Story by Lilian Zhu Staff Writer Photo courtesy of South Pasadena Youth For Police Reform Contributor The SPPD forcibly detained a middle-aged Black man on charges of assault and robbery in front of city hall on Tuesday, June 23. The police watch commander reported that the person had assaulted an individual and stolen their phone, […]
Discovery of life-saving drug coincides with L.A. County’s increase in coronavirus cases
Story by Janice Park and Lenise Diaz Contributors Illustration by Alicia Zhang Staff Illustrator This week California reported a record-high increase in the number of new coronavirus cases in a single day, prompting Governor Gavin Newsom to enact an order that mandates face masks in all public areas. Also, researchers from the University of Oxford found a way to […]
CIF announces guidelines to safely continue preseason activities
Story by Zoe SchlaakStaff Writer Photo by Ella JayasekeraPhoto Editor The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) announced guidelines to help athletic programs resume preseason training on Friday, June 12. CIF issued Phase One and Phase Two recommendations for 17 sports, which encompass all SPHS athletics, in accordance with advice from departments of public health. L.A. County has completed […]
Track and field coach Shevon Nieto strives for perfection
Story by Ellie Campbell and Zoe SchlaakAssociate Sports Editor & Staff Writer Photo courtesy of Shevon NietoContributor SPHS hurdle coach Shevon Nieto has always had a natural talent for running. But it wasn’t until ninth grade, when her family and friends pushed her to try out for the track team, that she set off on a journey […]
Why SPPD needs to be defunded
Story by Quinn ManzoStaff Writer Illustration by Tarry SongStaff Illustrator Anger over police brutality has reignited following the murders of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd. Protesters are enraged over the continued killings of Black Americans at the hands of police and the racist system that refuses to hold officers accountable, with local residents now taking […]
Community assembles in front of City Hall, pressures City Council to reform SPPD
Story by Lilian Zhu Staff Writer Photos by Oscar Walsh & Preston Sharkey Staff Photographer & Contributor South Pasadena Youth For Police Reform (SPY4PR) organized a City Hall protest calling for the City Council to significantly reform the SPPD, at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, June 10. Over a hundred residents congregated outside the chambers where local leaders engaged […]
School Board eliminates use of drug dogs in SPUSD
Story by Haelee Kim Staff Writer Photo by Oscar Walsh Staff Photographer The South Pasadena School Board officially ended the use of narcotic dogs in the South Pasadena Unified School District (SPUSD) during a virtual meeting on Tuesday, June 9. The board members reacted to a local campaign organized by the South Pasadena Youth for Police […]
Celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month with Netflix
Story by Aanji Sin & Amber ChenSenior Staff Writer & Staff Writer Illustration by Alicia ZhangStaff Illustrator Netflix released many new films and TV shows just in time for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The entertainment company has contributed a decent amount to POC representation on screen in the past with To All […]
South Pasadena embraces the Black Lives Matter movement with local action
Story by Zoe Schlaak and Haelee Kim Staff Writers Reporting by Noah Kuhn News Editor Photo by Oscar Walsh Staff Photographer The officer-involved deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor several weeks ago reinvigorated the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement and escalated the cry against police brutality in communities of color across the country. South Pasadena resident London […]
Surviving the coronavirus: a local retiree’s personal story
Story by Noah Kuhn News Editor Photo courtesy of Lola Foord Contributor South Pasadena has been hit hard by the coronavirus as its small-business economy shutters and over one hundred residents have fallen victim to the pandemic. Residents are being forced to grapple with the extremely difficult social consequences of quarantine, which prevent interactions with […]
Seniors bid farewell to SPHS in drive-through and livestream graduation ceremonies
Story by Sofia AlvaAssociate Sports Editor Photo by Ella JayasekeraAssociate Photo Editor SPHS seniors donned traditional caps and gowns to receive their diplomas in a drive-through graduation ceremony on Wednesday, June 3. The festive event continued virtually via a YouTube livestream which featured speeches, performances, and slideshows showcasing the graduating Class of 2020. Principal Janet Anderson congratulated […]
Small businesses struggle to stay afloat as coronavirus pandemic rages on
Story by Zoe Schlaak Staff Writer Photo by Ella Jayasekera Associate Photo Editor The coronavirus pandemic has required small, non-essential businesses to close up shop due to social distancing restrictions. With South Pasadena being a prime hub for small businesses, the shutdown has taken a financial toll on the city’s economy. In an effort to keep small […]
Stuck at home: how South Pas is celebrating together during quarantine
Story by Kimberly Hsueh Staff Writer Illustration by David Sohn Associate Design Editor Many in South Pas have been forced to discontinue their celebrations as the coronavirus pandemic rages on. As South Pasadenans continue to face quarantine, many have found different ways to celebrate birthdays, Mother Day’s, and other events, including a virtual prom. With social […]
Pictures from a pandemic
Photos by Katelyn Hernandez, Sarah Lee, Ella Jayasekera, & Oscar WalshStaff Photographers, Associate Photo Editor, & Photo Editor
The Class of 2020 sends nine athletes to the collegiate level
Story by Sofia AlvaAssociate Sports Editor Photo by Jayden EdenStaff Photographer SPHS athletes tirelessly train throughout their high school careers, shooting for championships and deep CIF runs. The Class of 2020 boasts a wealth of athletes who have surpassed those goals and turned their sights to another: college competition. With multiple Division I athletes and a variety […]
Souplantation’s closure marks the end of a cross country tradition
Story by Lilian ZhuStaff Writer Photos by Ella JayasekeraAssociate Photo Editor Souplantation’s permanent closure due to the coronavirus saddened people across Southern California. Even more so, the cross country team was left utterly devastated. The buffet-style restaurant had created countless memories from team dinners and had become a tradition before almost every race. For over […]