Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: How will Pasadena’s new carbon-free power plan change your bill?

And on the Pasadena Patch calendar - Blue Christmas: The Longest Night

Sunday December 21st Patch AM
Sunday December 21st Patch AM (Patch graphic)

Cheers Pasadena! We’re back, helping you stay up to date with what’s happening. Let's take on the day together! ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • How will Pasadena’s new carbon-free power plan change your bill?
  • How a new lawsuit could reshape post-fire housing rules in Pasadena
  • How a Caltech robot duo walked, drove, and flew across campus

Also on today's calendar: Blue Christmas: The Longest Night and 2 more events.

Find out what's happening in Pasadenafor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Today's riddle: What did the balloon say to the doctor? 🤔 (Answer below!)


Weather forecast:

Find out what's happening in Pasadenafor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Sunday: Clouds breaking for some sun, with a high of 72 and low of 50 degrees.
  • Monday: Low clouds, then some sun, temps: high: 70, low: 54.
  • Tuesday: A couple of afternoon showers, with a high of 63 and low of 51 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Pasadena council OKs 'optimized' plan for carbon-free electricity (heysocal.com) — Pasadena’s City Council has unanimously approved an Optimized Strategic Plan to get all city electricity from carbon-free sources by the end of 2030, while trying to keep rates fair and service reliable. Pasadena Water and Power says the plan turns earlier climate goals into concrete steps, including more local solar, upgraded infrastructure, and new clean-energy projects that will affect more than 65,000 local electric customers.
   

2. YIMBY group sues to force CA to build high density housing in fire zones (blackchronicle.com) — Pasadena is directly involved in a new lawsuit challenging Gov. Gavin Newsom’s order that let cities suspend SB 9 lot-split housing in wildfire zones. A pro-housing group argues that limiting SB 9 in places like Pasadena, Pacific Palisades and Malibu blocks fire victims from rebuilding more flexibly and worsens California’s housing crunch.
   

3. Meet X1: The world's first multi-robot team with a humanoid and a drone (earth.com) — Cutting-edge robotics work is happening right in Pasadena, where Caltech engineers tested a new two-part “X1” robot team strolling across campus and flying over a campus pond. The humanoid robot carries a transforming drone that can walk, drive, and fly, with the system designed for future disaster-response missions that could scout dangerous areas before human rescuers move in.
   

4. Soccer Recap: Pasadena's Win on Thursday Extends Winning Streak to Four (maxpreps.com) — Pasadena’s boys soccer team has stretched its winning streak to four matches after shutting out Arcadia 2–0 on Thursday, improving to 5-1-1. With goals from Braden Ahrens and Tobias Gonzalez, the Bulldogs now look ahead to a Monday holiday matchup against La Serna that local fans can circle on their calendars.
   

5. California Schools That Need Foreign Workers for Teacher Jobs Can't Afford Trump's New Visa Fee (independent.com) — Pasadena Unified is responding to a $27 million budget deficit by making international teachers pay the new $100,000 H-1B visa sponsorship fee themselves, plus their own legal and filing costs. The change, driven by a Trump administration policy now being challenged in court, could affect local dual-language and special education staffing and the district’s ability to fill hard-to-staff classrooms.
   


📸 Around Pasadena

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Pasadena

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!


📣 Pasadena Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

    Sunday December 21
  • PTSA Swap Meet @ SEMHS
    South El Monte High , SEMHS , South El Monte
    8:00 am
  • Holiday Tea
    Brand Park , 1601 W Mountain St , Glendale
    10:00 am
  • Sunday Supper Club
    Treehouse , 686 N Spring St , Los Angeles
    5:00 pm
  • The Nutcracker
    San Gabriel Mission Playhouse , 320 S Mission Dr , San Gabriel
    5:00 pm
  • Pasadena Dance Theatre's The Nutcracker Ballet
    San Gabriel Fine Arts Association , 320 S Mission Dr , San Gabriel
    5:00 pm
  • Spinnnin’ Sundays
    Angel City Brewery , 216 S Alameda St , Los Angeles
    6:00 pm
  • Trainwreck Comedy Night
    The Glendale Room , 127 Artsakh Ave , Glendale
    7:30 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.


 

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • We found this beautiful bearded dragon in our garden near Lake and Walnut this morning.
    Might this be your missing companion? Please contact us as soon as possible so we can reunite you. (Nextdoor Downtown-Mentor/Catalina)
  • Please share & repost to help reunite this stray dog!
    FOUND on December 17, 2025 in Pasadena, CA 91107 near Sierra Madre Villa Ave and electronic drive Sharing for a neighbor. For the latest… (Nextdoor North Central Pasadena SW)
  • Williams-Sonoma, Inc. posted a job opening for Stock Associate, Part Time Flex, Pasadena- Williams Sonoma in Pasadena. Apply here.
  • The TJX Companies, Inc. posted a job opening for Store Cleaning Associate in Pasadena. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Pasadena here.

Ok Pasadena! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I feel lightheaded!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!


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