California Senate advances six tobacco regulation bills
The state Senate approved on Thursday, Aug. 27, six tobacco regulation measures that would raise the smoking age in California from 18 to 21 and restrict e-cigarette usage in a…
Category: Northern California
Covering the week’s most noteworthy news stories impacting the lives of the Filipino-American community in Northern California.
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Fil-Am Julian Recana sworn in as LA County Superior Court judge
LOS ANGELES – A Filipino-American judge was sworn into the LA County Superior Court on Thursday, Aug. 27 at a ceremony held at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in downtown. Julian…
Filipinos applaud House Foreign Affairs Committee on efforts to combat land grabbing in Southeast Asia
The House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific gathered at the California State Polytechnic University, Pomona campus on Friday, Aug. 21, for a field hearing about property rights,…
Mysterious fire destroys Filipino family’s home
Investigators unsure of cause, but say incident unrelated to an earlier fire A FILIPINO family in Northern California woke up to find their house threatened by flames during the predawn…
Filipina from South Central LA wins $5,000 scholarship for college
When it’s 12:09am and it’s too hard to fall asleep, what should a high school student do? Earlier this year, the scenario is one that played out for 18-year-old Krizza…
Youth graduate from Filipino Cultural School summer program
Nearly 120 youth on Saturday, Aug. 15, showcased their knowledge of Filipino dance, music, language, history and lifestyle during Filipino Cultural School’s (FCS) summer school graduation ceremony. At St. Bernard…
Estimated $2.74 billion cost of California drought
THE worsening drought in California will cause the state’s economy to lose as much as $2.74 billion and nearly 21,000 total jobs this year–and ripple effects of the 4-year-old drought…
Pacquiao cases head to CA court
Plaintiffs who argue the May 2nd boxing match between Filipino champ Manny Pacquiao and undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr. was a fraud will get a chance to settle their cases before…
Gov. Brown signs bills on pro-immigration issues
New CA legislation protects and humanizes undocumented immigrants Continuing his push for change on immigration issues, California Governor Jerry Brown signed a trio of measures on Monday, August 10 that will…
Fil-Am teen charged with murder in Santa Cruz
A 15-year-old male has been charged in the murder of an 8-year-old girl in Santa Cruz, California. The Asian Journal learned the teen, Adrian Jerry Gonzalez, is Filipino. Gonzalez faces…
Judge says Uber should be suspended in California and fined $7.3 million
Uber, the popular ride-sharing app used in 57 countries across the globe, took a giant blow in its home state on Wednesday, July 15, when an administrative judge recommended that…
American Apparel moves forward, amid store closings and layoffs
Filipinos threaten lawsuit on behalf of employee discrimination American Apparel Inc. is in deep water. The struggling retail store, in operation since 1989, is laying off workers and closing some…
Oil refiners manipulating CA gas prices, consumers argue
CALIFORNIA drivers tend to pay more for gasoline than in most other states. Many industry watchers attribute the high fuel costs to unique forces—mainly, the state’s clean-burning gasoline formula—that have…
California residents decrease water use
AMIDST a statewide weary drought, California officials announced that residential water use had dropped 29 percent in May—the first real indication that the state might meet unprecedented conservation reductions imposed…
Gov. Brown signs new vaccination law
Requires immunization of schoolchildren Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law a controversial bill on Tuesday, June 30, requiring that schoolchildren be immunized, eliminating personal and religious belief exemptions. “The science…
Health insurance merger: Anthem presses for Cigna takeover
HEALTH insurance corporate giant Anthem Inc. reiterated the merits of its $54-billion offer for rival Cigna Corp. as shares of both companies rose during trading on Monday, June 22. Joseph…
Filipino with blood disease in urgent need of bone marrow transplant
A CEILING fan whirs quietly inside Rory Lacson’s Lakewood, Calif. home. In the early afternoon, Southern California can be scorching. But inside Lacson’s home, the temperature is cool and provides…
Filipino math teacher in Barstow recognized for teaching methods
A FILIPINO math teacher at Barstow High School in Barstow, Calif. received multiple awards this year in recognition of a flipped classroom teaching style that incorporates digital presentations so students…
Minimum wage hikes meet mixed reactions in SF
IN the diverse, densely packed city of San Francisco, known for its high living costs, 77 percent of voters last year approved a series of pay hikes that will boost…
Minimum wage hikes meet mixed reactions in SF
IN the diverse, densely packed city of San Francisco, known for its high living costs, 77 percent of voters last year approved a series of pay hikes that will boost…
Senators criticize Santa Barbara oil spill response: ‘slow, insufficient’
THREE US senators are raising concerns about a Texas-based oil company’s “insufficient” response to a pipeline failure last week that released thousands of gallons of crude into the ocean, fouling…
California farmers to voluntarily conserve water by 25 percent
MORE than 100 farmers in California have submitted plans to achieve voluntary water conservation targets by planting less water-intensive crops and leaving some fields unplanted amid the Golden State’s continuing…
Calif. Senate clears measure to allow healthcare coverage for undocumented immigrants
THE California State Senate on Tuesday, June 2, approved in a 28-11 vote a hotly debated proposal that would expand health care coverage to undocumented immigrants. The measure, Senate Bill…
Study: California potentially at risk of small-scale tsunami
CALIFORNIA could be at risk of a small-scale tsunami due to two fault lines off the state’s coast that could shake Los Angeles, a new study says. The new information…
Orange County conference spotlights power of women, hurdles in business and leadership
TO be a good leader, Filipino American Loretta Adrian, president of Coastline Community College in Orange County, says one must be open to criticism, be a good listener, and love…
Farmers Insurance to provide protection for Uber, Lyft drivers
With emerging smartphone app technology, the demand for ride-hailing services around the country has continued to increase for business and personal travel. In California, many of these ride-sharing services, such…
Calif. state assembly unanimously advances bill to legalize paid carpooling
THE California Assembly approved 69-0 a bill that allows companies like Uber, Lyft and Sidecar to offer shared rides to passengers with similar pickup and drop-off locations. However, each person’s…
Statewide campaign launched to prepare immigrant communities
Ready California looks to assist undocumented for DAPA, expanded DACA Immigrants’ rights advocates on Tuesday, May 19, launched a statewide campaign to prepare California’s immigrants communities for the executive action…
Facebook announces improved wages and benefits for contract workers
Facebook is pushing to secure higher pay and better benefits for contract workers who support its employees, including janitors, receptionists, security workers and cooks. In a blog post on Tuesday,…
Mandatory vaccination bill advances in California Senate
THE state Senate approved a controversial bill on Thursday, May 14, that would eliminate California’s personal belief exemptions for vaccinations and require that schoolchildren be immunized. The measure, introduced by…