Los Angeles, Ca
Ballots burned, vote center vandalized in possible acts of election interference, Los Angeles County officials say
Ballots were found burned and a voting center in Long Beach was vandalized in what could be two separate acts of attempted election interference ahead of the June 2 primary election, the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder announced Sunday.
The burned ballots were discovered inside an official ballot drop box at the Department of Public Social Services-Civic Center in Los Angeles, during routine ballot collections, according to the county registrar-recorder.
“Staff identified a limited number of vote-by-mail ballots that appeared to have sustained fire-related damage,” the county registrar-recorder said.
The fire happened sometime between the last ballot collection on Saturday and first ballot collection on Sunday, resulting in a “small number” of affected ballots, officials said.
On Sunday morning, vandalism was found at the voting center in Cesar E. Chavez Park in Long Beach. Election workers responded and voting operations were not disrupted, according to the county registrar-recorder.
The county registrar-recorder said that it is “carefully reviewing both incidents and working to identify any voters who may have been affected.”
Voters whose ballots were affected by the fire will be contacted directly and given information on how to recast their vote. Replacement ballots are a possibility, the county registrar-recorder said.
The county registrar-recorder has filed reports with the Los Angeles Police Department following the incidents. Los Angeles County Clerk Dean Logan issued a statement Sunday reminding the public that attempts to disrupt voting, damage election infrastructure, interfere with voters, or vandalize election facilities “will not be tolerated.”
“Our responsibility is to protect voters and ensure every eligible voter has the opportunity to cast a ballot,” Logan said. “Any attempt to interfere with voting or election operations is taken seriously. We will continue working closely with law enforcement and other partners to safeguard the voting process and ensure voters can participate with confidence.”
The public is encouraged to report any suspicious activity involving election materials, election facilities, or voting operations to the county registrar-recorder by calling (800) 815-2666.
Los Angeles, Ca
Rare, corpse flower double bloom underway at Huntington Library
Two rare corpse flowers have begun to bloom simultaneously at the Huntington Library in San Marino, the nonprofit organization announced Sunday evening.
Odorysseus, the taller of the two flowers, bloomed first. A second, smaller corpse flower named Odora appears to be following close behind.
The Huntington Library is inviting visitors to take in the flowers’ unique aroma, which is often compared to rotting flesh.
“And so it begins,” the Huntington Library wrote on social media.
Odora is shaped a bit differently than Odorysseus because its spadix is inverted due to a developmental irregularity. This is not expected to affect the blooming of the flower.
“Plot twist!” the Huntington Library wrote on Instagram. “Odora wants to steal the spotlight. Odora’s spathe has started opening, too. Tiny but mighty, we’re in for quite the show with a double bloom.”
The Huntington is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Monday, and is closed on Tuesdays. Reservations are required Friday through Sunday, on holidays, and during peak seasons. “Twilight stroll” hours are available on the Huntington’s website.
The public can also watch a live stream of the bloom on the organization’s YouTube channel.
Los Angeles, Ca
Rosemead High School student identified as teen stabbed to death in El Monte
Family members have identified 15-year-old Rosemead High School student Aziel Zacapala as the boy killed in a stabbing outside an elementary school in El Monte on July 10.
A candlelight vigil was held for Zacapala at the Rosemead skate park at 6 p.m. Saturday. The original location of the vigil was moved from 9700 Fern Street in El Monte, where the stabbing happened, as homicide detectives continue to investigate the scene.
Zacapala was one of three people stabbed during a fight that broke out on Fern Street around 1 p.m., according to information released by the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department and the El Monte Police Department. Authorities were called to a local emergency room that afternoon, where two adults and Zacapala were being treated for stab wounds.
Zacapala was pronounced dead at the hospital. The adult victims are in stable condition and expected to survive, authorities said.
A GoFundMe page created to help Zacapala’s family pay for funeral expenses described the slain teen as a “beloved nephew, friend, son and high school football player” … “whose life was tragically cut short.”
“Aziel was a good kid, full of promise and kindness, and he had big dreams of making it to the big leagues as a football player,” the GoFundMe page reads. “His absence leaves a deep void in our family and community.”
Zacapala, known as “AZ” by fellow Rosemead High School students, was playing football with friends at Rosemead Park’s Fourth of July event days before the suspected attack, his family said. Now his loved ones are asking for community support as they mourn his death.
“His mother, who is currently unemployed and raising two other young children — including a newborn — has been doing Instacart orders just to stay afloat,” the GoFundMe reads. “Now, she faces the overwhelming daily hardships of supporting her family during this devastating time.”
As of Saturday night, the GoFundMe has raised $16,000 of its $24,000 goal.
No suspects were found at the scene of the stabbing and no arrests have been made in the case, authorities said.
“Investigators are still working to determine whether more than one suspect was involved,” LASD deputies said Saturday morning. “Currently, there is no suspect description available.”
Anyone with information about the stabbings is asked to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500.
Los Angeles, Ca
19-year-old arrested, accused of distributing marijuana to minors across Riverside County
A 19-year-old suspect was arrested for the alleged distribution of marijuana to juveniles across Riverside County. Authorities identified the man as Manuel Guerra Meza, 19, of Coachella. On May 15, deputies from the Thermal Sheriff’s Station began investigating reports of a suspect who had been selling a variety of illicit substances to juveniles throughout the […]
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