California
I took my son to California for his birthday, and he planned the itinerary. Embracing my kids' interests helps me stay close to them.
When my son was younger, there were times I wondered whether he’d ever stop talking about his interests. From detailed stories of his latest “Minecraft” session to chattering about his favorite Marvel superheroes, it seemed there weren’t enough hours in the day for him to tell me things. But whoever said “the days are long but the years are short” was right, and in a blink I found myself facing my son’s 17th birthday — his last before technically becoming an adult.
My son and I still talk quite a bit, whether discussing horror movies or analyzing his dating life, but between his first part-time job and getting his driver’s license, I see and hear from him less these days. For his birthday, I let him plan the itinerary for a trip to California — just him and me.
For nearly a week, we hit the Universal and Disneyland theme parks, saw movies in historic theaters, and ate lots of cheeseburgers. It was pretty incredible, both to spend dedicated time with him and to see him embrace the things that interest him most.
Embracing his interests over the years helped shape the trip
Courtesy of Terri Peters
I’ve learned the best way to stay close to my kids is to embrace what interests them. My son is very interested in film, so when he told me he wanted to “go to the restaurant David Lynch always went to” while we were in Los Angeles, I turned to Google. “Do you mean the Bob’s Big Boy in Burbank?” I asked.
Lynch, the director behind “Twin Peaks” who died earlier this year, was known to visit the iconic restaurant for a coffee and a chocolate milkshake most afternoons, so we did, too. It was a seemingly silly stop, but one that will be a core memory for both of us.
We’ve always enjoyed going to theme parks together
Courtesy of Terri Peters
When my kids were younger, we visited Central Florida theme parks nearly every weekend. Now, they have their own lives and social schedules, so we go less frequently. Still, when we talked about a trip to California, my son said, “Can we go to Disneyland and Universal Studios Hollywood?”
It was a reminder that when you build memories with your kids when they’re small, those things stick. We had a great time on rides at Disneyland and doing a movie studio backlot tour at Universal, things we may not have added to our itinerary had we not gone when he was younger.
He’s developed his own interests, too
Courtesy of Terri Peters
My son’s biggest request on our trip was to visit as many historic theaters in California as possible. While staying at Disneyland, we took a drive to Santa Ana to visit an arthouse movie theater he discovered while planning the trip. In Los Angeles, we saw “Sinners” at Universal CityWalk in 70 mm Imax, a filming style my film-enthusiast son said “was the way it was meant to be seen” and something definitely not offered in our small Florida town.
Film is my son’s passion, so I was content to tag along. Part of growing up is learning what makes you happiest, and seeing my kid delight in visiting historic theaters and seeing a movie every single day of our trip made me happy, even if my vacation preferences are more along the lines of lounging poolside and trying distinctive restaurants.
I’m proud I’ve raised such an interesting human being
Courtesy of Terri Peters
Our trip wasn’t just movie theaters and theme parks. My son also requested we visit the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles and begged to visit stores that sold “physical media” (the film-nerd term for hard copies of movies) so he could add to his 4K Blu-ray collection. He ate 10 cheeseburgers over our weeklong trip, including two visits to In-N-Out Burger, a chain we love but do not have on the East Coast. Though I let him have the reins throughout the trip, I ended up having an amazing time, too.
Our routine has changed over the years, from storytime snuggles and Lego-building contests to college planning and navigating the teenage years. I’m so thankful I took the time to listen when he waxed poetic about video games and comic books for hours on end. Without those moments, he’d probably not include me in his interests today, and his interests are pretty cool, in my opinion.
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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