Riverside Independent_3/23/2026 by Beacon Media News

State grants $10M to San Bernardino area for housing, homeless services

By Joe Taglieri joet@beaconmedianews.com

The San Bernardino area is receiving another $10 million in state funding to address homelessness and expand housing options, ofﬁcials said Thursday.

San Bernardino County, the city of San Bernardino and the local Continuum of Care, or CoC will receive the sizable grant from the state’s Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention program through from the California Department of Housing and Community Development. A key portion of the funds will go toward expanding permanent housing for people experiencing homelessness and bolstering initiatives intended to prevent homelessness.

The funding will support converting underutilized buildings and existing interim housing into permanent housing, ofﬁcials said. The state grant will also support services such as street outreach, intensive case management, housing navigation, harm reduction services, rental assistance, security deposits and other programs intended to help prevent homelessness and support county residents who have no place to stay.

“This funding is an important investment in our comprehensive approach to addressing homelessness,” county Board of Supervisors Vice Chair and 5th District Supervisor Joe Baca Jr., who also chairs the county’s CoC Board.

“It will expand permanent housing for people who need it most while also strengthening prevention efforts so fewer people fall into homelessness. Ultimately, these resources will help San Bernardino County and its partners better support individuals

and families on the path to stable housing,” Baca said.

The county, city and CoC, which is comprised of city, county and nonproﬁt representatives, submitted a joint application to secure the state funds.

“We are grateful to our city and community partners for joining us in this effort,” the county’s Ofﬁce of Homeless Services Chief Marcus Dillard said in a statement. “This partnership allows us to make a real difference in providing housing and support to San Bernardino County’s most vulnerable residents.”

Staffers from San Bernardino Mayor Helen Tran’s ofﬁce participated in community meetings that helped shape the grant application, and she emphasized the importance of collaboration.

“These funds will directly improve lives across our community and help more families achieve stability,” Tran said in a statement. “The city of San

Bernardino is proud to be a partner with the county and local organizations on this effort.”

CoC Vice Chair Shanikqua “Shaq” Freeman, executive director of the nonproﬁt Knowledge and Education for Your Success, noted the impact this funding will have on local residents who need housing assistance.

“This award is a result of strong collaboration between the county, city partners and local organizations,” Freeman said in a statement. “These resources will help residents get the support they need and make meaningful progress toward independence.”

Program Manager Za Zette Scott of the nonproﬁt Family Assistance Program, who also attended community meetings about the grant application, said the collaboration shows the shared commitment of local

governments and nonproﬁts to address homelessness.

“This collaborative effort demonstrates how the county, city partners and nonproﬁts can work together to address complex community challenges,”

Scott said in a statement. “By working together, we can create opportunities that help people rebuild their lives and strengthen our community as a whole.”

According to the 2025 Point-in-Time Count, homelessness in San Bernardino County decreased by 10.2% compared with 2024. County ofﬁcials attribute the drop to expanded outreach efforts and more state and federal funding aimed at reducing homelessness. Continued support through grants such as HHAP help sustain this progress, ofﬁcials said.

State ofﬁcials announced more than $159.3 million in HHAP Round 6 funding March 2.

Parent accused of ﬁre that killed Murrieta girls arraigned

This DHS ofﬁcial oversees the security of federal elections. He wants to ban voting machines.

By Doug Bock Clark, ProPublica

This story was originally published by ProPublica. ProPublica is a nonproﬁt newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Sign up to receive The Big Story newsletter as soon as it’s published.

Inhistoppostatthe

Department of Homeland Security, David Harvilicz sets policy on protecting the nation’s elections infrastructure, including voting machines.

He’s also the co-founder of a company with James Penrose, who helped hatch debunked conspiracy theories blaming hacked voting machines for Donald Trump’s loss in the 2020 presidential election. Penrose assisted in a push to seize voting machines to overturn Trump’s defeat.

On social media, Harvilicz has called for doing away with voting machines, saying they are “eminently vulnerable to exploitation.” In a March post, he wrote that “DHS needs to ban voting machines for all federal elections. The time is now.” He also has repeatedly questioned the validity of Democratic electoral victories and pushed for Republicans to overhaul electoral systems to their advantage.

Election experts as well as current and former DHS ofﬁcials say Harvilicz’s central role in overseeing the security of electoral systems and voting machines is especially concerning at a time when the administration is taking unprecedented steps to relitigate Trump’s baseless claims that the 2020 election was stolen. That includes the FBI’s seizure of 2020 voting records from Fulton County, Georgia, and having a team working for Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, take custody of voting machines used in Puerto Rico in 2020.

“The security of our election infrastructure depends on leadership that is trusted, impartial and grounded in evidence — not individuals who have promoted conspiracy theories about the very systems they are now responsible for protecting,” said Danielle Lang, vice president for voting rights and the rule of law at the Campaign Legal Center, a nonpartisan pro-democracy organization. “Placing someone with that background in charge of policies affecting election security can undermine public conﬁdence in our elections at a time when trust is already fragile.”

DHS didn’t answer detailed questions about Harvilicz or his team, providing a more general statement about the work done by the agency. “DHS and its employees are focused on keeping our elections safe, secure, and free,” it said. “Every single day appointees at the Department of Homeland Security work to implement the President’s policies and keep our Homeland safe.”

Harvilicz didn’t respond to questions about his DHS role. Harvilicz’s X account notes his post as DHS’ assistant secretary for cyber, infrastructure, risk and resilience policy but says he’s been detailed to the Defense Department. (Such temporary assignments are typically done in 120-day increments.)

Harvilicz was appointed to the DHS job around July, taking on a role that in the past has largely focused on shaping policy to protect the nation’s critical infrastructure, including its election

District 5 county Supervisor Joe Baca Jr. and a member of the Sheri ’s Department speak with a person experiencing homelessness during the 2026 point-in-time-count in January. | Photo courtesy of San Bernardino County

Audit ﬁnds ‘compliance concerns’ at Val Verde Uniﬁed School District

By City News Service

Acomprehensive audit of the Val Verde Uniﬁed School District in Perris that was prompted by actions connected to an overseas education program uncovered “serious compliance concerns,” according to ﬁndings published Wednesday.

“Our responsibility is to safeguard the integrity of public education and ensure that taxpayer resources are used lawfully and transparently,” Riverside County Superintendent of Schools Edwin Gomez said. “This audit identiﬁed serious concerns that merit further review by the appropriate authorities. We will continue to act with integrity, follow the law and ensure the interests of students and the public remain at the center of every decision.”

According to the county Ofﬁce of Education, the audit, which was authorized under provisions of the state Education Code, followed revelations of a “concerning relationship” between VVUSD and Pegasus California School in Qingdao, China.

In a statement released to City News Service Wednesday afternoon, VVUSD said, “The district has fully complied with the audit process regarding Val Verde’s partnership with Pegasus California School from 2016-2020. We remain focused on providing transparency and continuing to serve our students, families and community.”

The Ofﬁce of Education retained the Los Angeles law ﬁrm founded by former U.S. District Judge Stephen G. Larson to scrutinize

Riverside County invites residents to participate in meetings on proposed budget

By City News Service

Riverside County supervisors will host a series of workshops next month focused on priorities for the 2026-27 ﬁscal year budget -- and any county resident can participate.

“Building on the success of last year’s workshops, we’re proud to once again bring these conversations into our communities,” county Chief Executive Officer Jeff Van Wagenen said. “These workshops are about making a complex process easier to understand and, more importantly, making sure the people we serve have every opportunity to weigh in on what matters most to them.”

A total of five public gatherings are scheduled, one for each supervisorial district.

They’ll be based on the “Budget 101 Guide,” which delves into how funding for the more than 40 agencies that comprise county government is appropriated. The guide can be found at https://rivco.gov/ budget. The same process was applied during the input-gathering phase that preceded last year’s budget hearings.

“These workshops are about bringing county government directly to the people we serve,” Board of

Supervisors Chair Karen Spiegel said.

The county published the following schedule:

-- District 2 Workshop, April 7 at 5:30 p.m., hosted by Spiegel, Corona City Council chamber, 400 S. Vicentia Ave.; -- District 1 Workshop, April 8 at 5:30 p.m., hosted by Supervisor Jose Medina, County Administrative Center, board chamber, 4080 Lemon St., Riverside; -- District 5 Workshop, April 21 at 5:30 p.m., hosted by Supervisor Yxstian Gutierrez, Towngate Community Center, 13100 Arbor Park Lane, Moreno Valley; -- District 3 Workshop,

April 22 at 5:30 p.m., hosted by Supervisor Chuck Washington, French Valley Library, 31526 Skyview Road, Winchester; and -- District 4 Workshop, April 30 at 5:30 p.m., hosted by Supervisor Manuel Perez, Coachella Valley Water District Administration Building, 75515 Hovley Lane, Palm Desert.

The proposed 2026-27 budget will not be published until the end of May. Hearings are scheduled for the second week of June.

The county is contending with a structural budget deﬁcit for the current ﬁscal year.

Officials said the VVUSD probe began after evidence surfaced that high school diplomas had been approved by the district for non-resident students at the Chinese school. There were also indications of potential malfeasance and conflicts of interest, according to the Office of Education.

Larson’s ﬁndings resulted in a narrative spanning more than 1,000 pages, which the Ofﬁce of Education condensed to a single-page executive summary.

“The audit identiﬁed serious compliance concerns,” the summary stated, afﬁrming evidence pointing to the likely issuance of diplomas to “students who did not meet applicable legal or residency requirements.”

“There was evidence raising concerns regard-

ing internal controls, fiscal oversight and the potential for unlawful financial practices associated with the district’s international program,” according to the summary. “These findings are based on documented evidence reviewed during the audit and are subject to further review and determination.”

The Office of Education said that, along with the VVUSD governing board, the Office of the State Controller, administrators for the California Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office had been informed of the findings.

“The Ofﬁce of Education ... remains committed to ensuring appropriate corrective actions are taken where warranted,” according to the agency.

Pitch competition for entrepreneurs slated for next month in Palm Desert

By City News Service

California State University, San Bernardino’s Randall W. Lewis Center for Entrepreneurship will host a pitch competition next month at the Palm Desert Entrepreneurial Resource Center as part of the county’s Innovation Month, where

entrepreneurs and business leaders will compete for funding and recognition.

The Greater Coachella Valley Innovation Showcase will be held from 5-7 p.m. April 21 at 37023 Cook St., Suite 102.

“The Coachella Valley

has an emerging group of innovative founders and problem-solvers,” Mike Stull, director of CSUSB’s center for entrepreneurship, said in a statement. “This showcase is designed to put their innovations in front of the community, connect them

to resources and open doors to capital and opportunity — right here at the ERC Palm Desert.”

The showcase will feature investors, entrepreneurs and community partners vying for a $5,000 regional award, and networking opportuni-

ties with founders, investors and ecosystem leaders.

Winners of the Coachella Valley showcase will advance to Riverside County’s Innovation Month fast pitch ﬁnale on April 29, where ﬁnalists will compete for $20,000.

Following the finale, the county winner will compete at the Startup World Cup finale in San Francisco for a $1 million investment prize, officials said. Attendance is free. Registration information can be found online via tinyurl.com/4fy8zb69.

the district’s operations. Larson’s staff also previously handled a substan-

tial audit of the county’s Department of Child Protective Services.

| Image courtesy of the Val Verde Uniﬁed School District

| Image courtesy of Riverside County

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systems.

But current and former DHS officials say Harvilicz and his team have transformed their functions to become more hands-on. They’ve been deeply engaged with facilitating multiple administration data-gathering efforts aimed at scouring voter rolls for noncitizens, the officials said. ProPublica has reported on one such effort, which has led to hundreds of citizens being incorrectly flagged as potential noncitizens.

Harvilicz’s team includes Heather Honey, the deputy assistant secretary of election integrity. ProPublica has reported that Honey was previously a leader in the Election Integrity Network, a conservative group that has challenged the legitimacy of American election systems. Honey worked closely with Cleta Mitchell, the network’s leader, who played a prominent role in helping Trump try to overturn his 2020 loss.

Also reporting directly to Harvilicz is Samantha Anderson, a data specialist who previously worked to elect Trump through the advocacy arm of the America First Policy Institute, a think tank closely associated with the president.

Voting machines

ment, with Penrose, and they are listed on its 2025 patents as developing its systems together.

The Duarte Dispatchhas been adjudicated as a newspaper of general circulation in court case number GS 013893 City of Duarte, County of Los Angeles, State of California.

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newspaper of general circulation in court case number KS017174 City of Baldwin Park, County of Los Angeles, State of California. The Burbank Independent has been adjudicated as a newspaper of general circulation in court case number ES016728 City of Burbank, County of Los Angeles, State of California.

The

Multiple officials and elections experts said they were worried that Harvilicz and Honey would have prominent parts in assessing and describing the cybersecurity of the coming election, both to the public and to administration leaders. They also expressed concern that if Trump again wanted to get control of voting machines after the election, perhaps if Republicans lose seats in the midterms, that Harvilicz is ideally positioned to help them do so.

“It would be super easy for them to get the voting machines,” a current DHS official said, adding they can “describe it as they want, if they don’t like the results.”

Harvilicz co-founded Tranquility AI, which has developed an artificial intelligence tool for law enforce-

Penrose, a former intelligence officer, played a leading role in the campaign to help Trump in his failed bid to overturn the 2020 election, ProPublica has reported. Penrose also participated in multiple attempts to clandestinely seize voting machines, including in Michigan, where prosecutors accused him of breaking into some of the machines. (Penrose wasn’t charged in the case.) He appeared to be an unindicted co-conspirator in the failed Georgia prosecution in which Trump was accused of conspiring to overturn the election results, according to The Washington Post.

Penrose didn’t respond to a request for comment for this article.

One of the purported uses of Tranquility AI’s product is for “election integrity,” according to the company’s website. It didn’t provide more details in response to a question from ProPublica.

Tranquility AI’s tools, which help law enforcement agents process data and assemble cases, have been employed by New Orleans’ district attorney,

and the company says it has partnered with dozens of law enforcement agencies nationwide. In July 2025, a large government IT contractor announced a partnership with Tranquility AI.

Harvilicz started his career working at law firms on Wall Street and in tech. Then, in 2004, when he was 29, he launched a losing bid for a Maryland congressional seat. After that, he helped lead a crowdfunding company, a movie marketing business, a film production business that worked with former intelligence officers and several cyber security ventures (including one at which he worked with Penrose). He also did a stint in the first Trump administration, serving as cybersecurity official in the Department of Energy.

In advance of Harvilicz getting the DHS position, Tranquility AI made a $100,000 donation to Trump’s inaugural fund through a newly created nonprofit based at Harvilicz’s home address, according to The Intercept. In response to questions from The Intercept, Harvilicz said the donation was designed to help them meet administration policymakers. The

Intercept first reported his ties to Penrose in connection with the donation.

Harvilicz has posted prolifically to social media, sharing hundreds of posts of conservative content. After Trump won a second presidential term, he wrote: “We will now dismantle the near communist takeover of America and return her to greatness.”

In 2020, Harvilicz purchased a $3.3 million home outside of Los Angeles.

After the Palisades Fire destroyed it around the beginning of Trump’s second term, Harvilicz stood on a roadside to greet the president’s tour of the disaster area with his young son on his shoulders. His son held aloft a picture of a bloodied Trump punching the air after surviving an assassin’s bullet.

Even then, elections were not far from his mind. He told a reporter for the Los Angeles Times that he supported Trump making disaster aid conditional on the Democratic state implementing voter ID.

“I hope he saw us,” Harvilicz told the Times reporter.

Republished with Creative Commons License (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0).

Aldi is recalling frozen spinach bites over possible rodent hair contamination

By Colby Droscher, Stacker

If you’ve bought frozen spinach bites from Aldi recently, check your freezer before eating them.

The FDA has classified a recall of Simply Nature Spinach Bites, sold exclusively at Aldi locations in Maryland and Pennsylvania. The recall was initiated on January 16, 2026, by Dr. Praeger’s Sensible Foods Inc. of Elmwood Park, New Jersey, and received its official Class II classification from the FDA on

March 16. The products may be contaminated with rodent hair. No illnesses or hospitalizations have been reported.

The product is a childoriented frozen snack — the bites are shaped like dinosaurs and stars — sold in 12-ounce boxes with an inner plastic bag. Consumers can identify recalled units by the following infor-

Election workers helping voters. | Photo courtesy of L.A. County Registrar-Recorder / Facebook

Civil rights groups call on police to respect laws on use of force

By Suzanne Potter, Public News Service

Ncalling on local police agencies to follow the law on use of force.

Last month, two more protesters filed lawsuits against the Los Angeles Police Department and the Sheriff’s Department, alleging they were shot in the head with so-called “less lethal” projectiles despite not posing a threat. The authorities say some people in the crowd threw objects while protesting ICE enforcement.

JohnLindsay-Poland, co-director of the California Healing Justice Program of the nonprofit American Friends Service Committee, said police have also resorted to using tear gas and rubber bullets on peaceful protestors and journalists.

“Militarized equipment has become very normalized,”

he said. “Often, it’s made to sound like de-escalation tools. I mean, that phrase is frequently used for armored vehicles and launchers of rubber bullets.”

Police agencies say they need advanced weapons to fight drug gangs.

In 2021, California passed Assembly Bill 48, which restricts the use of chemical agents and impact projectiles such as rubber bullets in crowd control to situations where there is a direct threat to public safety. They must issue warnings, only target people who are creating the danger, and refrain from shooting at a person’s head.

indsay-Poland noted that a second law, Assembly Bill 481, is supposed to improve transparency. It’s meant to allow people to lobby local city councils to estab-

lish policies on the use of weapons of war.

“This law requires every single law enforcement agency to disclose what militarized weaponry they have, what their policies are, report on that use annually, and get approval of local elected officials,” he said.

The American Friends ServiceCommittee published a report last fall that found many departments are evading the transparency law, using loopholes to conceal the extent of their stockpile. Researchers obtained inventory lists of weapons through public information requests from 30 county sheriff’s departments. They compared the data to those counties’ annual reports to the state, and found that they had under-reported the number of assault weapons by 67%.

mation printed on the box:

- Lot number G25CF-02B - Product number AL-SP - UPC 4099100247992

A total of 7,894 units are affected.

A Class II recall indicates the FDA has determined that use of or exposure to the product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health effects, and that the probability of serious harm is considered remote. It is the middle tier of the FDA’s three-level recall classification system.

The recall has not appeared on Aldi’s own recall page as of this week. Shoppers should check their packages directly against the lot number and UPC above

Aldi’s website features Simply Nature Spinach Kids Bites. | Screenshot courtesy of Stacker

ine months after the immigration crackdown in Los Angeles, peace activists are

Protestors in Los Angeles last summer alleged indiscriminate use of force against protestors and journalists covering unrest sparked by ICE raids across the region. | Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

The micro-adventure resolution: How Americans plan one-hour outdoor escapes in 2026

By Luca West for Retrospec via Stacker

Whenanewyear begins, Americans tend to aim high. Gym memberships spike, planners fill up, and ambitious routines promise a better version of everyday life. By February, many of those plans collide with reality: long workdays, family obligations, and the quiet pull of the couch.

That tension shows up clearly in how people think about time. According to a survey of 1,000 people conducted by Retrospec on Jan. 29, 2026, 32.5% of Americans say they spend their unexpected free hour scrolling on their phones. The gap between intention and action is not about motivation alone. It is about friction.

Looking into 2026, many Americans appear ready to resolve that gap with smaller commitments. Instead of training plans or weekend excursions, they are embracing micro-adventures. These are short, one-hour outdoor escapes that feel achievable, affordable, and easy to repeat.

Key Findings

- 32.5% of Americans spend an unexpected free hour scrolling on their phone.

- 88% say having one or more one-hour micro-adventures in a week makes them feel proud.

- 72% say a walk or easy hike is the most doable adventure near home.

- 45% would travel just one to three miles for a one-hour outdoor escape.

- 44% feel guilty, anxious, or disappointed when they stay inside instead of going out.

- 32% say owning a bike or e-bike would most increase their odds of getting outside weekly.

The One-Hour Problem

Time scarcity is not new,

but the way people experience it has changed. A free hour no longer feels like a gift. It feels undecided. Without a clear plan, that hour often defaults to screens, with 32.5% of Americans spending an unexpected free hour scrolling on their phone.

Phones have become both a placeholder and a saboteur. When time opens up unexpectedly, it often lands between obligations rather than before rest. Starting anything that requires preparation can feel risky, while scrolling feels neutral.

That friction is amplified by awareness. One in 10 Americans believes their phone will derail their outdoor plans almost every time, showing how easily good intentions dissolve when effort feels too high.

Micro-adventures attempt to solve this problem by shrinking the decision itself. When the goal fits neatly into an hour, the barrier to starting drops. There is no packing list, no scheduling puzzle, and no sense of wasted effort if plans change.

Pride Over Performance

What stands out is how quickly these short outings carry emotional weight. 88% of respondents say completing one or more one-hour micro-adventures in a week makes them feel proud.

That pride is not tied to distance, intensity, or performance. It comes from follow-through. In days dominated by reactive tasks and nonnegotiable responsibilities, doing something intentionally, even briefly, feels significant. A short bike ride, for instance, or a simple walk around the block can create a clear mental break.

Many modern routines leave little room for personal

wins. Micro-adventures fill that gap by offering proof that something was chosen, not just managed. In a culture long focused on extremes, that quieter reward appears to be enough to keep people coming back.

Close to Home, by Design

Ambition drops quickly as distance increases. Nearly half of Americans (45%) say they would only go one to three miles from home for a one-hour adventure.

Geography is not the issue. It is about protecting the hour itself. Travel time, parking, and unfamiliar routes quietly turn a reset into a project. Staying close preserves flexibility and control.

That preference helps explain why simplicity dominates. 72% point to walks or easy hikes as the most doable option near home, while short bike rides resonate with certain groups, including 20% of men who cite quick e-bike rides as their top choice.

The takeaway is practical. Instead of looking for novelty, people are looking for proximity. The closer an experience feels, the more likely it is to happen.

When Staying in Feels Worse Than Going Out

Skipping an outdoor plan does not always bring relief. 44% of Americans say they feel guilty, anxious, or disappointed when they realize they stayed inside instead of going out.

That response reflects a growing awareness of what outdoor time provides. With more conversation around mental health, movement, and burnout, staying sedentary now feels like a missed opportunity rather than a neutral choice.

When micro-adventures

do not happen, they are often replaced by passive habits. 32% say they usually stream TV or movies instead, reinforcing the difference between rest and restoration.

Micro-adventures sit in a psychological middle ground. They are small enough to feel doable, which means skipping them does not come with a convenient excuse. When the bar is low, the emotional stakes rise.

Mental Health as Motivation

For Americans earning under $50,000, the appeal of micro-adventures goes beyond fitness or fun. 42% say their primary motivation for getting outside is mental health breaks.

That distinction matters. Many wellness options feel financially or logistically out of reach. Therapy, gym memberships, classes, and retreats all carry costs that are not easily absorbed.

Outdoor time, by contrast, remains accessible. Short rides, park loops, and quick paddles offer relief without

added pressure. In this context, micro-adventures function less as leisure and more as maintenance. They create brief pauses that help regulate stress and mental fatigue.

The Power of Being Asked

Motivation does not always come from within.

33% of Americans say a friend asking them to go would make them more likely to do a micro-adventure this week.

An invitation simplifies the decision. It removes planning effort and replaces internal debate with momentum. Saying yes becomes easier than initiating.

That effect is even stronger among younger adults. 30% of Gen Z respondents say a friend is the most likely factor to get them out the door, reflecting a generation shaped by shared experiences and social cues. For many, movement feels more natural when it is collective.

A micro-adventure does not just fit into a schedule. It fits into a conversation.

Summary

The data points to a quiet shift: Americans are not abandoning the outdoors. They are resizing it. Faced with limited time, rising stress, and constant digital distraction, many are choosing progress over perfection.

One hour is enough to change how a day feels. Enough to feel proud. Enough to step outside the scroll. In 2026, the most sustainable resolutions are the ones that fit into real life.

Methodology

This survey of U.S. adults examined attitudes toward short, one-hour outdoor activities, motivations, emotional responses, and barriers to participation. Results were analyzed across demographic groups, including age, income, gender, and parental status, to identify broader behavioral patterns and differences.

This story was produced by Retrospec and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

Re-published with CC BY-NC 4.0 License.

| Photo courtesy of NEOM/Unsplash

Next-gen geothermal aims to greatly expand clean power

By Stephen Battersby for

the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the Pulitzer Center-Public News Service Collaboration.

In 1904, the Italian town of Larderello saw the world’s first trickle of electrical power generated from the heat of the Earth. It was enough to make five lightbulbs glow. By 1913, Larderello had a full-scale plant producing up to 250 kilowatts of electricity, using steam from natural hydrothermal vents to drive a turbine connected to a generator. Yet, despite this pioneering success over 100 years ago, geothermal power has remained a niche endeavor, largely because it’s limited to volcanic areas where natural steam or hot water is readily available. Today, it amounts to only about 0.5% of global electricity generation.

Far more planet power might be harvested using a suite of emerging technologies, broadly known as next-generation (next-gen) geothermal. They generally aim to extract heat from deep rock formations by creating artificial hydrothermal systems. That enables power stations to run in areas that are not volcanic, vastly expanding the range of potential sites. Some forms of next-gen geothermal aim to operate at much higher temperatures than traditional plants, potentially making them more efficient and economically appealing.

This power source could be an ideal partner for intermittent renewable sources such as wind and solar, as it offers a steady supply of power and may also be able to ramp up and down to cover any shortfalls. “Geothermal could be the backbone to providing a clean, affordable, reliable, low-cost grid,” says Katrina McLaughlin at the World Resources Institute, a nonprofit sustainability research organization based in Washington, DC.

In the past few years, next-gen geothermal has been spurred on by drilling methods developed in the oil and gas industry and by the increasingly urgent need for sustainable power. In 2024, an International Energy Agency report (1) forecast that it could meet 15% of global electricity demand by 2050, with costs falling to $50 per megawatthour by 2035, on par with the cheapest solar power. “In principle, geothermal is an amazing technology that can deliver on all your energy dreams,” says Lev Ring, president of geother-

mal startup Sage Geosystems, based in Houston, Texas.

But the industry needs expensive infrastructure, with high upfront costs and financial risks that may deter investors. And the rockfracturing processes used by many next-gen geothermal systems can cause earthquakes, which may restrict its use to sparsely populated areas.

That puts pressure on the startup companies developing these technologies. Failure could stymie geothermal development for years to come; success could open a wave of fresh investment that reshapes the global energy mix.

Drill Skill

Next-gen geothermal traces its origins back to the early 1970s, with landmark experiments at the Fenton Hill test site in New Mexico. The idea was to drill deep into the Earth, reaching rocks at roughly 200 °C that were hot enough for a practical geothermal power system. At these depths, the rocks tend to be tight-knit and impermeable, with any cracks squeezed shut. But as the Fenton Hill researchers showed, forcing highpressure fluid into such rock formations can make them permeable, opening preexisting cracks or creating new ones. Water can then be passed through the cracks to draw heat to the surface— the basis of a technique now known as enhanced geothermal systems (EGS).

In Beaver County, Utah, Fervo Energy is building an EGS plant called Cape Station that it expects to

produce up to 100 megawatts of electrical power in 2026 and 400 megawatts in 2028, with permits to go up to 2 gigawatts. The company is using techniques first developed in the oil and gas industry and adapted for geothermal with the help of the nearby Utah Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy (FORGE), an underground laboratory sponsored by the US Department of Energy. These techniques include drilling around corners. One approach involves putting a slight bend in the final section of the drilling pipe, with hydraulic pressure from above driving the drill bit. This allows a rig to bore several wells that start just a few meters apart on the surface but then splay out toward different volumes of hot rock. That reduces the need for surface pipework and saves time because the rig doesn’t have to be moved far.

Drilling around the bend also means that boreholes can plunge to the needed depth and then turn horizontal. After drilling a pair of horizontal channels in the deep rock, Fervo pumps in high-pressure water to create cracks between the two. Then, once the plant is running, water sent into the lower channel will percolate through these cracks into the upper channel, gathering heat as it goes. Returning to the surface, the hot water will vaporize a volatile fluid, forming a highpressure gas that drives a turbine. Cape Station is the world’s biggest EGS project. “Everyone is watching Fervo

to see how they do,” says Roland Horne, a geophysicist at Stanford University in California, who taught Fervo’s founders and is on the company’s advisory board.

Meanwhile, Sage Geosystems is using similar drilling techniques in a different way. They also drill two boreholes, but then create fracture networks that branch out from each borehole and do not connect. Engineers pump water back and forth between the two wells, picking up heat each time in a process the company calls “huff-n-puff.”

Unlike Fervo’s EGS, this approach enables Sage to avoid using gritty additives called proppants. These are used to hold open the cracks, but they can also impede the flow of water, Ring explains. He believes this will prove to be a more efficient system, although the huff-n-puff approach also uses higher pressures than Fervo’s plant, requiring additional equipment to manage the water at the surface. Sage is now teaming up with Ormat Technologies to build a pilot generation project, which aims to generate 4 megawatts of electricity by 2027 and 150 megawatts by 2028.

Buried Treasure

Whichever EGS system is used, the potential power supply is enormous. A 2025 study by Ring and colleagues calculated that next-gen geothermal, deployed at depths down to 5 kilometers in the contiguous United States (2), could produce more than 5 terawatts— roughly four times total US generating capacity today.

are zero power plants operating with this technology.” Induced seismicity could be another barrier. Hydraulic fracturing can release built-up forces in Earth’s crust, and so trigger earthquakes. In 2009, an EGS project near Basel, Switzerland, was canceled after it caused quakes up to magnitude 3.4; and in 2017, a project in Pohang, South Korea, was responsible for a much bigger 5.5-magnitude quake. This may be a tolerable risk in some regions, and several other projects have not produced any noticeable seismicity, Horne says. “Nonetheless, to reduce the risk further, it is likely that in the nearterm, EGS projects are likely to concentrate on areas with low population density,” he says.

How far and how fast this resource gets exploited will come down to economics. In 2024, Horne and his Stanford colleague Mohammad Aljubran estimated the price of electricity from EGS plants using Fervotype technology (3). They found that almost 90% of the United States could have access to geothermal energy at a cost of less than $80 per megawatt-hour, comparable to some existing forms of firm (nonintermittent) generation such as nuclear power and biomass. “And it is actually cheaper than solar with batteries, which is what they need to provide firm power,” Horne says. The Department of Energy projects that average EGS costs will fall below $70 per megawatt-hour by 2030 and predicts that US next-gen geothermal capacity could reach 90 gigawatts or more by 2050 (4). That would supply more than 10% of the clean firm power required to complement intermittent renewables in a zero-emissions grid.

Not everyone is so optimistic. A 2025 report by certification body Det Norske Veritas anticipates that a shortage of investment could stall US geothermal at only about 15 gigawatt capacity (5). Ring agrees that getting projects financed remains one of the main barriers for next-gen geothermal. “Banks are not keen on providing capital,” he says, because it is unproven at commercial scale. “At the moment, there

Canadian company Eavor thinks that a different kind of geothermal technology could avoid earthquake risks. In Geretsried, Germany, it is drilling a system of boreholes to circulate water (along with some proprietary additives) to a depth of 5 kilometers, then horizontally through the rock and back up again. This closed-loop system does not require any rock fracturing, so there is negligible risk of induced seismicity. However, each well only provides a small contact area with the unfractured rock, which means lower power per borehole. Eavor gets around this by drilling a lot of holes, but that takes a lot of cash. “The economics of closed loop are behind EGS and conventional geothermal by an order of magnitude,” Horne says.

Robert Winsloe, co-founder of Eavor, insists that the investment will pay off overall. The Geretsried plant is designed to generate 8 megawatts of electricity, which will cost much more than other conventional power sources. But in winter, it will instead supply about 64 megawatts of heat to a planned district heating system in the town, at a more affordable level. Many other towns in Germany have existing district heating that similar plants could feed. “The path to geothermal is paved with district heating in Europe,” Winsloe says.

Hotter Stuff

All these projects exploit strata no warmer than a home oven, around 200 °C.

Fervo’s Cape Station geothermal rig in Utah expects to produce up to 100 megawatts of electrical power in 2026 and 400 megawatts in 2028, with permits to go up to 2 gigawatts. | Photo courtesy of Fervo Energy

How much is a dollar worth? Why the weakening US currency matters for your wallet

By Chris Taylor for Current via Stacker

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but for every dollar you earn, there are a number of different factors eating away at it.

There are taxes, for one, not far away with April 15 on the horizon. Then there is inflation: Even though it has moderated from the years of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is still eroding the value of our money to the tune of almost 3% a year.

And now there is a new worry: The U.S. dollar, which has sunk to a multiyear low against other currencies, is down around 10% compared to the beginning of last year.

Put all those factors together, and your cash isn’t packing a whole lot of punch when you go to the grocery store. Instead, it seems a little weak and dazed, like a boxer at the end of a 12-round fight. In this article, Current, a consumer fintech banking platform, explains how a weaker dollar affects everyday finances and what consumers can do about it.

“It manifests in imported goods and foreign travel, while subtly chipping away at general affordability as costs for goods and services rise and asset

prices are pushed higher,” says Mike Casey, a planner with AE Advisors in Alexandria, Virginia. “For the average consumer, imported essentials like electronics, clothing, and oil become pricier.”

In other words, the purchasing power of that buck in your wallet is under extreme pressure. Not exactly what we needed, in an era when affordability for households has become so challenging.

Seen from one angle, there’s not a lot average consumers can do about a weaker dollar. Its strength is determined by larger factors outside of our control, such as the level of interest rates set by the Federal Reserve.

But in another sense, there are targeted action steps we can take to maximize the value of our money. A few specific areas that a weaker dollar should make you consider: Foreign travel. On a daily basis, we may not realize how much the dollar has slumped. But when we go abroad, we most definitely will.

“Personally, the dollar hitting multiyear lows is affecting my travel budget,”

says Theresa Pablos, a planner with Equalis Financial in Los Angeles. “I’m planning a trip to Europe this fall, and I’ve intentionally padded my travel budget because I know the dollar won’t go quite as far on hotels, meals, and activities as in past trips. To make up for the difference in cost, I’m looking for other ways to save, such as flying budget airlines and getting a new travel card with cashback perks.”

Practically speaking, it means international travelers should be choosier about

destinations. It could also mean deliberately saving more in advance of such a trip, as Pablos did — or even delaying those big expenses altogether, until such a time when exchange rates look more attractive.

Imported goods. This area is a double whammy for consumers: Not only has a weak dollar pushed the price of imports up, but some have been slapped with tariffs as well, due to the current administration’s trade policies.

One way around that is to be more intentional about

Clean power

Tapping much hotter rocks, above 300 °C, would yield a lot more power from each well, potentially bringing down electricity costs and overcoming the investment barrier. “If superhot geothermal is achievable, it is going to provide commercial rates of return comparable to the oil and gas industry,” Ring says.

A startup called Mazama is testing superhot technology in Oregon, as is the Iceland Deep Drilling Project (IDDP) in the middle of the North Atlantic. In such volcanically active territory, engineers don’t need to go deep to reach high temperatures. The first IDDP well happened to hit a magma chamber only 2.1 kilometers down, releasing steam that would have been enough to generate 36 megawatts, which is 5 to 10 times the power from most conven-

tional geothermal wells, says project scientist Sigurður Hafsteinn Markússon. However, taming such high temperatures is difficult. As the IDDP has discovered, extreme thermal expansion can break conventional drill casings, which are based on steel pipe surrounded by cement. The project aims to counter that by using advanced cement formulas and flexible couplings between stretches of pipework. Fluids from these deep rocks also tend to be corrosive and laced with hydrochloric acid, so the project will investigate new alloys and protective titanium layers for its pipes. Markússon also expects that an initial dose of cold water down the wells should cause the rocks to crack without needing the high pressures of conventional hydrofracking. “We are hoping to look

into developing power plants with this technology from around 2030,” he says.

While superhot rock may be less than 5 kilometers down in Iceland or Oregon, it lies much deeper in most other parts of the world. That puts it under very high pressure, as well as high temperatures, and one concern is that under these conditions rock may become too plastic for fracking to work properly. Recent research seems promising, however. Small samples of granite were subjected to pressures of 1,500 atmospheres and temperatures up to 800 °C and then deformed (6). Despite being somewhat plastic, the rock seemed to develop high permeability, with many microcracks instead of a few big ones. This suggests that permeability could be created in superhot, super-

deep rock, although the lead author of the research, Gabriel Meyer at the Laboratory of Experimental Rock Mechanics in Lausanne, Switzerland, urges caution, saying it’s not clear how long the cracks would remain open.

And drilling will be challenging. Some entirely new methods are being explored. A company called Quaise Energy is developing a method to melt through rock using microwaves, for example. But less radical technology might be able to do the job.

Sage aims to reach depths of at least 10 kilometers and temperatures above 300 °C by using dense fracking fluids that send cracks downward through the rock. Eavor hopes to go down to 15 kilometers and 450 °C, using new cooling methods and other tech-

buying American-made products when possible, as you will avoid the exchange rates and tariffs that have pushed some prices higher.

Cash holdings. Everyone knows that investing involves risk, but there is also risk involved in standing pat with your money. If your cash isn’t earning anything, inflation marches on, and the dollar is declining, then you are essentially losing a little bit of ground every day. That’s a long-term risk, too.

That’s why, at a minimum, you should ensure that your cash is earning something significant. “For savings, shift to high-yield accounts,” suggests Casey.

That way, you can outpace some of these larger macroeconomic issues dragging down the currency. That’s easily done by checking your current rates and opting for accounts generating superior interest.

Card rewards. In an era when every penny counts, probably the easiest layup is maximizing the rewards programs attached to whatever cards you use on a daily basis. And yet, according to one Bankrate survey,

almost a quarter of rewards card users haven’t even cashed in any benefits in the past year. That’s puzzling, because it’s basically leaving money on the table.

International investments. If you have a percentage of foreign stocks in your portfolio, congratulations: All else being equal, the value of those holdings has likely risen, simply by virtue of being denominated in foreign currencies.

For those investors, a weak dollar is actually a good thing. “We have loved the dollar weakening,” says David Demming, a financial planner in Aurora, Ohio. “It has enhanced our overweight in international funds, with emerging markets both the cheapest and best performing last year.”

If you don’t have many international stocks yet, this weak-dollar era brings home the importance of diversifying and having some global exposure in your portfolio. That way, you won’t have all your eggs in one basket. This story was produced by Current and reviewed and distributed by Stacker. Re-published with CC BY-NC 4.0 License.

nologies that remain under wraps. Still, those superdeep, superhot systems may turn out to be impractical or remain many years in the future.

For now, the EGS plants being developed by Fervo and Sage benefit from a favorable political environment. The current US administration has streamlined permitting for geothermal and maintained tax credits for the industry, while removing those benefits for wind and solar. More policy nudges might be needed, says McLaughlin—for example, to cut delays in connecting to the grid, delays that are currently hindering all forms of generation.

What happens next could hinge on the results from these projects over the next few years. Horne hopes that more startups

will follow Fervo’s lead to develop large EGS plants, not least because widespread investment might need more than one or two successes. McLaughlin says it is important to show that this technology works in geographically diverse sites, not only in the western US states where traditional geothermal thrives. Among the big questions yet to be answered, she says, “Can it go east of the Mississippi?”

How the oil and gas industry responds may be crucial. It has the money and muscle to turn this promising trickle of next-gen geothermal into a flood. “Oil companies are hanging around the door,” Horne says, “deciding whether or not to join in.”

Stephen Battersby wrote this article for the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

| Photo courtesy of Kenny Eliason/Unsplash

How gas prices have changed in California in the last week

By Stacker

Stacker compiled statistics on gas prices in California using data from AAA. Gas prices are as of March 16. California by the numbers

- Gas current price: $5.53

- Week change: +$0.32 (+6.2%)

- Year change: +$0.87 (+18.7%)

- Historical expensive gas price: $6.44 (6/14/22)

- Diesel current price: $6.44

- Week change: +$0.48 (+8.1%)

- Year change: +$1.42 (+28.3%)

- Historical expensive diesel price: $7.01 (6/18/22) Metros with most expensive gas in California

#1. Napa: $5.71

#2. San Rafael: $5.70

#3. San Francisco: $5.69

#4. Santa Rosa: $5.68

#5. San Luis Obispo-Atas-

cadero-Paso Robles: $5.65

#6. Salinas: $5.62 #7. Los Angeles-Long Beach: $5.62 #8. San Diego: $5.58 #9. Orange County: $5.57 #10. Oakland: $5.55 #11. Ventura: $5.55 #12. San Jose: $5.53 #13. Madera-Chowchilla: $5.50 #14. San Bernardino: $5.50 #15. Riverside: $5.50 #16.Vallejo-Fairfield: $5.48

#17. Visalia-Tulare-Porterville: $5.45

#18. Fresno: $5.45 #19. Bakersfield: $5.45 #20. Sacramento: $5.44 #21. Santa Cruz-Watsonville: $5.43

#22. Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Lompoc: $5.42 #23. Merced: $5.40 #24. Yolo: $5.37 #25. Stockton-Lodi: $5.37 #26. Hanford-Corcoran:

$5.36

#27. Modesto: $5.34

#28. Chico-Paradise: $5.34

#29. El Centro: $5.28

#30. Redding: $5.28

#31. Yuba City: $5.22

States with the least expensive gas

#1. Kansas: $3.15

#2. North Dakota: $3.20

#3. Oklahoma: $3.22

#4. Arkansas: $3.24

#5. Missouri: $3.25

Read on to see which states have the most expensive gas prices.

#5. Oregon

- Regular gas price: $4.49

#4. Nevada

- Regular gas price: $4.59

#3. Washington

- Regular gas price: $4.92 #2. Hawaii

- Regular gas price: $4.96

#1. California

- Regular gas price: $5.53

Re-published with CC BY-NC 4.0 License.

Legal experts speak out on statewide staffing industry fraud

By Suzanne Potter, Public News Service

The temporary staffing industry in California is plagued by wage and insurance fraud, with cases piling up in recent years, according to legal experts.

In January, a judge fined a company called Man Staffing in Ventura $650,000 for failing to provide workers’ compensation insurance. The feds prosecuted California staffing agencies for tax evasion in 2018, and again in May and December of last year.

Attorney Shaddi Kamiabipour, who spent 14 years with the Orange County District Attorney’s Office rooting out employment fraud, said many lowincome workers are suffer-

North Torrance High School grad Chuck Norris dead at 86

By City News Service

Film and television tough guy Chuck Norris, who was raised in Torrance, was being remembered for his illustrious martial arts and acting career following his death at the age of 86. Norris, who rose to fame as a martial artist and actor who appeared in such films as “The Way of the Dragon,” in which he fought Bruce Lee, and had an extended run with television show “Walker, Texas Ranger,” died in Hawaii on Thursday, according to his family.

The six-time unde -

feated World Profession Middleweight Karate title holder was a native of Ryan, Oklahoma and moved with his family to Torrance when he was 12.

He joined the Air Force after graduating in 1958 from North High School in Torrance, where he played halfback on the school football team and also participated in gymnastics. According to the Associated Press, Norris began his martial arts career during a deployment to South Korea.

He later became the focus of Internet memes that celebrated his special brand of machismo with often exaggerated claims like “Chuck Norris built the hospital he was born in,” and “When Chuck Norris went to college he told his father you’re the man of the house now.”

Norris ran a martial arts studio for a time, training notables including Steve McQueen, who, according to the Associated Press, encouraged him to launch an acting career.

Some of his other

movies include “The Delta Force,” and “Sidekicks.”

He also appeared in the comedy “Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story.”

Norris, who celebrated his 86th birthday last week, is survived by his five children.

His family issued a statement on social media saying Norris’ passing was sudden.

“While we would like to keep the circumstances private, please know that he was surrounded by his family and was at peace,” the statement read.

ing.

“They don’t pay them the prevailing wage if it’s a prevailing-wage contract,” she said. “They discourage them from filing a work comp claims if they’re injured on the job. There’s a lot of retaliation.”

Part of the problem is a lack of regulation. State lawmakers are now considering the Staffing Agency Fair Employment (SAFE) Act. The bill would require temp agencies to register with the state and prove they have workers’ comp insurance. Supporters argue this would level the playing field, since fraudulent agencies who don’t pay for insurance have been undercutting legitimate staffing

businesses.

Kamiabipour said the new standards would lay the groundwork for future prosecutions by establishing a basis for accountability.

“At the very least,” she added, “they are certifying, under the penalty of perjury, that they are aware of what their obligations are to these employees; what they’re going to be held accountable for.”

She noted that in the future, California may see more state-level prosecutions of bad actors in the staffing industry, explaining more DA offices are making use of a state grant that allows them to hire more attorneys who specialize in workers’ comp fraud.

Photo by Sebastian Enrique on Unsplash

Photo by Josh Hild on Unsplash

Chuck Norris in the 1986 action film “The Delta Force.” | Photo courtesy of Yoni S. Hamenahem/Tomer T/Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Temple City City Notices

SUMMARY OF ORDINANCE AS REQUIRED BY GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 36933(c)

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT AT ITS REGULARLY SCHEDULED CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2026, THE CITY COUNCIL ADOPTED: ORDINANCE NO. 25-1084

AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF TEMPLE CITY, CALIFORNIA, ESTABLISHING A TRANSACTIONS AND USE (SALES) TAX BY ADDING ARTICLE F (TRANSACTIONS AND USE TAX OF 2025) IS HEREBY ADDED TO CHAPTER 3 (BUSINESS TAXES) OF TITLE 5 (BUSINESS LICENSES AND REGULATIONS) OF THE TEMPLE CITY MUNICIPAL CODE.

THE FOLLOWING SUMMARIZES ORDINANCE 25-1084

The adopted ordinance contains the provisions/text of a Transactions and Use Tax Measure (Measure TC) that was approved by voters at the March 3, 2026, General Municipal Election.

Ordinance No. 25-1084 was introduced for first reading at the City Council Regular Meeting of November 18, 2025, and adopted at the City Council Regular Meeting of March 17, 2026, by the following vote:

AYES: Councilmember- Chavez, Sternquist, Chen, Man NOES: Councilmember- None

ABSENT: Councilmember- Yu

RECUSED: Councilmember- None

A certified copy of the full text of the ordinance is available for review on the City’s website, templecityca.gov. Anyone having questions may contact the City Clerk at (626) 285-2171.

Dated: March 18, 2026

Published: Monday March 23, 2026

TEMPLE CITY TRIBUNE

Probate Notices

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF:

THOMAS KENT CARTER

CASE NO. 26STPB02521

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the WILL or estate, or both of THOMAS KENT CARTER.

A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by LOIS JEAN GASTON in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES.

THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that LOIS JEAN GASTON AND HAROLD K. CARTER, JR. be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act with limited authority. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows: 04/09/26 at 8:30AM in Dept. 44 located at 111 N. HILL ST., LOS ANGELES, CA 90012

IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.

LEGALS

important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A HEARING on the petition will be held on April 10, 2026 at 8:30 AM in Dept. No. 29 located at 111 N. Hill St., Los Angeles, CA 90012.

Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.

YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk.

Attorney for petitioner:

JARED A BARRY, ESQ SBN 221988 BARRY LAW GROUP 16633 VENTURA BLVD SUITE 1000 ENCINO CA 91436

CN125398 OOL Mar 19,23,26, 2026 DUARTE DISPATCH

of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.

LAW OFFICES OF LINDA MCLARNAN-DUGAN

150 N. SANTA ANITA AVE., SUITE 300 ARCADIA CA 91006

Telephone (626) 296-8670 3/16, 3/19, 3/23/26 CNS-4022156# DUARTE DISPATCH

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF EESONG OOL aka JAMES EESONG OOL

Case No. 26STPB02510

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of EESONG OOL aka JAMES EESONG OOL

A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by Kuokai Cheah in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES. THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that Kuokai Cheah be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

THE PETITION requests the decedent’s will and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate. The will and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court.

issu-ance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowl-edgeable in California law. YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk. Attorney for petitioner: JUSTIN A SHIAU ESQ SBN 229097

ATHLON LEGAL APC 14 N FAIR OAKS AVE STE 503 PASADENA CA 91103

CN125418 MANUEL Mar 19,23,26, 2026 ARCADIA WEEKLY

NOTICE OF AMENDED PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF:

NUBIA HILDA SANCHEZ CASE NO. 25STPB07071

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the WILL or estate, or both of NUBIA HILDA SANCHEZ.

AN AMENDED PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by OSCAR RENGIFO in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES. THE AMENDED PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that OSCAR RENGIFO be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

26PSCP00101 Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles 400 Civic Center Plaza, Pomona, Ca 91766, East Judicial District TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: 1. Petitioner Quay Chan Chuong filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name a. OF Quay Chan Chuong to Proposed name Simon Quay Chuong 2. THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reason for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing NOTICE OF HEARING a. Date: 05/22/2026 Time: 9:00AM Dept: O. Room: 5th Floor The address of the court is same as noted above. 3. a. A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the day set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: El Monte Examiner DATED: March 10, 2026 Christian R. Gullon JUDGE OF THE SUPERIOR COURT Pub. March 16, 23, 30, April 6, 2026 EL MONTE EXAMINER

Trustee Notices

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,

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF ALGIE L. MANUEL aka ALGIE LEE MANUEL, JR. aka ALGIE LEE MANUEL

Case No. 26STPB02829

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of ALGIE L. MANUEL aka ALGIE LEE MANUEL, JR. aka ALGIE LEE MANUEL

A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by Nichole M. Patterson in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES.

THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that Nichole M. Patterson be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

THE PETITION requests the decedent’s will and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate. The will and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court.

THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A HEARING on the petition will be held on April 13, 2026 at 8:30 AM in Dept. No. 67 located at 111 N. Hill St., Los Angeles, CA 90012.

THE AMENDED PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act with limited authority. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows: 05/07/26 at 8:30AM in Dept. 29 located at 111 N. HILL ST., LOS ANGELES, CA 90012

JUVENTINO B. CASAS, JR. - SBN 44445

LAW OFFICE OF J.B. CASAS, JR. 2520 W. BEVERLY BLVD. MONTEBELLO CA 90640

Telephone (323) 726-3200 3/19, 3/23, 3/26/26

CNS-4023936# ROSEMEAD READER

T.S. No. 118328-CA APN: 5777-008-011 NOTICE OF TRUSTEE’S SALE IMPORTANT NOTICE TO PROPERTY OWNER: YOU ARE IN DEFAULT UNDER A DEED OF TRUST, DATED 6/15/2006. 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 On 4/14/2026 at 10:30 AM, CLEAR RECON CORP, as duly appointed trustee under and pursuant to Deed of Trust recorded 6/27/2006 as Instrument No. 06 1414930 of Official Records in the office of the County Recorder of Los Angeles County, State of CALIFORNIA executed by: ANGELA PALACIOS, A SINGLE WOMAN 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, SAVINGS ASSOCIATION, OR SAVINGS BANK SPECIFIED IN SECTION 5102 OF THE FINANCIAL CODE AND AUTHORIZED TO DO BUSINESS IN THIS STATE; BEHIND THE FOUNTAIN LOCATED IN CIVIC CENTER PLAZA, 400 CIVIC CENTER PLAZA, POMONA, CA 91766 all right, title and interest conveyed to and now held by it under said Deed of Trust in the property situated in said County and State described as: LOT 14 OF TRACT NO. 13177, IN THE CITY OF ARCADIA, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, STATE OF CALIFORNIA, AS PER MAP RECORDED IN BOOK 261 PAGES 36 AND 37 OF MAPS, IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY RECORDER OF SAID COUNTY. The street address and other common designation, if any, of the real property described above is purported to be: 415 CORTEZ ROAD, ARCADIA, CA 91007 The undersigned Trustee disclaims any liability for any incorrectness of the street address and other common designation, if any, shown herein. Said sale will be held, but without covenant or warranty, express or implied, regarding title, possession, condition, or encumbrances, including fees, charges and expenses of the Trustee and of the trusts created by said Deed of Trust, to pay the remaining principal sums of the note(s) secured 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: $806,531.65 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 under said Deed of Trust heretofore executed and delivered to the undersigned a written Declaration of Default and Demand for Sale, and a written Notice of Default and Election to Sell. The undersigned or its predecessor caused said Notice of Default and Election to Sell to be recorded in the county where the real property is located. 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

Peggy Kuo, City Clerk

Fictitious

LEGALS

Pasadena City Notices

NOTICE OF NOMINEES FOR PUBLIC OFFICE CITY OF PASADENA

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the following persons listed in ballot order have been nominated for the offices hereinafter mentioned to be filled at the consolidated Municipal Primary Election to be held in the City of Pasadena on Tuesday, June 2, 2026:

City Council – District 3 (Full Term) Vote for One

Erica Margarita Muñoz Housing Navigator

Justin L. Jones City Councilmember/Engineer

City Council – District 5 (Full Term) Vote for One

Jess Rivas Councilmember/Attorney

City Council – District 7 (Full Term) Vote for One

Jason Lyon City Councilmember/Attorney

Alethea O’Toole Business Owner, Accountant

All inquiries pertaining to the above-referenced election should be directed to the City Clerk, City of Pasadena, 100 North Garfield Avenue, Room S228, Pasadena, California 91109, (626) 744-4124.

Mark Jomsky City Clerk

QUALIFIED CANDIDATES AND BALLOT DESIGNATIONS (In Ballot Order Based on Random Drawing by the Secretary of State)

CITY COUNCIL, DISTRICT 3

Name Ballot Designation

Phone No.

Erica Margarita Muñoz Housing Navigator (626) 630-8269

Justin L. Jones City Councilmember/Engineer (626) 773-6408

CITY COUNCIL, DISTRICT 5

Name Ballot Designation

Phone No.

Jess Rivas Councilmember/Attorney (626) 344-7693

CITY COUNCIL, DISTRICT 7

Name Ballot Designation

Phone No.

Jason Lyon City Councilmember/Attorney (626) 491-5220

Alethea O’Toole Business Owner, Accountant (213) 393-5064

Publish March 23, 26, 2026 PASADENA PRESS

Alhambra City Notices

CITY OF ALHAMBRA

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT AMD-26-03 TO AMEND TITLE 23 (ZONING) OF THE ALHAMBRA MUNICIPAL CODE TO UPDATE CHAPTER 23.15 (INCLUSIONARY HOUSING) CONSISTENT WITH THE OBJECTIVES OF THE CITY’S ADOPTED 2021-2029 HOUSING ELEMENT

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on Monday, April 13, 2026 at 6:00 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard, in the Council Chambers of the Alhambra City Hall, 111 South First Street, Alhambra, California, the Alhambra City Council will hold a public hearing to consider an ordinance approving a Zoning Text Amendment to amend Title 23 (Zoning) of the Alhambra Municipal Code to update Chapter 23.15 (Inclusionary Housing) consistent with the objectives of the City’s adopted 20212029 Housing Element. The proposed updates include modifying the Inclusionary Housing affordability requirements to further the City’s objectives of providing affordable housing for all segments of the population.

This meeting will be held in person in the Council Chambers of City Hall located at 111 S. First St., Alhambra, CA but viewing and participation will also be available via Zoom. Details regarding how to listen to and participate in the meeting will be outlined in the agenda posted for the April 13, 2026 meeting or please contact the City Clerk’s Office at (626) 570-5090.

ADDRESS: Citywide

APPLICANT: City of Alhambra

FILE NO.:AMD-26-03

Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act, staff has conducted an initial review of the project application and has determined that the above referenced project is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) unless otherwise noted above.

Further details and legal descriptions relating to the above ordinance is on file and may be viewed in the Community Development Department or City Clerk’s Office in the Alhambra City Hall during normal business hours (7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday thru Thursday).

Any person wishing to be heard on this matter is invited to attend the public hearing and speak to the Council at the time and place stated. Pursuant to California Public Resources Code Section 21177, no action or proceeding may be brought in court unless the alleged grounds for noncompliance with the California Environmental Quality Act were presented to the Council orally or in writing by any person and no person shall maintain an action or proceeding unless that person objected to the approval of the Project orally or in writing to the Council.

LAUREN MYLES, CMC CITY CLERK

Notice No. N2M26-34

File No. F2M18-35

Publish & Post: 3-23-26

Publish March 23, 2026 ALHAMBRA PRESS

Glendale City Notices

NOTICE INVITING BIDS

NOTICE is hereby given that the City of Glendale (“City”) will receive sealed Bids, before

the Bid Deadline established below for the following work of improvement: Fire Station #27 Renovations Project SPECIFICATION NO. 4011

Bid Deadline: Submit before 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 15, 2026 (“the Bid Deadline”)

Original plus one (1) copy of Bid to be submitted to: Office of City Clerk 613 E. Broadway, Room 110 Glendale, CA 91206

Bid Opening: 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 15, 2026 City Council Chambers 613 E. Broadway, 2nd Floor Glendale, CA 91206

NO LATE BIDS WILL BE ACCEPTED.

Bidding Documents Available: Tuesday, March 24, 2026, on City of Glendale Website

Pre-Bid Conference: Date: Wednesday, April 1, 2026 Time: 9:00 am Location: Fire Station #27 1127 Western Avenue Glendale, CA 91201

Note: • All Contractors planning to attend the job walk on April 1st, shall RSVP prior to 4 pm on March 31st by email to cminas@glendaleca.gov or by calling (818) 937-8305.

City of Glendale Contact Person: Celina Minas, Project Manager Phone: 818-937-8305 E-mail: cminas@glendaleca.gov

Mandatory Qualifications for Bidder and Designated Subcontractors:

A Bid may be rejected as non-responsive if the Bid fails to document that Bidder meets the essential requirements for qualification. As part of the Bidder’s Statement of Qualifications, each Bid must provide satisfactory evidence that:

Bidder: Satisfactorily completed at least Three ( 3 ) prevailing wage public contracts in California; each comparable in scope and scale to this Project, within Five ( 5 ) years prior to the Bid Deadline and with a dollar value in excess of the Bid submitted for this Project.

General Scope of Work: Contractor shall furnish labor, materials, equipment, services, and specialized skills to perform work involved in the Project. The Work in the Bid is defined in the Specifications and will generally include the materials needed for the renovation of 1,300 square foot tenant improvements and exterior façade alterations to the existing 4,000 square foot fire station. The proposed partial tenant improvement includes seven new dormitories and three unisex restrooms to support the staffing needs of both fire department and ambulatory personnel. The project will incorporate Title 24 energy-efficiency upgrades, required fire and life safety improvements, and upgrades in electrification and ventilation to bring all affected areas into compliance with current accessibility standards. In addition, the scope includes exterior building façade modifications necessary to meet fire and life safety requirements associated with the new dormitory configuration.

Other Bidding Information:

1.Bidding Documents: Bids must be made on the Bidder’s Proposal form contained herein. Bidding Documents may be obtained by visiting City of Glendale’s website.

2.Completion: This Work must be completed within One Hundred Eighty (180) calendar days from the Date of Commencement as established by the City’s written Notice to Proceed.

3.Acceptance or Rejection of Bids. The City reserves the right to reject any and all Bids, to award all or any individual part/item of the Bid, and to waive any informalities, irregularities or technical defects in such Bids and determine the lowest responsible Bidder, whichever may be in the best interests of the City. No late Bids will be accepted, nor will any oral, facsimile or electronic Bids be accepted by the City.

4.Pre-Bid Conference and Job Walk. A pre-bid conference and job walk will be held at the project site at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 1st at Fire Station #27, located at 1127 Western Avenue, Glendale, CA 91201

5.Contractors License. At the time of the Bid Deadline and at all times during performance of the Work, including full completion of all corrective work during the Correction Period, the Contractor must possess a California contractor’s license or licenses, current and active, of the classification required for the Work, in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 9, Division 3, Section 7000 et seq. of the Business and Professions Code. In compliance with Public Contract Code Section 3300, the City has determined that the Bidder must possess the following license(s): Class “B”. The successful Bidder will not receive a Contract award if the successful Bidder is unlicensed, does not have all of the required licenses, or one or more of the licenses are not current and active. If the City discovers after the Contract’s award that the Contractor is unlicensed, does not have all of the required licenses, or one or more of the licenses are not current and active, the City may cancel the award, reject the Bid, declare the Bid Bond as forfeited, keep the Bid Bond’s proceeds, and exercise any one or more of the remedies in the Contract Documents. Subcontractors’ Licenses and Listing. At the time of the Bid Deadline and at all times during performance of the Work, each listed Subcontractor must possess a current and active California contractor license or licenses appropriate for the portion of the Work listed for such Subcontractor and shall hold all specialty certifications required for such Work. When the Bidder submits its Bid to the City, the Bidder must list each Subcontractor whom the Bidder must disclose under Public Contract Code Section 4104 (Subcontractor Listing Law), and the Bidder must provide all of the Subcontractor information that Section 4104 requires (name, the location (address) of the Subcontractor’s place of business, California Contractor license number, California Department of Industrial Relations contractor registration number, and portion of the Work). In addition, the City requires that the Bidder list the dollar value of each Subcontractor’s labor or services. The City’s disqualification of a Subcontractor does not disqualify a Bidder. However, prior to and as a condition to award of the Contract, the successful Bidder shall substitute a properly licensed and qualified Subcontractor— without an adjustment of the Bid Amount.

www.Notiecfiling.com

6. Permits, Inspections, Plan Checks, Governmental Approvals, Utility Fees and Similar Authorizations: The City has applied and paid for the following Governmental Approvals and Utility Fees: City of Glendale Building Permits and Inspections

7. All other Governmental Approvals and Utility Fees shall be obtained and paid for by Contractor and will be reimbursed based on Contractor’s actual direct cost without markup. See Instructions to Bidders Paragraph 14, and General Conditions Paragraph 1.01 for definitions and Paragraph 1.03 for Contractor responsibilities.

8. Bid Forms and Bid Security: Each Bid must be made on the Bid Forms obtainable at the Public Works Facilities Management

into a valid contract with the City for said Work in accordance with the Contract Documents.

9. Bid Irrevocability. Bids shall remain open and valid for ninety (90) calendar days after the Bid Deadline.

10. Substitution of Securities. Pursuant to California Public Contract Code Section 22300, substitution of securities for withheld funds is permitted in accordance therewith.

11. Prevailing Wages. This Project is subject to the provisions of California Labor Code Section 1720. Contractor awarded this Contract and all Subcontractors of any tier shall not pay less than the minimum prevailing rate of per diem wages for each craft, classification, or type of worker needed to perform the Work. The Director of Industrial Relations of the State of California, pursuant to the California Labor Code, and the United States Secretary of Labor, pursuant to the Davis-Bacon Act, have determined the general prevailing rates of wages in the locality in which the Work is to be performed. The rates determined by the California Director of Industrial Relations are available online at www.dir.ca.gov/DLSR/PWD/. Davis-Bacon wage rates are included in this Specification and are available online at www.wdol.gov/. To the extent that there are any differences in the federal and state prevailing wage rates for similar classifications of labor, Contractor and its Subcontractors shall pay the highest wage rate. California Department of Industrial Relations Public Works Contractor Registration.

Beginning July 1, 2014, under the Public Works Contractor Registration Law (California Senate Bill No. 854 - See Labor Code Section 1725.5), contractors must register and meet requirements using the online application https:// www.dir.ca.gov/Public-Works/Contractor-Registration.html before bidding on public works contracts in California. The application also provides agencies that administer public works programs with a searchable database of qualified contractors. Application and renewal are completed online with a nonrefundable fee of $400 (updated as of July 1, 2017). More information is available at the following links: https://www.dir.ca.gov/Public-Works/PublicWorkssb854.html https://www.dir.ca.gov/Public-Works/Contractor-Registration.html

Beginning April 1, 2015, the City must award public works projects only to contractors and subcontractors who comply with the Public Works Contractor Registration Law.

Notice to Bidders and Subcontractors:

• No contractor or subcontractor may be listed on a Bid proposal for a public works project (submitted on or after March 1, 2015) unless registered with the Department of Industrial Relations pursuant to Labor Code section 1725.5 [with limited exceptions from this requirement for bid purposes only under Labor Code section 1771.1(a)].

• No contractor or subcontractor may be awarded a contract for public work on a public works project (awarded on or after April 1, 2015) unless registered with the Department of Industrial Relations pursuant to Labor Code section 1725.5.

• This Project is subject to compliance monitoring and enforcement by the Department of Industrial Relations.

• The prime contractor must post job site notices prescribed by regulation. (See 8 Calif. Code Reg. Section 16451(d) for the notice that previously was required for projects monitored by the DIR Compliance Monitoring Unit.)

Furnishing of Electronic Certified Payroll Records to Labor Commissioner. For all new projects awarded on or after April 1, 2015, contractors and subcontractors must furnish electronic certified payroll records directly to the Labor Commissioner (aka Division of Labor Standards Enforcement).

Dated this day of ________________, 2026, City of Glendale, California.

Dr. Suzie Abajian, PhD., City Clerk of the City of Glendale

Publish March 23, 2026

GELDNALE INDEPENDENT

NOTICE OF PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING CITY OF GLENDALE GLENDALE MUNICIPAL CODE AMENDMENT

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN:

Project Description

The Planning Commission will make a recommendation to the City Council regarding proposed amendments to Title 30 of the Glendale Municipal Code, 1995 (Zoning Code Amendment), specifically to GMC Chapter 30.11 Residential Districts (R-3050, R-2250, R-1650, and R-1250) regarding multi-family development standards, and to GMC Chapter 30.12 Commercial Districts (C1, C2, C3, CR and CH) regarding multi-family and residential mixed-use development standards in commercial zones, introduction of a new Zoning Code chapter - GMC 30.17 Objective Design Standards (ODS), and other related Zoning Code updates (Zoning Code Amendment Case Nos. PZC-0007-2023 and PZC-00082023).

Environmental Determination

The proposed zoning code amendments are exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) and 15305 because the project involves minor changes to land use regulations which do not result in any changes to land use or density, and because there is no possibility that the project may have a significant effect on the environment.

The proposed ordinance will not result in any increase in residential density or building height beyond what is currently allowed in residential or residential mixed-use zoning districts. The amendments update certain development standards and establish objective design standards to ensure that proposed multi-family residential and residential mixed-use developments comply with consistent design requirements. The allowable multi-family residential densities (units per acre) would remain unchanged, and the adoption of objective design standards would not result in any environmental impacts.

Any future development projects subject to the proposed ordinance would continue to be reviewed individually for potential environmental impacts in accordance with CEQA.

Public Hearing The proposed amendments to the Zoning Code will be considered at a public hearing before the Planning Commission at the Municipal Services Building, 633 East Broadway, Room 105, Glendale, CA 91206, on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at or after the hour of 5:00 p.m. The Planning Commission will make a recommendation to the City Council concerning this matter. A study session on the proposed amendments is scheduled for Planning Commission on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, at or after the hour of 5:00 p.m., in the same location. This study session is for informational purposes only, and no action will be taken. The hearing and study session will be open to the public. For public comments and questions during the meeting, call 818-937-8100. City staff will be submitting these questions

and comments in real time to the appropriate person during the Planning Commission meeting.

The meetings can be viewed on Charter Cable Channel 6 or streamed online at: https://www. glendaleca.gov/government/departments/management-services/gtv6/live-videostream.

Staff reports are accessible prior to the meeting through hyperlinks in the “Agendas and Minutes” section. Website: www.glendaleca.gov/agendas

If you desire more information on the proposal or wish to submit comments prior to the hearing, please contact Vilia Zemaitaitis, AICP, Deputy Director of Long Range Planning, in the Community Development Department at (818) 937-8154 or email: VZemaitaitis@ GlendaleCA.gov.

Any person having an interest in the subject project may participate in the hearing, in person or by phone as outlined above, and may be heard in support of his/her opinion.

Any person protesting may file a duly signed and acknowledged written protest with the Director of Community Development not later than the hour set for public hearing before the Planning Commission. “Acknowledged” shall mean a declaration of property ownership (or occupant if not owner) under penalty of perjury. If you challenge the decision of this project in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the City of Glendale, at or prior to the public hearing. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, please notify the Community Development Department at least 48 hours (or two business days) for requests regarding sign language translation and Braille transcription services.

Dated: March 23, 2026

Dr. Suzie Abajian

The City Clerk of the City of Glendale

Publish March 23, 2026

GLENDALE INDEPENDENT

CITY OF MONTEREY PARK

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE MONTEREY PARK MUNICIPAL CODE ESTABLISHING A LIFELINE UTILITY RATE PROGRAM AND UPDATING PROCEDURES FOR UTILITY BILLING, COLLECTION, AND SERVICE DISCONNECTIONS

The Monterey Park City Council introduced an Ordinance at the March 18, 2026 regular City Council meeting.

If adopted, this ordinance would create a “lifeline” utility rate program that allows the City Council each year to approve discounted rates for City utility services—such as water and wastewater—to help qualifying low-income seniors, people with disabilities, and other low-income households. To qualify, a customer must live at the service address, be the customer of record, and either meet federal “very low income” limits for Monterey Park or be enrolled in certain existing assistance programs such as the CARE energy discount or the California telephone Lifeline program; the City Council would decide annually which utilities are covered, who is eligible, and the amount of the discount.

The ordinance would also update and clarify procedures for how the City bills for utilities, applies late charges and deposits, offers payment plans, and disconnects and restores service when bills are not paid. Property owners and utility customers would both remain responsible for unpaid utility charges, and the City could use tools such as deposits, liens, and other lawful collection methods to recover amounts owed. Before service is shut off, the ordinance requires advance written notices, extra protections for seniors, dependent adults, and customers with serious medical needs, and special procedures for tenants in apartments, mobilehome parks, and similar multi-unit housing so they can keep service or become customers if a landlord fails to pay.

Adoption of the proposed Ordinance is scheduled to take place at the April 1, 2026 regular City Council meeting at 6:30 p.m., in the City of Monterey Park, California, or as soon thereafter as possible.

For a copy of the proposed Ordinance, please contact the City Clerk’s office at (626) 307-1359 or via email at MPClerk@montereypark.ca.gov.

Approved as submitted above:

Karl H. Berger, City Attorney

ATTEST:

Maychelle Yee, City Clerk

Publish March 23, 2026 MONTEREY PARK PRESS

Probate Notices

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF MARINA LEONARDO

Case No. 26STPB02463

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of MARINA LEONARDO

A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by Buenaflor S. Leonardo in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES. THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that Buenaflor S. Leonardo be appointed as personal

thority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A HEARING on the petition will be held on April 13, 2026 at 8:30 AM in Dept. No. 9 located at 111 N. Hill St., Los Angeles, CA 90012.

Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.

Attorney for petitioner: RICHARD MIYAMOTO ESQ SBN 217754

TABATABAI & MIYAMOTO APC 10940 WILSHIRE BLVD STE 1600 LOS ANGELES CA 90024

CN125387 LEONARDO Mar 16,19,23, 2026

GLENDALE INDEPENDENT

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF CONCHITA GOMEZ Case No. 26STPB02624

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of CONCHITA GOMEZ

A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by Patricia Gomez in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES. THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that Patricia Gomez be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A HEARING on the petition will be held on April 13, 2026 at 8:30 AM in Dept. No. 18 located at 111 N. Hill St., Los Angeles, CA 90012.

interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk. Attorney for petitioner: ANDREW M WARD ESQ SBN 221825

DERRYBERRY & ASSOCIATES LLP 41240 11TH ST WEST STE A PALMDALE CA 93551-1448 CN125393 GOMEZ Mar 19,23,26, 2026 BURBANK INDEPENDENT

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: KENNETH RAY HARRELL CASE NO. 26STPB02655 To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the WILL or estate, or both of KENNETH RAY HARRELL.

A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by KENNETH L. SCHWARTZ in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES. THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that KENNETH L. SCHWARTZ be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent. THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows: 04/10/26 at 8:30AM in Dept. 44 located at 111 N. HILL ST., LOS ANGELES, CA 90012

IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law. YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk. Attorney for Petitioner RONALD BERMAN - SBN 079775 BERMAN & BERMAN,

representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

THE PETITION requests the decedent’s will and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate. The will and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court.

The independent administration au-

Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.

YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person

Monterey Park City Notices

BERTO PELAYO.

A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by REBECA MENDEZ in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES.

THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that REBECA MENDEZ be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows: 04/10/26 at 8:30AM in Dept. 62 located at 111 N. HILL ST., LOS ANGELES, CA 90012

Attorney for Petitioner CATALINA REYNOSO, ESQ. - SBN 314864

CATALINA REYNOSO LAW 4401 ATLANTIC AVENUE, #200 LONG BEACH CA 90807

Telephone (562) 984-2052 3/19, 3/23, 3/26/26 CNS-4022947# WEST COVINA PRESS

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: JULIA GOODMAN CASE NO. PROVA2600173

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the WILL or estate, or both of JULIA GOODMAN.

A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by LISA FERGUSON in the Superior Court of California, County of SAN BERNARDINO.

THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that LISA FERGUSON be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows: 04/20/26 at 9:00AM in Dept. F2 located at 17780 ARROW BLVD., FONTANA, CA 92335

IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or

file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.

RYAN E. FENDER - SBN 315532

LAW OFFICE OF RYAN E. FENDER, APC

300 E. STATE ST., SUITE 200 REDLANDS CA 92373

Telephone (909) 726-9580 3/19, 3/23, 3/26/26 CNS-4023205# ONTARIO NEWS PRESS

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF JANET IRENE CAPPS

Case No. 26STPB02900

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of JANET IRENE CAPPS

A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by Stephanie Zavala in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES.

THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that Stephanie Zavala be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A HEARING on the petition will be held on April 15, 2026 at 8:30 AM in Dept. No. 2D located at 111 N. Hill St., Los Angeles, CA 90012.

LAW OFFICE OF

LEGALS

LINDA ELIANA PAQUETTE

847 S GRAND AVE

PASADENA CA 91105

CN125681 CAPPS

Mar 23,26,30, 2026 WEST COVINA PRESS

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF XINWEI JIANG

CASE NO. 26STPB00366

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of: XINWEI JIANG

A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by CHENYAN ZHANG in the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles.

THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that CHENYAN ZHANG be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act with full authority . (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A HEARING on the petition will be held on 06/23/26 at 08:30 AM in Dept. 79 located at 111 N. Hill Street Los Angeles CA 90012 Central Branch .

YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk.

Attorney for Petitioner:

CHENYAN ZHANG - SBN 295899

ZHANG & ZHANG LAW OFFICE, APC

505 S. VILLA REAL, SUITE 116 ANAHEIM CA 92807

Telephone: (626) 600-2990 3/23, 3/26, 3/30/26

CNS-4008137#

BALDWIN PARK PRESS

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF:

WAN TJIN TJOE

CASE NO. 26STPB02799

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the WILL or estate, or both of WAN TJIN TJOE.

A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by IMELDA BARLI in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES. THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that IMELDA BARLI be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

tive will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows: 04/15/26 at 8:30AM in Dept. 9 located at 111 N. HILL ST., LOS ANGELES, CA 90012

100 N. CITRUS ST., #520 WEST COVINA CA 91791

Telephone (626) 918-9000 3/19, 3/23, 3/26/26 CNS-4023822# WEST COVINA PRESS

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: GABRIEL QUINONEZ CASE NO. PROVA2600159

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the WILL or estate, or both of GABRIEL QUINONEZ.

A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by ESTELLA QUINONES AND KIARA ROJAS in the Superior Court of California, County of SAN BERNARDINO.

THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that ESTELLA QUINONES AND KIARA ROJAS be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent. THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act with limited authority. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows: 04/15/26 at 9:00AM in Dept. F1 located at 17780 ARROW BLVD., FONTANA, CA 92335

Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law. YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk.

Attorney for Petitioner ILIANA MADRIGAL, ESQ. - SBN 278590

CHAVEZ LAW GROUP 13225 PHILADELPHIA ST., SUITE A2

WHITTIER CA 90601

Telephone (323) 506-3142

3/23, 3/26, 3/30/26

CNS-4024499#

ONTARIO NEWS PRESS

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF JOYCE ELIZABETH JEWELL aka JOYCE JEWEL, JOTCE E.JEWELL

Case No. 26STPB02748

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of JOYCE ELIZABETH JEWELL aka JOYCE JEWEL, JOTCE E. JEWELL

A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by Los Angeles County Public Administrator in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES.

THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that Los Angeles County Public Administrator be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A HEARING on the petition will be held on April 15, 2026 at 8:30 AM in Dept. No. 29 located at 111 N. Hill St., Los Angeles, CA 90012.

Attorney for petitioner: SUSAN LONG

PRIN DEP COUNTY COUNSEL

DAWYN HARRISON

OFFICE OF COUNTY COUNSEL

500 WEST TEMPLE ST STE 648 LOS ANGELES CA 90012 CN125409 JEWELL Mar 23,26,30, 2026

GLENDALE INDEPENDENT

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME PETITION OF Katrina Lynn Barnes FOR CHANGE OF NAME CASE NUMBER: 26PSCP00065 Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles 400 Civic Center Plaza, Pomona, Ca 91766, East Judicial District TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: 1. Petitioner Katrina Lynn Barnes filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows:

to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the day set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: Pasadena Press DATED: February 19, 2026 Bryant Y. Yang JUDGE OF THE SUPERIOR COURT Pub.

NAME Taina Mirian Lamas PROPOSED NAME Taina Mirian Lopez. The Court Orders that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. Notice Of Hearing Date: 04/02/2026 Time: 1:30pm Dept. D100 REMOTE HEARING The address of the court is Central Justice Center, 700 W. Civic Center Drive, Santa ana, Ca 92701. A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: Anaheim Press Date: February 20, 2026 David J. Hesseltines Judge of the Superior Court Pub Dates March 2, 9, 16, 23, 2026 ANAHEIM PRESS ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME PETITION OF Cynthia Naomi Inouye FOR CHANGE OF NAME CASE NUMBER: 26STCP00358 Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles 111 North Hill Street, Room 118, Los Angeles, Ca 90012, Central Judicial District TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: 1. Petitioner Cynthia Naomi Inouye filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name a. OF Cynthia Naomi Inouye to Proposed name Cynthia Naomi Inouye-Young 2. THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reason for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without

four successive weeks prior to the day set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: Alhambra Press DATED: January 26, 2026 Virginia Keeny JUDGE OF THE SUPERIOR COURT Pub. March 2, 9, 16, 23, 2026 ALHAMBRA PRESS ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME PETITION OF Thi Ben Ngu Le FOR CHANGE OF NAME CASE NUMBER: 26NNCP00133 Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles 150 W Commonwealth ave, Alhambra, Ca 91801, Northeast Judicial District TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: 1. Petitioner Thi Ben Ngu Le filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name a. OF Thi Ben Ngu Le to Proposed name Lena Le 2. THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reason for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should

Parent accused of ﬁre that killed Murrieta girls arraigned

By City News Service

The father of two young girls who perished with their pets in a Christmastime residential ﬁre in Murrieta pleaded not guilty Tuesday to felony charges.

Adam Joseph Keenan, 43, and his wife, Stacey Jo Hales, 46, both of Murrieta, are accused of causing the blaze that claimed the lives of Emma Keenan, 12, and Abby Keenan, 11, in December.

Adam Keenan is charged with three counts of child cruelty resulting in great bodily injury or death and one count of being under the inﬂuence of controlled substances.

The defendant was arraigned Tuesday before Riverside County Superior Court Judge Judith Clark, who scheduled a felony settlement conference for March 25 at the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta.

Keenan, who was taken

into custody last week during a trafﬁc stop in Lake Elsinore, is being held in lieu of $160,000 bail at the Byrd Detention Center.

Hales is charged with two counts of arson resulting in great bodily injury or death, one count of arson to an inhabited structure resulting in great bodily injury or death, three counts of child cruelty, one count of animal abuse and one count of being under the inﬂuence of controlled substances, with a sentence-enhancing allegation of victimizing multiple people in an act of arson.

She’s free on a $160,000 bond and is scheduled for arraignment on April 14.

“Investigatorsdetermined there was sufﬁcient evidence to establish probable cause that Hales and Keenan were criminally responsible for the ﬁre and resulting deaths of the juve-

niles and animals,” according to a Murrieta Police Department statement last week.

The blaze erupted shortly before 5 a.m. on Dec 20 in the couple’s mobile home in the 41000 block of Knight Drive, near Adams Avenue.

“Upon arrival, ﬁrst responders found the home, carport, three vehicles, two outbuildings and a large pine tree fully engulfed in ﬂames,” according to the police department.

Murrieta Fire & Rescue personnel worked for nearly an hour to knock down the blaze, and during a postcontainment search of the residence, they discovered the two sisters and “multiple household pets” dead, police said.

The parents suffered various injuries, along with their other daughter Ashley Keenan, all of whom escaped

Authorities did not

Cielo Vista Charter School gains Blue Zones Project approval

By City News Service

Aceremonyother activities will be held Wednesday at Cielo Vista Charter School in Palm Springs to celebrate the facility’s recognition as the ﬁrst Blue Zones Project-approved school in the area.

“Being named the ﬁrst Blue Zones Project approved school in Palm Springs is an incredible honor for our entire school community,” Juanita Perezchica, principal of the charter school, said in a statement. “Our staff, students and families have worked hard to create a school environment where well-being, leadership and learning go hand-in-hand. Partnering with Blue Zones Project allows us to take this work even further by expanding opportunities for out students to grow

healthy, conﬁdent and connected to their community.”

The festivities will start at 7:15 a.m. Wednesday with a “walking school bus,” a community walk with children accompanied by parents and educators, from Demuth Park to the school at 650 Paseo Dorotea. A ribbon- cutting ceremony will follow at 7:45 a.m., followed by a “Healthy Carnival” on campus at 8 a.m.

The carnival will feature outdoor games, crafts and activities from Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert and a pop-up farmers market by Aziz Farms.

Ofﬁcials said the school was recognized for its leadership in creating a culture of health and well-being.

In partnership with Blue Zones Project Palm Springs, school ofﬁcials will create and expand wellness initiatives for student health and learning, including enhancing the school’s gardening program, a monthly “walking school bus” and expanding programming that supports students’ well-being.

“Programs like their school garden and the Walking School Bus create meaningful opportunities for students and families to engage in healthy habits that support both academic and personal success,” Palm Springs Uniﬁed School District Superintendent Marcus Funchess said.

Palm Springs Mayor Naomi Soto said the school is “setting an inspiring

example for schools across the city.”

“When schools, families and community partners come together around wellbeing, we create healthier

Homeless services

neighborhoods and brighter futures for our children,” she said.

The Round 6 grants were for 20 county regions — Alameda, Contra Costa,

“HHAP grants provide essential funding that help local regions collaborate to expand housing opportunities and scale programs that are proven to reduce homelessness,” said California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency Secretary Tomiquia Moss. “Across multi-year funding rounds, the cumulative results of these efforts are bringing stability and hope to so many vulnerable Californians in a time when it matters most.”

El Dorado, Fresno and Madera, Humboldt, Imperial, Kings and Tulare, Marin, Mendocino, Monterey and San Benito, Napa, San Bernardino, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, Sonoma, Tehama and Ventura. Collectively, the

municipalities in these 20 regions are dedicating 83% of their HHAP budgets to permanent and interim housing, according to state housing department.

In each HHAP region, counties, cities and local “continuum of care” agencies that address

homelessness were required to work together on joint applications and commit to coordinating with each other and clearly stating who is responsible for which parts of their joint regional homelessness efforts, state housing ofﬁcials said.

HHAP is a multiyear

grant available to the state’s 58 counties, 14 large cities with populations over 300,000 residents and 44 continuums of care. For more information on the county and the CoC’s efforts to address homelessness, please visit sbchp. sbcounty.gov.

The Blue Zone celebration gets started at Cielo Vista Charter School in Palm Springs. | Photo courtesy of the Palm Springs Uniﬁed School District/Facebook

the ﬂames. Hales suffered damage to her eyesight, according to published reports.

identify the speciﬁc origin of the ﬁre, though the criminal complaint suggested both parents were allegedly strung out on drugs at the time. Neither defendant has documented prior felony convictions in Riverside County.

Emma and Abby Keenan. | Photo courtesy of Andrea Raikoglo/GoFundMe

Felon charged with killing homeless man, woman during stabbing spree

By City News Service

Aconvictedfelon accusedoffatally stabbing two transients during apparent random attacks in downtown Riversidewascharged Wednesday with two counts of first-degree murder and other offenses.

Cesar Aguirre, 32, of Perris, was arrested earlier this month following a Riverside Police Department investigation into the deaths of 54-year-old Richard Hinds and 57-yearold Corrina Segovia.

Along with the murder counts, Aguirre is charged with special circumstance allegations of targeting multiple people in a deadly crime and lying in wait, as well as sentence-enhancing allegations of using a deadly weapon in the commission of a felony.

The defendant made his initial court appearance Wednesday afternoon before Riverside County Superior Court Judge Jay Kiel, who appointed him a public defender and scheduled his arraignment for April 2 at the Riverside Hall of Justice.

“We praise the expeditious actions of all involved in this investigation,” Police Chief Larry Gonzalez said. “Our RobberyHomicide Unit (worked) around the clock to bring this violent and dangerous predator to justice, protecting our vulnerable homeless community.”

Aguirre is being held without bail at the Byrd Detention Center.

According to Riverside police Detective Steven Espinosa, sometime after midnight March 12, Aguirre boarded an RTA bus near his Perris home and rode it into Riverside, where he began walking downtown streets.

Shortly after 2 a.m., he encountered Hinds in the area of 12th and Main streets. Espinosa alleged the defendant pulled a knife and stabbed the victim several times, then walked away, leaving the homeless man bleeding to death.

Moments later, at the intersection of 12th and Orange streets, Aguirre

Multiple train cars derail in Mecca

By City News Service

Cleanup was underway Thursday after more than 20 train cars carrying roughly 40 shipping containers of non-hazardous products were derailed in Mecca, with no injuries or evacuations reported.

The incident was reported shortly after 5 p.m. Wednesday in the area of Parkside Drive and Highway 111, according to the Riverside County Fire Depart-

ment. The agency stated that a fire department hazmat unit, county Department of Environment Health, Union Pacific personnel and law enforcement were called in and remained on site while cleanup was conducted.

A spokesperson for Union Pacific told City News Service on Thursday that roughly 40 rail cars on a Union Pacific train derailed

in the area of Parkside Drive and State Park Road and that hazardous materials were not involved. Cleanup was being conducted by Union Pacific. The cause of the derailment was not immediately known.

Highway 111 at Parkside Drive remained closed as of Thursday morning. California Highway Patrol urges motorists to us SR-86 as an alternate route.

attacked Segovia, inflicting mortal knife wounds and then walking away, the police spokesman alleged.

“These were local homelessindividualsknown to frequent the downtown area,” he said. “Investigators later determined Aguirre’s attacks were unprovoked.”

The victims were discovered a short time later by passersby, who called 911. Both died where they fell.

Aguirre was identified based on undisclosed evidence. He was tracked to his residence on Spectacular Boulevard, where he was taken into custody without incident last March 13.

His prior convictions were not listed by the court.

Conservation groups work to save Chuckwalla National Monument

By Suzanne Potter, Public News Service

Ajudgeisallowing local and statewide conservation groups to intervene in a lawsuit to defend Chuckwalla National Monument.

An off-road group based in Idaho and a miner from Michigan have sued the U.S. Department of the Interior, seeking to strip protections from the national monument, located in the desert mountains 80 miles east of Palm Springs.

Colin Barrows, cofounder of the CactustoCloud Institute in La Quinta, one of the intervenors in the lawsuit, said Chuckwalla is significant to 13 tribal nations.

“There’s a lot of World War II and mining history in

the area,” Barrows pointed out. “There are species that are found nowhere else on earth. You’ve got endangered desert tortoises, bighorn sheep, hundreds of species of plants and animals.”

President Joe Biden used the Antiquities Act to confer national monument status to Chuckwalla weeks before leaving office. The area includes the Orocopia Mountains, which means “plentiful gold.” But locals said there is very little gold to be found there. The name was just a long-ago marketing ploy to attract residents and miners.

Barrows argued the Trump administration’s focus on extracting commercial value from public lands

is misguided.

“Morally and financially, there’s much more value in protecting public lands – for recreation access, for clean air and water, for tribal values – than there is in stripping whatever minerals might be there and then having it be a wasteland forever after,” Barrows contended.

He added the off-highway vehicle paths crisscrossing the monument are maintained by staff when they wash out during periodic flash floods. Other groups intervening in the lawsuit include the Conservation Lands Foundation, the National Parks Conservation Association and the Sierra Club.

Chuckwalla National Monument is managed by the Bureau of Land Management and includes well-known trails through Ladder Canyon and Painted Canyon. | Photo courtesy of Bob Wick/BLM

Cesar Aguirre. | Photo courtesy of the Riverside Police Department/ Facebook

A Union Pacific freight train. | Photo courtesy of Union Pacific Railroad/Facebook