State officials repeat call for court to quash HB voter ID law
By Joe Taglieri
CaliforniaAttorney
General Rob Bonta
and Secretary of State Shirley Weber on Wednesday appealed an Orange County Superior Court ruling that upheld Huntington Beach’s voter-approved voter ID law.
In March 2024, 53% of Huntington Beach voters approved Measure A. The ballot initiative amended the city’s charter to allow city officials to verify voters’ identities before granting access to polling places.
According to Bonta and Weber’s appeal to the state’s 4th District Court of Appeals in Santa Ana, “With scant analysis, the lower court — the Orange County Superior Court — denied on April 7 the state’s petition for writ of mandate, which asserted that state law prohibits and overrides Measure A.”
The lower court held that the voter ID verification could be imposed because conflicting state law does not indicate “matters of statewide concern.”
In a statement following the appeal’s filing Wednesday, Bonta said, “Our elections are already secure, and applicants who register to vote in California are already required to verify their identity during the registration process and at the polls. We remain confident that Measure A will ultimately be struck down, especially
because the appellate court previously expressed reservations about Huntington Beach’s argument that it can regulate its elections without any state interference.”
This is the latest appeal in an ongoing legal battle between the city and state.
Bonta and Weber first appealed to the 4th District Court on Feb. 13. A week later, a three-judge panel of the appellate court issued a unanimous order stating the lower court’s “conclusion that this matter is not ripe for decision is problematic” and the city’s argument that “it had a constitutional right to regulate its own munici-
pal elections free from state interference ... is also problematic.”
The appellate court also directed the lower court to rule on whether it would modify earlier orders granting the city’s motion to dismiss the case. On Feb. 27, the Orange County Superior Court vacated the earlier orders and concluded that “there is a ripe justiciable controversy” and set an April 3 hearing on the State’s request that the court invalidate the voter ID law.
The Huntington Beach City Council, which voted
to place Measure A on the ballot, was also divided on the voter ID issue. Mayor Tony Strickland and Mayor Pro Tem Gracie Van Der Mark were in favor of the measure, while council members Rhonda Bolton, Dan Kalmick and Natalie Moser were against it, according to the Orange County Registrar of Voters.
“The city’s unapologetic efforts to impose voter identification requirements in its local elections clearly violate state law,” Weber said in a statement. “It is an unfortunate continuation of a long line of voter suppres-
By City News Service
The long-awaited Real ID requirement took effect at airports across the country Wednesday, but while authorities urged passengers to anticipate some security-screening delays and arrive early for their flights, there were no reports of any excessively long lines or impacts at Los Angeles International Airport.
Jason Pantages, the Transportation Security Administration federal security director at LAX, told reporters Wednesday morning there had been “no operational impacts” at the airport caused by the requirement being implemented.
“No excessive wait times,” Pantages said. “We’re continuing to educate the public that moving forward if you’re going to travel on an aircraft throughout the United States, you have to have Real ID-compliant identification. And if you do not have Real ID-compliant identification, you may be
subject to additional screening measures. We’ll ask that you get to the airport a little bit early so that you’re not delayed to much on your travel out.
“This isn’t something new. Today is the drop-dead date that we’re starting to enforce that.”
As of Wednesday morning, passengers were required to present a Real ID or other acceptable form of identification to board a flight. The requirement was initially approved in 2005 as part of the response to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, but its implementation was repeatedly delayed from the original 2008 deadline.
To determine if a California driver’s license is Real ID-compliant, travelers are advised to look for a golden bear with a star in the top right corner. Those who aren’t sure can check with the California Department of Motor Vehicles.
| Image courtesy of Assemblyman Mike Fong’s office
Orange County election workers prepare ballots Thursday for special elections in Huntington Beach and the Newport-Mesa Unified School District. | Photo courtesy of the Orange County Registrar of Voters/Facebook
LA Metro names San Francisco police chief as head of public safety operation
By City News Service
San Francisco police Chief
William “Bill” Scott was named Wednesday the leader of Metro’s new public safety department, overseeing the policing of a transit system that has struggled with safety concerns following a spate of high-profile violent crimes.
Scott, who spent 27 years with the Los Angeles Police Department before taking over in San Francisco, will return “to the city where he built his career to lead one of the most significant public safety transitions in LA Metro’s history,” according to a statement from the agency. He will officially assume his role on June 23.
Scott, who resigned from the San Francisco post on Wednesday, was hired by Metro following a selection process that included input from Metro’s Board of Directors, transit system employees and community stakeholders.
“This moment demands a leader like Chief Scott, who brings vision and integrity to this important role,” Metro Board Chair and
county Supervisor Janice Hahn said in a statement.
“He understands that real public safety is about more than enforcement, it’s about trust, transparency and working with the community to make every rider feel safe.”
Scott was named chief of police for San Francisco in 2017. Metro officials said he is widely recognized for driving public safety improvements, while advancing policing initiatives recommended by the U.S. Department of Justice. Under his leadership, the San Francisco Police Department reduced useof-force incidents, prioritized de-escalation training and improved the violent crime clearance rate to reach levels above national averages, according to Metro. He promoted the use of license plate reading cameras and drones to address organized retail and property crime. He also oversaw safety and security on San Francisco’s Muni system, which saw a drop in crime across the transit system, falling to 2.3 crimes
per 100,000 miles of travel as of March.
“This is an incredible opportunity at this point in my career,” Scott said in a statement. “How many people can say they have built a public safety operation from the very beginning? I’m honored to be back in L.A., but even more honored to have this chance to lead this next chapter for
LA Metro.”
“Together, we have an opportunity to create something that reflects the values of this region, supports our frontline teams and earns the trust of the public we serve,” he added.
As Metro’s chief of police, Scott will focus on creating a strong internal leadership team, building relationships with the Los Angeles
County Sheriff’s Department, LAPD and Long Beach Police Department, as well as enforcing the agency’s safety policies. He’ll also lead transit security coordination for the World Cup in 2026, Super Bowl in 2027 and 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins described the appointment as a “defining moment” for the agency.
“We heard the community’s call for a leader who is calm under pressure, emotionally intelligent and politically astute,” Wiggins said in a statement. “Someone who can balance enforcement with empathy and collaboration.”
Metro has experienced a series of highly publicized violent crimes. In a bid to address such crimes, officials expanded the agency’s unarmed Ambassador program, deployed more security officers, and installed protective barriers on all of its buses. The agency rolled initiatives to address fare evaders, with taller fare
Health department urges measles vaccine as LA County cases rise
By Staff
Ameasles diagnosis for a fourth person this year in Los Angeles County prompted health officials Tuesday to urge vaccination ahead of residents’ summer travel plans.
The individual had recently traveled to the county from abroad, according to the Department of Public Health.
Measles outbreaks are occurring in the United States and internationally. In the U.S. as of May 2, 935 measles cases have been reported in 2025.
Officials urged all residents to receive the measles-mumps-rubella, or MMR vaccine if they are not immune.
“Measles is a serious respiratory disease that spreads easily through the air and on surfaces, particularly among people who are not already protected from it,” county Health Officer Muntu Davis said in a statement. “A person can spread the illness to others before they have symptoms, and it can take seven to twentyone days for symptoms to
show up after exposure. Measles can lead to severe disease in young children and vulnerable adults. As LA County residents begin to travel this summer and with measles cases increasing among those who have recently traveled, we remind everyone that the best way to protect yourself and your family from infection is with the highly effective measles vaccine.”
The traveler was not infectious while in transit, officials said. Currently there are no public locations where other people may have been exposed to the measles virus, outside of health care facilities that are notifying patients and staff of the exposure.
Public Health was also working to identify others who may have been exposed and attempting to confirm if those individuals have received the MMR vaccine.
The health department advised residents to review immunization and medical records to determine if they are protected against
measles, especially before international or domestic travel in areas experiencing measles outbreaks. If exposed to the virus, residents should contact and notify their health care provider as soon as possible if they are pregnant, an
infant, have a weakened immune system or are unimmunized regardless of vaccination history, officials said. If symptoms develop, “stay at home, and avoid school, work and any large gatherings. Call a healthcare provider
gates at all new rail stations and some existing ones, and piloting weapons detection systems.
But many local officials have called for a more visible police presence on the transit system to deter crime. Policing the system has generally been a job shared by LAPD, Long Beach police and the sheriff’s department, since Metro trains and buses move through their various jurisdictions.
Metro hopes to have its own in-house police department operational by 2029.
Metro officials said Scott’s experience in guiding the SFPD through complex issues -- such as the COVID-19 pandemic, policing following the murder of George Floyd, and calls to reduce crime in the city -- make him well suited to lead the new public safety department. Scott was raised in Birmingham, Alabama, and earned a degree in accounting from the University of Alabama. He graduated from the Senior Management Institute for Police.
immediately. Do not enter a health care facility before calling them and making them aware of your measles exposure and symptoms.”
Airborne measles spreads easily when an infected person breathes, talks, coughs or sneezes, according to Public Health. The virus can stay in the air and on surfaces for many hours after the infected person has left an area.
“An infected person can spread the disease up to four days before a measles rash appears and up to four days after the rash appears,” the department reported. “If other people breathe the contaminated air or touch the infected surface, then touch their eyes, noses, or mouths, they can become infected.”
Symptoms include high fever above 101 degrees, cough, runny nose, red and watery eyes and a rash three to five days after other signs of illness appear. The “measles rash” usually begins on the face, then spreads downward to the rest of the body.
The MMR vaccine is administered in two doses and is more than 90% effective, officials said. Measles transmission can be prevented if two-dose coverage of vaccine remains at 95% or above in the community.
For a list of clinics that offer free or low-cost immunizations for uninsured or underinsured county residents, call 211 or visit publichealth.lacounty.gov/ ip/clinics.htm.
Most of these 935 measles cases in the U.S. are linked to an ongoing measles outbreak in Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma, Public Health reported. Most infections occurred in people who are unvaccinated or did not know their vaccination status. Three people have died from complications related to measles, and 11% of the nation’s cases required hospitalization to manage complications or for isolation.
The last measles case in an LA County resident was reported in April.
William “Bill” Scott at a press conference Wednesday with Supervisor Hilda Solis (left) and Supervisor Janice Hahn (right). | Screenshot from Metro Los Angeles / Facebook
| Photo courtesy of UCLA Health
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Trump’s
NIH axed research grants even after a judge blocked the cuts, internal records show
By Annie Waldman, ProPublica
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Reporting Highlights
- Grants Terminated: Washington state’s attorney general alleges the Trump administration has violated a preliminary injunction intended to stop it from cutting research grant funding.
- Whistleblower Revelations: Internal NIH records obtained by the state attorney general appear to show research grants were cut in response to presidential executive orders.
- DOGE Role: NIH officials testified that DOGE was directly involved in hundreds of grant terminations.
These highlights were written by the reporters and editors who worked on this story.
For more than two months, the Trump administration has been subject to a federal court order stopping it from cutting funding related to gender identity and the provision of gender-affirming care in response to President Donald Trump’s executive orders.
Lawyers for the federal government have repeatedly claimed in court filings that the administration has been complying with the order. But new whistleblower records submitted in a lawsuit led by the Washing-
ton state attorney general appear to contradict the claim.
Nearly three weeks after the court’s preliminary injunction was issued, the National Institutes of Health’s then-acting head, Dr. Matthew J. Memoli, drafted a memo that details how the agency, in response to Trump’s executive orders, cut funding for research grants that “promote or inculcate gender ideology.”
An internal spreadsheet of terminated NIH grants also references “gender ideology” and lists the number associated with Trump’s executive order as the reason for the termination of more than a half dozen research grants.
The Washington attorney general’s allegation that the Trump administration violated a court order comes as the country lurches toward a constitutional crisis amid accusations that the executive branch has defied or ignored court orders in several other cases. In the most high-profile case so far, the administration has yet to comply with a federal judge’s order, upheld unanimously by the Supreme Court, requiring it to “facilitate” the return of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador in March.
The records filed in the NIH-related lawsuit two weeks ago also reveal for the first time the enormous scope of the administration’s changes to the agency, which has been subject to massive layoffs and research cuts to align it with the president’s political priorities.
Other documents filed in the case raise questions concerning a key claim the administration has made about how it is restructuring federal agencies — that the Department of Government Efficiency has limited authority, acting mostly as an advisory body that consults on what to cut.
However, in depositions filed in the case two weeks ago, two NIH officials testified that DOGE itself gave directions in hundreds of grant terminations.
The lawsuit offers an unprecedented view into the termination of more than 600 grants at the NIH over the past two months. Many of the canceled grants appear to have focused on subjects that the administration claims are unscientific or that the agency should no longer focus on under new priorities, such as gender identity, vaccine hesitancy and diversity, equity and inclusion. Grants related to research in China
have also been cut, and climate change projects are under scrutiny.
Andrew G. Nixon, the director of communications for the Department of Health and Human Services, the NIH’s parent agency, told ProPublica in an email that the grant terminations directly followed the president’s executive orders and that the NIH’s actions were based on policy and scientific priorities, not political interference.
“The cuts are essential to refocus NIH on key public health priorities, like the chronic disease epidemic,” he said. Nixon also told ProPublica that its questions related to the lawsuit “solely fit a partisan narrative”; he did not respond to specific questions about the preliminary injunction, the administration’s compliance with the order or the involvement of DOGE in the grant termination process. The White House did not respond to ProPublica’s questions.
Mike Faulk, the deputy communications director for the Washington state attorney general’s office, told ProPublica in an email that the administration “appears to have used
This story was originally published by ProPublica. ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Sign up for The Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox.
NIH Clinical Center. | Photo courtesy of the National Institutes of Health
istration’s assertion that they were based on the agency’s own authority and grant policy.
As of April 3, Bulls said she had received more than five lists of grants that needed to be terminated, amounting to “somewhere between five hundred and a thousand” grants.
Most grant recipients endure a rigorous vetting process, which can involve multiple stages of peer review before approval, and before this year, Bulls testified that grant terminations at the NIH have historically been rare. There are generally two main types of terminations, she said, for noncompliance or based on mutual agreement. Bulls said that she has been “generally involved in noncompliance discussions” and since she became the director of the office in 2012, there had been fewer than five such terminations.
In addition to the termination letters, Bulls said she relied on the template language provided by Riley
to draft guidance to inform the 27 centers and institutes at the NIH what the agency’s new priorities were to help them scrutinize their own research portfolios.
Following the depositions, the Washington state attorney general’s office said that the federal government has refused to respond to its discovery requests. It has filed a motion to compel the government to respond, which is pending.
Riley, Bundesen, Bulls and Memoli did not reply to ProPublica’s requests for comment.
While the administration did not answer ProPublica’s questions about DOGE and its involvement in the grant terminations, two weeks ago in its budget blueprint, it generally justified its proposed cuts at the NIH with claims that the agency had “wasteful spending,” conducted “risky research” and promoted “dangerous ideologies that undermine public health.”
“NIH has grown too big and unfocused,” the
White House claimed in its fiscal plan, adding that the agency’s research should “align with the President’s priorities to address chronic disease and other epidemics, implementing all executive orders and eliminating research on climate change, radical gender ideology, and divisive racialism.”
Jeremy Berg, who led the National Institute of General Medical Sciences at the NIH from 2003 to 2011, told ProPublica that the administration’s assessment of the institution was “not fair and not based on any substantial analysis or evidence,” and the proposed cuts “would be absolutely devastating to NIH and to biomedical research in the United States.”
“It is profoundly distressing to see this great institution being reduced to a lawless, politicized organization without much focus on its actual mission,” he said.
Republished with Creative Commons License (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0).
| Photo courtesy of Canva
Archbishop José H. Gomez presided at a Mass of Thanksgiving at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels Friday to celebrate the election of Pope Leo XIV — one day after Chicago native Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost made history as the first American ever elected leader of the Roman Catholic Church.
Gomez was joined by auxiliary bishops and other clergy from across the LA archdiocese “to pray and welcome the Holy Father from the local church in Southern California,” the archdiocese said Thursday.
Friday’s Mass — the archdiocese’s official observance marking the election of the new Holy Father — was scheduled for 12:10 p.m. and was livestreamed at youtube.com/user/olacathedral.
The new pope was chosen Thursday on the second day of the conclave of 133 cardinals from around the world at the Vatican. Pope Leo replaces Pope Francis, who was a former archbishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and the first Latin American pontiff. Francis died April 21 in the Vatican at age 88 — one day after Easter. He served as pope for 12 years.
Prevost, 69, spent most of his career as a missionary in Peru, but was chosen by Francis to lead the Vatican’s Office of Bishops, which reviews nominations in the appointment of bishops around the world.
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles quickly noted the selection of the new pontiff, posting on social media Thursday, “LA Catholics give thanks to God for His Holiness Pope Leo XIV.”
The announcement from the Vatican came Thursday morning Los Angeles time, and Gomez spoke to reporters Thursday afternoon to praise the selection.
“The word Catholic means universal,” Gomez said. “The mission of the Catholic Church is to share the light of Christ and proclaim the love of God to every human on Earth, in every nation, in every land to the ends of the Earth.
LA Archbishop Gomez celebrates Mass for new pope
By City News Service
“Now we have a new pope to continue leading us in that mission, following the beautiful example of the previous popes, especially I would say Pope Francis.”
Prevost’s elevation to pontiff was widely hailed by religious and lay leaders throughout the Southland.
“Habemus Papam!
I’m filled with hope as we welcome Pope Leo XIV,” Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath wrote on social media following the announcement.
“I saw firsthand Pope Francis’ deep commitment to human rights, our environment & immigrants dignity for people of all faiths. I look forward to continuing that spirit of shared purpose with our new Holy Father.”
Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson posted on social media, “Congratulations to Pope Leo XIV on his election. His leadership holds deep meaning for many here in Long Beach and around the world. We wish him wisdom and peace as he begins this sacred journey.”
Los Angeles City Councilman Tim McOsker, a devout
Catholic, told KNX News he was “blown away” that an American was chosen.
“This is a historic moment when a pope passes — God bless Pope Francis — and to see a selection so quickly is remarkable,” McOsker said. “ ... We are in the Easter season, this is a period of time between Easter Sunday and the Pentecost. It’s the holiest of seasons for the Catholics, and to have all of this come to fruition during this holy season is really remarkable. I didn’t think in my lifetime I would see an American pope.”
Rep. Nanette D. Barragán, D-Los Angeles, said, “His appointment marks a new chapter for the Catholic Church and for millions who look to the Church for moral leadership in a complex world.”
Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis said Leo’s selection “marks a significant moment not only for the Church but for the world.”
“Born in Chicago and having served for over two decades in Peru, where he became a bishop and later
a naturalized citizen, Pope Leo brings with him a unique blend of cultural insight and pastoral experience,” Solis said. “As Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, he demonstrated a strong commitment to the poor and migrants, and a consistent effort to engage with people across different walks of life.
“As he begins his Papacy, I hope his leadership will reflect the compassion, understanding, and global perspective that have shaped his ministry thus far.”
Rep. Linda Sanchez, D-Los Angeles, said the new pope “arrives at a time when the Church faces both challenges and opportunities. I’m hopeful he will follow Pope Francis and continue to be a vessel for peace, dignity and inclusion in the world. I pray he is granted the strength and wisdom necessary to serve humanity.”
Diocese of Orange Bishop Kevin Vann, Auxiliary Bishop Timothy E. Freyer and Auxiliary Bishop Thanh Thai Nguyen issued a joint statement hailing the papal selection.
“Bishop Vann, the
bishops, priests, deacons, religious and the Catholic faithful of the Diocese of Orange join the entire world today in giving thanks to God for the election of our new Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, a man of great faith and integrity who will lead the church in a journey of faith, hope and love,” they said.
“We are blessed that Pope Leo XIV harbors a deep commitment to proclaiming the Gospel and a pastoral heart that reflects Christ’s mercy and compassion. To our diocese and all people of goodwill, we invite you to join in prayer for the Holy Father, so that God may grant him wisdom, courage and peace as he guides the Church into the future.
“Lastly, we thank the College of Cardinals, guided by the Holy Spirit, in reaching this monumental decision. May our Blessed Mother Mary intercede for him and all of us, as we continue the journey of faith together under the leadership of Pope Leo XIV.”
Freyer told City News Service that he was involved in a training session for
priests when the white smoke appeared above the Sistine Chapel on Thursday, indicating a new pope had been elected.
“We canceled our plans” and put the live telecast of the announcement on TV, he said.
“We were watching — nervous and anxious and excited and praying that God will continue to bless us,” Freyer said.
Freyer recalled that when he was in the seminary, “We studied the social teachings of the church, and first document we read was from Pope Leo XIII” — who led the Catholic Church from 1878 until his death in 1903, and from whom Prevost took the papal name Leo XIV.
In an era when the world was struggling with the industrial revolution in the 1890s, Leo XIII emphasized the importance of a social safety net for “those excluded or marginalized,” Freyer said.
The document “speaks to the dignity of work and the importance of paying a just wage. It speaks of the right to own property and how we should try to resolve things locally as much as possible — so many things that fit our present reality,” Freyer said.
The new pope’s experience as a missionary in Peru no doubt exposed him to “poverty that for us in the United States would be unimaginable,” Freyer said.
Pope Leo XIV is an Augustinian priest, so his call to build bridges instead of walls reflects how “that community works on building unity and has that as a focal point of their ministry, not just in the church but within government structures, families, societies and neighborhoods.”
Augustinians “focus on what unites us, not what divides us,” he said.
“It’s a wonderful day,” Freyer said. “So many people were praying for the cardinal electors and the Holy Spirit was clearly working and moving within them, and we’re blessed to have a new shepherd and guide.”
Pope Leo XIV makes his first public appearance as pontiff Thursday in Vatican City. | Photo courtesy of Vatican News/YouTube
SoCal hockey: Ducks tap Joel Quenneville as coach after his ban by NHL; Kings part ways with GM Rob Blake
By City News Service
The Anaheim Ducks Thursday announced the hiring of Joel Quenneville as coach — bringing the secondwinningest coach in NHL history back into the league after he was banned for 3 1/2 years over his handling of a sex-abuse scandal during his coaching stint with the Chicago Blackhawks.
Quenneville, 66, resigned as Florida Panthers coach on Oct. 28, 2021, when they were 7-0-0, hours after meeting with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman to discuss his role in the scandal involving prospect Kyle Beach, who had been called up to the Blackhawks during the team’s 2010 Stanley Cup playoff run.
Bettman, the Panthers and Quenneville mutually agreed that “it was no longer appropriate” for Quenneville to continue as Florida’s coach, according to a statement from Bettman at the time.
Bettman also said in the statement at the time that, should Quenneville wish to return to the league, “I will require a meeting with him in advance in order to determine the appropriate conditions under which
incident during the Blackhawks’ 2010 Stanley Cup championship run.
According to a league investigation, on May 23, 2010, Blackhawks executives held a meeting about the sexual assault claims and decided they would not address them until after the Stanley Cup playoffs, to avoid it becoming a distraction.
The matter was not discussed again, and on June 14, 2010, five days after Chicago won the Stanley Cup, the Blackhawks human resources director gave Aldrich the option to resign or face termination if John Doe 1’s claims turned out to be true. Aldrich chose to resign and was permitted to participate in postseason celebrations, according to the investigation findings.
Beach went public with his allegations in 2021. The Blackhawks and Beach reached an undisclosed settlement.
ownership, management and passionate fans.
“In nearly four years away from the game, I have learned from my prior mistakes and realized it will be actions over words that demonstrate my commitment to being a better leader.”
The Ducks were 12th in the NHL’s 16-team Western Conference in the 2024-25 season. They last qualified for the playoffs in the 2017-18 season, also the last time they had a winning record.
Cronin was the third Ducks coach to be fired since they last made the playoffs.
Quenneville coached Blackhawks to the Stanley Cup in 2010, 2013 and 2015, their first NHL championships since 1961. He is one of 11 coaches in NHL history to win the Stanley Cup three times and the only one during the salary cap era, which began in the 2005-06 season.
victories over 25 seasons are second behind Scotty Bowman’s 1,244 over 30 seasons.
Quenneville coached the St. Louis Blues from 1997-2004, the Colorado Avalanche from 2005-08, the Blackhawks from 2008-19 and the Panthers from 2019- 21. He was an assistant coach with Colorado when it won the Stanley Cup in 1996.
Quenneville was a defenseman for five NHL teams from 1978 to 1991.
Kings, Blake part ways after playoff exit
The Los Angeles Kings and general manager and vice president of hockey operations Rob Blake have mutually agreed to part ways, the team announced last week.
Team President Luc Robitaille said the search for a new general manager will begin right away.
Oilers May 1, losing 6-4 in Game 6 of the best-of-seven Western Conference first round.
It was the fourth consecutive season the Kings have lost to the Oilers in the opening round of the playoffs.
“On behalf of the entire organization, I would like to thank Rob for his dedication to the LA Kings and the passion he brought to his role,” Robitaille said in a statement May 5. “Reaching this understanding wasn’t easy and I appreciate Rob’s partnership in always working toward what is best for the Kings.”
Robitaille said Blake played a key role in the team’s growth and will always be valued for his contributions to the franchise.
such new employment might take place.”
The NHL announced on July 1, 2024, that Quenneville and former Blackhawks executives Stan Bowman and Al MacIsaac were eligible to seek employment in the NHL.
“While it is clear that, at the time, their responses were unacceptable, each of these three individuals has acknowledged that and used his time away from the game to engage in activities which, not only demonstrate sincere remorse for what happened, but also evidence greater awareness of the responsibilities that all NHL personnel have, particularly personnel who are in positions of,” the league said in a statement.
“Moreover, each has made significant strides in personal improvement by participating in myriad programs, many of which focused on the imperative of responding in effective and meaningful ways to address alleged acts of abuse.”
Beach had anonymously sued the Blackhawks in 2010, alleging a prolonged sexual assault at the hands of then-video coach Brad Aldrich during an off-ice
In the Ducks’ news release announcing Quenneville’s hiring, General Manager Pat Verbeek said, “Over the last two weeks, we conducted interviews with many outstanding coaching candidates, while simultaneously conducting a comprehensive review of what took place while Joel was head coach of the Blackhawks in 2010. We spoke with dozens of individuals, including advocates for positive change in hockey and leadership of the NHL, which last July officially cleared Joel to seek employment in the league.
“Our findings are consistent with Joel’s account that he was not fully aware of the severity of what transpired in 2010. It is clear that Joel deeply regrets not following up with more questions at the time, has demonstrated meaningful personal growth and accountability, and has earned the opportunity to return to coaching.”
Quenneville succeeds Greg Cronin, whose firing was announced April 19, three days after completing his second season with a 35-37-10 record, 16 points out of a playoff berth.
“I’m excited to join the Anaheim Ducks,” Quenneville said in a statement. “This is the organization I wanted to restart my career with and am truly grateful for this opportunity. The Ducks have incredible
His 969 coaching
The Kings were eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs by the Edmonton
During his eight seasons as general manager, Blake led the Kings to a 309-23871 regular-season record and five playoff appearances.
Joel Quenneville coaches the Chicago Blackhawks during a practice in 2011. | Photo courtesy of David Kindler/Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
By Sachi Kitajima Mulkey, Grist via Stacker
At any given moment, more than 10,000 satellites are whizzing around the planet at roughly 17,000 miles per hour. This constellation of machinery is the technological backbone of modern life, making GPS, weather forecasts and live television broadcasts possible.
But space is getting crowded. Ever since the Space Age dawned in the late 1950s, humans have been filling the skies with trash. The accumulation of dead satellites, chunks of old rockets and other litter numbers in the tens of millions and hurdles along at speeds so fast that even tiny bits can deliver lethal damage to a spacecraft. Dodging this minefield is already a headache for satellite operators, and it’s poised to get a lot worse — and not just because humans are now launching thousands of new crafts each year.
All the excess carbon dioxide generated by people burning fossil fuels is shrinking the upper atmosphere, exacerbating the problem with space junk, Grist explains. New research, published in Nature Sustainability on March 10, found that if emissions don’t fall, as few as 25 million satellites — about half the current capacity — would be able to safely operate in orbit by the end of the century.
That leaves room for just 148,000 in the orbital range that most satellites use, which isn’t as plentiful as it sounds: A report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office in 2022 estimated that as many as 60,000 new satellites will crowd our skies by 2030. According to reports, Elon Musk’s SpaceX alone wants to deploy 42,000 of its Starlink satellites.
“The environment is very cluttered already. Satellites are constantly dodging right and left,” said William Parker, a Ph.D. researcher in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics and the lead author of the study. In a
recent six-month period, SpaceX’s Starlink satellites had to steer around obstacles 50,000 times. “As long as we are emitting greenhouse gases, we are increasing the probability that we see more collision events between objects in space,” Parker said. Until recently, the effects of greenhouse gas emissions on the upper atmosphere were so understudied that scientists dubbed it the “ignorosphere.” But research using modern satellite data has revealed that, paradoxically, the carbon dioxide that warms the lower atmosphere is dramatically cooling the upper atmosphere, causing it to shrink like a balloon that’s been left in the cold. That leaves thinner air at the edge of space.
The problem is that atmospheric density is the only thing that naturally pulls space junk out of orbit. Earth’s atmosphere doesn’t suddenly give way to the vacuum of space but gets dramatically thinner at a point known as the Kármán line, roughly 100 kilometers up. Objects that orbit the planet are dragged down by the lingering air density, spiraling closer to the planet until eventually reentering the atmosphere, often burning up as they do.
According to the nonprofit Aerospace Corporation, the lowest orbiting debris takes only a few months to get dragged down. But most satellites operate in a zone called “low Earth orbit,” between
200 and 2,000 kilometers up, and can take hundreds to thousands of years to fall. The higher outermost reaches of Earth’s influence are referred to as a “graveyard” orbit that can hold objects for millions of years.
“We rely on the atmosphere to clean out everything that we have in space, and it does a worse job at that as it contracts and cools,” Parker said. “There’s no other way for it to come down. If there were no atmosphere, it would stay up there indefinitely.”
Parker’s study found that in a future where emissions remain high, the atmosphere would lose so much density that half as many satellites could feasibly fit around all the debris stuck
in space. Nearly all of them would need to squeeze into the bottom of low Earth orbit, where they would regularly need to use their thrusters to avoid getting dragged down.
Between 400 kilometers and 1,000 kilometers, where most satellites operate, as few as 148,000 would be safe. More than that, and the risk of satellites crashing into debris or each other poses a threat to the space industry.
“The debris from any collision could go on to destroy more satellites,” said Jonathan McDowell, an astronomer at the HarvardSmithsonian Center for Astrophysics in Massachusetts who was not involved with the Nature study. “And so you can get a chain
reaction where all the satellites are hitting each other, breaking up, and creating more and more debris.”
This domino effect, commonly known as Kessler syndrome, could fill the orbit around Earth with so much destructive clutter that launching or operating satellites becomes impossible. It’s the runaway scenario, the paper cautions, which will make greenhouse gas emissions more likely.
“But the chain reaction doesn’t happen overnight,” McDowell said. “You just slowly choke more and more on your own filth.”
According to the European Space Agency, at least 650 breakups, explosions, or collisions have flung their wreckage into space since space exploration started. Space surveillance networks, like the U.S. Space Force, are currently tracking nearly 40,000 pieces of debris, some as large as a car. At least 130 million objects smaller than 10 centimeters are also estimated to be orbiting Earth but are too tiny to be monitored.
Scientists have recently been researching ways to remove this debris by, as McDowell metaphorically put it, “sending garbage trucks into space.”
In 2022, a Chinese satellite successfully grabbed hold of a defunct one by matching its speed before towing it into graveyard orbit. In 2024, a Japanese company, Astroscale, managed to maneuver a retrieval device within 15 meters of a discarded rocket — close enough to magnetically capture it — before backing away.
“In general, it’s an environmental problem being stored up for future generations,” McDowell said. “Are we going to hit our capacity? I think we’re going to find out the hard way.”
This story was produced by Grist and reviewed and distributed by Stacker. The article was copy edited from its original version. Republished with CC BY-NC 4.0 license.
registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of the Business and Professions Code that the registrant knows to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000). I am also aware that all information on this statement becomes Public Record upon filing pursuant to the California Public Records Act (Government Code Sections 6250- 6277). /s/ Marynina G Mendez, Secretary. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Bernardino on April 24, 2025 Notice- In accordance with subdivision (a) of Section 17920. A Fictitious Name Statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the County Clerk, except, as provided in subdivision (b) of Section 17920, where it expires 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to Section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered
owner. A new Fictitious Business Name Statement must be filed before the expiration. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see Section 14411 et seq., Business and Professions Code) File#: FBN20250003905 Pub: 04/28/2025, 05/05/2025, 05/12/2025, 05/19/2025
San Bernardino Press
The following person(s) is (are) doing business as Uncle Mike’s Salsa 25974 Camino Rosada Moreno Valley, CA 92551 Riverside County All Day Deliverys Inc (CA, 25974 Camino Rosada, Moreno Valley, CA 92551
Riverside County
This business is conducted by: a corporation. Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on April 1, 2025. I declare that all the information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of the Business and Professions Code, that the registrant knows to be false, is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousands dollars ($1000).) s. Michael Joe Garcia, CEO Statement filed with the County of Riverside on April 7, 2025 NOTICE: In accordance with subdivision (a) of section 17920, a fictitious name statement generally expires at the end of the five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the county clerk, except, as provided in subdivision (b) of section 17920, where it expires 40 days after any changes in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. A new Fictitious Business Name Statement must be filed before the expiration. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see Section 14411 Et Seq., business and professions code). I hereby certify that this copy is a correct copy of the original statement on file in my office. Peter Aldana, County, Clerk File# 202504598 Pub. 04/28/2025, 05/05/2025, 05/12/2025, 05/19/2025 Riverside Independent
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File No. FBN20250003920 The following persons are doing
business as: HOMENOW, 473 E Carnegie Dr, San Bernardino, CA 92408. Mailing Address, 473 E Carnegie Dr, San Bernardino, CA 92408. Ecohome Specialties (CA-5843899, 19 E Citrus Ave 201, Redlands, CA 92373; Jaron Gallagher, CEO. County of Principal Place of Business: San Bernardino This business is conducted by: a corporation. Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on March 26, 2025. By signing below, I declare that I have read and understand the reverse side of this form and that all information in this statement is true and correct. A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of the Business and Professions Code that the registrant knows to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000). I am also aware that all information on this statement becomes Public Record upon filing pursuant to the California Public Records Act (Government Code Sections 62506277). /s/ Jaron Gallagher, CEO. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Bernardino on April 24, 2025 Notice- In accordance with subdivision (a) of Section 17920. A Fictitious Name Statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the County Clerk, except, as provided in subdivision (b) of Section 17920, where it expires 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to Section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. A new Fictitious Business Name Statement must be filed before the expiration. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see Section 14411 et seq., Business and Professions Code) File#: FBN20250003920 Pub: 04/28/2025, 05/05/2025, 05/12/2025, 05/19/2025 San Bernardino Press
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File No. FBN20250003495
The following persons are doing business as: Topline Builder, 12246 16th Street, Yucaipa, CA 92399. Mailing Address, 12246 16th street, Yucaipa, CA 92399. # of Employees 1. Sady J Soriano Ramos, 12246 16th street, Yucaipa, CA 92399. County of Principal Place of Business: San Bernardino This business is conducted by: a individual. Registrant has not yet begun to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein. By signing below, I declare that
I have read and understand the reverse side of this form and that all information in this statement is true and correct. A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of the Business and Professions Code that the registrant knows to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000). I am also aware that all information on this statement becomes Public Record upon filing pursuant to the California Public Records Act (Government Code Sections 62506277). /s/ Sady J Soriano Ramos. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Bernardino on April 10, 2025 Notice- In accordance with subdivision (a) of Section 17920. A Fictitious Name Statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the County Clerk, except, as provided in subdivision (b) of Section 17920, where it expires 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to Section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. A new Fictitious Business Name Statement must be filed before the expiration. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see Section 14411 et seq., Business and Professions Code) File#: FBN20250003495 Pub: 04/28/2025, 05/05/2025, 05/12/2025, 05/19/2025 San Bernardino Press
The following person(s) is (are) doing business as Regal Nails & Spa 39400 Murrieta Hot Springs Rd STE 115 Murrieta, CA 92563 Riverside County TK Nail Lab LLC (CA, 3 9400 Murrieta Hot Springs Rd STE 115, Murrieta, CA 92563 Riverside County This
subdivision (a) of section 17920, a fictitious name statement generally expires at the end of the five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the county clerk, except, as provided in subdivision (b) of section 17920, where it expires 40 days after any changes in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. A new Fictitious Business Name Statement must be filed before the expiration. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see Section 14411 Et Seq., business and professions code). I hereby certify that this copy is a correct copy of the original statement on file in my office.
Peter Aldana, County, Clerk File# R-202505508 Pub. 05/05/2025, 05/12/2025, 05/19/2025, 05/26/2025
Riverside Independent
The following person(s) is (are) doing business as Assets R Us 39520 Murrieta Hot Springs Rd Ste 219-2002 Murrieta, CA 92563
Riverside County Mailing Address, 3800 W Devonshire Ave 98, Hemet, CA 92545. Riverside County Chef J’s Specialties & Wellness LLC (CA, 39520 Murrieta Hot Springs Rd Ste 219-2002, Murrieta, CA 92563 Riverside County This business is conducted by: a limited liability company (llc). Registrant has not yet begun to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein. I declare that all the information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of the Business and Professions Code, that the registrant knows to be false, is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousands dollars ($1000).) s. Joyce Abney, CEO Statement filed with the County of Riverside on April 24, 2025 NOTICE: In accordance with subdivision (a) of section 17920, a fictitious name statement generally expires at the end of the five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the county clerk, except, as provided in subdivision (b)
Pasadena reduces fees to support accessory dwelling units
By Staff
In an effort to encourage residents to add accessory dwelling units to help lower rents, the city of Pasadena has slashed fees for permitting and plan approval.
The fee reductions for single-family properties are effective immediately and aim to lower out-of-pocket expenses for homeowners to build additional units that serve both the local real estate market and the city’s affordable housing needs, officials said.
Homeowners who use the city’s preapproved ADU Standard Plans or sign affordability agreements with the Housing Department are now eligible for a 50% reduction in plan check fees.
Permit costs such as the General Plan Maintenance Fee and Technology Fee are completely waived for ADUs that use standard plans or affordability agreements, according to the city. ADUs up to 900 square feet get a 25% reduction in permitting fees, and the Construction & Demolition Performance Deposit is now a flat, refundable $1,000 for all ADUs.
Officials expected additional fee reductions that require the City Council to approve an ordinance are expected to go into effect in July. The Residential Impact Fee exemption will expanded to apply to ADUs up to 900 square feet, and dwellings of all sizes with a housing agreement.
The Construction Tax, a fee charged upon permit issuance, will be waived for ADUs that use preapproved plans or have affordability agreements. The fee will drop by 25% for ADUs 900 square feet or smaller.
“These fee adjustments mean that the majority of ADUs in Pasadena will benefit from an approximately 25% reduction in overall permitting and plan check costs, while those that utilize the City’s Standard Plans or enter into a Housing Agreement can see savings of over 50% compared to the current fee structure,” according to the city’s announcement. “These efforts reflect Pasadena’s ongoing commitment to increasing housing supply, promoting affordability, and supporting sustainable, community-focused devel-
OC Teachers of the Year winners surprised with honor
By City News Service
SixOrangeCounty teachers were honored with Teachers of the Year awards earlier this month. The instructors will receive a $25,000 reward at a gala to be held this fall. The winners are:
-- Tracy Havens, who teaches second grade at Hicks Canyon Elementary School in the Tustin Unified School District;
-- Catherine ReinhardtZacair of Fullerton College;
-- Megan Lee, who teaches kindergarten at Loara Elementary in the Anaheim Elementary School District;
-- Jeannette Aguilera, a third-grade teacher at Centralia Elementary School
in the Centralia Elementary School District;
-- Darcy Blake of Ladera Vista Junior High School of the Arts in the Fullerton School District;
-- Erin Bro of San Clemente High School in the Capistrano Unified School District.
Havens started teaching in Hillsboro, Oregon, in 2001. She started working in Tustin the next year. She has been with Hicks since 2005. Reinhardt-Zacair started teaching at Fullerton College 10 years ago and is a French language instructor.
Lee switched to a transitional Kindergarten class two years ago after nine years with the school. Lee is known for “family meetups”
opment.”
Information on applying for ADU permits or access-
ing preapproved plans is on the city’s website, tinyurl. com/wj4xhxv9.
Edison to test transmission tower suspected of sparking Eaton Fire
By Staff
that include field trips as well as a buddy system that paired her students with preschoolers.
Aguilera, who has taught for about 10 years, helped establish her school’s inaugural “Leadership Day,” which invited the community in for student-led tours showing leadership projects.
Blake has been teaching English and creative writing at Ladera Vista for 20 years and last year served as the school’s leader for re-designation on the state Schools to Watch program.
Bro coordinates San Clemente High’s Advancement Via Individual Determination, or AVID, program and is a director on the district’s program.
As part of an investigation into the start of the deadly Eaton Fire that devastated Altadena and nearby communities, Southern California Edison is removing a transmission tower suspected of sparking blaze and moving parts to a warehouse for testing and analysis, a spokesperson for the utility confirmed Thursday.
A helicopter lifted a portion of a tower out of Eaton Canyon on Wednesday, according to local television news reports. A second part of the tower was moved about one hour later.
The dismantled tower will first go to a staging area
in the canyon and will then move to another location for more testing, SCE spokesperson Gabriella Ornelas said. Third-party experts hired by SCE will analyze equipment in “close coordination” with experts from “interested parties” that include fire investigators, city and county officials and plaintiffs’ counsel.
Further testing and analysis will take place at a warehouse in Irwindale.
The testing site’s specific location was unavailable, Ornelas said.
“This is all part of an effort to get as much information as we can to have a thorough and transpar-
ent investigation into the cause of the Eaton Fire,” Dave Eisenhauer of SCE told ABC7. Several lawsuits have been filed against the utility that focus on the transmission tower as the fire’s alleged starting point. Los Angeles County, the cities of Pasadena and Sierra Madre and many Altadena homeowners are among the plaintiffs.
The Eaton Fire erupted Jan. 7 amid hurricane-force Santa Ana winds, leveling neighborhoods and burning over 14,000 acres while causing the deaths of 18 people, according to Cal Fire.
An accessory dwelling unit adds a residence in an existing home’s backyard. | Photo courtesy of the city of Pasadena
Tracy Havens accepts her Teacher of the Year award and prize money. | Photo courtesy of the Orange County Dept. of Education/Vimeo
“Photogrammetry” video displays flames from the Eaton Fire under Southern California Edison power lines, according to attorneys representing fire victims. | Photo courtesy of LA Fire Justice