: CHARLII’S DESERT RISE, 61745 Navajo Trail, Joshua Tree, CA 92252. Mailing Address, 61745 Navajo Trail, Joshua Tree, CA 92252.

APRIL B CABRERA. County of Principal Place of Business: San Bernardino This business is conducted by: a individual. Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on May 12, 2026. By signing below, I declare that I have read and understand the reverse side of this form and that all information in this statement is true and correct. A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of the Business and Professions Code that the registrant knows to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000). I am also aware that all information on this statement becomes Public Record upon filing pursuant to the California Public Records Act (Government Code Sections 6250- 6277). /s/ APRIL B CABRERA. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Bernardino on May 19, 2026 Notice- In accordance with subdivision (a) of Section 17920. A Fictitious Name Statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the County Clerk, except, as provided in subdivision (b) of Section 17920, where it expires 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to Section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. A new Fictitious Business Name Statement must be filed before the expiration. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see Section 14411 et seq., Business and Professions Code) File#: FBN20260004657 Pub: 06/01/2026, 06/08/2026, 06/15/2026, 06/22/2026 San Bernardino Press

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20266742580. The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: Cafe Val Mesa by our Nest, 100 Valencia Mesa, Fullerton, CA 92835. Mailing Address, 11232 Larrylyn, Whittier, CA 90602. Full Name of Registrant(s) JP & S Entertainment, Inc (CA, 11232 Larrylyn, Whittier, CA 90602. This business is conducted by a corporation. Registrant has not yet begun to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein. Cafe Val Mesa by our Nest. /S/ Jon Paul Ugay, Secretary. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Orange County on May 8, 2026. Publish: Anaheim Press 06/01/2026, 06/08/2026, 06/15/2026, 06/22/2026

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20266742579.

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: (1). Our nest restaurant & Bar (2). D.I.S.H.@ our nest , 732 N Brea Blvd, Brea, CA 92821. Mailing Address, 11232 Larrylyn, Whittier, CA 90602. Full Name of Registrant(s) Our Nest #2, Inc (CA, 732 N Brea Blvd, Brea, CA 92821. This business is conducted by a corporation. Registrant has not yet begun to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein. /S/ Jon Paul Ugay, CFO ( Chief Financial Officier). This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Orange County on May 8, 2026. Publish: Anaheim Press 06/01/2026, 06/08/2026, 06/15/2026, 06/22/2026

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20266744353. The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: YSLV USA, 2619 W Porter Ave, Fullerton, CA 92833. Full Name of Registrant(s) Yousi LV, 2619 W Porter Ave, Fullerton, CA 92833. This business is conducted by a individual. Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on October 13, 2020. /S/ Yousi LV. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Orange County on June 2, 2026. Publish: Anaheim Press 06/08/2026, 06/15/2026, 06/22/2026, 06/29/2026

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File No. FBN20260005297

The following persons are doing business as: Queen Bee Photography Co, 34663 Maplewood lane, yucaipa, CA 92399. Mailing Address, 34663 Maplewood lane, yucaipa, CA 92399. # of Employees 1. Brandi M Lopez. County of Principal Place of Business: San Bernardino This business is conducted by: a individual. Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on April 1, 2026. By signing below, I declare that I have read and understand the reverse side of this form and that all information in this statement is true and correct. A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of the Business and Professions Code that the registrant knows to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000). I am also aware that all information on this statement becomes Public Record upon filing pursuant to the California Public Records Act (Government Code Sections 6250- 6277). /s/ Brandi M Lopez, Owner. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Bernardino on June 5, 2026 Notice- In accordance with subdivision (a) of Section 17920. A Fictitious Name Statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the County Clerk, except, as provided in subdivision (b) of Section 17920, where it expires 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to Section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. A new Fictitious Business Name Statement must be filed before the expiration. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see Section 14411 et seq., Business and Professions Code) File#: FBN20260005297 Pub: 06/15/2026, 06/22/2026, 06/29/2026, 07/06/2026 San Bernardino Press

Days before the stadium was to host its first FIFAWorldCup match on Friday, about 2,000 hospitality workers at SoFi Stadiumoverwhelmingly ratified a contract agreement, averting a threatened strike.

The agreement between Unite Here Local 11 and stadium food service operator Legends Global was announced Tuesday, less than a week after union members voted 96% to authorize a strike amid stalled negotiations. Union officials said workers on Wednesday ratified the agreement, with 99% voting in favor.

“This contract proves what workers can accomplish when we stand together,” Susana Lahargue, a stand lead at SoFi Stadium, said in a statement released by the union. “We fought for fair wages, stronger job protections, and the right to protect

SoFi workers approve contract, averting World Cup strike

ourselves and our families. As the world comes to Los Angeles for the World Cup, we are proud to welcome fans knowing that workers have secured a contract that respects our work and our dignity.”

Provisions of the contract include roughly 30% increases in automatic gratuities for bartenders and servers, premium pay for “Mega Events,” raises of $9 per hour for non-tipped workers, salaries of $40 an hour for concession stand workers, and privacy protections aimed at protecting workers’ personal information.

The deal also maintains workers’ right to strike during the World Cup if they believe federal immigration enforcement activity near the stadium threatens their safety.

“This is a historic victory for Los Angeles,” Kurt

Glendale police fatally shotanallegedly knife-wielding suspect last week, officials said.

Patrol officers responded to a report of an assault involving a knife that had just occurred around 9 p.m. on June 8 in the 3700 block of Honolulu Avenue in the Montrose neighborhood.

Upon arrival, officers discovered a victim who had sustained injuries

most recent half-percent increase for homelessness services required special legislation from the state to allow it to exceed the cap on local sales taxes that is in state law,” according to an HJTA a statement. “Raising the sales tax again is unreasonable and unfairly harsh on those who are least able to afford it.”

The county sales tax increased in April 2025 with voter-approved Measure A. The half-cent hike replaced Measure H, a quarter-cent sales tax, that supports homelessness prevention efforts.

Mitchell, who represents the 2nd District, worked with a coalition of health care organizations and workers, called Restore Healthcare for Angelenos, on Measure ER.

According to the motion by Mitchell and Solis, the tax hike would address the immediate need for finan-

By City News Service

Petersen, co-president of United Here Local 11, said. “While the powerful capitulated, these workers stood their ground. The dishwashers, cooks, bartenders and servers stared down FIFA and ICE, refused to trade their dignity for a paycheck, and won one of the strongest stadium contracts in the country. They are the heroes of the World Cup.”

The contract will run through April 2028, just prior to the Southland hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Officials with Legends released a statement previously saying, “We are pleased to have reached an agreement with Unite Here Local 11 and look forward to delivering an outstanding hospitality experience for fans at the FIFA World Cup matches.”

The union had raised

concerns about FIFA’s accreditation process for World Cup workers, which requires the submission of personal information including Social Security numbers and fingerprints. Union officials said workers feared that information would be shared with other agencies, such as U.S. Customs and Border

Enforcement.

The union, along with the ACLU of Southern California, previously filed a complaint urging California Attorney General Rob Bonta to investigate FIFA’s accreditation process, arguing that worker privacy rights could be jeopardized by the collection and sharing of personal informa-

Glendale police kill knife-wielding suspect

By Staff

that appeared to be knife wounds. The 58-year-old suspect, who was a neighbor of the victim, then exited a nearby residence armed with a knife. He fled on foot when officers confronted him.

Police pursued the suspect on foot for a short distance. During the chase, “the suspect turned and advanced toward the pursuing officers while still

armed with the knife,” and an officer-involved shooting occurred, according to the Glendale Police Department.

Thesuspectwas pronounced dead at the scene, and no officers were injured, police said.

He was identified Tuesday as Oliver Haas, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner.

The knife-assault victim

was transported to a local hospital for treatment of injuries that appeared to be non-life-threatening.

Detectives from the GPD’s Robbery-Homicide Unit also responded and were investigating the incident, police said.

Police asked anyone with information about the fatal shooting and alleged knife attack to contact the GPD at 818-548-4840.

Sales tax

cial support to the county’s health care system as state and federal grants disappear.

“Unfortunately, after exhausting every existing alternative, this temporary emergency measure is the only option that can be implemented quickly enough to prevent hospital closures and the loss of health care access for at least hundreds of thousands of residents,” Mitchell and Solis wrote.

The federal budget legislation, known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” was approved by Congress and signed by President Donald Trump in July 2025, slashed billions in health care funding, according to the motion. Those reductions to Medi-Cal along with eligibility changes will cause county residents lose coverage or experience reduced access to medical care.

LA County has 3.3 million people who rely on Medi-Cal assistance, or 1 in 3 residents, including nearly 1 million children, Mitchell and Solis reported.

“The county’s most impacted departments face projected losses totaling $2.4 billion over the next three years,” the supervisors’ motion reads. “Due to funding losses, county officials have already initiated hiring freezes and are contemplating service consolidations, potential layoffs of 5,000 staff, and facility closures in the coming years.”

State funding cuts to health care programs are also affecting county budgets. California rolled back Medi-Cal coverage for undocumented immigrants and reduced funding for other programs.

In January, the California Department of Health Care

Services stopped enrolling new adult patients who do not have legal immigration status in Medi-Cal, the agency’s state-funded health care program. The state is also expected to stop funding non-emergency dental care for undocumented immigrants already enrolled in the program.

State officials agreed to impose a $30 monthly premium starting in July 2027 for immigrants who remain on Medi-Cal, including those in the U.S. legally. Federal law prohibits funding to support initiatives for immigrants in the country illegally.

The supervisors’ motion details how the county will spend the billions over five years generated by Measure ER:

• up to 45% to the county Department of Health Services;

• 5% to be distributed

tion.

based on patient visits to nonprofit health care providers serving lowincome and underserved county residents;

• about 4% to support health needs and programs in schools, as determined by the governing board of L.A. Care Health Plan;

• 10% is for the LA County Department of Public Health’s core public health functions;

• around 3% to be allocated to the county Department of Public Social Services for Medicaid outreach and enrollment activities as well as volunteer programs;

• 2.5% is for Correctional Health Services;

• approximately 22% goes to the Department of Health Services to safeguard public hospitals and clinics;

• around 5% to support nonprofit hospitals and other entities;

• 2.5% to support in-home supportive services for seniors and people with disabilities;

• about 1% supports the cities of Pasadena and Long Beach, which have health departments separate from the county; and

• any remaining funds would be distributed need-based and focused on a facility’s level of demand for emergency medical care.

The newly enacted voter initiative also establishes a nine-member oversight committee tasked with providing fiscal accountability for the money raised. The committee will organize annual independent audits and make recommendations on how to allocate the tax measure’s funds. Countysupervisors appoint committee members to three-year terms.

Judge presiding over Rose Bowl suit gets unsolicited mail about case

By City News Service

Thejudgepresiding over ongoing litigation between the UC Regents on one side and the Rose Bowl Operating Co. and the city of Pasadena on the other says he’s been getting unsolicited mail about the case from one member of the public.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Joseph Lipner’s clerk issued a minute order on Wednesday informing the attorneys that the letters have come through regular mail, that he has not read them and that he is throwing all of them in the trash.

“The court advises that it will not inform the parties of further unsolicited, unreviewed communications from this person, but

will continue to dispose of them unread and without any action being taken on them,” according to the minute order, which adds that the judge has forward-

ed the mail to the Office of Court Counsel in order to inform the writer that the

Beach bus returns for summer service to Santa Monica

By City News Service

Low-costbusservice connectingfoothill communities with Santa Monica Beach was available Wednesday as the seasonal Beach Bus program returned for the summer.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger announced the return of the program, which is intended to provide affordable beach access for residents living farther inland.

“With the Beach Bus, families from across Los Angeles County can affordably access cooler weather and one of our region’s most precious resources,” Barger said in a statement.

“I’m proud to bring back this program for another summer to connect the foothill communities to our beaches.”

The service provides direct transportation from communities in the San Gabriel and Crescenta valleys to Santa Monica, with roundtrip fares set at $3 for adults and children. Seniors 60 and older and riders with disabilities can travel for $1.50 round trip.

Service from La Crescenta and La Cañada Flintridge began Tuesday and will operate Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays through Sept. 7.

An Altadena route began Thursday and will operate Thursdays and Saturdays through Labor Day.

Service from Charter Oak and Duarte is scheduled to begin June 23 and will operate Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays through Sept. 7.

All routes depart for Santa Monica during the morning and return from the beach at 3:30 p.m.

Officials encouraged riders to reserve seats in advance through LAGoBus.com. Reservations can be made up to 10 days before travel and no later than 10 a.m. the day before departure.

GKN

vice president Steve Carlin apologized to the community on behalf of the company.

“On behalf of GKN and the Garden Grove plant I want to say I’m sorry this event... occurred,” he said. “I understand and realize sitting here tonight how unsettling it is to the greater community, and it’s particularly unsettling to us at GKN because of the long history we’ve had with Garden Grove and how connected we are to the community.”

He said the plant employs 500 workers, most of whom reside in Garden Grove and the surrounding area, he said.

Carlin said the Garden Grove plant is “known throughout the world” for its expertise in producing windows for the aerospace industry.

“It is literally the number

one producer of aerospace transparencies ... basically windows,” Carlin said. “We make the most complex windows out there. ... And they don’t say we’re going to GKN Aerospace or GKN Transparencies for windows ... no matter where in the world. ... They say we’re going to Garden Grove. ... That is literally how that plant is known around the world.”

Carlin added that the company’s executives are “very much aware that we have broken a trust in the last couple of weeks and we have a long way to go to earn back that trust. ... But we will do whatever we can to earn back that trust.”

GKNAerospace announced recently it had donated $3 million to the United Way’s OC Community Resilience Fund to

submissions are not authorized, will not be reviewed or considered and that no action will be taken regarding the letters.

The RBOC and the city of Pasadena contend in the breach of contract/ anticipatory repudiation lawsuit filed last Oct. 29 that the Bruins are wrongfully exploring options to move their future home games to another venue, including SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. The RBOC’s suit seeks to enforce the terms of a lease agreement the plaintiff claims locks UCLA into playing football at the venue until 2044.

assist residents who were impacted by the evacuations. The company also commit-

ted another $1 million for “broader community initiatives” across the county.

GKN previously donated $1 million to the Red Cross when the evacuations were still in effect. Councilwoman Ariana Arestegui said previously the $3 million the company pledged was for a “mutual aid fund... for folks having a really hard time immediately. ... While this $3 million will help some folks... it is not a refund or reimbursement.”

Chaffee said he was “disappointed” the company did not establish a more formal claims procedure for residents to access.

“I feel they’re remiss in not doing that because now they’re facing the litigation, which is more expensive,” Chaffee said. “They could get all of the minor claims out of the way.”

He called the $3 million a “drop in the bucket.”

Authorities last week

had planned to begin the process of removing chemicals from storage tanks at GKN, but the effort had to be postponed “due to unavailable resources.”

Workers were planning to remove the MMA from two tanks next to the one that was damaged at GKN Aerospace. Orange County Health Care Agency spokeswoman Salma Elshakre said Thursday the operation was stalled due to a delay in delivery of sealed trucks needed for the job. When the operation occurs, workers will pump the MMA out of two storage tanks and into the sealed trucks, which will take the chemicals away for disposal. Officials said the chemical has a “distinctive fruity or plastic-like odor” that nearby residents might smell, but most people may not even notice.