Barger issues Santa Ana wind, heat warnings
Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger (R- Palmdale, Lancaster, Santa Clarita, San Marino, Pasadena, La Cañada-Flintridge, portions of the San Gabriel Valley) this week said the county is closely monitoring the dry, hot and windy weather conditions.
That after the National Weather Service office issued a red flag warning, the highest level of fire alert, through 6 p.m. tomorrow for two separate pockets:
One is spread between Los Angeles and Ventura Counties from the western San Gabriel Mountains into the Santa Susana Mountains. The other falls within the valleys of southeastern Ventura County and includes the cities of Thousand Oaks and Simi Valley.
“Los Angeles County’s emergency response officials are closely monitoring the incoming Santa Ana wind and heat event. Beginning tonight, the County’s Emergency Operations Center will be activated to track conditions and coordinate resources in real time. I’ve been briefed by our emergency management team, and I want to reassure the public that we are ready to respond quickly to emerging needs,” said Barger.
“Whether you live in a wildfire-prone area or not, I encourage all residents to stay vigilant.
High winds and warm temperatures can create rapidly changing conditions, so secure outdoor items, avoid any activities that could spark a fire, and check on neighbors who may be vulnerable or need assistance. Staying alert and prepared helps keep all of us safe.”
Residents can access emergency preparedness information in multiple languages for wildfires, power outages, and heat safety on ready.lacounty.gov.
Mitchell announces $1.7M allocations in participatory budget pilot
Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell (D-Southwest/Central Los Angeles including Inglewood, Compton, Carson, Hawthorne, Culver City, portions of South LA), in partnership with the Reimagine LA Coalition, Participatory Budgeting Project, and Tres Lunas Consulting, announced a total of $1.7 million in grants to be distributed among the following organizations: Bridge the Digital Divide, Inc., Building Futures, Inc., Inspire Together, Los Angeles Conservation Corps, Los Angeles Trade Tech College, St. John’s Community Health, Tree People, and UNITE-LA.
These organizations will serve as Community Implementation Partners, bringing to life the winning ideas that residents in the unincorporated communities of Florence-Firestone and Ladera Heights voted for as part of the Second District Community Participatory Budget pilot program.
“This is about putting co-governance in action and showing the power of a public budget when it reflects the values of the communities it serves. From the moment we launched this pilot with our partners, our unincorporated communities of Florence-Firestone and Ladera Heights have been engaged in deciding how $1.7 million should be invested back into their neighborhoods,” said Mitchell.
“Reaching the implementation phase is a significant step toward turning thoughtful ideas – ranging from job access to neighborhood beautification – into a reality. I look forward to collaborating with the trusted community organizations that have been selected to help us make a meaningful and lasting impact,” the lawmaker added.
Mitchell created the Second District Community Participatory Budget pilot program in partnership with Reimagine LA Coalition, Participatory Budgeting Project, and Tres Lunas Consulting.
The program provides $780,000 to the Ladera Heights community and $920,000 to Florence-Firestone—a total of $1.7 million—for local residents to decide how to invest back into their communities.
Lancaster deploys hydrogen-powered backup traffic signals
The City of Lancaster recently partnered with First Public Hydrogen Authority (FPH2) and Western Systems to deploy hydrogen-powered backup traffic signals, a major infrastructure upgrade that enhances traffic safety, ensures reliable operations during power outages, and supports the City’s decarbonization initiatives.
This marks the latest milestone in the City and FPH2’s work to help cities integrate hydrogen into essential public services. The new backup systems, powered by HyMax fuel cells, keep traffic intersections functioning during blackouts and disruptions. Conditions that are becoming increasingly common due to grid strain, wildfires, and extreme weather.
“Lancaster has always embraced innovation when it comes to public safety and infrastructure,” said Lancaster Mayor and FPH2 Chairman R. Rex Parris. “Projects such as these reflect our commitment to practical, forward-looking investments that make life better for our residents. It is an example of how hydrogen can support vital infrastructure where it’s needed most. We’re proud to partner to launch this in Lancaster and provide a practical solution that keeps traffic flowing and communities protected.”
Western Systems’ HyMax fuel cells are designed for long runtime and minimal maintenance. With no internal moving parts and a compact footprint, they provide a dependable alternative to diesel generators for traffic management and other critical services.
The backup signal installation is part of a broader strategy to deploy hydrogen across Lancaster’s municipal systems, including transportation, emergency services, and utility operations.
Padilla slams RFK Jr. for purging opioid crisis frontline staff
U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), co-founder of the bipartisan Senate Mental Health Caucus, and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) led 15 Democratic Senate colleagues in slamming Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. for firing federal employees at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) working on the frontlines of America’s opioid crisis.
Since the start of the Trump administration, HHS has terminated more than 100 SAMHSA employees, reducing their staff to less than 50 percent capacity.
SAMHSA provides key addiction and mental health treatment services with a focus on rural and underserved areas and is responsible for programs like the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
“Without cause, HHS terminated 125 employees, further decimating the agency that is a critical first responder on the frontlines of our nation’s ongoing substance use and mental health crises,” wrote the Senators. “… The firing of key staff at this agency threatens to undermine years of hard-won progress on the opioid crisis, and could not come at a worse time. Right now, communities across the country — in both red and blue states — continue to face record overdose deaths and escalating rates of mental health conditions and substance use disorder.”
Padilla and Wyden warned that these terminations will lead to more opioid-related deaths and illicit drugs flowing into communities across the United States. Kennedy’s decision to purge public health professionals not only derails progress made by a workforce with specialized experience, but it also contradicts the Administration’s pledge to tackle the fentanyl crisis, expand mental health services, and end the opioid epidemic.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 73,000 people died from overdosing from April 2024 to April 2025.
