Eric Licas
banner
ericlicas.bsky.social
Eric Licas
@ericlicas.bsky.social
Janitor turned journalist based in Southern California. Current and past bylines with the Daily Pilot, South Pasadena Review and Orange County Register.
Danny Goodwin grew up riding and helped start the training program after one of the Shea Center’s horses fell down a ravine and got hurt. The OCFA battalion chief led that rescue and realized some firefighters had never encountered a horse in person before.
www.latimes.com/socal/daily-...
Firefighters become horse whisperers at San Juan Capistrano training program
Noting some firefighters may not have every worked with a horse before, OCFA Battalion Chief Danny Goodwin helped start a training program on how to handle equines needing rescue or evacuation.
www.latimes.com
April 16, 2026 at 8:22 PM
via Norberto Santana Jr.
California’s Department of Fish and Wildlife confirmed the agency “is currently conducting an investigation into complaints of potential violations of the Fish and Game Code in San Juan Creek,” according to a CDFW spokesman.
voiceofoc.org/2026/04/sant...
Santana: Herbicide Use Near Doheny Beach Triggers State Probe
Recent investigations and permit reviews into the spraying of herbicides in the San Juan Creek highlights a patchwork of oversight when it comes to watchdogging local waterways.
voiceofoc.org
April 16, 2026 at 8:21 PM
via Isaiah Murtaugh
“We have serious and growing concerns about whether workers and Angelenos will be treated fairly and share meaningfully in the economic benefits of this tournament,” Unite Here Local 11 co-president Kurt Petersen said.
thelalocal.org/neighborhood...
SoFi Stadium workers are threatening to strike less than 2 months before the FIFA World Cup | LA Local
Unite Here Local 11 represents 2,000 cooks, bartenders, dishwashers and servers at the Inglewood stadium. SoFi Stadium workers are threatening to strike less than 2 months before the FIFA World Cup
thelalocal.org
April 16, 2026 at 8:19 PM
via Sarah Mosqueda
“There is a big opportunity that is being missed," Fulleton Museum Center Curator Georgette Collard said. "We have amazing artists in Orange County and we have amazing art hubs in O.C.”
www.latimes.com/socal/daily-...
'OC Made' at Fullerton Museum Center showcases local artists
The new biennial juried exhibition is dedicated exclusively to artists living and working in Orange County
www.latimes.com
April 13, 2026 at 7:54 PM
The remodeled skate park will feature a clover pool, new street elements like rails and a manual pad, a snake run and a concrete pump track. It will also include new fencing and additional street lights so the park remains usable after dark.
www.latimes.com/socal/daily-...
New concrete pump track, snake run, clover pool coming to Costa Mesa's Skate Park
Work on a $2.9-million expansion of one of Orange County's most popular skate parks is expected to begin in May, following unanimous approval by Costa Mesa's City Council.
www.latimes.com
April 13, 2026 at 7:53 PM
via Tristan Longwell
"We have more regulations in place for newsstands that are obsolete now on our books than we have about ... an automated, unmanned commercial activity on our sidewalks," Councilmember Ardy Kassakhian said.
outlooknewspapers.com/glendalenews...
Glendale Considers Moratorium on Robot Delivery Devices
Delivery robots may soon be directed to power down and out of Glendale if the city council chooses to enact a moratorium on the delivery robots. City staff is reviewing
outlooknewspapers.com
April 13, 2026 at 7:53 PM
via the Burbank Leader
Applications are open to artists 18 and older. Submissions are due by May 1 at 5 p.m. Selected artist will be announced by May 29, with the final design planned to be unveiled to the public during the Burbank Book Festival on Oct. 3.
outlooknewspapers.com/burbankleade...
Library Seeks Artist for Bookmobile
With the unveiling of its new Bookmobile coming this month, the Burbank Public Library is seeking artists to design a bold, original exterior wrap for it.
outlooknewspapers.com
April 13, 2026 at 7:52 PM
via Matt Szabo
The auditorium opened in 1926 on the campus of Huntington Beach High School and has hosted thousands of performances, along with assemblies and awards ceremonies for schools districtwide.
www.latimes.com/socal/daily-...
Huntington Beach district auditorium to celebrate 100 years with birthday show
The Huntington Beach Union High School District will celebrate 100 years of performances with "A Century of Stars and Stories" on April 18.
www.latimes.com
April 13, 2026 at 7:52 PM
“I urge you to get started on this thing,” Resident Cynthia McDonald said. “Good Lord, this has been many years.”
www.latimes.com/socal/daily-...
Revitalization of bluffs at Fairview Park enters planning stage
Psomas, the company that won the bid to take on the work of restoring the bluffs, had “demonstrated a strong understanding of the site’s environmental complexity,” according to the staff report.
www.latimes.com
April 9, 2026 at 9:05 PM
via David Folkenflik and Scott Neuman
Judge Randolph D. Moss said "the 1st Amendment draws a line, which the government may not cross, at efforts to use government power – including the power of the purse – 'to punish or suppress disfavored expression.'"
www.npr.org/2026/03/31/n...
Federal judge finds Trump violated free speech by ordering NPR defunded
A U.S. District Court judge found that President Trump's executive order calling for the defunding of NPR and PBS violated the First Amendment.
www.npr.org
April 1, 2026 at 10:33 PM
via Sarah Mosqueda
U-pick experiences are available Fridays through Sundays and begin at the Ecology Center grandstand, where the team shares how berries grown on the property are farmed without the use of chemical fertilizers or pesticides.
www.latimes.com/socal/daily-...
Strawberry Fields Forever: How the Ecology Center turns strawberry season into a teaching moment
The San Juan Capistrano regenerative organic farm uses the U-Pick experience to dig into what makes a happy harvest.
www.latimes.com
March 30, 2026 at 10:09 PM
"This isn’t us saying we want to walk away," Costa Mesa Councilwoman Andrea Marr told the Daily Pilot. "This is us saying we’ve got some things we have to fix.”
www.latimes.com/socal/daily-...
Costa Mesa gives Priceless Pets command to open new veterinary facility in 60 days
A March 19 letter penned by Costa Mesa Police Chief Joyce LaPointe highlighted a series of compliance issues and gave the nonprofit 60 days to correct them. But Priceless Pets' owner says she needs mo...
www.latimes.com
March 30, 2026 at 10:09 PM
via Khari Johnson
"Californians deserve to know whether fusion centers are serving their intended counterterrorism purpose or whether they have become unaccountable surveillance infrastructure operating in the shadow,” said CA Sen. Sabrina Cervantes.
calmatters.org/economy/tech...
Are your local cops telling ICE about you? California is now investigating
The state will audit three of its federally-funded fusion centers amid concerns about violations of civil liberties and privacy.
calmatters.org
March 30, 2026 at 10:09 PM
ICYMI
“Having had the opportunity to be in countries which had massive surveillance systems and see what happened with the dossiers that they kept on people, if you ever spent time in those places, you would be chilled by it,” Mayor Sheila Rossi said.
outlooknewspapers.com/southpasaden...
South Pasadena Ditches Flock Cameras on Data Safety Concerns
South Pasadena has cut ties with Flock Safety cameras after audits revealed out-of-state agencies exploited a system feature to access local surveillance data in other cities across the state amid
outlooknewspapers.com
March 30, 2026 at 10:08 PM
Reposted by Eric Licas
NEW: According to OC Sheriff’s Department data, 271 inmates were transferred to ICE last year.

The annual Truth Act forum did not include a presentation on the stats by OC Sheriff Don Barnes or comments from three county supervisors.
www.latimes.com/socal/daily-...
O.C. Sheriff's Department transferred more inmates to ICE in 2025 than year prior
The Orange County Sheriff's Department reported 271 transfers to Immigration and Customs Enforcement in 2025 during a state-required forum held Tuesday at the County Board of Supervisors meeting.
www.latimes.com
March 26, 2026 at 4:13 PM
cz my brain thinks everyone hates me 😀😀😀
www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnHi...
Tiffany Day - SAME LA
YouTube video by Tiffany Day
www.youtube.com
March 27, 2026 at 3:15 PM
"There is so much wonderful variety in contemporary poetry, and so much of it is so accessible and just speaks how you speak with your friends," Danielle Hanson said. "There’s beautiful stuff out there that I think most people don’t know is out there.”
www.latimes.com/socal/daily-...
Poetry plays a concrete role in the revitalization of Costa Mesa's Brentwood Park
Visitors to newly renovated Brentwood Park will find poems pressed into newly lain sidewalks. The verses are part of a sidewalk poetry project envisioned by Costa Mesa's first-ever poet laureate.
www.latimes.com
March 27, 2026 at 3:15 PM
via the South Pasadena Review
"For too long, tenants along the 710 corridor have faced unsafe housing conditions, delayed maintenance, and a confusing, inconsistent path to homeownership," Assemblymember Mike Fong said.
outlooknewspapers.com/southpasaden...
Amid Local Housing Windfall, Officials Score Caltrans Audit
While the city of South Pasadena is turning a failed freeway project into a housing windfall, the same program is drawing sharp criticism from tenants and state lawmakers who say
outlooknewspapers.com
March 27, 2026 at 3:14 PM
“This is your project. This is your land,” Elizabeth Hansburg, co-founder of People for Housing — Orange County, said. “… This is a concrete thing you can do that will add units to housing stock that will be rented at below market rate for your residents."
www.latimes.com/socal/daily-...
Costa Mesa approves $3.6M in additional funding for two affordable housing projects
Jamboree Housing Corporation and American Family Housing will receive more funding from the city to complete affordable housing projects, distributed in the form of 55-year loans with 3% interest rate...
www.latimes.com
March 23, 2026 at 6:45 PM
Estimates suggest their resale could net around $10 million for the city, and those proceeds will be used to pay for affordable housing.
outlooknewspapers.com/southpasaden...
South Pasadena Buys More CalTrans Properties
South Pasadena approved the purchase of 12 surplus Caltrans properties for $1.5 million this month, with plans to flip them for an estimated $10 million to fund affordable housing.
outlooknewspapers.com
March 23, 2026 at 6:44 PM
via Sergio Olmos and Wendy Fry
At issue is whether that new rule lowers wages in a way that could ripple through the broader workforce and affect U.S. workers by driving down their pay.
calmatters.org/justice/2026...
Trump administration acknowledges it needs immigrant farmworkers as it moves to cut their pay
A Trump administration policy would cut the minimum wage for immigrants with H-2A visas. A federal judge in California heard arguments in the case Wednesday
calmatters.org
March 20, 2026 at 9:04 PM
via Gabriel San Román
Brian Peterson, creator of the mural featuring Chávez’s face spanning the back wall of the OC Educational Arts Academy, said “public art carries responsibility” and he'll “support a path forward that prioritizes truth, healing.”
www.latimes.com/socal/daily-...
Santa Ana officials consider erasing César Chávez's name and image from public spaces
Dropping the labor leader's likeness and name from public spaces in Santa Ana is being discussed by city officials in the wake of allegations of sex abuse against minors and rape.
www.latimes.com
March 20, 2026 at 9:03 PM
via Brenda Fernanda Verano
“This is the first time we've ever done programming for an entire month," SPARC's Sandy Kitto said. "Our goal is to shine the light on artists in and around our community ... provide a space for the community to experience more."
outlooknewspapers.com/southpasaden...
South Pasadena Arts Council Brings Series of Events for Women’s History Month
This month, the South Pasadena Arts Council is celebrating women, art and creativity with numerous workshops and gatherings as part of its “Artistry Unveiled: a celebration of women artists” monthlong
outlooknewspapers.com
March 20, 2026 at 9:03 PM
“I can’t tell you that I’m cured. But I do feel like that anxiety does push my art,” Anna Berlly said. "...“I just keep going...”
outlooknewspapers.com/southpasaden...
Artists Connect, Overcome at South Pasadena Arts Council Workshop
South Pasadena painter Anna Berlly, who once felt scared to death to share her art pieces, teamed up with art therapist Stefanie Schamber to lead a Women's History Month workshop
outlooknewspapers.com
March 20, 2026 at 9:03 PM
via Adam Ashton
This debate is possible because California prisons are holding about 70,000 fewer people than in 2011, when severe overcrowding and judicial orders compelled the Legislature to create a plan that would draw down that number.
calmatters.org/justice/2026...
Newsom closed 5 California prisons. Why lawmakers might want to shut one more
The Newsom administration closed 5 state prisons, a trend enabled by declines in California's incarcerated population. It has capacity to shut one more, according to a new analysis.
calmatters.org
March 18, 2026 at 7:20 PM