Duarte Dispatch_4/28/2025 by Beacon Media News

Orange County judge convicted of 2nd-degree murder for shooting wife

The Trump administration’s war on children

By Eli Hager, ProPublica

The clear-cutting across the federal government under President Donald Trump has been dramatic, with mass terminations, the suspension of decades-old programs and the neutering of entire agencies. But this spectacle has obscured a series of moves by the administration that could profoundly harm some of the most vulnerable people in the U.S.: children.

Consider: The staff of a program that helps millions of poor families keep the electricity on, in part so that babies don’t die from extreme heat or cold, have all been fired. The federal office that oversees the enforcement of child support payments has been hollowed out. Head Start preschools, which teach toddlers their ABCs and feed them healthy meals, will likely be forced to shut down en masse, some as soon as May 1. And funding for investigating child sexual abuse and internet crimes against children; responding to reports of missing children; and preventing youth violence has been withdrawn indefinitely.

The administration has laid off thousands of workers from coast to coast who had supervised education, child care, child support and child protective services systems, and it has blocked or delayed

billions of dollars in funding for things like school meals and school safety. These stark reductions have been centered in littleknown children’s services offices housed within behemoth agencies such as the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Justice, offices with names like the Children’s Bureau, the Office of Family Assistance and the Office of Juvenile Justice and

Delinquency Prevention. In part because of their obscurity, the slashing has gone relatively overlooked.

“Everyone’s been talking about what the Trump administration and DOGE have been doing, but no one seems to be talking about how, in a lot of ways, it’s been an assault on kids,” said Bruce Lesley, president of advocacy group First Focus on Children. He added that “the one cabinet agency

that they’re fully decimating is the kid one,” referring to Trump’s goal of shuttering the Department of Education. Already, some 2,000 staffers there have lost or left their jobs.

The impact of these cuts will be felt far beyond Washington, rippling out to thousands of state and local agencies serving children

See War on children Page 03

Orange County supervisors seek review of Andrew Do plea deal

By Paul Anderson, City News Service

Orange County supervisors Tuesday approved a resolution asking federal prosecutors to review the plea deal for former Supervisor Andrew Do, who pleaded guilty to bribery and is awaiting sentencing.

The board voted 4-1 in favor, with Supervisor Don Wagner the dissenting vote, for the resolution sponsored by Supervisor Janet Nguyen, who replaced Do on the board. Do once worked as Nguyen’s chief of staff until the two had a falling out, and they have clashed politically in the past.

The board delayed voting on the measure two weeks ago by the same vote with Vice Chairwoman Katrina Foley voting no because she wanted to vote for it then and not put it on hold. The resolution the board voted on Tuesday was revised.

A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office declined to comment on the resolution.

Do’s attorney, Paul Meyer, said, “This blatant attempt to assert political influence in a federal matter is reprehensible.”

Do is scheduled to be sentenced June 9. On April 14, U.S. District Judge James Selna approved a forfeiture order for Do that includes the former supervisor paying $1,702,640.86 from one bank account and $724,749.10

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from another as well as giving up property at 14732 Candeda Place in Tustin and another property at 2410 W. 17th St. in Santa Ana.

Do pleaded guilty to a felony federal bribery conspiracy charge on Oct. 31. His attorney worked out a deal that puts a five-year lid on Do’s time behind bars.

Do admitted in his plea agreement that in exchange for more than $550,000 in bribes, he cast votes starting in 2020 that directed more than $10 million in COVIDrelief funds to the Viet America Society, where his daughter Rhiannon worked, according to federal prosecutors.

Do faces up to five years in prison and his daughter, Rhiannon Do, will be placed in a diversion program as part of the plea deal.

“A federal prosecutor who looks at the totality of the evidence will hopefully come to the same conclusion as the general public: Andrew Do is getting a special deal because he was a public official,” Nguyen said.

“I want to see justice in this case. Five years in prison is not punishment. Andrew Do will be out of custody in the blink of an eye.”

Part of the reason the board wants a review of the case stems from the discovery that Do continued to receive

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.

Photo by Aaron Kittredge via Pexels

Orange County judge convicted of 2nd-degree murder for shooting wife

By Paul Anderson, City News Service

Sentencing is set for June 13 for Orange County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Ferguson who is facing 40 years to life in prison for his second-degree murder conviction for shooting his wife following an hours-long argument.

Jurors deliberated for about seven hours before convicting the 74-year-old Ferguson Tuesday afternoon of killing 65-year-old Sheryl Ferguson on Aug. 3, 2023, at their Anaheim Hills home. They also found true a sentence- enhancing gun allegation.

Jurors began deliberating at about 2:45 p.m. Monday.

Ferguson was taken into custody after the verdict was read and ordered to remain jailed without bail.

A previous jury deadlocked 11-1 in favor of a second-degree murder conviction, prompting the retrial.

Defense attorney Cameron Talley asked Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Eleanor Hunter if the defendant could give his son, Phillip, the primary witness in the case, a hug goodbye and she left it up to the bailiffs, who let the two embrace.

As Ferguson hugged his son, he told him, “Be strong.”

Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer told reporters he found the judge’s comment “ironic.”

“He took the life of Sheryl Ferguson, he took her will to live and crushed it,” Spitzer said. “He took his own son’s life and crushed it. ... Here was a man who said be strong and he took life out of everybody in his familiar sphere.

... It was so ironic, so Shakespearean.”

Spitzer emphasized that his office “will be there” for Phillip Ferguson as a crime victim. He noted the defendant’s son “was in a rock and a hard spot,” torn by the loss of his mother and his father’s incarceration.

“Phillip, you did nothing but be a good son,” Spitzer said. “Phillip will be part of my prayers.”

Spitzer recalled how he has known Ferguson for three decades.

“I’ve known their son since he was a little boy” on the campaign trail with his father, Spitzer said.

“He tried to run for judge for many years, but there was no opening,” Spitzer said.

Spitzer praised Hunter for fast-tracking a retrial within a month.

“We don’t see that in Orange County,” Spitzer said, criticizing local judges for taking longer to clear the way for a retrial. “She sets an example for our Orange County bench.”

Talley told Hunter he wasn’t ready for a retrial, pointing out he lost his original co-counsel and had just received transcripts from the original trial, among other reasons. Defense attorney Frances Prizzia was co-counsel for Talley in the retrial.

Tuesday started with some drama for the defendant when a bailiff told Hunter that he overheard Ferguson discussing the case with his son in earshot of some of the jurors. Hunter ripped Ferguson and was about to hold a hearing to

decide whether to revoke his bail but then jurors reached their verdict.

Spitzer said the judge was right that Ferguson “doesn’t listen, doesn’t follow the law, doesn’t think it applies to him.”

Hunter criticized Ferguson multiple times in court for doing television news interviews following the mistrial.

“I agree with Judge Hunter 100%,” Spitzer said. “He was absolutely trying to gain sympathy from the jury pool.”

Talley defended his client, saying Ferguson just wanted the public to know he loved his wife.

“It’s a natural reaction to want to tell the back story,” Talley told reporters. “He basically said he loved his wife.”

Talley said as a former longtime prosecutor he got to

know Ferguson.

“We liked each other and this is so sad to see this now,” Talley said.

Phillip Ferguson was “balling his eyes out” after the verdict.

“I told him I know how much his dad loves him,” Talley said. “Those two have a rich, father-son relationship.”

Phillip Ferguson struggled through his testimony in the retrial, as he did in the first trial. It opened up a chance for prosecutors to admit more of the video of police questioning of the son as evidence in the retrial.

Jeffrey Ferguson claimed the shooting was accidental, insisting the gun discharged when he fumbled it while trying to set the weapon on a coffee table. He said his shoulder, which is missing three of four tendons, gave out while he was handling the weapon and it discharged.

By City News Service

Google and YouTube announced Wednesday they are providing $3 million in funds to help restore access to technology and digital learning for students, teachers and schools impacted by the January wildfires.

Part of the donation will go to the Greater Los Angeles Education Foundation, a philanthropic partner of the county Office of Education, to provide more than 3,000 Chromebooks to students.

Google and YouTube will also take part in a matching

campaign that will launch this fall through DonorsChoose. org to provide resources and supplies for teachers to rebuild their classrooms.

“This generous contribution from Google and YouTube will be instrumental in rebuilding our classrooms and empowering this future generation of American citizens and innovators, Rep. Judy Chu, D-Pasadena, said in a statement. “While it’s a long road to rebuild, it’s heartening to see such ongoing support from so many for Altadena, Pasadena, and the greater Los

Angeles community during this challenging time.”

The donation was announced during an event at Pasadena High School, where Google officials led students in a coding workshop to teach them basic computer skills and introduce them to FireSat, a global satellite system that uses AI technology to help first responders react more quickly to developing wildfires.

“Through funding and exposure to computer science and AI-built technologies, we hope to ensure that affected

Senior Deputy District Attorney Seton Hunt called the judge’s story “ludicrous,” noting that the Glock handgun that Ferguson carried in an ankle holster required 5 pounds of pressure on the trigger to discharge, and was specifically designed not to fire when dropped.

Hunt also noted that Ferguson never mentioned his injured shoulder or an accidental discharge to police the night of the shooting.

The judge, who conceded having an alcohol problem, was drinking throughout the day and began arguing with his wife when he got home.

Sheryl Ferguson became angry when she realized the judge’s son from a previous marriage, Kevin, had not sent a thank you note as promised for money the couple gave him for childcare for his daughter.

Her anger was exacerbated by the knowledge that Ferguson was not Kevin’s biological father — a fact that only publicly emerged during the retrial. The family learned of it in 2019.

The argument continued when the couple went out to dinner with their son Phillip.

The argument escalated when the judge pointed at his wife with a gun-like gesture, prompting her to angrily walk out of the restaurant. She eventually returned, but the argument continued when the family returned home and continued their nightly ritual of watching “Breaking Bad.”

Prosecutors said that at one point during the argument, Sheryl Ferguson said something to the extent of “Why don’t you point a real

gun at me?” That prompted the judge to remove his Glock from his ankle holster and shoot her, prosecutors said.

The judge disputed that theory, saying he thought his wife said “get that gun away from me,” and he was trying to comply by removing it from the holster and setting it on a coffee table, but he fumbled it, causing it to discharge.

Talley argued that forensic evidence backed the judge’s version of events. Talley argued that the bullet wound from the single gunshot indicated the angle of the weapon was pointing upward, which would be consistent with Ferguson’s account of the accidental shooting.

Talley also argued that the location the bullet cartridge landed also proves the point, since it would have been ejected further away instead of at the base of the coffee table if it had been fired directly at the victim, as the prosecution theorized.

“It landed where it landed if he’s telling the truth,” Talley said.

Talley noted that the judge posted a photo of his wife on his Facebook page before the shooting. And the two had made plans to buy a home in Texas to be closer to their son, who was attending his final semester at Southern Methodist University. He also advised his wife to buy some lottery tickets that morning.

Ferguson sent a note to his courtroom bailiff and clerk outside the house after the shooting, saying, “I just lost it. I just shot my wife. I won’t be in tomorrow. I will be in custody. I’m so sorry.”

students can continue their learning journey without disruption and empower them to build the technology solutions that can help us tackle some of the biggest challenges facing our communities, like wildfires,” Google Vice President Adam Stewart said.

“Educating the next generation of tech innovators is so vital for America’s future.”

The $3 million donation is part of a $15 million commitment from Google and YouTube to support organizations providing fire relief in the area.

Judge Jeffrey Feguson accompanied by his wife Sheryl takes the Superior Court oath. | Photo courtesy of Orange County

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GabrielSan Sun

nationwide.

The Department of Education, for instance, has rescinded as much as $3 billionin pandemic-recovery funding for schools, which would have been used for everything from tutoring services for Maryland students who’ve fallen behind to making the air safer to breathe and the water safer to drink for students in Flint, Michigan. The Department of Agriculture, meanwhile, has canceled $660 million in promised grants to farmto-school programs, which had been providing fresh meat and produce to school cafeterias while supporting small farmers.

War on children

law, kids from lower- and middle-class families across the U.S. will lose access to health care at their schools, in foster care, for their disabilities or for cancer treatment.

of general circulation in court case number KS 015970 City of Azusa, County of Los Angeles, State of California.

The San Gabriel Sunhas been adjudicated as a newspaper of general circulation in court case number GS 013808 City of San Gabriel, County of Los Angeles, State of California.

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.

The Rosemead Readerhas been adjudicated as a newspaper of general circulation in court case number GS 048894 City of Rosemead, County of Los Angeles, State of California.

The Alhambra Press has been adjudicated as a newspaper of general circulation in court case number ES016581 City of Alhambra, County of Los Angeles, State of California.

The Baldwin Park Press has been adjudicated as a 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 Glendale Independent has been adjudicated as a newspaper of general circulation in court case number ES016579 City of Glendale, County of Los Angeles, State of California.

The Monterey Park Press has been adjudicated as a newspaper of general circulation in court case number ES016580 City of Monterey Park, County of Los Angeles, State of California. The West Covina Press has been adjudicated as a newspaper of general circulation in court case number KS017304 City of West Covina, County of Los Angeles, State of California.

The San Bernardino Press has been adjudicated as a newspaper of general circulation in court

At the Department of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the agency’s secretary, has dismissed all of the staff that had distributed $1.7 billion annually in Social Services Block Grant money, which many states have long depended on to be able to run their child welfare, foster care and adoption systems, including birth family visitation, caseworker training and more. The grants also fund day care, counseling and disability services for kids. (It is unclear whether anyone remains at HHS who would know how to get all of that funding out the door or whether it will now be administered by White House appointees.)

Head Start will be especially affected in the wake of Kennedy’s mass firings of Office of Head Start regional staff and news that the president’s draft budget proposes eliminating funding for the program altogether. That would leave one million working-class parents who rely on Head Start not only for pre-K education but also for child care, particularly in rural areas, with nowhere to send their kids during the day.

Some local Head Start programs are already having to close their doors, and many program directors are encountering impediments to spending their current budgets. When they seek reimbursement after paying their teachers or purchasing school supplies, they’re being directed to a new “Defend the Spend” DOGE website asking them to “justify” each item, even though the spending has already been appropriated by Congress and audited by nonpartisan civil servants.

Next on the chopping block, it appears, is Medicaid, which serves children in greater numbers than any other age group. If Republicans in Congress go through with the cuts they’ve been discussing, and Trump signs those cuts into

The Trump administration has touted the president’s record of “protecting America’s children,” asserting in a recent post that Trump will “never stop fighting for their right to a healthy, productive upbringing.” The statement listed five examples of that commitment. Four were related to transgender issues (including making it U.S. government policy that there are only two sexes and keeping trans athletes out of women’s sports); the other was a ban on COVID-19 vaccine mandates at schools that receive federal funding.

The White House, and multiple agencies, declined to respond to most of ProPublica’s questions. Madi Biedermann, a Department of Education spokesperson, addressed the elimination of pandemic recovery funding, saying that “COVID is over”; that the Biden administration established an “irresponsible precedent” by extending the deadline to spend these funds (and exceeding their original purpose); and that the department will consider extensions if individual projects show a clear connection between COVID and student learning.

An HHS spokesperson, in response to ProPublica’s questions about cuts to children’s programs across that agency, sent a short statement saying that the department, guided by Trump, is restructuring with a focus on cutting wasteful bureaucracy. The offices serving children, the statement said, will be merged into a newly established “Administration for Healthy America.”

Programs that serve kids have historically fared the worst when those in power are looking for ways to cut the budget. That’s in part because kids can’t vote, and they typically don’t belong to political organizations. International aid groups, another constituency devastated by Trump’s policy agenda, also can’t say that they represent many U.S. voters.

This dynamic may be part of why cuts on the health side of the Department of Health and Human Services — layoffs of doctors, medical researchers and the like — have received more political and press attention than those on the human services side, where the Administration for Children and Families

is located. That’s where you can find the Office of Child Support Services, the Office of Head Start, the Office of Child Care (which promotes minimum health and safety standards for child care programs nationally and helps states reduce the cost of child care for families), the Office of Family Assistance (which helps states administer direct aid to lower-income parents and kids), the Children’s Bureau (which oversees child protective services, foster care and adoption) and the Family and Youth Services Bureau (which aids runaway and homeless teens, among others).

All told, these programs have seen their staffs cut from roughly 2,400 employees as of January to 1,500 now, according to a shared Google document that is being regularly updated by former HHS officials. (Neither the White House nor agency leadership have released the exact numbers of cuts.)

Those losses have been most acutely felt in the agency’s regional offices, five out of 10 of which — covering over 20 states — have been closed by the Trump administration. They were dissolved this month without notice to their own employees or to the local providers they worked with. It was these outposts that had monitored Head Start programs to make sure that they had fences around their playgrounds, gates at the top of their stairs and enough staffing to keep an eye on even the most energetic little ones. It was also the regional staff who had helped state child support programs modernize their computer systems and navigate federal law. That allowed them, among other things, to be able to “pass through” more money to families instead of depositing it in state coffers to reimburse themselves for costs.

And it was the regional staff who’d had the relationships with tribal officials that allowed them to routinely work together to address child support, child care and child welfare challenges faced by Native families. Together, they had worked to overcome sometimes deep distrust of the federal government among tribal leaders, who may now have no one to ask for help with their children’s programs other than political appointees in D.C.

In the wake of the regional office cuts, local child services program directors have no idea who in the federal government

to call when they have urgent concerns, many told ProPublica. “No one knows anything,” said one state child support director, asking not to be named in order to speak candidly about the administration’s actions. “We have no idea who will be auditing us.”

“We’re trying to be reassuring to our families,” the official said, “but if the national system goes down, so does ours.”

That national system includes the complex web of databases and technical support maintained and provided by the Office of Child Support Services at HHS, which helps states locate parents who owe child support in order to withhold part of their paychecks or otherwise obtain the money they owe, which is then sent to the parent who has custody of the child. Without this federal data and assistance, child support orders would have little way of being enforced across state lines.

For that reason, the Trump administration is making a risky gamble by slashing staffing at the federal child support office, said Vicki Turetsky, who headed that office under the Obama administration. She worries that the layoffs create a danger of system outages that would cause child support payments to be missed or delayed.

(“That’s a family’s rent,” she said.) The instability is compounded, she said, by DOGE’s recent unexplained move to access a highly confidential national child support database.

But even if the worst doesn’t come to pass, there will still be concrete consequences for the delivery of child support to families, Turetsky said. The staff members who’ve been pushed out include those who’d helped manage complicated, outdated IT systems; without updates, these programs might overor undershoot the amount of child support that a parent owes, misdirect the money or fail to give notice to the dad or mom about a change in the case.

When Liz Ryan departed as administrator of the Department of Justice’s juvenile division in January, its website was flush with opportunities for state and local law enforcement as well as nonprofits to apply for federal funding for a myriad of initiatives that help children. There were funds for local police task forces that investigate child

Report: LA area tops country for smog pollution

By City News Service

The Los Angeles-Long Beach ranked as the nation’s smoggiest region in a report released Wednesday by the American Lung Association, which also faulted the region for shortterm and year-round particle pollution.

The association’s annual State of the Air report overall found that nearly half of people in the United States breathe unhealthy levels of air pollution, with 156 million people living in regions that received “F” grades for either smog or particle pollution.

Los Angeles-Long Beach was found to have the worst ozone, or smog, pollution in the country. Five areas of California were listed among the top 10 most polluted areas, with Visalia placing second, Bakersfield-Delano third, Fresno-HanfordCorcoran fifth and San DiegoChula Vista-Carlsbad eighth.

“Ground-level ozone pollution, also known

as smog, is a powerful respiratory irritant whose effects have been likened to a sunburn of the lungs,” according to the Lung Association. “Inhaling ozone can cause shortness of breath, trigger coughing and asthma attacks and may shorten life. Warmer temperatures driven by climate change make ozone more likely to form and harder to clean up.”

The Los Angeles-Long Beach region was ranked the seventh-most polluted region in the country for short-term particle pollution, and fifth-worst for year-round particle pollution. The short-term figure represents daily spikes in particle pollution, or soot, while the year-round figure is an annual average.

On a countywide level, San Bernardino County was ranked as the nation’s most ozone-polluted place to live, followed by Riverside, Los Angeles, Tulare and Kern

counties. Kern County also topped the list as the most polluted county in both short-term and year-round particle pollution.

Los Angeles, Orange and Riverside counties all earned failing grades in the report for all three pollution categories, as did Fresno, Imperial, Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced, Sacramento, San Bernardino, Stanislaus, Sutter and Tulare counties.

“Families across the U.S. are dealing with the health impacts of air pollution every day, and extreme heat and wildfires are making it worse,” Lung Association President/CEO Harold Wimmer said in a statement. “Air pollution is causing kids to have asthma attacks, making people who work outdoors sick, and leading to low birth weight in babies. This year’s report shows the dramatic impact that air pollution has on a growing number of people.”

Smog blankets the Los Angeles sky. | Photo courtesy Massimo Catarinella/Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Is your phone actually listening to you? We fact-checked 5 surveillance myths

By Kathleen Caulderwood, Stacker

Mirrors that track workout reps, pillows that silence snores — smart technology is constantly evolving. Our phones are some of the smartest and most ubiquitous. By 2024, 9 in 10 Americans owned a smartphone, up from just 35% in 2011, according to Pew Research Center.

While these innovations offer convenience, they often come with a hidden cost: privacy.

The Federal Trade Commission warns that companies can now track online activities whenever users interact with internetconnected devices. Websites may use cookies to track someone even after they leave the site. Some apps allow advertisers to use a unique identifier to track a person’s activity, and companies may be able to track activity on different devices, including phones and laptops, as long as they’re connected to the internet. Online sources can amass details on everything from purchase history and social media activity to magazine subscriptions and even political affiliations.

Data brokers collect this information from online sources, sometimes without a user’s knowledge. The FTC reports that this info can include purchase history, social media activity, magazine subscriptions, and even political affiliations. User profiles are then sold

to businesses that target potential customers with eerily specific ads.

Experian, one of the largest data brokers in the United States, uses data about hundreds of millions of people’s locations, demographics, purchasing habits, lifestyles, and interests to help marketers “gain granular insights into who your customers really are.”

So it’s no wonder some people believe their phones are “listening” to them — even if that’s not exactly the case.

“When most people see unexpected ads, it’s because they’ve been targeted based on huge lists of private information about them that was collected in other covert ways,” an Electronic Frontier Foundation report found.

This practice has left many Americans uneasy. A 2023 Pew survey revealed that nearly 3 in 4 respondents felt they had “little to no control” over how companies use their data, and 67% said they “understand little to nothing” about how their personal information is handled.

To address these concerns, Stacker investigated five common fears about tech surveillance and separated fact from fiction. Are my smart devices always listening to me?

Smart devices are not constantly listening to you, but there have been cases

War on children

in which audio recordings have been filtered through human listeners.

In 2018, CBS conducted an investigation and found no evidence that smartphones eavesdrop on conversations. Later that year, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified during a Senate hearing that the company was not actively listening to users.

However, virtual assistants such as Google Assistant, Siri, and Alexa have recorded audio while activated, which humans later reviewed—though Google, Apple, and other companies reportedly stopped this practice in 2019.

Are people spying on me through my cameras?

Generally, people should be able to tell if their cameras or microphones are in use.

According to Microsoft, some hacking signs on laptops, for example, might include a flickering or illuminated camera indicator light, unfamiliar files, malware, or compromised security settings.

It’s also important to read the fine print when activating an app or device.

“We always advise users to review the privacy permissions on their devices to ensure no apps are accessing important features like the camera,

See Surveillance Page 07

exploitation on the internet; for programs where abused children are interviewed by police and mental health professionals; and for court-appointed advocates for victimized kids. Grants were also available for mentoring programs like Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

But the Trump administration removed those grant applications, which total over $400 million in a typical year. And Ryan said there still hasn’t been any communication, including in what used to be regular emails with grant recipients, many of whom she remains in touch with, about whether this congressionally approved money even still exists or whether some of it might eventually be made available again.

A spokesperson for the Office of Justice Programs within the DOJ said the agency is reviewing programs, policies and materials and “taking action as appropriate” in accordance with Trump’s executive orders and guidance. When that review has been completed, local agencies and programs seeking grants will be notified.

Multiple nonprofits serving exploited children declined to speak on the record to ProPublica, fearing that doing so might undermine what chance they still had of getting potential grants.

“Look at what happened to the law firms,” one official said, adding that time is running out to fund his program’s services for victims of child abuse for the upcoming fiscal year.

“I never anticipated that programs and services and opportunities for young people wouldn’t be funded at all by the federal government,” Ryan said, adding that local children’s organizations likely can’t go to states, whose budgets are already underwater, to make up the funding gap. “When you look at this alongside what they’re doing at HHS and the Department of Education and to Medicaid, it’s undercutting every single effort that we have to serve kids.”

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

California is now world’s 4th largest economy

By Staff

California has replaced Japan as the world’s fourth-largest economy, according to newly released data from the International Monetary Fund and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

According to BEA data and the IMF’s 2024 World Economic Outlook released Tuesday, California’s nominal gross domestic product rose to $4.1 trillion, surpassing Japan’s $4.02 trillion. The top three GDPs belong to the United States, China and Germany.

California’s GDP figure is based on the latest statelevel GDP data from the BEA, according to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office.

“California isn’t just keeping pace with the world — we’re setting the pace,” Newsom said in a statement. “Our economy is thriving because we invest in people, prioritize sustainability, and believe in the power of innovation. And, while we celebrate this success, we recognize that our progress is threatened by the reckless tariff policies of the current federal administration. California’s economy powers the nation, and it must be protected.”

According to an April 2 executive order by Trump, “Underlying conditions, including a lack of reciprocity in our bilateral trade relationships, disparate tariff rates and non-tariff barriers, and U.S. trading partners’ economic policies that suppress domestic wages and consumption, as indicated by large and persistent annual U.S. goods trade deficits, constitute an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and economy of the United States. That threat has its source in whole or substantial part outside the United States in the domestic economic policies of key trading partners and structural imbalances in the global trading system. I hereby declare a national emergency with respect to this threat.”

The state’s economy is

growing at a faster rate than the U.S., China and Germany. California’s 2024 growth rate was 6%, outpacing the U.S. with 5.3%, China’s 2.6% and Germany with 2.9%. The state’s GDP growth was 7.5% from 2021 to 2024.

Projections based on preliminary data indicate India, which currently is the world’s sixth-largest economy, will surpass California by 2026.

Newsom’s office noted the state’s increasing population and recent record-high revenue from tourism, as well as its position as the “top state for new business starts, access to venture capital funding and manufacturing, high-tech and agriculture.”

The state is the nation’s leading agricultural producer and is also the center for manufacturing output in the U.S., with more than 36,000 manufacturing companies employing over 1.1 million California residents.

The Golden State’s manufacturing firms have created new industries and supplied the world with manufactured goods spanning aerospace,

computers, electronics and most recently, zero-emission vehicles.

A key driver of the nation’s economic growth, California sends over $83 billion more to the federal government than it receives in federal funding, according to Newsom’s office.

Last week Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging President Donald Trump’s use of emergency powers to enact broad-sweeping tariffs.

“The lawsuit seeks to end President Trump’s tariff chaos, which has wreaked havoc on the economy, destabilized the stock and bond markets, caused hundreds of billions of dollars in losses and inflicted higher costs for consumers and businesses,” according to the governor’s office. “These harms will only continue to grow, as President Trump’s tariffs are projected to shrink the U.S. economy by $100 billion annually.”

The IMF and BEA data are available on their respective websites.

Toxic algae throughout SoCal coast killing marine animals

By Joe Taglieri joet@beaconmedianews.com

Toxic algae in the ocean stretching from San Luis Obispo to San Diego has killed dozens of marine animals, prompting environmental groups Thursday to declare the region an extreme danger zone.

The toxic algal bloom produces the neurotoxin domoic acid, which has been detected for the fourth year in a row in Southern California coastal waters.

“It’s the worst we’ve ever seen here in Southern California on many different fronts, but dolphin strandings, it’s unprecedented,”

John Warner, the CEO of the Marine Mammal Care Center in Los Angeles, told KABC.

More than 50 dead and dying dolphins have been found along the coast in Los Angeles County this week. In San Diego, 16 were found Sunday.

Debris from the January wildfires and fertilizer runoff may have contributed to the toxic algae’s spread. Small fish eat the algae with domain acid, then marine mammals and birds eat those DA-carrying fish, leading to potentially deadly consequences. Studies have found elevated nutrients offshore after previous major wildfires, NOAA officials said.

Sea lions and birds can be rehabilitated, but DA poisoning is usually fatal for dolphins.

In Long Beach earlier this month, a 24-foot minke whale was swimming in the harbor for several days and officials had tried to push it out to sea, only for it to come back, Milstein said. The whale was then found dead April 3, and necropsy tests showed DA was the cause of death.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on March 27, the agency’s West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Network was receiving over 100 reports a day of sea lions and dolphins affected by

domain acid. Some animals experience seizures on the beach, or may appear to bob their head, while others like the Minke whale and many dolphins have died.

Officials said beachgoers should remain a safe distance of at least 50 yards from affected animals because they can act erratically when under the influence of the toxin.

In some cases, teams from marine life care centers are bypassing animals with severe domoic acid poisoning and focusing on those that have the greatest chance of recovering.

Wind-driven upwelling of nutrient-rich, deep-ocean water likely fed the rapid growth of the toxic algae, the NOAA reported. This year’s toxic algal bloom emerged earlier than previous domoic acid outbreaks, and the upwelling may have fueled the algae in deeper offshore waters that dolphins frequent.

A pulse of upwelling in mid-February may have contributed to the toxic algal bloom, according to Andrew Leising, a research scientist at the Southwest Fisheries Science Center. Marine life was first affected around Feb. 20 near Malibu.

More information reporting sick birds, dolphins, whales, sea lions or other marine mammals, visit the West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Network website.

“We are having to do triage on the beach as we try to identify those animals where we have the greatest chance of making a difference,” Warner said in an NOAA statement, adding that teams responding to strandings have sometimes found dolphins swimming in circles in shallow water near the beach.

California ranks among the world’s top economies. | Image courtesy of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office

A dolphin affected by domoic acid poisoning lies on a Southern California beach. | Photo courtesy of Andrea Dransfield/Channel Islands Cetacean Research Unit/NOAA

Survey: Home ownership less affordable for ethnic groups statewide

By Joe Taglieri joet@beaconmedianews.com

Less than 18% of all Californian residents earned enough income to afford buying an $865,440 median-priced home in 2024, down from 19% the previous year, the California Association of Realtors announced Thursday.

Among ethnic groups statewide, 21% of white households could afford a median-priced home in 2024, while just 10% of Black and 9% of Hispanic/ Latino households had the same ability. Meanwhile, 27% of Asian households could afford a medianpriced home in 2024.

Interest rates remained elevated and the typical monthly mortgage payment for a median-priced detached home rose 6% last year compared to 2023, Less than 18% of all Californians earned enough income to support the purchase of an $865,440 median-priced home in 2024, down from 19% the previous year, the California Association of Realtors announced Thursday.

Among ethnic groups

in California, 21% of white households could afford a median-priced home in 2024. In comparison, only 10% of Black and 9% of Hispanic/Latino households had the same ability. Meanwhile, 27% of Asian households could afford a median-priced home last year.

According to CAR, interest rates remained elevated and the typical monthly mortgage payment for a median-priced detached home rose 6% last year compared to 2023.

In Los Angeles, 21% of white households and 18% of Asian residents could afford a median-priced home costing $906,030 with monthly payments of $5,790 in 2024. Meanwhile, just 8% of Hispanic/ Latino households and 7% of Black households could afford the same home, according to CAR. Orange County was the least affordable county for white households, with 15% earning the minimum income required to buy a median-price home.

For Asian households, Orange County was also the least affordable, with 14% earning the minimum income required to buy a median-price home.

In Riverside County, 25% of all households earned enough income to support the purchase of a $628,470 median-priced home with monthly payments of $4,010, the survey showed.

CAR reported that 37% of Asian residents and 29% of white households could afford the same home. Meanwhile, 23% of Black households and 20% of Hispanic/Latino households could afford the same home in Riverside County, according to CAR.

In San Bernardino County, 32% of Hispanic/ Latino households could afford a median-priced home averaging $485,000. For Black households, 25% could afford the same home, compared with 37% of white and 47% of Asian households.

Across the state, housing affordability gaps narrowed last year but

remained wide as home prices increased and mortgage rates remained elevated. The affordability gap between Black households and the overall population in California narrowed from 8.9% in 2023 to 8% in 2024, while the gap for Hispanics/ Latinos improved from

Surveillance

to 8.3%

While interest rates are projected to dip slightly in 2025, the gap in housing affordability among ethnic groups will likely remain wide this year as home prices are expected to grow moderately in the next 12 months, research -

ers found. According to the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, the 2023 homeownership rate for all Californians was 55.9%, 64.4% for whites, 61.5% for Asians, 45.9% for Hispanics/Latinos and 36.6% for Black households.

microphone, or location without their knowledge,” an EFF spokesperson told Stacker, noting that people can do this on both Android and Apple devices.

Who has access to the data my devices collect?

Data collected by a user’s device can be accessed by several sources, depending on the type of data and permissions granted. Apple, for example, says it uses personal data to “power our services, to process your transactions, to communicate with you, for security and fraud prevention, and to comply with law,” among other purposes.

In December 2024, Apple agreed to pay $95 million to settle a lawsuit that alleged it sent data recorded by Siri without consent to third parties. Just over a week later, the company stated

it never used Siri data for marketing or advertising purposes and “never sold it to anyone for any purpose.”

Does searching in incognito mode protect against surveillance?

Surfing the internet in incognito or private mode keeps your device’s browsing history secret, which can be helpful for searches on sensitive topics or when using a shared computer.

However, it doesn’t stop a user’s internet service provider from tracking which websites they visit or seeing their location, according to the Mozilla Foundation.

To make it more difficult for data brokers to collect information, users can disable ad ID tracking on their devices or use a search engine like DuckDuckGo, which asserts, “We don’t

track you. Ever.”

Can my biometric information be used against me?

Governments and companies increasingly use biometric data, including fingerprints, iris scans, and facial images, but it poses risks to consumers. The Federal Trade Commission warned that such data could reveal sensitive information and attract malicious actors. States are taking a stand.

In 2022, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit against Meta, alleging it used facial geometry data and other biometrics without consent. The suit resulted in a $1.4 billion settlement in 2024 — the first enforcement of the state’s biometric data protection law. Illinois and California have also enacted laws that regulate the collection of biometric

rights.

in 2023

in 2024.

| Photo by Andy_Dean_Photog/Envato

data and protect consumers’

Story editing by Mike

Taylor. Copy editing by Paris Close. Photo selection by Lacy Kerrick. The article was

| Photo courtesy of jittawit21/Shutterstock/Stacker

Rosemead City Notices

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON MAY 13, 2025

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Rosemead City Council will conduct a public hearing on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at 7:00 PM, at Rosemead City Hall Council Chamber, located at 8838 E. Valey Boulevard. Public comments may be made in person during the meeting. You may also submit your comments by 4:00 p.m. on May 13, 2025, via email at publiccomment@cityofrosemead.org. All comments are public records and will be recorded in the official record of the City. If you have a request for accommodation under the ADA, please contact Ericka Hernandez, City Clerk, at (626) 569-2100 48 hours in advance.

The Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps were developed by CAL FIRE in response to major destructive wildfires, highlighting the need to identify high-risk areas and apply strategies to reduce wildfire threats. As a result, the California State Legislature mandated the mapping of these zones across all Local Responsibility Areas* under Government Code 51178. Local Responsibility Areas are incorporated cities, urban regions, and agriculture lands, where the local government is responsible for wildfire protection.

Government Code 51178 requires the State Fire Marshal to designate areas as moderate, high, or very high fire hazard severity zones based on consistent statewide criteria. These designations consider factors such as fuel loading, slope, fire weather, and areas where high winds contribute to wildfire spread.

For further details, please contact Mandy Wong, Public Safety Supervisor at (626) 569-2292 or email mwong@cityofrosemead.org. In addition, the City Council Agenda and Staff Report will be available on the City’s website under “City Calendar” (www.cityofrosemead.org) at least 72 hours in advance of the public hearing. Any person interested in the above proceedings may appear at the time and place indicated above in this notice.

Notice and Publication Date: April 28, 2025 ROSEMEAD READER

ORDINANCE NO. 1028

AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROSEMEAD, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING CHAPTER 12.44 OF TITLE 12 OF THE ROSEMEAD MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO PARK AND RECREATION AREAS HOURS OF USE AND ENFORCEMENT

On April 8th, 2025, the City Council of the City of Rosemead introduced Ordinance No. 1028. On April 22nd, 2025, the City Council conducted the second reading and adopted said ordinances:

WHEREAS, the City of Rosemead is authorized by California Constitution, Article XI, Section 7 to make and enforce within its limits all local, police, sanitary, and other ordinances and regulations not in conflict with general laws; and

WHEREAS, the City is committed to protecting the life, health, and safety of its residents and all people within the geographical boundaries of the City; and

WHEREAS, City Council recognizes the social, cultural and economic enrichment that public parks bring to the City and its residents; and

WHEREAS, the City Council finds it necessary to establish policies and procedures which allow for the advanced planning and management of public parks; and

WHEREAS, the City Council finds that it is the intent of this Ordinance to protect the rights of its residents by establishing the least restrictive and most reasonable manner of regulation of public parks; and

WHEREAS, all other legal prerequisites to the adoption of this Ordinance have occurred.

THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROSEMEAD DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:

SECTION 1. Findings and Incorporation of Recitals. The recitals above are each incorporated by reference and adopted as findings by the City Council.

SECTION 2. Amendment. Section 12.44.020 is amended and 12.44.025 is added to Chapter 12.44 of Title 12 of the Rosemead Municipal Code is hereby amended and restated to read in its entirety as follows:

“12.44.020 – Park hours. No person shall enter or remain in any public park or recreation area within the city at any time between the hours of ten o’clock (10:00) P.M. and six o’clock (6:00) A.M., except as authorized by the parks and recreation director in writing.”

12.44.025 - Temporary Exclusion of Violators

A. Remaining without permission in any public park or recreation area in violation of Section 12.44.020 will result in the person in violation thereof being a trespasser, and the Director, a Park Ranger, or any peace and/or code enforcement officer (“Enforcement Official”), may remove or exclude the person from a park in accordance with this Section in addition to any other remedy or penalty.

1. For the purposes of this section, removal is an order given by the Enforcement Official, directing a person to immediately leave a park and not return until 6:00 am.

2. For the purposes of this section, exclusion is an order given by the Enforcement Official, directing a person to immediately leave a park and not return for the period of days specified in this section.

3. Before issuing an exclusion order, the person will be given a verbal or written warning indicating that curfew hours has been violated and a reasonable opportunity to leave the park. An exclusion order will not be issued if the person promptly complies with the direction and immediately leave the park. A warning is not required before issuing an exclusion order where the behavior, conduct, or activity constitutes one or more of the following:

a. A felony or misdemeanor;

b. Obscene, violent, riotous conduct, hunting and/or possession of weapons, pollution of waters, dumping of refuse and trash in violation estimated to cost $1,000 or more to clean up; and possession or setting off of firecrackers, or other fireworks or explosives of inflammable material in violation of the Municipal Code;

c. Lighting or maintaining a fire in any park;

d. Conduct resulting in property damage estimated to be $1,000 or more;

e. Dangerous or threatening behavior. Behavior is dangerous or threatening if a reasonable person exposed to or experiencing such behavior could believe that the person would be in imminent danger of physical harm. Actual bodily harm is not required; and

f. Conduct for which a documented prior exclusion order has been issued and not overturned on appeal.

4. Written notice of the exclusion order will be provided to any person excluded. The notice will state that Section 12.44.020 Park Hours is the basis for the exclusion; the date, length, and place of exclusion; a description of the process for filing an appeal; and a warning of the consequences for failure to comply. The exclusion notice shall be signed by the issuing Enforcement Official.

5. The exclusion order will be effective for 30 days, except as stated in paragraph A.6, during which time the violator may not return to the listed park or park facilities. A second exclusion order for the same violator, whether or not issued within the same park, that is issued within a 12-month period will be effective for 60 days. Additional exclusion orders issued within a 12-month period of the second exclusion order will be effective for 90 days. No exclusion order overturned on appeal will be counted.

6. The duration of the first exclusion shall be 60 days if one or more of the following occur:

a. A felony;

b. Property damage estimated to be $1,000 or more; or

c. Dangerous or threatening behavior as defined in this Section.

A second exclusion for a person described in this Subsection A.6 within a 12-month period will be effective for 120 days. Additional exclusion orders issued within 12-month period of the second exclusion order for a person described in this Subsection will be effective for 180 days. No exclusion order overturned on appeal will be counted.

B. Appeal.

1. The City Manager shall serve as hearing officer on appeal and shall conduct a fair and impartial hearing.

2. A person issued a notice of exclusion may appeal the notice within five days by filing a written appeal with the City Manager. The written appeal shall include the exclusion notice number, reason(s) the person should not have been excluded, and a phone number, address or email at which the City may serve the cited individual a response to their request. Filing an appeal does not preclude the issuance of an exclusion order for a new violation of this Section.

3. Upon receipt of a timely and complete notice of appeal, the exclusion order will be stayed. The City Manager will set an administrative hearing that shall be de novo. The exclusion order will be upheld if the City Manager determines by a preponderance of evidence that the person committed the act for which the person was excluded, and the exclusion is otherwise in accordance with the law. Evidence may include, without limitation, witness tes-

timony, documents, or other similar evidence. In lieu of personally appearing at an administrative hearing, the cited individual may request that the City Manager decide the matter based on the notice, the written appeal, and any other documentary evidence submitted prior to the hearing date.

4. The City Manager shall issue a written decision responding to the appeal within 5 business days. The decision of the City Manager on appeal shall be final.

C. The City shall maintain an accurate database of those persons excluded from parks or park facilities by their respective employees.

D. Notwithstanding the above section, a violation of a removal or exclusion order is unlawful and may be charged as a misdemeanor, as provided by Section 1.16. Nothing in this Section limits the authority of the City to obtain an injunction prohibiting or restricting park access by any person.”

SECTION 3. Environmental Review. The City Council exercises its independent judgment and finds that this ordinance is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines, California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3: (1) Section 15060(c)(2) (the activity will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment); (2) Section 15060(c)(3) (the activity is not a project as defined in Section 15378), because the subject regulations have no potential for resulting in any significant physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly, and (3) Section 15321 (the ordinance addresses administrative procedures for City Manager duties).

SECTION 4. Severability. If any section, subsection, subdivision, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase, or portion of this ordinance is, for any reason, held to be unconstitutional or invalid or ineffective by any court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity or effectiveness of the remaining portions of this ordinance or any part thereof. The City Council hereby declares that it would have adopted this ordinance and each section, subsection, subdivision, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase of this Ordinance irrespective of the fact that one or more sections, subsections, subdivisions, paragraphs, sentences, clauses or phrases be declared unconstitutional or invalid or ineffective. To this end the provisions of this ordinance are declared to be severable.

SECTION 5. Publication. The City Clerk is directed to certify to the adoption of this ordinance and publish in accordance with law.

PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED this 22nd day of April, 2025 with the following votes:

AYES: Armenta, Clark, Dang, and Low NOES: None

ABSENT: Ly ABSTAIN: None

Margaret Clark, Mayor

APPROVED AS TO FORM: ATTEST:

Rachel H. Richman, City Attorney Ericka Hernandez, City Clerk

Published: April 28, 2025 ROSEMEAD READER

Probate Notices

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: DAVID C. SCOTT CASE NO. 25STPB04076

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

A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by AIDA V. SCOTT in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES.

THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that AIDA V. SCOTT 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 in this court as follows: 05/23/25

at 8:30AM in Dept. 99 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.

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

Probate Notices

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF:

JOSE LUIS TREJO

CASE NO. 25STPB04103

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

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

THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that MARGARITA TREJO 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: 05/13/25 at 8:30AM in Dept. 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.

Attorney for Petitioner JACK A. MARSH - SBN 150847

LAW OFFICES OF JACK A. MARSH 215 NORTH MARENGO AVENUE, FLOOR 3 PASADENA CA 91101

Telephone (626) 397-9990 4/21, 4/24, 4/28/25 CNS-3917286# PASADENA PRESS

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF:

ZBYLUT J. TWARDOWSKI CASE NO. 25STPB04128

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

A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by PRZEMYSLAW W. TWARDOWSKI in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES. THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that PRZEMYSLAW W. TWARDOWSKI 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 in this court as follows: 05/20/25 at 8:30AM in Dept. 11 located at 111 N. HILL ST., LOS ANGELES, CA 90012

Attorney for Petitioner

CHARLES D. MEYER, ESQ. - SBN 94143 MEYER & FELSEN LAW CORPORATION

1880 CENTURY PARK EAST, SUITE 1101

LOS ANGELES CA 90067

Telephone (310) 712-2111 4/21, 4/24, 4/28/25 CNS-3917800# PASADENA PRESS

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF LOUIS D ALVARADO CASE NO. 25STPB04045

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the Annexedwill or estate, or both, of: LOUIS D ALVARADO

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

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

THE PETITION requests the decedent’s Annexed WILL and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate. The Annexed 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 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 05/19/2025 at 8:30AM in Dept. 67 located at 111 N. HILL ST. LOS ANGELES CA 90012 STANLEY MOSK COURTHOUSE.

IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court

LEGALS

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 (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: BRITTANY BRITTON (SBN:303084) 2312 W. OLIVE AVENUE, SUITE D BURBANK, CA 91506

Telephone: (626) 390-5953 4/24, 4/28, 5/1/25 CNS-3917990# GLENDALE INDEPENDENT

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF LEONARD MORRIS GINN aka LEONARD M. GINN aka LEONARD GINN

Case No. 25STPB04371

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of LEONARD MORRIS GINN aka LEONARD M. GINN aka LEONARD GINN

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

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

A HEARING on the petition will be held on May 19, 2025 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.

PATRICK L BARNES ESQ SBN 39511

PATRICK L BARNES A LAW CORPORATION PO BOX 660267

ARCADIA CA 91066

CN116220 GINN

Apr 28, May 1,5, 2025

ALHAMBRA PRESS

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF RONALD SNOWDEN aka RON A. SNOWDEN aka RONALD A. SNOWDEN

Case No. 25STPB04515

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of RONALD SNOWDEN aka RON A. SNOWDEN aka RONALD A. SNOWDEN

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

THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that County of Los Angeles 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 May 23, 2025 at 8:30 AM in Dept. No. 11 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.

DAWYN HARRISON OFFICE OF COUNTY COUNSEL

500 WEST TEMPLE ST STE 648 LOS ANGELES CA 90012

CN116231 SNOWDEN Apr 28, May 1,5, 2025 BALDWIN PARK PRESS

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: LILY LIN

CASE NO. 25STPB04619

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the Non-Domicillary WILL or estate, or both of LILY LIN.

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

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

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: 05/23/25 at 8:30AM in Dept. 62 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

CALVIN A. SLATER, ESQ. - SBN 101364

E. NICOLE BALL, ESQ. - SBN 285334

SLATER COSME, PC, ATTORNEY AT LAW

300 N. LAKE AVE., SUITE 920 PASADENA CA 91101

Telephone (626) 795-1600

4/28, 5/1, 5/5/25

CNS-3920063# WEST COVINA PRESS

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF:

NORMAN JOSEF ZANGL

CASE NO. 25STPB04656

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

A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by E. AMY WEYAND in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES.

THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that E. AMY WEYAND 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: 05/23/25 at 8:30AM in Dept. 2D 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 in-

Public Notices

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME PETITION OF

Kristi Heralda

1, 2025 Virginia Keeny JUDGE OF THE SUPERIOR COURT Pub. April 7, 14, 21, 28, 2025 ALHMBRA PRESS ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME PETITION OF Sherise Henderson FOR CHANGE OF NAME CASE NUMBER: 25NNCP00268 Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles 300 East Walnut St, Pasadena, Ca 91101, Northeast Judicial District TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: 1. Petitioner Charlee Williams, by and through guardian ad litem Sherise Henderson filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name a. OF Charlee Jude Williams to Proposed name Charlee Jude Henderson 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: 06/13/2025 Time: 8:30AM Dept: P. 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: Alhambra Press DATED: April 4, 2025 Roberto Longoria JUDGE OF THE SUPERIOR COURT Pub. April 14, 21, 28, May 5, 2025 ALHAMBRA PRESS Order To Show Cause For Change of Name Case No. 30-2025-01474099-CUPT-CJC To All Interested Persons: Joshua Yen filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: PRESENT NAME Joshua Yen PROPOSED NAME Joshua Chang. 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

the court may grant the petition without a hearing. Notice Of Hearing Date: 06/05/2025 Time: 1:30pm Dept. D100 REMOTE HEARING The address of the court is Central Justice Center, 700 W Civic Center Dr, Santa Ana, Ca 92701.

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/ Thomas M Allen. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Bernardino on March 28, 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#: FBN20250003130 Pub: 04/07/2025, 04/14/2025, 04/21/2025, 04/28/2025 San Bernardino Press

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as VALVE PRO 3461 AMETHYST CIRCLE CORONA, CA 92882 Riverside County CONTROL SOLUTIONS DESIGN, INC. (CA, 3461 AMETHYST CIRCLE, CORONA, CA 92882 Riverside County

This business is conducted by: a corporation. 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. CYNTHIA BACHERT, PRESIDENT

Statement filed with the County of Riverside on March 31, 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# R-202504254 Pub. 04/07/2025, 04/14/2025, 04/21/2025, 04/28/2025 Riverside Independent

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as (1).

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-202504727 Pub. 04/14/2025, 04/21/2025, 04/28/2025, 05/05/2025 Riverside Independent

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as ZONE 4 SYSTEMS INTEGRATION AND DESIGN 385 W Grove Avenue Orange, CA 92865 Orange County PARADIGM HOLDINGS GROUP, LLC (CA, 385 W Grove Avenue, Orange, CA 92865 Orange 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. DOUG DRAGOVICH, Vice president

Statement filed with the County of Orange on April 2, 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# R-202504412 Pub. 04/14/2025, 04/21/2025, 04/28/2025, 05/05/2025 Riverside Independent

LEGALS

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-202504972 Pub. 04/21/2025, 04/28/2025, 05/05/2025, 05/12/2025 Riverside Independent

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20256712982. The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: (1). Omni Optometry, PC (2). Omni Optometry , 1023 North Harbor Blvd, Fullerton, CA 92832. Full Name of Registrant(s) Omni Optometry, PC (CA, 8434 E Teton Ct, Anaheim, CA 92808. This business is conducted by a corporation. Registrant has not yet begun to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein. (1). Omni Optometry, PC /S/ Annie Tran, CEO. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Orange County on April 3, 2025. Publish: Anaheim Press 04/28/2025, 05/05/2025, 05/12/2025, 05/19/2025

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as AARON KIA 2550 Wardlow Road Corona, CA 92064 Riverside County Mailing Address 12740 Poway Rd, Poway, CA 92064 Ravinder Inc (CA, 12740 Poway Rd, Poway, CA 92064 Riverside County This business is conducted by: a corporation. 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. VIKAS MEHANDROO, PRESIDENT 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.

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#: FBN20250003580 Pub: 04/28/2025, 05/05/2025, 05/12/2025, 05/19/2025 San Bernardino Press

FILE NO. FBN20250003721

NEW FILING - this is a: FILING FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT THE FOLLOWING PERSON(S) IS (ARE) DOING BUSINESS AS: SHOP RITE LIQUOR, 4747 RIVERSIDE DR CHINO CA 91710; BUSINESS MAILING ADDRESS: 5685 RIVERSIDE DR SUITE H & J, CHINO CA 91710 County of SAN BERNARDINO. The full name of registrant(s) is/are: GOOD SHEPHERD, INC. [CALIFORNIA], 5685 RIVERSIDE DR SUITE H & J, CHINO, CA 91710. This Business is conducted by a/an: CORPORATION. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name/names listed above on: NOT APPLICABLE. I declare 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).

/s/ GOOD SHEPHERD, INC BY: ADEL HANNA, PRESIDENT

This statement was filed with the County Clerk of SAN BERNARDINO County on 04/18/2025 indicated by file stamp above.

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) 3699093-PP SAN BERNARDINO PRESS 4/28 5/5,12,19 2025

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT File No. FBN20250003905

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

guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousands dollars ($1000).)

s. Tina Marie Maisano, President Statement filed with the County of Riverside on April 9, 2025 NOTICE: In accordance with subdivision (a) of section 17920, a

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as Special Strong Greater South Riverside 33391 Loquat Street Wildomar, CA 92595 Riverside County Marci Day, 33391 Loquat Street, Wildomar, CA 92595 Riverside County This business is conducted by: a individual. Registrant has not yet begun to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein. I declare that all the information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of the Business and Professions Code, that the registrant knows to be false, is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousands dollars ($1000).) s. Marci Day, CEO Statement filed with the County of Riverside on April 15, 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

Peter Aldana, County, Clerk File# R-202504593 Pub. 04/28/2025, 05/05/2025, 05/12/2025, 05/19/2025 Riverside Independent

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT

File No. FBN20250003580

The following persons are doing business as: Creatable Customs, 9362A Shadowood Dr, Montclair, CA 91763. Mailing Address, 9362A Shadowood Dr, Montclair, CA 91763. # of Employees 1. Heather Talorda, 9362A Shadowood Dr, Montclair, CA 91763. County of Principal Place of Business: San Bernardino

This business is conducted by: a individual. Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on January 1, 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/ Heather Talorda. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Bernardino on April 15, 2025 Notice- In accordance with subdivision (a) of Section 17920. A Fictitious Name Statement generally expires at the end of

The following persons are doing business as: Redlands Blues SC, 1741 Independence Ave, Redlands, CA 92374. Mailing Address, 25920 Iris Ave Ste 13A 214, Moreno Valley, CA 92551. Redlands Elite FC (CA, 25920 Iris Ave Ste 13A 214, Moreno Valley, CA 92551; Marynina G Mendez, Secretary. 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 1, 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/ Marynina G Mendez, Secretary. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Bernardino on April 24, 2025 NoticeIn 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

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

Arallyoutsidethe TurkishConsulate

General in Beverly Hills and a religious ceremony and the placement of flowers at the Armenian Genocide Martyrs Monument in Montebello were held Thursday to mark Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day.

What was billed as the “Rally For Our Future” began at noon on Wilshire Boulevard, near La Cienega Boulevard. Video from the scene showed a peaceful demonstration on a sidewalk as police officers kept traffic flowing nearby.

An organizer of the event in Montebello said the Remembrance Day was important to keep younger generations fighting for justice.

“They’re going to be the future leaders,” Gary Khanjian, a co-chair of the Armenian Genocide Committee, told ABC7. “We want them to come and take our positions — and do the justice until the Armenian nation and the whole world get a just result and acceptance that a genocide happened.”

A “Demand For Justice Community Rally” was set to begin at Glendale City Hall at 5:30 p.m.

The Truth And Accountability League conducted a tribute event from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Glendale Central Library’s auditorium, remembering the victims of

Events held throughout LA area for Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day

the genocide and honoring eight elected officials and community leaders for their public service, visionary leadership and unwavering empathy, organizers said.

Assemblyman Nick Schultz, D-Burbank, was among the honorees and the featured speaker. Other honorees included attorney Mark Geragos and Los Angeles County Assessor Jeff Prang.

The commemoration was free and open to the public and included speeches by dignitaries, a pre-program reception and an awards ceremony.

The league bills itself as a nonprofit advocacy organization founded in 2020 in response “to a significant increase in anti-Armenian racism, defamation, hate crimes and Armenophobia.” It monitors and confront bias, disinformation, propaganda, and slander of the Armenian people and culture at the media level, including social media, academics, intelligentsia and public policy.

Schools were closed Thursday in the Los Angeles and Glendale unified school districts for the day commemorating the 110th anniversary of the start of events widely viewed by scholars as the first genocide of the 20th century.

The LAUSD Board of Education adopted a policy in 2020 to close schools

By City News Service

on Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day. Students and teachers in the Glendale Unified School District have been given the day off on April 24 since the 2013-14 school year.

A bill establishing Genocide Remembrance Day as a state holiday to be observed on April 24 and

permitting public schools and community colleges to close in observance of the holiday was signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2022.

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted April 15 to declare April 24 as Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day in Los

Angeles County.

“Honoring the victims of the Armenian Genocide is both a solemn responsibility and a powerful act of remembrance,” Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger said in a statement.

“We must ensure their stories are not forgotten and that we continue to raise awareness about the atrocities they endured — and those that are still happening today. The recent forced displacement of Armenians from Artsakh underscores the ongoing struggle for justice and recognition.

“Los Angeles County will continue to be a voice for truth and human dignity,” the statement concluded.

The LA area is home to the largest population of Armenians in the world outside of Armenia itself.

In his presidential message on what he called “Armenian Remembrance Day,” President Donald Trump said, “Today we commemorate the Meds Yeghern, and honor the memories of those wonderful souls who suffered in one of the worst disasters of the 20th century. On this day of remembrance, we again join the great Armenian Community in America, and around the world, in mourning the many lives that were lost.

“Every year on April 24th, we reflect on the strong and enduring ties

between the American and Armenian peoples,” the president continued. “We are proud of the American Committee for Armenian and Syrian Relief, a groundbreaking effort established in 1915 that provided crucial humanitarian support to Armenian refugees, and grateful for the thousands of Americans who contributed or volunteered to help the Armenians expelled from their homes.

“On this day, we bear witness to the strength and resiliency of the Armenian people in the face of tragedy,” Trump said. “We are fortunate that so many Armenians have brought their rich culture to our shores, and contributed so much to our country, including decorated soldiers, celebrated entertainers, renowned architects and successful business people.”

The Armenian term “Meds Yeghern” refers to the genocide. It translates to “Great Catastrophe” or “Great Disaster.”

On April 24, 1915, Ottoman authorities arrested Armenian intellectuals and community leaders in Constantinople, leading to an estimated 1.5 million people being killed.

Turkey denies the deaths constituted genocide, saying the toll has been inflated and that those killed were victims of civil war and unrest.

Monrovia council lowers campaign contribution limit

By Joe Taglieri joet@beaconmedianews.com

TheMonroviaCity Council last week voted 5-0 to lower the city’s campaign donation limits for local office seekers to $1,000 per contributor.

Cities and counties have the option to enact their own campaign finance thresholds or use the state-mandated $5,900 per-donor maximum.

“Generally, the consensus of the City Council was that while state law allows up to $5,900 per contributor, some members of the community felt the threshold was too high for a small community,” City Manager Dylan Feik told Monrovia Weekly. “In reviewing other cities around us, many cities also reduced their contribution limits. The City

Council agreed and felt that higher contribution limits may give the appearance or perception of financial influence.”

Between 2020 and 2024, 94% of campaign contributions in Monrovia were $1,000 or less, according to a report by City Attorney Craig Steele. Donations of $500 or less totaled 86%, with 67% at $250 or under.

“The ordinance includes other basic provisions that will help to ensure that no candidate or contributor evades the contribution limits,” Steele wrote. “These would prohibit cash or anonymous contributions or contributions made in the name of another, make clear that the ordinance

applies to officeholders who are not candidates, along with other measures to promote enforcement. The limits would not apply to a candidate’s use of personal funds to their own campaigns, but would limit contributions from their spouse.”

In line with U.S. Supreme Court precedent, the $1,000 limit does not apply to individual candidates contributing their personal funds to finance campaigns, Steele told council members Tuesday.

“We are not aware of any violations, concerns, challenges or issues related to current campaign finances or contributions,” Feik said. “Rather, council felt that now, especially absent any issues or

concerns, was the perfect time to discuss changes to the law moving forward.”

The $1,000 limit only applies to candidates seeking elected offices in Monrovia, according to the ordinance. The ordinance

The Monrovia City Council approves an ordinance reducing the limit of individual campaign contributions. | Photo courtesy of the city of Monrovia/YouTube

The Armenian genocide memorial in Montebello’s Bicknell Park. | Photo courtesy of Serouj/Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

updates on the county’s civil lawsuit against Do and others tied to the alleged bribery scheme.

Do’s civil attorney, Eliot Krieger — a former federal prosecutor — previously told City News Service that before Do was named in the lawsuit, the emails went unnoticed, but once he became a defendant, Do realized he was receiving messages from county counsel Leon Page and brought them to Krieger’s attention.

Krieger said he alerted Page that Do was mistakenly on an email chain and turned over Do’s phone to a third party forensic specialist to examine it and pick out all the privileged emails, which amounted to 57 from Page and none from the Board of Supervisors.

“I never reviewed the content of those emails and no one else on our side has looked at those emails,” Krieger said.

It appears Do’s email was just mistakenly not removed from the listserv for the parties involved in the lawsuit, Krieger said.

Wagner voted against the resolution because he did

not think it was proper for the board to take a position on the plea deal.

“We’ve heard the emails as a reason to ... weigh in and explain further one more time why we think this is a light sentence and the truth is we don’t know anything about those emails either,” Wagner said. “We know how it happened, but we also know it was set up well before any of the emails from county counsel were coming through. It was done in the ordinary course of convenience to get information.”

Wagner said it may never come out what happened because of Do’s attorneyclient privilege.

“It’s not our lane,” Wagner said. “It’s not for us to be saying, and we look bad piling on and saying we don’t trust the justice system.”

Andrew Do

Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento said, “It’s an irregular path we’re taking, but I think these are instances that shock the conscience and instances that are outrageous and we want to do everything we can to draw attention to that.”

Orange County Board Chairman Doug Chaffee said, “We are a victim and this is a statement from the victims whose money was taken.”

Chapman University Law School professor Lawrence Rosenthal, a former federal prosecutor, told CNS that earlier this month that

“under the plea agreement, the United States attorney is bound to agree unless (Do) breached it. ... The likelihood for a move to withdraw from the plea agreement seems extremely low.”

Rosenthal added, “I certainly have to say it is an extremely lenient plea agreement for Mr. Do, especially because the most

unusual part about it is it’s a package deal (that includes his daughter).”

Rosenthal said Nguyen has “ample reason to be concerned about it ... I do not fault Ms. Nguyen for being concerned about this agreement, but the likelihood it can be undone at this late date is very low.”

UC Irvine Law School professor Tony Smith agreed that there’s little chance of overturning the plea agreement.

“My take on this is it’s just performative politics,” Smith told CNS before the board’s last meeting earlier this month.

Smith added that the resolution was “not in (Nguyen’s) wheelhouse of authority and it is not why anyone votes for her. You might think of it as the politics of vendetta, which (President Donald) Trump has brought to a new level, so now lower-level politicians think that’s where they can be now. Criminal justice has real things to do and ought to focus on those things.”

Smith said it is not unusual for politicians

to get lighter sentences “because they always get credit for their service to the people. So even when they do very bad things, judges and prosecutors still say, `Well, they’re still a politician, so somehow or another we should take it easy on them.”’

The resolution is “just a way to get attention and somehow do a moral superiority dance, but there’s no substance to this,” Smith said.

While agreeing to plead guilty to the federal bribery conspiracy charge, Andrew Do also reached a separate but related plea agreement with the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, under which he resigned as a county supervisor and will forfeit any pension credit he amassed during the time he was engaged in the bribery scheme since 2020, prosecutors said.

Rhiannon Do, a thirdyear UC Irvine law school student, who was also caught up in the investigation, agreed to fully cooperate with authorities and will be allowed to enter a diversion program.

Metro Board of Directors extends term for CEO Stephanie Wiggins

By City News Service

Metro’s Board of Directors on Thursday extended the contract for CEO Stephanie Wiggins, who will continue to lead the transit agency as it undertakes major initiatives in preparation for global events.

In a 12-0 vote, directors extended Wiggins’ contract for an additional four-years with an option for a one-year renewal at the discretion of the board. Wiggins annual starting salary will be $510,806.94, a pay bump of more than 20% compared to her previous compensation of $400,004.80, an increase of $110,802.14. County Supervisor and director Holly Mitchell was absent during the vote.

The contract will take effect June 1.

The board consists of county Supervisors Janice Hahn, Kathryn Barger, Lindsey Horvath, Hilda Solis and Mitchell; Mayor Karen Bass, City Council members Katy Yaroslavsky and Imelda Padilla; Inglewood Mayor James Butts; Pomona Mayor Tim Sandoval; Whittier City Councilman Fernando Dutra; and Jacquelyn DupontWalker, the founding presi-

dent of the Ward Economic Development Corporation, a faith-centered organization serving South LA. All members of the board supported Wiggins, citing her leadership and ability to get things done. Wiggins was first appointed as Metro CEO on April 8, 2021. As head of the regional

transit agency, Wiggins has led ridership recovery that was lost due to the COVID-19 pandemic, managed the completion of major construction projects such as the Regional Connector, reconfiguring the A and E lines; and expanded bus lanes.

Meanwhile, under her leadership, Metro has tackled public safety issues.

Last year, highly publicized violent crimes plagued the agency. The agency, in turn, expanded its unarmed Ambassador program, and deployed more security officers, installed protective barriers on all its buses. Additionally, it’s fostering a “see something, say something” culture with its riders. The agency is in the

middle of establishing its own in-house police department, which they aim to have operational by 2029.

Other initiatives include a crackdown on fare evaders with the installation of taller fare gates at all new rail stations and some existing ones. Metro is also piloting weapons detection systems.

According to board

members, they anticipate Wiggins will be well equipped to manage multiple projects ahead of the Olympics, which can be found at www. metro.net/28x28/.

The projects, known as the Twenty-Eight by ‘28 Initiative, are a mix of transit solutions to improve connectivity to major sports venues.

Projects in the pipeline include LAX/Metro Transit Center Station, set to open June 6; J Line Electrification; new pedestrian and bike paths in South Los Angeles and Inglewood; Purple Line Extension; Gold Line Foothill extension to Pomona; and improvements to the G Line in the San Fernando Valley.

In addition to previously serving as CEO of Metrolink from 2019-21, Wiggins held various positions with Metro from 2008 to 2018, including a nearly four-year stint as deputy CEO.

Wiggins received her bachelor of arts degree in business administration from Whittier College in 1992, later earning her master’s in the same field from the USC Marshall School of Business in 2007.

Andrew Do. | Photo courtesy of Andrew Do for Supervisor 2020/ Facebook

Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins. | Photo courtesy of stephaniewigginsceo/Instagram