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April 22
1974 - Gov. Ronald Reagan speaks at dedication of COC's first permanent building, the William G. Bonelli Instructional Resource Center [story]
Ronald Reagan


Face of Fentanyl Wall_0In recognition of National Opioid Awareness Day, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and partners gathered to advance a multi-faceted opioid prevention strategy to reduce the overdose crisis in Los Angeles County.

The overdose crisis is at all-time high in Los Angeles County with seven to eight people dying every day of an overdose, approximately half of those overdoses are caused by fentanyl. Nationally, six out of ten street-bought drugs now contain illicit fentanyl, according to the United States Drug Enforcement Administration. There is no way to see, smell, or taste if a pill or powder has been laced with fentanyl.

Public Health provides intervention programs and services to prevent opioid use, reduce deaths from overdose and provide easy access to treatment programs. These resources include widespread availability of naloxone, an easy-to-administer opioid overdose reversal nasal spray; expansion of harm reduction programs; and targeted awareness campaigns to communicate the increasing community risk of illicit fentanyl and the tools available to help those in need.

Public Health and community partners gathered at the Martin Luther King Jr. Behavioral Health Center earlier Thursday. Here are selected quotes from officials:

“National Opioid Awareness Day provides us with an opportunity to shine a brighter light on the destructive impact of fentanyl and other harmful drugs and the County’s multi-pronged effort to combat this crisis,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell. “We are committed to strengthening preventative resources and access to recovery options that meet the varying needs of our residents. We cannot do this without strong community partnerships and residents joining us in raising awareness on the resources and support that is available.”

“The fentanyl crisis is a tragedy of historic proportions. Illicit fentanyl is impacting all our communities and leading to the tragic deaths of thousands of our friends, family members, and loved ones,” said Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, director of L.A. County Department of Public Health. “All of us are on the frontline of the fentanyl crisis, and we want all members of the community to understand this crisis and know that tools such as naloxone can save lives.”

“The fentanyl crisis is affecting all of us and sparing no community, neighborhood, or demographic,” said Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna. “Through our Sheriff’s Overdose Response Task Force, we are working with our local and federal partners to aggressively pursue individuals who cause tragic deaths in our communities and bring justice to families who have lost loved ones. The importance of opioid and fentanyl awareness is critical to saving lives and every person in our community has the shared responsibility to be part of that solution.”

“As the fentanyl crisis continues to impact our youth, it’s imperative that we take action. Our schools are committed to not only educating but also implementing preventive and interventionist measures to ensure our students are fully aware of the risks associated with fentanyl use. We are deeply appreciative of the cooperative efforts made by our community partners, which enable us to address the opioid epidemic more comprehensively and safeguard our most vulnerable youth,” said Dr. Debra Duardo, Los Angeles County Superintendent of Schools.

“The DEA is working tirelessly on a multi-level approach to tackle the drug overdose and poisoning crisis that is driven by criminal drug networks,” said William D. Bodner, DEA special agent in charge, Los Angeles Field Division. “From targeting and prosecuting violent drug offenders, to community outreach and the expansion of medically assisted treatment options, the DEA is committed to a comprehensive approach to combat the current drug epidemic. Education and awareness are an absolute essential component to end the deadliest drug crisis our country has ever seen.”

“I advocate for awareness, change, and education, hoping to spare others from the excruciating pain and heartache that comes from losing a child or loved one,” said Alma Sanchez, community member and mother of 19-year-old Deenilson, who lost his life to a fentanyl overdose. “There are still many uninformed families that don’t talk about the issue because of the shame that comes from substance use disorders. Let’s end that stigma and help start the conversation to create a better future for our families.”

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LOS ANGELES COUNTY HEADLINES
Monday, Apr 21, 2025
As gardening season blooms across California, officials with the California Department of Food and Agriculture are urging residents to take action to prevent the introduction of invasive fruit flies and other pests, which can threaten backyard gardens and the state’s robust agricultural landscape.
Thursday, Apr 17, 2025
This week, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion introduced by Supervisor Kathryn Barger and co-authored by Supervisor Hilda L. Solis to invest in supporting art-centered fire recovery initiatives in Altadena.
Thursday, Apr 17, 2025
The California Department of Transportation will hold a public, informational meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 24 for the Interstate 405 (I-405) Pavement Rehabilitation Project.
Wednesday, Apr 16, 2025
In partnership with the LA County Department of Arts and Culture, LA County Library invites all County residents to explore public art in their communities through its Civic Art Passport.
Wednesday, Apr 16, 2025
Effective April 16, 2025, DACC is discontinuing the requirement to set an appointment  to surrender a pet at DACC’s seven animal care centers.

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The Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station 40th Annual All Schools Dance will be held Friday, May 2, 7:30-11 p.m. at Six Flags Magic Mountain.
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The William S Hart Pony Baseball Complex will be the site of a fun, nostalgic and free photo shoot on Sunday, May 4, beginning at 5:30 p.m. Local high school baseball players from the graduating class of 2025 are encouraged to attend in their high school home uniforms and pose for group photos.
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For the second year in a row, The Master's University men's volleyball team will be the No. 1 seed at the NAIA National Championships. The competition will run April 29 to May 3 at Alliant Energy PowerHouse in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
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1974 - Gov. Ronald Reagan speaks at dedication of COC's first permanent building, the William G. Bonelli Instructional Resource Center [story]
Ronald Reagan
SCVTV will debut a new public access series of video fitness shorts, "Training Tuesdays with M" on Tuesday, April 22. The shorts, two-to-four-minute videos, will air between regular programming at 8:24 a.m., 1:25 p.m., 4:24 p.m. and 4:55 p.m.
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As gardening season blooms across California, officials with the California Department of Food and Agriculture are urging residents to take action to prevent the introduction of invasive fruit flies and other pests, which can threaten backyard gardens and the state’s robust agricultural landscape.
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The prestigious Bryan Clay Invitational yielded records upon records for The Master's University track and field teams April 16-18. Multiple school records went down including the women's 5000m, men's shot put and the men's 800m.
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For just the third time in 23 matches, The Master's University men's volleyball team went five sets in a match. And for the third time in 23 matches, the team won, only this time it was for the GSAC Tournament Championship.
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The Master's University men's and women's golf teams completed the final round of the GSAC Championship Tournament at Antelope Hills Golf Course North Wednesday afternoon, April 16.
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College of the Canyons softball concluded its season sweep of L.A. Valley College by taking a 9-2 road victory over the Monarchs on Thursday, April 17.
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1994 - Sand Canyon homeowner Eddie Murray sets MLB record for switch-hit home runs in games (11 times) [story]
Eddie Murray
1874 - First train out of L.A. to reach new town of San Fernando; Newhall 2 years later [story]
train tunnel
1880 - Pico Oil Spring Mine Section 2 patented by R.F. Baker and Edward F. Beale [story]
E.F. Beale
The Placerita Canyon Nature Center invites the community to a free Open House on Saturday, May 10, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
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