As the holidays approach, join the Restoration Project in its mission to love, serve and give. Any and all hands are welcome.
Link to Restoration Project’s current amazon wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2F73D9XN3DFUR
Time: 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., Dec. 21
Cost: Free
Details: 310-413-2409
Venue: 507 Broad Ave. and E St., Wilmington
Get Involved: Join the Restoration Project This Weekend
LASD is Asking for the Public’s Help Locating Missing Person, Ilija Orlovic Harbor City
Update:
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Missing Persons Detail is advising Ilija Orlovic has been found.
Thank you to the public, the media, Aero Bureau, and deputy personnel for their tireless efforts in the search for Ilija.
Original Post
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department missing persons unit is asking for the public’s help locating missing person Ilija Orlovic. He is a 58 year-old male White who was last contacted on Dec. 15 in the city of Harbor City.
Ilija is 5’10” tall, 280lbs, with hazel eyes, and gray hair.
Ilija’s family is concerned for his well-being and asking for the public’s help.
Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Missing Persons Unit at 323-890-5500, or anonymously at 800-222-8477, http://lacrimestoppers.org
Landslide Recovery Updates and Discussion On PVDS Bicycle and Motorcycle Prohibition
Reminder: Tomorrow night, Dec. 17, RPV city council will receive an update on the city’s efforts to slow movement in the Portuguese Bend landslide area, ongoing preparation for the rainy months, and the city’s voluntary property buyout program.
The council will also consider extending by 90 days the temporary prohibition of bicycles, motorcycles, and other similar wheeled vehicles from an approximately two-mile stretch of Palos Verdes Drive South from Wayfarers Chapel to Schooner Drive. This temporary prohibition was put in place in June 2024 to prevent injuries due to the poor condition of the roadway. Although ground movement in the area has decreased since then, the land is still moving up to four inches per week in certain areas along the roadway and pavement conditions remain poor. If the temporary prohibition is extended, the council will revisit it in three months.
Whether or not the council extends the prohibition, bicyclists and motorcyclists should consider voluntarily avoiding this stretch of Palos Verdes Drive South out of an abundance of caution.
Finally, the council will consider extending the local emergency declarations in the landslide area that were put in place to bolster the city’s response to the land movement and utility shutoffs. Both declarations must be extended every 60 days to remain in effect.
A staff report (PDF) with more information is available on the city website.
Meeting Info
The meeting will take place at 7 p.m., Dec. 17 in McTaggart Hall at Hesse Park and via Zoom. Watch live on RPVtv’s YouTube channel, at rpvca.gov, or on Cox 33/FiOS 38.
To participate in public comment during the meeting, fill out a speaker slip if you are attending in person, or complete a form online at rpvca.gov/participate to participate virtually or leave a pre-recorded voice message. Email your comments on this topic to cc@rpvca.gov.
Details: For questions, email landmovement@rpvca.gov.
Rep. Barragán Introduces Resolution Recognizing Dec. 14, 2024 as Interscholastic Athletic Administrator’s Day
WASHINGTON — Rep. Nanette Barragán (CA-44), along with Congressman Marc Veasy (TX-33) and Senator Mike Braun (R-IN) Dec. 12 introduced a resolution to recognize December 14th as Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Day. Middle and high school athletic administrators play key roles in developing and maintaining high-quality education-based athletic programs for our nation’s youth that promote physical activity, encourage healthy social connections and interactions, contribute to positive mental health, and foster academic success among student-athletes.
“I am proud to reintroduce my resolution acknowledging the essential contributions of interscholastic athletic administrators,” said Rep. Barragán. “These administrators are champions of student success, fostering health, discipline, and academic achievement through school sports programs. They lay the groundwork for young athletes who may one day shine representing Team USA at the Olympic and Paralympic Games.”
Research shows that student-athletes who participate in their school’s athletics program have higher attendance rates than the general school population, attain higher GPAs than non-student athletes, have lower suspension and expulsion rates than non-student athletes, and have higher graduation and college attendance rates than the general high school student body. Additionally, participation in school athletics programs is a stress outlet for many students and improves their self-confidence, self-discipline, and decision-making skills. Athletic administrators and athletics programs support over 8,000,000 US high school student-athletes alone.
The resolution is cosponsored by: Llyod Doggett (TX-35), Ándre Carson (IN-07), Hank Johnson (GA-04), and Don Davis (NC-01)
Details: Find the resolution here: https://tinyurl.com/Interscholastic-Athletic
Announcements Round Up: Get Involved: Explore Grants, Review POLA DEIR, Volunteer for LB Homeless Count, Support Winter Shelters, and Join CAB
Economic Opportunity Holiday Grants for Small Businesses and Nonprofits
Economic opportunity holiday grants are now available to assist businesses and nonprofits that are still struggling to recover from the financial impacts resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. It is designed to support qualified small businesses, microentrepreneurs, food industry businesses, and non-profits in Los Angeles County impacted by COVID-19 with grants of $3,000 or $5,000.
Applications will be accepted now through 5 p.m., Dec. 31. Complete the form and email it to EOHG@pacela.org OR drop it at 1055 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 900B, Attn: Economic Opportunity Holiday Grant Team.
Details: Apply at: https://opportunity.lacounty.gov/small-business-grants/
Port Releases DEIR For Proposed Truck and Chassis Parking Lot
The Port of Los Angeles has released a Draft Environmental Impact Report or Draft EIR for a proposed John S. Gibson truck and chassis parking lot located near the San Pedro Bay Port Complex. The proposed site location is not on port-owned property.
Details: https://tinyurl.com/POLA-Gibson-DEIR
Long Beach Seeks Volunteers for 2025 Homeless Point in Time Count
The Department of Health and Human Services is seeking 350 community volunteers to help conduct the 2025 point in time count, its street count of people experiencing homelessness in Long Beach, which will happen on Jan. 23, 2025.
Details; Volunteer registration is now available at https://tinyurl.com/Homeless-Count-Registration and will remain open until all slots are filled.
LAHSA Winter Shelter Program Now Open Countywide
The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority or LAHSA winter shelter program is now open until March 31, 2025. Visit https://tinyurl.com/LAHSA-shelter-open to access and obtain a list of countywide shelters. For more information, call 1-800-548-6047, or email wintershelter@lahsa.org.
Join the Community Action Board
Become an advocate for your community’s needs by participating in the monthly Community Action Board or CAB meetings. Your input helps enhance the delivery of community services block grant (CSBG) programs and services within your community.
Details: Grant.https://tinyurl.com/Join-community-action
California Senators Applaud Confirmation of Federal Judges to California District Courts
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff (both D-Calif.), members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Dec. 12 applauded the confirmation of three federal judges to fill vacancies on U.S. District Courts in California. The recently confirmed judges include Judges Anne Hwang and Cynthia Valenzuela to the U.S. District Court for the Central District and Judge Noël Wise to the Northern District.
Senator Padilla has worked closely with the Biden Administration to recommend and support the nominations of highly qualified, outstanding judges to the federal courts, including 33 confirmations in California. Within weeks of being sworn into the Senate, one of Padilla’s first initiatives was to establish a Judicial Evaluation Commission, comprised of majority attorneys of color and women, to evaluate candidates for federal judicial vacancies in California. Earlier this year, Padilla highlighted the importance of federal judicial diversity in race, gender, legal experience, and professional background during an event hosted by The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.
Judge Anne Hwang: U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
Judge Anne Hwang has been a judge on the Superior Court of California in Los Angeles County since 2019. Prior to taking the bench, Judge Hwang served as a deputy federal public defender in the Office of the Federal Public Defender for the Central District of California from 2006 to 2018, becoming chief deputy federal public defender in 2018. Before that, Judge Hwang worked as a litigation associate at Irell & Manella LLP from 2002 to 2006. She received her J.D. from the University of Southern California Law School in 2002 and her B.A. from Cornell University in 1997.
Judge Cynthia Valenzuela: U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
Judge Cynthia Valenzuela has been a judge on the California State Bar Court in Los Angeles since her appointment by the California Supreme Court in 2016. Previously, Judge Valenzuela worked as the Criminal Justice Act supervising attorney for the Central District of California in Los Angeles from 2011 to 2016 and as the head of national litigation at the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund in Los Angeles from 2006 to 2011. Before that, Judge Valenzuela served as an assistant U.S. Attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California from 2000 to 2006; as a trial attorney in the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division in Washington, D.C. from 1998 to 2000; and as a special assistant at the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights in Los Angeles from 1995 to 1998. She received her J.D. from the University of California at Los Angeles School of Law in 1995 and her B.A. from the University of Arizona in 1991.
Judge Noël Wise: U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
Judge Noël Wise has been a judge on the Superior Court of California in Alameda County since 2014, and a supervising judge since 2019. From 2021 to 2022, she served as a judge pro tem for the California Second District Court of Appeal. She previously practiced law as a partner at Wise Gleicher in Alameda, California from 2006 to 2014 after working as in-house counsel for Pacific Gas and Electric Company in San Francisco from 2004 to 2006. From 2002 to 2004, Judge Wise was of counsel at Stoel Rives LLP in San Francisco. Before entering private practice, Judge Wise served as a trial attorney in the U.S. Department of Justice, Environmental and Natural Resources Division in Washington, D.C. from 1994 to 2002, where she entered through the Honors Program. From 1997 to 1998, she was detailed to serve as an assistant United States attorney in the U.S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California. Judge Wise served as a law clerk for Justice Harry Lee Anstead on the Florida Fourth District Court of Appeals from 1993 to 1994. She received her J.S.M. from Stanford Law School in 2002; her J.D., cum laude, from Nova Southeastern University Law School in 1993; and her B.S. from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, in 1989.
Details: here.
“Tickets Available for 2025 ‘State of the Port of Los Angeles’ Luncheon on Jan. 23”
LOS ANGELES — The Port of Los Angeles and Pacific Merchant Shipping Association or PMSA will present the 10th annual “State of the Port of Los Angeles” luncheon event Jan. 23 at the Los Angeles Cruise Terminal in San Pedro. The annual signature industry event will feature port executive director Gene Seroka as keynote speaker, who will provide supply chain updates and outline the port’s strategic priorities and plans for 2025.
Tickets for the State of the Port of Los Angeles are now available for purchase at; https://tinyurl.com/State-of-the-Port-2025. This event sells out each year.
Sponsorships for the event are also still available, with all proceeds going to support two local non-profit organizations, EXP and the International Seafarers Center of Los Angeles/Long Beach.
EXP provides education programs to thousands of local area high school students every year. The International Seafarers Center of Long Beach and Los Angeles offers a range of services to seafarers arriving daily at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.
Suspected H5 Bird Flu Found in LA County Cats Linked to Recalled Raw Milk
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is investigating two possible cases of H5 bird flu in cats that consumed recalled raw milk from Raw Farm, LLC.
The infected indoor cats consumed raw milk linked to a recall of raw milk and cream products prior to the onset of symptoms, which included lack of appetite, fever and neurologic signs. The infected cats died after severe worsening of their illness, and subsequently tested positive for Influenza A, a rare result in cats.
Public Health is considering these suspected H5 bird flu cases and is obtaining confirmatory testing. The nationwide H5 bird flu outbreak has seen other cats infected with the virus after consuming infected raw milk.
People who had direct contact with the cats are monitoring for symptoms and have been offered antiviral prophylaxis. There have been no human cases of bird flu associated with exposure to these cats yet identified. The investigation is ongoing.
Although human cases of bird flu are rare and the risk to residents remains low, this detection of H5 bird flu in cats who consumed raw milk underscores the importance of being proactive about preventing ongoing transmission of the virus.
Anyone who has consumed these specific recalled raw milk products and is experiencing symptoms should immediately contact their health care provider or local health department.
Samples from birds, cats, and wild mammals in LA County continue to be tested for H5 bird flu at our Public Health Laboratory. In addition, the Public Health Laboratory routinely tests clinical specimens from humans for H5 bird flu as part of ongoing surveillance.
Best Practices to Reduce Risk for You and Your Pets
While the current risk of transmission of H5 bird flu to LA County residents and pets remains low, Public Health encourages these best practices:
Avoid Raw Dairy and Undercooked Meat Products: Do not drink raw milk or eat raw cheeses and undercooked meat products. Do not feed these to your pets. Raw milk, even from healthy cows, may be contaminated with harmful germs that can make you and your pets very sick. Freezing raw milk does not eliminate the harmful germs that may be in the product.
Limit Contact with Animals: Avoid unprotected contact with sick or dead animals or birds or any materials contaminated with bird feces. Avoid handling wild birds and observe them only from a distance. If you have to handle wild birds, even if they appear healthy, wear a well-fitting mask and gloves, and practice good hand hygiene, as some birds may carry the virus without showing symptoms.
Report sick or dead birds: Contact your local animal control agency if you see sick or dead birds. Symptoms can vary; infected birds or animals may be unable to fly, have seizures, have difficulty walking or be found dead.
Protect pets or poultry: Keep pets or poultry away from wild animals and birds. Ensure that wild birds cannot defecate into areas holding or housing pet birds or poultry.
Remove Bird Feeders and Baths: Take down bird feeders and communal bird baths to reduce the risk of the virus spreading from bird-to-bird.
Get a Seasonal Flu Vaccine: People should receive a seasonal flu vaccine. While this vaccine does not prevent avian influenza infection, it can reduce the risk of getting sick with human and bird flu viruses at the same time.
For questions or to find a nearby clinic or doctor, residents can call the Public Health InfoLine at 833-540-0473. Open every day from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
For more information, visit our websites:
Avian flu in animals: publichealth.lacounty.gov/vet/HPAI.htm
Avian flu in humans: ph.lacounty.gov/acd/diseases/h5n1.htm
Murder Investigation – 900 Block of Via Carmelitos LB
LONG BEACH — Homicide detectives are investigating the murder of a male adult victim that occurred on Dec. 10, in the 900 block of Via Carmelitos.
At about 1 p.m., officers responded to the 900 block of Via Carmelitos regarding a shots call. Upon arrival, officers located a male adult victim with life-threatening gunshot wounds. Officers rendered medical aid until being relieved by Long Beach Fire Department personnel, who determined the victim deceased at the scene.
Homicide detectives responded to the scene. The motive for the shooting and circumstances of the incident are still under investigation.
The victim has been identified as Dwayne Walton, a 32-year-old resident of Los Angeles.
Detectives believe there may be additional witnesses and ask anyone with information about this shooting to contact Homicide Detectives Eric Thai and Chasen Contreras at 562-570-7244 or anonymously at 800-222-8477, www.lacrimestoppers.org.
California to Invest $1.4 Billion in EV Chargers and Propose New State Agency for Immigrant Affairs
California Approves $1.4 Billion Plan to Build Thousands More Vehicle Chargers, Boost ZEV Infrastructure
SACRAMENTO — Thousands more electric vehicle or EV chargers are coming to California.
The California Energy Commission or CEC Dec. 11 approved a $1.4 billion investment plan that accelerates progress on the state’s EV charging and hydrogen refueling goals. These investments will help deploy infrastructure for light, medium, and heavy-duty zero-emission vehicles or ZEV across California, expanding the most extensive charging and hydrogen refueling network in the country.
The plan details how the CEC’s Clean Transportation Program will spend $1.4 billion in state funding over the next four years, with at least 50% targeted to benefit lower-income and disadvantaged communities. The funding is part of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s historic California Climate Commitment, which includes more than $10 billion for ZEVs and ZEV infrastructure. The state has also received billions from the Biden-Harris Administration for clean transportation.
Building ZEV infrastructure is a critical part of the Governor’s build more, faster agenda delivering infrastructure upgrades across the state. Find projects building your community at build.ca.gov.
The funds approved today will result in nearly 17,000 new chargers for passenger vehicles statewide. Over 152,000 public and shared private chargers are installed. Combined with previous investment plans, funding from the federal government, electric utilities and other programs, the state expects to reach 250,000 chargers in the next few years. In addition to the public network, the state estimates that more than 500,000 private home chargers are installed statewide.
The funds will become available over the next four years and distributed to projects through competitive grants. Projects include direct incentive and rebate programs for businesses, non-profit organizations, tribes and public agencies.
Majority Leader Gonzalez Introduces Bill to Create an Immigrant and Refugee Affairs State Agency
SACRAMENTO — Majority Leader Gonzalez (D-Long Beach) Dec. 2 introduced legislation to establish a new state agency dedicated to immigrant and refugee affairs, (SB) 12. The agency, and its office of immigrant and refugee affairs would provide a permanent governmental framework focused on streamlining services, creating grant programs and engaging stakeholders to enhance support for immigrant and refugee families in California.
In the face of an incoming Trump Administration that has promised to take hostile actions against immigrant communities, California must be prepared more than ever before. Trump’s promises of mass deportations and the unprecedented threat of deploying the US Military to remove undocumented Americans would hurt not only immigrant families, but all California families, the economy, and the cultural and social benefits that new Californians bring to local communities.
Nearly half of California’s children have at least one immigrant parent, and 27% of the state’s population is foreign-born — the highest share of any state and more than double the national average. The consequences of malicious and heartless deportations would create widespread fear and division with devastating impacts on California’s social fabric and economy.
Establishing a state agency to provide greater access to critical resources, such as legal representation and policy updates, would be instrumental in combating misinformation and fear that have hurt communities in the past, when anti-immigrant policies were implemented. This agency would enable a more efficient, unified process for monitoring ongoing immigration issues in close collaboration with stakeholders, offering a tool to address the needs of California families as emerging challenges unfold.