Official website of the State of California What you need to know: Governor Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta have reached a settlement with La Habra Heights to bring the city into compliance with state housing law SACRAMENTO — Governor Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta today announced the state has entered into a stipulated judgment with the City of La Habra Heights putting the city on an expedited timeline to submit a compliant housing element to the Department of Housing and Community Development The new housing plan must create 244 housing units including at least 164 that are affordable to low or very-low-income households “No more excuses — every community has a responsibility to create housing and to help reduce homelessness I am pleased that La Habra Heights has come to the table and agreed to meet their housing goals for a community that desperately needs more affordable homes.” “The City of La Habra Heights has done the right thing Instead of continuing to skirt California’s housing laws it will finally be complying with its legal obligation to plan for 244 housing units,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta “My office will not let up: no matter the size of the city or county we will not rest until every local government in California plans for the future and does its part to tackle our housing crisis.”  The City of La Habra Heights is designated as a high opportunity jurisdiction by the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee and California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) Opportunity Area 2024 map and jobs—all factors that impact long-term success for families with children the city currently has only single-family homes with no multifamily housing and zero affordable units The deadline for the City of La Habra Heights to adopt a compliant housing element was October 2021 After repeated attempts to assist the city to come into compliance, HCD’s Housing Accountability Unit — launched by Governor Newsom in 2021 — issued a Notice of Violation on March 19 HCD then worked with the Attorney General’s Office to reach today’s agreement with La Habra Heights until La Habra Heights fulfills its obligations under the agreement the city remains subject to the “Builder’s Remedy” and cannot refuse to permit certain affordable housing projects The city also remains ineligible to receive key state housing and homelessness funds through the Attorney General’s Office has now entered into five agreements over housing element compliance “This latest agreement is a key example of why it is so important that every city is held accountable for doing its fair share to address the statewide housing need,” said HCD Director Gustavo Velasquez “When La Habra Heights adopts a compliant housing element it will — for the first time ever — make land available for multifamily and affordable housing creating a path to opportunity for more families in this high-resource community.” All state and local public agencies must take deliberate action to Affirmatively Further Fair Housing — combating disparities resulting from past patterns of segregation Increasing supply of multifamily housing expands access to fair housing for lower-income and historically disadvantaged groups in turn fostering more inclusive communities Governor Newsom has invested $40 billion in housing production The state has also invested over $27 billion to help communities address homelessness through enforcement actions and by working with local jurisdictions to ensure compliance with housing law paired with robust accountability measures Housing and Homelessness, Press Releases, Recent News News What you need to know: The Governor honored the contributions of fallen California law enforcement officers at the annual California Peace Officers’ Memorial Ceremony California – Honoring the contributions of fallen California peace officers,.. News What you need to know: California applied to the federal government today to update the state's benchmark plan which would expand coverage requirements for essential health benefits (EHBs) like hearing aids and wheelchairs in the individual and small group.. News What you need to know: California remains the #1 state for tourism with record-high tourism spending reaching $157.3 billion in 2024 the Trump administration’s policies and rhetoric are driving away tourists © Copyright document.write(new Date().getFullYear()) https://youtu.be/LofU0m8OsJ4 Every second counts during an emergency response emergency vehicles rely on drivers to do their part and clear the… See the most recent messages from LASD - Industry Station, Los Angeles County Sheriff, powered by Nixle Sign up to receive messages by email & text message Please avoid the area of 7th Avenue and Gale Avenue in the city of Hacienda Heights Industry Sheriff’s Station deputies are responding to a call for service regarding a person with a gun The primary Mission of Parking Enforcement Detail (PED) is to ensure the residents of the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County are provided with expeditious vehicle movement to help alleviate parking congestion improve the availability of parking choices and to assist the communities in addressing all parking related matters apportion scarce parking spaces for all legitimate vehicles by insuring those who violate parking regulations are properly addressed through the California Vehicle Codes (CVC) the Los Angeles County Vehicle Codes (LACoVC) and other various municipal codes Each Los Angeles County Sheriff's Station has a Parking Enforcement unit Please visit the Stations page to find your local Sheriff's Station Station Locations Please visit the LA county Sheriff's Department Pay by web site Pay by web For more street services in LA County please report your problem here: Public Works Los Angeles County To contact the proper Sheriff's station for your parking concerns and to send an email request for service; first determine who services your address by entering the area location address and click the "Find" button LAist is part of Southern California Public Radio a mail carrier and amateur botanist named Rudolph Hass got three avocado seedlings from a Whittier nursery He planted them on his La Habra Heights property thinking that they were a Guatemalan variety the fruit was starkly different from anything he’d seen How the variety became popular: Once he tried the fruit the rich and nutty flavor stood out to him Hass decided to partner with a local nursery and patented the variety in hopes of selling the seedlings for a profit While the avocado industry as a whole is worth billions today Hass had only made about $4,800 when his plant patent expired and almost always comes with a surcharge: We’re talking avocados We produce around 90% of what’s grown in the nation Our footprint in the global market is relatively small but the dominant variety remains the same: the Hass avocado bumpy-skinned fruit began its journey to stardom in a backyard in Orange County While avocados originated in southern Mexico Californian Hass avocados can be traced back to a single tree planted in La Habra Heights Rudolph Hass — which is where the fruit variety gets its name — planted the seeds in his grove The nursery recommended that Hass plant all three and graft the strongest grower onto a Fuerte avocado tree — then Hass let the last surviving seedling grow on its own it produced fruit that Hass thought was ugly Instead of the bright green skin of the popular Fuerte avocado that Americans had come to expect But when his children tasted the flesh inside they thought it tasted great — nuttier and creamier than the Fuerte and partnered with a local nursery to sell and promote his avocados A shortage of fats and oils created by World War II meant people had got used to turning to avocado for its rich fat content helped rocket the Hass avocado to fame in the food industry Early 1900's: California’s first commercial avocado orchard was planted by William Hertrich for the Huntington Family (yes 2025-05-05T07:41:43-07:00May 5 2025-05-02T09:39:58-07:00May 2 2025-05-02T08:40:53-07:00May 2 2025-05-04T09:32:06-07:00April 30 2025-04-30T17:06:48-07:00April 30, 2025| the 3,500 acres that would become La Habra Heights belonged to developer Edwin G It was Hart who brought water to the canyon and who marketed the area as the “Second Beverly Hills.” During his guidance became a center of avocado farming and established an improvement association that sought to protect the semi-rural character of the Heights 2/6 The county Planning Commission passed zoning rules in 1949 that set the minimum size of all lots at one acre while allowing agricultural uses to continue 3/6 The neighborhood has maintained its rural vibe thanks to its large lots and lack of streetlights and sidewalks 4/6 La Habra Heights may be surrounded by urban sprawl but avocados still grow on many of its hillsides and the city hosts an annual avocado festival 5/6 Two of the main attractions are privacy and space Whether you like to experience the joys of nature on foot or from the saddle of a horse the hills of La Habra Heights are criss-crossed with scenic trails Print The canyon that bisects La Habra Heights cutting through the Puente Hills and connecting the coastal plains of Orange County with the San Gabriel Valley Derived from “la abra,” the Spanish moniker for the low mountain pass La Habra was also the name given the original Mexican land grant from which the town was eventually carved The rancho’s first owner took possession in 1839 and sold it to Andres Pico the Californio general who negotiated the end of the Mexican-American War in California before going on to have a long career in state politics Eventually the rancho became part of the vast land holdings of the famed cattle tycoon Abel Stearns At the height of his reign as the region’s wealthiest landowner his empire encompassed nearly 200,000 acres stretching from the La Habra Rancho to the Pacific Ocean Stearns’ ranching business collapsed during the devastating drought of the 1860s which led to a 70% decrease in the cattle herds of Los Angeles County alone which was subdivided and sold in large part to Basque sheepherders — their drought-resistant flocks soon roamed where vast herds of thirsty cattle once grazed It was Hart who brought water to the canyon and who marketed the area as the “Second Beverly Hills.” became a center of avocado farming and established an improvement association that sought to protect the semirural character of the Heights the association persuaded the county Planning Commission to pass zoning rules in 1949 that set the minimum size of all lots at one acre Those regulations also strictly limited commercial development according to the official history of the Heights Zoning also enshrines the ability of city residents to keep and ride horses which features a horse in its official seal and boasts a long-running riding club known as the Highland Riders Green acres: La Habra Heights may be surrounded by urban sprawl Happy trails: Whether you like to experience the joys of nature on foot or from the saddle of a horse the hills of La Habra Heights are crisscrossed with scenic trails Elbow room: For those looking to spread out a little the sizable lots of La Habra Heights offer room to roam for people and horses alike Sticker shock: Although some deals can be found on the far north end of the city the vast majority of homes in La Habra Heights are going for more than $1 million who has two decades of experience in La Habra Heights said the city has maintained its rural vibe thanks to its large lots and lack of streetlights and sidewalks “People are attracted to the privacy and space,” Fiore said adding that residents fill their properties with horses Build sizes range from 800 square feet all the way up to 10,000 to 15,000 square feet the median price for single-family homes in November was $615,000 That ZIP code also includes parts of La Habra and Fullerton Three schools around La Habra Heights scored above 900 on the 2013 Academic Performance Index: Los Molinos Elementary at 953 Grazide Elementary at 952 and Murphy Ranch Elementary at 936 High schools in the area include La Serna High Times staff writer Jack Flemming contributed to this report hotproperty@latimes.com California Business Subscribe for unlimited accessSite Map We take on many of the biggest environmental and health challenges of our time and stick with them. The law makes change. Our Stories One election does not defeat the resolve of local community members concerned about big oil ruining their town By Adrian Martinez  /  Headquarters Office This page was published 10 years ago. Find the latest on Earthjustice’s work The La Habra Heights measure to ban fracking was defeated Tuesday, but a community was not. The measure thrust a small town into the center of a debate on high intensity oil extraction and  techniques like fracking and acidizing It fired up the need for accountability and many residents found their voice in the fight we’re likely to hear spin from oil industry lobbyists that this is a blank check to fill this town with high intensity oil extraction techniques and new wells The oil industry’s overreach through a massive proposal to drill in this small town galvanized many residents to band together and put a measure on the March 3 ballot The ballot forced Matrix Oil to pause its project While we’re likely to see this proposal resurface it will be met with fierce resistance by many of the people who supported Measure A In my conversations this week with folks who worked on the “Yes on Measure A” campaign it’s clear they have a lot of resolve to fight Big Oil’s efforts to drill The ballot initiative is just one battle; it’s not the entire war to protect their community from harmful oil extraction the groups fought back with legal action and won against the oil industry’s attempts to push inaccurate and misleading language onto the ballot The group’s resilience against one of the most powerful industries excites and humbles me as I work with them to ensure that new drilling doesn’t find a home in La Habra Heights La Habra Heights is no different; their fight has only just begun Read more about the fight in La Habra Heights to ban fracking in this post from January 8 The legal case: Fracking, La Habra Heights - Measure A “Earthjustice stands ready to defend the Antiquities Act and the national monuments protected under the law.” Stay informed on how we hold accountable those who break our environmental laws © 2025 Earthjustice. We respect your privacy a small city on the southeastern edge of Los Angeles County is set to become the latest battle ground in the debate over how much authority localities have to regulate the oil industry as voters head to the polls to consider Measure A Welcome Mickeymickey@disney.comManage MyDisney AccountLog OutLa Habra Heights assistant fire chief arrested for allegedly impersonating officer 2022The assistant chief of the La Habra Heights Fire Department was arrested after an investigation found he allegedly unlawfully detained an unknown number of people.WHITTIER (CNS) -- The assistant chief of the La Habra Heights Fire Department was arrested Thursday after an investigation by the Sheriff's Public Corruption Unit found he allegedly unlawfully detained an unknown number of people Timothy Peel allegedly used a white 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD pickup truck equipped with lights and a siren to conduct traffic stops according to the Deputy Alejandra Parra of the Sheriff's Information Bureau The 34-year-old Peel was arrested at his home in the 15000 block of Danbrook Drive in Whittier and booked into the jail at the Norwalk Sheriff's Station on felony charges including impersonating a peace officer and false imprisonment Peel was released from jail after posting $100,000 bail He is scheduled to appear Monday at the Downey Courthouse Anyone who may have been detained by Peel was asked to call the sheriff's department at 213-229-1700. Anonymous tips can be called in to Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or submitted online at lacrimestoppers.org Print Communities across California from Los Angeles to the San Joaquin Valley have fought for more than a decade to stop oil companies from drilling in their neighborhoods and spewing health-damaging pollution into the air The passage of a landmark state law in 2022 to ban new drilling within 3,200 feet of homes child care centers and hospitals and establish new health protections for existing wells seemed to be the victory they sought They never imagined it might take nearly another decade for it to take full effect Yet that’s exactly what Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office has proposed in the closing days of this year’s legislative session. The law was already delayed a year and a half when the oil industry filed a referendum against the law and then withdrew it from the November ballot Now the administration wants to extend various oil industry compliance deadlines in the law The oil industry withdrew its ballot measure to undo a California law banning new drilling near homes and schools But it’s still trying to defeat these health protections in court As written, the law gives operators of wells near homes and schools until the end of this year to submit leak detection and response plans to state regulators, and until the end of 2026 to implement them. Newsom’s proposal would extend those deadlines until July 1 Forcing communities that have already faced one obstacle after another to wait years longer for oil companies to fully comply with requirements designed to protect the public from their pollution is unreasonable and wrong Legislators should reject the Newsom administration’s last-minute proposal The more than 2 million Californians who live within 3,200 feet of oil wells and are at increased risk of cancer and other health problems deserve relief now Gavin Newsom signed laws making California the first state to require big companies to disclose greenhouse gas emissions For years, the oil industry used its lobbying power in Sacramento to beat back lawmakers’ efforts to ban new oil wells and protect Californians from the health impacts of existing drilling operations. In 2021, Gov. Newsom announced that his administration would act without the Legislature to impose drilling restrictions but the rulemaking went so slowly that it took a new law to finally make it happen The law’s ban on new drilling near homes and schools went back into effect immediately after the referendum was pulled in June oil companies would get more than four additional years to meet the law’s requirements to monitor and repair leaks from existing wells “Leaks” is an understatement: Drilling operations are spewing cancer-causing benzene and other dangerous pollutants into the lungs of kids and adults who live An 18-month delay would at least be understandable That’s about how long the law was suspended due to the oil industry-backed referendum and should be enough for state agencies tasked with implementing the law to get back on track “It does seem like a benefit to the industry and it seems like a detriment to the public,” Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur (D-Los Angeles) said at a committee hearing last week “This is delaying by many years without any kind of policy oversight.” Legislation to divest billions of dollars in pension funds for California public workers and teachers from fossil fuel companies failed again Though oil companies will be the primary beneficiaries of these delays Newsom administration officials have insisted it is necessary to give state agencies more time to hire staff and prepare for implementing the law properly The governor’s office said it did not cut any deal with the oil industry in exchange for abandoning the referendum We hope that the delay attempt doesn’t signal a broader retreat from tough and urgent climate action by the governor His office said he is not backing away from his commitment to transition the state off fossil fuels Assembly and Senate lawmakers should reject anything but minimal delays to such important climate and public health protections. Postponing compliance deadlines is not harmless. Living near oil and gas wells is linked to asthma, preterm births and reductions in lung function on par with living near a freeway or with secondhand smoke. The public suffers ongoing health effects with each delay the fossil fuel industry is granted. The Los Angeles Times’ editorial board determines the positions of The Times as an institution. It operates separately from the newsroom. You can read more about the board’s mission at About The Times Editorial Board Mickeymickey@disney.comManage MyDisney AccountLog OutArmed intruders tie up 2 victims during home-invasion robbery in La Habra HeightsByABC7.com staff Monday 2017A man and woman were tied up by four armed intruders during a home-invasion robbery Sunday evening in La Habra Heights (KABC) -- A man and woman were tied up by four armed intruders during a home-invasion robbery Sunday evening in La Habra Heights entered through a sliding door at a residence in the 2000 block of Kanola Road said a spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department The victims' hands were bound as the robbers ransacked the home The intruders made off with a wall safe other unspecified items The value of the stolen property was unknown Deputies from the sheriff's Industry station responded to the scene after the incident was reported at 9:08 a.m A description of the suspects was not immediately available Mickeymickey@disney.comManage MyDisney AccountLog OutFatal head-on crash shuts down Harbor Boulevard in La Habra HeightsFriday 2022A fatal head-on crash in La Habra Heights shut down Harbor Boulevard on Thursday late afternoon.A fatal head-on crash in La Habra Heights shut down Harbor Boulevard on Thursday late afternoon The two-vehicle collision happened at Harbor Boulevard and Kashlan Road causing a major traffic backup during the evening commute No further information was immediately available ¿Quieres leer este artículo en español? Haz clic aquí We are a union that is proud to fight for you We support politicians and policies – regardless of party affiliation – that protect and empower the work of fire fighters and rescue workers in the United States and Canada There is nothing – NOTHING – more important than the health and safety of our members That’s why we continue to establish services and programs that are widely recognized and imitated by other organizations The IAFF’s training programs empower and educate you in our shared mission to make a dangerous job safer – for you Access our full Course Catalog and your personalized training dashboard Our Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial is an annual event that honors the memory of our brothers and sisters who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty The Memorial is located in Colorado Springs and hosts a solemn ceremony every September La Habra Heights Local 5349 is the newest California affiliate to join the IAFF La Habra Heights is a small city located inside Los Angeles County The fire department serves the city and answers automatic aid calls with the Los Angeles County Fire Department As the demand for service has increased over the years the La Habra Heights Fire Department has progressively evolved from a volunteer department to a combination fire department Now with four career members of the department it was the right time to organize and join the IAFF “We wanted to establish ourselves as a union and soon hope to negotiate adding more career members to our department,” says Local 5349 President Ryan Jorgensen “Local 5349 members are also looking forward to tapping into the education and training the IAFF has to offer.” Joining Jorgensen on the Local 5349 Executive Board are Secretary Robert Montaghami and Treasurer Michael Sokoloff Public Policies | © 2025 IAFF The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department arrested the assistant chief of the La Habra Heights Fire Department for impersonating a police officer La Habra Heights Assistant Chief Timothy Peel was arrested last week in Whittier after he “impersonated a peace officer, conducted traffic stops, and unlawfully detained the victims,” the Sheriffs Department said in a press release. It’s alleged that Peel used a 2020 white Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD pickup with emergency lights and a siren to conduct the traffic stops The Sheriff’s Department was seeking the public’s help in identifying any additional victims who may have been unlawfully detained by the suspect bonded out Thursday afternoon after paying $100,000 bail He is due in Downey Municipal Court on Monday, according to KTLA Print The 9,000-square-foot La Habra Heights mansion where an unauthorized party attended by more than 100 people was put on the market in 2010 for $21 million Sixteen people were arrested Wednesday in connection with the party during which teenage guests trashed the property and walked off with items including collectible medieval armor designer suits and a mounted snow leopard valued at $250,000 the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said nine-bathroom home is now listed at $7 million and features a home theater wine cellar and water slide with a ring of fire according to Engel & Volkers realty company in Newport Beach The homeowner, who was not identified by department officials, is businessman Nick Radoi, according to property records. He made headlines in September when his 55-foot yacht slammed into Balboa Pier after it lost power, ABC News reported according to Engel & Volkers consultant David Wright who added that media exposure often trends up a property’s value Most of the loss was the result of stolen property adding he was surprised the teens managed to get past the home’s security systems The homeowner was out of the country at the time of the incident the floors get dirty — when you re-polish them they’re going to be as good as new,” he said “The real damage is to the kids and their futures.” The investigation into the incident is ongoing as the department looks for additional property and suspects Officials are also working to determine whether the snow leopard was acquired by the owner before it was listed as an endangered species “We’re in the process of following up on that to see if it is legal or illegal,” said Sheriff’s Lt “There’s a lot of information that needs to be obtained before it is given back to him.” Thirteen of the suspects are juveniles — three girls and 10 boys who range from 15 to 17 years old — and were not identified because of their ages identified as Kevin Larios and Andres Uribe The damage and thievery came to at least $1 million. Sheriff Lee Baca called it one of the most serious juvenile and adult crimes the department has come across The teens who attended the party were charged a fee to get in and a 16-foot window overlooking the pool grotto was smashed and some guests went into what authorities described as a “looting frenzy.” “I don’t think they knew what they were doing I don’t think they knew what they had,” Scott said one of the few remaining possessions was the snow leopard The youth suspected of snagging the leopard told detectives he grabbed it simply because “all the good stuff was gone,” Scott said “It’s probably just another stuffed animal to them.” Those who were arrested appeared to be “kids of means,” Baca said Some of the suspects essentially identified themselves by posting “selfies” with their loot to social media accounts to brag about their haul The photos aided detectives’ efforts to find the suspects A groundskeeper or house-sitter reported the break-in Security cameras on the property had been turned off while real estate agents were showing the property vacant properties — often listed for sale online — to be used for pop-up parties but Murakami could not recall it ever happening in La Habra Heights ALSO:Man wanted in three stabbings is a fugitive in SoCal, police say Rizzo charged in federal tax scheme claiming $600,000 in fake losses Appeals court prepares to end press access to child dependency courts Twitter: @Sam_Schaefer samantha.schaefer@latimes.com The 1961 post and beam sits on a lot of over an acre Popping up on the market in the rural community of La Habra Heights is a handsome post and beam that local architect James H precious little information about Krueger seems to be available because the work he did here is rather interesting Along with the usual hallmarks of California midcentury modern design—tongue-and-groove beamed ceilings walls of glass—the Krueger residence incorporates unexpected elements and materials that set it apart from the crowd the three-bedroom two-bath home is positioned on its 1.07-acre lot to maximize privacy with a front entrance set below the street while delivering commanding views on its glassy rear side Last sold in 2017 for $799,000, it’s now asking a highly specific $1,099,888. Gene Smith of RE-MAX has the listing We owe this culinary gift to the tinkering of a mailman named Rudolph Hass Rudolph grew interested in the thick-skinned fruit after he saw a magazine ad with dollar bills growing on an avocado tree He began purchasing seeds with the hope of launching a side gig and grafted out the initial sprouts to multiply his crop A Ventura County Star profile of Rudolph’s ancestors recalls that “one stubborn baby tree grown from a Guatemalan seed of unknown parentage wouldn’t accept a graft,” so Rudolph set it aside as an experiment When that tree first bore fruit Rudolph was delighted with the results; his avocados were far more creamy and flavorful than the Fuerte variety that were prevalent at the time He filed a patent on this “Hass Avocado” (the first patent on a tree!) and arranged with a local grower named Harold Brokaw to bring his discovery to market In an article on the origins of the Hass avocado, Rudolph’s granddaughter Cindy Miller describes how the partnership with Brokaw let the cat out of the bag “Since it was the first patent ever issued on a tree Brokaw who had the exclusive right to produce the nursery trees  They would then re-graft their whole grove with the bud wood from that one tree.” Over the years Hass seeds spread across the world and the mother tree slowly grew to a towering height of 65 feet but he took pride in the fact that these delicious avocados bore his family name The mother tree stood beside the Hass homestead at 430 West Road La Habra Heights until 2002 when it succumbed to the dreaded root rot The mother's wood is being lovingly preserved in Ventura by the Brokaw Nursery A historical plaque marks the mother tree's location at 426 West Road in La Habra The oldest orange tree in California spawned a generation of citrus farmers One of the oldest and most majestic living trees in Britain The second largest palm grove in Europe was planted during Moorish times and has been largely unchanged since then What might be the oldest living tree in London has survived fires Legend says this sacred tree was a gift from goddess Athena This lovely tree was a thank you gift from the man known as "Public Enemy No.1." solitary sequoia still stands as a living tribute to the famous conservationist who planted it—but it's dying This massive oak tree has ties to the first native tribes of the region and the founders of Texas rang in the New Year with a victory that ensures the small town will have a fair chance at banning new oil and gas drilling come election time By Adrian Martinez  /  California Office rang in the New Year with a victory that ensures the small town will have a fair chance at banning new oil and gas drilling come election time in March.  is known for its scenic beauty and canyon living The area is also at the center of major expansion plans for oil and gas operations and the potential proliferation of new unconventional techniques like fracking and acidization in the region Concerned about the environmental and health effects that additional invasive drilling would have on their community La Habra Heights residents placed a measure on the March ballot that would prohibit land use for drilling new oil and gas wells new high-intensity petroleum operations like hydraulic fracturing The initiative would also ensure that operators with vested rights including rights to use high-intensity techniques which is an oil industry lobbying group.  After the city caved to the oil industry’s demands, several individuals, La Habra Heights Oil Watch and the Center for Biological Diversity—represented by Earthjustice—sued to push back against this misleading language. On New Year’s Eve, the Los Angeles County Superior Court sided with these groups determining that the oil industry’s language was inaccurate and misleading.  Just a few days later, the city council proposed new ballot label language that residents still found misleading, so Earthjustice went back to court, and once again, the court sided with residents seeking fair language on the ballot.  having worked with many residents of La Habra Heights over the last few months I’m not convinced the well-financed oil industry spin machine will be able to grab hold of the voters and keep locals from taking back control of what happens within their town borders.  California Office The California Regional Office fights for the rights of all to a healthy environment regardless of where in the state they live; we fight to protect the magnificent natural spaces and wildlife found in California; and we fight to transition California to a zero-emissions future where cars (VVNG.com) — A woman found dead inside a burning vehicle in La Habra Heights was identified as 24-year-old Estrella Luna near North Cypress Street & Nabal Road in the city of La Habra Heights Industry Station Sheriff Deputies and La Habra Heights Fire Department responded to the area for a vehicle on fire The Fire Department extinguished the fire and discovered a female adult inside the vehicle and was pronounced deceased by paramedics,” stated a Los Angeles County news release Homicide investigators said they are continuing to investigate the circumstances and had no additional details available for release Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500 If you prefer to provide information anonymously, you may call “Crime Stoppers” by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477) or by using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org 📢 Stay connected with the High Desert’s largest news community 🔗 For more local news, visit VVNG.com we’re dedicated to keeping the Victor Valley informed with essential Our newsroom works tirelessly to bring you the latest stories that matter—news that fosters awareness If you value our reporting and want to see it continue local news accessible to everyone—because an informed community is a stronger community Southern California produces 90 percent of the nation's avocados (and those of us in the Los Angeles market also eat the most) do you even know the names of any other types of avocados do you have any Zutano avocados around here The Hass avocado is the one avocado to rule them all and it originated in a random backyard right here in our very own La Habra Heights RELATED: The Best Guacamole Recipe, Period Rudolph Hass was a mailman whose side hustle was growing avocados. He would order seeds from all over the place and then experiment with grafting to see what he could produce One seed from Guatemala grew into a tree that wouldn't graft It eventually began producing exceptionally delicious fruit The new avocados were super creamy and unlike anything else Hass had ever tried Other growers immediately ignored his patent It eventually became the most popular avocado in the world Hass himself made a mere $5,000 in royalties off his patent, his granddaughter Cindy Miller noted in a 2004 article but he sold his fair share of fruit at a grocery store in Pasadena and from a roadside stand out front of his little avocado grove Hass's wife purportedly ate a slice every morning for breakfast Thelma Golden will celebrate Lauren Halsey and U.K.-based singer Griff will take the stage featured A-list designers and Otis College standouts who earned scholarships for innovation in Fashion Design lawyers say Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe showed injuries consistent with a dog attack and plan to present a case against Chloe a German Shepherd who was re-homed by the owner's of the house where the cop's body was found in a snowbank Magazine’s takeaways on five notable topics from President Donald Trump’s first 100 days of his second term consumers are stocking up on household items and bites from THEBlvd and Hinoki & the Bird Print Los Angeles Times Staff Writer La Habra Heights is about opulence: sprawling properties with orchards and canyon views rolling hills with room for horses to roam a golf course and trails for hiking and deep breathing Originally part of the expansive La Habra Rancho the land that now comprises the Heights was sold to W.J large parcels were sold to avocado growers The popular Hass avocado was cultivated here and many of the town’s streets are named after the fruit’s varieties La Habra Heights has attracted its share of movers and shakers seeking refuge from the madding crowd Laura Scudder of potato-chip fame owned a house here western movie actor Jack Holt and author Kirby Page Horse ownership in the Heights is not de rigueur rustic properties and community trails perfect for equestrian activity La Habra Heights’ Highland Riders equestrian club holds horse shows and maintains local trails But equine activity isn’t the only show in town (just ask the avocado growers) Mayor Brian Bergman’s family has raised chickens his daughter cared for a calf on a neighbor’s property is one of the oldest in Southern California tree-lined streets beckon outdoor enthusiasts a 517-acre wilderness reserve with trails connecting to 640-acre Schabarum Regional Park in bordering Rowland Heights Growing up on her family’s 5-acre spread in the Heights was “the best childhood anyone could ever imagine,” said Maryanne Price Her father organized baseball games in a large field nearby and she and her friends used the wild mustard field across the street as their personal playground “I rode my pony and horse all over the place,” said the 62- year-old middle-school teacher Price’s brother raised turkeys and chickens and sold eggs Her father built a playhouse on the land that she and her husband now own She and her childhood friends whiled away their summers playing Davy Crockett in the avocado orchard “We had no TV but plenty of time to use our imaginations,” Price said There are about 2,298 single-family homes in La Habra Heights from $498,000 for a one-bedroom home in 594 square feet on 2.1 acres to $3.6 million for a seven-bedroom home in 7,150 feet on 1 acre La Habra Heights kids attend Macy Elementary School which scored 895 out of a possible 1,000 on the 2007 Growth Academic Performance Index Base Report; Murphy Ranch and El Portal elementary schools scored 887 and 850 Rancho Starbuck Intermediate School scored 802; La Habra High diane.wedner@latimes.com Sources: DataQuick Information Systems; www.cde.ca.gov; Jan and Rick Fiore www.la-habra-heights.org/. Travel & Experiences Lifestyle Print The John Arnholt Smith Hacienda sits on what was once part of an early ranch heavy timbers and wide corridors evoke the look of the California missions 554 single-family homes sold in the 90631 ZIP Code at a median price of $425,000 To submit a candidate for Home of the Week, send high-resolution color photos via Dropbox.com, permission from the photographer to publish the images and a description of the house to homeoftheweek@latimes.com. Lauren Beale is a former editor and staff writer for the Los Angeles Times. Print <i>This post has been corrected See the note below for details.</i> More than a dozen teens have been charged in connection with a break-in at a La Habra Heights mansion where they allegedly threw a party while the owners were away and stole The 9,000-square-foot home sustained more than than $1 million in losses and damages in the November incident Among the looted items were pieces of armor Detectives with the Los Angeles County’s Sheriff’s Department eventually found the leopard in one of the teens’ possession The teens threw the party while the owner of the hillside mansion was out of town They spread the word on social media sites; and when the party was over busted furniture and dozens of valuable items missing The 12 males and two females range in age from 15 to 18 although none were adults at the time of the incident Each faces one count of misdemeanor trespassing and nine are charged with one count of felony burglary The burglary charges could lead to six-year prison sentences Other charges filed against some of the teens include grand theft The 14 are scheduled to appear at a hearing Wednesday in Pomona Juvenile Court are from the La Habra-Whittier area and surrounding communities Twitter: @lacrimes| Google+ richard.winton@latimes.com Richard Winton is an investigative crime writer for the Los Angeles Times and part of the team that won the Pulitzer Prize for public service in 2011. Known as @lacrimes on Twitter, during almost 30 years at The Times he also has been part of the breaking news staff that won Pulitzers in 1998, 2004 and 2016.