Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
California
California map reveals areas with most high school dropouts
A map shows which counties in California have the highest percentage of high school dropouts.
To determine which counties had the highest percentage of dropouts, Newsweek analyzed the latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau which tracked the number of residents 25 and over with at least a high school diploma.
The analysis found that Monterey County had the highest percentage of high school dropouts, at 27.3 percent.
That was followed by Colusa County with 26.7 percent, Madera County with 26.4 percent and Merced County with 25.7 percent. Imperial County has 25.5 percent.
The counties with the highest number of high school graduates were all in northern California. Placer County had the lowest dropout rate, with just 4.4 percent. Other counties—including Trinity, Nevada, Shasta and Plumas—all had fewer than 6 percent.
Newsweek previously reported that California, the nation’s most populous state, ranks at the very bottom of U.S. states when it comes to the number of high school diploma holders. Just 84.7 percent of California residents aged 25 or over have graduated from high school, according to 2022 Census data.
However, the latest data from the California Department of Education has shown that students are graduating from high school at higher levels than before the COVID-19 pandemic.
The graduation rate for the class of 2023 was 86.2 percent—down about a percentage point from the previous year, but still higher than pre-pandemic levels.
The data was “encouraging,” State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond said in December, but “our work is not complete.”
Photo Illustration by Newsweek
“We have made an unprecedented investment in services that address the needs of the whole child,” Thurmond said. “We can see that those efforts are paying off, but this is only the beginning. We need to continue providing students with the tools they need to excel, especially now that we are successfully reengaging our students and families, so we can close gaps in achievement in the same way that we have begun to close the equity gaps in attendance and absenteeism.”
Students across the country have been absent at record rates since schools reopened during the COVID-19 pandemic, adding further challenges as schools work to help students recover from huge learning setbacks.
Those who end up dropping out of high school could face adverse consequences well into adulthood, according to Jennifer Lansford, a research professor of public policy at the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University.
“The long-term consequences of dropping out of high school can be very negative for individuals who drop out, their families, and society as a whole,” Lansford told Newsweek.
She pointed to research that she and colleagues carried out using data from children that were followed from the age of 5 until 27.
That research found that individuals who dropped out of high school were nearly four times more likely to be receiving government assistance, were twice as likely to have been fired two or more times, and were more than three times more likely to have been arrested since the age of 18.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
California
California man arrested for impersonating bank official, coercing money from Colorado victim
A 25-year-old California man is charged with three felonies after intercepting a package in Colorado containing $11,000 in cash he allegedly obtained via a computer scam.
Earlier this year, a Mesa County resident contacted authorities after receiving a message. The sender reportedly claimed to be an employee of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). The FDIC is an independent agency created by the Congress that insures and oversees the banking industry.
The resident claimed the purported FDIC representative stated the resident’s bank account had been compromised and needed to be secured. The resident was instructed to send cash from the account to an address in southern California, according to the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office.
The resident later chose to stop the shipment. But, according to the sheriff’s office, the box containing the cash was already in the process of being shipped.
A man later identified as Youbin Huang of El Monte, Calif., a Los Angeles suburb, came to the package’s location in Grand Junction and picked it up using documents which contained the Colorado resident’s personal information, per the sheriff’s office.
A nationwide warrant for Haung’s arrest was issued by the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office on Feb. 25. Huang was arrested by the California State Patrol on April 13, according to a press release from the sheriff’s office. Huang was brought to Colorado and booked into the Mesa County Detention Facility on May 10.
Huang is charged with theft, identity theft, and computer fraud, all felonies, and all state charges. He was advised June 11 and posted an $11,000 cash bond to obtain his release from jail that day. He has another court hearing on July 9.
The Mesa County Sheriff’s Office stated in its press release that Huang was “intimately involved in the perpetration of the scam.” It did not specifically state that Huang acted alone, nor if he was the person who impersonated an FDIC employee and communicated with the Colorado resident online.
MCSO recommended Coloradans never give out their personal or financial information to an unsolicited caller, allow remote access to their phones or computers, send gift cards or crypto currency as a form of payment, or send cash in the mail. As well, if they are unsure about what they are being asked to do, call law enforcement, family members, or a trusted friend to get advice.
Massive fire erupts at Boyle Heights cold storage facility
The blaze began on the roof’s solar panels before an interior ammonia leak and explosions forced rare, defensive aerial water drops on the 491,000-square-foot warehouse.
Fox – LA
A smoke advisory remains in place across Boyle Heights after a flare-up at a cold-storage warehouse fire, with officials urging residents to limit outdoor exposure as smoky conditions spread.
Public health officials warned Saturday that smoke from the South Los Palos Street blaze had drifted into surrounding neighborhoods, advising people to stay indoors, close windows, and avoid breathing in the smoke.
The blaze began shortly after 2:30 p.m. Wednesday at 1400 S. Los Palos St., and rapidly spread across the solar panels on the roof of the 491,000-square-foot warehouse, while an ammonia leak developed inside the building and thick smoke billowed into the air, prompting shelter-in-place orders for nearby residents and businesses.
LAFD officials said Saturday that crews spent the night working to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby homes and other units in the complex, including an adjacent cold storage facility.
“The good news is, all of our air monitoring that has been done by our department, Hazmat, LA County Hazmat, as well as AQMD, has shown that there are no additional toxic chemicals or hazards within that smoke other than normal structure fire smoke,” LAFD Capt. Branden Silverman said. “That said, no smoke is good smoke. We know that people are being affected by this in our city as well as LA County’s jurisdiction, and we do want you to take precautions to avoid that smoke whenever possible.”
This is a breaking news story. Check back later for more details.
Smoke advisory in effect; residents urged to limit exposure
The South Coast Air Quality Management District has extended a particle pollution advisory through at least midday Saturday as smoke from the fire continues to drift across Boyle Heights, East Los Angeles and nearby communities.
While shelter-in-place orders issued earlier in the week have been lifted, officials emphasized that smoky air remains a concern.
Fire officials said visible smoke may increase at times as crews continue suppression efforts, though there is no additional hazard beyond the smoke itself.
- Health guidance remains consistent:
- Use air purifiers or air conditioning if available
- Stay indoors with windows and doors closed
- Avoid outdoor activity, especially for sensitive groups
Fire reignites after wind shift; crews brace for ongoing flare-ups
The fire, which began Wednesday afternoon at a roughly 500,000-square-foot cold-storage facility, flared up again Friday evening after a shift in wind conditions, sending black and white smoke billowing into the sky.
Los Angeles Fire Department officials have described the incident as complex, warning the fire will likely “ebb and flow” due to deep-seated flames inside the structure and difficult access conditions.
Firefighters remain largely limited to exterior operations due to safety concerns inside the building, continuing to pour water onto the structure and targeting hotspots.
No injuries have been reported.
Shelters open as precaution; officials stress safety
Although there are no evacuation orders, officials have opened temporary shelters for residents seeking relief from smoke or uncomfortable conditions, according to a statement by Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Hilda Solis.
Shelters include:
- City Terrace Park, 1126 N. Hazard Ave.
- Pecan Recreation Center, 145 S. Pecan St.
Los Angeles County leaders said the sites were opened “out of an abundance of caution” as firefighting operations continue.
Residents are also being urged to:
- Monitor air quality alerts
- Keep pets indoors
- Wear masks if going outside
What caused the Boyle Heights fire?
Officials and the facility operator, Lineage Logistics, say the blaze appears to be linked to rooftop solar panels on the warehouse, though the exact cause remains under investigation.
The blaze spread across rooftop solar panels before firefighters discovered flames burning deep inside the cold‑storage areas, complicating containment efforts.
Fire officials noted that the structure’s size and layout — along with hazards such as stored equipment and limited access — have required unusual tactics, including the use of water-dropping helicopters typically used on wildfires.
Where is Boyle Heights?
Boyle Heights is a densely populated neighborhood just east of downtown Los Angeles, bordered by major freeways including the 101 and 5. It sits near East Los Angeles and is home to residential communities, schools, and industrial sites, including the cold-storage warehouse where the fire is burning.
City News Service contributed to this report.
A California man was arrested on suspicion of committing lewd acts and exploiting minors through online platforms.
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office identified the suspect as Edward “Eddie” Alessandro Zarate, 20, of Santa Maria.
On May 28, authorities began investigating Zarate over allegations that he was communicating with underage girls online and exchanging sexually explicit material with them.
Detectives later learned that Zarate allegedly communicated with minor victims through mobile phone apps such as Whipd, Purp, Wizz and Snapchat, along with exchanging text messages.
Zarate’s profiles appeared to portray him as a juvenile.
“Once he established communication with minors, he would often encourage them to move conversations off the platform and continue communicating via text message,” the sheriff’s department said. “During these conversations, Zarate would disclose his true age and identity.”
So far, authorities are aware of two female juveniles who have met with Zarate in person and reportedly engaged in lewd acts.
He is accused of communicating with minors in multiple states including California, Florida and Illinois. In California alone, detectives believe Zarate contacted minors from Los Angeles, Oxnard, Santa Barbara, San Diego, Santa Maria, Lompoc, Paso Robles, Nipomo, Arroyo Grande and San Francisco.
“Based on the scope of the investigation, detectives believe there may be additional survivors who have not yet been identified,” authorities said.
On June 10, Zarate was arrested and booked on multiple felony charges including oral copulation with a person under 18 years of age, unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, sending harmful matter to a minor, and two counts of possession of obscene material depicting a minor.
Anyone who may be a victim, has communicated with Zarate online or through text or has information on the case is asked to call Sheriff’s Detectives at 805-681-4150. Anonymous tips can be provided to the SBSD’s tipline at 805-681-4171 or online at SBSheriff.org.
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