leads Betts in race for mayor of Desert Hot Springs
San Bernardino clears Perris Hill Park encampment
By Staff
Followingweeksof outreach, San Bernardino crews began a two-day encampment cleanup of the city’s Perris Hill Park last week.
This marked the first encampment cleanup in San Bernardino since a judge recently lifted an injunction that stopped such operations.
“We have compassionately cleared the Park and will be restoring it for use by our residents and families,” Mayor Helen Tran said in a statement.
On Thursday morning city staff members “began systematically reminding unhoused individuals that the 64.4-acre park on Highland Avenue was to be cleaned up for health and safety reasons and they would need to leave,” according to a city statement.
City agencies involved in the cleanup included the Housing, Public Works, Police and Animal Services departments, the statement reported. Homeless outreach workers, park rangers, representatives from the Salvation Army and San Bernardino City Unified School District
and Burrtec sanitation crews also were part of the effort.
The cleanup staff worked with the individuals living in the park “to identify items that could be disposed, items that they would take with them, and items that the city would temporarily store for up to 90 days,” according to the city statement.
“This is a high priority. We wanted to make sure that our first cleanup went smoothly, and it did,” Acting City Manager Rochelle Clayton said in a statement. “The cleanup only took two days, but this operation has been underway for over a month.”
In the weeks leading up to the encampment clearing, the city and county staff along with area nonprofit organizations conducted multiple outreach events at the park to connect individuals experiencing homelessness with local service providers.
Officials said city homeless outreach staff were at the park every day for more than one month.
The outreach efforts
led to a noticeable reduction in the number of tents compared with the area prior to the encampment clearing, officials said. More than 30 unhoused individuals were placed in programs that included family reunification, drug rehabilitation, transitional and permanent housing and room and board assistance.
Shuttles transported the people who were living in the park to local hotels and shelters or nearby pharmacies to fill prescriptions, city officials said. Some of the individuals called friends and family to request help moving.Accommodations also were provided to disabled individuals who needed specialized assistance.
Since the January court injunction preventing the city from clearing encampments, the number of people living in Perris Hill Park dramatically increased, causing health and safety concerns for both people living in and visiting the park, according
to the city.
As a result, officials announced that a large portion of Perris Hill Park will be closed through Dec. 1 for additional cleanup, landscaping, maintenance and repairs.
The Jerry Lewis Family Swim Center, tennis courts and Senior Center will remain open.
Officials noted that new signage at the park indicates operating hours, parking rules and the city’s camping laws.
“The city will be enforcing these restrictions at the park following the temporary closure,” according to the statement.
“I’d like our residents to know that this is just the first park cleanup we are doing,” Tran added. “More will be coming soon.”
Perris Hill is the largest park in the city. Additional features at the park include the Fiscalini Baseball Field, the 1,800-seat Roosevelt Bowl, the San Bernardino YMCA, tennis and pickleball courts, hiking trails and playgrounds.
Morongo tribe distributes thousands of turkeys for those in need
By Staff
As the Jan. 23 date of the next Point-InTime Count to assess the local homeless population, San Bernardino County put out the call for volunteers Wednesday.
The annual census of people experiencing homelessness gathers data that will be used to determine the county’s share of funding to address the issue from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Officials said a special focus for volunteers will be on offering supportive services to unhoused people
in real-time alongside teams of outreach workers from county agencies. In addition to determining federal funding allocations, the Point-in-Time Count “provides a snapshot of the county’s homeless population, which enables officials to track progress toward reducing homelessness and ensure resources are being directed where they are most needed. ... (and) also serves as an opportunity to mobilize county departments and partners to serve the most vulnerable populations in real time,” officials
By City News Service
TwoRiversidehigh school students who faced repercussions for wearing T-shirts expressing opposition to a transgender student receiving accommodations on the girls’ trackand-field team are federally suing the Riverside Unified School District over alleged freedom of speech and other civil rights violations, it was announced Wednesday.
“We will not allow boys to take over girls’ sports, or let woke policies silence young women fighting for fair competition,” Murrieta-based Advocates for Faith & Freedom attorney Julianne Fleischer said.
“This case is about protecting equal opportunities and the freedom to speak out — values that should be upheld, not suppressed, in our schools.”
The civil suit was filed in U.S. District Court in Riverside, requesting injunctions against the school district, particularly Martin Luther King High School, alleging First and Fourteenth Amendment violations.
RUSD administrators did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the suit.
The plaintiffs were identified only as “K.S.,” a ninth-grade cross country
Outreach workers participate in a Perris Hill Park encampment cleanup. | Photo courtesy of the city of San Bernardino
Kieran Culkin announced as PSIFF 2025 Breakthrough Performance Award recipient
By City News Service
Kieran Culkin will receive theBreakthrough Performer Award at the 2025 Palm Springs International Film Festival, organizers announced Wednesday.
Culkin will be honored at the Palm Springs Convention Center on Jan. 3 for his standout performance as Benji in Jesse Eisenberg’s dramedy “A Real Pain.” The film follows two American cousins with contrasting personalities on a trip to Poland to learn more about their heritage and visit their grandmother’s former house.
Culkin’s role recently earned him a Gotham Award nomination and recognition as one of eight Virtuoso Award honorees at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.
After premiering at the
Sundance Film Festival, “A Real Pain” won a screenwriting award and ignited a bidding war among distributors, ultimately being acquired by Searchlight Pictures. The movie opened in U.S. theaters on Nov. 1.
“Culkin brings remarkable depth to his character, a free spirit whose charm captivates a small tour group, yet who wrestles with the emotions of family loss and a sense of an unfulfilled life,” festival chairman Nachhattar Singh Chandi said in a statement.
The film also features Jennifer Grey and Will Sharpe, with Eisenberg credited as the sole writer and serving as one of the producers alongside Emma Stone and Dave McCary.
Culkin’s widely praised portrayal of Benji, which the New York Times called “outstanding,” adds to his recent string of award-worthy performances. He won an
Variety’s ‘10 Directors to Watch’ to
be
Organizers of the 2025 Palm Springs International Film Festival on Tuesday confirmed that Malcolm Washington and Coralie Fargeat would be among those honored at Variety’s Creative Impact Awards.
The filmmakers will be officially recognized on Jan. 4 at the Parker Palm Springs as part of the publication’s “10 Directors to Watch” series.
Names from past lists include Wes Anderson, Alfonso Cuarón, Christopher Nolan, Chloé Zhao and Taika Waititi. Cord Jefferson, an alumnus from the most recent group of 10, won the Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar at the 2024 ceremony for “American Fiction.”
In addition to Washington (“The Piano Lesson”) and Fargeat (“The Substance”), the other honorees in this year’s crop are Durga Chew-Bose (“Bonjour Tristesse”), David Fortune (“Color Book”), Drew Hancock (“Companion”), Zoe Kravitz (“Blink Twice”), Tom Nesher (“Come Closer”), Halina Reijn (“Babygirl”), James Sweeney (“Twinless”) and Magnus von Horn (“The Girl With the Needle”).
“The Substance” premiered at the Cannes International Film Festival, winning the best screenplay award. The feminist body horror satire earned over $50 million at the box office since its theatrical release in September, the highest-grossing film ever for distributer
Mayor Scott Matas led Russell Betts, a City Council member, Wednesday in the race for mayor of Desert Hot Springs.
Matas has been the mayor of Desert Hot Springs since 2015 and was first elected to the City Council in 2007.
He had a 666-vote lead over Betts in results released by the Riverside County Office of the Registrar of Voters.
Matas had received 3,828 votes or 49.3% and Betts had
Emmy for his role as Roman Roy in the final season of “Succession,” following nominations in 2020 and 2022.
Additionally, Culkin is set to join Bob Odenkirk and Bill Burr in a Broadway revival of “Glengarry Glen Ross,” taking on the same role that earned Al Pacino an Oscar nomination for the 1992 film adaptation.
Culkin’s film resume started when he was just eight, including appearances in “Home Alone” and “Father of the Bride.” He then went on to appear in movies such as “The Cider House Rules,” “Igby Goes Down,” “Scott Pilgrim vs. The World,” “Wiener Dog” and “No Sudden Move.”
The former child actor joins Angelina Jolie (Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actress), Nicole Kidman (Inter-
national Star Award), Adrien Brody (Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actor), the cast of “Conclave” (Ensemble Performance Award), Mikey Madison (Breakthrough Performance Award), Colman Domingo (Spotlight Award, Actor) and the cast and director of Netflix’s “Emilia Pérez” (Vanguard Award) as announced honors recipients at PSIFF 2025, as of Tuesday.
Austin Butler, Rami Malek, Mahershala Ali, David Oyelowo and Jeremy Renner are all previous recipients of the PSIFF designation, with Malek (“Bohemian Rhapsody”) and Ali (“Moonlight”) also winning Academy Awards in the same year. After the ceremony on PSIFF 2025’s second day, the film festival will continue through Jan. 13.
recognized during Palm Springs film fest
By City News Service
Mubi. While Fargeat’s newest film follows 2017’s “Revenge,”
Washington is among those making his feature directorial debut with “The Piano Lesson,”
receiving some critical praise for its use of supernatural realism. The Netflix film premiered at the Telluride Film Festival and stars John David Washington, Danielle Deadwyler, Ray Fisher and Samuel L. Jackson, who earned his first Tony nomination in the same role during a 2022 Broadway revival of the August Wilson play.
Other directors at the helm of their first full-length movie include Kravitz, ChewBose, Fortune and Hancock.
There will be more than one representative from “Babygirl” in Palm Springs. Organizers announced Friday that Nicole Kidman, star of the A24 erotic thriller, would be given the International
Matas leads Betts in race for mayor of Desert Hot Springs
By City News Service
received 3,160 votes or 40.7%.
Betts is facing false imprisonment and vandalism charges. He is accused of trapping and damaging another motorist’s vehicle at a 7-Eleven in charges that were filed one day before the election.
Betts is accused of following a driver who he believed cut him off in traffic on Aug. 4, parking in a way that prevented the person’s escape and striking the other car, accord-
ing to a declaration in support of arrest first obtained by Uken Report.
Betts is scheduled to be arraigned and charged with a felony count of vandalism and a misdemeanor count of false imprisonment on Dec. 12 at the Riverside Hall of Justice, according to a filed complaint.
According to the declaration, Betts followed the other driver shortly before 9 a.m. that day, parking behind him
when only one other vehicle was in the lot. He allegedly popped the hood of his car, “pretending to have an inoperable vehicle” and confronting the other driver when the person left the convenience store. The other driver “could not get out of the situation, except to back out of the parking space,” investigator Lauren Swirsky, contacted by the Desert Hot Springs Police Department, said in a
ment.
Star Award for her leading role in Reijn’s movie. She earned the Volpi Cup for best actress following its first showing at the Venice International Film Festival.
Reijn was previously known as the director of the murder mystery dark comedy “Bodies Bodies Bodies,” also distributed by A24. Von Horn’s “The Girl With the Needle” and Nesher’s “Come Closer” were selected as official entries in the Academy Awards’ Best International Feature category for Denmark and Israel, respectively.
After the ceremony on PSIFF 2025’s third day, the film festival will continue through Jan. 13.
Kieran Culkin. | Photo courtesy of the Palm Springs International Film Festival
| Photo by puibunny/Envato Elements
state-
From left, Mayor Scott Mattas and DHS Councilman Russell Betts. | Photos courtesy of Mayor Scott Matas, Desert Hot Springs/X and the city of Desert Hot Springs
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CExperts analyze why CA propositions on minimum wage, rent control failed
By Suzanne Potter, Producer, Public News Service
aliforniapolitical analysts say inflation and voter confusion contributed to the failure of propositions to raise the minimum wage and allow stronger rent control.
Proposition 33 would have allowed local governments to pass strict new rent-control ordinances.
Christian Grose, professor of political science and public policy at the University of Southern California’s Dornsife College and Price School of Public Policy, said voters may have found the measure to be overly complex.
“We did some polling on this back in September, and we found a lot of people were undecided,” Grose said. “I think it’s a confusing initiative for a lot of voters, and so often when people aren’t certain what the effects are going to be, they’ll just vote no.”
Opponents of Prop. 33 argued that more rent control would discourage construction of new rental units, thus thwarting attempts to increase the supply of
housing.
Proposition 32 would have raised the minimum wage to $18 an hour for companies that have 26 or more employees, and to $17 for smaller companies.
Grose called the defeat surprising, as California recently raised the minimum wage -- but only for fast-food workers.
“With inflation, there’s some concerns about raising minimum wage will then lead to increased costs. So people who traditionally would support minimum wage maybe are opposed,” he said.
Opponents of Prop. 32 warned it would have hurt California businesses and led to an increase in the cost of goods and services.
Keely O’Brien, policy advocate with the Western Center on Law and Poverty, said Prop. 32 would have helped the working poor at a time when poverty is the highest it has been in years.
“In early 2023, 31% of California residents were either poor or near poor, and nearly 76% of poor Californians lived in families with at least one working adult. So these are not, these are
families who are working. They’re often working really hard, and they’re still not. They still don’t have the resources that they need,” O’Brien said.
Disclosure: University of Southern California Dornsife College of Letters Arts and Sciences and USC Price School of Public Policy contributes to Public News Service’s fund for reporting on Arts & Culture, Cultural Resources, Social Justice. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, visit https://www. publicnewsservice.org/dn1. php.
Proposed bill would fight crisis of antibiotic-resistant infections
By Suzanne Potter, Producer, Public News Service
According to experts in the field, the system of developing new antibiotics is broken and doctors are running out of ways to treat deadly infections.
newspaper of general circulation in court case number KS017174 City of Baldwin Park, County of Los Angeles, State of California. The Burbank Independent has been adjudicated as a newspaper of general circulation in court case number ES016728 City of Burbank, County of Los Angeles, State of California.
The
Lawmakers have proposed the PASTEUR Act to fix the pipeline. New antibiotics are critical but they must be used sparingly, which means private drug companies cannot recoup their investment.
David Hyun, director of the Antibiotic Resistance Project at the Pew Charitable Trusts, said the bill would establish a subscription model to fund research for certain drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
“It delinks their revenue from the volume of sales and provides an up-front payment to the companies purely based on the value of the public-health value of the new antibiotic,” Hyun explained.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said patients in the U.S. contract
2.8 million antibiotic-resistant infections each year and more than 35,000 of them die. Experts estimate the U.S. spends $4.6 billion a year to treat infections caused by drug-resistant germs.
Dr. Sarah Doernberg, an infectious disease specialist and professor of medicine at the University of California-San Francisco, said the ability to treat infection dictates the safety of all kinds of medical procedures from giving birth to having surgery.
“We are able to operate ICUs and transplantation and give chemotherapy agent,” Doernberg noted. “All of these things that we do that are very invasive and come with risks of infection, and we need to be able to treat the infections in order to be able to provide modern health care.”
Despite bipartisan support, a similar bill failed to pass in 2021. Senate lawmakers reintroduced the PASTEUR Act in 2023 with reduced funding but it
remains stalled in committee.
Support for this reporting was provided by The Pew Charitable Trusts.
Disclosure: The Pew Charitable Trusts Environmental Group contributes to Public News Service’s fund for reporting on Endangered Species and Wildlife, Environment, and Public Lands/Wilderness. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, visit https://www. publicnewsservice.org/dn1. php.
Photo by Tuccera LLC on Unsplash
Photo by Testalize.me on Unsplash
State regulators know health insurance directories are full of wrong information. They’re doing little to fix it.
By Max Blau, ProPublica
Series: America’s Mental Barrier: How Insurers Interfere With Mental Health Care Reporting Highlights
- Extensive Errors: Many states have sought to make insurers clean up their health plans’ provider directories over the past decade. But the errors are still widespread.
- Paltry Penalties: Most state insurance agencies haven’t issued a fine for provider directory errors since 2019. When companies have been penalized, the fines have been small and sporadic.
- Ghostbusters: Experts said that stricter regulations and stronger fines are needed to protect insurance customers from these errors, which are at the heart of so-called ghost networks.
- These highlights were written by the reporters and editors who worked on this story.
To uncover the truth about a pernicious insurance industry practice, staffers with the New York state attorney general’s office decided to tell a series of lies.
So, over the course of 2022 and 2023, they dialed hundreds of mental health providers in the directories of more than a dozen insurance plans. Some staffers pretended to call on behalf of a depressed relative. Others posed as parents asking about their struggling teenager.
They wanted to know two key things about the supposedly in-network providers: Do you accept insurance? And are you accepting new patients?
The more the staffers called, the more they realized that the providers listed either no longer accepted insurance or had stopped seeing new patients. That is, if they heard back from the providers at all.
In a report published last December, the office described rampant evidence of these “ghost networks,” where health plans list providers who supposedly accept that insurance but who are not actually available to patients. The report found that 86% of the listed mental health providers who staffers had called were “unreachable, not in-network, or not accepting
new patients.” Even though insurers are required to publish accurate directories, New York Attorney General Letitia James’ office didn’t find evidence that the state’s own insurance regulators had fined any insurers for their errors.
Shortly after taking office in 2021, Gov. Kathy Hochul vowed to combat provider directory misinformation, so there seemed to be a clear path to confronting ghost networks.
Yet nearly a year after the publication of James’ report, nothing has changed. Regulators can’t point to a single penalty levied for ghost networks. And while a spokesperson for New York state’s Department of Financial Services has said that “nation-leading consumer protections” are in the works, provider directories in the state are still rife with errors.
A similar pattern of errors and lax enforcement is happening in other states as well.
In Arizona, regulators called hundreds of mental health providers listed in the networks of the state’s most popular individual health plans. They couldn’t schedule visits with nearly 2 out of every 5 providers they called. None of those companies have been fined for their errors.
In Massachusetts, the state attorney general investigated alleged efforts by insurers to restrict their customers’ mental health benefits. The insurers agreed to audit their mental health provider listings but were largely allowed to police themselves. Insurance regulators have not fined the companies for their errors.
In California, regulators received hundreds of complaints about provider listings after one of the nation’s first ghost network regulations took effect in 2016. But under the new law, they have actually scaled back on fining insurers. Since 2016, just one plan was fined — a $7,500 penalty — for posting inaccurate listings for mental health providers.
ProPublica reached out to every state insurance commission to see what they have done to curb rampant directory errors. As part of the country’s complex patchwork of
regulations, these agencies oversee plans that employers purchase from an insurer and that individuals buy on exchanges. (Federal agencies typically oversee plans that employers selffund or that are funded by Medicare.)
Spokespeople for the state agencies told ProPublica that their “many actions” resulted in “significant accountability.” But ProPublica found that the actual actions taken so far do not match the regulators’ rhetoric.
“One of the primary reasons insurance commissions exist is to hold companies accountable for what they are advertising in their contracts,” said Dr. Robert Trestman, a leading American Psychiatric Association expert who has testified about ghost networks to the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance. “They’re not doing their job. If they were, we would not have an ongoing problem.”
Most states haven’t fined a single company for publishing directory errors since 2019. When they do, the penalties have been small and sporadic. In an average year, fewer than a dozen fines are issued by insurance regulators for directory errors, according to information obtained by ProPublica from almost every one of those agencies. All those fines together represent a fraction of 1% of the billions of dollars in profits made by the indus-
try’s largest companies. Health insurance experts told ProPublica that the companies treat the fines as a “cost of doing business.”
Insurers acknowledge that errors happen. Providers move. They retire. Their open appointments get booked by other patients. The industry’s top trade group, AHIP, has told lawmakers that companies contact providers to verify that their listings are accurate. The trade group also has stated that errors could be corrected faster if the providers did a better job updating their listings.
But providers have told us that’s bogus. Even when they formally drop out of a network, they’re not always removed from the insurer’s lists.
The harms from ghost networks are real. ProPublica reported on how Ravi Coutinho, a 36-year-old entrepreneur from Arizona, had struggled for months to access the mental health and addiction treatment that was covered by his health plan. After nearly two dozen calls to the insurer and multiple hospitalizations, he couldn’t find a therapist. Last spring, he died, likely due to complications from excessive drinking.
Health insurance experts said that, unless agencies can crack down and issue bigger fines, insurers will keep selling error-ridden plans.
“You can have all the
strong laws on the books,” said David Lloyd, chief policy officer with the mental health advocacy group Inseparable. “But if they’re not being enforced, then it’s kind of all for nothing.”
The problem with ghost networks isn’t one of awareness. States, federal agencies, researchers and advocates have documented them time and again for years. But regulators have resisted penalizing insurers for not fixing them.
Two years ago, the Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions began to probe the directories used by five large insurers for plans that they sold on the individual market. Regulators wanted to find out if they could schedule an appointment with mental health providers listed as accepting new patients, so their staff called 580 providers in those companies’ directories.
Thirty-seven percent of the calls did not lead to an appointment getting scheduled.
Even though this secretshopper survey found errors at a lower rate than what had been found in New York, health insurance experts who reviewed Arizona’s published findings said that the results were still concerning.
Ghost network regulations are intended to keep
provider listings as close to error-free as possible. While the experts don’t expect any insurer to have a perfect directory, they said that double-digit error rates can be harmful to customers.
Arizona’s regulators seemed to agree. In a January 2023 report, they wrote that a patient could be clinging to the “last few threads of hope, which could erode if they receive no response from a provider (or cannot easily make an appointment).”
Secret-shopper surveys are considered one of the best ways to unmask errors. But states have limited funding, which restricts how often they can conduct that sort of investigation. Michigan, for its part, mostly searches for inaccuracies as part of an annual review of a health plan. Nevada investigates errors primarily if someone files a complaint. Christine Khaikin, a senior health policy attorney for the nonprofit advocacy group Legal Action Center, said fewer surveys means higher odds that errors go undetected.
Some regulators, upon learning that insurers may not be following the law, still take a handsoff approach with their enforcement. Oregon’s Department of Consumer and Business Services, for instance, conducts spot checks of provider networks
| Photo by Pixabay
to see if those listings are accurate. If they find errors, insurers are asked to fix the problem. The department hasn’t issued a fine for directory errors since 2019. A spokesperson said the agency doesn’t keep track of how frequently it finds network directory errors.
Dave Jones, a former insurance commissioner in California, said some commissioners fear that stricter enforcement could drive companies out of their states, leaving their constituents with fewer plans to choose from.
Even so, staffers at the Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions wrote in the report that there “needs to be accountability from insurers” for the errors in their directories. That never happened, and the agency concealed the identities of the companies in the report. A department spokesperson declined to provide the insurers’ names to ProPublica and did not answer questions about the report.
Since January 2023, Arizonans have submitted dozens of complaints to the department that were related to provider networks. The spokesperson would not say how many were found to be substantiated, but the department was able to get insurers to address some of the problems, documents obtained through an open records request show.
According to the department’s online database of enforcement actions, not a single one of those companies has been fined.
Sometimes, when state insurance regulators fail to act, attorneys general or federal regulators intervene in their stead. But even then, the extra enforcers haven’t addressed the
underlying problem.
For years, the Massachusetts Division of Insurance didn’t fine any company for ghost networks, so the state attorney general’s office began to investigate whether insurers had deceived consumers by publishing inaccurate directories. Among the errors identified: One plan had providers listed as accepting new patients but no actual appointments were available for months; another listed a single provider more than 10 times at different offices.
In February 2020, Maura Healey, who was then the Massachusetts attorney general, announced settlements with some of the state’s largest health plans. No insurer admitted wrongdoing. The companies, which together collect billions in premiums each year, paid a total of $910,000. They promised to remove providers who left their networks within 30 days of learning about that decision. Healey declared that the settlements would lead to “unprecedented changes to help ensure patients don’t have to struggle to find behavioral health services.”
But experts who reviewed the settlements for ProPublica identified a critical shortcoming. While the insurers had promised to audit directories multiple times a year, the companies did not have to report those findings to the attorney general’s office. Spokespeople for Healey and the attorney general’s office declined to answer questions about the experts’ assessments of the settlements.
After the settlements were finalized, Healey became the governor of Massachusetts and has been responsible for over-
Health insurance
seeing the state’s insurance division since she took office in January 2023. Her administration’s regulators haven’t brought any fines over ghost networks.
Healey’s spokesperson declined to answer questions and referred ProPublica to responses from the state’s insurance division. A division spokesperson said the state has taken steps to strengthen its provider directory regulations and streamline how information about in-network providers gets collected. Starting next year, the spokesperson said that the division “will consider penalties” against any insurer whose “provider directory is found to be materially noncompliant.”
States that don’t have ghost network laws have seen federal regulators step in to monitor directory errors.
In late 2020, Congress passed the No Surprises Act, which aimed to cut down on the prevalence of surprise medical bills from providers outside of a patient’s insurance network. Since then, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which oversees the two large public health insurance programs, has reached out to every state to see which ones could handle enforcement of the federal ghost network regulations.
At least 15 states responded that they lacked the ability to enforce the new regulation. So CMS is now tasked with watching out for errors in directories used by millions of insurance customers in those states.
Julie Brookhart, a spokesperson for CMS, told ProPublica that the agency takes enforcement of the directory error regulations “very seriously.” She said CMS has received a “small
number” of provider directory complaints, which the agency is in the process of investigating. If it finds a violation, Brookhart said regulators “will take appropriate enforcement action.”
But since the requirement went into effect in January 2022, CMS hasn’t fined any insurer for errors. Brookhart said that CMS intends to develop further guidelines with other federal agencies. Until that happens, Brookhart said that insurers are expected to make “good-faith” attempts to follow the federal provider directory rules.
Last year, five California lawmakers proposed a bill that sought to get rid of ghost networks around the state. If it passed, AB 236 would limit the number of errors allowed in a directory — creating a cap of 5% of all providers listed — and raise penalties for violations. California would become home to one of the nation’s toughest ghost network regulations.
The state had already passed one of America’s first such regulations in 2015, requiring insurers to post directories online and correct inaccuracies on a weekly basis.
Since the law went into effect in 2016, insurance customers have filed hundreds of complaints with the California Department of Managed Health Care, which oversees health plans for nearly 30 million enrollees statewide.
Lawyers also have uncovered extensive evidence of directory errors. When San Diego’s city attorney, Mara Elliott, sued several insurers over publishing inaccurate directories in 2021, she based the claims on directory error data collected by the companies themselves. Citing
that data, the lawsuits noted that error rates for the insurers’ psychiatrist listings were between 26% and 83% in 2018 and 2019.
The insurers denied the accusations and convinced a judge to dismiss the suits on technical grounds. A panel of California appeals court judges recently reversed those decisions; the cases are pending.
The companies have continued to send that data to the DMHC each year — but the state has not used it to examine ghost networks. California is among the states that typically waits for a complaint to be filed before it investigates errors.
“The industry doesn’t take the regulatory penalties seriously because they’re so low,” Elliott told ProPublica. “It’s probably worth it to take the risk and see if they get caught.”
California’s limited enforcement has resulted in limited fines. Over the past eight years, the DMHC has issued just $82,500 in fines for directory errors involving providers of any kind. That’s less than onefifth of the fines issued in the two years before the regulation went into effect.
A spokesperson for the DMHC said its regulators continue “to hold health plans accountable” for violating ghost network regulations. Since 2018, the DMHC has discovered scores of problems with provider directories and pushed health plans to correct the errors. The spokesperson said that the department’s oversight has also helped some customers get reimbursed for outof-network costs incurred due to directory errors.
“A lower fine total does not equate to a scaling back on enforcement,” the spokesperson said.
Dr. Joaquin Arambula,
one of the state Assembly members who co-sponsored AB 236, disagreed. He told ProPublica that California’s current ghost network regulation is “not effectively being enforced.” After clearing the state Assembly this past winter, his bill, along with several others that address mental health issues, was suddenly tabled this summer. The roadblock came from a surprising source: the administration of the state’s Democratic governor.
Officials with the DMHC, whose director was appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, estimated that more than $15 million in extra funding would be needed to carry out the bill’s requirements over the next five years. State lawmakers accused officials of inflating the costs.
The DMHC’s spokesperson said that the estimate was accurate and based on the department’s “real experience” overseeing health plans.
Arambula and his co-sponsors hope that their colleagues will reconsider the measure during next year’s session. Sitting before state lawmakers in Sacramento this year, a therapist named Sarah Soroken told the story of a patient who had called 50 mental health providers in her insurer’s directory. None of them could see her. Only after the patient attempted suicide did she get the care she’d sought.
“We would be negligent,” Soroken told the lawmakers, “if we didn’t do everything in our power to ensure patients get the health care they need.”
Paige Pfleger of WPLN/ Nashville Public Radio contributed reporting.
Republished with Creative Commons License (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0).
Cities say they store property taken from homeless encampments. People
rarely get their things back.
By Nicole Santa Cruz, Asia Fields and Ruth Talbot, ProPublica
Series: Swept Away: When Cities Take Belongings From Vulnerable Residents Reporting Highlights
Lost Belongings: As cities remove more encampments, they often take people’s belongings, which can include items needed to survive and irreplaceable mementos.
Storage Programs: Some cities with large homeless populations have been sued for depriving people of their property; in response, they established programs to store what’s taken.
Failed Policies: ProPublica examined such programs and found that people whose belongings are taken in encampment removals rarely get them back.
These highlights were written by the reporters and editors who worked on this story.
When Stephenie came upon workers in Portland, Oregon, who had bagged up all of her belongings in a homeless encampment sweep, she desperately pleaded to get one item back: her purse. It contained her cash and food stamp card — what she needed to survive.
The crew refused to look for it, she said. The items workers had put in clear bags were headed to a city warehouse. Those in black bags were headed to a landfill.
They handed her a card with a phone number to call if she wanted to pick up her things.
Pregnant and hungry, Stephenie was supposed to rest and avoid heavy lifting. She now had to start all over. In the days that followed last September, Stephenie slept on a sidewalk for the first time. She said she attempted suicide.
“I had nowhere to go — no place, no tent, no nothing. I couldn’t even feed myself,” she said. “The lowest point I’ve ever been in my life was after the sweep.”
As homelessness has
reached crisis levels, more cities are clearing tents and encampments in operations commonly called sweeps. Since a U.S. Supreme Court decision in June allowed cities to punish people for sleeping outside, even if there’s no shelter available, some have made their encampment policies more punitive and increased the frequency of sweeps.
Some cities have programs to store what they take, sometimes created in response to lawsuits. In theory, these storage programs are supposed to protect people’s property rights and make it easy to get their possessions back.
In reality, they rarely accomplish either objective, according to a ProPublica investigation of the policies in regions with the largest homeless populations.
ProPublica obtained records from 14 cities showing what was stored following encampment clearings. In Los Angeles and San Diego, thousands of encampments are removed each year, but the belongings taken from them are rarely stored, the records showed. San Diego, for example, removed more than 3,000 sites during 2023 but only documented storing belongings 19 times. In Seattle, the city removed nearly 1,000 encampments during a six-month period last year and stored belongings from just 55 of them.
Even when possessions are stored, the records showed, people are rarely able to reclaim them. In Portland, which stores the most among the cities ProPublica reviewed, property was reclaimed 4% of the time during a recent 12-month period. In San Francisco, property was reclaimed roughly 12% of the time over 18 months; much of what the city stored was collected after contact with police. Records provided to ProPublica by Anaheim, California, showed nothing had
been retrieved from January 2023 through May of this year.
Some cities did not address ProPublica’s questions about the low rates at which people are able to retrieve their belongings. But they broadly defended their encampment practices, saying that they balance the rights of people experiencing homelessness with public health needs.
In Portland, officials said they manage an extensive database of stored belongings and “share in the collective frustration in the difficulties in managing a system that works well for everyone.”
When asked about the sweep in which Stephenie’s items were taken, they acknowledged that camp removals are harmful to unhoused people, but that they must also maintain city property and natural areas.
ProPublica heard from at least 95 people who had experienced encampment clearings in cities with programs to store belongings. Thirty said they tried to recover their belongings but hit obstacles, such as being unable to reach anyone at the facility or the site not having everything that was taken. Only one person got back all of his items.
The rest said they didn’t try, often because they didn’t
know how to go about it, lacked phones or transportation, or thought, and in some cases saw, that their belongings had already been thrown away.
The storage programs offer only an “illusion of compassion,” said Barbara DiPietro, senior director of policy for the National Health Care for the Homeless Council, a nonprofit research and advocacy group. People experiencing homelessness often endure encampment clearings multiple times, which “wears a human being down,” DiPietro said. “I’ve never heard anyone say they got their stuff back.”
Dozens of outreach workers and advocates in cities with storage programs echoed DiPietro’s statements. Advocates and people with lived experience said this deprives homeless people of belongings they need to survive on the street and forces them to reconstruct their lives and obtain new identification documents when they are taken.
“The loss of property was the harshest punishment many people felt they could face on the street,” said Chris Herring, an assistant professor of sociology at the University of California Los Angeles who researches homelessness.
When Stephenie called to
retrieve her belongings last October, no one answered the storage facility phone number. The line was staffed for limited hours. She left a message but couldn’t always keep her phone charged in case someone called back. When she finally reached a person, they provided the address and an appointment time. She had to take multiple buses and walk to get there.
As she sorted through the large clear bags at the warehouse, she realized her tent, most of her tarps and her cooking stove weren’t there. Nor was her purse or prenatal vitamins. Her engagement ring and the notes from her late fiance were also gone.
She left the bags behind.
“To go through all that trouble to get my stuff back and then to have nothing that I needed there, and to have that decided by somebody else who doesn’t even know me, it was traumatizing all in itself,” she said. “It was heartbreaking. It felt like losing everything all over again.”
A Response to
Lawsuits
Nearly half of the cities ProPublica examined created storage programs in response to lawsuits alleging they had violated people’s property rights by destroying belongings during encampment removals. Yet some of those cities, including Phoenix, continue to throw away possessions, according to advocates and people who sleep outside.
In December 2022, after a local advocacy group and unhoused people sued the city of Phoenix for violating the rights of homeless people, a chief U.S. district judge issued an injunction against seizing their property without advanced notice and ordered the city to store belongings for at least 30 days.
The city began storing belongings in May 2023.
Since then, it has responded to 4,900 reports from the public involving encampments, according to city records through May. The city of Phoenix said workers, trained to assess which items are property and which are trash, found storable property at 405 of the locations it visited, and not all of those cases required storage because people may have removed their belongings prior to their arrival. The city stored belongings 69 times.
In June, the Department of Justice issued a report following a nearly three-year investigation, finding that the city and its police department destroyed belongings without providing adequate notice or an opportunity to collect them. Before property is destroyed, the city must provide notice, catalog the property and store it so people can retrieve their belongings, federal investigators wrote.
Benjamin Rundall, who represents the plaintiffs in the ongoing lawsuit, said he’s never encountered anyone whose belongings were stored by the city. “It’s just giving this appearance that they’re doing something when they’re not doing anything,” he said.
Over the summer, Mike Leeth was helping a friend move their things from a Phoenix alley, leaving his own camp unattended. He rushed back to find his own belongings — clothing, canned food and canopies for shade — were gone. “All of a sudden, I’m down to one set of clothes, and I can’t even wash them because I’m currently wearing them,” he said.
Leeth said the city has thrown away his belongings at least five times. He said he’s never been told that his property would be stored.
The city said in a state-
Homeless encampment. | Photo by Russ Allison Loar CC
Homeless encampments
ment that workers give notice and store unattended property, and that it’s “confident” its processes address encampments in a “dignified and compassionate manner.”
In other cities, lawsuits have continued long after storage programs were put into place.
Los Angeles, with the nation’s largest population of people sleeping outside, has in the last 30 years faced nearly a dozen lawsuits over the destruction of property in homeless camps, according to court records.
A 2019 lawsuit brought by seven people experiencing homelessness and two advocacy groups alleged the city has “codified” seizing and destroying belongings, rather than investing in bathrooms, hand-washing stations and trash cans for unhoused people. In April, a federal judge overseeing the case found that the city had altered documentation of what crews removed during cleanups.
The city declined to comment on the ongoing lawsuit.
In response to questions from ProPublica, the city of Los Angeles provided data showing that it only stored belongings 4% of the time during a three-month period in 2023. A spokesperson said the city recognizes the “importance of ensuring people have their personal belongings” and “works to not unnecessarily remove anyone’s belongings during cleanings.”
In April, when crews came to move Ismael Arias from where he was living on a sidewalk in a Los Angeles suburb, they took his plumbing tools, a Mexican coin collection given to him by his father and a baseball card collection he was planning to give to his son.
A friend drove him to reclaim his things. At the storage facility, he was given items to look through. “I said, ‘This is not my stuff,’ and they said, ‘Well, this is all we got,’” he said. “I was like, ‘What do you mean this is all you got?’”
ProPublica spoke to three others who attempted to retrieve belongings from Los Angeles storage facilities and found some or all of their things were missing.
Evidence in an ongoing lawsuit in San Francisco revealed that workers were not instructed how to distinguish between personal property that is unattended, abandoned property and property that’s mixed in with biohazards, Chief Magistrate Judge Donna Ryu wrote. Workers’ decisions “appear to give rise to the most disputes,” Ryu wrote in August. The city agreed to better train workers who handle the belongings of
homeless people at removals.
The ruling came weeks after Mayor London Breed promised “a very aggressive” crackdown on encampments. Breed lost her race for reelection.
In August, two ProPublica reporters observed San Francisco public works employees clear an encampment of tents, plastic bins of clothing, a cot and bikes. Nothing was set aside to be stored. One employee did slip into his uniform’s oversized pocket a tin of baseball cards taken from the encampment; he then placed it in the cab of a work truck rather than the back, where other belongings were stacked. The city said it is investigating the incident.
Barriers to Claiming Property
In Portland two years ago, workers took Errol Elliott’s tools, clothing, electronics and makeshift tent near the church where he stayed. He was given information about storage but didn’t have a way to carry his things.
“How are you gonna pick it up when you have no car and you’ve got nine bags of stuff or two big trunks of tools?” he said. “How are you supposed to get that back? They act like it’s so easy to go and get it, but it’s not that easy.”
Portland officials said in this kind of situation, property was likely taken to storage.
But people in Portland and other cities told ProPublica that even if local officials promise to store belongings, they’re often difficult to retrieve. The programs don’t take into consideration the challenges of experiencing homelessness, which include lack of access to transportation and not having a phone, they said. This is further complicated by requiring an appointment to retrieve belongings or not widely distributing the address where items are stored.
Some cities, such as Seattle, Portland, Anaheim and San Jose, California, don’t publicize the addresses of their storage facilities because of concerns about security. Phoenix says it delivers belongings to people, but records show people there are rarely reunited with their property.
When people do figure out where to go, the journey can be long and require multiple trips.
In Denver, for instance, the storage facility is only open for limited hours. Some people have trekked to the warehouse only to be told their belongings were stored off-site and have to be retrieved, said Andy McNulty, an attorney who sued the city on behalf of people who live outside. When they return
they’re told that their belongings weren’t stored, he said.
“It’s pretty common knowledge to folks on the street now that if the city takes your stuff, even if they say they’re going to store it, it’s gone,” McNulty said.
The city of Denver said that people receive a claim slip when their items are stored after an encampment removal. Flyers with contact information are also widely shared so people can arrange a pickup, the city said.
In Los Angeles, a sign giving notice of a June encampment clearing in the San Fernando Valley directed people to call or retrieve their items from The Bins downtown, which is about two hours away on public transit. Multiple people said the distance prevented them from getting their things back or that they were unable to reach anyone for more information on how to retrieve them.
The city stores belongings at 10 locations across Los Angeles, making it even more challenging for people to find their things.
People who experienced encampment removals and researchers who study homelessness said the programs could be more effective by giving clearer notice, providing trash cans and garbage pickup and making sure people have detailed instructions on how to retrieve belongings.
Sonja Verdugo-Baumgartner, an advocate in Los Angeles who said she has experienced sweeps herself, said storage programs could be more productive if cities put effort into them. “But I don’t see the city or anybody being willing to take the time to do that,” she said. “And they can’t just do it for a few people, they need to do it across the board, for anytime they do a sweep.”
Stephenie, whose belongings were taken in Portland, said the experience was crushing.
“It keeps you in what we call a ‘homeless rut,’ where we can’t focus on anything else except being homeless,” she said. “We can’t focus on getting out of it and moving forward.”
She now lives in an RV, which makes it easier to haul her belongings when city workers show up. But she has to move the vehicle every few weeks to avoid being towed, and finding a spot to park is challenging. She’s noticed more cement blocks cropping up in parking spaces along the roadsides.
Maya Miller contributed reporting.
Republished with Creative Commons License (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0).
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San Gabriel City Notices
ORDINANCE NO. 714
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN GABRIEL, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING PLANNING CASE NOS. GPA24-001, ZC24-002, DENSITY BONUS, AND STREET VACATION FOR A ONE HUNDRED PERCENT AFFORDABLE SENIOR HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AT 405 S. DEL MAR AVENUE
WHEREAS, on February 28, 2024, the applicant, The Related Companies of California, LLC., submitted applications for a General Plan Amendment, Zone Change, Density Bonus, and Street Vacation for a one hundred percent affordable senior housing project at 405 S. Del Mar Avenue; and
WHEREAS, the General Plan Land Use Designation is Light Industrial. The property is zoned M-1 (Light Manufacturing); and WHEREAS, the project site is bordered by industrial/office uses to the north and west, single-family residences to the south, multiple family residences to the east; and WHEREAS, the State Density Bonus Law (California Government Code § 65915, et seq.) allows developers to seek incentives, concessions, or waivers to help make construction of affordable units feasible and without significant burden or detriment to public health; and
WHEREAS, the applicant has requested a General Plan Amendment of said property from Light Industrial to High Density Residential pursuant to Government Code § 65850 et seq., and San Gabriel Municipal Code § 153.470; and
WHEREAS, the applicant has requested a Zone Change of said properties from M-1 (Light Manufacturing) to R-3 (High Density Residential) pursuant to Government Code § 65850 et seq., and San Gabriel Municipal Code § 153.470; and
WHEREAS, California Streets and Highways Code § 8312 provides that the legislative body of local agency, including the City, may utilize general vacation procedures to vacate any excess rightof-way of a street not required for street or highway purposes; and WHEREAS, California Streets and Highways Code § 8324 provides that the legislative body of a local agency, including the City, may vacate a public right-of-way by adopting a resolution of vacation in compliance with the requirements set forth therein; and WHEREAS, if there are any public utility facilities within W. Main Street, any vacation of the W. Main Street by the City would require reservation of an easement(s) and right necessary to maintain, operate, replace, remove, or renew the public utility facilities; and
WHEREAS, on September 9, 2024, the Planning Commission held a duly noticed public hearing, at which time it considered all material and evidence, whether written or oral; and WHEREAS, the Planning Commission considered the information contained in the General Plan Amendment, Zone Change, Density Bonus, and Street Vacation prior to recommending City Council approval of Planning Case Nos. GPA24-001 and ZC24-002; and, WHEREAS, the Planning Commission found that the City’s vacation of 12 feet of W. Main Street is consistent with the City’s Circulation Element of the General Plan; and WHEREAS, the Planning Commission found the Density Bonus and Affordable Housing Agreement, together with the provisions for its design and improvements consistent with the General Plan; and WHEREAS, on October 15, 2024, the City Council held a dulynoticed public hearing on the project to consider the General Plan Amendment, Zone Change, Density Bonus, and Street Vacation, during which time it reviewed all evidence received, both written and oral, considered action and recommendations of the Planning Commission as evidenced by Planning Commission Resolution No. 24-16.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN GABRIEL, CALIFORNIA, DOES HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The City Council hereby determines that the Planning Case No. GPA24-001, ZC24-002, Density Bonus, and Street Vacation are consistent with the City of San Gabriel General Plan and San Gabriel Zoning Code based on the following findings:
• The General Plan Amendment will allow the project site to be consistent with the General Plan land use and other applicable General Plan goals.
• The Zone Change will allow the project site to be consistent with the General Plan land use and other applicable General Plan Goals. The development will conform to all applicable development standards of the Zoning Code with the application of a High-Density Residential Zone.
SECTION 2. The Official General Plan Land Use Map of the City is hereby amended to reclassify the property located at 405 S. Del Mar Avenue from Light Manufacturing to High-Density Residential and the Official Zoning Map of the City is hereby amended to be rezone the property from M-1 (Light Manufacturing) to R-3 (Multiple Family Residential), as depicted in Exhibits 1 and 2, respectively, attached hereto and incorporated herein by this
reference.
SECTION 3. If any section, subsection, subdivision, sentence, clause, phrase, or portion of this Ordinance is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by the decision of any court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Ordinance. The City Council hereby declares that it would have adopted this Ordinance and each section, subsection, subdivision, sentence, clause, phrase, or portion thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, subdivisions, sentences, clauses, phrases, or portions thereof be declared invalid or unconstitutional.
SECTION 4. The City Clerk shall certify to the passage of this ordinance and shall cause the same to be entered in the book of original ordinances of said City; shall make a minute passage and adoption thereof in the records of the meeting at which time the same is passed and adopted; and shall, within fifteen (15) days after the passage and adoption thereof, cause the same to be published as required by law, in a local weekly newspaper of general circulation and which is hereby designated for that purpose.
CERTIFICATION
I, Sharon F. Clark, Chief City Clerk of the City of San Gabriel, do hereby certify that Ordinance No. 714 was introduced for first reading at a regular meeting on the 15th day of October, 2024. Thereafter, said Ordinance was duly approved and adopted at a regular meeting of said City Council on the 19th day of November, 2024, by the following vote:
Ayes: Councilmembers - Chan, Ding, Harrington, Menchaca, Wu Noes, Abstain, Absent: Councilmembers - None
A copy of the full text of the ordinance including exhibits is available at https://sangabrielcity.com/DocumentCenter/View/22805, at the City Clerk Department, or by e-mailing cityclerk@sgch.org.
EXHIBITS TO ORDINANCE
1. GENERAL PLAN LAND USE MAP
2. ZONING MAP
3. CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL
Published November 25, 2024 SAN GABRIEL SUN
Probate Notices
NOTICE OF AMENDED PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF:
HIROSHI TAKAKI
CASE NO. 24STPB11737
To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the WILL or estate, or both of HIROSHI TAKAKI. AN AMENDED PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by KEIICHI MASADA in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES. THE AMENDED PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that KEIICHI MASADA be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.
THE AMENDED PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.
A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows: 12/16/24 at 8:30AM in Dept. 67 located at 111 N. HILL ST., LOS ANGELES, CA 90012
IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.
IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult
contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowl-edgeable in California law.
YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk. Attorney for petitioner: STACI TOJI ESQ SBN 299385 TOJI LAW APC 3655 TORRANCE BLVD STE 300 TORRANCE CA 90503 CN111635 LEM Nov 18,21,25, 2024 SAN GABRIEL SUN
NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF PHILIP C.T. HUANG
Case No. 24STPB12640
NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF HAZEL VICTOR Case No. 24STPB09999
To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of HAZEL VICTOR A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by Joni Robinson in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES. THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that Joni Robinson be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.
THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.
with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.
YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk. Attorney for Petitioner RONALD BERMAN - SBN 079775
BERMAN & BERMAN, APLC 16633 VENTURA BLVD., STE. 940 ENCINO CA 91436
Telephone (818) 593-5050 11/14, 11/18, 11/25/24 CNS-3870577# EL MONTE EXAMINER
NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF KAI S. LEM
Case No. 24STPB12526
To all heirs, beneficiaries, cred-itors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of KAI S. LEM
A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by Elizabeth D. Lem in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES.
THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that Elizabeth D. Lem be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.
THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administra-tion authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objec-tion to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.
A HEARING on the petition will be held on Dec. 10, 2024 at 8:30 AM in Dept. No. 62 located at 111 N. Hill St., Los Angeles, CA 90012.
IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your ap-pearance may be in person or by your attorney.
IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a
To all heirs, beneficiaries, cred-itors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of PHILIP C.T. HUANG A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by Gordon Huang in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES. THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that Gordon Huang be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.
THE PETITION requests the decedent’s will and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate. The will and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court.
THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.)
The independent administra-tion authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objec-tion to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.
A HEARING on the petition will be held on Dec. 13, 2024 at 8:30 AM in Dept. No. 5 located at 111 N. Hill St., Los Angeles, CA 90012.
IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your ap-pearance may be in person or by your attorney.
IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code.
Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowl-edgeable in California law.
YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk.
Attorney for petitioner: ARMINE BAZIKYAN ESQ SBN 273238 BAZIKYAN LAW GROUP APC 111 E BROADWAY
A HEARING on the petition will be held on Dec. 10, 2024 at 8:30 AM in Dept. No. 4 located at 111 N. Hill St., Los Angeles, CA 90012.
IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.
IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.
YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk. Attorney for petitioner: COLETTE T DAVIS ESQ SBN 143785 LAW OFFICES OF COLETTE T DAVIS 5701 W SLAUSON AVENUE STE 140 CULVER CITY, CA 90230 CN111976 VICTOR Nov 25,28, Dec 2, 2024 MONROVIA WEEKLY
NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF SUSAN C. EGAN Case No. 24STPB12750
To all heirs, beneficiaries, cred-itors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of SUSAN C. EGAN
A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by Timothy Egan in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES. THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that Timothy Egan be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.
THE PETITION requests the decedent’s will and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate. The will and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court.
THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court
Glendale City Notices
City of Glendale
NOTICE INVITING BIDS
Specification No. 3989
For Maintenance and Repair of Electrical Services
Four (4) sets of a sealed Bid (one original and three copies) must be received before
2:00PM on Wednesday, December 18th, 2024, in the City Clerk’s Office, located at 613
E. Broadway, Room 110, Glendale, CA 91206. Late Bids will not be accepted. There will be a mandatory Pre-Bid Meeting on December 4th at 8AM.
Copies of Specification 3989 (“Specification”) will be made available from noon on November 13th, 2024 until noon on December 4th, 2024. To receive an electronic copy, please send an email request to the City’s contact listed below.
Bid Security equal to 10% of the total Bid Amount, in the form of cash, cashier’s check, money order, or surety bond, made out to City of Glendale, must accompany all Bids.
Refer to the Specification for complete details and Bid requirements. The Specification and this Notice shall be considered a part of any contract made pursuant thereunder.
Bidders shall submit all questions regarding the scope of services, Specification, and Bid process by email with the Subject “Request for Clarification – Electrical”. All Requests for Clarifications shall be submitted before 3PM on December 10th, 2024. City personnel to contact regarding this Bid:
Public Works Facilities Management Division
Bolaji Sojobi, Sr. Public Works Management Analyst 633 E. Broadway, Room 307 Glendale, CA 91206 (818) 548-3970
bsojobi@glendaleca.gov
The Electrical Services per this Specification are anticipated to start on or about February 1, 2025.
Published on November 18, 25, 2024 GLENDALE INDEPENDENT
City of Glendale
NOTICE INVITING BIDS
Specification No. 3990 For Maintenance and Repair of Flooring
Four (4) sets of a sealed Bid (one original and three copies) must be received before 2:00PM on Wednesday, December 18th, 2024, in the City Clerk’s Office, located at 613 E. Broadway, Room 110, Glendale, CA 91206. Late Bids will not be accepted. There will be a mandatory Pre-Bid Meeting on December 4th at 8AM.
Copies of Specification 3990 (“Specification”) will be made available from noon on November 13th, 2024 until noon on December 4th, 2024. To receive an electronic copy, please send an email request to the City’s contact listed below.
Bid Security equal to 10% of the total Bid Amount, in the form of cash, cashier’s check, money order, or surety bond, made out to City of Glendale, must accompany all Bids.
Refer to the Specification for complete details and Bid requirements. The Specification and this Notice shall be considered a part of any contract made pursuant thereunder.
Bidders shall submit all questions regarding the scope of services, Specification, and Bid process by email with the Subject “Request for Clarification – Flooring”. All Requests for Clarifications shall be submitted before 3PM on December 10th, 2024.
City personnel to contact regarding this Bid:
Public Works Facilities Management Division
Bolaji Sojobi, Sr. Public Works Management Analyst 633 E. Broadway, Room 307 Glendale, CA 91206 (818) 548-3970
bsojobi@glendaleca.gov
The Flooring Services per this Specification are anticipated to start on or about February 1, 2025.
Published on November 18, 25, 2024
GLENDALE INDEPENDENT
Pasadena City Notices
Special Meeting Planning Comission
Zoning Code Amendment to Implement Objective Design Standards for High Density Residential Development
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The Planning and Community Development Department is bringing forward a Zoning Code Amendment to amend Title 17 (the Zoning Code) of the Pasadena Municipal Code to implement objective design standards, related to items such as bulk and mass, setbacks, open space, and building materials, applicable to residential and mixed-use projects, with a density greater than 48 dwelling units per acre.
PROJECT LOCATION: Citywide
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: The Planning Commission will consider whether the proposed Zoning Code Amendment is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) (Common Sense Exemption) in that it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the proposed objective design standards will have a significant effect on the environment and whether there are no features that distinguish this project from others in the exempt class, therefore resulting in no unusual circumstances.
APPROVALS NEEDED: The Planning Commission will conduct a public hearing and consider recommendations on the proposed Zoning Code Amendment and environmental determination. The Planning Commission recommendation will be forwarded to the City
LEGALS
Council. The City Council will make a final decision at a separately noticed public hearing.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Planning Commission will conduct a public hearing and consider the proposed Zoning Code Amendment and proposed environmental determination. The hearing is scheduled for:
Date: Wednesday, December 4, 2024
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Place: Council Chambers, Pasadena City Hall 100 North Garfield Avenue, Room S249. The meeting agenda packet will be posted by November 29, 2024 at https://www. cityofpasadena.net/commissions/planningcommission/.
PUBLIC INFORMATION: Any interested party or their representative may provide live public comment by following the instructions in the meeting agenda. Prior to the start of the meeting, written correspondence may be emailed to commentsPC@ cityofpasadena.net or mailed to the address below (note that this email address will not be checked once the meeting starts).
Contact Person: Martin Potter, Principal Planner
Phone: (626) 744-6710
E-mail: mpotter@cityofpasadena.net Website: www.cityofpasadena.net/planning
Mailing Address:
Planning & Community Development Department Planning Division, Community Planning Section 175 North Garfield Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91101
ADA: To request a disability-related modification or accommodation necessary to facilitate meeting participation, please contact the Planning & Community Development Department as soon as possible at (626) 744-4009 or (626) 744-4371 (TDD) or mpotter@ cityofpasadena.net. Providing at least 72 hours advance notice will help ensure availability. Language translation services may also be requested with 72-hour advance notice by calling (626) 744-4009
Published on November 18, 25, December 2 2024 PASADENA PRESS
NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF ANGEL MARIA VALDES Case No. 24STPB11596
To all heirs, beneficiaries, cred-itors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of ANGEL MARIA VALDES
A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by Maria Cruz and Paula Cruz in the Superior Court of Cali-fornia, County of LOS ANGELES.
THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that Maria Cruz and Paula Cruz be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.
THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administra-tion authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objec-tion to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.
A HEARING on the petition will be held on Dec. 9, 2024 at 8:30 AM in Dept. No. 4 located at 111 N. Hill St., Los Angeles, CA 90012.
IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your ap-pearance may be in person or by your attorney.
IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowl-edgeable
IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.
IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code.
OTHER CALIFORNIA statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.
YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a formal Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk.
PAUL D. VELASCO, SB# 192421
Attorney for Petitioner
VELASCO LAW GROUP, APC 333 W. Broadway, Suite #100 Long Beach, CA 90802
PNSB# 107439
Published in: Belmont Beacon
Pub Dates: November 18, 21, 25, 2024
NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF:
ALICE E. NATALIZIO
CASE NO. 24STPB12803
in California law. YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk. Attorney for petitioner: GREG ASLANIAN ESQ SBN269824 TRUST LAW PARTNERS 275 E CALIFORNIA BLVD PASADENA CA 91106 CN111948 VALDES Nov 18,21,25, 2024 GLENDALE INDEPENDENT
NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF MARIO S. BALIWAG CASE NO. 24STPB12743
To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of MARIO S. BALIWAG A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by LILIA P. BALIWAG, AKA LILY BALIWAG in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES.
THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that LILIA P. BALIWAG, AKA LILY BALIWAG be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.
THE PETITION requests the decedent’s will and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate. The will and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court.
THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.)
The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.
A HEARING on the petition will be held on DECEMBER 13, 2024 at 8:30 A.M. in Dept.: “5” located at: 111 N. Hill Street, Los Angeles, CA Stanley Mosk Courthouse
Attorney for Petitioner
PETER A. KEON - SBN 224452
KAVESH, MINOR & OTIS, INC. 990 WEST 190TH STREET, SUITE 500 TORRANCE CA 90502
Telephone (310) 324-9403
11/18, 11/21, 11/25/24 CNS-3871637# PASADENA PRESS
NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF:
CHARLES BRUCE MILLER AKA CHARLES B. MILLER CASE NO. PROVA2400954
To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the WILL or estate, or both of CHARLES BRUCE MILLER AKA CHARLES B. MILLER.
A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by DONALD B. MILLER in the Superior Court of California, County of SAN BERNARDINO. THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that DONALD B. MILLER be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.
To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the WILL or estate, or both of ALICE E. NATALIZIO.
A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by JOANIE KAY NATALIZIO ZIELINSKI in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES.
THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that JOANIE KAY NATALIZIO ZIELINSKI be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.
THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.)
The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.
A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows: 12/31/24 at 8:30AM in Dept. 79 located at 111 N. HILL ST., LOS ANGELES, CA 90012
IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.
IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code.
Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.
YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk.
THE PETITION requests the decedent’s WILL and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate. The WILL and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court. THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.
A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows: 12/23/24 at 9:00AM in Dept. F2 located at 17780 ARROW BLVD., FONTANA, CA 92335
IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.
IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.
YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk. Attorney for Petitioner ANDREW WERTHEIM - SBN 323236 PACIFIC ESTATE PLANNING P.C. 29970 TECHNOLOGY DRIVE, SUITE 109 MURRIETA CA 92563
Telephone (951) 973-0313 BSC 226056 11/18, 11/21, 11/25/24 CNS-3871691# ONTARIO NEWS PRESS
NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: CLOVER THOMAS CASE NO. 24STPB12904 To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the WILL or estate, or both of CLOVER THOMAS. A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by DANA THOMAS in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES. THE PETITION FOR PROBATE
Probate Notices
requests that DANA THOMAS be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.
THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.
A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows: 12/16/24 at 8:30AM in Dept. 9 located at 111 N. HILL ST., LOS ANGELES, CA 90012
IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.
IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code.
Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.
YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk.
Attorney for Petitioner
WILLIAM HAYES - SBN 059479
THE HAYES LAW FIRM
729 MISSION ST., #300 SOUTH PASADENA CA 91030
Telephone (626) 403-2292
11/21, 11/25, 11/28/24 CNS-3872223# PASADENA PRESS
NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF RAZAN FARAH AMMARI
Case No. 24STPB12040
To all heirs, beneficiaries, cred-itors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of RAZAN FARAH AMMARI
A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by Zena Sawaged in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES. THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that Zena Sawaged be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.
THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administra-tion authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objec-tion to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.
A HEARING on the petition will be held on Feb. 7, 2025 at 8:30 AM in Dept. No. 5 located at 111 N. Hill St., Los Angeles, CA 90012.
IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your ap-pearance may be in person or by your attorney.
IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal
representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowl-edgeable in California law.
YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk. Attorney for petitioner:
JEFFREY M OBERTO ESQ SBN 298805
KEYSTONE LAW GROUP P C 11300 W OLYMPIC BLVD STE 910
LOS ANGELES CA 90064
CN111982 AMMARI Nov 25,28, Dec 2, 2024
GLENDALE INDEPENDENT
NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF:
MARK KARAMIAN AKA
MARK M. KARAMIAN AKA MAIS MARK KARAMIAN CASE NO. 24STPB12873
To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the WILL or estate, or both of MARK KARAMIAN AKA MARK M. KARAMIAN AKA MAIS MARK KARAMIAN.
A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by ARARAT KARAMYAN in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES.
THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that ARARAT KARAMYAN be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.
THE PETITION requests the decedent’s WILL and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate. The WILL and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court.
THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.)
The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.
A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows: 12/16/24 at 8:30AM in Dept. 4 located at 111 N. HILL ST., LOS ANGELES, CA 90012
IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.
IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.
YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk.
Attorney for Petitioner
RYAN D. BOWNE, ESQ. - SBN 236970
LEGALS
LAW OFFICE OF RYAN D. BOWNE, ESQ. 4421 W. RIVERSIDE DR., STE. 200 BURBANK CA 91505
Telephone (818) 846-5515 11/25, 11/28, 12/2/24 CNS-3873098# GLENDALE INDEPENDENT
NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF:
DEBRA SOTELO LEYVA
CASE NO. PROVA2400973
To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the WILL or estate, or both of DEBRA SOTELO LEYVA.
A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by ROBERT DEWESTER in the Superior Court of California, County of SAN BERNARDINO.
THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that ROBERT DEWESTER be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.
THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.
A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows: 01/22/25 at 11:00AM in Dept. F2 located at 17780 ARROW BLVD., FONTANA, CA 92335
IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney. IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.
YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk. Attorney for Petitioner C. TRACY KAYSER - SBN 230022 KAYSER LAW GROUP, APC 1407 N. BATAVIA ST., STE. 103 ORANGE CA 92867
Telephone (714) 984-2004 BSC 226079 11/25, 11/28, 12/2/24 CNS-3873122# ONTARIO NEWS PRESS
NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF:
YUN KEITH SHIM
CASE NO. 24STPB13062
To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the WILL or estate, or both of YUN KEITH SHIM.
A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by HWA OK SHIM in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES.
THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that HWA OK SHIM be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.
THE PETITION requests the decedent’s WILL and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate. The WILL and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court.
THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow
the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.)
The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.
A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows: 12/20/24 at 8:30AM in Dept. 2D located at 111 N. HILL ST., LOS ANGELES, CA 90012
IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.
IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.
YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk. Attorney for Petitioner
JESSICA A. LYONS, ESQ. - SBN 269768
LAW OFFICE OF FRED F. MASHIAN, APC 12100 WILSHIRE BLVD., SUITE 245
LOS ANGELES CA 90025-1104 Telephone (310) 274-7501 11/25, 11/28, 12/2/24 CNS-3873462# PASADENA PRESS
NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: RAZAN FARAH AMMARI
CASE NO. 24STPB12040
To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the WILL or estate, or both of RAZAN FARAH AMMARI.
A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by SUHAIL SAWAGED in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES.
THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that SUHAIL SAWAGED be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.
THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.)
The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.
A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows: 12/19/24 at 8:30AM in Dept. 5 located at 111 N. HILL ST., LOS ANGELES, CA 90012
IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.
IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in sec-
tion 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code.
Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.
YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk.
Attorney for Petitioner
STEPHEN P. AJALAT, ESQ. - SBN 159051, AJALAT & AJALAT LLP
330 NORTH BRAND BLVD., SUITE 1250
GLENDALE CA 91203
Telephone (818) 506-1500 11/25, 11/28, 12/2/24
CNS-3873093# GLENDALE INDEPENDENT
Public Notices
ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME CASE # CIV SB 2431329 TO ALL INTERESTED PER-
SONS: Petitioner: Yang Yu, filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present Name(s): Yang Yu to Proposed name: Henry Shen, THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that in-cludes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. NOTICE OF HEARING
Date: 12/11/2024 Time: 9:00am Dept.: S24
The address of the court is: Superior Court of California, County of San Bernardino, San Bernardino District - Civil Division, 247 West Third Street, San Bernardino, CA 92415-0210 A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once a week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation printed in this county: San Bernardino Press Newspaper. Date: October 29, 2024 2 STAMPED/s/: San Bernardino Press, Judge of the Superior Court Publish Dates: November 4, 11, 18, 25, 2024 SAN BERNARDINO PRESS
ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME PETITION OF Nikko Jewel Haller FOR CHANGE OF NAME CASE NUMBER: 24NWCP00429 Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles 12720 Norwalk Blvd, Norwalk, Ca 90650, SouthEast Judicial District TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: 1. Petitioner Nikko Jewel Haller filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name a. OF Nikko Jewel Haller to Proposed name Nikko Snow 2. THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reason for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing NOTICE OF HEARING a. Date: 12/30/2024 Time: 9:30AM Dept: C. Room: 312 The address of the court is same as noted above. 3. a. A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the day set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: Glendale Independent DATED: November 6, 2024 Olivia Rosales JUDGE OF THE SUPERIOR COURT Pub. November 11, 18, 25, December 2, 2024 GLENDALE INDEPENDENT
ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME PETITION OF Megan Kristina Sutcliffe FOR CHANGE OF NAME CASE NUMBER: 24NWCP00428 Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles 12720 Norwalk Blvd, Norwalk, Ca 90650, SouthEast Judicial District TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: 1. Petitioner Megan Kristina Sutcliffe filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name a. OF Megan Kristina Sutcliffe to Proposed name Megan Snow 2. THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reason for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing NOTICE OF HEARING a. Date: 12/30/2024 Time: 9:30AM Dept:
GALSTAR WOOD HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, A NONPROFIT MUTUAL BENEFIT CORPORATION and against SUAZO, ARCADIA. I have levied upon all the right, title and interest of said judgment debtor(s) in the property in the County of Los Angeles, State of California, described as follows: A CONDOMINIUM COMPRISED OF: PARCEL 1: THAT PORTION OF LOT 1 OF TRACT NO., 23264, IN THE CITY OF WEST COVINA, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, STATE OF CALIFORNIA, AS PER MAP RECORDED IN BOOK 819 PAGES 29 AND 30 OF MAPS, IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY RE-CORDER OF SAID COUNTY SHOWN AND DEFINED AS UNIT 72 ON THE CONDOMINIUM PLAN RECORDED JANUARY 11, 1973 AS INSTRUMENT NO. 3668 IN BOOK M4259 PAGE 480, OF OFFICIAL RECORDS, RECORDS OF SAID COUNTY. PARCEL 2: AN UNDIVIDED 1/124TH INTEREST IN AND TO THAT PORTION OF LOT 1 OF SAID TRACT NO. 23264, SHOWN AND DEFINED AS ``COMMON AREA`` ON SAID CONDOMINIUM PLAN, EXCEPT THEREFROM 1/2 OF ALL OIL, GAS AND OTHER HYDROCARBON SUBSTANCES IN AND UNDER THAT PORTION OF SAID LAND LYING SOUTHEASTERLY OF THE FOLLOWING DESCRIBED LINE: BEGINNING AT A POINT IN THE WESTERLY LINE OF LOT 116 OF TRACT NO. 930, DISTANCE THEREON SOUTH 1 DEGREES 04 MINUTES WEST 2300.00 FEET FROM THE MOST WESTERLY CORNER OF LOT 19 OF SAID TRACT NO. 930; THENCE NORTH 59 DEGREES 21 MINUTES EAST 9343.27 FEET, MORE OR LESS TO A POINT IN THE SOUTHERLY PROLONGATION OF THE CENTER LINE OF BARANCA STREET AS SHOWN BY SAID MAP DISTANT THEREON SOUTHERLY FROM ITS INTERSECTION WITH THE CEN-TER LINE OF CAMERON AVENUE, 1000.00 FEET , AS RESERVED BY TITLE INSURANCE AND TRUST COMPANY, BY DEED RECORDED FEBRUARY 21, 1944 IN BOOK 20687 PAGE 153, OF OFFICIAL RECORDS. BY DEED DATED JANUARY 22, 1964 RECORDED JANUARY 22, 1964 AS INSTRUMENT NO. 3933 IN BOOK D2332 PAGE 80, OF OFFI-CIAL RECORDS, JOSEPH DOBLE MULLENDER AND VIVIAN P. MULLENDER, QUITCLAIMED TO BRUTOCO DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, A CORPORATION, THE RIGHT TO ENTER UPON THE SURFACE OF THE SUBSURFACE TO A DEPTH OF
Green tech truck maker ready to establish operations in Riverside
By City News Service
ASouthAmerican company that produces electric-powered commercial trucks is setting up its North American manufacturing center in Riverside, where the city will be among the first to receive the heavy duty “green technology” vehicles, it was announced Wednesday.
“Voltu Motor Inc. is wellsituated to meet a growing demand for electric trucks that will be required by local governments all over the state in the coming years,” City Councilman Jim Perry said. “This opportunity benefits the city on many levels, from priority access to vehicles, to job creation and sales tax generation.”
Voltu and the city jointly announced the venture
Alleged
during a news briefing Wednesday morning outside City Hall.
“We need to transform how energy is generated and consumed to ensure our planet’s future,” Voltu CEO George Gebhart said. “Riverside offers not just a logistics hub, but also an ecosystem aligned with our values of trust, prosperity and sustainability. Our journey to Riverside started almost two years ago, working with UC Riverside. Now working with the city, we’ve seen Riverside’s potential as a green-tech powerhouse.”
The company’s manufacturing operations will involve staff from UCR’s Center for Environmental Research & Technology, as well as the university’s
Jalisco
Ahigh-ranking Mexican drug cartel official who allegedly faked his own death and was living under an assumed name in Riverside was arrested this week on federal narcotics charges, prosecutors announced Thursday.
Cristian Fernando Gutierrez-Ochoa, 37, is alleged by the U.S. Attorney’s Office to be a high-ranking member of the Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación, as well as the son-in-law of the cartel’s leader, Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, also known as “El Mencho,” according to the Department of Justice.
A criminal complaint
said.
“The Office of Homeless Services is proud to team up with the San Bernardino County Homeless Partnership and our dedicated volunteers to collect critical data that will support efforts to address homelessness,” OHS Chief Marcus Dillard said in a statement. “We are deeply committed to ensuring that our homeless population has access to safe and stable housing. We also plan to provide supportive services to those we encounter during the PITC, just as we did last year.”
With the guidance of an internet-based app,
Small Business Technology Transfer Program, officials said.
“One of the key reasons I believe Riverside was the right choice for Voltu is the
incredible talent pipeline we’re cultivating,” UCR Vice Chancellor Rodolfo Torres said. “UCR is home to some of the brightest engineering students and researchers,
many of whom are working on cutting-edge projects in areas like battery technology, clean energy and advanced manufacturing. These students, along with talent from our neighboring colleges and universities, represent the workforce of tomorrow — the individuals who will design, build and optimize Voltu’s commercial electric trucks.”
The city and Voltu entered into an agreement stipulating that Riverside will acquire the first 20 Voltu electrified F-350 XL Crew Cab 4WD trucks to roll out of Voltu’s assembly facility. The cost wasn’t specified.
The company estimates it will turn out 14,000 trucks during its first three years of operations.
According to officials, 20 current Voltu employees from Argentina will be leading operations locally, but the company’s local employment base is expected to increase by more than 400 jobs over four years.
“The city will be the point of sale, meaning that sales taxes from the vehicles will return to the city to help pay for local quality of life improvements,” according to a municipal statement. “Voltu’s projections anticipate $1.6 billion in revenue from the deployment of the 14,000 trucks.”
City officials said the new production plant will further establish Riverside as a green tech hub.
cartel member who faked death arrested in Riverside
against Gutierrez-Ochoa was unsealed in U.S. District Court on Wednesday. He was arrested in Riverside on Tuesday.
The complaint charges him with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine, knowing that the drugs would be imported into the United States. He is also charged with conspiracy to launder drug trafficking proceeds.
The charges carry a possible sentence of life imprisonment.
“The Jalisco Cartel — one of the world’s most violent and prolific drug trafficking organizations — is weaker
county employees, community groups, homeless service providers, property and business owners and volunteers will fan out across cities, towns and unincorporated communities to count, survey and assist people whose primary place to live during nighttime hours is a vehicle, park, abandoned building, transit center, riverbed or other unsheltered area.
Officials encouraged both individuals and organizations to participate in the count. Volunteers must be at least 18 years old and have a mobile phone with Android or iOS to conduct the survey. Count organizers will assign
By City News Service
today because of the tenacious efforts of law enforcement to track down and arrest a cartel leader who allegedly faked his own death and assumed a false identity to evade justice and live a life of luxury in California,” U.S. Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said in a statement. “As these charges allege, GutierrezOchoa directed the trafficking of lethal narcotics, causing untold destruction in our communities. To those seeking to harm Americans and to profit from their pain, this arrest should serve as a reminder — we will find you and bring you to justice.”
Prosecutors contend that Gutierrez-Ochoa began working with the cartel — described as one of the most violent in Mexico — in roughly 2014, and he is believed to have coordinated the transportation and distribution of 40,000 kilograms of meth and 2,000 kilograms of cocaine in Mexico, all of which was destined for the United States.
In November 2021, he allegedly kidnapped two members of the Mexican Navy to try to win the release of El Mencho’s wife, who had been arrested by authorities in Mexico. Gutierrez-Ochoa allegedly escaped Mexican
Homeless count
groups of participants to cover specific areas of the county.
The count may require a bit of walking, and volunteers must have personal transportation, according to the county. Training will be provided in person and online.
“The success of the annual count largely depends on city and community partnerships,” Dillard said. “I strongly urge the community to volunteer and help us make a meaningful impact in addressing homelessness.”
To register as a volunteer, visit sbchp.sbcounty.gov. Questions about the count
authorities by assuming a fictious name and moving to a “luxury residence” in Riverside that was purchased with drug proceeds.
According to prosecutors, El Mencho is believed to have falsely told associates that he murdered GutierrezOchoa for lying, thus helping him fake his own death and sneak into the United States to be with his wife — El Mencho’s daughter.
El Mencho was indicted by the U.S. Justice Department in April 2022, and a $10 million reward is being offered for information leading to his arrest and/or conviction.
Board of Supervisors Chair Dawn Rowe speaks with a person experiencing homelessness during last year’s San Bernardino County Point-In-Time Count. | Photo courtesy of San Bernardino County
| Photo courtesy of the city of Riverside
Jalisco cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, also known as “El Mencho,” shown here, is the father-in-law of the recently arrested Cristian Fernando Gutierrez-Ochoa. | Photo courtesy of the U.S. State Department
Cold case rape, murder of Beaumont girl solved 45 years later
By City News Service
More than four decades after it happened, the identity of the man who sexually assaulted and killed a 17-year-old Beaumont girl was confirmed through DNA evidence, authorities alleged Wednesday.
Lewis Randolph “Randy” Williamson, now deceased, is believed to be the person responsible for the rape and murder of Esther Gonzalez in the winter of 1979, according to the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office.
Williamson died in Florida a decade ago.
Prosecutors said the county’s Regional Cold Case Homicide Team, composed of DA’s office investigators, sheriff’s detectives and personnel from several other agencies, were working the case when they got a break
earlier this year after a blood sample collected from Williamson during his 2014 autopsy in Broward County was processed by the California Department of Justice’s forensics lab.
The DNA extracted from the sample was compared to that contained in a semen stain collected from Esther’s body and preserved, ultimately analyzed by Othram, a private laboratory based in Woodlands, Texas, that specializes in genetic genealogy research.
“DOJ confirmed that Williamson’s DNA matched the DNA recovered from Esther’s body,” according to the DA’s office.
Prosecutors said Williamson was unofficially cleared of Esther’s abduction, rape and murder in 1979, but he
nonetheless remained the lead suspect.
The victim was last seen alive leaving her parents’ Beaumont residence on Feb. 9, 1979, to walk to her sister’s home. She never made it.
According to the DA’s office, the following day, an anonymous man telephoned the sheriff’s Banning station to report finding the body of a girl near Highway 243, just south of Poppet Flats Road, laying in snow.
The victim was quickly identified as Esther, and it was evident she’d been the victim of a sexual assault. Detectives turned their attention to tracking down the caller, who’d been disagreeable during his phone tip, unwilling to share details of how he’d made the discovery or why he was out there,
according to prosecutors.
The party was identified less than a week later as Williamson. He was questioned and agreed to take a polygraph examination, which he passed, the DA’s
Aoffice said.
“He was never cleared through DNA because the technology had not yet been developed,” the agency stated.
Background information on Williamson was unavailable.
Anyone with information about the case, or any other cold cases, was encouraged to contact investigators at ColdCaseUnit@RivcoDA. org.
Morongo tribe distributes thousands of turkeys for those in need
Thanksgiving donation drive by the Morongo BandofMission Indians wrapped up Tuesday, resulting in the distribution of roughly 15,000 free turkeys to nonprofit organizations, churches and food pantries throughout the Inland Empire and neighboring locations.
“The roots of Morongo’s ThanksgivingOutreach Program stretch back decades to a time when our tribe sought to help others even as we ourselves faced adversity,” Morongo Tribal Chairman Charles Martin said. “This year, we continue our tribe’s legacy of giving to others by providing tens of thousands of holiday meals to those who are struggling across
the region.”
Tribal members and others participated in the distribution effort, gathering at the Morongo Community Center in Banning on Nov. 18 and 19 to ship out the frozen turkeys to 120 different entities. Those entities will use the birds to prepare and supply thousands of Thanksgiving meals to the homeless, veterans, the indigent and others in need, tribal officials said.
“Groupsreceiving turkeys hailed from Banning, Beaumont, Riverside, San Bernardino, Moreno Valley, Temecula, Desert Hot Springs, Indio, Redlands, Los Angeles and other
competitor, and “T.S.,” an 11th grader who is the girls’ team captain.
“The suit contends that RUSD’s policies unfairly restrict their freedom of expression and deny them fair and equal access to athletic opportunities,” according to the plaintiffs.
The two girls wore shirts earlier this year bearing the messages “Save Girls’ Sports” and “It’s Common Sense — XX (does not equal) XY.” Advocates for Faith & Freedom allege MLK High
staff “ordered the students to remove or conceal the shirts, claiming they created a `hostile’ environment, comparing wearing these shirts to wearing a swastika.”
“The civil complaint highlights RUSD’s failure to comply with Title IX, which guarantees equal athletic opportunities based on biological sex,” according to the organization. “T.S. was ousted from her position on the varsity cross country team to make room for a biological male transgender athlete,
By City News Service
communities,” according to a tribal statement.
Among the recipients was the Riverside-based Janet Goeske Foundation, whose volunteers will use 200 donated turkeys to prepare meals for seniors next week.
“We are grateful for Morongo’s kind contribution, which truly embodies the spirit of giving and community that brings us all together,” Janet Goeske Food Pantry Director Janice Peguero said. “In addition to offering necessary resources, this support fortifies our goal of helping individuals in need. We will be able to bring together struggling families so they can enjoy
the warmth of connection and the joy of the season because of Morongo.”
Reliance Church in Temecula was another recipient, and spokeswoman Shirley Ruiz said the 100 turkeys
School suit
who did not consistently attend practices and failed to meet the team’s strict qualifying requirements. As a result, T.S. missed opportunities to compete at a highprofile meet, losing valuable chances for college recruitment and recognition.”
The plaintiffs said the district’s policies promote “selective enforcement of dress codes” that impinge on free speech and undermine Title IX by not ensuring “fair athletic opportunities for female students.”
“I’m calling on President Trump and the incoming Congress to restore women’s sports and to stop the mockery of women by this radical and ignorant ideology,” attorney Robert Tyler said.
MLK has been a hotbed of activity connected to the presence of transgender students. Last year, one of them was reportedly expelled for assaulting a girl in a dispute over the individual’s use of a designated female locker room.
that Morongo provided will ensure the house of worship can “serve the less fortunate in the Temecula Valley by providing warm holiday meals to seniors and families who are struggling.”
The tribe begins accepting applications for turkey donations at the beginning of every year. Applications for the 2025 outreach program are available at morongonation. org/thanksgiving-outreach.
T.S and K.S. | Photo courtesy of Advocates for Faith & Freedom
| Photo courtesy of felipecaparros/Envato Elements
| Photo courtesy of the Morongo Band of Mission Indians