Food critic Merrill Shindler writes about comfort food and mentions two in Arcadia: Din Tai Fung (dumplings) at Westfield Santa Anita mall and Moffett's Family Restaurant, which serves chicken pies.
Third horse in three days dies at Santa Anita Park, while animal rights activists continue to push for a nationwide ban on racing. The race horses were named Tikkun Olam, Uncontainable, and Harliss. The California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) was given authority, in legislation backed by Governor Gavin Newsom, to suspend racing. Officials at Santa Anita Park released a statement reaffirming their commitment to horse safety. See also Arcadia Weekly, p. 1, January 23, 2020.
Arcadia Methodist Hospital workers vote to unionize. The nearly 700 technical employees, nursing assistants and other workers have voted to join the Caregiver Healthcare Employees Union (CHEU). The CHEU is a sister union to California Nurses Association. The employees want to win strong union representation, better benefits and improved conditions for employees and patients.
Santa Anita Park: no crimes in horse deaths report says. California Horse Racing Board's yearlong investigation into deaths of 23 horses at Santa Anita Park has determined there were no violations of animal welfare laws and no evidence of illegal medications, but exams possibly were compromised by anti-inflammatory medications. All but two of the horses that died between December 30, 2018 and March 31, 2019 appeared to have preexisting injuries caused by high-intensity racing and training. Senator Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif. said the report makes it clear that transparency is needed in the sport. She has called for the passage of the Horseracing Integrity Act, a bill that would establish a national anti-doping authority for the country.
Thoroughbred horse owner George Sharp has filed a lawsuit against Santa Anita Park saying his horse League of Shadows would have won race if veterinarin had not removed it. Sharp wants at least $90,000 in damages--the winner's share of the $150,000 purse because he believes his horse was likely to win. Sharp alleges the racetrack's owner Stronach Group has created a "culture of hysteria in the horse community by implementing ad-hoc and ever changing rules" in response to more than 40 equine deaths since December 2018.
Public health: staying safe in a pandemic. Experts weigh in on the practicalities of daily life during the coronavirus outbreak. The message from state officials is clear: stay home, only leave for essentials and keep 6 feet from others to stop the spread of the new coronavirus.