City council votes down proposed budget while approving sub-committee on future of policing in South Pasadena

Story by Sofia Alva Staff Writer Photo by Katelyn Hernandez Staff Photographer The city council voted down the proposed budget and instead opted to continue appropriations of the 2019-2020 budget at its meeting on Wednesday, June 24. Council members also approved the creation of a six member sub-committee regarding the future of policing in South Pasadena.  […]

City faces $20 million civil rights lawsuit in Vanessa Marquez officer-involved shooting

Story by Kahlen Miao Staff Writer Reporting by Noah Kuhn News Editor Photo by Patrick Baca Contributor The family of late actress Vanessa Marquez announced that a civil rights lawsuit was filed over her 2018 killing by SPPD officers on Wednesday, June 24. The family demanded that the police officers involved be reinvestigated and held accountable for […]

School board adopts 2020-2021 district budget while discussing ways to implement diverse curriculum

Story by Georgia ParsonsStaff Writer Photo by Oscar WalshStaff Photographer The South Pasadena School Board officially approved and adopted the 2020-2021 district budget at its meeting on Tuesday, June 23. The newly adopted budget eliminates several district staff jobs in addition to reducing funds in several different departments. Budget cuts in faculty, staff, and administration departments […]

SPPD’s arrest of a crime suspect draws community criticism for excessive force

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, […]

City council to vote on establishing a community policing sub-committee

Story by Noah Kuhn News Editor Photo by Richard Gomez Contributor The South Pasadena City Council will vote on whether to appoint a council sub-committee on the future of policing in South Pasadena at a special meeting on Wednesday, June 24. The sub-committee would collect data on SPPD practices and study the effects of city laws […]

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 […]

SPUSD discusses hybrid schedule for next school year

Story by Eddie Zhou Staff Writer Photo by Tucker Judkins Contributor South Pasadena Unified School District (SPUSD) has begun preliminary discussions to implement a hybrid schedule model that consists of both in-person and virtual learning for the 2020-2021 school year. School officials maintain that these are only proposals and no final decision has been made. […]

Griffins of Kinsale owner faces misdemeanor charge after defying a public health mandate back in March

Story by Lilian Zhu Staff Writer Photo by Dominic Marziali Contributor The owner of the local pub Griffins of Kinsale, Joseph Patrick Griffin, has been charged with a misdemeanor on Wednesday, June 17 after refusing to abide by coronavirus shutdown orders back in March. If convicted, Griffin will face a maximum of 90 days in […]

City schedules more reopenings, prepares for outdoor dining program

Story by Sofia Alva Staff Writer Photo by Katelyn Hernandez Staff Photographer The City Council prolonged the local state of emergency due to the coronavirus pandemic for 60 more days and approved workplace reopening protocols at its meeting on Wednesday, June 17.  A local emergency was first proclaimed at a meeting in mid-March, however, it […]

‘SAWAYAMA’ is a genre blending tribute to self identity

Story by Amber ChenStaff Writer Illustration by David SohnStaff Illustrator 4.5/5Artist: Rina SawayamaLabel: Dirty HitGenre: Dance Pop, Contemporary R&BLength: 13 tracks, 44 minutes Rina Sawayama’s debut album SAWAYAMA is a stellar genre-blending tribute to her upbringing and identity. In it, Sawayama explores her identity as a queer Japanese-born and London-raised woman. The album is politically […]

L.A. County may need to take steps back in economic reopening

Story by Janice Park and Lenise Diaz Contributors Illustration by Alicia Zhang Staff Illustrator The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has placed Los Angeles County on a coronavirus watch list because of the potential for increased transmission rates as the county slowly transitions into phase three of economic re-opening. California recently surpassed 150,000 cases and has reported at […]

Believing survivors should not come out of convenience

Story by Amber ChenOpinion Editor Illustration by Nicholas FormanStaff Illustrator This article contains descriptions of sexual assault that some might find disturbing. Tara Reade, a former Joe Biden staffer, initially came forward with allegations of sexual misconduct against Biden alongside several women in the spring of 2019. On March 25, 2020, Reade came forward with […]

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 […]

Library launches new, in-person checkout service

Story by Kahlen Miao Staff Writer Photo by Noah Kuhn News Editor The South Pasadena Public Library launched its no-contact material checkout service, Library Takeout, on Monday, June 15 to allow the community to pre order items online for pick-up. The Library Takeout program will be open seven days a week and follow proper social distancing and […]

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 […]

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