LA Sparks find new home

By Raphael Richardson

El Camino College was the target of two different burglaries over the span of two weeks, campus police said.

The burglaries hit the Cashier’s Office in the northwest corner of the campus, and the south end of Marsee Auditorium.Police believe they are unrelated.

The most recent burglary at Marsee Auditorium ended with a man arrested after he stole items from an office.

Using a set of district keys taken from a previous theft in the auditorium on May 2, the suspect entered a lobby-area office and stole some items on May 7, El Camino College Police Detective Gary Robertson said.

By Johan Van Wier & Greg Fontanilla

TheLos Angeles Sparks will now call El Camino College’s gymnasium home which will be the new location for team events and practices for the foreseeable future.

Eli Horowitz, the Sparks’ assistant general manager explained his decision to choose El Camino as a host for the team.

“We started a great partnership with El Camino,” Horowitz said. “We have been welcomed with open arms and we’re excited to have this as our home.”

The Media Day event to announce the Sparks’ new location occurred on Thursday, May 4, and included a press conference, player interviews with various media outlets, a photoshoot and a basketball signing table for sponsors.

“This was an opportunity to introduce our general manager, head coach, and our players to the press,” Horowitz said. “But also having various stations around where the players film content for future games and social media,”

All current players for the Sparks participated in the press conference to talk about the upcoming season and training camp with the media.

Sparks’ forward Joyner Holmes told The Union the personal improvements she plans on making during the offseason.

“I am always trying to improve on my leadership and have a good presence for my team,” Holmes said. “And [also] touch up my three-pointer range.”

By Brianna Vaca & Nindiya Maheswari

Students who qualify for food assistance cannot use their benefits at campus restaurants.

Currently, the Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card is not accepted at El Cappuccino and Café Camino, operated by Pacific Dining, the food vendor for the two campus dining locations.

El Camino’s Basic Needs program helps low-income students and families enroll in the CalFresh Food assistance. However, students must go off campus to use their benefits.

CalFresh Food benefits are accepted at most well-known grocery stores and some farmers’ markets.

CalFresh Food beneficiaries can receive up to $200 in an EBT card to use for groceries, snacks and pre-prepared meals.

Pacific Dining President Richard McMahon denied an in-person or phone interview because “the policy is to only respond to written requests.” SEE

He was then found by a patrolling El Camino police officer on campus the next night and was arrested. The stolen items were found on him. He was booked with the Torrance Police Department for burglary.

The incident comes a week after the Cashier’s Office was ransacked on April 28 just before 7 p.m. The burglar broke open the door to gain entry into the office and pulled out cash drawers.

A police advisory email sent to college students and employees three hours after the crime described the suspect as an 18-25-year-old man with short twists or braided hair, about 6 feet tall, wearing a black scarf, black long-sleeve shirt, black jeans and white Nike shoes.

The suspect also attempted to break into the safe, but could not get in. He was caught on a security camera leaving emptyhanded before police arrived.

As of May 9, police are still looking for the suspect, El Camino Police Chief Michael Trevis said.

“There’s no new developments as of today,” he said. “We’re still trying to identify this guy.”

Zamira Recinos | Special to The Union