Category: Los Angeles County

School Reopening Bill Draws Strong Reactions in Orange County

A $6.6 billion school reopening initiative launched by Gov. Gavin Newsom was met with mixed reactions in Orange County, where parents are divided on the prospect of full-time, in-classroom studies. “I think they should open immediately,” Orange County resident Jim Puro told The Epoch Times. “We’re creating a generation of kids that are going to…


More Wet Weather Making Its Way Into The Southland

LOS ANGELES—A winter storm will make its way into the Southland late March 9, with some mountain areas potentially seeing more than a foot of snow and the rest of the region expected to see rainy conditions into March 11. A winter storm watch will take effect March 9 and continue until Thursday evening for…


Convicted Sex Offender Accepts Plea Deal in Killing of Orange County Boy

POMONA—A convicted sex offender pleaded no contest Feb. 22 to two counts of murder in connection with the deaths of two young boys—including one from Anaheim Hills—within a five-year span. Kenneth Kasten Rasmuson is expected to be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The 59-year-old is scheduled to be sentenced on…


Community-Focused COVID-19 Vaccine Site to Open at Cal State LA

LOS ANGELES (CNS)—A new COVID-19 vaccine site, part of a joint effort between the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the governor’s Office of Emergency Services, is set to open Feb. 16 at Cal State Los Angeles. The community-focused site will be able to vaccinate up to 6,000 people per day for both drive-thru and walk-up…


How the Pandemic Helped a Video Game Giant Grow Its Bottom Line

Commentary The Southern California game maker that makes Call of Duty, World of Warcraft and Candy Crush reported a stand-out year for 2020. Net revenues for Activision Blizzard (ATVI) topped $8.1 billion for the first time and reached adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) of more than $3.2 billion.  Earnings per share…


Newsom, Biden Administration Announce COVID-19 Vaccine Site at Cal State LA

LOS ANGELES—Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Biden administration announced a pilot project Feb. 3 that will establish a community COVID-19 vaccination site at Cal State Los Angeles. The pilot site is part of the wider effort to establish 100 vaccination sites nationwide in the Biden administration’s first 100 days. The Cal State Los Angeles site—along…


L.A. Council Votes to Move Forward on Hazard Pay for Grocery Workers

LOS ANGELES—The Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously Feb. 2 to move forward with a proposed emergency ordinance that would require large grocery and pharmacy retailers to offer employees an additional $5 per hour in hazard day amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The vote requested the city attorney to prepare the ordinance and the chief legislative…


LA Council Votes to Move Forward on Hazard Pay for Grocery Workers

LOS ANGELES—The Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously Feb. 2 to move forward with a proposed emergency ordinance that would require large grocery and pharmacy retailers to offer employees an additional $5 per hour in hazard day amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The vote requested the city attorney to prepare the ordinance and the chief legislative…


Homelessness, COVID-19, and Rising Cost of Employees Hurt L.A. Finances

Commentary Los Angeles city controller Ron Galperin has released his office’s annual Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for fiscal year 2020 and provided an update on how things in the current fiscal year. As expected, it’s bad. During fiscal year 2020, the general fund shrank 9.8 percent from $1.1 billion in July 2019 to just $992…


 Orange and Los Angeles Counties Continue Downward COVID Trend

SANTA ANA—Orange County reported 1,355 new cases of COVID-19 and 44 additional deaths Jan. 31, bringing the county’s totals to 232,391 cases and 3,062 fatalities. The number of coronavirus patients in county hospitals continued its downward trend, declining from 1,442 Jan. 31 to 1,412, with the number of patients in intensive care dropping from 394…