latimes--2020-01-01--Column: California in 2020: Tackling our problems, ignoring the pundits, celebrating our strengths

Here we go again , starting off on a new year and a new decade .
The year is 2020 , and my vision is too , so here ’ s what I see coming : The sea will rise , the ground will shake , the fires will rage , the state will sue the Trump administration every Tuesday and sometimes on Thursday , some people will flee , others will arrive , the cost of housing will rise , the number of homeless people will grow , and the bullet train will not leave the station .
Wait @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s prediction .
Actually , call me naive , but I ’ m going to go out on a limb this year and predict a bit of movement in 2020 on new strategies to address homelessness .
Do not misread that .
I said “ a bit of.
” Homelessness is here to stay in California , where wealth drives up prices , we don ’ t build enough new housing , and far too many people earn wages that don ’ t cover the rent .
But the public demand for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state is exploring ways to put more roofs over more heads .
And if all goes as planned , a Hollywood pilot program based on an Italian model will begin an ambitious effort to shred bureaucracy and other impediments to housing and serving the area ’ s most severely mentally disabled residents .
The project is fraught with challenges , but this early in the year , I ’ m pretending to be an optimist .
Except when it comes to the Dodgers .
Stop wondering when they ’ re finally going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tell you right now the next victory parade will be in 2038 , when Clayton Kershaw ’ s son is in the starting rotation .
The Dodgers signed an $ 8-billion-plus broadcast deal with the devil in 2013 , leaving thousands of loyal fans without TV coverage , and I hereby predict the blackout curse will not end for another 18 years .
The Clippers , however , will win the NBA championship .
No , not the Lakers , who don ’ t work as hard as the Clippers .
Write it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it happens .
Speaking of lunch , I predict this will be the year the Los Angeles Times corrects a grave oversight and adds Los Tacos , on Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood , to its list of best restaurants .
This is not food you should eat .
It ’ s food you deserve to eat , especially if you just lost your job , someone left you , or Donald Trump gets reelected .
Go with the # 3 combination , and thank the heavens you live in a corner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cheese enchiladas at 3 a.m. , should the need arise ( open 24 hours , and I once had lunch there with billionaire Eli Broad , I kid you not ) .
While I ’ m on the subject of restaurants , I ’ m reminded of my pet peeve of 2019 .
You walk into a restaurant , they ask if you have a reservation , you say yes , and they say “ perfect.
” They ask if you ’ d like tap water or bottled water , you say tap @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They ask if you ’ d like anything else , you say no just the bill , and they say “ perfect.
” This is all the more reason to eat at Los Tacos .
Nobody says “ perfect , ” and they might not even talk to you , which is OK. Another pet peeve of 2019 : the New York Times telling Californians how we ’ re doing or how we ’ re feeling .
“ It ’ s the End of California As We Know It , ” we were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to us rubes that “ at the heart of our state ’ s rot ” is “ a failure to live sustainably.
” We are not without sin , but as I pass another electric car , look beyond a cluster of windmills and into the glare of solar farm reflections , huh ?
Then , this week , the NYT began its latest doomsday story with a flimsy anecdote about someone who had lived in the Bay Area since 2004 , ran for office in San Francisco , lost , and moved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California ’ s many problems .
“ California is at a crossroads , ” said the NYT .
Guess what ?
Everybody is ; every city , every state is at a crossroads .
The country is at a crossroads .
We ’ ve got a president who said he could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue in New York and get away with it , and it turns out he wasn ’ t kidding .
A president , I might add , who is actively and aggressively trying to pollute our air and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who is an inspiration to white supremacists , who has whiffed on all his major campaign promises ( a list topped by cheaper , better healthcare for all ) , but for all that , could still get reelected .
That , my friends , is a nation at a crossroads .
California , to be clear , does indeed have major social and economic problems , which we don ’ t need help identifying , thank you very much , New York Times .
And it also has major assets .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that New York doesn ’ t have our beaches , and in the year 2020 , in the noble cause of beach access for all , Gov .
Gavin Newsom and I will kayak together from Gaviota State Park to Hollister Ranch .
A few months ago I got a call from Newsom ’ s office asking if I could meet him in Gaviota , so we could paddle north .
I had written about the Hollister residents ’ long fight to keep us locked out , and their argument that if the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can test the often treacherous waters and attempt to visit by sea .
Jerry Brown never asked me to go kayaking .
Ronald Reagan didn ’ t call and say , hey , let ’ s go for a horseback ride , amigo .
Arnold Schwarzenegger never invited me to go hiking ( though he once called and asked me to meet him in Long Beach for a cigar , and I happily obliged ) .
But this year , if Hollister residents continue to flout the public ’ s constitutional right to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , they will have to answer to me and the governor and a motley flotilla of scurvy sea dogs .
We will arrive by sea , plant a flag and fight to the death .
You read it here first .
Bear with me now , because if you ’ re stealing a break from the Rose Parade , or a ballgame , or you ’ re having trouble lifting your head off a pillow , I have just one last observation to share before you embrace the new year .
It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ newspapers in California have ended their run , as reported by my colleague Brittny Mejia .
Sierra County ’ s Mountain Messenger , once published by Mark Twain , and the Martinez News-Gazette , which I used to read daily , are going out of business .
Those losses — the silencing of voices — are blows to the community and to the mission of keeping the bastards honest .
No newspaper operates without blind spots and deficiencies , but there is no bigger news operation west of the Hudson than the Los @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of accountability journalism in California .
In this , my 45th year as a journalist , my colleagues in sports , in entertainment , in foreign , national , state and local news , are a daily inspiration , and I ’ m proud to be their colleague .
I ’ m still a reader first and learn multitudes each day by going online or by turning pages .
Thanks to subscribers for your continued support ( and shame on those who read without subscribing ) .
In these tumultuous political times , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jefferson quote on the old Times parking lot in downtown Los Angeles : “ Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers or newspapers without government , I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter .
”

Gov. Gavin Newsom and columnist Steve Lopez in 2020 will kayak from Gaviota to the beach at Hollister Ranch, which has long been all but off limits to nonresidents.
Here we go again, starting off on a new year and a new decade. The year is 2020, and my vision is too, so here’s what I see coming:
The sea will rise, the ground will shake, the fires will rage, the state will sue the Trump administration every Tuesday and sometimes on Thursday, some people will flee, others will arrive, the cost of housing will rise, the number of homeless people will grow, and the bullet train will not leave the station.
Wait a minute, that was last year’s prediction.
Actually, call me naive, but I’m going to go out on a limb this year and predict a bit of movement in 2020 on new strategies to address homelessness.
Do not misread that. I said “a bit of.” Homelessness is here to stay in California, where wealth drives up prices, we don’t build enough new housing, and far too many people earn wages that don’t cover the rent.
Advertisement
But the public demand for solutions has heated up, and the state is exploring ways to put more roofs over more heads.
And if all goes as planned, a Hollywood pilot program based on an Italian model will begin an ambitious effort to shred bureaucracy and other impediments to housing and serving the area’s most severely mentally disabled residents.
The project is fraught with challenges, but this early in the year, I’m pretending to be an optimist.
Except when it comes to the Dodgers.
Stop wondering when they’re finally going to win another World Series. I can tell you right now the next victory parade will be in 2038, when Clayton Kershaw’s son is in the starting rotation. The Dodgers signed an $8-billion-plus broadcast deal with the devil in 2013, leaving thousands of loyal fans without TV coverage, and I hereby predict the blackout curse will not end for another 18 years.
The Clippers, however, will win the NBA championship. No, not the Lakers, who don’t work as hard as the Clippers. Write it down and take me to lunch when it happens.
Speaking of lunch, I predict this will be the year the Los Angeles Times corrects a grave oversight and adds Los Tacos, on Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood, to its list of best restaurants.
Advertisement
This is not food you should eat. It’s food you deserve to eat, especially if you just lost your job, someone left you, or Donald Trump gets reelected.
Go with the #3 combination, and thank the heavens you live in a corner of the world where you can get cheese enchiladas at 3 a.m., should the need arise (open 24 hours, and I once had lunch there with billionaire Eli Broad, I kid you not).
While I’m on the subject of restaurants, I’m reminded of my pet peeve of 2019.
You walk into a restaurant, they ask if you have a reservation, you say yes, and they say “perfect.”
They ask if you’d like tap water or bottled water, you say tap, and they say “perfect.”
They ask if you’d like anything else, you say no just the bill, and they say “perfect.”
My question:
Why?
This is all the more reason to eat at Los Tacos. Nobody says “perfect,” and they might not even talk to you, which is OK.
Another pet peeve of 2019: the New York Times telling Californians how we’re doing or how we’re feeling.
“It’s the End of California As We Know It,” we were informed in October. The NYT explained to us rubes that “at the heart of our state’s rot” is “a failure to live sustainably.”
We are not without sin, but as I pass another electric car, look beyond a cluster of windmills and into the glare of solar farm reflections, huh?
Then, this week, the NYT began its latest doomsday story with a flimsy anecdote about someone who had lived in the Bay Area since 2004, ran for office in San Francisco, lost, and moved to Denver with her family because of California’s many problems.
Good riddance, say I.
“California is at a crossroads,” said the NYT.
Guess what? Everybody is; every city, every state is at a crossroads.
The country is at a crossroads.
We’ve got a president who said he could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue in New York and get away with it, and it turns out he wasn’t kidding.
A president, I might add, who is actively and aggressively trying to pollute our air and water, who believes scientists are crackpots, who is an inspiration to white supremacists, who has whiffed on all his major campaign promises (a list topped by cheaper, better healthcare for all), but for all that, could still get reelected.
That, my friends, is a nation at a crossroads.
California, to be clear, does indeed have major social and economic problems, which we don’t need help identifying, thank you very much, New York Times. And it also has major assets.
Kind of like New York.
Except that New York doesn’t have our beaches, and in the year 2020, in the noble cause of beach access for all, Gov. Gavin Newsom and I will kayak together from Gaviota State Park to Hollister Ranch.
A few months ago I got a call from Newsom’s office asking if I could meet him in Gaviota, so we could paddle north. I had written about the Hollister residents’ long fight to keep us locked out, and their argument that if the great unwashed want to visit, they can test the often treacherous waters and attempt to visit by sea.
Jerry Brown never asked me to go kayaking. Ronald Reagan didn’t call and say, hey, let’s go for a horseback ride, amigo. Arnold Schwarzenegger never invited me to go hiking (though he once called and asked me to meet him in Long Beach for a cigar, and I happily obliged).
But this year, if Hollister residents continue to flout the public’s constitutional right to access all the state’s beaches, they will have to answer to me and the governor and a motley flotilla of scurvy sea dogs. We will arrive by sea, plant a flag and fight to the death. You read it here first.
Bear with me now, because if you’re stealing a break from the Rose Parade, or a ballgame, or you’re having trouble lifting your head off a pillow, I have just one last observation to share before you embrace the new year.
It’s sad to note that two more newspapers in California have ended their run, as reported by my colleague Brittny Mejia. Sierra County’s Mountain Messenger, once published by Mark Twain, and the Martinez News-Gazette, which I used to read daily, are going out of business.
Those losses — the silencing of voices — are blows to the community and to the mission of keeping the bastards honest.
No newspaper operates without blind spots and deficiencies, but there is no bigger news operation west of the Hudson than the Los Angeles Times, and no greater source of accountability journalism in California.
In this, my 45th year as a journalist, my colleagues in sports, in entertainment, in foreign, national, state and local news, are a daily inspiration, and I’m proud to be their colleague. I’m still a reader first and learn multitudes each day by going online or by turning pages.
Thanks to subscribers for your continued support (and shame on those who read without subscribing). In these tumultuous political times, I’m reminded of the Thomas Jefferson quote on the old Times parking lot in downtown Los Angeles:
“Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers or newspapers without government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.”
Happy new year.
steve.lopez@latimes.com


latimes--2020-01-01--Rose Parade 2020: Skies were blue, spirits high as parade worked to broaden outreach

Tens of thousands of people gathered under partly cloudy skies Wednesday morning for the 131st annual Rose Parade , cheering scores of colorful floats that rolled down the 5.5-mile route .
This year ’ s theme was “ The Power of Hope.
” The Rose Parade had three grand marshals this year : Olympic gymnast Laurie Hernandez , actress Gina Torres and actress , dancer and singer Rita Moreno .
Clad in a fuzzy white sweater and a tiara , Moreno waved and smiled at the crowd as her old-fashioned car adorned in roses passed along the parade route .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the TV cameras , pointing at two young men sitting next to her .
Here is how the spectacle unfolded , from the end of the parade until its start : ‘ It ’ s beautiful to see us all together ’ Alyssa Conde , a 20-year-old retail worker from Downey , said she felt a sense of pride during the parade when she realized she was surrounded by fellow Latinos in the crowd .
That joy was heightened when she saw Costa Rican and Salvadorian dancers groove down the parade route @ @ @ @ @ @ @ held up flags and cheered .
“ I feel very proud , ” Conde said .
“ Our people have gone through a lot , especially in Mexico and El Salvador , and they ’ re being heard.
” The parade ’ s three grand marshals are Latina .
Laura Farber is the first Latina president of the Tournament of Roses Assn.
, the organization that plans the Rose Parade and the Rose Bowl .
It was Gerardo Echavarria ’ s second time watching the parade , and he immediately noticed the difference @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ m Mexican and to see bands representing my country was amazing , ” he said , walking down a route deserted after the floats had passed by .
Toward the end of the parade route , Esprit Jones , 39 , held her 7-year-old daughter , Brielle , who was wearing pink earmuffs with a unicorn horn .
Mother and daughter wound up close to the end of the parade to “ cheer the bands on as they finished , ” and so Brielle could have more time to sleep , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said she started coming to the parade with her cousins when she was Brielle ’ s age .
Now , she loves keeping that tradition alive with her daughter .
“ It ’ s fun , the energy of it , ” said Jones , who lives in Pasadena .
“ I want her to be exposed to other people .
There are so many ideas and different cultures here , and it ’ s beautiful to see us all together for one cause , even if it ’ s just for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tradition that never fades Some people fight over foul balls and home-run baseballs .
At the Rose Parade , it ’ s flowers .
When Julie Strauss , 38 , of Claremont , darted out into the parade route , she had competition .
“ This guy was turning around to get it , and I was like , oh no , this one ’ s mine , ” said Strauss , who came back to her family ’ s front row seats with an orchid , which she gave to daughter Scarlett @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be quick , ” Strauss said , as her sisters cheered .
The Rose Parade is a family tradition , and so is collecting souvenir float flowers .
Strauss ’ niece , Jessy Fisher , 12 , joined the fray for the first time .
After a brief run-in with the tail end of a color guard , she returned from her first flower-picking excursion with a yellow rose .
She giggled and sniffed her prize , noting that the petals were beginning to droop .
A rose by any other name .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Whittier , and Silvia Wilson , 64 , of San Diego , have been coming to the parade for decades , since they were children in the San Gabriel Valley .
They are such regulars at the Rose Parade that they have several groups of “ Rose Parade neighbors ” they see regularly along the parade route .
This year , Dean Hanson , 76 , of San Francisco greeted them with a “ hello , sweeties.
” Then the veterans traded notes on the other familiar faces they ’ d seen so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out the same spot along Colorado Boulevard , outside an Urban Outfitters , for two decades .
Not only do the bands have the most energy at the beginning of the parade , but the spot faces southeast , so they get to enjoy the warmth from the sun when it rises , Wilson said .
The blue line that keeps crowds away from the parade route bends slightly inward to their right , widening their view of the approaching floats and bands , Torres said .
To claim the spot this year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a rotating group of family and friends on Monday evening .
“ I like the energy of all the bands that participate , ” said Wilson , who ’ s adamant about attending .
“ Last year , when we were visiting the East Coast , I said we have to be home by the 29th so we can do this.
” A short walk to see the floats As a new resident of South Pasadena , Sheldon Fuller was able to avoid the hassle of waking up early to snag a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ woke up at his leisure and walked two blocks to see the floats .
Fuller first saw the parade when he was 16 years old with his dad .
But he thinks it ’ s more “ powerful ” now than ever , with the country facing mass shootings and the impeachment of the president .
“ I think it ’ s beautiful , ” Fuller said .
“ There ’ s all walks of life who put on a cultural exposition.
” As the crowd dispersed after the parade , some used @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their favorite presidential candidate .
A group of attendees who support Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders walked through the crowd , yelling , “ Feel the Bern !
” and singing “ Bernie ” to the tune of the classic chant “ Olé , olé , olé.
” For Andy Au , the Rose Parade was an opportunity to promote Andrew Yang .
The pharmaceutical sales representative ’ s post , with a flashing bike light and a Yang sign , was enough to stand out at dawn .
Au said he had talked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ others to Yang ’ s website .
Au said he wasn ’ t working for Yang ’ s campaign , and came out to support a candidate who is “ not a politician.
” “ He ’ s running on a platform putting humanity first , ” Au said .
“ It ’ s completely out of the box.
” A few people made snarky remarks when they saw Au passing out fake $ 1,000 bills with Yang ’ s face in the center , referencing the candidate ’ s platform supporting a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The fake money also stopped April Schiada , 59 , in her tracks .
The Covina resident , who paid $ 110 per ticket for four reserved bleacher seats , and $ 45 for parking , said she could see how Yang could appeal to younger voters .
She said she thought of her 17-year-old son who would be graduating this year .
“ What teenager doesn ’ t need a thousand dollars ?
” she said .
Someone has to clean up after the horses There are a lot of tough jobs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ each year .
Being a volunteer pooper scooper is one of them .
“ It ’ s the funnest , most exciting thing !
” said Ger Alderson , a former kindergarten teacher , who enjoys spotting her students in the bleachers .
Alderson and her husband , Will , grew up watching the parade .
That tradition has continued in honor of Will ’ s late father , who was also a big fan of the festivities .
They ’ ve enlisted their neighbors , Rich and Cathy Hanson , to help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Seuss character costumes that Ger Alderson made by hand .
Will , dressed as the Grinch , forcefully pushed forward his scooper to pick up the first pile of manure in their path as Cathy and Ger pranced near him , to cheers and laughter .
The Tournament of Roses announced its 24 float awards Wednesday morning .
Here are five of the top awards : • Sweepstakes : Awarded to the UPS “ Stories Change Our World ” float for the most beautiful entry • Americana : Awarded to the General Society @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hope — 1620 '' float for the most outstanding depiction of natural treasures and traditions • Animation : Awarded to the Mrs. Meyer ’ s Clean Day “ Plant a Garden ...
Believe in Tomorrow ” float for the most outstanding use of animation • Golden State : Awarded to the Huntington Library ’ s “ Cultivating Curiosity ” float for the most outstanding depiction of life in California • Judges : Awarded to Donate Life ’ s “ Light in the Darkness ” float for most outstanding float design and dramatic impact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Parade We are midway through the Rose Parade on a spectacular blue-sky start to the new year .
There have been no major mishaps so far , unlike last year , when a float caught fire and caused a delay in the procession .
Well , there was one little hitch — literally .
The UPS float , which won the Sweepstakes Award for the most beautiful float , suffered mechanical issues Wednesday morning and was towed along the 5.5-mile parade route by a massive white truck .
Staying fueled up has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and before the floats started rolling , the Kansas Avenue Seventh-day Adventist Church had its own mini party .
Stephanie Vaughn , who sits on the church ’ s education committee , was slinging cups of coffee and hot cocoa to the 64 congregation members who took a bus in the night before to see the spectacle .
Their makeshift kitchen was serving up a brown bag breakfast with apples , oranges , boxes of raisins , homemade banana bread and hard-boiled eggs .
“ We look forward to this every year , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tradition five years ago .
The floats are rolling , and a B-2 soars overhead Shortly after 8 a.m. Wednesday , a man in the bleachers along Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena yelled , “ Look up , look up !
” On cue , a throng of people craned their necks and pointed their smartphones toward the sky as a B-2 Spirit passed silently above the crowd .
The stealth bomber flyover , and a performance by singer Ally Brooke , marked the beginning of the 131st annual Tournament of Roses Parade .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a welcome reprieve from the snowstorm that Sandra Brockman , 60 , and her aunt Helen Haydock , 85 , left behind in Wisconsin .
Brockman wore red shorts to support her Wisconsin Badgers .
When Haydock ’ s husband died in June , and Wisconsin made the Rose Bowl , she said , she decided to go to Pasadena to see the floats she ’ d admired on television for years .
As the floats passed by , there was a prolonged cheer for a group that marked the centennial of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ States .
“ Of course , I support Wisconsin , ” Haydock said , “ but I really wanted to see the floats.
” Floats were designed and built by companies including Trader Joe ’ s and the UPS Store ; local charities and cities ; and Wisconsin and Oregon universities .
The award-winning Chinese American Heritage Foundation float honored World War II veterans , the 75th anniversary of the allied victory in the war and the sacrifices of women and minorities in the military .
The 75-foot-long float depicted six iconic moments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were created using crushed walnut shells , cinnamon , ginger , red millet and nigella seeds .
Temperatures in Pasadena reached the mid-60s by the afternoon , with skies clear and mostly sunny .
The Santa Ana winds predicted for the region ’ s mountain areas had no impact on the festivities .
But the morning was cold .
People who arrived bright and early to watch the festivities wore a kaleidoscope of colors on their heads , including sports team caps , New Year ’ s hats and traditional Christmas hoodies .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and cozy with the help of a fuzzy purple blanket and a beanie from the Disney movie “ Lilo and Stitch.
” Her Christmas present , the insurance agent from Artesia said , was “ perfect to cover my ears.
” Rob Wasserman , 48 , and Steve Kramer , 52 , walked along Colorado dressed in white overalls and poop emoji hats .
The friends from St. Louis had the job of walking along the parade route with shovels and buckets , scooping up manure .
Last year , Wasserman said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a small poop emoji .
This year , they decided to go all out .
Stephen McGee wore an Oakland Raiders hoodie under a black pea coat and gray scarf , clasping a cup of tea in his mitten-covered hands .
The Long Beach native had never been to a Rose Parade before , but he knew it would be cold .
The 39-year-old had watched the parade on KTLA growing up , he said , but had never attended until his girlfriend invited him this year .
McGee said he loved talking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Some were first-timers like him .
Others were seasoned Rose Parade veterans .
One of the people he met refilled his teacup and gave him a free hot dog .
“ I ’ ve been putting it off every year , ” McGee said .
“ I ’ m ready to experience it .
I ’ m looking forward to it all .
”

Laura J. Nelson, Jennifer Lu, Emmanuel Morgan, Priscella Vega

Lorena Jara and nephew Noe Jara, 6 months, try to keep warm before the start of the Rose Parade. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)
Karina Sosa, left, and her sister Brenda Sosa with a Salvadoran flag before the start of the 2020 Rose Parade in Pasadena. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)
From left, Delores Jaso, Jinney Arreola and Linda Betts wait for the Rose Parade to begin. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)
Parade marshals wait on their scooters near the start of the Rose Parade. (Mark Boster / For The Times)
Spectators take a selfie in front of a display along Orange Grove Boulevard before the start of the 2020 Rose Parade in Pasadena. (Mark Boster / For The Times)
The 2020 Rose Parade gets underway in Pasadena. This year’s theme is “The Power of Hope.” (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
A U.S. Air Force B-2 stealth bomber passes the Goodyear blimp during a flyover at the Rose Parade. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)
The UPS Store entry, “Stories Change Our World,” rolls down Colorado Boulevard during the 2020 Rose Parade in Pasadena. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)
The city of Pasadena’s entry focused on the 100th-year celebration of the passage of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
The city of Burbank’s float, “Rise Up,” paid homage to those affected by California’s wildfires. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)
A view down Colorado Boulevard during the 2020 Rose Parade in Pasadena. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
Co-Grand Marshal Rita Moreno waves to the crowd on the parade route. (Mark Boster / For The Times)
The Southern University and A&M College marching band. (Mark Boster/For the Times)
The Southern University and A&M College marching band performs during the parade. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)
Spectators follow the parade route on Colorado Boulevard after the end of the Rose Parade. (Mark Boster / For The Times)
The UPS Store float, “Stories Change Our World.” (Mark Boster / For The Times)
The opening performance for 131st Rose Parade on Wednesday morning. (Mark Boster / For the Times)
A member of a troupe of stilt walkers. (Mark Boster / For the Times)
Benjamin Davenport holds a large rose as his family enjoys the Rose Parade on Wednesday. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)
Tens of thousands of people gathered under partly cloudy skies Wednesday morning for the 131st annual Rose Parade, cheering scores of colorful floats that rolled down the 5.5-mile route. This year’s theme was “The Power of Hope.”
The Rose Parade had three grand marshals this year: Olympic gymnast Laurie Hernandez, actress Gina Torres and actress, dancer and singer Rita Moreno.
Clad in a fuzzy white sweater and a tiara, Moreno waved and smiled at the crowd as her old-fashioned car adorned in roses passed along the parade route. “My grandsons!” she yelled to the TV cameras, pointing at two young men sitting next to her.
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Here is how the spectacle unfolded, from the end of the parade until its start:
‘It’s beautiful to see us all together’
Alyssa Conde, a 20-year-old retail worker from Downey, said she felt a sense of pride during the parade when she realized she was surrounded by fellow Latinos in the crowd.
That joy was heightened when she saw Costa Rican and Salvadorian dancers groove down the parade route, and a throng of Salvadorians nearby held up flags and cheered.
“I feel very proud,” Conde said. “Our people have gone through a lot, especially in Mexico and El Salvador, and they’re being heard.”
The parade’s three grand marshals are Latina. Laura Farber is the first Latina president of the Tournament of Roses Assn., the organization that plans the Rose Parade and the Rose Bowl.
It was Gerardo Echavarria’s second time watching the parade, and he immediately noticed the difference. “I was pretty emotional because I’m Mexican and to see bands representing my country was amazing,” he said, walking down a route deserted after the floats had passed by.
Advertisement
Toward the end of the parade route, Esprit Jones, 39, held her 7-year-old daughter, Brielle, who was wearing pink earmuffs with a unicorn horn. Mother and daughter wound up close to the end of the parade to “cheer the bands on as they finished,” and so Brielle could have more time to sleep, Jones said with a laugh.
Jones said she started coming to the parade with her cousins when she was Brielle’s age. Now, she loves keeping that tradition alive with her daughter.
“It’s fun, the energy of it,” said Jones, who lives in Pasadena. “I want her to be exposed to other people. There are so many ideas and different cultures here, and it’s beautiful to see us all together for one cause, even if it’s just for a day.”
Fighting for flowers is a tradition that never fades
Some people fight over foul balls and home-run baseballs. At the Rose Parade, it’s flowers.
When Julie Strauss, 38, of Claremont, darted out into the parade route, she had competition.
“This guy was turning around to get it, and I was like, oh no, this one’s mine,” said Strauss, who came back to her family’s front row seats with an orchid, which she gave to daughter Scarlett, 6.
“You gotta be quick,” Strauss said, as her sisters cheered.
The Rose Parade is a family tradition, and so is collecting souvenir float flowers.
Strauss’ niece, Jessy Fisher, 12, joined the fray for the first time.
After a brief run-in with the tail end of a color guard, she returned from her first flower-picking excursion with a yellow rose. She giggled and sniffed her prize, noting that the petals were beginning to droop.
A rose by any other name.
Parade veterans seek out their favorite spots
Sisters Pat Torres, 65, of Whittier, and Silvia Wilson, 64, of San Diego, have been coming to the parade for decades, since they were children in the San Gabriel Valley.
They are such regulars at the Rose Parade that they have several groups of “Rose Parade neighbors” they see regularly along the parade route. This year, Dean Hanson, 76, of San Francisco greeted them with a “hello, sweeties.” Then the veterans traded notes on the other familiar faces they’d seen so far.
Torres and Wilson have staked out the same spot along Colorado Boulevard, outside an Urban Outfitters, for two decades. Not only do the bands have the most energy at the beginning of the parade, but the spot faces southeast, so they get to enjoy the warmth from the sun when it rises, Wilson said.
The blue line that keeps crowds away from the parade route bends slightly inward to their right, widening their view of the approaching floats and bands, Torres said.
To claim the spot this year, Wilson said she started camping out with a rotating group of family and friends on Monday evening.
“I like the energy of all the bands that participate,” said Wilson, who’s adamant about attending. “Last year, when we were visiting the East Coast, I said we have to be home by the 29th so we can do this.”
A short walk to see the floats
As a new resident of South Pasadena, Sheldon Fuller was able to avoid the hassle of waking up early to snag a spot along the parade route.
He woke up at his leisure and walked two blocks to see the floats. Fuller first saw the parade when he was 16 years old with his dad. But he thinks it’s more “powerful” now than ever, with the country facing mass shootings and the impeachment of the president.
“I think it’s beautiful,” Fuller said. “There’s all walks of life who put on a cultural exposition.”
Politics makes an appearance
As the crowd dispersed after the parade, some used it as an opportunity to rally for their favorite presidential candidate.
A group of attendees who support Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders walked through the crowd, yelling, “Feel the Bern!” and singing “Bernie” to the tune of the classic chant “Olé, olé, olé.”
For Andy Au, the Rose Parade was an opportunity to promote Andrew Yang. The pharmaceutical sales representative’s post, with a flashing bike light and a Yang sign, was enough to stand out at dawn.
Au said he had talked to people about economic theory and referred others to Yang’s website. Au said he wasn’t working for Yang’s campaign, and came out to support a candidate who is “not a politician.”
“He’s running on a platform putting humanity first,” Au said. “It’s completely out of the box.”
A few people made snarky remarks when they saw Au passing out fake $1,000 bills with Yang’s face in the center, referencing the candidate’s platform supporting a $1,000 monthly universal basic income.
The fake money also stopped April Schiada, 59, in her tracks. The Covina resident, who paid $110 per ticket for four reserved bleacher seats, and $45 for parking, said she could see how Yang could appeal to younger voters. She said she thought of her 17-year-old son who would be graduating this year.
“What teenager doesn’t need a thousand dollars?” she said.
Someone has to clean up after the horses
There are a lot of tough jobs involved in pulling off the Rose Parade each year. Being a volunteer pooper scooper is one of them.
“It’s the funnest, most exciting thing!” said Ger Alderson, a former kindergarten teacher, who enjoys spotting her students in the bleachers.
Alderson and her husband, Will, grew up watching the parade. That tradition has continued in honor of Will’s late father, who was also a big fan of the festivities.
They’ve enlisted their neighbors, Rich and Cathy Hanson, to help clear manure. They dressed in Dr. Seuss character costumes that Ger Alderson made by hand.
Will, dressed as the Grinch, forcefully pushed forward his scooper to pick up the first pile of manure in their path as Cathy and Ger pranced near him, to cheers and laughter.
Who won the Rose Parade float awards?
The Tournament of Roses announced its 24 float awards Wednesday morning. Here are five of the top awards:
Sweepstakes: Awarded to the UPS “Stories Change Our World” float for the most beautiful entry
Americana: Awarded to the General Society of Mayflower Descendants “The Voyage of Hope — 1620” float for the most outstanding depiction of natural treasures and traditions
Animation: Awarded to the Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day “Plant a Garden ... Believe in Tomorrow” float for the most outstanding use of animation
Golden State: Awarded to the Huntington Library’s “Cultivating Curiosity” float for the most outstanding depiction of life in California
Judges: Awarded to Donate Life’s “Light in the Darkness” float for most outstanding float design and dramatic impact
Video: The magic of the Rose Parade
Halfway through parade, no major mishaps
We are midway through the Rose Parade on a spectacular blue-sky start to the new year. There have been no major mishaps so far, unlike last year, when a float caught fire and caused a delay in the procession.
Well, there was one little hitch — literally. The UPS float, which won the Sweepstakes Award for the most beautiful float, suffered mechanical issues Wednesday morning and was towed along the 5.5-mile parade route by a massive white truck.
Staying fueled up has been a big part of the day, and before the floats started rolling, the Kansas Avenue Seventh-day Adventist Church had its own mini party.
Stephanie Vaughn, who sits on the church’s education committee, was slinging cups of coffee and hot cocoa to the 64 congregation members who took a bus in the night before to see the spectacle.
Their makeshift kitchen was serving up a brown bag breakfast with apples, oranges, boxes of raisins, homemade banana bread and hard-boiled eggs.
“We look forward to this every year,” Vaughn said, who began the tradition five years ago.
The floats are rolling, and a B-2 soars overhead
Shortly after 8 a.m. Wednesday, a man in the bleachers along Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena yelled, “Look up, look up!”
On cue, a throng of people craned their necks and pointed their smartphones toward the sky as a B-2 Spirit passed silently above the crowd.
The stealth bomber flyover, and a performance by singer Ally Brooke, marked the beginning of the 131st annual Tournament of Roses Parade.
The nip in the air Wednesday morning was a welcome reprieve from the snowstorm that Sandra Brockman, 60, and her aunt Helen Haydock, 85, left behind in Wisconsin. Brockman wore red shorts to support her Wisconsin Badgers.
When Haydock’s husband died in June, and Wisconsin made the Rose Bowl, she said, she decided to go to Pasadena to see the floats she’d admired on television for years.
As the floats passed by, there was a prolonged cheer for a group that marked the centennial of women’s suffrage in the United States.
“Of course, I support Wisconsin,” Haydock said, “but I really wanted to see the floats.”
Grand marshals
Rita Moreno (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
Floats were designed and built by companies including Trader Joe’s and the UPS Store; local charities and cities; and Wisconsin and Oregon universities.
The award-winning Chinese American Heritage Foundation float honored World War II veterans, the 75th anniversary of the allied victory in the war and the sacrifices of women and minorities in the military.
The 75-foot-long float depicted six iconic moments from the war. The black-and-white images were created using crushed walnut shells, cinnamon, ginger, red millet and nigella seeds.
Temperatures in Pasadena reached the mid-60s by the afternoon, with skies clear and mostly sunny. The Santa Ana winds predicted for the region’s mountain areas had no impact on the festivities.
Chilly start to the morning
But the morning was cold. People who arrived bright and early to watch the festivities wore a kaleidoscope of colors on their heads, including sports team caps, New Year’s hats and traditional Christmas hoodies.
Laura Rodriguez, 26, sat warm and cozy with the help of a fuzzy purple blanket and a beanie from the Disney movie “Lilo and Stitch.” Her Christmas present, the insurance agent from Artesia said, was “perfect to cover my ears.”
Rob Wasserman, 48, and Steve Kramer, 52, walked along Colorado dressed in white overalls and poop emoji hats.
The friends from St. Louis had the job of walking along the parade route with shovels and buckets, scooping up manure. Last year, Wasserman said, he wore a pink hat decorated with a small poop emoji. This year, they decided to go all out.
Stephen McGee wore an Oakland Raiders hoodie under a black pea coat and gray scarf, clasping a cup of tea in his mitten-covered hands.
The Long Beach native had never been to a Rose Parade before, but he knew it would be cold. The 39-year-old had watched the parade on KTLA growing up, he said, but had never attended until his girlfriend invited him this year.
McGee said he loved talking to the people standing next to him. Some were first-timers like him. Others were seasoned Rose Parade veterans. One of the people he met refilled his teacup and gave him a free hot dog.
“I’ve been putting it off every year,” McGee said. “I’m ready to experience it. I’m looking forward to it all.”


latimes--2020-01-01--3.2 quake hits near Anaheim

3.2 quake hits near Anaheim

A magnitude 3.2 earthquake was recorded at 2:38 a.m. Wednesday one mile from Anaheim , according to the U.S. Geological Survey .
The earthquake occurred three miles from Orange , three miles from Corona , three miles from Yorba Linda and four miles from Chino Hills .
In the last 10 days , there have been three earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 or greater centered nearby .
An average of five earthquakes with magnitudes between 3.0 and 4.0 occur per year in the greater Los Angeles area , according to a recent three-year data sample .
The earthquake occurred at a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feel this earthquake ?
Consider reporting what you felt to the USGS .
Even if you didn ’ t feel this small earthquake , you never know when the Big One is going to strike .
Ready yourself by following our five-step earthquake preparedness guide and building your own emergency kit .
This story was automatically generated by Quakebot , a computer application that monitors the latest earthquakes detected by the USGS .
A Times editor reviewed the post before it was published .
If you ’ re interested in learning more about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ frequently asked questions .

A magnitude 3.2 earthquake was recorded at 2:38 a.m. Wednesday one mile from Anaheim, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The earthquake occurred three miles from Orange, three miles from Corona, three miles from Yorba Linda and four miles from Chino Hills.
In the last 10 days, there have been three earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 or greater centered nearby.
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An average of five earthquakes with magnitudes between 3.0 and 4.0 occur per year in the greater Los Angeles area, according to a recent three-year data sample.
The earthquake occurred at a depth of 5.5 miles. Did you feel this earthquake? Consider reporting what you felt to the USGS.
Even if you didn’t feel this small earthquake, you never know when the Big One is going to strike. Ready yourself by following our five-step earthquake preparedness guide and building your own emergency kit.
This story was automatically generated by Quakebot, a computer application that monitors the latest earthquakes detected by the USGS. A Times editor reviewed the post before it was published. If you’re interested in learning more about the system, visit our list of frequently asked questions.


latimes--2020-01-01--This year's Rose Parade is meant to inspire hope; for one band, it already has

After a long practice one day about a year ago , Southern University band director Kedric Taylor huddled his 200-plus-member squad for a quick message .
Zaid Soberanis-Ramos , a freshman at the time , didn ’ t expect much .
He thought Taylor would give the team instructions for the weekend ’ s game or a critique of their practice that day .
But when Taylor told the band , known as the “ Human Jukebox , ” that they had been selected to perform in the 2020 Rose Parade , Soberanis-Ramos ’ heart leapt with excitement .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to be in my backyard , ” said Soberanis-Ramos , a Compton native .
“ It ’ s something that I never thought I would do before .
To be a part of this , it ’ s simply a blessing.
” Soberanis-Ramos , 19 , said he always watched the Rose Parade on television growing up , but could never make the 23-mile drive to Pasadena to see the New Year ’ s Day festivities in person .
Instead , choosing to attend a historically black university in Baton Rouge , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an opportunity he had dreamed of .
Merely being in the parade , he said , “ gives me hope.
” And that ’ s what this year ’ s parade is all about .
Tournament of Roses President Laura Farber thought of this year ’ s theme , “ The Power of Hope , ” with people like Soberanis- Ramos in mind .
Farber , the first Latina to serve in the role , said she wanted to use her platform to promote diversity and inclusion .
The Human Jukebox , along @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will perform , embody that , she said .
She ’ s excited for Southern California and the rest of the world to see that impact .
“ With the country and the world as divided as it is right now , we want hope to bring everyone together , ” Farber said .
“ That ’ s what America ’ s New Year celebration does .
Hope is a powerful concept , and we wanted to focus on that.
” The word “ hope ” had never been used in the previous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Her life revolved around hope , she said , and she knew that the word would resonate with others if she centered the parade on it .
Farber was born in Argentina and immigrated to the United States with her family when she was young to escape the country ’ s military dictatorship that seized power in the mid-1970s .
She graduated from UCLA in 1987 and then from Georgetown Law three years later .
Today she ’ s a wife , mother and attorney in Pasadena .
She volunteered for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slowly climbed the ranks .
With each passing year , she saw the leadership diversify .
The past five years produced the first African American and the first Asian American presidents of the organization .
Farber said the best part of the job is the people .
Hearing their stories inspires her .
“ Sometimes you don ’ t appreciate the impact of our events until you meet people and see how engaged they are , ” Farber said .
“ It changes them , especially kids who have never left their towns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a big international stage.
” That description fits Soberanis-Ramos , who started playing the horn at Manuel Dominguez High in Compton .
His parents , who immigrated from Mexico before he and his four younger siblings were born , never attended college and worked hard to support them , he said .
He used band as a way to keep himself busy .
He practiced for hours by himself , meticulously going over songs and honing his technique .
He wanted to use music to better his life , he said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paying off , ” he said .
“ It was getting me ready for the real world — the practices , the uniforms , the precision .
When you see the joy on people ’ s faces when you do a song and their heads are bopping , it makes it all worth it.
” Soberanis-Ramos , a computer science major who wants to work with mobile technology , said that a friend told him about Southern University , and he began watching videos of the marching band on YouTube .
He saw @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world , ” as Farber describes them .
The band is used to performing at elite venues .
Since its creation in 1947 , it has played at Super Bowls , presidential inaugurations and the 1980 Rose Parade .
Most famously , it headlined the reopening of the Louisiana Superdome in 2006 after Hurricane Katrina .
After researching and witnessing what the band stood for , Soberanis- Ramos knew that he wanted to be a part of it .
He auditioned and was accepted .
Soberanis- Ramos said that attending a historically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ noting the Southern hospitality that pervaded the campus .
The positive energy and genuine sense of camaraderie gave him “ a huge culture shock , ” he said .
He and his band mates now carry those unique feelings with them to Pasadena .
Bands from historically black colleges and universities ( HBCU ) are known for their pride and competitiveness .
In 2017 , ESPN ’ s The Undefeated ranked the Human Jukebox as the best HBCU band in the country .
It has called itself the “ Human Jukebox ” since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can play the “ Top 40 ” hits of the day .
Recently , it ’ s lived up to the name .
At Bandfest , a showcase of the parade bands on Dec. 30 , they dressed in their powder uniforms and yellow capes , and moved across the whole field of Pasadena City College stadium , dipping and weaving into different formations while they performed Lil Nas ’ hit “ Old Town Road.
” Farber even started dancing as she watched from the sideline .
Lizzo , the Associated Press entertainer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a December music video .
It also performed at a church service and a Los Angeles Lakers halftime show in Staples Center while they were in Los Angeles .
Taylor said that Soberanis-Ramos is a great ambassador for the band , and he is happy they ’ ll play near the student ’ s hometown .
Taylor also is glad that the Human Jukebox may provide some Californians with their first introduction to an HBCU band .
He ’ s especially pleased that they are participating in this year of “ Hope.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a T , ” Taylor said .
“ God created all of us as equal , and when you have everybody on the same page and pulling in the same direction , you can accomplish way more.
” Soberanis- Ramos said it ’ s important to put on a performance that spectators won ’ t forget , especially given this year ’ s theme .
“ I ’ m coming back home , and I want people here to see what HBCUs stand for and what we ’ re about , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to see the passion we have and hopefully it will open their eyes .
We ’ re carrying a lot of weight.
” Bands from Denmark , El Salvador , Japan and seven other counties will play at the parade , along with bands from 47 states .
Farber said it was easy to pick Southern University when she and the music committee sifted through the pile of applications .
The 1 million people expected to watch the performance in person will be “ blown away , ” she said .
“ It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up , ” she said .

After a long practice one day about a year ago, Southern University band director Kedric Taylor huddled his 200-plus-member squad for a quick message.
Zaid Soberanis-Ramos, a freshman at the time, didn’t expect much. He thought Taylor would give the team instructions for the weekend’s game or a critique of their practice that day. But when Taylor told the band, known as the “Human Jukebox,” that they had been selected to perform in the 2020 Rose Parade, Soberanis-Ramos’ heart leapt with excitement.
“I was in shock because we were going to be in my backyard,” said Soberanis-Ramos, a Compton native. “It’s something that I never thought I would do before. To be a part of this, it’s simply a blessing.”
Soberanis-Ramos, 19, said he always watched the Rose Parade on television growing up, but could never make the 23-mile drive to Pasadena to see the New Year’s Day festivities in person. Instead, choosing to attend a historically black university in Baton Rouge, La., unexpectedly had provided him with an opportunity he had dreamed of. Merely being in the parade, he said, “gives me hope.”
And that’s what this year’s parade is all about.
Tournament of Roses President Laura Farber thought of this year’s theme, “The Power of Hope,” with people like Soberanis- Ramos in mind. Farber, the first Latina to serve in the role, said she wanted to use her platform to promote diversity and inclusion.
The Human Jukebox, along with many of the other bands that will perform, embody that, she said. She’s excited for Southern California and the rest of the world to see that impact.
Zaid Soberanis-Ramos, right, adjusts his hat while waiting to perform with the Southern University Band during Bandfest at Pasadena City College. (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)
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“With the country and the world as divided as it is right now, we want hope to bring everyone together,” Farber said. “That’s what America’s New Year celebration does. Hope is a powerful concept, and we wanted to focus on that.”
The word “hope” had never been used in the previous 130 Rose Bowl themes, Farber said. Her life revolved around hope, she said, and she knew that the word would resonate with others if she centered the parade on it.
Farber was born in Argentina and immigrated to the United States with her family when she was young to escape the country’s military dictatorship that seized power in the mid-1970s. She graduated from UCLA in 1987 and then from Georgetown Law three years later. Today she’s a wife, mother and attorney in Pasadena. She volunteered for the Tournament of Roses for 26 years and slowly climbed the ranks.
Laura Farber, president of the 2020 Tournament of Roses, steps to the stage to announce the 2020 Royal Court. (Tim Berger/La Cañada Valley Sun)
With each passing year, she saw the leadership diversify. The past five years produced the first African American and the first Asian American presidents of the organization. Farber said the best part of the job is the people. Hearing their stories inspires her.
“Sometimes you don’t appreciate the impact of our events until you meet people and see how engaged they are,” Farber said. “It changes them, especially kids who have never left their towns or cities and are now playing on a big international stage.”
That description fits Soberanis-Ramos, who started playing the horn at Manuel Dominguez High in Compton.
Advertisement
His parents, who immigrated from Mexico before he and his four younger siblings were born, never attended college and worked hard to support them, he said. He used band as a way to keep himself busy. He practiced for hours by himself, meticulously going over songs and honing his technique. He wanted to use music to better his life, he said.
“All the dedication and hard work started paying off,” he said. “It was getting me ready for the real world — the practices, the uniforms, the precision. When you see the joy on people’s faces when you do a song and their heads are bopping, it makes it all worth it.”
Soberanis-Ramos, a computer science major who wants to work with mobile technology, said that a friend told him about Southern University, and he began watching videos of the marching band on YouTube. He saw “one of the best bands in the world,” as Farber describes them.
Zaid Soberanis-Ramos, right, warms up with his 200-plus member squad, the Southern University marching band, a.k.a. the “Human Jukebox,” at Pasadena City College. (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)
The Southern University Band plays on the field at Bandfest at Pasadena City College. (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)
The band is used to performing at elite venues. Since its creation in 1947, it has played at Super Bowls, presidential inaugurations and the 1980 Rose Parade. Most famously, it headlined the reopening of the Louisiana Superdome in 2006 after Hurricane Katrina. After researching and witnessing what the band stood for, Soberanis- Ramos knew that he wanted to be a part of it. He auditioned and was accepted.
Soberanis- Ramos said that attending a historically black university was eye-opening at first, noting the Southern hospitality that pervaded the campus. The positive energy and genuine sense of camaraderie gave him “a huge culture shock,” he said. He and his band mates now carry those unique feelings with them to Pasadena.
Bands from historically black colleges and universities (HBCU) are known for their pride and competitiveness. In 2017, ESPN’s The Undefeated ranked the Human Jukebox as the best HBCU band in the country. It has called itself the “Human Jukebox” since the 1960s because it boasts that it can play the “Top 40” hits of the day.
Recently, it’s lived up to the name.
At Bandfest, a showcase of the parade bands on Dec. 30, they dressed in their powder uniforms and yellow capes, and moved across the whole field of Pasadena City College stadium, dipping and weaving into different formations while they performed Lil Nas’ hit “Old Town Road.” Farber even started dancing as she watched from the sideline.
Lizzo, the Associated Press entertainer of the year, featured the band in a December music video. It also performed at a church service and a Los Angeles Lakers halftime show in Staples Center while they were in Los Angeles.
Members of the Southern University Marching Band gather their instruments at their busses for Bandfest at Pasadena City College. (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)
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Taylor said that Soberanis-Ramos is a great ambassador for the band, and he is happy they’ll play near the student’s hometown. Taylor also is glad that the Human Jukebox may provide some Californians with their first introduction to an HBCU band. He’s especially pleased that they are participating in this year of “Hope.”
“This theme fits our program to a T,” Taylor said. “God created all of us as equal, and when you have everybody on the same page and pulling in the same direction, you can accomplish way more.”
Soberanis- Ramos said it’s important to put on a performance that spectators won’t forget, especially given this year’s theme.
“I’m coming back home, and I want people here to see what HBCUs stand for and what we’re about,” he said. “I want them to see the passion we have and hopefully it will open their eyes. We’re carrying a lot of weight.”
Bands from Denmark, El Salvador, Japan and seven other counties will play at the parade, along with bands from 47 states. Farber said it was easy to pick Southern University when she and the music committee sifted through the pile of applications.
The 1 million people expected to watch the performance in person will be “blown away,” she said.
“It’s just going to lift everybody up,” she said.


latimes--2020-01-07--Rep. Duncan Hunter submits his resignation

Rep. Duncan Hunter ( R-Alpine ) has submitted his resignation effective Monday to Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-San Francisco ) and Gov .
Gavin Newsom .
Hunter pleaded guilty Dec. 3 to one count of conspiracy to misuse campaign funds , but had delayed resigning from Congress until after the holidays .
Hunter , who was elected 11 years ago , did not address the scandal or charges that brought an end to his career in the two-page letter to Pelosi and Newsom , instead listing his accomplishments in Congress and thanking constituents for their support .
Hunter will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of five years in prison .
A three-year investigation found that Hunter used more than $ 250,000 in campaign funds to pay for hotel rooms to entertain his mistresses , his children ’ s private school tuition , transportation for a pet rabbit and other expenses .
He and his wife , Margaret , who handled his campaign finances , were each initially indicted on 60 federal counts in August 2018 , but each pleaded to a single count rather than face trial .
First elected to Congress in 2008 , Hunter represents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a small part of Riverside County .
Once Hunter ’ s resignation is official , Newsom will have 14 days to call for a special election to fill the seat .

Rep. Duncan Hunter, the Republican from Alpine, Calif., who on Dec. 3 pleaded guilty to a felony involving campaign spending, said he will officially resign Monday.
He notified House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Gov. Gavin Newsom in a letter Tuesday that he will resign Jan. 13, nearly six weeks after his guilty plea.
“It has been an honor to serve the people of California’s 50th District, and I greatly appreciate the trust they have put in me over these last 11 years,” Hunter wrote.
Hunter, who was elected to office in 2008, was indicted in August 2018 on 60 federal counts based on accusations that he and his wife and former campaign manager, Margaret Hunter, stole $250,000 of campaign funds, using it for family vacations, groceries, his extramarital affairs and other non-campaign uses, including airfare for a pet rabbit.
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He recently reached a deal and pleaded guilty to a single count of conspiracy to convert campaign funds to personal use, a federal felony for which he could be sentenced to up to five years in prison, although many consider it unlikely he’ll serve that long.
He is expected to be sentenced March 17.
Hunter’s resignation puts the ball in Newsom’s court for determining whether to call a special election to fill his vacant seat.
Because Hunter’s resignation will take effect after the filing deadline for the March primary ballot, which was early last month, Newsom has the option of leaving the seat vacant until after the November election.
Or the governor can call for a special election in addition to the primary. It may be difficult to call for a special election to be consolidated with the March 3 primary because mail ballots for both elections would be sent about the same time and could be confusing for voters.
Newsom also could call for a special election that would take place after the March primary.
As the congressional representative for the 50th District — which includes much of eastern San Diego County as well as the north county communities of Fallbrook, San Marcos, Valley Center and Escondido, and a small portion of Riverside County — Hunter leaves behind a divisive legacy.
For some supporters, the east county native, who enlisted with the Marine Corps shortly after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, will be remembered for his public advocacy on military and veterans issues and as one of the earliest congressional backers ofDonald Trump’s 2016 presidential candidacy.
Like his father before him, Hunter served on the House Armed Services Committee for the entirety of his tenure and had a hand in setting the annual defense budget. His office also had a reputation for constituent services, especially related to assisting veterans with issues involving the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Hunter also was an outspoken advocate for military service members accused of war crimes, including Navy SEAL Chief Edward Gallagher, who was acquitted of the most serious war-crimes charges leveled against him in a San Diego court martial last summer but was convicted of posing with an ISIS fighter’s corpse.
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Early on, Hunter sought to draw attention Gallagher’s situation, visiting him at the Miramar brig, bringing him food and blankets, and petitioning the president to intervene and release Gallagher from confinement. Ultimately, Trump intervened and restored Gallagher’s rank, overturning the verdict of the SEAL’s court-martial jury in November.
Hunter said in his resignation letter that he was most proud of “giving a voice to our men and women in uniform.”
“As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I brought attention to inefficient military programs and worked to make sure our war fighters had the resources they needed to carry out their mission,” he wrote in his letter. “I helped shine light on a broken military awards process that failed to recognize true heroism, and I fought for warriors like Clint Lorance, Eddie Gallagher and Matt Golsteyn that were treated unjustly by an abusive military justice system.”
Lorance was an Army officer convicted of the murder of two civilians in Afghanistan; Golsteyn was a Green Beret charged with murdering a civilian in Afghanistan. Both men were pardoned by President Trump.
For others, Hunter will be remembered for tarnishing his office and refusing to accept responsibility for the actions that led to criminal charges.
When questions first arose about Hunter’s irregular campaign spending practices in April of 2016, a spokesman for Hunter dismissed the issues as a mix-up, saying Hunter’s son accidentally took the wrong credit card from Hunter’s wallet to purchase a video game online. The spokesman also said that other non-campaign expenditures were a result of fraud by someone other than Hunter.
Hunter continued to deny intentional wrongdoing as questioning about campaign expenditures intensified. He said his campaign would conduct an audit but nothing would be repaid until then.
In August of 2018 federal prosecutors levied a sweeping indictment against Hunter and his wife, alleging they used more than $250,000 in political contributions to pay personal expenses, including private-school tuition for their children, international vacations, fast food, home repairs and even $600 in airfare for the family pet rabbit, Eggburt. Hunter said the indictment against him and his wife was a “witch hunt” and that federal prosecutors were out to get him because of his early support of Trump.
Prosecutors also accused the congressman of using campaign funds to pay for a series of extramarital affairs with five women, including three lobbyists and two congressional staffers. Among other things, he used political contributions to pay for cocktails, resort stays, Uber rides and lavish meals, according to prosecutors.
Even when he ultimately pleaded guilty in December, Hunter did not fully own up to the wrongdoing.
“I failed to monitor and account for my campaign spending. I made mistakes, and that’s what today was all about,” Hunter told reporters outside the courthouse after his guilty plea. Then he refused to answer reporters’ questions, instead directing them to a TV interview the day before with a friendly TV station that allowed Hunter’s staff to write the questions for the “interview.”
Prosecutors said Hunter’s behavior amounted to more than simple mistakes.
“This is not a case about mismanagement or accounting errors or mistakes,” said Assistant U.S. Atty. Emily Allen, adding: “While this crime may not involve allegations of cash bribes, make no mistake, it is corruption all the same.”
Hunter also drew national attention — and scorn — during the 2018 election cycle for spreading what were widely criticized as racist and Islamophobic ads and mailers accusing his opponent, Ammar Campa-Najjar, of being a terrorist.
Campa-Najjar said Tuesday that Hunter should have resigned weeks ago.
“What’s done is done, now it’s time for the constituents of CA-50 to pick up the pieces and move forward together,” he said in a statement. “As the leading candidate and a constituent of the district, I am committed to restoring real representation to the forgotten people of our district and giving this seat back to its rightful owner — the people of CA-50.”
The top Republican challengers for the 50th District also weighed in.
“I joined this race because I believe voters deserve a strong conservative voice in Congress who will stand up for our values, support President Trump’s agenda, and fight back against the radical left,” former Rep. Darrell Issa said in a statement. “Duncan Hunter did the right thing by resigning and I wish him and his family the best.”
Candidate Carl DeMaio, a former city councilman and radio host, also called for Hunter’s resignation after his guilty plea and asked the governor to call a special election.
“The people of the 50th Congressional District deserve their voice in Congress to be restored,” DeMaio said in a statement. “Leaving the 50th Congressional District vacant for a full year is wholly unacceptable, and I urge Gov. Gavin Newsom to call a special election as soon as possible.”
Clark writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune. Times staff writer Sarah D. Wire contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-01-07--Rescued sea lion named Mandalorian, found with two gunshot wounds, is euthanized

A female sea lion nicknamed Mandalorian that had two gunshot wounds and was rescued last month in Newport Beach has been euthanized , the Pacific Marine Mammal Center said Tuesday .
The 1-year-old sea lion was rescued from the surf spot the Wedge at the end of Balboa Pier on Dec. 16 , the Laguna Beach-based marine mammal center said in a statement .
During her check-in , the center ’ s veterinary team found a draining abscess on her back that limited her ability to move normally .
Mandalorian underwent a series of X-rays to determine the extent of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gunshots in her chest , likely from a pellet rifle .
“ Our veterinary care team did everything they could to try and ease her pain , ” Krysta Higuchi , a spokeswoman for the Pacific Marine Mammal Center , said in an interview .
“ After a week of no progress whatsoever , while her health continued to decline , our team made the very difficult decision that she be humanely euthanized.
” An autopsy showed one of the bullets wedged between the sea lion ’ s rib and adjacent vertabrae , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s entry wound is believed to have become infected , leading to severe muscle necrosis and an accumulation of fluid in her chest cavity .
The second bullet was lodged in her muscles between her ribs .
Higuchi said it was a “ very difficult week ” at the small rescue center , which has a full-time staff of about 16 people .
The sea lion wasn ’ t properly using her rear flippers and was dragging the rear part of her body .
“ You could clearly see the animal was in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The silver lining is she is no longer suffering .
We were able to give her a peaceful death.
” The gunshot pellets will be sent to the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration ’ s National Marine Fisheries Service Office of Law Enforcement for further investigation .
Jim Milbury , a spokesman for the NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region , told The Times that sea lions are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act , which prohibits the injury of a marine mammal in the wild .
Penalties include a fine of up to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in prison , criminal fines and forfeiture of vessels or vehicles involved .
Higuchi said it will be difficult to determine who shot Mandalorian because both the Pacific Marine Mammal Center and NOAA have “ limited resources.
” Tracking a pellet rifle , she said , “ is going to be next to impossible.
” “ We don ’ t know who did this — if it was a fisherman , or if it was someone frustrated that the animal was on their boat , or if it was a little kid playing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ We just want to educate the public that there are other ways to co-exist with these animals.
” Peter Chang , chief executive of the center , said in a statement that Mandalorian ’ s wounds are an example of actions “ taking place up and down the Pacific Coast.
” “ These are disgusting and intentional acts , many of which are premeditated , ” Chang said .
“ We know there are many out there that feel like they are competing with the sea lions for the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a pathway for us to co-habitate with these precious marine mammals , and shooting them is not the way.
” Last month , the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito said it had recently treated three sea lions with gunshot injuries .
Two of the animals lost an eye after being shot in the face .
On Tuesday , NOAA Fisheries ’ Office of Law Enforcement announced that it is offering a reward of up to $ 20,000 for information that leads to a civil penalty or criminal conviction in the shooting death of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ San Simeon .
The seal ’ s body was found Sept. 29 near a popular viewing area along Highway 1 , NOAA said .
It had been shot in the head , its tail fins were cut off , and its chest cavity was cut open .
“ We ’ re asking for help from anyone who may have seen or heard or knows anything related to this incident , ” NOAA Fisheries Special Agent Jeremy Munkelt said in a statement .
Back in Southern California , the Pacific Marine Mammal Center currently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ above normal for this time of the year , Higuchi said .
Typically , most rescues happen between February and May , she said .
The majority have come in malnourished , dehydrated and lethargic .
In an unusual rescue Dec. 29 , a young elephant seal , nicknamed Peppermint , was found in Doheny Beach with severe bites from a small cookiecutter shark that likely attacked because the elephant seal was sick and not moving well , Higuchi said .
It is rare to see elephant seals , who spend most of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , she added .
Animals at the center are named by their rescuers .
Mandalorian was named by “ one of our volunteers who had just finished binge-watching ‘ The Mandalorian , ’ ” Higuchi said .
Two recently rescued sea lion pups were named Yoda and Leia .

A female sea lion nicknamed Mandalorian that had two gunshot wounds and was rescued last month in Newport Beach has been euthanized, the Pacific Marine Mammal Center said Tuesday.
The 1-year-old sea lion was rescued from the surf spot the Wedge at the end of Balboa Peninsula on Dec. 16, the Laguna Beach-based marine mammal center said in a statement.
For the record: An earlier version of this article said the sea lion was rescued from a surf spot called the Wedge at the end of Balboa Pier; the Wedge is at the tip of the Balboa Peninsula. The article also said the animal had undergone an autopsy; it was a necropsy.
During her check-in, the center’s veterinary team found a draining abscess on her back that limited her ability to move normally.
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Mandalorian underwent a series of X-rays to determine the extent of the injury. The images showed two gunshots in her chest, likely from a pellet rifle.
“Our veterinary care team did everything they could to try and ease her pain,” Krysta Higuchi, a spokeswoman for the Pacific Marine Mammal Center, said in an interview. “After a week of no progress whatsoever, while her health continued to decline, our team made the very difficult decision that she be humanely euthanized.”
Mandalorian was euthanized Dec. 22.
A necropsy showed one of the bullets wedged between the sea lion’s rib and adjacent vertabrae, the center said. The bullet’s entry wound is believed to have become infected, leading to severe muscle necrosis and an accumulation of fluid in her chest cavity.
The second bullet was lodged in her muscles between her ribs.
Higuchi said it was a “very difficult week” at the small rescue center, which has a full-time staff of about 16 people. The sea lion wasn’t properly using her rear flippers and was dragging the rear part of her body.
“You could clearly see the animal was in pain,” Higuchi said. “The silver lining is she is no longer suffering. We were able to give her a peaceful death.”
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The gunshot pellets will be sent to the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration’s National Marine Fisheries Service Office of Law Enforcement for further investigation.
Jim Milbury, a spokesman for the NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region, told The Times that sea lions are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act, which prohibits the injury of a marine mammal in the wild. Penalties include a fine of up to $28,520 per count, a year in prison, criminal fines and forfeiture of vessels or vehicles involved.
Higuchi said it will be difficult to determine who shot Mandalorian because both the Pacific Marine Mammal Center and NOAA have “limited resources.” Tracking a pellet rifle, she said, “is going to be next to impossible.”
“We don’t know who did this — if it was a fisherman, or if it was someone frustrated that the animal was on their boat, or if it was a little kid playing with their BB gun,” Higuchi said. “We just want to educate the public that there are other ways to co-exist with these animals.”
Peter Chang, chief executive of the center, said in a statement that Mandalorian’s wounds are an example of actions “taking place up and down the Pacific Coast.”
“These are disgusting and intentional acts, many of which are premeditated,” Chang said. “We know there are many out there that feel like they are competing with the sea lions for the same resources. However, there’s a pathway for us to co-habitate with these precious marine mammals, and shooting them is not the way.”
Last month, the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito said it had recently treated three sea lions with gunshot injuries. Two of the animals lost an eye after being shot in the face.
On Tuesday, NOAA Fisheries’ Office of Law Enforcement announced that it is offering a reward of up to $20,000 for information that leads to a civil penalty or criminal conviction in the shooting death of a northern elephant seal in September near San Simeon.
The seal’s body was found Sept. 29 near a popular viewing area along Highway 1, NOAA said. It had been shot in the head, its tail fins were cut off, and its chest cavity was cut open.
“We’re asking for help from anyone who may have seen or heard or knows anything related to this incident,” NOAA Fisheries Special Agent Jeremy Munkelt said in a statement.
Back in Southern California, the Pacific Marine Mammal Center currently is caring for 13 animals, slightly above normal for this time of the year, Higuchi said. Typically, most rescues happen between February and May, she said.
The majority have come in malnourished, dehydrated and lethargic.
In an unusual rescue Dec. 29, a young elephant seal, nicknamed Peppermint, was found in Doheny Beach with severe bites from a small cookiecutter shark that likely attacked because the elephant seal was sick and not moving well, Higuchi said. It is rare to see elephant seals, who spend most of the year offshore, in Orange County, she added.
Animals at the center are named by their rescuers. Mandalorian was named by “one of our volunteers who had just finished binge-watching ‘The Mandalorian,’” Higuchi said. Two recently rescued sea lion pups were named Yoda and Leia.


latimes--2020-01-07--Suit blaming U.S. government in Kate Steinle's shooting death is tossed

A federal judge on Monday dismissed a lawsuit against the U.S. government filed by the family of a woman fatally shot on a San Francisco pier in 2015 whose death became a flash point in the national debate over immigration policy .
The lawsuit filed by Kate Steinle ’ s parents alleged negligence on the part of the government because one of their employees , a federal park ranger , left the handgun that was later used to shoot their daughter unsecured in an SUV parked near the waterfront in San Francisco .
According to court filings , ranger John @ @ @ @ @ @ @ backpack in his locked SUV while he and his family went into a restaurant for dinner on a break from a drive from Southern California to Sacramento on June 27 , 2015 .
When they returned to the car less than two hours later , two windows had been smashed and some of the family ’ s luggage — including the backpack with the handgun — had been stolen .
Four days later , attorneys for Jose Garcia Zarate contend he mistakenly picked up the gun , which was wrapped in a T-shirt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bullet ricocheted off the ground and struck Steinle in the back , mortally wounding her as she was walking along Pier 14 with her father .
Chief Magistrate Judge Joseph Spero wrote in his decision that while Woychowski and his employer , the U.S. Bureau of Land Management , may have been negligent for leaving the loaded handgun in the parked car in an unfamiliar city at night , too much time had passed and too many events had occurred by the time Steinle was killed for the court to show a direct @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ In this case , the gun traveled at least some distance from the theft , three and a half days elapsed , the gun changed hands once at the very least , and there is no way to know what else transpired during that time , ” Spero wrote .
Spero also wrote there was no evidence that Garcia Zarate stole the gun .
“ Even if the gun was taken directly to Pier 14 by the thief and left there until [ he ] found it days later — facts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ determined on the record presented — that separation in time , space , actors , and conduct would be sufficient in this Court ’ s view to break the chain of proximate causation between Woychowski ’ s purportedly negligent storage of the gun and Steinle ’ s death , ” he wrote .
Alison Cordova , a lawyer representing Steinle ’ s parents , said they plan to appeal the ruling .
She could not immediately be reached for further comment Tuesday .
Steinle ’ s slaying stoked debate over illegal immigration in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police in enforcing federal immigration laws .
President Trump cited Steinle ’ s death during his campaign to make his case for building a wall across the U.S.-Mexico border .
“ This senseless and totally preventable act of violence committed by an illegal immigrant is yet another example of why we must secure our border immediately , ” Trump , a presidential candidate at the time , said in a statement two days after Steinle died .
“ This is an absolutely disgraceful situation , and I am the only one that can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was living in the United States illegally , had been deported five times and had just completed his third federal prison term for felony reentry into the U.S. from Mexico in March 2015 when federal officials turned him over to San Francisco to face a 20-year-old bench warrant for marijuana possession and sales .
However , prosecutors declined to pursue the case , and he was released .
The shooting occurred four months later .
During his trial , Garcia Zarate ’ s attorney argued that the weapon went off in their client @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tragic accident .
A San Francisco jury acquitted Garcia Zarate of murder and assault charges , convicting him only of being a felon in possession of a gun .
A state appeals court overturned that conviction .
The 46-year-old remains in custody and faces federal charges of being a felon and an undocumented immigrant in possession of a gun .
Steinle ’ s parents had also sued San Francisco for damages , but Spero dismissed those claims in 2017 , saying there was no prior evidence that Garcia Zarate was dangerous and federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inform the government before he was released under San Francisco ’ s sanctuary city policy .
The Associated Press contributed to this report .

In this July 17, 2015, file photo, flowers and a portrait of Kate Steinle remain at a memorial site on Pier 14 in San Francisco.
A federal judge on Monday dismissed a lawsuit against the U.S. government filed by the family of a woman fatally shot on a San Francisco pier in 2015 whose death became a flash point in the national debate over immigration policy.
The lawsuit filed by Kate Steinle’s parents alleged negligence on the part of the government because one of their employees, a federal park ranger, left the handgun that was later used to shoot their daughter unsecured in an SUV parked near the waterfront in San Francisco.
According to court filings, ranger John Woychowski had placed the gun inside a backpack in his locked SUV while he and his family went into a restaurant for dinner on a break from a drive from Southern California to Sacramento on June 27, 2015. When they returned to the car less than two hours later, two windows had been smashed and some of the family’s luggage — including the backpack with the handgun — had been stolen.
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Four days later, attorneys for Jose Garcia Zarate contend he mistakenly picked up the gun, which was wrapped in a T-shirt, and it went off. The bullet ricocheted off the ground and struck Steinle in the back, mortally wounding her as she was walking along Pier 14 with her father.
Chief Magistrate Judge Joseph Spero wrote in his decision that while Woychowski and his employer, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, may have been negligent for leaving the loaded handgun in the parked car in an unfamiliar city at night, too much time had passed and too many events had occurred by the time Steinle was killed for the court to show a direct connection between the theft and the shooting.
“In this case, the gun traveled at least some distance from the theft, three and a half days elapsed, the gun changed hands once at the very least, and there is no way to know what else transpired during that time,” Spero wrote.
Spero also wrote there was no evidence that Garcia Zarate stole the gun.
“Even if the gun was taken directly to Pier 14 by the thief and left there until [he] found it days later — facts that, again, cannot be determined on the record presented — that separation in time, space, actors, and conduct would be sufficient in this Court’s view to break the chain of proximate causation between Woychowski’s purportedly negligent storage of the gun and Steinle’s death,” he wrote.
Alison Cordova, a lawyer representing Steinle’s parents, said they plan to appeal the ruling. She could not immediately be reached for further comment Tuesday.
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Steinle’s slaying stoked debate over illegal immigration in the U.S. and the role of local police in enforcing federal immigration laws. President Trump cited Steinle’s death during his campaign to make his case for building a wall across the U.S.-Mexico border.
“This senseless and totally preventable act of violence committed by an illegal immigrant is yet another example of why we must secure our border immediately,” Trump, a presidential candidate at the time, said in a statement two days after Steinle died. “This is an absolutely disgraceful situation, and I am the only one that can fix it.”
Garcia Zarate, who was living in the United States illegally, had been deported five times and had just completed his third federal prison term for felony reentry into the U.S. from Mexico in March 2015 when federal officials turned him over to San Francisco to face a 20-year-old bench warrant for marijuana possession and sales. However, prosecutors declined to pursue the case, and he was released.
The shooting occurred four months later. During his trial, Garcia Zarate’s attorney argued that the weapon went off in their client’s hands in what was a tragic accident.
A San Francisco jury acquitted Garcia Zarate of murder and assault charges, convicting him only of being a felon in possession of a gun. A state appeals court overturned that conviction. The 46-year-old remains in custody and faces federal charges of being a felon and an undocumented immigrant in possession of a gun.
Steinle’s parents had also sued San Francisco for damages, but Spero dismissed those claims in 2017, saying there was no prior evidence that Garcia Zarate was dangerous and federal law did not require the city to inform the government before he was released under San Francisco’s sanctuary city policy.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-01-07--After woman's body is dumped near Mexico border, police search for boyfriend

A manhunt is underway for the boyfriend of a mother of four whose body was found near the U.S.-Mexico border last week , authorities said .
Brittney Steenbergen , 36 , and Adel Hussein , 44 , were reported missing by one of their four children on New Year ’ s Eve .
Steenbergen was last seen at home in Plainview , Calif. , three days earlier , the Tulare County Sheriff ’ s Office said .
During their investigation , detectives learned of a possible domestic violence incident and discovered the family ’ s vehicle — a dark blue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was missing , according to the sheriff ’ s Facebook page .
The day after Steenbergen was reported missing , sheriff ’ s deputies found her body in a rural area in Imperial County , nearly 400 miles from her home .
The family ’ s missing SUV was found abandoned in El Centro , just north of the Mexico border .
Hussein was last seen in Tipton on New Year ’ s Eve and is known to frequent the Plainview and Porterville areas , police said .
The 5-foot-4 , 200-pound man @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a “ B ” on it , blue jeans and black shoes .
Anyone with information about Hussein ’ s whereabouts can call the Tulare County Sheriff ’ s Office at ( 559 ) 733-6218 .
Anonymous tips can be sent to ( 559 ) 725-4194 or tcso @ tipnow.com .

A manhunt is underway for the boyfriend of a mother of four whose body was found near the U.S.-Mexico border last week, authorities said.
Brittney Steenbergen, 36, and Adel Hussein, 44, were reported missing by one of their four children on New Year’s Eve. Steenbergen was last seen at home in Plainview, Calif., three days earlier, the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office said.
During their investigation, detectives learned of a possible domestic violence incident and discovered the family’s vehicle — a dark blue 2007 Toyota RAV4 with California plates — was missing, according to the sheriff’s Facebook page.
The day after Steenbergen was reported missing, sheriff’s deputies found her body in a rural area in Imperial County, nearly 400 miles from her home. The family’s missing SUV was found abandoned in El Centro, just north of the Mexico border.
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Hussein was last seen in Tipton on New Year’s Eve and is known to frequent the Plainview and Porterville areas, police said. The 5-foot-4, 200-pound man was last seen wearing a gray hat with a “B” on it, blue jeans and black shoes.
Anyone with information about Hussein’s whereabouts can call the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office at (559) 733-6218. Anonymous tips can be sent to (559) 725-4194 or tcso@tipnow.com.


latimes--2020-01-07--Restart the presses: California's oldest weekly newspaper saved

The state ’ s oldest weekly newspaper , which once published Mark Twain , will keep printing after a California retiree stepped in to save the day .
Carl Butz , a fourth-generation native Californian , is taking over the Mountain Messenger , which is based out of his hometown of Downieville .
The 71-year-old has been friends with Don Russell , the editor-publisher of the paper , since moving to the town in the 1990s and was aware of his troubles trying to sell the paper over the last year .
Russell planned to retire by the middle of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the printer the paper would soon cease publication .
Russell ran the numbers and told Butz , “ It ’ s hopeless ... don ’ t do this.
” The next day , Butz came in with a check .
“ I said , ‘ OK , it ’ s not going to cost that much — I ’ m going to save it , ’ ” Butz said .
“ I ’ m going to try and make sure the thing survives.
” Butz is aiming for a nonprofit model and wants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fill the paper , which for a long time has fallen on the paper ’ s two full-time employees , Russell and Jill Tahija .
He ’ s already found a woman in Sierra City who wants to cover the Board of Supervisors meetings , he said , and staff will send out subscription renewal cards once more .
As newspapers shut down nationwide , Butz is happy to keep the Mountain Messenger going .
The Martinez News-Gazette printed its final edition last week , after 161 years of publishing .
The paper @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the seat of Contra Costa County , had been losing money .
“ There ’ s just been this rash of these things across the country ; you lose the community , ” Butz said .
“ I think we need to have newspapers.
” The Mountain Messenger , which publishes on Thursdays , has a circulation of about 2,400 .
The paper dates to 1853 , when it was started as a twice-monthly publication .
It became the Mountain Messenger in 1854 or 1855 and moved to La Porte , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ community about 110 miles northeast of Sacramento .
The paper ’ s claim to fame is that Twain once wrote there while hiding out from the law .
He was only there for a couple of weeks , writing under his real name , Sam Clemens , according to Russell , who read some of his articles on microfilm .
“ They were awful , ” Russell said in a previous interview with The Times .
“ They were just local stories , as I recall , written by a guy with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paper , known around the area as the “ Mountain Mess , ” in the early 1990s .
The Jan. 16 edition will be his last in his current role .
“ I don ’ t have to clean out the office .
That ’ s a huge relief , ” Russell said .
He is planning to take a vacation with his wife on the 20th , but his association with the paper “ will continue for the foreseeable future.
” “ It ’ s the absolute best thing I could have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I get to do the stuff I like to do and not have to do the stuff I don ’ t like to do .
”

The state’s oldest weekly newspaper, which once published Mark Twain, will keep printing after a California retiree stepped in to save the day.
Carl Butz, a fourth-generation native Californian, is taking over the Mountain Messenger, which is based out of his hometown of Downieville.
The 71-year-old has been friends with Don Russell, the editor-publisher of the paper, since moving to the town in the 1990s and was aware of his troubles trying to sell the paper over the last year.
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Russell planned to retire by the middle of January. On Thursday, he told the printer the paper would soon cease publication. Russell ran the numbers and told Butz, “It’s hopeless ... don’t do this.”
The next day, Butz came in with a check.
“I said, ‘OK, it’s not going to cost that much — I’m going to save it,’” Butz said. “I’m going to try and make sure the thing survives.”
Butz is aiming for a nonprofit model and wants to rely on more volunteers to help fill the paper, which for a long time has fallen on the paper’s two full-time employees, Russell and Jill Tahija.
He’s already found a woman in Sierra City who wants to cover the Board of Supervisors meetings, he said, and staff will send out subscription renewal cards once more.
Copies of the Mountain Messenger. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
As newspapers shut down nationwide, Butz is happy to keep the Mountain Messenger going.
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The Martinez News-Gazette printed its final edition last week, after 161 years of publishing. The paper, which covered the city of Martinez, the seat of Contra Costa County, had been losing money.
“There’s just been this rash of these things across the country; you lose the community,” Butz said. “I think we need to have newspapers.”
The Mountain Messenger, which publishes on Thursdays, has a circulation of about 2,400. The paper dates to 1853, when it was started as a twice-monthly publication.
It became the Mountain Messenger in 1854 or 1855 and moved to La Porte, and then to Downieville, a Gold Rush community about 110 miles northeast of Sacramento.
The paper’s claim to fame is that Twain once wrote there while hiding out from the law. He was only there for a couple of weeks, writing under his real name, Sam Clemens, according to Russell, who read some of his articles on microfilm.
“They were awful,” Russell said in a previous interview with The Times. “They were just local stories, as I recall, written by a guy with a hangover.”
Russell became co-owner of the paper, known around the area as the “Mountain Mess,” in the early 1990s. The Jan. 16 edition will be his last in his current role.
“I don’t have to clean out the office. That’s a huge relief,” Russell said. He is planning to take a vacation with his wife on the 20th, but his association with the paper “will continue for the foreseeable future.”
“It’s the absolute best thing I could have hoped for,” he said. “I get to do the stuff I like to do and not have to do the stuff I don’t like to do.”


latimes--2020-01-07--Caught-on-video road rage attack leaves man unconscious in hospital

A man who was knocked unconscious during a road rage incident last week remains hospitalized , and police are seeking the public ’ s help in identifying the three men captured on video in the assault .
A motorist was stopped at a red light on Woodman Avenue at Victory Boulevard in Van Nuys at 9:30 p.m. on New Year ’ s Day when a Jeep that had been driving erratically pulled behind him , authorities said .
Both vehicles eventually pulled over , according to a news release from the LAPD , and the driver and the Jeep ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It was not immediately clear what spurred the confrontation , but video shows one of the men from the Jeep punching the other driver in the head , knocking him to the ground .
The three then ran to their vehicle — a black Jeep with tinted windows —and fled south on Woodman Avenue , the video shows .
The injured man was taken to a hospital , where he has not regained consciousness since the attack , police said .
The assailants are each 20 to 30 years old with black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seen in the video punching the other driver is described as 5-foot-10 and 150 pounds .
He was wearing a black sweatshirt , white shirt and black pants .
The second suspect is 6 feet tall and 170 pounds , and was wearing light blue pants and a dark jacket , police said .
The third man is 5-foot-9 and 140 pounds and was wearing a dark jacket , white shirt and dark pants .
Anyone with information can call Van Nuys area Det .
R. Secor at ( 818 ) 374-0062 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

A man who was knocked unconscious during a road rage incident last week remains hospitalized, and police are seeking the public’s help in identifying the three men captured on video in the assault.
A motorist was stopped at a red light on Woodman Avenue at Victory Boulevard in Van Nuys at 9:30 p.m. on New Year’s Day when a Jeep that had been driving erratically pulled behind him, authorities said.
Both vehicles eventually pulled over, according to a news release from the LAPD, and the driver and the Jeep’s occupants faced off in the street. It was not immediately clear what spurred the confrontation, but video shows one of the men from the Jeep punching the other driver in the head, knocking him to the ground.
The three then ran to their vehicle — a black Jeep with tinted windows —and fled south on Woodman Avenue, the video shows.
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The injured man was taken to a hospital, where he has not regained consciousness since the attack, police said.
The assailants are each 20 to 30 years old with black hair, authorities said. The man seen in the video punching the other driver is described as 5-foot-10 and 150 pounds. He was wearing a black sweatshirt, white shirt and black pants.
The second suspect is 6 feet tall and 170 pounds, and was wearing light blue pants and a dark jacket, police said. The third man is 5-foot-9 and 140 pounds and was wearing a dark jacket, white shirt and dark pants.
Anyone with information can call Van Nuys area Det. R. Secor at (818) 374-0062. Anonymous tips can be sent to 1-800-222-TIPS.