‘Marilyn, Mom & Me,’ personal comic drama, premieres in Long Beach
DeShaun Foster named new UCLA football coach, replacing Chip Kelly
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Report shows large racial disparities in arrests in Northeast Los Angeles County
May S. Ruiz
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MayRChu56@gmail.com
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According to the report, “the ratio of arrestees to residents is more than four times higher for Black arrestees than for White arrestees in all three suburban cities.” Likewise, “the ratio of Hispanic arrestees to Hispanic residents is more than twice as high for Hispanic arrestees than for White arrestees in all three cities.” | Graph courtesy of Commission on Human Relations
records requests show that arrests cluster especially around major commercial centers in the cities,
except for arrests for violent crimes, which cluster in
areas with higher Black and Latino populations.
See Racial disparities Page 17
California targets total grocery plastic bag elimination in environmental crusade By HeyWire AI
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n a bold move to strengthen environmental stewardship, California is on the verge of completely outlawing plastic grocery shopping bags by 2026. This latest legislation, introduced by Democratic State Senator Catherine Blakespear, is set to close a critical loophole that has permitted the continued use of heavier, so-called
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Welcoming the Year of the Dragon at The Huntington’s Lunar New Year Festival
By City News Service rrest and booking data from three police departments in Northeast Los Angeles County -- Glendale Police Department, Pasadena Police Department, and South Pasadena Police Department -- showed large disparities in arrests by race, according to an analysis issued Monday by the county Commission on Human Relations. The report reveals that Black and Latino arrest rates in the suburban cities are much higher than those for whites and Asians. The county commission also determined that cash bail disparately impacts Black and Latino arrestees, who are more likely to be given jail time for similar offenses committed by white and Asian arrestees. In addition, data obtained from the three police agencies through public
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"reusable" bags since the state's original 2014 ban on single-use plastic bags. A decade after California led the nation in anti-plastic legislation, the loophole allowing the use of these thicker plastic bags for a nominal fee has caught the eye of legislators and environmentalists. Evidence suggests that the well-intended initia-
tive has been counterproductive, with California's plastic bag waste skyrocketing from 157,385 tons at the outset to an astonishing 231,072 tons by 2022, according to a report by consumer advocacy group CALPIRG. The increase per capita suggests a discouraging trend, despite a signifiSee Plastic bag Page 31
cant drop in the number of flimsy bags littering coastlines post-ban. "Ten years ago, California passed a ban on single-use plastic grocery bags that included a definition of a reusable grocery bag that can be provided at stores for a small fee," said CALPIRG's
o most Asians and people of Chinese descent, the dragon is the most auspicious animal symbol in the lunar calendar – the sign symbolizes power and success and brings good fortune and prosperity. The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens welcomed the Year of the Dragon with a festival on Feb. 10 and 11, 2024 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Program highlights on Feb. 10 included live music by the Han Music Ensemble (10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. and 2–4 p.m.) and Chinese Kwun Opera Society (11 a.m. and 1 p.m.) in the Chinese Garden. There were also martial arts demonstrations by Shaolin Temple Cultural Center USA (East Lawn, 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.) and K-STAR Contortion and Martial Arts (Rothenberg Hall, 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.), as well as lion dancers featuring Northern Shaolim Kung Fu (12:30 and 3:30 p.m.) on the East Lawn near the Huntington Art Gallery. Additionally, mask-changing artist Wei Qi Zhong performed (11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m.) inside Haaga Hall. “This is one of the most beloved events of the entire year at The Huntington,” Sian Adams, director of strategic initiatives, stated during a phone conversation. “There’s something for everybody; it has a lot of different food options, live music, performances, arts and crafts workshops for kids, lots of different offerings that make the day fun for a variety of ages.” While some events – like the lion dance – are mainstays, the organizers mix up the offerings. “We always are looking at the programming,” stated Adams. “This year we added the Kun Opera for a two-day performance in the Chinese Garden because we wanted to bring in something very artistic and special to the garden’s space itself.” Whether it was by design or just disorganized programming, some shows were presented simultaneously at 11 am and 1 pm. Visitors either missed a really great show or had to stay the entire day to catch all the performances. And if that was the organizers’ plan all along, then it was genius! But there were several shows that went on throughout the day, like the floral arrangements, the Lego display, and calligraphy writing station. The Han Music Ensemble played well-known Chinese music with traditional instruments at the Transcendent Pavilion from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 2 to 4 p.m. According to Adams the Lunar New Year Festival is open to all members but it’s so popular that membership tickets usually sell out on the first day they’re offered. Tickets are also available to the general public although these also go very quickly so everyone is encouraged to purchase well in advance. Advanced reservations to get in are required See Lunar New Year Page 32