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Citing Trump order on ‘biological truth,’ VA makes it harder for male veterans with breast cancer to get coverage

By Eric Umansky, ProPublica

This story was originally published by ProPublica. ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Sign up for The Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox.

The Trump administration is making it more difficult for veterans with a rare but deadly cancer to get their health care needs covered by the government. The new policy, involving breast cancer in men, is laid out in a Department of Veterans Affairs memo obtained by ProPublica.

The previously undisclosed document does not cite any evolving science. Rather, it relies on an order that President Donald Trump issued on his first day in office titled: “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government.”

An agency spokesperson confirmed the change.

“As of Sept. 30, the department no longer presumes service connection for male breast cancer,” press secretary Pete Kasperowicz wrote in a statement to ProPublica. He noted that veterans who’ve previously qualified for coverage can keep it.

But for the roughly 100 male veterans who are newly diagnosed each year, the path will now be significantly harder. They will have to show their cancer was connected to their military service, a burden that has often been hard to meet.

Without VA coverage, experts say, veterans’ care could be delayed or even missed altogether — even as research has shown the rate of breast cancer among men has been increasing and the disease is deadlier than for women. One study also found that breast cancer for men is “notably higher among

veterans.”

“Cancer in male veterans should be covered,” said Dr. Anita Aggarwal, a VA oncologist who researched and treated breast cancer for years before retiring recently.

“These people have put their lives at risk for us.”

As Aggarwal noted, breast tissue in men and women are similar. “Male breasts don’t produce milk,” Aggarwal said. “But the treatment is the same.” She added that research has linked breast cancer to toxic exposure.

The administration’s new policy rolls back benefits that were created under the Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics, or PACT, Act, a Biden-era law that ushered in one of the largest expansions of health care and benefits in VA history.

After a long fight by advocates, congressional Democrats and Republicans passed the measure three years ago,

making it easier for veterans poisoned by Agent Orange and other toxic substances to get benefits.

Before the law, the VA had frequently been denying the claims. Now, the government would presume many ailments were connected to veterans’ military service, so long as they served in particular areas and had any number of diseases on a VA list.

As a result, more than 200,000 veterans likely exposed to toxic substances during their service have qualified to have their care covered.

The Trump administration’s change means that male veterans who get breast cancer will no longer be able to benefit from that easier path for coverage.

Veterans who have breast

cancer said the move left them aghast and puzzled.

Jack Gelman, a 80-yearold former Navy fighter pilot who served in Vietnam, is already facing the fact that his long-dormant breast cancer came back last year. Now he has to grapple with the fact that the government has just made it harder to get his care covered.

“I’m astonished,” Gelman said repeatedly when ProPublica told him about the change. “This is really nickel and diming a very small group of people who should be taken care of.”

Other veterans echoed that. “I don’t care if it’s toenail cancer,” said Kirby Lewis, who was diagnosed with breast cancer about a dozen years ago and is now Stage 4. “If exposure occurs, they should take care of those

12 charged with impeding ICE Operations in LA; judge rules Essayli’s ‘acting US attorney’ title illegal

Federal charges have been filed against a dozen defendants who allegedly engaged in violence and civil disorder during immigration enforcement actions in Southern California earlier this year, officials announced Wednesday.

Ten defendants were arrested Wednesday, including Isai Carrillo, who prosecutors say is an anti-ICE activist who threw rocks at government vehicles during the Glass House marijuana farm raid in July in which a federal contract employee was injured.

An 11th defendant is in state custody and will be turned over to federal authorities, while Virginia Reyes — who allegedly used her vehicle

to impede federal officers at the Camarillo pot farm — is considered a fugitive, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

“Promises made, promises kept,” acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli posted on X. “The President and (U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi) made clear that we will find, arrest, and charge anyone who attacks our federal agents. This morning we arrested 10 defendants for engaging in violence against officers and property earlier this year in connection with anti-immigration enforcement protests. They are now in federal custody. ... Peaceful protest is protected. Violence is not. Agitators who harm our officers,

| Graphic courtesy of CDC

Bill Essayli, first assistant U.S. attorney in Los Angeles. | Photo courtesy of the California State Assembly/Wikimedia Commons (CC0)

LA County ramps up food assistance as aid shutdown looms

By Joe Taglieri joet@beaconmedianews.com

Local governments and nonprofits are attempting to bolster food banks and other resources as the nearly monthlong federal shutdown is about to stop food assistance for more than 1.5 million Los Angeles County residents, officials said Tuesday.

Residents who depend on EBT cards to buy groceries will miss benefits starting Saturday unless Congress resolves the budget deadlock, according to the county. Even with a last-minute deal, the shutdown will delay benefits in November.

County agencies and nonprofit partners are attempting to increase the regional food bank system’s capacity to enable more robust food distribution amid the benefit stoppage. The county has agreed to a $10 million contract with the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank to significantly expand the organization’s food purchasing capacity for November. The contact also calls for additional pop-up sites and drive-through pantry locations to provide access to more families.

Officials noted that all but $25,000 of the $10 million will go toward purchasing food to be distributed through an established network of 940 food pantries countywide.

The L.A. Care Health

Plan, which insures county residents from vulnerable populations and low-income earners, has promised to spend up to $5.4 million in food aid for immediate needs created by the federal funding lapse. In partnership with the LA Regional Food Bank, Food Forward and the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles, the health plan will distribute grocery gift cards and fresh foods at distribution sites throughout the county. L.A. Care is also working with community-based organizations to help with distribution, officials said.

Many county departments have also shifted resources to provide support during the shutdown. The Public Social Services and Children and Family Services departments have each contributed $2 million, and the Mental Health and Parks and Recreation departments are setting up temporary food programs to assist their clients.

“Our County is coming together to make sure no one goes hungry,” said LA County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger said in a statement. “We recognize the hardship that the loss or delay of food benefits will cause for many families and we’re acting quickly to address that gap.

From new funding for local food banks to partnerships with organizations like L.A. Care, we’re mobilizing every available resource to help our residents have access to the food and support they need. We are leading with compassion and collaboration.”

State officials started informing CalFresh recipients Oct. 24 that November benefits will be delayed. The county has used email, texts, social media posts and public service announcements to get the word out.

Officials emphasized the importance of CalFresh recipients continuing to comply with all reporting requirements to ensure benefits are distributed promptly once they become available.

Officials also urged residents and business owners, including those who might typically help during the holiday season, to donate now to local food banks and faith-based organizations.

To find a food distribution site, visit lafoodbank. org/find-food/pantry-locator or call 211. Donations of pet food are also welcomed and at any county animal shelter, animalcare.lacounty.gov.

The Parks and Recreation Department has food programs for youth, teens and seniors, parks.lacounty.

gov/lacounty-parks-foodprograms.

Seniors over age 60 may be eligible for a free meal at local senior centers. Information is available by calling 800-510-2020.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Special Supple-

Amental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, or WIC is currently operational in California, according to the county. Government employees who are furloughed or working without pay may qualify for WIC if they are pregnant or

have a child under age 5. Applications are at startwic. org or available by texting “APPLY” to 91997.

On Tuesday, California and more than two-dozen states sued the Trump administration over the food aid stoppage.

LA County wins dismissal of former probation chief’s retaliation suit

judgeWednesday dismissed a lawsuit by the former Los Angeles County Probation Department chief, in which the plaintiff alleged he was terminated for coming forward about staffing shortages.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Shultz heard arguments in the county’s motion to dismiss plaintiff Adolfo Gonzales’ case on Tuesday, then took the case under submission before ruling on Wednesday that there are no triable issues.

Gonzales was fired in March 2023. In his lawsuit brought 11 months later, Gonzalescontendshe “candidly reported to ... (Board of State and Community Corrections) inspectors” that there were staffing shortages in the Probation Department that violated state regulations and mandates.

Thereafter, the BSCC issued an audit report critical of juvenile halls based, in part, on the disclosures Gonzales made to the BSCC, which demanded corrective action to be taken to address violations caused by staffing shortages and which ultimately prompted Gonzales’ firing, the suit stated.

However, in their court papers, county attorneys argued that during Gonzales’ tenure, the department struggled with regulatory violations, staffing shortages and public scandals and therefore his one claim for retaliation should be dismissed.

“Plaintiff’s performance declined, his communication with the Board of Supervisors was sporadic and ineffective and his handling of a use-of-force incident, along with public criticism follow-

By City News Service

ing the release of related video footage, prompted an oversight body, the public and members of the board to call for his resignation,” according to the county attorneys’ pleadings.

When Gonzales was hired in October 2021, the board expected him to, among other things, stabilize the department’s juvenile operations and implement a “care first, jails last” approach to serving the youth in juvenile hall, according to the county lawyers’ court papers.

“Instead, plaintiff careened the department from one self-created crisis to the next,” they argue. “The problems that plaintiff was hired to address persisted and metastasized.”

Rather than take responsibility, Gonzales sued “in an attempt to recast himself as the victim of some kind of

whistleblower retaliation,” the county attorneys’ court papers further state.

In his ruling in favor of the county, the judge echoed the defense’s claim that Gonzales was not a whistleblower.

“Plaintiff admitted at deposition that he never made any type of protected disclosure,” Shultz wrote. “His declaration conflicts with sworn deposition testimony. There is no evidence that any protected activity contributed to his termination.”

The judge also found that Gonzales did not comply with legal claim filing requirements prior to bringing his lawsuit.

With more than 6,500 employees and a budget of nearly $1 billion, the county’s Probation Department is the largest probation services agency in the United States.

LAFoodBank.org provides this locator map for food aid resources. | Image courtesy of the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank/Google

| Photo courtesy County of Los Angeles

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BMark Walter completes $10 billion purchase of Lakers

usinessmanMark Walter — who already owns part of the Dodgers, Sparks and Chelsea Football Club — has finalized a $10 billion purchase of the Lakers, the team announced Thursday following unanimous approval of the deal by the NBA Board of Governors.

“The Los Angeles Lakers are one of the most iconic franchises in all of sports, defined by a history of excellence and the relentless pursuit of greatness,” Walter said in a statement. “Few teams carry the legacy and global influence of the Lakers, and it’s a privilege to work alongside Jeanie Buss as we maintain that excellence and set the standard for success in this new era, both on and off the court.”

Buss, the team’s previous controlling owner, will remain governor of the Lakers “and continue to oversee day-to-day operations for the foreseeable future.”

“Over the past decade, I have come to know Mark well — first as a businessman, then as a friend and now as a colleague,” Buss said in a statement. “He has

demonstrated time and time again his commitment to bringing championships to Los Angeles, and, on behalf of Lakers fans everywhere, I am beyond excited about what our future has in store.”

Buss confirmed in June that the team was being sold to Walter, pending league approval.

Walter has been a minority owner of the Lakers since 2021. He is

and CEO of TWG Global, a diversified holding company.

Jerry Buss purchased the Lakers in 1979 for $67.5 million in a deal that also included the NHL’s Kings and The Forum. Buss sold his controlling interest in the Kings in 1988 and what is now Kia Forum in 1999. Following his death in 2013, Lakers ownership passed to his children, with

governor ever since. The Lakers have thrived under the Buss family’s leadership, becoming one of the most storied franchises in sports. They’ve captured 11 NBA championships during that span, including a three-peat from 2000 to 2002 under coach Phil Jackson and star guard Kobe Bryant, and most recently won a title in 2020.

Stars will come out for rock HOF ceremony in Los Angeles

Astar-studded lineup of celebrities will gather at the Peacock Theatre next month when the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony is held in Los Angeles for the fourth time, organizers said Wednesday.

Avril Lavigne, Bryan Adams, Chappell Roan, Donald Glover, En Vogue, Feist, Gina Schock, Hurby “Luv Bug” Azor, Janelle Monae, Jerry Cantrell, Jim Carrey, Joe Perry, The Killers, Lisa Coleman, Mick Fleetwood, Mike McCready, Nancy Wilson, Nathaniel Rateliff and Tedeschi Trucks Band will all take the stage during the show, according to the Rock HOF. They join the previously announced lineup of presenters and performers: Beck, Brandi Carlile, David Letterman, Doja Cat, Elton John, Flea, Iggy Pop, J.I.D, Killer Mike, Maxwell, Missy Elliott, Olivia Rodrigo, Questlove, RAYE, Sleepy Brown, Taylor Momsen, Teddy Swims and Twenty One Pilots.

Organizers have not announced which of those stars will be performing at the show, or who will deliver the traditional inductee tributes.

The ceremony is scheduled for Nov. 8, and will stream live on Disney+ at 5 p.m. PST. A primetime special featuring exclusive performances and highlights from the ceremony will air on ABC on Jan. 1, 2026, and be available the

next day on Hulu.

The annual induction ceremony is usually held in New York or at the Hall of Fame’s home in Cleveland, but was held in Los Angeles in 1993, 2013 and 2022.

This year’s inductees are Soundgarden, Outkast, Cyndi Lauper, The White Stripes, Bad Company, Chubby Checker and Joe Cocker. Additionally, Warren Zevon and Salt-NPepa are being inducted in the Musical Influence category, Nicky Hopkins, Carol Kaye and Thom Bell are being honored for Musical Excellence, and Lenny Waronker will receive the Ahmet Ertegun Award.

To be eligible for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, an artist must have released their first commercial recording at least 25 years prior to the year of induction.

By City News Service

City News Service

chairman

Jeanie Buss serving as team

| Photo courtesy of GoodFon.com (CC BY-NC 4.0)

The Peacock Theatre in downtown LA. | Photo courtesy of Benoit Prieur/Wikimedia Commons (CC0)

people.”

Lewis, who served in the Navy for five years during the 1980s, isn’t worried about losing his coverage, which the VA granted him as a result of unrelated heart issues. But he said the administration’s decision risks further stigmatizing men with the disease.

“There’s this machinismo aspect that they don’t want to accept that we have breasts, but we do,” said Lewis, who called the decision “very upsetting.”

The PACT Act gives administrations widespread discretion to cover diseases as science develops. Last year, the VA added three cancers, including male breast cancer.

The law states that “reproductive cancer of any type” be covered. Officials added male breast cancer under that category after a working group of experts reviewed the science. The decision noted “the marked similarity of male and female breast cancer.”

The Trump administration’s memo argues that designation is a mistake. “The Biden Administration falsely classified male breasts as reproductive organs,” Kasperowicz said in his statement to ProPublica.

A former official who was involved in the VA’s decision last year said that while there were discussions about how to interpret “reproductive

Breast cancer

cancer,” the scientific consensus among VA oncologists was clear. “The evidence showed that male and female breast tissue respond similarly to toxic exposures and share nearly identical biological and mutational profiles,” said the former official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, citing concern for his job prospects in government. “Expanding coverage to male breast cancer was the right call.”

Rosie Torres, who advocated for the PACT Act after her husband became sick, said the current administration is putting politics above patriotism and people. “It shouldn’t matter who signed the bill,” Torres said, referring to Biden. “If you don’t like the ‘reproductive’ word, do it under another category. Don’t remove it. These are peoples’ lives.”

Kasperowicz emphasized that veterans can still get coverage, so long as they show a connection between their illness and their service.

“The department grants disability benefits compensation claims for male Veterans with breast cancer on an individual basis and will continue to do so,” he said in his statement. “VA encourages any male Veterans with breast cancer who feel their health may have been impacted by their military service to submit a disability compensation claim.”

The change follows a wider tumult at the VA, where tens of thousands of staffers have left amid plummeting morale and work edicts such as a return to office.

Secretary Doug Collins has long insisted that care will not be affected. “Veterans benefits aren’t getting cut,” Collins said in February. “In fact, we are actually giving and improving services.”

Advocates and Democrats say they’re concerned that the rollback of presumptive coverage for male breast cancer could presage wider cuts. This year, House Republicans passed a bill to cut a fund for veterans covered under the PACT Act, which they’ve criticized as lacking in oversight. The bill has not passed in the Senate.

Meanwhile, Project 2025, the conservative initiative to create a blueprint for the Trump administration, urges officials to roll back benefits, or as the initiative puts it, to “target significant cost savings from revising disability rating awards.”

The Trump administration has so far not done that. ProPublica asked the VA whether there are any plans to change coverage beyond male breast cancer.

The department did not respond.

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

Tips for navigating CA health plans during open enrollment

By Suzanne Potter, Producer, Public News Service

ManyCalifornians are narrowing down their choice of health insurance plan, just in time for open enrollment, and experts have recommendations to help avoid missteps.

A new survey shows 43% of people say they regret a health care decision they made after being misled by inaccurate information.

Dr. Rhonda Randall, chief medical officer and executive vice president of UnitedHealthcare Employer and Individual, said her biggest piece of advice is to start your research now, using reputable sources.

"This is an important decision for your health and financial health," Randall stressed. "You want to have enough time to compare the benefits, services, the up front and out-of-pocket costs, and new offerings that may be available to you."

She added people need to make sure their physician is on the plan and it covers their medications. It is also important to consider not just the monthly premium but the amounts of deductibles, co-pays and coinsurance.

Explanations of terminology and more are online at JustPlainClear.com and MedicareMadeClear.com.

Medicare open enrollment is now through Dec. 7. Private employers usually allow changes for several weeks before the end of the year.

People on the Affordable Care Act Marketplace, known here as "CoveredCA," can enroll or change plans from Nov. 1 until Jan. 31.

Jessica Altman, executive director of CoveredCA, said nearly two million Californians on the Affordable Care Act individual marketplace plans are likely to face a huge increase in costs unless Congress renews the tax credits due to expire this year.

"We're looking at the tax credits getting much less generous," Altman pointed out. "Premiums themselves are rising more than they would otherwise, because of the instability caused by those tax credits expiring. What that equates to is an average of 97% increase, basically doubling."

The credits are a key sticking point in the current government shutdown. Democrats in Congress are demanding action to extend the credits before they agree to fund the government, something Republicans have rejected.

Following merger, Paramount/ Skydance cuts 1,000 jobs

Layoff notices were being sent starting Wednesday to roughly 1,000 U.S. employees of Paramount, nearly three months after the entertainment giant’s takeover by David Ellison’s Skydance Media.

Company executives indicated when the merger was completed in early August that cuts were on the horizon.

In a memo sent to employees Wednesday morning and obtained by various media outlets, Ellison said the cuts are essential to building a stronger company.

“We want to be as open and direct as possible about the reasons behind these changes,” Ellison wrote in the memo. “In some areas, we are addressing redundancies that have emerged across the organization. In others, we are phasing

out roles that are no longer aligned with our evolving priorities and the new structure designed to strengthen our focus on growth. Ultimately, these steps are necessary to position Paramount for long-term success.”

The Federal Communications Commission in late July approved Skydance’s $8 billion takeover of Paramount.

Ellison wrote in his memo that layoff decisions “are never made lightly, especially given their effect on our colleagues who have made meaningful contributions to the company.”

“To this end, we are committed to supporting all employees through this transition,” he wrote. “Members of our HR team will be working closely with

business unit leaders to share detailed information on benefits and transition services.

“... We are deeply grateful for your hard work, professionalism and resilience during this period of transition. We remain confident that Paramount’s best days are ahead, and we’re committed to building a strong foundation for the future.”

According to Deadline, roughly 1,000 U.S.-based employees will be impacted in the first round of layoffs, with another 1,000 expected to be let go in the future. The 2,000 workers represent about 10% of Paramount’s global workforce. It was not immediately clear how many of the layoffs are affecting Los Angeles-area workers

By City News Service

Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya via Pexels

We found that more than 170 U.S. citizens have been held by immigration agents. They’ve been kicked, dragged and detained for days.

By Nicole Foy, ProPublica

WhentheSupreme Courtrecently allowedimmigration agents in the Los Angeles area to take race into consideration during sweeps, Justice Brett Kavanaugh said that citizens shouldn’t be concerned.

“If the officers learn that the individual they stopped is a U.S. citizen or otherwise lawfully in the United States,” Kavanaugh wrote, “they promptly let the individual go.”

But that is far from the reality many citizens have experienced. Americans have been dragged, tackled, beaten, tased and shot by immigration agents. They’ve had their necks kneeled on. They’ve been held outside in the rain while in their underwear. At least three citizens were pregnant when agents detained them. One of those women had already had the door of her home blown off while Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem watched.

About two dozen Americans have said they were held for more than a day without being able to phone lawyers or loved ones.

Videos of U.S. citizens being mistreated by immigration agents have filled social media feeds, but there is little clarity on the overall picture. The government does not track how often immigration agents hold Americans.

So ProPublica created its own count.

We compiled and reviewed every case we could find of agents holding citizens against their will, whether during immigration raids or protests. While the tally is almost certainly incomplete, we found more than 170 such incidents during the first nine months of President Donald Trump’s second administration.

Among the citizens detained are nearly 20 children, including two with cancer. That includes four who were held for weeks with their undocumented mother and without access to the family’s attorney until a congresswoman intervened.

Immigration agents do have authority to detain Americans in limited circumstances. Agents can hold people whom they reasonably suspect are in the country illegally. We found more than 50 Americans who were held after

agents questioned their citizenship. They were almost all Latino.

Immigration agents also can arrest citizens who allegedly interfered with or assaulted officers. We compiled cases of about 130 Americans, including a dozen elected officials, accused of assaulting or impeding officers. These cases have often wilted under scrutiny. In nearly 50 instances that we have identified so far, charges have never been filed or the cases were dismissed. Our count found a handful of citizens have pleaded guilty, mostly to misdemeanors.

Among the detentions in which allegations have not stuck, masked agents pointed a gun at, pepper sprayed and punched a young man who had filmed them searching for his relative. In another, agents knocked over and then tackled a 79-year-old car wash owner, pressing their knees into his neck and back. His lawyer said he was held for 12 hours and wasn’t given medical attention despite having broken ribs in the incident and having recently had heart surgery. In a third case, agents grabbed and handcuffed a woman on her way to work who was caught up in a chaotic raid on street vendors. In a complaint filed against the government, she described being held for more than two days, without being allowed to contact the outside world for much of that time. (The Supreme Court has ruled that two days is generally the longest federal officials can hold Americans without charges.)

In response to questions from ProPublica, the Depart-

ment of Homeland Security said agents do not racially profile or target Americans. “We don’t arrest US citizens for immigration enforcement,” wrote spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin.

A top immigration official recently acknowledged agents do consider someone’s looks. “How do they look compared to, say, you?” Border Patrol chief Gregory Bovino said to a white reporter in Chicago.

The White House told ProPublica that anyone who assaults federal immigration agents would be prosecuted. “Interfering with law enforcement and assaulting law enforcement is a crime and anyone, regardless of immigration status, will be held accountable,” said the Deputy Press Secretary Abigail Jackson. “Officers act heroically to enforce the law, arrest criminal illegal aliens, and protect American communities with the utmost professionalism.”

A spokesperson for Kavanaugh did not return an emailed request for comment.

Tallying the number of Americans detained by immigration agents is inherently messy and incomplete. The government has long ignored recommendations for it to track such cases, even as the U.S. has a history of detaining and even deporting citizens, including during the Obama administration and Trump’s first term.

We compiled cases by sifting through both Englishand Spanish-language social media, lawsuits, court records and local media reports. We did not include arrests of protesters by local police or the National Guard. Nor did we count cases in which arrests were made at a later

date after a judicial process. That included cases of some people charged with serious crimes, like throwing rocks or tossing a flare to start a fire.

Experts say that Americans appear to be getting picked up more now as a result of the government doing something that it hasn’t for decades: large-scale immigration sweeps across the country, often in communities that do not want them.

In earlier administrations, deportation agents used intelligence to target specific individuals, said Scott Shuchart, a top immigration official in the Biden, Obama and first Trump administrations. “The new idea is to use those resources unintelligently” — with officers targeting communities or workplaces where undocumented immigrants may be.

When federal officers roll through communities in the way the Supreme Court permitted, the constitutional rights of both citizens and noncitizens are inevitably violated, argued David Bier, the director of immigration studies at the libertarian Cato Institute. He recently analyzed how sweeps in Los Angeles have led to racial profiling. “If the government can grab someone because he’s a certain demographic group that’s correlated with some offense category, then they can do that in any context.”

Cody Wofsy, an attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union, put it even more starkly. “Any one of us could be next.”

When Kavanaugh issued his opinion that immigration agents can consider race and other factors, the Supreme Court’s three liberal justices strongly dissented. They

him. A masked immigration agent was standing in the bedroom doorway.

This time, agents didn’t tackle him. But they again dismissed his REAL ID. And then they held him to check his citizenship. Garcia Venegas says agents also held two other workers who had legal status.

warned that citizens risked being “grabbed, thrown to the ground, and handcuffed simply because of their looks, their accents, and the fact they make a living by doing manual labor.”

Leonardo Garcia Venegas appears to have been just such a case. He was working at a construction site in coastal Alabama when he saw masked immigration agents from Homeland Security Investigations hop a fence and run by a “No trespassing” sign. Garcia Venegas recalled that they moved toward the Latino workers, ignoring the white and Black workers.

Garcia Venegas began filming after his undocumented brother asked agents for a warrant. In response, the footage shows, agents yanked his brother to the ground, shoving his face into wet concrete. Garcia Venegas kept filming until officers grabbed him too and knocked his phone to the ground.

Other co-workers filmed what happened next, as immigration agents twisted the 25-year-old’s arms. They repeatedly tried to take him to the ground while he yelled, “I’m a citizen!”

Officers pulled out his REAL ID, which Alabama only issues to those legally in the U.S. But the agents dismissed it as fake. Officers held Garcia Venegas handcuffed for more than an hour. His brother was later deported.

Garcia Venegas was so shaken that he took two weeks off of work. Soon after he returned, he was working alone inside a nearly built house listening to music on his headphones when he sensed someone watching

DHS did not respond to ProPublica’s questions about Garcia Venegas’ detentions, or to a federal lawsuit he filed last month. The agency has previously defended the agents’ conduct, saying he “physically got in between agents and the subject” during the first incident. The footage does not show that, and Garcia Venegas was never charged with obstruction or any other crime.

Garcia Venegas’ lawyers at the nonprofit Institute for Justice hope others may join his suit. After all, the reverberations of the immigration sweeps are being felt widely. Garcia Venegas said he knows of 15 more raids on nearby construction sites, and the industry along his portion of the Gulf Coast is struggling for lack of workers.

Kavanaugh’s assurances hold little weight for Garcia Venegas. He’s a U.S. citizen of Mexican descent, who speaks little English and works in construction. Even with his REAL ID and Social Security card in his wallet, Garcia Venegas worries that immigration agents will keep harassing him.

“If they decide they want to detain you,” he said. “You’re not going to get out of it.”

George Retes was among the citizens arrested despite immigration agents appearing to know his legal status. He also disappeared into the system for days without being able to contact anyone on the outside.

The only clue Retes’ family had at first was a brief call he managed to make on his Apple Watch with his hands handcuffed behind his back. He quickly told his wife that “ICE” had arrested him during a massive raid and protest on the marijuana farm where he worked as a security guard.

Still, Retes’ family couldn’t find him. They called every law enforcement agency they could think of. No one gave them any answers. Eventually, they spotted

This story was originally published by ProPublica. ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Sign up to receive ProPublica’s biggest stories as soon as they’re published.

| U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Derek Gutierrez via Flickr CC BY 4.0

a TikTok video showing Retes driving to work and slowly trying to back up as he’s caught between agents and protestors. Through the tear gas and dust, his family recognized Retes’ car and the veteran decal on his window. The full video shows a man — Retes — splayed on the ground surrounded by agents. Retes’ family went to the farm, where local TV reporters were interviewing families who couldn’t find their loved ones.

“They broke his window, they pepper sprayed him, they grabbed him, threw him on the floor,” his sister told a reporter between sobs. “We don’t know what to do. We’re just asking to let my brother go. He didn’t do anything wrong. He’s a veteran, disabled citizen. It says it on his car.”

Retes was held for three days without being given an opportunity to make a call. His family only learned where he had been after his release. His leg had been cut from the broken glass, Retes told ProPublica, and lingering pepper spray burned his hands. He tried to soothe them by filling sandwich bags with water.

Retes recalled that agents knew he was a citizen. “They didn’t care.” He said one DHS official laughed at him, saying he shouldn’t have come to work that day. “They still sent me away to jail.” He added that cases like his show Kavanaugh was “wrong completely.”

DHS did not answer our questions about Retes. It did respond on X after Retes wrote an op-ed last month in the San Francisco Chronicle. An agency post asserted he was arrested for assault after he “became violent and refused to comply with law enforcement.” Yet Retes had been released without any charges. Indeed, he says he was never told why he was arrested.

The Department of

Air Force

Justice has encouraged agents to arrest anyone interfering with immigration operations, twice ordering law enforcement to prioritize cases of those suspected of obstructing, interfering with or assaulting immigration officials.

But the government’s claims in those cases have often not been borne out.

Daniel Montenegro was filming a raid at a Van Nuys, California, Home Depot with other day-laborer advocates this summer when, he told ProPublica, he was tackled by several officers who injured his back.

Bovino, the Border Patrol chief who oversaw the LA raids and has since taken similar operations to cities like Sacramento and Chicago, tweeted out the names and photos of Montenegro and three others, accusing them of using homemade tire spikes to disable vehicles.

“I had no idea where that story came from,” Montenegro told ProPublica. “I didn’t find out until we were released. People were like, ‘We saw you on Twitter and the news and you guys are terrorists, you were planning to slash tires.’ I never saw those spike tire-popper things.”

Officials have not charged Montenegro or the others with any crimes. (Bovino did not respond to a request for comment, while DHS defended him in a statement to ProPublica: “Chief Bovino’s success in getting the worst of the worst out of the country speaks for itself.”)

The government’s cases are sometimes so muddied that it’s unclear why agents actually arrested a citizen.

Andrea Velez was charged with assaulting an officer after she was accidentally dropped off for work during a raid on street vendors in downtown Los Angeles. She said in a federal complaint that officers repeatedly assumed she did not speak English. Federal

officers later requested access to her phone in an attempt to prove she was colluding with another citizen arrested that day, who was charged with assault. She was one of the Americans held for more than two days.

DHS did not respond to our questions about Velez, but it has previously accused her of assaulting an officer. A federal judge has dismissed the charges.

Other citizens also said officers accused them of crimes and suddenly questioned their citizenship — including a man arrested after filming Border Patrol agents break a truck window, and a pregnant woman who tried to stop officers from taking her boyfriend.

The prospects for any significant reckoning over agents’ conduct, even against citizens, are dim. The paths for suing federal agents are even more limited than they are for local police. And that’s if agents can even be identified. What’s more, the administration has gutted the office that investigates allegations of abuse by agents.

“The often-inadequate guardrails that we have for state and local government — even those guardrails are nonexistent when you’re talking about federal overreach,” said Joanna Schwartz, a professor at UCLA School of Law.

More than 50 members of Congress have also written to the administration, demanding details about Americans who’ve been detained. One is Sen. Alex Padilla, a California Democrat. After trying to question Noem about detained citizens, federal agents grabbed Padilla, pulled him to the ground and handcuffed him. The department later defended the agents, saying they “acted appropriately.”

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

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EL Monte City Notices

INVITATION TO BID

Pursuant to Public Contract Code Sections 1600 and 1601, all bids or proposals shall be submitted through the City’s electronic bid management system (PlanetBids) at https://www.planetbids. com/portal/portal.cfm?CompanyID=43375 by 2:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time on or before November 19, 2025 for the project listed below. A bid submitted after the time set shall not be considered. Bidders are required to submit (upload) all items listed in the section 4(d) of Instructions to Bidders, including a copy of the required Bidder’s Bond and acknowledgement of all addendums. Bids will be received by the City via the electronic submission up to the date and time shown in the Notice of Inviting Bids. The City will be responsible for bid tabulations. Bids will be opened and read out loud in the City Clerk’s Office at the date and time stated in the Notice of Inviting Bids. Bid results will be made available to the public on the City’s website in the electronic bid management system once the bid tabulation has been completed.

The foregoing notwithstanding, the award of any contract shall be subject to approval by the City Council at a duly noticed City Council meeting and the City Council reserves the right to reject all Bids.

The Bidder, by submitting their electronic proposal, agrees to and certifies under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California, that the certification, forms and affidavits submitted as part of this proposal are true and correct. The Bidder, by submitting its electronic bid, acknowledges that doing so carries the same force and full legal effect as a paper submission with a longhand (wet) signature. By submitting an electronic bid, the Bidder certifies that the Bidder has thoroughly examined and understands the entire Contract Documents (which consist of the plans and specifications, drawings, forms, affidavits and the solicitation documents), and that by submitting the electronic bid as its Bid proposal, the Bidder acknowledges, agrees to and is bound by the entire Contract Documents, including any addenda issued thereto, and incorporated by reference in the Contract Documents.

HIGHWAY SAFETY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT CYCLE 10 PROGRAM HSIPL-5210(030)

– CIP 040 PECK ROAD AND SANTA ANITA AVENUE

The proposed work generally consists of installing striping, pavement markings, continental crosswalks, striping removals, traffic signal equipment upgrades, loop detectors and battery backup systems as set forth in the Contract Drawings and Technical Specifications for the project. The City Engineer’s estimate of the base bid for the project is approximately one million four hundred thousand dollars ($1,400,000).

Completion of Work: All work shall be completed within seventy-five (75) working days from the date designated on the Notice to Proceed exclusive of procurement periods. Contractor will be given sixty (60) calendar days for traffic signal equipment procurement time after the City’s authorizes a Notice to Procure.

Affirmative Action: The City of El Monte hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively ensure that in any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, minority business enterprises will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of sex, race, color, or national origin in consideration for an award.

Obtaining Contract Documents: Specifications and contract documents are posted in the City’s electronic bid management system (PlanetBids) at https://www.planetbids.com/portal/portal. cfm?CompanyID=43375. All Bidders must first register as a vendor on the City of El Monte PlanetBids System website to participate in a Bid or to be added to a prospective Bidders list. Only those parties that have registered with the City as a plan holder on a particular project will receive the addendum(a) for that project. The City is not responsible for notifications to those parties who do not directly register as a plan holder on the City’s database. It is the responsibility of all perspective Bidders to register on the City’s database to ensure receipt of any addendum(a) prior to Bid submittals. Additionally, information on any addendum(a) issued for any bid specifications for any project will be available on the City website at: https:// www.planetbids.com/portal/portal.cfm?CompanyID=43375. The City reserves the right to reject as nonresponsive any bid that fails to include the information required by any addendum(a) posted on the City website.

LEGALS

and specialty contractors as defined in Business and Professions Code Section 7058, including Sections 832.02 through 832.62 of Title 16 of the California Code of Regulations. The Contractor awarded the Contract for the Work and all Subcontractors must agree to be bound by the PLA prior to performance of any Work by submitting a completed and executed Letter of Assent. If awarded a Contract, the successful Contractor shall comply with provisions of the PLA, including without limitation: (1) craft labor hiring practices; (ii) alternative dispute resolution procedures for Site grievances and jurisdictional disputes; and (iii) prevailing wage rate responsibilities. The PLA shall not apply if the City receives funding or assistance from any Federal, State, local or other public entity for the Construction Contract if a requirement, condition or other term of receiving that funding or assistance, at the time of the awarding of the contract, is that City not require, bidders, contractors, subcontractors or other persons or entities to enter into an agreement with one or more labor organization or enter into an agreement that contains any of the terms of the PLA. Public Works projects not covered by the PLA shall be subject to the prevailing wage requirements of the California Uniform Public Construction Cost Accounting Act which has been adopted by the City. In accordance with Labor Code Section 1770 et seq., the Project is a “public work.”

The selected Bidder (Contractor) and any Subcontractors shall pay wages in accordance with the director’s general prevailing wage determinations by the State of California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) whichever is higher. Pursuant to Labor Code Section 1773.2, copies of the prevailing rate of per diem wages for each craft, classification, or type of worker needed to perform the Project are on file at City Hall and will be made available to any interested party on request. Copies of those rates are on file with the Director of Public Works and are available to any interested party upon request and at the following web addresses:

- Director’s General Prevailing Wage Determinations (CA DIR): http://www.dir.ca.gov/oprl/DPreWageDetermination.htm

The applicable State prevailing wage rates are those that are in effect ten (10) calendar days prior to bid opening.

The Contractor shall post a copy of the DIR’s determination of the prevailing rate of per diem wages at each job site. This Project is subject to compliance monitoring and enforcement by the DIR.

Questions: Project-specific questions must be submitted in writing through the City’s electronic bid management system (PlanetBids) at https://www.planetbids.com/portal/portal. cfm?CompanyID=43375 by 2:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time on or before November 6, 2025. All posted questions will be answered in writing and conveyed via written addenda to all Proposers via posting on PlanetBids.

Pre-bid Meeting: Bidders may attend the non-mandatory pre-bid meeting at El Monte City Hall West, Conference Room A located at 11333 Valley Boulevard. The meeting will be held on November 3, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. No allowances for cost adjustments will be made if a Bidder fails to adequately examine the Project before submitting a Bid.

Submission of Proposals: Pursuant to Public Contract Code Section 1600 and 1601, all bids or proposals shall be submitted through the City’s electronic bid management system (PlanetBids) at: https://www.planetbids.com/portal/portal.cfm?CompanyID=43375, no later than the date and time prescribed. All bids must be signed by an authorized representative.

All required sections, including pricing, shall be submitted (uploaded) via the website. The Bidder shall attach Subcontractor(s) Listing, Experience Form, Copy of Bid Security, and all other documents as listed in the BIDDER’S CHECKLIST to the PlanetBids Attachments Tab. The system will not accept a bid for which any required information is missing. Prior to the bid due date and time, all Bidders shall submit the original Bid Security to:

Office of the City Clerk

City of El Monte – City Hall East 11333 Valley Blvd. El Monte CA, 91731

The award of the contract by the City Council is contingent upon the Bidder submitting the required bonds and insurance, as described in the Contract, prior to the Bid due date and time. If the Bidder fails to comply with these requirements, the City may award the contract to the second or third lowest Bidder and the Bid security of the lowest Bidder may be forfeited.

Bids Remain Sealed Until Due Date and Time. Electronic Bids are transmitted into the City’s bidding system via hypertext transfer protocol secure (https). Bids submitted prior to the due date and time are not available for review by anyone other than the submitter, who will have until the due date and time to change, rescind or retrieve its bid should they desire to do so. Upon the Bidder’s entry of their bid, the system will ensure that all required fields are entered. The system will not accept a Bid for which any required information is missing. This includes all necessary pricing, subcontractor listing(s) and any other essential documentation and supporting materials and forms requested or contained in these solicitation documents. All Bid submission information must be fully transferred from the Bidder server to the bid system server before bid closing. Bids still transmitting at the time of bid closing will not be accepted. Bidders will receive an e-bid confirmation number with a time stamp from the bid management system indicating their bid

was submitted successfully. The City will only receive those bids that were transmitted successfully. DO NOT FAX OR EMAIL.

Bid Security: Each proposal must be accompanied by a Bid Security in the form of a cashier’s check, certified check, or bid bond executed on the prescribed form, in an amount not less than ten percent (10%) of the total bid price payable to the City of El Monte. Bidders are hereby notified that in accordance with the provisions of Public Contract Code section 22300, securities may be substituted for any monies which the City may withhold pursuant to the terms of this Contract to ensure performance.

Prior to the bid due date and time, all Bidders shall submit the original Bid Security to the City Clerk. Proof of delivery that is date/ time stamped and signed for by the City Clerk from other couriers other than Certified mail will be accepted. A copy of the proof of delivery shall be submitted with the bid package by the bid due date.

Contractor’s License: Bidder must possess a current Class ”A” - General Engineering Contractor license, Class “C-10” –Electrical Contractor, and “C-32” – Parking and Highway Improvement Contractor, etc., issued by the State of California, at the time the bid is submitted. When a Specialty Contractor is authorized to bid a project, all work to be performed outside of their license specialty shall be performed by a licensed subcontractor in compliance with the Subletting and Subcontracting Fair Practices Act (Section 4100 of Part 1 of Division 2 of the Public Contract Code).

Contractor Registration: All Bidders and listed subcontractors must have registered with the California State Department of Industrial Relations pursuant to Labor Code section 1725.5 prior to submitting a bid. Furthermore, a Contractor and all subcontractors must be registered pursuant to Labor Code section 1725.5 before entering into a contract to work on a public project.

City’s Right to Postpone Opening of Bids. The City reserves the right to postpone the date and time for the opening of bids at any time prior to the date and time initially announced in this Invitation to Bid in accordance with applicable law.

Opening of Bids. Bids will be received by the City via the electronic submission up to the date and time shown in the Notice of Inviting Bids. The City will be responsible for bid tabulations. Bids will be opened and read out loud by the City Clerk’s Office in Council Chambers at the date and time stated in the Notice of Inviting Bids. Bid results will be made available to the public on the City’s website in the electronic bid management system once the bid tabulation has been completed.

Award: The award shall be made to the lowest responsible Bidder whose proposal complies with the specified requirements. The foregoing notwithstanding, the award of any contract shall be subject to approval by the City Council at a duly noticed City Council meeting. Contractor shall execute the Contract within ten (10) days after it has received the Contract from the City. The City reserves the right to waive any irregularity in the proposals. No bid may be withdrawn for a period of ninety (90) days after the opening of bids.

Rejection of Bids: The City reserves the right to reject any and all bids. The City further reserves the right to waive immaterial irregularities in any bid. Any bid not conforming to the intent and purpose of the Contract Documents may be rejected. The City reserves the right to make all awards in the best interest of the City.

Disqualification of Bidder: If there is a reason to believe that collusion exists among any Bidders, none of the bids of the participants in such collusion will be considered and the City may likewise elect to reject all bids received.

Wage Rates: Bidders are hereby notified that the California Department of Industrial Relations has determined the general prevailing rate of wages for each craft, classification, or type of worker needed to execute the work. Copies of the current schedules for prevailing wages applicable to this project are on file in the City’s office. It shall be mandatory for the Contractor and any subcontractor under it to pay not less than the said specified rates to laborers and workmen employed by them in the execution of the Contract. The contractor’s duty to pay State prevailing wages can be found under Labor Code, Section 1770 et seq. Labor Code Sections 1775 and 1777.7 outline the penalties for failure to pay prevailing wages and employ apprentices including forfeitures and debarment.

Conflict of Interest: In the procurement of supplies, equipment, construction, and services by sub-recipients, the conflict-ofinterest provisions in 24 CFR 85.36, OMB Circular A-110, and 24 CFR 570.611 shall apply. No employee, office, or agent of the subrecipient shall participate in the selection, award, or administration of a contract supported by federal funds if a conflict of interest, real or apparent, would be involved.

Bonds: The successful Bidder will be required to furnish a payment bond in an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the Contract price, and a faithful performance bond in an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the Contract price.

[End of Invitation to Bid]

Publish October 27, 2025 & November 3, 2025 EL MONTE EXAMINER

INVITATION TO BID

HIGHWAY

SAFETY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT CYCLE 10 PROGRAM HSIPL-5210(031) – CIP 070 DURFEE AVENUE AND GARVEY AVENUE

Payment of Prevailing Wages On Public Works Projects: PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENT. The City has entered into the “Project Labor Agreement” (“PLA”) Contract No. 24PW01001 AND 24PW01001.1A with the Los Angeles and Orange Counties Building and Construction Trades Council, which is attached hereto as Attachment 3, requiring the payment of prevailing wages on general public works contracts of greater than $750,000 and specialty contracts of greater than $150,000 and certain labor compliance provisions. Specialty contracts are entered into between the City and specialty contractors as defined in Business and Professions Code Section 7058, including Sections 832.02 through 832.62 of Title 16 of the California Code of Regulations. The Contractor awarded the Contract for the Work and all Subcontractors must agree to be bound by the PLA prior to performance of any Work by submitting a completed and executed Letter of Assent. If awarded a Contract, the successful Contractor shall comply with provisions of the PLA, including without limitation: (1) craft labor hiring practices; (ii)alternative dispute resolution procedures for Site grievances

LEGALS

and jurisdictional disputes; and (iii) prevailing wage rate responsibilities. The PLA shall not apply if the City receives funding or assistance from any Federal, State, local or other public entity for the Construction Contract if a requirement, condition or other term of receiving that funding or assistance, at the time of the awarding of the contract, is that City not require, bidders, contractors, subcontractors or other persons or entities to enter into an agreement with one or more labor organization or enter into an agreement that contains any of the terms of the PLA. Public Works projects not covered by the PLA shall be subject to the prevailing wage requirements of the California Uniform Public Construction Cost Accounting Act which has been adopted by the City. In accordance with Labor Code Section 1770 et seq., the Project is a “public work.”

-Director’s General Prevailing Wage Determinations (CA DIR): http://www.dir.ca.gov/oprl/DPreWageDetermination.htm

The applicable State prevailing wage rates are those that are in effect ten (10) calendar days prior to bid opening.

The Contractor shall post a copy of the DIR’s determination of the prevailing rate of per diem wages at each job site. This Project is subject to compliance monitoring and enforcement by the DIR.

Submission of Proposals: Pursuant to Public Contract Code Section 1600 and 1601, all bids or proposals shall be submitted through the City’s electronic bid management system (PlanetBids) at: https://www.planetbids.com/portal/portal. cfm?CompanyID=4337s5, no later than the date and time prescribed. All bids must be signed by an authorized representative.

Office of the City Clerk

City of El Monte – City Hall East 11333 Valley Blvd. El Monte CA, 91731

The award of the contract by the City Council is contingent upon the Bidder submitting the required bonds and insurance, as described in the Contract, prior to the Bid due date and time. Proof of delivery that is date/time stamped and signed for by the City Clerk from other couriers other than Certified Mail will be accepted. A copy of the proof of delivery shall be submitted with the bid package by the bid due date. If the Bidder fails to comply with these requirements, the City may award the contract to the second or third lowest Bidder and the Bid security of the lowest Bidder may be forfeited.

Bid Security: Each proposal must be accompanied by a Bid Security in the form of a cashier’s check, certified check, or bid

bond executed on the prescribed form, in an amount not less than ten percent (10%) of the total bid price payable to the City of El Monte. Bidders are hereby notified that in accordance with the provisions of Public Contract Code section 22300, securities may be substituted for any monies which the City may withhold pursuant to the terms of this Contract to ensure performance.

Prior to the bid due date and time. All Bidders shall submit the original Bid Security to the City Clerk. Proof of delivery that is date/time stamped and signed for by the City Clerk from other couriers other than Certified mail will be accepted. A copy of the proof of delivery shall be submitted with the bid package by the bid due date.

Opening of Bids Bids will be received by the City via the electronic submission up to the date and time shown in the Notice of Inviting Bids. The City will be responsible for bid tabulations. Bids will be opened and read out loud by the City Clerk’s Office in Council Chambers at the date and time stated in the Notice of Inviting Bids. Bid results will be made available to the public on the City’s website in the electronic bid management system once the bid tabulation has been completed.

Award: The award shall be made to the lowest responsible Bidder whose proposal complies with the specified requirements. The foregoing notwithstanding, the award of any contract shall be subject to approval by the City Council at a duly noticed City Council meeting. Contractor shall execute the Contract within ten (10)days after it has received the Contract from the City. The City reserves the right to waive any irregularity in the proposals. No bid may be withdrawn for a period of sixty (60) days after the opening of bids.

[End of Invitation to Bid]

Publish October 27, 2025 & November 3, 2025 EL MONTE EXAMINER

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Probate Notices

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF JEFFREY LAIRD VLAMING CASE NO. 25STPB11943

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

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

THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that KATHERINE VLAMING 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 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 11/21/2025 at 8:30 A.M. in Dept. 29 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 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: Kathryn Van Houten

100 W. Broadway, Suite 870 Glendale, CA 91210

Telephone: (818) 242-6859 10/27, 10/30, 11/3/25

CNS-3980057# PASADENA PRESS

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF KENNETH EIJI KINOSHITA Case No. 25STPB11899

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of KENNETH EIJI KINOSHI-

TA A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by Sherri E. Chen in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES. THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that Sherri E. Chen be appointed as personal represen-

tative to administer the estate of the decedent.

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

A HEARING on the petition will be held on Nov. 19, 2025 at 8:30 AM in Dept. No. 67 located at 111 N. Hill St., Los Angeles, CA 90012.

IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issu-ance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code.

Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney 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: CHRISTOPHER B JOHNSON ESQ SBN 173521 LAW OFFICES OF CHRISTOPHER B JOHNSON 180 N PENNSYLVANIA AVE GLENDORA CA 91741 CN121348 KINOSHITA Oct 27,30, Nov 3, 2025 WEST COVINA PRESS

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: RALPH JOSEPH ROBLES CASE NO. 25STPB01383 To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the WILL or estate, or both of RALPH JOSEPH ROBLES. A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by ELIZABETH SARA ROBLES in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES. THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that ELIZABETH SARA ROBLES be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent. THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows: 11/13/25 at 8:30AM in Dept. 4 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.

In Pro Per Petitioner

ELIZABETH SARA ROBLES

8250 NORTH GRAND CANYON DRIVE #1001

LAS VEGAS NV 89166

10/27, 10/30, 11/3/25

CNS-3980615#

BALDWIN PARK PRESS

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF DAVID THOMAS PHILLIPS

Case No. 25STPB12077

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

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

THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that Dennis Phillips 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.

A HEARING on the petition will be held on Nov. 26, 2025 at 8:30 AM in Dept. No. 2D located at 111 N. Hill St., Los Angeles, CA 90012.

IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issu-ance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code.

Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney 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: CHRISTOPHER B JOHNSON ESQ SBN 173521 LAW OFFICES OF CHRISTOPHER B JOHNSON 180 N PENNSYLVANIA AVE

GLENDORA CA 91741

CN121710 PHILLIPS

Oct 30, Nov 3,6, 2025 WEST COVINA PRESS

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: SUSAN SVERCEK AKA SUSAN LESEMANN CASE NO. 25STPB11866

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the WILL or estate, or both of SUSAN SVERCEK AKA SUSAN LESEMANN.

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

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

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

A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows: 11/19/25 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

CHARLES J. STAVELEY - SBN 298971 PABST AND STAVELEY 3436 N. VERDUGO RD., STE. 220 GLENDALE CA 91208 Telephone (818) 957-8800 10/30, 11/3, 11/6/25 CNS-3980813# GLENDALE INDEPENDENT

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: BERNARD GEORGE HOLMBRAKER

CASE NO. 25STPB12155

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the WILL or estate, or both of BERNARD GEORGE HOLMBRAKER. A PETITION FOR PROBATE has

been filed by MARIA TERESA QUIOGUE ESTEBAN in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES.

THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that MARIA TERESA QUIOGUE ESTEBAN 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.

A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows: 12/01/25 at 8:30AM in Dept. 4 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

CLAIRE N. ESPINA - SBN 176648 ESPINA LAWYERS, APLC 5161 LANKERSHIM BLVD., SUITE 250 NORTH HOLLYWOOD CA 91601

Telephone (818) 708-7791 10/30, 11/3, 11/6/25 CNS-3981877# BURBANK INDEPENDENT

Public Notices

CASE NUMBER: (Numero del Caso): 25STCV17993 SUMMONS (CITACION JUDICIAL) NOTICE TO DEFENDANT: (AVISO AL DEMANDADO): Karen Khachatrian; and DOES 1 to 50, inclusive

Plaintiff’s Title Thereto. YOU ARE BEING SUED BY PLAINTIFF: (LO ESTA DEMANDANDO EL DEMANDANTE): Francisco German Hic Ordonez

NOTICE! You have been sued. The court may decide against you without your being heard unless you respond within 30 days. Read the information below. You have 30 CALENDAR DAYS after this summons and legal papers are served on you to file a written response at this court and have a copy served on the plaintiff. A letter or phone call will not protect you. Your written response must be in proper legal form if you want the court to hear your case. There may be a court form that you can use for your response. You can find these court forms and more information at the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/ selfhelp), your county law library, or the courthouse nearest you. If you cannot pay the filing fee, ask the court clerk for a fee waiver form. If you do not file your response on time, you may lose the case by default, and your wages, money, and property may be taken without further warning from the court. There are other legal requirements. You may want to call an attorney right away. If you do not know an attorney, you may want to call an attorney referral

service. If you cannot afford an attorney, you may be eligible for free legal services from a nonprofit legal services program. You can locate these nonprofit groups at the California Legal Services Web site (www.lawhelpcalifornia.org), the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www. courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp), or by contacting your local court or county bar association. NOTE: The court has a statutory lien for waived fees and costs on any settlement or arbitration award of $10,000 or more in a civil case. The court’s lien must be paid before the court will dismiss the case. ¡AVISO! Lo han demandado. Si no responde dentro de 30 días, la corte puede decidir en su contra sin escuchar su versión. Lea la información a continuación. Tiene 30 DÍAS DE CALENDARIO después de que le entreguen esta citación y papeles legales para presentar una respuesta por escrito en esta corte y hacer que se entregue una copia al demandante. Una carta o una llamada telefónica no lo protegen. Su respuesta por escrito tiene que estar en formato legal correcto si desea que procesen su caso en la corte. Es posible que haya un formulario que usted pueda usar para su respuesta. Puede encontrar estos formularios de la corte y más información en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California (www.sucorte.ca.gov), en la biblioteca de leyes de su condado o en la corte que le quede más cerca. Si no puede pagar la cuota de presentación, pida al secretario de la corte que le dé un formulario de exención de pago de cuotas. Si no presenta su respuesta a tiempo, puede perder el caso por incumplimiento y la corte le podrá quitar su sueldo, dinero y bienes sin más advertencia. Hay otros requisitos legales. Es recomendable que llame a un abogado inmediatamente. Si no conoce a un abogado, puede llamar a un servicio de remisión a abogados. Si no puede pagar a un abogado, es posible que cumpla con los requisitos para obtener servicios legales gratuitos de un programa de servicios legales sin fines de lucro. Puede encontrar estos grupos sin fines de lucro en el sitio web de California Legal Services, (www.lawhelpcalifornia. org), en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California, (www.sucorte.ca.gov) o poniéndose en contacto con la corte o el colegio de abogados locales. AVISO: Por ley, la corte tiene derecho a reclamar las cuotas y los costos exentos por imponer un gravamen sobre cualquier recuperación de $10,000 ó más de valor recibida mediante un acuerdo o una concesión de arbitraje en un caso de derecho civil. Tiene que pagar el gravamen de la corte antes de que la corte pueda desechar el caso. The name and address of the court is: (El nombre y direccion de la corte es): Stanley Mosk Courthouse, 111 N. Hill St, Los Angeles, Ca 90012

The name, address and telephone number of plaintiff’s attorney, or plaintiff without an attorney is: (El nombre, la direccion y el numero de telefono del abogado del demandante, o del demandante que no tiene abogado, es): Andrew M. Bunn, Esq. Hillstone Law, PC: 10880 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 2070, Los Angeles, Ca 90024 (310) 595 -1222 Date: (Fecha) June 23, 2025 David W. Slayton, Clerk (Secretario) By: Y. Ayala, Deputy (Adjunto) You are served October 13, 20, 27, November 3, 2025 BURBANK INDEPENDENT SUMMONS (CITACION JUDICIAL) CASE NUMBER (Número del Caso): 24STCV24675 NOTICE TO DEFENDANT (AVISO AL DEMANDADO): SciAgri, a California Corporation, Vartan Melidonian and Does 1-10 YOU ARE BEING SUED BY PLAINTIFF (LO ESTÁ DEMANDANDO EL DEMANDANTE): Agilent Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation NOTICE! You have been sued. The court may decide against you without your being heard unless you respond within 30 days. Read the information below. You have 30 CALENDAR DAYS after this summons and legal papers are served on you to file a written response at this court and have a copy served on the plaintiff. A letter or phone call will not protect you. Your written response must be in proper legal form if you want the court to hear your case. There may be a court form that you can use for your response.

1 and 2 of the southwest quarter of Section 30, Township 8 North, Range 7 West, San Bernardino Meridian, in the County of San Bernardino, State of California, according to the official plat thereof. Except therefrom an undivided 25% interest in and to all oil and mineral rights, as reserved by Phoebe E. Seese, a single woman, in deed recorded August 16, 1956, in Book 4013, Page 555, Official Records of said County. The property address and other common designation, if any, of the real property described above is purposed to be: Vacant land, Adelanto Area CA directions may be obtained be written request submitted to the Beneficiary within 10 days after the first publication of the notice at the address below. The undersigned Trustee disclaims any liability for any incorrectness of the property address and other common designation, if any, shown herein. The total amount of unpaid balance of the obligation secured by the property to be sold and reasonable estimated costs, expenses and advances at the time of the initial publication of the Notice of Sale is: $34,120.16 (estimated). In addition to cash, the Trustee will accept a cashier’s check made payable to C.N.A. Foreclosure Services, Inc., drawn by a state or federal credit union or a check drawn by state or federal savings and loan association, savings association or savings bank specified in Section 5102 of the Financial Code and authorized to do business in this state. In the event tender other than cash is accepted the Trustee may withhold the issuance of the Trustee’s Deed until funds become available to the payee or endorsee as a matter of right. Said sale will be made, but without covenant or warranty, express or implied regarding title, possession or encumbrances, to satisfy the indebtedness secured by said Deed, advances thereunder, with interest as provided therein, and the unpaid principal balance of the Note secured by said Deed with interest thereon as provided in said Note, fees, charges and expenses of the trustee and the trusts created by said Deed of Trust. NOTICE TO POTENTIAL BIDDERS: If you are considering bidding on this property lien, you should understand that there are risks involved in bidding at a trustee auction. You will be bidding on a lien, not on the property itself. Placing the highest bid at a trustee auction does not automatically entitle you to free and clear ownership of the property. You should also be aware that the lien being auctioned off may be a junior lien. If you are the highest bidder at the auction, you are or may be responsible for paying off all liens senior to the lien being auctioned off, before you can receive clear title to the property. You are encouraged to investigate the existence, priority, and size of outstanding liens that may exist on this property by contacting the county recorder’s office or a title insurance company, either of which may charge you a fee for this information. If you consult either of these resources, you should be aware that the same lender may hold more than one mortgage or deed of trust on the property. NOTICE TO PROPERTY OWNER: The sale date shown on this notice of sale may be postponed one or more times by the mortgagee, beneficiary, trustee, or a court, pursuant to Section 2924g of the California Civil Code. The law requires that information about trustee sale postponements be made available to you and to the public, as a courtesy to those not present at the sale. If you wish to learn whether your sale date has been postponed, and, if applicable, the rescheduled time and date for the sale of this property, you may call 916-939-0772 or visit this internet website www.nationwideposting.com, using the file number assigned to this case 250709 Information about postponements that are very short in duration or that occur close in time to the scheduled sale may not immediately be reflected in the telephone information or on the internet website. The best way to verify postponement information is to attend the scheduled sale. FOR SALES INFORMATION CALL : 916-939-0772 Beneficiary: Eldarica Land Corporation, a California general stock corporation C/O C.N.A. Foreclosure Services, Inc., a California Corporation as said Trustee. 2020 Camino Del Rio N. #230 San Diego, California 92108 (619) 297-6740 DATE: 10/28/2025 C.N.A. Foreclosure Services, Inc., a California Corporation Kimberly Curran, Trustee Sale Officer NPP0480536 To: SAN BERNARDINO PRESS 11/03/2025, 11/10/2025, 11/17/2025

Fictitious Business Name Filings

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as (1). CCP A CRUSHCRUSH PROMOS COMPANY (2). CRUSHCRUSH PROMOS 79010 Dry Creek Rd La Quinta, CA 92253

Riverside County Cheryl Kalista Eaton, 74923 Hwy 111 #408, Indian Wells, CA 92210

Riverside County

This business is conducted by: a individual. Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on July 31, 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. Cheryl Kalista Eaton Statement filed with the County of Riverside on December 5, 2019 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-202509482 Pub. 09/01/2025, 09/08/2025, 09/15/2025, 09/22/2025 Riverside Independent

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File No. FBN20250009050

The following persons are doing business as: (1). CPL Ministries (2). CPL International (3). Changing People’s Lives Ministries (4). Changing People’s Lives International (5). Changing People’s Lives International Ministries , 11340 Mountain View Avenue Suite C, Loma Linda, CA 92354. Mailing Address, PO Box 11888, San Bernardino, CA 92423. Changing People’s Lives Inc. (CA 2524734, 11340 Mountain View Avenue Suite C, Loma Linda, CA 92354; Eliseo Lozano, President. 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 September 18, 2003. 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

LEGALS

true and correct. A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of the Business and Professions Code that the registrant knows to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000). I am also aware that all information on this statement becomes Public Record upon filing pursuant to the California Public Records Act (Government Code Sections 6250- 6277). /s/ Eliseo Lozano, President. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Bernardino on September 25, 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#: FBN20250009050 Pub: 10/16/2025, 10/23/2025, 10/30/2025, 11/06/2025 San Bernardino Press

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT

File No. FBN20250009571

The following persons are doing business as: Metzenbaum Management Company, 8615 Big Morongo Canyon Road, Morongo Valley, CA 92256. Mailing Address, P.O. Box 231148, Encinitas, CA 92023. # of employees 2. (1). Stephen J Mascaro (2). Betty D Mascaro. County of Principal Place of Business: San Bernardino This business is conducted by: a married couple. Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on October 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 6250- 6277). /s/ Stephen J Mascaro. Owner This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Bernardino on October 9, 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#: FBN20250009571 Pub: 10/13/2025, 10/20/2025, 10/27/2025, 11/03/2025

San Bernardino Press

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as Arise Pharmacy 10364 Arlington Ave Riverside, CA 92505

Riverside County Arise Pharmaceutical Corp (CA, 2857 Camellia Ct, 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. Peter Wasif, CEO Statement filed with the County of Riverside on October 22, 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# R202512910 Pub. 10/27/2025, 11/03/2025, 11/10/2025, 11/17/2025 Riverside Independent

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as 909VAULT 3760 Hilgard St Corona, CA 92882 Riverside County JUAN JOSE CHAVEZ, 3760 Hilgard St, Corona, CA 92882 Riverside County

This business is conducted by: a individual. Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on September 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. JUAN JOSE CHAVEZ

Statement filed with the County of Riverside on September 30, 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-202512077 Pub. 10/27/2025, 11/03/2025, 11/10/2025, 11/17/2025 Riverside Independent

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File No. fbn20250010286

The following persons are doing business as: BY THE SLICE PIZZA CO., 10748 Dove Ct, Adelanto, CA 92301. Mailing Address, 10748 Dove Ct, Adelanto, CA 92301. # of Employees 2. (1). Enrique Velasquez (2). Pamela J Myers. County of Principal Place of Business: San Bernardino This business is conducted by: a general partnership. Registrant has not yet begun to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein. By signing below, I declare that I have read and understand the reverse side of this form and that all information in this statement is true and correct. A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of the Business and Professions Code that the registrant knows to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000). I am also aware that all information on this statement becomes Public Record upon filing pursuant to the California Public Records Act (Government Code Sections 62506277). /s/ Enrique Velasquez, General Partner. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Bernardino on October 29, 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#: FBN20250010286 Pub: 11/03/2025, 11/10/2025,

11/17/2025, 11/24/2025 San Bernardino Press

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20256728079. The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: Applewhaite & Associates Insurance Agency, 407 W Imperial Hwy H765, Brea, CA 92821. Full Name of Registrant(s) N&R Enterprises LLC (CA, 407 W Imperial Hwy H765, Brea, CA 92821. 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. Applewhaite & Associates Insurance Agency. /S/ Rosalind Applewhaite, Managing Member. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Orange County on October 29, 2025. Publish: Anaheim Press 11/03/2025, 11/10/2025, 11/17/2025, 11/24/2025

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as (1). CATALYST – BLYTHE (2). CATALYST

1894 E Hobsonway Blythe, CA 92225 Riverside County Mailing Address,

Beach, CA 90802. Riverside County CATALYST – BLYTHE LLC (CA 401 Pine Ave, Long Beach, CA 90802 Riverside County This business is conducted by: a limited liability company (llc). Registrant has not yet begun to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein. I declare that all the information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of the Business and Professions Code, that the registrant knows to be false, is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousands dollars ($1000).) s. ELLIOT LEWIS, MANAGING MEMBER Statement filed with the County of Riverside on October 29, 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-202513207 Pub. 11/03/2025, 11/10/2025, 11/17/2025, 11/24/2025 Riverside Independent

Pasadena sues UCLA to keep home games at Rose Bowl

By Joe Taglieri joet@beaconmedianews.com

Pasadena is suing UCLA to enforce a lease agreement for football home games at the Rose Bowl, as the university may be considering a move to SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, the city announced Thursday.

The lawsuit, filed Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court, was a response to a UCLA representative informing Pasadena officials “of UCLA’s intent to take steps that will breach the agreement,” according to a city statement.

“The lease agreement between the Rose Bowl Stadium and UCLA ... is unambiguous, explicitly stating there is no option for UCLA to terminate the lease prior to its expiration in 2044,” city officials said.

The current lease was signed in 2010 and amended in 2014.

“The City expects UCLA

will honor the terms of the agreement, and the City Council will do everything in its power to protect and defend the City’s contractual rights on behalf of the public interest, the City’s residents, and all in our region,” the statement continued. “The City of Pasadena and the Rose Bowl Stadium, steadfast partners to UCLA for more than four decades, are extremely disappointed with UCLA’s attempt to terminate the lease.

“The Rose Bowl has acted with transparency and integrity, not only fulfilling but exceeding its obligations under the lease agreement, investing significant time, effort, and financial resources into the partnership with UCLA, including ongoing major renovation work,” city officials said. “The potential economic and reputa-

tional damage of UCLA’s attempt to break its lease is significant to the Rose Bowl Stadium, Pasadena residents, and the local and regional economy.”

UCLA did not respond to a request for comment.

“The Rose Bowl — America’s Stadium — remains one of the most important venues in all of sports,” according to the city. “It is consistently ranked as one of the best college football stadiums in the country and one of the busiest and most popular sports and entertainment destinations in the world.”

The city has spent “$150 million in public investment, modernization, and bond financing by Pasadena taxpayers,” attorneys for the city and Rose Bowl reported in their court filing.

“After years of public assurances and repeated

Arcadia High School senior named 107th Rose Queen

By Staff

AHigh School

senior Serena Hui

Guo is the 107th Rose Queen and will lead the Rose Court at multiple events ahead of the annual parade and Rose Bowl Game, the Pasadena Tournament of Roses announced Tuesday.

Serena was one of seven Rose Court members announced in September.

According to the Tournament of Roses, Serena is an Arcadia resident who captains her school’s Congressional Debate Team. She is also on the speech and debate and varsity volleyball teams, tutors fellow students and volunteers at the Arcadia Public Library and Foothill Unity Center.

Serena hopes to pursue a career in law and plans to study public policy and biomedical engineering at Stanford, USC or UC Berkeley, tournament officials said.

In addition to Serena, the 2026 Rose Court consists of Riya Gupta, a Pasadena resident and Caltech student; Keiko Rakin, a senior at Alhambra High School; Sophia Bai Ren, a senior at Arcadia High School; Naira Elaine Wadley, a senior at John Muir High School and a Monrovia resident; Livia Amy de Paula, a senior at Temple City High School and a San Gabriel resident; and Olivia Hargrove, a sophomore at Pasadena City College and a Pasadena resident.

Each member of the court receives a $7,500 scholarship.

Court members are selected based on academic achievement, community and school involvement, public speaking ability and youth leadership, according to the Tournament of Roses.

The coronation ceremony featured a Mikimoto crown with more than 600 cultured pearls and 6 carats of diamonds, officials said.

Magic Johnson will be the grand marshal of the 137th Rose Parade that precedes the 112th Rose Bowl college football game on New Year’s Day.

The Rose Queen and court traditions date back to 1905.

private reassurances that the UCLA-Rose Bowl Stadium partnership would endure, UCLA has abruptly decided to abandon the stadium,” the lawsuit contends. “It did

LA

so in secret, while its leaders continued to suggest to Plaintiffs that no departure was planned, and while the City continued to spend millions on improvements

requested by, or for the benefit of, UCLA.”

Last year UCLA joined the Big Ten Conference after decades in Pac-12 Conference.

County woman to return almost $25K to FEMA for false fire relief claim

By City News Service

ALos Angeles County woman was ordered Thursdaytoreturn nearly $25,000 in illegally obtained disaster-relief funds she received by falsely claiming her property was damaged in the Pacific Palisades wildfire, despite having no residence affected by the disaster.

Hedeshia Robertson, 36, of Lakewood, pleaded guilty in May in downtown Los Angeles to one federal count of fraud in connection with major disaster or emergency benefits, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Robertson admitted in her plea agreement that she filed a fraudulent application for Federal Emergency Management Agency benefits on Jan. 28, seeking disaster relief for a Palisades property that she neither owned nor rented. As a result of her fraudulent application, Robertson obtained about $25,000 in FEMA benefits, prosecutors said.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office said that, at the time of her arrest, Robertson attempted to obtain additional FEMA benefits for a purported property lease in San Francisco.

Robertson was also sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge Fernando Olguin to time already served for the day she spent

in custody. A host of false claims were made in the wake of the Eaton and Palisades fires that started on Jan. 7. Together, the wildfires burned nearly 60,000 acres, destroyed more than 16,000 structures and resulted in the deaths of 29 people.

Former President Joe Biden approved a Major Disaster Declaration, which prompted FEMA to develop a program to provide financial assistance to fire victims.

FEMA offered various forms of relief, a one-time payment of $750, up to $43,600 for “other needs” assistance, and housing assistance for up to 18 months. Homeowners are also potentially eligible for additional relief of up to $43,600 for home repair. Al Rossi, acting assistant special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations Los Angeles, suggested that certain criminals considered the benefits so-called “free money.”

Rose Bowl Stadium. | Photo by Terry Miller/HeySoCal.com

rcadia

Serena Guo, second from left, reacts along with 2026 Rose Court to her being named Rose Queen.

| Photo courtesy of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses

Palisades Fire. | Photo courtesy of Cal Fire via Flickr CC

2.0

LA28 Thursday named Ben Winston as executive producer and creative director for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Winston, who was behind the Paris-to-LA Olympic handover in 2024, will join veteran Olympic and Paralympic Ceremonies producer Scott Givens to lead artistic plans of the ceremonies.

“Ben Winston and Scott Givens are two of the most accomplished producers in live entertainment today,” Peter Rice, LA28 head of ceremonies and content, said in a statement.

“Their combined expertise brings together the creative storytelling and production excellence needed to deliver Ceremonies worthy of the Olympic and Paralympic stage that will showcase Los Angeles as the entertainment capital of the world while celebrating the athletes who inspire us all,” Rice added.

Winston is a 14-time Emmy Award winner. He led the creative foundation for the Olympic handover celebration, which featured Tom Cruise, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Billie Eilish, H.E.R. and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers.

LA28 names creative director for Olympic Opening and Closing Ceremonies

By City News Service

He produced various shows and entertainment events such as “The Grammys,” “The Late Show with James Corden” and “Friends: The Reunion,” as well as multiple specials such as “Adele: One Night Only” and “Elton John: A Farewell from Dodger Stadium.”

“I couldn’t be more honored, grateful and delight-

ed to take on this role, and to work alongside Peter, Scott and the whole LA28 team, to create unforgettable Ceremonies that will truly inspire and entertain, while cerebrating the Olympic and Paralympic spirit and the creative energy of this city,” Winston said in a statement.

Givens has produced more

than 400 major live events and held roles with 15 Olympic Games and produced 63 global ceremonies. He received the prestigious Olympic Order in 2022, one of the highest honors afforded by the International Olympic Committee, according to LA28.

“These ceremonies represent the ultimate challenge

Essayli

in live production -- bringing together global headliners, thousands of performers, best-in- class technologies and split-second timing on the world’s biggest stage,” Givens said in a statement. Additionally, a joint venture between FulWell Entertainment and FiveCurrents, called FulFive, will help

produce the ceremonies, led by Givens and Ryann Lauckner as co-CEOs.

FulWell bills itself as a “global entertainment group creating premium content, direct-to-consumer platforms and strategic partnerships,” according to its website.

Founded in 2005, FiveCurrents is a leading entertainment and production company specializing in live events, immersive experiences and large- scale ceremonies.

The 2028 Games will mark the third time Los Angeles is a host city, and the first time as host for the Paralympic Games.

The 2028 Olympic Opening Ceremony will take place on July 14, 2028, shared between the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and Inglewood’s SoFi Stadium. The Olympic Closing Ceremony will take place July 30 at the Coliseum.

Meanwhile, the Paralympic Opening Ceremony will take place on Aug. 15 at SoFi. The Paralympic Closing Ceremony is expected to be conducted Aug. 27 at the Coliseum.

More information on timing will be shared with the Paralympic competition schedule at a later date, LA28 officials said.

agents, and property will be brought to justice.”

Carrillo, 31, and Reyes, 32, both of Oxnard, are charged in a single complaint with conspiracy to impede or injure a federal officer, a felony punishable by up to five years in federal prison, authorities said.

Also charged in a complaint are nine defendants who allegedly obstructed or interfered with law enforcement on June 8 during protests in which California Highway Patrol officers in downtown Los Angeles’ Civic Center were allegedly targeted. The felony charge carries a possible sentence of up to five years in federal prison.

Those defendants are:

-- Ronald Alexis Coreas, 23, of the Westlake neighborhood of Los Angeles;

-- Junior Roldan, 27, of Hollywood;

-- Elmore Sylvester Cage, 34, of downtown Los Angeles;

-- Balto Montion, 24, of Watsonville, in Santa Cruz County;

-- Jesus Gonzalez Hernandez Jr., 22, of Las Vegas;

-- Hector Daniel Ramos, 66, of Alhambra; -- Stefano Deong Green, 34, of Westmont, in Los Angeles County; -- Yachua Mauricio Flores, 23, of Lincoln Heights; and -- Ismael Vega, 41, of Westlake.

Montion is in state custody and is expected to be handed over to federal authorities in the coming weeks.

Prosecutors say that on the night of the protest, thousands of demonstrators assembled in Civic Center to demonstrate against the ongoing enforcement of federal immigration laws. Certain protesters engaged in violence against officers -- resulting in some injuries -- and against public and private property, according to the complaint.

Federal buildings were vandalized with graffiti and law enforcement vehicles were allegedly damaged by protesters wielding blunt objects. Los Angeles police ultimately declared an unlawful assembly. Protesters then walked onto the

Hollywood (101) Freeway and blocked traffic lanes. CHP officers responded in patrol vehicles, pushed the protesters off the freeway, and remained there to prevent the protesters from re-entering, according to the complaint.

By remaining on the freeway, the CHP officers and their vehicles were positioned under and between the overpasses for Main and Los Angeles streets on the freeway. As officers stood on the closed freeway, crowds gathered on the overpasses.

At some point, prosecutors allege, certain protesters began throwing rocks, electric scooters, street signs and various other objects at the CHP officers below. At one point, a protester poured a clear yellow liquid onto a CHP car that was ablaze, after which the flames immediately grew in size, prosecutors said.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the nine defendants charged in the complaint were filmed and photographed throwing rocks and other objects at officers and patrol cars.

The third and final complaint filed in Los Angeles federal court charges Yovany Marcario Canil, 22, of Boyle Heights, with assault on a federal officer, which carries a possible prison sentence of up to eight years.

According to an affidavit, on June 6, hundreds of demonstrators protesting immigration law enforcement gathered in front of an Ambiance Apparel warehouse in downtown’s Fashion District. As federal government vehicles were leaving the area, Canil allegedly pepper-sprayed into one of the vehicles that was occupied by three members of an FBI SWAT team, prosecutors said.

At that time, the passenger side windows were opened to manage crowd control. The pepper spray affected at least two members of the team with a burning sensation as their faces turned orange, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

Judge: Essayli not legal as acting U.S. attorney, but can use lesser title

Bill Essayli was continu-

ing Wednesday to lead the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California in Los Angeles, but he will have to do so under a different job title following a judge’s ruling that he could not legally be called the acting U.S. attorney.

The ruling came Tuesday from U.S. District Judge J. Michael Seabright of Hawaii, who oversaw a legal challenge to Essayli’s position. Federal judges in Los Angeles recused themselves from hearing the case, resulting in the matter being heard by Seabright.

Essayli was appointed by the Trump administration as interim U.S. Attorney in Los Angeles in April. Such appointees are generally required to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate, but when Essayli’s interim appointment ended after 90 days, the administration gave him the new title of acting U.S. Attorney rather than formally nominating him for the position.

A group of defense attorneys sued, claiming the maneuver was an attempt

to circumvent congressional oversight and arguing that Essayli should be disqualified from overseeing prosecutions in the office.

Seabright ruled Tuesday that Essayli was illegally serving as acting U.S. attorney, but said there was nothing to preclude him from continuing to oversee the office with the lesser title of “first assistant U.S. attorney.”

“The court has no basis to preclude Essayli from performing the lawful duties of a FAUSA,” Seabright wrote. “And in that capacity, he could supervise these prosecutions, even though he cannot do so as acting United States attorney.”

On social media Tuesday night, Essayli wrote that “nothing is changing” in the office.

“I continue serving as the top federal prosecutor in the Central District of California,” he wrote. “It’s an honor and privilege to serve President Trump and Attorney General (Pam) Bondi, and I look forward to advancing their agenda for the American people.”

Paris-to-LA handover celebration. | Photo courtesy of LA28