A Monrovia firefighter, Fernando Rodriguez, 41, shot his wife, Katherine Rodriguez, and then himself in the parking lot of City of Hope National Medical Center. Arcadia and Los Angeles County fire teams watched over Monrovia after all Monrovia fire personnel were called in to hear the news.
Arcadia City Council actions proving to be divisive. Charges of campaign finance misdeeds and board racism alleged. Arcadia finds itself a town divided with feelings split about Councilman Sho Tay, who was passed over last month when it came time for his ceremonial turn for mayor. On one side, several people are accusing Tay of campaign finance fraud for spending money, donated to him, on behalf of two other candidates. Others are accusing City Council members of racism for bypassing the selection of Tay for mayor during its annual reorganization.
Arcadia City Council candidate Bob Harbicht gets $26,000 donation from local developer Nevis Capital LLC, owned by Ta-Jen Lee, who routed the money through the California Homeowners Association, a political action committee in Sacrmento.
The Monrovia-Arcadia-Duarte Town Council will swear in the newly elected Town Council members. Incumbents Yvonne Bullock, David Hall and Melinda Taylor retained their seats and newcomer John J. Nicoloro was elected.
Months of talks between Westfield Shopping Town Santa Anita and Santa Anita Park race track about building a shopping center seem to have fallen through.
Incumbents Yvonne Bullock, David Hall, Melinda Taylor, and a challenger John J. Nicoloro were announced winners of the Monrovia-Arcadia-Duarte- Town Council election.
Former Arcadia Police Department lieutenant Kenneth Kuwahara, 41, who pleaded guilty last year to felony offenses of false personation and identity theft and four misdemeanor counts of soliciting prostitution, will have a sentencing hearing on June 28, 2007.
Santa Anita Park owner Frank Stronach is coming to town this weekend to meet with local horsemen to talk about the state of the sport. He'll also meet with an engineer to discuss the pros and cons of a proposed new racing surface consisting of dirt, sand, and a small amount of fiber. He says it is a very safe surface. The question remains, who will foot the bill for it, since Stronach's Magna Entertainment Corporation (MEC) filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last year.
A 21-year-old woman was the third person raped at gunpoint this year, and police suspect that they may be by the same person. All three women were accosted by an African American man in his 20's or 30's wearing a black cap. They were accosted in the early morning with a gun while alone in their cars.
The annual Friends of the Arcadia Public Library booksale will feature 50,000 used books ranging in price from $.75 to $7. This is potentially the last sale since a book shop is part of the design for the library expansion project, scheduled for ground-breaking in November, 1994.
Local gang violence is on the upswing. Racial hatred and territorial disputes fuel battles over unincorported county areas of Monrovia, Duarte and Arcadia.
Although the Arcadia Planning Commission voted unanimously to approve The Shops at Santa Anita mall project, oppositon group members felt unfairly represented at Monday's meeting. A continuation meeting took place on Wednesday and 100 people attended. The public will get to comment again on April 11 at the Masonic Center.
More than 25 local eateries are featured in Monday's Taste of Arcadia. Proceeds benefit Arcadia Welfare and Thrift and Foothill Unity Center in Monrovia.