Local - Observer News Group

Altadena Residents Rebuild, But Luxury Developers Could Stop Them In Their Tracks

by Stefi Mar | Apr 22, 2025 | Front Page, African Americans, LA Fires, Local, Los Angeles, Valleys | 0

Months later, the fires are out, the dust has settled and Altadena residents are looking towards their next lofty challenge of rebuilding the places that they have called home and the buildings that were the sites of dreams realized — but just as this next optimistic phase gets underway, a crop of luxury developers could be ready to grind things to a definitive halt. The signs were there of what is currently an ever-growing fear, as just one month after the Eaton fire ravaged the Altadena community the first vacant lot available, among the ash and debris, sold for a jaw-dropping $500,000 — which was $100,000 over the initial asking price.

42nd Annual French Quarter Festival-All That Jazz & More

by Stefi Mar | Apr 22, 2025 | Entertainment, Local, Los Angeles, Valleys | 0

The 42nd Annual French Quarter Festival presented by Chevron concluded on Sunday, April 13, 2025. This festival ended on a good note while leaving lasting memories for musicians and festival goers. The four-day celebration attracted a massive crowd of foodies, music aficionados, ethnomusicologists, art patrons, historians, and history buffs from April 10 to April 13, 2025.

California Rideshare Drivers and Supporters Step Up Push to Unionize

by Stefi Mar | Apr 21, 2025 | Bakersfield, Local, Los Angeles, State, Statewide, Valleys | 0

On July 5, 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed into federal law the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). Also known as the “Wagner Act,” the law paved the way for employees to have “the right to self-organization, to form, join, or assist labor organizations,” and “to bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing, according to the legislation’s language.

Bakersfield to the Big Stage: Coach John Bonner Leads Toros to Historic Season

by Stefi Mar | Apr 21, 2025 | Bakersfield, Features & Profiles, Local, Los Angeles, Sports, Valleys | 0

John Bonner’s journey from high school athlete in Bakersfield to head coach of a nationally ranked college team is a story of resilience, mentorship, and vision.

What Parents Think about Childcare Right Now

by Stefi Mar | Apr 15, 2025 | Local, Los Angeles, Valleys | 0

The RAPID Survey Project, based in the Stanford Center on Early Childhood, is a program of ongoing national and place-based surveys designed to gather essential information on the needs, health-promoting behaviors, and well-being of young children and their caregivers. Our objective is to make timely and actionable data on the experiences of parents, caregivers, and young children available in an ongoing manner to support parent- and data-informed decision-making.

Trump HHS Eliminates Office That Sets Poverty Levels Tied to Benefits for at Least 80 Million People

by Stefi Mar | Apr 15, 2025 | Local, Los Angeles, Valleys | 0

President Donald Trump’s firings at the Department of Health and Human Services included the entire office that sets federal poverty guidelines, which determine whether tens of millions of Americans are eligible for health programs such as Medicaid, food assistance, child care, and other services, former staff said.

The Lookout: Get an Update on Bills in the Black Caucus’ 2025 Priority Package

by Stefi Mar | Apr 15, 2025 | Local, Los Angeles, Valleys | 0

In February, when the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) announced its “Road to Repair 2025 Priority Bill Package,” which consists of 16 bills, Caucus Chair Akilah Weber Pierson (D-San Diego) said, “This bill package is about repairing centuries of economic damage and abuse that was inflicted on Black Californians.”

TJ Simpson – Building community and growing in College Corps

by Stefi Mar | Apr 15, 2025 | Bakersfield, Local | 0

TJ Simpson is a third-year Parks and Recreation Management major at California State University, Chico (CSU Chico). A first-generation college student from Southern California, his love for the outdoors stems from his great-grandmother, whose deep appreciation for nature shaped his own. Now based in Long Beach, T.J. is working toward his dream of becoming a park ranger—a goal made more attainable through his participation in #CaliforniansForAll College Corps.

“California is Calling” for Volunteers to Join the State’s Largest Service Corps

by Stefi Mar | Apr 15, 2025 | Bakersfield, Local | 0

On April 9, Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Governor’s Office of Service and Community Engagement (GO-Serve) Director Josh Fryday announced that California is seeking 10,000 people to join the California Service Corps. Members gain meaningful work experience while helping their communities and earning money.