Barnes’ Family Files Wrongful Death Claim Against City
Leroy Barnes’ death is still under investigation by city authorities
March 18, 2009
The family of Pasadena resident Leroy Barnes, who was shot to death by police during a traffic stop last month, has filed a wrongful death claim against the city, said Edi Faal, the family’s attorney, who filed the claim last week.
Barnes was killed on Mentone Avenue on Feb. 19 when he and a female driver, [...]
Tuesday is Election Day in Pasadena
March 8, 2009
On Tuesday, March 10 Pasadena citizens will vote to fill city council spots and board seats for the Pasadena Unified School District.
Among the top local issues listed by candidates are traffic congestion, public transportation and over-development.
Although it’s less than two months since the new federal government took office, the citizens realize for local issues, the [...]
Protestors Accuse FDIC of Misleading and Stealing
March 1, 2009
Saying that the FDIC stole their money when it took control of IndyMac Bank, a group of about 40 protestors demonstrated Saturday, Feb. 28 in front of the bank’s Pasadena branch. The protestors say they represent thousands of depositors who lost millions of dollars when the Office of Thrift Supervision took over the bank last July. Some former depositors say they are faced with a bureaucratic “run around” when trying to pursue legal remedies to recover lost funds.
Protestors Demonstrate Against Police as Chief Melekian is Honored
About 30 protestors demonstrated their anger at Pasadena police on Wednesday night near the Convention Center for last month’s shooting death of Leroy Barnes, Jr., as Pasadena Police Chief Bernard Melekian was being sworn in before hundreds of law enforcement officials and city leaders as the President of the California Police Chiefs Association. Protestors were kept on the opposite side of the street by police. There were no reports of arrests. An investigation into Barnes’ death is ongoing. [Photo: TERRY MILLER]
NAACP Seeks Answers in Police Shooting
February 26, 2009
The NAACP Pasadena Branch issued a request Thursday to the Pasadena Police Department for detailed information about last week’s fatal shooting of a Northwest Pasadena resident by police.
The NAACP says it wants information released about 10 issues related to the shooting of Leroy Barnes, Jr., saying that answers are “vital in our search for the [...]
Chief: Suspect Tried to Kill Police
February 23, 2009
[Updated 7:30 p.m.] Leroy Barnes, Jr., was shot to death by Pasadena police last Thursday afternoon as he attempted to kill an officer, Chief Melekian said in a meeting with reporters Monday afternoon.
Melekian called the meeting to clarify aspects of a hastily called press conference held last week soon after the shooting. At that time, [...]
Police Now Say Suspect Was Confronted Inside Car
February 20, 2009
The suspect shot to death by Pasadena police Thursday afternoon had not exited a car and shot at officers as police originally reported, but instead confronted officers inside the car, dept. spokesperson Janet Pope Givens said Friday afternoon.
Leroy Barnes, Jr., 37, of Pasadena, was shot by police about 4:30 p.m. after officers struggled with him [...]
Budget Deficit Could Impact Police
February 12, 2009
The Pasadena Police Department could be forced to reduce its staffing levels by up to 40 positions including 20 sworn positions. Several programs could also be cut amid efforts to deal with a $13 million budget crisis in the city’s general fund which has forced city hall to implement a hiring freeze and order 5 [...]
Middle School Student Arrested for Assault
February 3, 2009
The Pasadena Police Department was called to the campus of Wilson Middle School today on what was thought to be a hazardous material spill. Two of the Pasadena Department’s Safe Schools Team were among the first of the officers to arrive. Due to their previously established relationships and knowledge of staff and students, they were [...]
St Luke Developer, Neighbors At Odds
February 3, 2009
Communications between residents living close to a former medical center and a developer that wants to use the property for a mix used project have broken down completely.
DS Ventures wants to develop 352-senior assisted living units, medical office space and administrative offices on the 12.9 acre lot of the St. Luke Medical Center on Washington [...]
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Wells Fargo Renews Playhouse Funding
February 2, 2009
Wells Fargo Bank renewed its funding for Pasadena Playhouse last week at the Playhouse’s Third Annual Theatrical Diversity Project Celebration with a commitment of $300,000 to support the Playhouse and become the exclusive naming sponsor of the theater’s Diversity Project.
The gift is a multi-year commitment to the theater and will fund the Diversity Project with [...]
PCC Joins In Rally Against Fee Hikes
March 4, 2009
Pasadena City College hosted a rally Feb. 27 against the budget cuts and fee increases for colleges around the state.
Students and faculty from Rio Hondo, West L.A., Glendale, Santiago Canyon, Mt. SAC, Cypress, Fullerton, College of the Dessert, Orange Coast and Santa Ana joined the college students.
According to Dr. Paulette Perfumo, president of Pasadena City [...]
Crime »
Body, Car Found in Canyon
March 8, 2009
Officials found the body of a man Thursday, March 5 close to a vehicle that had plunged off the road in the Angeles National Forest north of La Canada Flintridge.
The victim’s identity has not been released pending notification of family members. The wreckage of the car was spotted several feet down in the canyon from [...]
Education »
Caltech Student Relates IQ with Art
March 8, 2009
Caltech graduate Virgil Griffith has determined that there is a relationship between a student’s intelligence quotient and musical or literary taste.
In his nonscientific study, Griffith, 25, compared music and reading preferences of college students on Facebook with SAT scores and found a common thread between those in the same scale of SAT score.
Featured on the [...]
Business »
Market Drives a Person to Invent
March 8, 2009
When it comes to intellectual curiosity and creativity, a market economy in which inventors can buy and sell shares of the key components of their discoveries actually beats out the winner-takes-all world of patent rights as a motivating force, according to a Caltech-led team of researchers.
In a paper published in this week’s issue of the [...]
Latest News »
Pasadena Public Library Earns Five Stars
March 11, 2009
Pasadena Public Library has been named as a five star library in the US by the premier trade publication for librarians, the Library Journal, reported officials.
According to the Library Journal Index of Public Library Service, Pasadena library received a high ranking for its ability to respond to patrons and exceptional customer service, said the officials.
The [...]
Government »
Local Congressman Introduces Federal Green Energy Bill
January 7, 2009
Demonstrating the importance of investing in clean alternative energy, local Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA) teamed with Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) to introduce a bill (H.R. 175) on the first day of the 111th Congress to strongly expand the federal government’s ability to purchase solar, wind, and other alternative energies for government buildings.
The measure, introduced yesterday, would [...]
Public Safety »
Church Donation Supports City Emergency Response
January 22, 2009
In response to President Barack Obama’s “Day of Service” challenge for Martin Luther King Day, members from the Church of Scientology of Pasadena honored the Pasadena Fire Department’s operations captain and community liaison Danny Serno with a check for over $1,100.
Members of the church met Jan. 20 at Station 31 to presented the check to [...]