EPA addresses public concerns over location of Eaton fire hazardous waste staging area

• February 5, 2025

By David Wilson, SCNG staff writer, and Jarret Liotta, correspondent

At this point, Azusa’s City Council can’t stop the sorting of hazardous fire debris at the Lario Staging Area, but on Monday night its members asked representatives of the Environmental Protection Agency to at least provide residents with answers and assurances to their concerns.

A number of people brought questions and concerns to the council’s regular meeting about the federal officials’ decision to use the parcel of government-owned land along W. Foothill Blvd. to sort hazardous materials from the Eaton fire.

EPA crews have been collecting hazardous materials from homes and businesses within the footprint of both the Palisades and Eaton fires during the first of two phases of  the debris-removal process.

Phase two will be the much larger effort led by the Army Corps of Engineers to remove the remaining debris.

Residents and local officials alike have expressed consternation, saying they were left outside of the decision-making loop.

“To a fault, yes, we were not communicated with and we can pound this table and complain that we should have been told, but at the end of the day it has to be done,” Mayor Robert Gonzales told Harry Allen, the EPA’s on-scene coordinator for the site.

“For me, I hope tonight that I can relay a message … We need assurances … We need to have a long-term commitment … I want a commitment that you’re not gonna forget about Azusa when you pack up and leave,” Gonzales said.

“You’re doing the work but who’s checking that work?” he said.

Talking through a presentation that included some short video clips of workers loading materials, Allen said there would be no long-term effects from use of the location, with air and dust tests taking place during the operation, with the Army Corps of Engineers, which manages the site, maintaining water-quality tests.

“The decision itself was made by President Trump, directing us to get this job done,” Allen said, within a 30-day window, by Feb. 25, in part to support homeowners returning to their residences as soon as possible.

“We looked at many sites between the Eaton footprint and where we are now … sites that are open, that are flat, that we can get trucks in and out of,” he said, explaining that some potentially suitable locations closer to the fire were already being used by different emergency personnel.

“Now that they’re leaving, we’re re-evaluating those sites to try to get them,” Allen said, noting that in order to get the job completed within the required timeframe, they definitely need additional staging areas to collect and sort the fire debris.

“We have to go to 6,600 properties in the Eaton fire footprint alone … It’s gonna be a long haul no doubt,” he said, with only two or three percent of the project done at this time.

Allen said things move quickly at the site itself, with material sorted as soon as it arrives. As designated containers are filled, they’re immediately loaded onto trucks, and once each truck is filled it leaves the site to take the materials to the appropriate processing facilities.

“We’ve done a lot of these staging areas … It’s become something that we’re particularly proficient at,” he said, noting there are hundreds of people working on the effort.

“It’s going to be a little longer than 30 days,” he said, but he doesn’t expect it to drag on for the five months the work took following the 2023 fires in Maui, Hawaii.

“We don’t expect that here because we were ordered to do it a lot faster,” Allen said.

Earlier Monday, Allen walked members of the media through the cleanup of two neighboring properties in Altadena, near Lake Avenue and Las Flores Drive.

While deadlines are often set in the wake of natural disasters, Allen called the timeline for the EPA on the Southern California fires particularly aggressive compared to the Lahaina response because the priorities were different.

“The desire was to do things slow and methodical there to respect the culture and also in that situation they didn’t let anybody back in because they wanted to protect particular cultural artifacts they wanted to protect the area so we were able to operate in there with a little more freedom,” Allen said.

Contractors, covered head to toe in personal protective equipment combed through the rubble of two homes and placed hazardous materials into bags. A worker suiting up to enter the burned zone used duct tape to seal his pants legs and sleeves.

Allen said hundreds of contractors as well as engineering consultants have been brought in to meet the time crunch.

On Monday, 24 EPA crews were spread across the Eaton fire footprint looking for materials such as paint, cleaners, solvents, oils, batteries, ammunition and pesticides. In addition, lithium-ion batteries need to be safely removed from items as small as digital cameras to electric vehicles.

Across the street from the homes crews worked on Monday was a burned out vehicle marked with blue tape in the shape of a lightning bolt indicating it had a lithium battery removed.

Each crew is made up of six to eight people. Each property can take anywhere from a couple hours to a whole day. The goal is for each team to complete several properties per day. The crews are working 12 hours a day several days a week.

Despite assurances, some residents remain cautiously concerned about bringing the materials to Azusa.

“The reality is that we don’t know what the long-term effects will be … the unintended consequences, things they are not planning for that, 20 years from now, our children are going to have to be dealing with,” resident Daisy Hernandez told the council.

“I’m really concerned … I strongly and totally and absolutely oppose the operation in our city,” she said.

Amy Cunningham of Azusa said she lives right near the site.

“A lot of older people live in that area and it’s not good for them,” she said. “It’s not good for me or my kids, either, to breathe that.”

“Why can’t they put that debris over there?” she said. “Why does it have to come to Azusa?”

Others also questioned the quality of the work of the contractors working with the EPA, with one reporting anecdotally that the trucks carrying materials have, in some cases, not been properly covered.

“It gets windy right there where they’re doing the operation,” Jose Aguilar of Duarte said, noting it was possible unhealthy materials could escape.

“It’ll be too late … How can they control whatever debris is flying all over?” he said. “Also, if it rains, how are they gonna control all of that?”

EPA representatives explained that there was covering on the ground under the main tent, where most of the work was being done. There were barricades to prevent water from going to or from the work area.

“I want to give you my commitment that I want to make it right and make it a positive experience,” Allen said.

​ Orange County Register 

Former Pasadena track star among residents to sue SoCal Edison after Eaton fire destroyed his home

• February 5, 2025

Walt Butler is known to his former neighbors around Altadena as a track star, car lover, gardener and community leader. For years, local residents routinely greeted the 83-year-old while walking their dogs past his home in the 2900 block of Santa Anita Avenue as he tended to his garden or worked on one of his classic cars.

But those comforting neighborhood encounters vanished forever on Jan. 7 when Butler and scores of others lost their homes as the devastating Eaton fire quickly swept through the community.

On Tuesday, Butler along with two other L.A. County residents, Luis Gonzalez and Denise Diaz Gonzalez, became part of a growing cadre of former Altadena residents to take legal action against Southern California Edison, claiming the utility’s equipment caused the blaze that destroyed their homes and thousands of other structures and killed at least 17 people.

More than a dozen other fire victims have filed lawsuits against the utility so far.

Butler, Gonzalez and Diaz Gonzales are represented by attorneys with L.A. Fire Justice, a coalition that has represented thousands of victims affected by wildfires, including the Camp and Lahaina fires, in lawsuits against utilities.

Doug Boxer, an attorney and the son of former California Sen. Barbara Boxer, is leading the coalition along with consumer advocate Erin Brockovich and trial attorney Mikal Watts. They are claiming the utility committed negligence and violated the public utilities code and health and safety code, among other allegations.

Southern California Edison’s investigation into whether or not its equipment sparked the fire is ongoing, said Kathleen Dunleavy, a spokesperson for the utility.

“It’s disappointing,” Dunleavy said Tuesday, “that plaintiffs’ attorneys appear to immediately approach the media when they should be sharing information with the authorities.”

Butler, who grew up in Pasadena, broke records as a runner at Pasadena High School, coached track and field at his alma mater, Pasadena City College, and ran Walt Butler Sport Shoes, where he sells and donates shoes to community members. On Jan. 7, when the Eaton fire broke out, Butler noticed the moon glowing a deep red. He tried to sleep, but he felt the wind shake his home and saw ash falling from the sky.

Wearing only his underwear, Butler ran from the home he had lived in since 1971.

“That was the race of my life,” said Butler, who in 2014 was inducted into the USA Track and Field Master’s Hall of Fame.

Butler’s girlfriend picked him up, and he slept 11 hours that night in a Ralph’s parking lot.

The Eaton fire destroyed his home and a lifetime of memories, including the awards he had collected since middle school and a contract Butler said he signed to play for the Denver Broncos years ago.

“I don’t mean to be a wimp,” he said through tears Tuesday, “but my whole life was there. All of my awards, my cars, everything.”

Allegations contained in the lawsuit are based in part of photos, videos and witness accounts. Staff with L.A. Fire Justice used photogrammetry to create a 3D model that showed the start of the Eaton fire. The digital recreation showed the blaze began below and around SCE transmission lines, a transmission tower and other equipment owned by the utility, Watts said in a presentation to media last week.

SCE’s equipment either made contact with dry vegetation or caused sparks to hit vegetation at the base of the transmission towers, igniting the wildfire, the lawsuit claims. After ignition, the Eaton fire moved downhill and grew to more than 14,000 acres.

Lawyers with L.A. Fire Justice claim the fire began because SCE created a utility infrastructure that passed electricity through exposed power lines that were near isolated areas with dry vegetation, failed to de-energize its power lines amid a red flag warning that brought strong winds and high fire threats to the area.

The utility also acted negligently by not using appropriate equipment and procedures to lower the risk of a wildfire in the Eaton fire area, including planned power shutoff inspections or de-energization in areas where winds were expected to be particularly high and removal of de-energized towers that were near other equipment in high wind areas, according to the lawsuit.

It also failed to properly inspect, repair, maintain and operate electrical equipment, create an appropriate distance between equipment and vegetation and use safety equipment that would prevent utility lines from touching each other or immediately de-energize the line if they had, the lawsuit said.

Butler, Gonzalez and Diaz Gonzalez lost personal property and enjoyment of that property but are also dealing with expenses related to the fire, including expenses for alternative living arrangements, evacuation, personal injuries and medical bills as well as lost wages, loss of earning capacity and business income and emotional distress, the lawsuit claimed.

While insurance plans might cover the cost of property that residents had in their homes, Boxer said it won’t be enough to rebuild a home.

“Everyone in this community has suffered great emotional distress and will continue to do so,” Boxer said. “We, as lawyers, will seek compensation for that emotional distress. Money can’t bring back your emotional well-being.”

L.A. Fire Justice is working with Pastor B.J. King, who runs Loveland Life Center in Altadena, to help residents find resources that he feels will help the community rather than take advantage of them in the aftermath of the Eaton fire.

He encouraged community members to research any lawyer or company offering them assistance and take their time before signing any documents to work with them.

“Get in touch with these people,” King said, “ask the hard questions and make sure that you hire somebody who’s going to make sure that your family is going to be made whole again.”

​ Orange County Register 

LAPD sergeant arrested hours after allegedly fleeing scene of fatal Tustin crash

• February 5, 2025

A Los Angeles police sergeant was behind bars Tuesday, Feb. 4 in connection with a hit-and-run that killed a 19-year-old man in Tustin.

Carlos Gonzalo Coronel of Buena Park was booked into the Orange County Jail on Sunday, according to court records.

He is accused of hitting 19-year-old Imanol Salvador Gonzalez of Santa Ana just before 4 a.m. Saturday near Nisson Road and Del Amo Avenue, according to Tustin police.

When officers responded to a “person down in the roadway” call, they saw the victim and debris from a car indicating a hit-and-run, police said.

Investigators later determined the suspect vehicle was a black 2021 Chevrolet Silverado crew cab pickup, police said. The registered owner of the vehicle was Coronel and he was subsequently arrested.

Coronel was due in court Tuesday afternoon on a probation violation accusation stemming from a DUI in 2011, according to court records. He pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor count of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs on Sept. 24, 2011.

According to court records, Coronel was originally sentenced to 129 hours of community service but failed to complete them, and his probation was revoked Dec. 26, 2012.

The Los Angeles Police Department issued a statement saying the agency is “committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity, professionalism, and accountability. We do not tolerate misconduct of any kind, and any violations of department policies or the public trust are taken seriously.

“All allegations of officer misconduct are thoroughly investigated, and appropriate action is taken to ensure accountability. Our commitment is to serve and protect the community with fairness, respect, and transparency,” the statement added.

It did not appear as of Tuesday that Coronel has had his Peace Officer Standards and Training Certification suspended.

Staff writer Nathaniel Percy contributed to this report.

​ Orange County Register 

Dodgers trade reliever Ryan Brasier to Cubs

• February 5, 2025

LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers found a taker for Ryan Brasier.

The Dodgers have reached agreement on a trade that will send the veteran reliever to the Chicago Cubs. The Dodgers are expected to receive a player to be named later or cash considerations.

After exploring trades involving Brasier but getting no traction, the Dodgers designated Brasier for assignment last week in order to clear a roster spot for the signing of free agent reliever Kirby Yates.

A veteran of eight major-league seasons with three teams (the Dodgers, Angels and Boston Red Sox), Brasier was acquired at midseason in 2023 after the Red Sox released him. He was very effective for the Dodgers, posting a 0.70 ERA in 39 appearances that season.

Injuries sidelined the 37-year-old Brasier and he pitched just 28 innings for the Dodgers in 2024 with a 3.54 ERA, 25 strikeouts and five walks. He made eight appearances during the Dodgers’ postseason run, starting two of their bullpen games on the way to the World Series title.

He is in the second year of a two-year, $9 million contract he signed with the Dodgers last February.

​ Orange County Register 

Under new GM Chad Bowden, USC football is building a front-office ‘super-team’

• February 5, 2025

LOS ANGELES — At first, when he joined Cincinnati’s staff in 2020, Perry Eliano was confused by the Bearcats’ director of recruiting. Well – not by him. More by the fact, really, that nobody inside the building called Chad Bowden by his first name.

Back then, they all called Bowden “GM.”

Perhaps, on the surface, it was a unique moniker for a 20-something kid just a couple of years removed from college life and a GA job. But Eliano quickly found it was an unofficial title of respect, given to a football mind and a recruiter who Eliano called “relentless.” For one junior day, at Cincinnati, Bowden and his team dressed up as “Men in Black” agents, complete with shades and black tie. They hosted one player on a visit who had nicknamed himself the “Slim Reaper,” and so a member of Bowden’s team wore a Grim Reaper mask to greet him. When coaches would assemble in the office on Monday or Tuesday nights to call recruits, Bowden and the recruiting staff would burst in and pass out shots of energy drink.

“As I got around, I was like, ‘Okay, this fits,’” said Eliano, who was then Cincinnati’s cornerbacks coach. “‘He is the general manager, around here.’”

Five years later, as Bowden has officially stepped into that GM title, first with College Football Playoff finalist Notre Dame and now USC, his role has expanded far beyond recruiting strategy. This is the era of borderline professionalization of college football, where USC athletic director Jen Cohen has confirmed the athletic department will invest the full $20.5 million permitted by the House v. NCAA settlement into revenue sharing with athletes. It will be Bowden’s job, among others, to construct, manage and negotiate with USC’s roster, with the resources he’s afforded by both the university and third-party NIL collective House of Victory.

And in the span of exactly 11 days since Bowden’s hire on Jan. 24, he and USC have completely redesigned a new-era personnel staff, as blue-blood programs are increasingly turning toward building NFL-style front offices. The Trojans have hired Zaire Turner, who worked with Bowden as Notre Dame’s director of player personnel, in a recruiting operations role. They’ve hired former Illinois player personnel director Dre Brown as an “executive director of scouting and personnel.” And Tuesday brought another behind-the-scenes bombshell, as Bowden has pried away Wisconsin GM Max Steinecker to work with him in a front-office role at USC, a source with knowledge of the situation confirmed to the Southern California News Group.

“It seems,” Steinecker told the SCNG, “like Chad is forming a little bit of a super-team.”

When news first circled in early January that USC was targeting a GM, one agent told the SCNG it was a “move they needed to make.” A source with knowledge of the situation, too, once said USC had known for months it needed to change its personnel infrastructure. And sweeping changes have suddenly come to a staff that – despite securing three straight top-20 recruiting classes under head coach Lincoln Riley – hasn’t quite been able to go toe-to-toe with programs like Oregon or Ohio State.

“I knew immediately, when USC hired Chad, that I knew what he was going for,” Steinecker said, as multiple sources have reported Bowden’s deal with USC is worth more than $1 million annually. “And I knew the amount that they were investing in him obviously showed that they were ready to continue to press and invest in this landscape of college football, which is really exciting for us.”

Steinecker’s hire, in particular, is a significant move, as he called it “incredibly challenging” to leave a top-tier role at Wisconsin and relationship with head coach Luke Fickell. But Steinecker has been tight with Bowden since both were assistants at Cincinnati, growing to lead recruiting efforts for a program that went 13-1 and made the CFP in 2021.

When COVID-19 hit and recruits were restricted from on-campus visits, Cincinnati’s staff came up with a gameday effort that Steinecker dubbed “Sin City Pride Corner,” the brainchild of Bowden. The Bearcats would set up two large televisions in the corner of the end zone during pre-game warm-ups, roll out a mock red-carpet, and go live on Instagram. Bowden, then, would dress in a full tuxedo and pull coaches on their way back to the locker room to speak directly to recruits watching their broadcasts.

“He’s a menace, and a lunatic, in the right way,” Steinecker said of Bowden, “in that he’ll take whatever it takes to get the job done.”

The job is complex at USC, and comes with plenty of pressure, after back-to-back seasons that haven’t gone according to plan. Between two years of defensive staff and personnel overhaul, though, Riley and Cohen have poured significant resources into improving USC’s infrastructure – and Bowden and his staff will be as important as any as the program tries to turn a corner.

“You couple him with all the things that USC has going,” Steinecker said of Bowden, “I think you’ve got the opportunity to go push for a national championship.”

​ Orange County Register 

Tax season has begun. Here’s when you’ll get your refund

• February 5, 2025

By CORA LEWIS

NEW YORK (AP) — Tax season is underway, and the IRS expects 140 million people will file returns by April 15. The agency has also debuted a new online tool to help taxpayers check the status of any refund they may be entitled to.

President Donald Trump this week offered all federal employees a buyout package in an effort to reduce the size of the government workforce, which could impact IRS staffing at an important period for the agency, though it’s not yet clear how. The IRS did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Here’s what to know:

When will I receive my refund?

If you file your tax return electronically, the IRS says it should take 21 days or less to receive your refund. If you choose to receive your refund with direct deposit, it should take even less time. If you file a paper return, the refund could take four weeks or more, and if your return requires amendments or corrections, it could take longer.

The IRS cautions taxpayers not to rely on receiving a refund by a certain date, especially when making major purchases or paying bills.

How can I check the status of my refund?

Taxpayers can use the online tool Where’s My Refund? to check the status of their income tax refund within 24 hours of e-filing and generally within four weeks of filing a paper return.

Information related to this tool is updated once daily, overnight. To access the status of your refund, you’ll need:

— Your Social Security or individual taxpayer ID number (ITIN)

— Your filing status

— The refund amount calculated on your return

How do refunds work?

If you paid more through the year than you owe in tax, due to withholding or other reasons, you should get money back. Even if you didn’t pay excess tax, you may still get a refund if you qualify for a refundable credit, like the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or Child Tax Credit. To get your refund, you must file a return, and you have three years to claim a tax refund.

Do I qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)?

To qualify for the EITC, you must have under $11,600 in investment income and earn less than a specific income level from working. If you’re single with no children, your income level must be $18,591 or below. And if you’re married filing jointly with three or more children, you must make $66,819 or below. To determine if your household qualifies based on your marital status and your number of dependents you can use the online EITC Assistant tool.

What about the Child Tax Credit?

If you have a child, you are most likely eligible for the Child Tax Credit. The credit is up to $2,000 per qualifying child. To qualify, a child must:

— Have a Social Security number

— Be under age 17 at the end of 2024

— Be claimed as a dependent on your tax return

You qualify for the full amount of the Child Tax Credit for each qualifying child if you meet all eligibility factors and your annual income is not more than $200,000 ($400,000 if filing a joint return).

What’s different this year?

The IRS has expanded a program that allows people to file their taxes directly with the agency for free. The federal Direct File program, which permits taxpayers to calculate and submit their returns without using commercial tax preparation software, is now available to taxpayers in 25 states, up from 12 states that were part of last year’s pilot program.

The program allows people in some states with very simple W-2s to calculate and submit their returns directly to the IRS. Those using the pilot program in 2024 claimed more than $90 million in refunds, the IRS said in October.

The Associated Press receives support from Charles Schwab Foundation for educational and explanatory reporting to improve financial literacy. The independent foundation is separate from Charles Schwab and Co. Inc. The AP is solely responsible for its journalism.

​ Orange County Register 

15 trades that rocked Southern California sports, from Chamberlain to Doncic

• February 5, 2025

Luka Doncic hardly is the first superstar to be traded to or from a local team, but the newest Laker brings with him such a rare combination of a sensational track record and so much promise for the future that this feels different.

Doncic, who was acquired Saturday from the Dallas Mavericks, was introduced Tuesday at the team’s practice facility in El Segundo, sparking comparisons to other game-changing players who arrived in the region via trade.

Here’s a chronological look at 15 trades that shook the local sports scene, starting with the first by the Lakers that led to a championship and ending with the Doncic deal:

Wilt Chamberlain to the Lakers, July 9, 1968: Chamberlain already had a title and four MVP awards when the Lakers landed him just before he turned 32, but he helped the Lakers reach the NBA Finals four times and win it all in 1972 – the season that included their record 33-game winning streak.

Nolan Ryan to the Angels, Dec. 10, 1971: Forget that GM Buzzie Bavasi later let him go with the insult that he could replace him with two 8-7 pitchers. For a time, the Angels had the most exciting pitcher in baseball, and he threw four of his record seven no-hitters and a modern-era record 383 strikeouts in a season for them.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to the Lakers, June 16, 1975: Like Chamberlain, he had a title and multiple MVPs when the Lakers traded for him. But Abdul-Jabbar played 14 seasons with the Lakers, won another three MVPs, set the since-topped NBA scoring record and, once Magic Johnson was drafted, won five championships.

Eric Dickerson from the Rams, Oct. 31, 1987: Rams fans might rank this as the No. 2 worst moment in franchise history behind that temporary – OK, 21-season – relocation to St. Louis. Dickerson was one of the top players in the league and ran for nearly 7,000 yards in his first four seasons. The Rams got two running backs and six picks in return, but Dickerson had three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons for the Colts and ended up in the Hall of Fame.

Wayne Gretzky to the Kings, Aug. 9, 1988: Canadian fans despised this deal so much that government officials tried to stop it. Gretzky won a Hart Trophy in his first season, had 918 points in eight seasons and reached one Stanley Cup Final with the Kings. More important, he changed the region’s relationship with hockey forever. The Anaheim Ducks would not exist without this trade.

Teemu Selanne to the Ducks, Feb. 7, 1996: His arrival created one of the most lethal one-two punches in the region’s history with Paul Kariya. Selanne was traded to San Jose in 2001, but his relationship with the Ducks led to a reunion in 2005, a Stanley Cup in 2007 and his status as one of the most popular athletes ever in Orange County.

Kobe Bryant to the Lakers, July 11, 1996: Those who remember Bryant wasn’t drafted by the Lakers might argue that this was the most consequential trade in local sports history. After all, Bryant – acquired after the Charlotte Hornets picked him – was part of five championship teams in his 20 seasons with the Lakers, earned one MVP award and two NBA Finals MVPs and 18 All-Star selections in his Hall of Fame career.

Mike Piazza from the Dodgers, May 14, 1998: This was the Dodgers’ version of the Dickerson deal, though Piazza was even more popular locally. The future Hall of Famer was sent to the Florida Marlins in a trade that brought the Dodgers Gary Sheffield, but it angered a lot of fans that they didn’t reach a contract extension with the big-hitting catcher. He quickly went to the New York Mets, the team whose cap he wears on his plaque in Cooperstown.

Pau Gasol to the Lakers, Feb. 1, 2008: Bryant won his first three titles with Shaquille O’Neal, but once the big man was traded to Miami in 2004 it took some time for the Lakers to return to the top. The addition of Gasol from Memphis, however, immediately elevated them. They went to the NBA Finals three years in a row and won back-to-back titles in 2009 and 2010.

Anthony Davis to the Lakers, July 6, 2019: When the Lakers got Davis from New Orleans, the results were immediate. The Lakers won their first title since 2010 with the combination of Davis’ presence in the middle and LeBron James.

Paul George to the Clippers, July 10, 2019: This seemed like it could be exactly what the Clippers needed to reach the top when combined with Kawhi Leonard’s signing. The Clippers, however, reached the conference finals only once in George’s time with the team.

Mookie Betts to Dodgers, Feb. 10, 2020: Some wonder if Red Sox fans hate this more than Dodger fans love it. Betts had won a title with Boston and was adored there. He’s at two World Series titles with the Dodgers so far and made it clear following their triumph over the Yankees that he’s not done.

Matthew Stafford to Rams, March 18, 2021: The Rams’ swap of quarterbacks with the Detroit Lions led immediately to their only Super Bowl title in Los Angeles, so some of their local fans consider this the ultimate trade. It’s hard to argue from a local NFL standpoint.

Kelsey Plum to Sparks, Feb. 1, 2025: This significant WNBA deal was instantly overshadowed by the Doncic trade, but the three-time All-Star should lift the Sparks from a forgettable 2024 season.

Luka Doncic to Lakers. Feb. 1, 2025: The shocking trade draws justified comparisons to some of the biggest in the region’s history. Doncic only turns 26 on Feb. 28 and already is a five-time All-NBA selection. Now he joins James and could long be the face of a franchise that thrives on superstar power.

​ Orange County Register 

Join the club: Apps to speed EV charging experience

• February 5, 2025

Now that you have bought your first EV, how will you keep it charged? Plugging into a standard 12-volt household outlet could take 50 hours or more to recharge a depleted battery. Drivers with garage space can install a Level 2 240-volt charger, which slices recharge time to 4 to 10 hours to reach 80 to 100 percent.

EV drivers without access to home charging are dependent on public charging, but it can be challenging to find an open charger and then swipe your credit card to get things started, with the hope there are no glitches with the payment system.

Downloading apps from network providers can improve your experience, said Electrify America spokesman Octavio Navarro.

A mobile app on a smartphone is like a loyalty perk. A network provider’s app will contain the user’s credit card information and identify available chargers, ruling out any that are down for repair.

“Starting the charge is much easier and works 95 percent of the time, vs. about 80 percent with just a credit card,” Navarro said. “People just showing up (without an app) have to wait if no charger is available.”

In-car app technology

Meanwhile, public EV charging is on the threshold of a dream with the advent of in-car app technology, said J.P. Canton, vice president of global communications for ChargePoint, a leading electric vehicle (EV) charging network. The dream for users, he said, “is to show up, plug in, pay, and go.”

“In-car charging technology is where the apps are going,” Canton said. “The next element is how are you finding, arriving and initiating the charge? The embedded charging app will tell the charger that the registered user is here and ready to charge.”

Some automakers are exploring partnerships with charging systems that allow drivers to make reservations at specific chargers. When the driver taps on the vehicle infotainment screen to seek a charge station, the system will locate it, map the route to the station, and reserve a slot in the user’s name.

“Moving from phone to dashboard is progressing pretty quickly,” Canton said. But until all EVs have built-in charging apps, a network’s charging app will still be needed to expedite the process.

Apps for public charging networks include:

• PlugShare: Shows the location of more than 300,000 charging stations worldwide and allows users to filter by plug type.
• ChargePoint: Helps users find and manage charging slots and shows sites based on price and speed.
• EVgo: Helps users find and pay for charging at EVgo’s 1,050 DC fast chargers.
• ChargeHub: Shows the location and status of charging stations across the US, including in rural areas.
• Chargeway: Helps users find working chargers and determine if they have enough range to reach them.
• EVHotels: Helps users find hotels with charging stations or charging stations near hotels.
• Chargemap: Has a large network of charging points, including more than 450,000 in Europe.
• Zap-Map: Offers customizable trip planning and allows users to select from three routing methods.

Independent apps

Along the way to a one-step charging experience are independent apps, some of which are supported by new-vehicle manufacturers.

A unique and independent app for planning long-distance travel is A Better Route Planner. The app allows users to plan travel by factoring in charging stops based on their vehicle’s range and available charging stations along the route. It is considered one of the best options specifically for EV drivers when planning long trips.

There’s also Plug & Charge, which streamlines the charging experience without the driver having to pull out a credit card, present an RFID card or use a mobile app. Plug & Charge is not an app but an embedded protocol in new EVs. Though not available yet for all makes or models of electric vehicles, it allows users to check for available stalls or nonfunctioning chargers.

When using Plug & Charge, the session begins as soon as the driver connects their EV’s charging cable to the charge port. EV owners with vehicles compatible with Plug & Charge will create an account with the charging network provider and the payment method. The system will automatically identify the vehicle and begin charging, billing the user through the pre-registered account

Mark Maynard has been writing about cars, their people, and products for 30 years. Email him at MaynardsGarage@gmail.com and visit his website, MaynardsGarage.com.

The news and editorial staffs of Southern California News Group and The San Diego Union-Tribune had no role in this post’s preparation.

​ Orange County Register