More than 10,000 LA County members of SEIU 721 rallied and marched Tuesday in Downtown Los Angeles in protest of management’s repeated violations of labor law and failure to bargain in good faith The march — the largest in SEIU 721’s history — came on day two of county workers’ Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) strike in which more than 55,000 members have walked off the job busloads of LA County workers started to pack Temple Street in front of the County’s Hall of Administration and noise makers as SEIU 721 leaders addressed them “They messed with the wrong union,” said David Green Executive Director and President of SEIU 721 who is also a Children’s Social Worker III with DCFS “They thought we wouldn’t strike in LA County They thought we wouldn’t be unified enough to come together But I know if there’s one badass union that’s going to win this fight Green added: “We are the frontline of Los Angeles County We suffered through economic downturns together Why the hell would you disrespect LA County workers?”  SEIU 721 has filed 44 ULP charges against the county this bargaining cycle including for refusing to bargain in good faith restricting union organizers’ access to worksites retaliation against members for union activity with members heading south on Grand Avenue making their way past downtown’s Civic Center The massive marched ended at 5th and Figueroa streets.  14 union members and community supporters sat down in the street in a non-violent act of civil disobedience laying down a banner in front of them saying “LA County Workers on ULP Strike,” as fellow members and supporters cheered and chanted for a fair contract the 14 were arrested; all were later cited and released.  President Green said the fight will continue until LA County stops violating labor law and starts respecting SEIU 721 members “We sent a message to LA County today,” Green said “You can’t keep breaking labor law without us fighting back You can’t keep bargaining in bad faith without us fighting back Our fight will continue until the County stops disrespecting us.” “Seattle is close to Barcelona,” says chef Oscar Amador here is like a paradise,” says Amador of the bounty of fresh ingredients available in Seattle “I would love to go to the market every day and buy things and come back to the kitchen and start cooking but it’s kind of hard to do that at a hotel.” Amador and his team have committed to sourcing 85 to 90 percent of their food from within 100 miles so from both Western Washington and east of the Cascades They’ll be leaning on providers like Beecher’s — whose truffled cheese shows up on a smoked candy montadito (open-faced sandwich) — and Coro Foods one of the region’s top charcuterie companies The interior of La Loba is heavy on the vegetation and the bar resembles the inside of a tree trunk at least if the tree trunk was itself inside a luxury hotel (rooms at 1 Hotel generally run above $300 a night) Guests can partake of a cocktail menu that’s heavy on the gin and tonics — a Barcelona staple — or a wine list that features bottles from Washington State and Spain One twist that doesn’t necessarily come form the local terroir or Amador’s native cuisine is that the kitchen will be trying to save and reuse as many food scraps as possible through drying It’s an initiative that Amador says aligns with 1 Hotel’s commitment to sustainability (all of the brand’s properties are LEED certified) but Amador says that the small plates on the menu “shine the most.” His favorite is one of the most traditional: potatoes bravas or thinly sliced potatoes that are fried and served with a spicy sauce Even that staple of Spanish cooking is relatively rare in Seattle because there aren’t that many Spanish restaurants around (though there are some like Capitol Hill’s excellent Maripili Tapas Bar) La Loba will open on May 6 inside 1 Hotel Seattle at 2125 Terry Avenue. For more information go here Tens of thousands of Los Angeles County workers went on strike Monday night citing county management's "law-breaking and failure to bargain in good faith." The union said that although plans will be put in place to ensure that emergency health services continue unimpeded SEIU 721's LA County ULP Strike "would be the first of its kind in Los Angeles County history." A spokesperson for the union confirmed to USA TODAY Tuesday morning that the strike began at 7 p.m local time Monday at the four major hospitals in the county The union represents county workers across many sectors “This is the workforce that got LA County through emergency after emergency: the January wildfires social service emergencies and more,” said David Green SEIU 721’s Executive Director and President “From the San Fernando Valley to the San Gabriel Valley That’s why we have had it with the labor law violations and demand respect for our workers," Green said "Los Angeles County is fully committed to negotiating in good faith with SEIU 721 and we are disappointed that the union is opting to stage a strike that will affect residents and impact service delivery at a time of great public need," the LA County's Chief Executive Office said in an emailed statement to USA TODAY Tuesday Why are LA County workers striking?SEIU 721 said in the news release that since servicing LA County through the COVID pandemic and the recent wildfires it has been on the "receiving end of management's repeated law-breaking bearing the brunt of at least 44 alleged labor law violations during this contract bargaining cycle." The union alleges that LA County is refusing to bargain with union members in good faith and has been conducting "surveillance and retaliation against SEIU 721 members engaged in union activity." Additionally the union says the county is restricting union organizers' access to worksites and contracting out of SEIU 721-represented positions The union's contract expired at the end of March "The County disputes the union’s assertion that the County has engaged in unfair labor practices," the county's Chief Executive Office said in an emailed statement to USA TODAY "The County is facing unprecedented stresses on our budget including a tentative $4 billion settlement of thousands of childhood sexual assault claims brought under AB 218 a projected $2 billion in impacts related to the January wildfires and recovery and the potentially catastrophic loss of hundreds of millions or more in federal funding," the county continued in its statement "We are working hard to make sure our labor partners understand the financial reality of our situation Despite the severity of our fiscal outlook the County has made fair and responsible counter proposals that we hope the union will seriously consider We are committed to continuing constructive negotiations and to joining with labor on something we can all agree on—which is the County’s absolutely essential role in serving the people who rely on us not just for safety net services but to make their lives better," the statement concluded 2025 Kentucky Derby payout, purse: What to know about prize money at Churchill Downs A union spokesperson told USA TODAY Tuesday morning the strike could last up to three days "depending on if management and our union come to an agreement or not." Residents can visit LACounty.gov/closures for the latest updates on impacts to services during the strike This story has been updated to add new information Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter at USA TODAY. You can follow him on X @GabeHauari or email him at Gdhauari@gannett.com Authorities in Northern Luzon arrested four individuals in separate buy-bust operations in La Union and Ilocos Norte seizing over P600,000 worth of suspected narcotics joint forces of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and local police arrested three individuals in a buy-bust operation at Purok Singko Authorities identified one of the suspects as alias “Papet,” 48 a resident of the town and tagged as a high-value drug target identified only as alias “Mark” from Cavite and alias “Zahrah” from San Juan officers seized suspected shabu and marijuana worth over P600,000 All three suspects are now detained at the PDEA Regional Office 1 jail facility a 38-year-old man was also arrested in a separate police-led buy-bust operation the suspect sold three sachets of suspected shabu to an undercover officer Police recovered three more sachets from his possession The drugs seized were worth more than P6,000 The suspects are facing charges for violating Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act gmaregionaltv.com is home to the latest stories produced by news teams of GMA Regional TV from stations in key areas across the Philippines gmaregionaltv@gmanetwork.com About us Advertise with us Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker LAist is part of Southern California Public Radio County workers have walked off the job and are now on strike The action comes as the county's largest union — SEIU Local 721 which represents more than 55,000 county workers in 36 of 38 departments — has been in contract negotiations with the county for months The union contract for healthcare professionals custodians and others expired in March The union says the county has refused to bargain in good faith kept wages stagnant and retaliated against union employees The union says they have no choice now but to walk off the job “We are disappointed that the union is choosing to announce a work action that will affect residents and impact service delivery at a time of great public need,” a spokesperson with the county’s Chief Executive Office said in an email to LAist The county blamed significant budget issues on delaying ongoing contract negotiations “The county is facing unprecedented stresses on our budget including a tentative $4 billion settlement of thousands of childhood sexual assault claims .. and the potentially catastrophic loss of hundreds of millions or more in federal funding,” the county’s statement to LAist reads The county is preparing for potential delays and disruptions to certain public services during the three-day strike The county’s CEO Fesia Davenport said on LAist’s AirTalk that “many of our libraries will be closed.” Staff will still be able to answer phone calls and the digital library will be open The Department of Health Services is also expected to have significantly reduced staff during the strike but will continue to operate emergency services health appointments may be canceled or delayed December is the best time to visit Union Station Learn the history of this extraordinary Spanish Colonial Revival and Art Deco monument as you enjoy the sounds and sights of the season You’ll cover the majority of Union Station from the famous Waiting Room—seen in countless movies—to the Fred Harvey Restaurant much of which has been beautifully decorated for the season Registration required; no walk-ups allowed We will start our tour at Union Station Additional location information will be sent upon registration All participants in the Los Angeles Conservancy-sponsored Walking Tours knowingly and freely accept and assume all risks including contracting and/or transmitting COVID-19 and any other communicable diseases AND HOLD HARMLESS the Los Angeles Conservancy agents and other participants from any and all claims damages (including medical expenses and attorneys’ fees) or resulting from your voluntary attendance/participation in Walking Tours including contracting and/or transmitting COVID-19 and any other communicable diseases and any and all other injury All participants expressly waive the benefits of California Civil Code 1542 which provides that: “A general release does not extend to claims that the creditor or releasing party does not know or suspect to exist in his or her favor at the time of executing the release and that would have materially affected his or her settlement with the debtor or released party.enses and attorneys’ fees) Major funding for the Los Angeles Conservancy’s educational programs is provided by the LaFetra Foundation and the Kenneth T (KFOX14/CBS4) — La Union Corn Maze will be opening for this Fall season this weekend This year's design is in celebration of 25 years of the corn maze For more information and ticket information visit launionmaze.com. we're really excited this year is especially very meaningful to us because it is our 25th anniversary We are at the point now where we are welcoming in you know the people that have kids now you know originally came when they were kids And so we're second generation in and we're just really excited to welcome in this special year and our design this year is kind of a special homage to that we have our 25th-anniversary design including a little bit of our pumpkin patch our farm animals," said Karoline Sondgeroth-Cuellar the manager at the maze Everyone is welcome to bring a sealed bottle of water with them and just be prepared for the elements Dress in layers our evenings are starting to get slightly cooler So of course we have our roasted corn Papa's locust nachos brisket sandwiches hot dogs and a few new items that we'll be looking forward to," she said Send us your pumpkin patch and fall photos to our Chime In. RECOMMENDED:Las Palmas Medical Center hosts health fair to showcase services in El Paso RECOMMENDED:El Paso veterans channel art for suicide awareness in VA poster competition Sign up to receive the top interesting stories from in and around our community once daily in your inbox the European Commission established the EU Civil Protection Mechanism The Mechanism aims to strengthen civil protection cooperation between the EU countries and 10 additional participating states to improve prevention can request emergency assistance through the Mechanism The Commission plays a key role in coordinating the disaster response and contributing to the transport and/or operational costs of deployments Disasters know no borders and can unexpectedly strike 1 or several countries at the same time The Commission facilitates a well-coordinated joint response allowing the authorities of the affected country to communicate through a single point of contact rather than multiple channels This joint approach further helps to pool expertise and capacities of first responders and ensures that assistance effectively addresses the needs of those affected and skills strengthens and ensures a more coherent response across borders there are 10 more states that participate in the EU Civil Protection Mechanism: Albania the EU Civil Protection Mechanism has responded to over 770 requests for assistance both inside and outside the EU The Mechanism also helps coordinate disaster prevention and preparedness activities among national authorities and fosters the exchange of best practices This facilitates the continuous development of higher common standards enabling teams from various countries to better understand diverse approaches and work interchangeably when a disaster strikes Following a request for assistance through the Mechanism, the Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC) mobilises assistance or expertise The ERCC monitors events around the globe 24/7 and ensures rapid deployment of emergency support through a direct link with national civil protection authorities can be mobilised at short notice for deployments inside and outside of Europe Satellite maps produced by the Copernicus Emergency Management Service also support civil protection operations The Service provides timely and precise geospatial information useful for delineating affected areas and planning disaster relief operations In the most vulnerable regions of the world civil protection assistance typically goes hand in hand with EU humanitarian aid Experts in both fields work closely together to ensure the most coherent analysis and response The most common types of emergencies triggering the Mechanism’s involvement are disease outbreaks or any relevant international organisation can call on the EU Civil Protection Mechanism for help the Mechanism was activated 58 times to respond to (i) war in Ukraine and the conflict in the Middle East (ii) floods in France and Spain; (iii) wildfires in Europe and Latin America; (iv) tropical cyclone Chido in Mayotte Additionally, EU Member States and participating states can also activate the Mechanism to seek assistance for consular support to their citizens (e.g. the Mechanism helped safely evacuate almost 1,400 European citizens from places like Haiti EU Civil Protection Mechanism: 58 activations in 2024 different types of crises are pinned on the map In response to a deteriorating humanitarian situation in Ukraine all 27 EU countries and 6 participating states (Iceland have offered help to Ukraine via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism The assistance includes millions of items such as first aid kits power generators and firefighting equipment The coordination represents the largest ever operation of the Mechanism to date It helps assist people in Ukraine and those who have fled to neighbouring countries such as Poland The EU is also coordinating medical evacuations of Ukrainian patients in need of urgent care to hospitals across Europe - via the Mechanism and the medical evacuation hub established in Poland over 4,000 patients received treatment as part of the medical evacuations.  To efficiently manage an exceptionally high number of aid deliveries logistical hubs have been set up in Poland These hubs gather the assistance offered by EU countries and participating states and dispatch it to Ukraine In 2019, the EU upgraded the EU Civil Protection Mechanism and created rescEU an additional layer of protection complementing offers by EU Member States and participating states rescEU strengthens European preparedness to disasters and emerging risks and boosts the EU’s capacity to respond to emergencies such as wildfires or incidents affecting energy infrastructure The rapid deployment of rescEU assets has played a pivotal role in addressing recent crises in Europe and from earthquakes in Türkiye to Russia’s war against Ukraine EU Member States and participating states may commit national resources for emergency response to the European Civil Protection Pool (ECPP) This Pool allows for better planning and coordination of response activities at European and national levels which means a faster and more reliable EU response to disasters The Pool constitutes the backbone of the Mechanism Prevention and preparedness activities help mitigate the effects of disasters. A training programme for civil protection experts from EU Member States and participating states ensures compatibility and complementarity among intervention teams while large-scale exercises train capacities for specific disasters each year The EU supports and complements the prevention and preparedness efforts of its Member States and participating states by focusing on areas where a joint European approach is more effective than separate national actions These efforts include risk assessments to identify the disaster risks across the EU encouraging research to enhance disaster resilience and reinforcing early warning systems the EU Civil Protection Mechanism has been activated over 770 times to respond to emergencies The Mechanism pools response capacities from all EU countries and 10 participating states The Mechanism can be deployed inside the EU and around the world and prioritises joint disaster prevention and preparedness actions the EU is implementing its largest emergency operation since the creation of the Mechanism channelling millions of emergency items to Ukraine and the region By subscribing, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Update: Official images of the Union LA x Air Jordan 1 High OG “Varsity Red” have been revealed providing the clearest look yet at the forthcoming design You can expect it to touch down on February 28 and release/raffle details will likely be announced soon as well Four persons were injured when their van fell into a ravine in La Union Dasham footage showed the van traversing along Naguilian town when it suddenly went wayward and plunged into a four-meter ravine The investigation said the driver of the vehicle lost control of the wheels when he tried to avoid a van from the opposite side of the road Those injured were the driver of the van and its three passengers {{gallery.imageDetails.images.0.description}} WE INDEPENDENTLY CHOOSE ALL PRODUCTS FEATURED ON OUR SITE. WE MAY RECEIVE A COMMISSION WHEN YOU CLICK ON LINKS TO THOSE PRODUCTS. YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR AFFILIATE POLICY IN OUR TERMS OF USE 92.90°Rate This ReleaseBuy NowThe Union x Air Jordan 1 High OG 'Chicago/Shadow' Releases Via SNKRS on March 18Release Jordan Air Jordan 1 High and the powerhouse duo will join forces once more on the Air Jordan 1 High OG The duo Initially collaborated on the silhouette back in 2018 offering the original Air Jordan sneaker in two vintage-inspired colorways Union has reverted to the aesthetic set forth on its debut collaboration A combination of the Air Jordan 1's OG 'Chicago' and 'Shadow' looks have come together for Gibbs and team's latest effort the campaign material could reference an early moment in both Michael Jordan and his Air Jordan 1's history a young Jordan appeared on Late Night with David Letterman the 23-year-old spoke about his many endorsements and discussed why the NBA had "banned" his Nike-backed footwear Given the lengths Jordan Brand has gone through to tell the story of the original Air Jordan 1 'Bred,' it's possible Chris Gibbs and his Union label have focused on Mike's appearance on Letterman's show for their next retro A full backstory should accompany official communication from Nike's longtime collaborator soon Pairs of the new Union x Air Jordan 1 High OG have been rumored to arrive on Wednesday, Feb. 12, ahead of All-Star Weekend. Chris Gibbs and team surprised many attendees of the various All-Star Weekend 2025 events with an early SNKRS Pass release for their latest Jordan Brand retro An earlier report from SoleSavy regarding the pair's launch date was put to rest by Union itself on Wednesday, Feb. 19. The boutique's official Instagram account shared that Air Jordan 1 'Varsity Red/Black' would release on Thursday, Feb. 27, exclusively online via the unionjordan2025.com microsite Union announced an early raffle for its Air Jordan 1 'Chicago/Shadow' collaboration The raffle is exclusively open to residents within LA County An event will take place at Union's storefront (110 S La Brea Ave.) from 9 a.m a valid CA ID (NO EXCEPTIONS) must be presented during the event to verify your location within the LA County district it is mandatory to enter the raffle before the deadline of 5:00 PM on 02/22." Winners of the LA County raffle will be notified via email They must follow additional steps to finalize their purchase of the next Jordan Brand project by Union Following the in-store raffle, Union LA will be releasing pairs at 8 AM PT / 11 AM ET here, after they preview the products at 7 AM PT / 10 AM ET Make sure you are refreshing the website as the release is expected to sell out quickly Gibbs and team's 'Chicago/Shadow' collaboration will see a wider release via Nike SNKRS Worldwide on Tuesday A full apparel collection will accompany the footwear For more from the Jumpman family, check out the 2025 UNDEFEATED Jordan 4 retro that celebrates the 20th anniversary of the two brand's first collaboration Authorities have arrested two high-value drug targets in separate operations in San Fernando City The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and local police identified one of the suspect as “Julz,” a 30-year-old resident of San Esteban Authorities seized over P10,000 worth of suspected shabu and the buy-bust money used in the operation known as “Ewoks,” was apprehended during a search warrant operation The 39-year-old resident of Barangay Poro had been arrested in 2021 previously for a similar case but was released through a plea bargaining agreement authorities recovered over P20,000 worth of shabu They are currently detained at the PDEA Regional Office 1 jail facility and have yet to release statements During the 2023 PCA Convention & Trade Show, My Father Cigars and Tatuaje announced a collaboration project named La Union—Spanish for The Union—a two-part release that will eventually consist of two different humidors—black and red—containing a total of four different cigars The impetus behind the new joint project is simple: the two companies have been working very closely together for 20 years with virtually every Tatuaje cigar ever made produced by the García family and then there is the fact that Tatauje founder Pete Johnson is married to Janny García of My Father Cigars The black humidor started shipping to retailers in early February and contains 20 cigars each of two different blends: one was blended by Johnson and is made with a shade-grown Nicaraguan corojo 99 wrapper while My Father’s blend was blended by Jaime García and incorporates an Ecuadorian habano wrapper the internal blend of both cigars is made up of Nicaraguan tobacco grown on the García family’s farms the red humidor version is currently scheduled to be released in early 2025 and will include a Tatuaje blend covered in an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper while the cigar blended by the Garcías will feature a Connecticut broadleaf wrapper Both of those blends will also incorporate Nicaraguan tobacco for the binders and in the filler   Regardless of the blend or humidor, all of the cigars are being released in the same 7 1/4 x 50 vitola—the companies call it a prominente especial—and each individual cigar has an MSRP of $60. Each humidor is priced at $2,400 and includes 40 cigars—20 of each blend— as well as a La Union-branded XIKAR Xi1 Perfect Cut cutter The companies are producing 1,500 of both the black and red humidors and the other 300 for international markets Each of the cigars are rolled with a 109-style cap which is sort of like a hybrid between the round cap of a traditional parejo and the tapered point of a belicoso all of the cigars included in the first humidor release were produced by just two pairs Note: The following shows the various La Union vitolas Some of these cigars may have been released after this post was originally published the La Union — Tatuaje for My Father (Black Humidor) is a tale of one blend with two very different profiles: the first two-thirds of the cigar are smooth and creamy dominated by a combination of sweet cashews and aromatic cedar on the palate as well as white pepper and fondant sweetness on the retrohale the blend takes a dramatic turn during the final third punctuated by a noticeably aggressive uptick in strength that affects the balance of the entire profile this is a good enough cigar to recommend trying now but I am hoping a bit of time will help even out the roughness in the final third and thus elevate the entire profile to greater heights The combination of length and ring gauge makes the La Union — Tatuaje for My Father (Black Humidor) an imposing sight and all three cigars are covered in similar medium brown wrappers that are somewhat dry to the touch although there is very little tooth to be had Two of the cigars have large soft spots in the same general location—just under the secondary band on the front—and while one of the cigars is rock hard the other two are extremely spongy when squeezed Aromas from the wrappers include sweet woodiness Strong and sweet cedar leads the scents emanating from the feet of the cigars the cold draws are dominated by sweet and creamy cashew flavor along with secondary flavors of cedar After beginning with white pepper and earth the main flavors shift to creamy cashews and aromatic cedar with secondary notes of cocoa nibs The retrohales have both white pepper and fondant sweetness although the former seems to be getting stronger as the first third burns down both the body and strength pass into solid medium territory one cigar needs a minor touch-up with my lighter to stay on track—the other two feature razor-sharp burn lines—but all three cigars have excellent draws and plentiful smoke production The profiles of the cigars remain creamy during the second third with cedar and cashew flavors leading secondary notes that include plain popcorn while the light vegetal note from the first third remains in place for two of the cigars the third one features a distinct—albeit fleeting—citrus peel note on the finish White pepper is still obvious on the retrohale but the sweetness has morphed into a distinct floral sweetness but the body graudlly increases to a point just over the medium mark all three cigars run into burn issues that need correcting a couple of times each there are no problems whatsoever with either the smoke production or draws I can feel the strength building during the final third of the La Unions and all three easily reach the full mark by the time I am finished with them The main flavors have not changed— the same combination of cashew and cedar continues—though the secondary flavors now include sourdough bread the vegetal note and the citrus note that were present on the finishes have completely disappeared The retrohale still has the same white pepper and floral sweetness noticeable as the second-third but the full strength affects the balance of the profile for all three cigars The burn continues to be an issue for two cigars—each needs two more corrections with my lighter—but the draws and copious smoke production remain high points on all three cigars until I am finished with them I have worn many hats in my life up to this point: I started out as a photojournalist for the Dallas Morning News and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram then transitioned to photographing weddings—both internationally and in the U.S.—for more than a decade After realizing that there was a need for a cigar website containing better photographs and more in-depth information about each release SmokingStogie quickly became one of the more influential cigar blogs on the internet extremely hard-to-find and expensive cigars and it was one of the predecessors to halfwheel The Region 1 Athletic Association (R1AA) Meet 2025 officially started on Wednesday with thousands of athletes from different provinces and cities competing in various sports admitted feeling nervous in her first competition “Medyo kinakabahan kasi first time ko po,” she said said the billiards event consists of two competitions: the 8-ball tournament The following is the overall medal tally for elementary and secondary divisions in the 2025 R1AA Meet based on partial and unofficial results as of March 12 wala namang problema na nakararating sa atin Pero tinitingnan natin na magiging smooth lahat ang nagaganap na kompetisyon,” Bucsit said Medical teams are also on standby to ensure the safety of athletes throughout the competition Six drivers and conductors in La Union tested positive for illegal drug use during a surprise drug test conducted as part of “Oplan Ligtas Biyahe,” an initiative aimed at ensuring passenger safety during the busy holiday season and the Department of Health (DOH) conducted random inspections at bus terminals across Region 1 Over 100 drivers and conductors underwent testing during the operation “Sumasailalim na sila ngayon sa rehab for six months,” LTO Region 1 Director Glorioso Daniel Martinez said The six individuals found positive for drugs are now undergoing rehabilitation all drivers and conductors tested negative for drugs negative naman silang lahat,” Mel Lopez Terminal Master of Victory Liner Bus Company PDEA’s K9 units also inspected buses and luggage for contraband Travelers said they support the security measures “Para sa proteksyon namin ito kaya dapat lang talaga,” Lornal Pascual With the holiday rush expected to continue until January 3 authorities commit in maintaining rigorous inspections to prevent accidents and ensure secure travels You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience a full-service interior design firm in the Mt made possible by the first-in-the-nation small business funding model that puts business owners on a pathway to long-term control and ownership of their commercial spaces.  “Seattle is one of the fastest growing cities in the nation and while that growth has brought tens of thousands of new jobs and residents to our communities it has also created economic pressures for our small business owners Our One Seattle agenda is intentional in building a city where people of all incomes and occupations can live and small businesses of all backgrounds can afford to operate,” said Mayor Bruce Harrell “Our pioneering spirit is the fuel behind this innovative economic development model that makes generational wealth building not just an idea—but a reality for our business owners I applaud our Office of Economic Development for Space Needle thinking that reflects real input from small businesses and true leadership in empowering our local economy I also thank Grow America and JPMorgan Chase for partnering with us to create tangible opportunities for business growth and success.”  The BCO Fund was launched in partnership with OED and Grow America through a combined $20 million investment aimed at addressing the challenges of small business displacement and escalating commercial rents across Seattle neighborhoods The Fund establishes real estate partnerships (LLCs) to acquire ground-level commercial properties within mixed-use buildings Owners of participating businesses join the LLC ensuring that commercial spaces are leased to them with stable and affordable occupancy costs the BCO Fund aids small business owners in remaining or re-establishing their presence in neighborhoods affected by economic shifts.  La Union Studio owners Sonia-Lynn Abenojar and Sergio Max Legon-Talamoni moved their offices from their home into their new commercial space at the ground level of a mixed-use building that was purchased from Mt “We are thrilled to open the doors of our new location and welcome our community in,” Abenojar and Legon-Talamoni said “It’s especially meaningful to us that we have a permanent affordable space in a neighborhood where we have such deep roots.”  The BCO Fund prioritizes the disproportionate impact of rising commercial rents on neighborhoods such as the Chinatown-International District (CID) CoStar data from 2022 shows average rents ranging from nearly $28 to $35 per square foot in these areas participating businesses will secure commercial space at rates below market value ensuring stability with no future increases resulting in the ability to save thousands annually.   The Business Community Ownership Fund is part of a continuum of economic development strategies the City invests in to help close racial wealth gaps drive commercial affordability and ownership and provide culturally responsive business assistance.   “The best way to fight displacement is by giving entrepreneurs the ability to actually own their commercial space and take the worry of higher rents or the building being sold from under them The Business Community Ownership Fund is a game changing partnership for our city that makes sure that public dollars go to the small businesses that need it most I look forward to seeing more small businesses grow and prosper in partnership with the fund.”  we must do everything we can to ensure that the businesses that make our neighborhoods vibrant are not displaced This is especially important for small businesses in the South End We know it’s not just residential tenants getting pushed out of this city Small businesses are getting pushed out too and this can potentially help them stay anchored in their communities and increase community ownership of land I’m excited to see this partnership between the City and JPMorgan Chase result in opportunities for small business owners to build generational wealth and create stability Congratulations to Sergio Max and Sonia-Lynn and I hope to see La Union Studio flourish in the South End for generations to come.”  Seattle Office of Economic Development  “Seattle is increasingly unaffordable for many These businesses are integral for our communities so we want to make every effort to help them stay in their neighborhoods We are working to solve these issues by building out a comprehensive suite of commercial affordability strategies including a pilot master leasing strategy retail strategy and matchmaking small businesses and entrepreneurs to vacant commercial space OED’s goals are to remove barriers and create meaningful access for BIPOC entrepreneurs to resources and opportunities to build generational wealth and stay rooted and thrive in our neighborhoods.”  “More business owners like Sonia and Sergio could benefit from having a permanent space with fixed The BCO Fund is working to bring displaced businesses back to their neighborhoods and give them the long-term stability and control they need to grow even more.”  Pacific Northwest Regional Chair and Region Manager – Middle Market Banking for JPMorgan Chase Commercial Banking “JPMorgan Chase and our Foundation are pleased to make a significant investment in the BCO fund This grant highlights our focus of providing an ecosystem of support financing opportunities and contracting opportunities allowing BIPOC entrepreneurs to stabilize and grow as a tool for wealth creation and providing living wage employment.”  About the Business Community Ownership Fund:  the BCO Fund purchases ground-floor real estate in mixed-used buildings in high displacement risk neighborhoods and secures financing for the project.  Businesses become part of the LLC that owns the building thereby securing control and long-term affordability The stability of occupancy costs allows small businesses to stay in their neighborhood and redirect profits back into the business for further growth.   Where Design Meets Culture: Led by founders Sonia-Lynn Abenojar & Sergio Max Legon-Talamoni La Union Studio is a full-service interior design and cultural placemaking studio based in Seattle Our studio specializes in the design of commercial and residential buildings with a focus on the design of cultural multi-family value additions and custom single family residential projects.  Seattle's Mayor is the head of the Executive department The Mayor directs and controls all City offices and departments except where that authority is granted to another office by the City Charter Few cigar companies are as closely intertwined as My Father Cigars and Tatuaje The García family—owners of My Father—has produced nearly every cigar sold by Tatuaje since the latter launched in 2003 the two companies have operated a joint sales team their trade show booths are often found next to each other at the PCA Convention & Trade Show Pete Johnson of Tatuaje and Janny García of My Father Cigars are married to each other So to see a project that brought the two companies together making cigars for each other came as little surprise when La Union debuted at the 2023 PCA Convention & Trade Show. That said, I did call it one of the most intriguing things I saw at the show that year.   La Union is a two-part release that will span four cigars with the first two presented in a black humidor that began shipping in early February while the red humidor version will come out in early 2025 The project features a design that is a rendering of Johnson shaking Jaime García’s hand with José “Pepín” García Tatuaje made a cigar that uses a shade-grown Nicaraguan corojo 99 wrapper Jaime García—made a cigar that uses an Ecuadorian habano wrapper Both cigars use Nicaraguan binders and fillers that come from the García family’s farms and include pelo de oro which is often found in My Father’s special releases Tatuaje’s blend uses an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper while the cigar blended by the Garcías uses a Connecticut broadleaf wrapper When thinking about a cigar being made not just in celebration of a 20-plus year relationship but for that partner it immediately calls to mind suggestions of a profile above and beyond the norm The La Union — My Father for Tatuaje (Black Humidor) starts on a fantastic note and proceeds to craft a journey that is worthy of being called a celebratory cigar with three distinctive expressions offered to keep the palate engaged and enjoying the current profile while also looking forward to what's next I'm a bit surprised by the combustion issues though it seems that's an issue of the moment that not even this cigar can escape A very enjoyable smoke that's a testament to the relationship between these two companies All of the cigars are  7 1/4 x 50 size that the companies are calling a prominente especial and which uses a 109-style cap, a design notable for its tapered head that is a hybrid between a belicoso’s pointed cap and a parejo’s round head. Pricing is set at $60 per cigar and $2,400 per humidor, which contains 40 cigars split between 20 of each blend, as well as a XIKAR Xi1 Perfect Cut cutter Each of the three wrappers has a good amount of oiliness which is perceptible as soon as the cellophane is removed giving it a smoothness that is complemented by a lack of prominent veins The size of the cigar and the 109-style head can’t be overlooked either which offers plenty of space for those wrappers to shine through despite having two bands and a foot ribbon I find each to be rolled firmly but not quite to the point of being hard The feet of the three cigars have a cool and creamy aroma that reminds me of a bowl of cereal soggy Corn Flakes is the one that stands out whereas the others don’t quite have as distinct of an aroma There’s a touch of sweetness but no appreciable pepper with the aroma giving my nostrils a subtle tingle A smooth cold draw conveys a sense of the volume of the cigar There’s a mild flavor right in that spot where I’d call it a familiar mix of a number of things: cake donut The first puffs have creaminess and pepper while a soft and thick middle note just invites me to bite into it Retrohales are fantastic right out of the gate bright white pepper that really tingles the nostrils but with purpose as opposed to the pepper just running amuck while the third has a touch of sharpness coming from the pepper that elicits a bit of a physical reaction that is shy of ideal A little woodiness develops after the first clump of ash falls off starting with a subtle intensity but a very clean flavor and aroma the pepper is a bit more intense but still focused while a bit of peanut butter develops in the background and then appears in the flavor as well but there’s a little something happening on the finish that tingles the top of my throat the cigar smokes fairly quickly in this section but with no issues After adding some peanut butter in the first third the profile evolves into a more nutty flavor in the early puffs of this section taking out the sweetness and oiliness that were small but appreciated contributors to the profile the flavors begin a process of intertwining to create a new singular flavor as opposed to a collection of flavors though the pepper does stand out on certain puffs As the burn line approaches the midway point setting up a different expression of the pepper and kicking off a progression of the flavor that has the La Union — My Father for Tatuaje tasting like a different cigar than what was offered at the outset yet the creaminess now has a harder time standing out from the building earth The flavor lightens up a bit just as this section comes to an end suggesting that the final third could have another unique profile in store Flavor takes a couple of steps into full territory but bookends those with a more medium-plus profile while body is medium-full and strength is medium-minus I run into a couple of spots where a relight is necessary and the cigar seems to require a more frequent puffing rate in this section than it did in the first third burn line and smoke production remain outstanding The final third of the La Union — My Father for Tatuaje definitely sees another flavor change as creaminess and a bit of plain ice cream cone start things off The earthiness is quickly fading from the profile leaving just traces of its presence behind before disappearing completely The flavor has returned to that tightly intertwined profile of the first third though there are times I’m now getting the last bite of a vanilla ice cream cone instead of the last bite of a bowl of cereal not disappearing but playing a much more restrained part in the profile There are some spots where retrohales deliver a punch of black pepper I begin to get my first sensation of nicotine strength from the cigar as I can feel a little gut punch and head rush with these puffs A touch of pepper tingles the tip of my tongue as the cigar begins its finale while the smoke now delivers some irritation to my eyes as well I strive to capture the essence of a cigar and the people behind them in my work – every cigar you light up is the culmination of the work of countless people and often represents generations of struggle and stories it’s about so much more than the cigar – it’s about the story behind it the experience of enjoying the work of artisans and the way that a good cigar can bring people together I’m the public address announcer for the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks during spring training as well as for the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League and previously the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League I also work in a number of roles for Major League Baseball I covered the Phoenix and national cigar scene for Examiner.com Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon The best of Los Angeles straight to your inbox We help you navigate a myriad of possibilities Sign up for our newsletter for the best of the 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Los Angeles Commuting through Union Station around the holidays Make sure to take a detour into the historic ticket concourse for the train station’s ninth annual tree lighting on November 25 with musical performances by Kingston Ska Collective and Los Rebeldes Romanticos You’ll also find a “North Pole” on the north patio where you can enjoy arts and crafts with a side of milk and cookies Little ones can pose for photos with Santa The holiday décor will stay up through Christmas Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! twitterinstagramspotifyAbout us Contact us Time Out magazine through the Ateneo School of Government (ASOG) formalized a strategic partnership with the Provincial Government of La Union and the Partnership for Health (PNBI) by signing a Tripartite Memorandum of Understanding The agreement was signed by Ateneo de Manila University’s Vice President for Higher Education PhD; La Union Governor Raphaelle Veronica “Rafy” Ortega-David; and PNBI Executive Director Oscar Picazo This collaboration underscores a shared commitment to advancing health governance and policy development in the region The partnership was made possible through PNBI’s dedicated efforts in bridging ASOG and the Office of the Provincial Governor strengthening their collective mission to drive impactful health initiatives This partnership laid the groundwork for the successful implementation of the Leadership and Governance in Tobacco Control (LGTC) Executive Course which Ateneo Policy Center (APC) launched in November 2024 The program was designed to enhance local leadership and health governance by providing collaborative learning sessions on developing and sustaining effective public health policies at the local level The pioneer cohort of the course included local government units (LGUs) from La Union and Metro Manila creating an avenue for sharing best practices while considering the unique strengths and challenges of each locality local leaders are further empowered to champion evidence-based policies that promote healthier communities By fostering cooperation between the academe this initiative strengthens institutional capacity and ensures that tobacco control and public health efforts remain sustainable and impactful in the years to come This year’s roster of awardees spans two academic years and represents a broad spectrum of disciplines from theater and music to photography and film Position Title : Communications and Marketing Officer Academic Program Period Covered : One (1) Year (subject to annual renewal) Description The Ateneo School of Government The Ateneo School of Government through the Executive Education Program and in partnership with the Ateneo Bangsamoro Initiative (a program under the Ateneo Policy Center) through the Ateneo Institute for the Science & Art of Learning & Teaching (Ateneo SALT Institute) and friends prayed and reflected on ‘The Paschal Graces & the Great Mysteries of Life,’ 2 May 2025 MEMO TO: The University Community FROM: [Sgd] Josephy F Almosera Director Campus Safety and Mobility Office RE: Traffic Bulletin: Dismissal Schedule –