California
The most beautiful Virgin of Guadalupe shrine in Southern California
Good morning. I’m Gustavo Arellano, a Metro columnist for The Times, which means I’m allowed to express opinions.
Like: La Virgen de Guadalupe is cool.
But before I get into that, here’s what you need to know to start your day.
An O.C. shrine to the Empress of the Americas
Thursday was the feast day of the Virgin of Guadalupe, the apparition of the Virgin Mary that the Catholic Church maintains appeared before St. Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin throughout December 1531 in what’s now modern-day Mexico City. Her image is part of Southern California’s visual landscape: a pregnant, brown-skinned woman in a green veil with her hands clasped in prayer and an angel underneath her feet. She beautifies walls in the form of murals, looms over front yards and backyards in small home altars, adorns lowriders, decorates candles and has even appeared as a water stain on a sidewalk in Artesia.
If you are Mexican and Catholic, there’s a good chance you either stayed up late on Wednesday night or got up early Thursday morning to attend one of the many celebrations for la Virgen across the Southland. I was one of the latter. My place of worship: the massive shrine to Guadalupe constructed by Luis Cantabrana every December for the last 14 years at his house on the corner of Broadway and Camile Street in Santa Ana.
Even if you’re not a person of faith, you can’t help but to stand in awe at this living piece of folk art.
Cantabrana, a native of the Mexican state of Nayarit, covers the left and right side of his Craftsman-style home in green and red Christmas lights to mimic the Mexican flag. The porch is covered in fake roses, from its pillars to ceiling to gable, where Cantabrana places a small Guadalupe statue in its apex. On his home’s sloping roof, Cantabrana fashions a Mexican tricolor cross out of more Christmas lights, which he uses to also spell out “Virgen de Guadalupe” at the base of a second-story gable, where Cantabrana puts another Guadalupe statue.
The centerpiece is the 4-foot tall statue of Guadalupe that stands before what’s usually Cantabrana’s front door. Every year, he changes the theme of her background. In 2023, it was a shot of a Southwestern desert landscape; this year, it’s a forest scene complete with the front steps covered in wrinkled blue sheets meant to mimic a waterfall. They wrap around brown sheets bunched up to form faux rocks.
“People always tell me there are no other altars like this one and every year it gets better,” Cantabrana told De Los last year.
This is no mere neighborhood holiday display contest, though. The guadalupano (devotee of Guadalupe) breaks down the fence around his front lawn to fit tents festooned with red, white and green papel picado. Every night from Dec. 3 through the 12th, Cantabrana lines up rows of chairs to host nightly rosaries, handing out pan dulce and hot drinks — cinnamon tea, champurrado, ponche — at the end.
Visitors flock to Luis Cantabrana’s home in Santa Ana every December to pay their respects to the Virgin of Guadalupe.
(J. Emilio Flores / For De Los)
I’ve been posting photos of this scene every year on Instagram for at least a decade (in 2022, Meta bizarrely took down my Guadalupe post because the company said it promoted violence and hate speech). I’ve gone to Cantabrana’s rosaries, and also to the big celebration on the night of Dec. 11, when Aztec dancers perform in front of hundreds.
This year, I decided to show up at 4 a.m., the traditional time for Mexicans to serenade Guadalupe with mañanitas — our traditional birthday song.
As a proud guadalupano, I was hoping that Cantabrana would host something even more spectacular than anything I’ve seen him do all these years. Instead, all the lights were turned off. I was the only person there.
Even Guadalupe needs to rest, I guess.
I thought about going to one of the two nearby Santa Ana parishes named Our Lady of Guadalupe to warm up. But the Empress of the Americas didn’t deserve to be alone so early in the morning of her feast day. Besides, the scene was gorgeous. All that illuminated us were dozens of votive candles at the base of her feet, most bearing Guadalupe’s resplendent image. The chilly air was fragrant with hundreds of real roses left behind by the faithful. Another large Guadalupe statue — this one topped with a crown — accompanied Cantabrana’s centerpiece.
Someone had placed a bathroom mat on the walkway. I knelt down, recited a few Hail Marys in Spanish and then softly sang the two hymns most associated with Guadalupe’s day: “Las Mañanitas” and “La Guadalupana.” A truck warming up across the street was my musical accompaniment.
Cantabrana will keep up his display until Jan. 6, the Feast of the Epiphany (which Latinos mark as the Día de los Reyes Magos — The Three Wise Men). Swing by and stare in wonder. Leave a couple of bucks in the donation bucket to help Cantabrana pay for his masterwork. And if you know of a better home display that’s visible to the public in Southern California, email me at gustavo.arellano@latimes.com so I can check it out. ¡Que viva la Virgen de Guadalupe!
Today’s top stories
Firefighters battle the Franklin fire next to a business along Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu Tuesday.
(Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
Could Southern California’s high fire threat linger into the New Year?
- By this time of year, Southern California has usually had some measurable rainfall and Santa Ana winds have typically died down. This year, neither is the case.
- Two recent stretches of dangerous Santa Ana winds played out exactly the way forecasters worried they would. And Similar conditions are likely to remain a threat across the Southland, given the latest forecast and climate trends.
Outdoor dining in Los Angeles got a last-minute reprieve
- Mayor Karen Bass this week extended a pandemic-era outdoor dining program that was set to expire at the end of the year. Restaurant owners now have until the end of 2025 to make their outdoor spaces permanent.
- The extension comes as restaurants continue to face a tough time. Higher labor costs, increased food prices and pandemic fallout have forced many L.A.-area restaurants to shut their doors.
After losing reelection, San Francisco Mayor London Breed says she is leaving office as “a winner”
- After tackling a series of crises, including entrenched homelessness and the COVID-19 pandemic, Breed said she leaves office with her head held high.
- Her track record in the face of these challenges became a decisive factor in the mayor’s race. Breed lost to Daniel Lurie, a nonprofit executive and heir to the Levi Strauss family fortune who has never held elected office.
The powerful earthquake in Northern California last week prompted an endangered fish to get busy
- The magnitude 7.0 earthquake that rattled a large swath of Northern California likely increased spawning activity in the Devils Hole pupfish in an effort to to protect their population, scientists said.
- The pupfish were labeled an endangered species in 1967. The population hit an all-time low of 35 fish in 2013. But scientists found 191 pupfish in April — the highest spring count since 1999.
What else is going on
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- Trump-friendly billionaires are taking aim at the federal agencies that protect workers and consumers, business columnist Michael Hiltzik writes.
- Gov. Newsom’s failure to close Aliso Canyon is hurting us all, climate columnist Sammy Roth writes.
- Christopher Wray just broke a prime rule of dealing with Donald Trump, columnist Jackie Calmes writes.
- The U.S. should not yet trust Syria’s new regime, writes Matthew Levitt, a senior fellow and director of the program on counterterrorism and intelligence at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.
This morning’s must reads
(Ayman Oghanna / For The Times)
Amid the joy after Assad’s ouster, Syrians search for their missing. Loved ones are now searching for the estimated 150,000 people who were detained and disappeared in Bashar Assad’s Syrian government gulags, reports Times foreign correspondent Nabih Bulos.
“It’s my second day searching. I’ve gone to all the hospitals here in Damascus. So far nothing,” said a 32-year-old man who was looking among the unidentified dead for a brother he last saw in 2011. “My parents don’t dare to come. They don’t want to go through this.”
Other must reads
How can we make this newsletter more useful? Send comments to essentialcalifornia@latimes.com.
For your downtime
Death & Co.’s freshly baked chocolate chip cookies give Santa’s regular milk-and-cookies combo a run for its money.
(Stephanie Breijo / Los Angeles Times)
Going out
- 🍪 Looking for holiday-inspired cookies? Some of L.A.’s best bakeries may satisfy your craving for nostalgic sweets.
- 🛳️ Away from the cruise ship passengers and conventioneers, you’ll find people passionate about their own unique corners of Long Beach.
- 🌌 The micro amusement park Two Bit Circus returns as a pop-up in Santa Monica that includes a “space elevator.”
Staying in
And finally … your great photo of the day
People watch a sunset at Hilltop Park in Signal Hill in 2008.
(John Galloway)
Today’s great photo is from John Galloway of New Castle, Pa.: Hilltop Park in Signal Hill.
John writes: “Hilltop Park is one of my favorite places in Southern California. I spent many hours there over the 43 years I lived in Lakewood — from a place to take a date or just chill to watch a sunset.”
Show us your favorite place in California! Send us photos you have taken of spots in California that are special — natural or human-made — and tell us why they’re important to you.
Have a great day, from the Essential California team
Ryan Fonseca, reporter
Defne Karabatur, fellow
Andrew Campa, Sunday reporter
Hunter Clauss, multiplatform editor
Christian Orozco, assistant editor
Stephanie Chavez, deputy metro editor
Karim Doumar, head of newsletters
Check our top stories, topics and the latest articles on latimes.com.
Vance says Trump cares about Americans finances amid Iran debate
Vance pushes back on claims about Trump and says Americans finances matter as the administration weighs Iran and nuclear diplomacy.
Vice President JD Vance announced on Wednesday, May 13 that the Trump administration will be deferring $1.3 billion in Medicaid reimbursements from the state of California, as part of a new initiative to root out fraud in federal health programs.
The topic of California’s hospice care fraud has been a major focus of scrutiny by state leadership, members of President Donald Trump’s administration, and Gov. Gavin Newsom’s critics. In his announcement, Vance claimed that the administration was set on deferring these funds “because the state of California has not taken fraud very seriously.”
“There are California taxpayers and American taxpayers who are being defrauded because California isn’t taking its program seriously,” Vance said during a press conference.
Notably, this decision was part of Vance’s Anti-Fraud Task Force’s plan to implement a six-month nationwide, data-driven moratorium on new Medicare enrollment for hospices and home health agencies.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which is led by Dr. Mehmet Oz, is set to use this six-month moratorium to conduct investigations and review data on Medicare programs, with the hopes of removing hospice and home health agencies that are suspected of committing fraud.
“Today we’re shutting the door on fraud — preventing new bad actors from entering Medicare while we aggressively identify, investigate, and remove those already exploiting them,” Oz said. “This is about protecting patients, restoring integrity, and safeguarding taxpayer dollars.”
California Attorney General Rob Bonta called the administration’s action “unlawful” and noted that his office would be “carefully reviewing all available information” and may challenge the administration’s decision to threaten “Californians’ rights or access to critical services.”
“Once again, California appears to be targeted solely for political reasons,” Bonta said on X.
“The Trump Administration is planning to defer over $1 billion in Medicaid funding for vital programs that help seniors and people with disabilities remain safely in their homes.”
Bonta and his office have attempted to counteract criticism that the state does not take action against hospice fraud.
In April, Bonta announced that the California Department of Justice had arrested five people in connection with a major health care scheme in Southern California that defrauded taxpayers of nearly a quarter of a billion dollars.
“For years, California has led the charge to protect public programs from fraud and abuse,” Newsom said in the press release on April 10. “We hold accountable to the fullest extent of the law anyone who tries to rip off taxpayers and take advantage of public programs, particularly those as sensitive as hospice care.”
Newsom has yet to publicly respond to the administration’s decision to defer California’s Medicaid reimbursement.
However, shortly after Vance made the announcement, Newsom’s press office blasted the decision on X.
“We hate fraud. But that’s NOT what this is,” Newsom’s press office posted on X. “Vance and Oz are attacking programs that keep seniors and people with disabilities OUT of nursing homes. Pretty sick.”
Noe Padilla is a Northern California Reporter for USA Today. Contact him at npadilla@usatodayco.com, follow him on X @1NoePadilla or on Bluesky @noepadilla.bsky.social. Sign up for the TODAY Californian newsletter or follow us on Facebook at TODAY Californian.
California
California girls’ track and field stars speak out as Gavin Newsom’s Title IX crisis grows
Reese Hogan would have a very different set of medals if the rules were different in California.
It’s her third straight year competing against a trans athlete in the California girls’ track and field state tournament. She would have taken first place in the high jump all to herself in the sectional preliminaries last Saturday, if only biological females were allowed to compete.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Now she’ll compete against a trans athlete in the sectional finals this weekend, representing her Christian high school, Crean Lutheran. It will mark one year since she went viral on social media for stepping up from the second-place spot on a medal podium up to first place, after a trans athlete who took first place stepped off.
“This is my third year competing against a transgender athlete, and last year I was stripped away of a CIF Title, and I basically worked my whole career to get to that point,” Hogan said on “Fox News at Night” on Tuesday. “It’s just really dissapointing to go into a competition knowing you already lost.”
CALIFORNIA TRACK ATHLETE BRIEFLY POSES ON 1ST-PLACE PODIUM AFTER LOSING TO TRANS ATHLETE, RECEIVES PRAISE
Her Crean Lutheran teammate, Olivia Viola, has been right there with Hogan throughout the three years of competition against trans athletes.
“I haven’t heard nearly enough adults come out and say anything. A lot of them like to say that they agree with you, that they’re proud of you for speaking up now, but they won’t do it themselves,” Viola said. “Just because it doesn’t affect every adult out there doesn’t mean it’s not worth standing up for.”
California has legally allowed biological males to compete in girls’ sports since a state law was enacted in 2013. The state’s education agencies are engaged in a federal Title IX lawsuit with President Donald Trump’s administration for commitment to upholding that state law.
A source at Governor Gavin Newsom’s office previously provided a statement to Fox News Digital in response to news that a “Save Girls Sports” rally, which the two girls attended, would be held at last Saturday’s meet.
“The Governor has said discussions on this issue should be guided by fairness, dignity, and respect. He rejects the right wing’s cynical attempt to weaponize this debate as an excuse to vilify individual kids. The Governor’s position is simple: stand with all kids and stand up to bullies,” the statement read.
“California is one of 22 states that have laws requiring students be permitted to participate in sex-segregated school sports consistent with their gender identity. California passed this law in 2013 (AB 1266) and it was signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown.”
At the rally, Hogan spoke and fired back at Newsom’s office for the statement.
“The recent statements coming from Governor Gavin Newsom’s office have made it clear that there is no intention of creating a safe, fair, and equitable environment for female high school athletes. Him and his office have gone as far as calling young girls bullies for speaking up for what we believe in,” Hogan said.
“The governor himself has admitted that males competing in women’s sports is unfair, yet nothing is being done to protect girls who train every day to compete on a level playing field.”
CALIFORNIA ATHLETE SAYS SHE CHANGES CLOTHES IN HER CAR TO AVOID SHARING A LOCKER ROOM WITH TRANS ATHLETE
California high school girls wear “Protect Girls Sports” shirts at a postseason track meet at Yorba Linda High School on May 10, 2025. (Reese Hogan/Courtesy of Reese Hogan)
Viola also rejected the “bully” assertion in Tuesday’s interview.
“I think his statement is manipulative, and it’s just completely untrue,” Viola said. “He’s saying stand up for all kids, yet he’s essentially trying to silence us… these girls are not bullies. They make a point, we all make an point to say we are not against any individual athlete, we are against California’s policies,” Viola said.
“We believe athletes deserve dignity and respect, and that’s why we believe women deserve the dignity of having their own category.”
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Crean Lutheran High School senior track and field star Reese Hogan speaks at a ‘Save Girls Sports’ rally. (Courtesy of Alyssa Cruz)
Both Viola and Hogan will compete at the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Southern Section Final on Saturday in Moorpark, California.
And just like last year, there will be a podium ceremony after the competitions.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
With California’s June 2nd primary election nearing, Republican candidates for governor, Steve Hilton and Sheriff Chad Bianco, are set to appear at a forum in Clovis.
The Fresno County & City Republican Women Federated is hosting its “Celebrating 250 Years of America Dinner” and a gubernatorial forum on Friday, May 22nd, at The Regency Event Center, 1600 Willow Ave., in Clovis.
The forum will be moderated by State Senator Shannon Grove.
The discussion is expected to focus on major issues facing Californians, with questions presented via video by a panel of state and local figures, including Fresno County District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp on public safety and crime; former Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims on border control and citizenship; William Bourdeau of Bourdeau Farms LLC on water rights and agricultural issues; California state Assemblymember David Tangipa on taxation and fiscal responsibility; Jonathan Keller of the California Family Council on parental rights and education; and Matthew Dildine, CEO of Fresno Mission, on homelessness and mental health.
Clovis Mayor Pro Tem Diane Pearce and Fresno County Supervisor Nathan Magsig are listed as masters of ceremonies.
Doors are scheduled to open at 4:30 p.m., followed by a social hour at 5 p.m. Dinner and the program are set for 6 p.m.
Attire is listed as cocktail or business formal. Organizers said a portion of the proceeds will benefit the Veterans Home of California – Fresno.
GOP California governor candidates to face off at Clovis forum ahead of primary (Courtesy: Fresno County & City Republican Women Federated)
[RELATED] Top-two primary could pit same-party rivals as crowded Democratic field fractures votes
“This forum comes at a pivotal moment for our state,” FCCRWF event organizers said. “Bringing the top Republican gubernatorial candidates to Clovis allows Valley families, farmers, and business owners to get real answers on the issues that affect their daily lives, from water infrastructure to public safety and the skyrocketing cost of living.”
Individual tickets are $150, with discounts offered to FCCRWF members.
Table sponsorships are available at the $1,500, $2,500 and $5,000 levels.
Tickets and sponsorships are available online at FresnoRepublicanWomen.org.
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