By Loren Kopff • @LorenKopff on X

Girls flag football was introduced to the CIF-Southern Section for the 2023 season, but without any playoff games. The next season, half a dozen area teams were among the 253 covering five divisions that participated in the new sport.

Artesia High won the 605 League and Gahr High took third in the Gateway League as they were the only two area schools that had a winning record. The Pioneers advanced to the Division 5 quarterfinals where they fell to Northview High, which lost in the finals. There were five playoff divisions that season, increasing to six in 2025. That season also saw Cerritos High get into the flag football party as the number of CIF-SS teams increased to 298. Again, Artesia finished as co-league champs, along with Cerritos while Gahr claimed another third place finish in the Gateway League.

Also in 2025, Artesia split its two postseason encounters while Norwalk High dropped its only playoff game in Division 6, an 18-13 setback to Leuzinger High.

This season, Valley Christian High formed a team for the first time and became one of the 204 teams out of 355 that advanced to the playoffs, which began this past Tuesday. Second round games are slated for Saturday at 5:00 p.m. unless mutually agreed with the quarterfinals set for Tuesday.

In Division 2, Gahr, which split its two Division 4 playoff games in 2024 and its two Division 2 postseason matchups last season, defeated Serra High 24-12. The Gladiators (15-6), which finished in fourth place in the Mid-Cities League will host Upland High on Saturday. Gahr’s 2024 postseason loss was to the Division 4 runner-up, Fullerton High.

In Division 3, Mid-Cities League champion Cerritos, which advanced to the Division 6 semifinals last season, squeezed past Covina High 34-33, improving its record to 17-2. The Dons, who won all eight league contests by a combined score of 203-37, will travel to South Torrance High for their next game.

In Division 4, second-seeded V.C. finished in second place in the San Joaquin League in its rookie season and defeated Brentwood High 38-7. The Defenders (14-5) will travel to El Rancho High on Saturday.

In Division 6, John Glenn High is making its first trip to the playoffs after finishing in second place in the Rio Vista League. The Eagles defeated San Jacinto Valley High 33-6 to move their mark to 12-5 as they will host Arroyo Valley High on Saturday.

Also in the division, Norwalk, the third place team in the Rio Vista League, dropped a 27-20 decision to Don Lugo High. The Lancers end their season at 5-15 with all five victories coming in league.

Image by rawpixel.com on Magnific 

The United Kingdom’s approach to online gambling regulation is fundamentally different from what American players experience at home, and understanding those differences matters for anyone who interacts with UK platforms, whether as a US resident exploring international gaming options, a British expat in California, or simply someone curious about how a mature regulated market works.

The Regulatory Foundation That Changes Everything

Britain’s online gambling market operates within a statutory framework established by the Gambling Act 2005 and subsequently strengthened for remote operators. GOV.UK sets out the legal framework governing gambling in Great Britain, including the licensing structure designed to ensure that commercial gambling is conducted within defined standards of fairness, transparency and consumer protection.

This framework produces a consumer environment that American players, accustomed to either no regulated options or the rapidly evolving state-by-state licensed market, may find notably different. Licensed operators are subject to formal rules rather than relying solely on voluntary standards or marketing promises. Requirements cover areas including fair gaming, protection of customer funds, responsible gambling measures and anti-money laundering controls, while regulatory enforcement can ultimately include financial penalties or the loss of an operator’s licence.

What UK-Licensed Platforms Actually Offer

The range of UK-licensed online casino products is considerably broader than the American imagination of online gambling, which has tended toward sports betting as the politically viable first step in most states. UK platforms offer the full casino experience online: hundreds or thousands of slot games from dozens of software providers, live dealer versions of table games including blackjack, roulette and baccarat, bingo in multiple formats reflecting the UK’s distinct relationship with that game, and in many cases sportsbook products under a separate licence.

Playing at the online casino at mr Q is an example of the UK experience: a UKGC-licensed platform with a specific market positioning around no-wagering promotions, built on proprietary software by UK-based Lindar Media Ltd. The no-wagering model, where any winnings from promotional free spins are paid as withdrawable cash without playthrough conditions, reflects a consumer-first approach that has emerged from the UK’s competitive market and its regulatory environment’s increasingly strict standards for promotional transparency.

Geographic Access and Who Can Use UK Casino Sites

The question of who can access UK casino sites is important for American readers to understand. UKGC-licensed platforms are licensed to serve customers physically located in the United Kingdom. Geolocation technology is used to verify that players are located in a permitted territory when they register and play.

This means that a US resident in Los Angeles or the San Gabriel Valley generally cannot access and use a UKGC-licensed platform, because the licence does not authorise serving US players and most operators block access from US IP addresses. The situation for British expats living in California is similar: the physical location test is what matters, not citizenship or country of origin. A British citizen living in Southern California is generally not permitted to use a UKGC-licensed platform from their California location.

The US market for online casino has expanded significantly since 2018’s sports betting ruling, and states including New Jersey, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut have licensed online casino products. These state-licensed platforms are the appropriate option for US residents and represent the American equivalent of what the UK has developed, though at an earlier stage of maturity and with different regulatory standards across the state jurisdictions that have acted.

Why the UK Model Matters for the US Discussion

The UK’s two decades of regulated online casino experience is the most relevant reference point for the ongoing discussion in the US about how to regulate digital gambling. California, which has consistently failed to pass online gambling legislation despite being the largest state by population and one with significant tribal casino interests, sits in an unusual position: one of the most culturally influential states in the country, home to large immigrant communities from many countries that have regulated online gambling, yet without a regulated online option for its own residents.

Understanding how the UK market works, including its consumer protections, its responsible gambling infrastructure, and the commercial models that have developed within it, is useful context for the policy conversation that California and other holdout states will eventually need to have. The question is not whether regulated online gambling will come to California but how, and the UK experience offers more useful lessons than the more recent and more restricted American state models.

For Los Cerritos community members with UK ties, the practical takeaway is clear: the UK online gaming market is one of the most regulated in the world, and its consumer protections are meaningfully different from unregulated alternatives.

For local journalism covering community members affected by or interested in the UK gambling market, the regulatory context provides important background for reporting accurately on the protections available and the experiences of players in that market.

Clean and Dry the Mattress First

Packing a dirty or damp mattress seals the problem inside the wrap.

• Strip all bedding and wash the mattress protector.
  
• Vacuum both sides and the seams with an upholstery attachment.
  
• Spot-clean stains with a mild cleaner and let the area dry completely.
  
• Sprinkle baking soda over the surface, wait 30 minutes, and vacuum again to cut odors.
  
• Leave the mattress uncovered for several hours before wrapping.
  

One common issue is trapped moisture. A damp mattress sealed in plastic develops mildew and odor within a few days. Photograph both sides and the law tag before you pack. The photos help you check for damage after delivery.

Use the Right Mattress Bag

A sealed mattress bag keeps out dust, moisture, and pests. Buy a bag sized to your mattress. A king bag on a twin mattress leaves loose plastic, which snags and tears. Owners often ask whether a fitted sheet works instead. A sheet stops dust, but not moisture or tears.

Standard mattress sizes for reference:

• Twin: 38 by 75 inches.
  
• Full: 54 by 75 inches.
  
• Queen: 60 by 80 inches.
  
• King: 76 by 80 inches.
  
• California king: 72 by 84 inches.
  

Slide the bag over the mattress from the top, push out excess air, and seal the open end with packing tape. For extra protection against tears, add a moving blanket or several layers of stretch film over the bag. The plastic also keeps the mattress clean if rain starts during loading.

If the mattress goes into storage for several weeks, switch to a breathable mattress cover made of cotton. Plastic traps humidity over long periods.

Wrap the Box Spring, Frame, and Headboard

The box spring needs the same care. Wrap the box spring in plastic, then cover the corners with moving blankets. Corners hit stairs and doorframes first.

Take the bed frame apart before moving day:

• Remove the slats, rails, and legs.
  
• Place screws and bolts in a zip bag and tape the bag to the headboard.
  
• Label each part with masking tape.
  
• Wrap the headboard and footboard in blankets to protect the finish.
  

Measure Every Doorway and Stairwell

A king mattress measures 76 inches across and does not bend. Measure the height and width of each doorway, hallway turn, and stairwell between the bedroom and the truck. Compare those numbers with your mattress size before moving day.

• Remove interior doors from their hinges when the opening is tight.
  
• Cover banisters and sharp wall corners with blankets.
  
• Clear rugs, shoes, and boxes from the path.
  
• Reserve the elevator or a parking spot near the entrance if your building requires a booking.
  

Carry and Load the Mattress Correctly

Moving a mattress takes at least two people. Lift from underneath. Use the side handles to steer, never to carry the full weight. Turn the mattress on the long edge for doorways and stairs.

Never fold an innerspring or hybrid mattress, because folding bends the coils. Check the manufacturer’s instructions before you roll a foam mattress. Never tie a mattress to a car roof.

In the truck, stand the mattress upright on the long edge against a wall. 5 Points Moving, a Los Angeles moving company, transports mattresses in a vertical position to avoid deformation and secures them with fastening straps. Keep heavy boxes and furniture off the mattress.

When to Hire Mattress Movers

Some situations call for a professional crew:

• A king or California king mattress in a building without an elevator.
  
• Narrow stairwells or hallways with tight turns.
  
• A last-minute move with no time to buy bags and straps.
  
• A mattress purchase from a store or an online seller, with no truck of your own.
  

When you compare mattress movers in Los Angeles, ask how the crew wraps mattresses, whether they bring covers and straps, and how they position mattresses in the truck. The price depends on distance, the size of the items, the need for a truck, and the number of movers. For a small move, such as a mattress, a nightstand, and a few boxes, ask whether a compact vehicle fits the job instead of a full truck.

Moving within Studio City? Ask about minimum booking times. Some local companies set a minimum of 3 to 4 hours, so plan to move the mattress together with other furniture or boxes. When you contact Studio City movers, ask how the crew protects a mattress on stairs and in narrow apartment corridors.

Unwrap and Check the Mattress Right Away

Remove the plastic as soon as the mattress reaches the bedroom. Check both sides against your photos for tears, stains, or dents. Let a foam mattress air out for a few hours before you make the bed. Assemble the frame first, then set the mattress in place.

By Loren Kopff • @LorenKopff on X

It’s not often that a high school football team can have such an offensive performance in only 22 plays, but Artesia High can thank its defense for that. The Pioneers had nearly 350 yards on offense, but the defense was even better, limiting John Glenn High to negative eight plays on 32 plays in a 58-0 rout on the road last Friday.

It’s the widest margin of victory over the Eagles since 2005 (51-0) and the fourth shutout against Glenn since at least 1999. In securing the seventh straight victory over Glenn, Artesia is now 22-6 against its longtime Suburban League and 605 League rival since 1999.

“It’s definitely a model that I, as a former player…I’m a defensive guy; I played linebacker and D-line my whole high school career,” said Artesia first-year head coach E.J. Ashby. “I understand how impactful a good defense can be, because it’s not only turning the ball over, it’s three and outs; it’s making sure we have good field position, so on and so forth. When you can have explosive plays on offense, it just makes it look better, and a little easier.”

“We’ve been struggling offensively for the last four games,” said Glenn head coach Dwon Drummer. “I don’t know; I don’t know if it’s something that I need to look at as far as film goes, but teams are kind of keying in on what we like to do. They have answers for what we’re trying to do. We just haven’t been able to execute.”

Artesia (6-1, 3-0) has not allowed a point in a Rio Vista League contest while the Eagles dropped their fourth game in a row after opening the season with four straight wins. But Glenn has scored just one touchdown during its skid.

Artesia’s second-longest drive of the game came in its first possession as it went 51 yards on five plays before settling for a 36-yard field goal from senior Giovanny Martinez. After that, the Pioneers would have nine plays the remainder of the half, scoring on their next three offensive drives.

It began with a 28-yard touchdown run from junior running back Justin Pettus with 2:55 left in the first quarter. That was followed by a five-yard scamper from senior halfback Izayah Carranza 1:14 into the second quarter, ending a six play, 65-yard drive. On the fourth play of Glenn’s ensuing drive, senior cornerback Makei Fitzgerald returned the lone interception thrown by Glenn junior quarterback Ryder Perez 59 yards for the fourth score of the night and with 8:07 left in the half, it was 24-0.

Following the second three and out of the half for the Eagles, Pettus needed just two plays to add another touchdown, this one from 67 yards out. By halftime, the Pioneers were outgaining the hosts 195 to negative 23 in yards.

“I remind the defense daily, not just before the game, that they dictate if we win or lose,” said Ashby. “We have a lot of offensive weapons, but I tell them we only have one ball. So when you only have one ball, you can’t always get the ball in everyone’s hands on offense. So, we have to win on defense.”

Glenn had been without the services of sophomore Kellen Huckelberry for nearly three games but was only able to catch a pair of passes for 19 yards in the first half and did not have a tackle on defense.

“He’s rusty,” said Drummer. “He literally took probably four weeks off because we had a bye week (on Sept. 18). So, he’s still kind of working himself back into playing shape. Once the game got out of hand, I didn’t want to put him in harm’s way; kind of protect him a little bit and make sure he can finish the season.”

The Pioneers didn’t waste any time to begin the second half as Fitzgerald busted loose for a 71-yard touchdown run on the first play, then a fumble on Glenn’s initial play of the half resulted in a 25-yard return by sophomore linebacker Talitua Fonoimoana for another touchdown and within 43 seconds, it was 45-0. The last two scores came in the fourth quarter-a 23-yard pass from junior Jorge Velazquez to Carranza and a 31-yard run by junior Andrew Quarles, both coming within three plays of each other.

Pettus led everyone with 107 yards on half a dozen carries, but those close to the Artesia program know he can put up better numbers.

“He’s just so explosive,” said Ashby. “I want to give him more carries, but he breaks so many of them open that it makes it look like I’m trying to run up the score with him, and stat-pad him. But I just want to give him carries because at some point, we will face tough teams like next week against Whittier where he’s going to have to carry the ball more because plays are going to be two yards, three yards and then a ton of dust.”

Junior quarterback Zyir Lewis threw three passes, but two were completed for 56 yards and Carranza added 43 yards on half a dozen rushes. If there was one negative for the Pioneers in the contest, it came from the infraction penalty where they were called for 14 penalties for 160 yards, drawing the ire from Ashby.

“That is still the most penalties we’ve had all year, and I don’t know what got into them today,” said Ashby. “We had a good week of practice, so I don’t know if they just got comfortable with the score and was trying to do things to make highlights. But way too many penalties. We can’t afford that next week; Whittier is too good. I respect them; I’ve seen what they have done this year. They’ve played a tougher schedule than we have.”

The loss ended any chance for the Eagles, who haven’t seen life in the CIF-Southern Section playoffs since 2019, to claim one of the three automatic berths given to the league. But with two games remaining against teams with a combined 4-11 overall record, a chance for an at-large berth is still in play.

“I would say the level of competition,” said Drummer of the difference between the first four games of the season and the last four games. “We are playing teams who are a lot better than the first four that we played, and I’ll say some injuries and some disciplinary issues that we had over the last couple of weeks (have hurt us).”

Perez completed half of his 10 passes for 32 yards while none of the four ball carriers reached positive yardage for their final total. Drummer said he will have to go back to the drawing board for the next two games of the regular season, admitting that he and his coaching staff will have to self-scout and see where they are wrong as coaches.

“I cannot put it all on the players; I won’t,” he added. “At the end of the day, I’m the head coach and it’s my team, so I have to go and see and make sure that us as coaches are doing what we need to do to not be self-predictable or see if we are. Maybe we predictable, I don’t know. The issue is we are running into a lot of issues of injuries. We have a lot of two-way players, so that’s hurting us. We’re having to put in guys who don’t have a lot of experience.”

The initial Rio Vista League title comes down to an Artesia road game against Whittier High on Oct. 22 at California High while the Eagles are home to Lynwood High on Friday with the winner leaving the sole position of the cellar spot.

October 18, 2026

Florida’s homestead exemption provides property tax relief for qualifying permanent residences, but Vo’s signed mortgage identified his $722,000 waterfront property as a second home.

By Brian Hews

CERRITOS — Former Cerritos Mayor and Republican congressional candidate Chuong Vo signed mortgage documents in September 2024 expressly identifying his $722,000 Florida waterfront property as a second home. Yet the property subsequently received a Florida homestead tax exemption for 2025, a benefit generally reserved for property used as a permanent residence.

This isn’t the first time Vo’s paperwork has drawn scrutiny. In February 2022, LCCN reported, based on a records request to the city, that Vo, then a Torrance police officer, was collecting a $780 monthly cash-in-lieu check from Cerritos, about $9,400 a year, while his council colleagues Solanki, Barrows and Yokoyama declined the payment.

__________________

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The discrepancy, uncovered through mortgage documents independently obtained by Los Cerritos Community News, adds a significant new dimension to a Florida homestead investigation first reported October 16 by AsAmNews.

The 19-page mortgage, recorded September 18, 2024, in Bay County, Florida, identifies Vo and Traci Ton Vo as borrowers on a $577,600 loan from Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation.

The document contains a signed Second Home Rider dated September 12, 2024, requiring the borrowers to occupy and use the Florida property as their second home.

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SECOND HOME RIDER: A mortgage document signed by Chuong Vo on September 12, 2024, expressly identifies his $722,000 Florida waterfront property as a second home. Bay County records show the property subsequently received a homestead tax exemption for 2025, a benefit generally reserved for qualifying permanent residences. Click to view larger document.

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The mortgage also identifies the borrowers as residing at 17702 Owen Avenue in Cerritos, California which is owned by Vo’s trust.

Bay County Property Appraiser Dan Sowell confirmed to Los Cerritos Community News that Vo filed his Florida homestead exemption application on December 30, 2024, just 109 days after signing a mortgage expressly designating the property as a second home.

The application was submitted only two days before January 1, 2025, the date used to determine eligibility for that year’s homestead exemption.

County assessment records show the property received a $50,722 homestead-related exemption in 2025 and list a $51,411 exemption for 2026. Those amounts represent reductions in assessed property value, not the actual dollars saved in taxes.

The documents raise questions about when, or whether, Vo established Florida as his permanent residence.

Florida official reportedly reverses initial finding

AsAmNews reported October 16 that Bay County Property Appraiser Dan Sowell initially concluded there was insufficient evidence of wrongdoing concerning Vo’s homestead exemption.

According to the publication, Sowell subsequently consulted legal counsel in Tallahassee and reversed his position, determining that Vo was a California resident and therefore did not qualify for the exemption.

Sowell said that formal homestead fraud proceedings would begin and that Vo could face additional taxes, penalties and interest.

LCCN has not independently obtained the county’s written determination or confirmed whether formal proceedings have commenced.

Mortgage identifies Cerritos residence

The Florida mortgage contains another significant detail.

On its first page, the document identifies Vo and his wife as currently residing at 17702 Owen Avenue, Cerritos, California.

The mortgage was signed September 12, 2024, and recorded in Bay County Official Records, Book 4841, beginning at Page 2174.

The Florida property, located at 345 Confidence Way in Southport, was purchased September 13, 2024, for $722,000.

The signed Second Home Rider appears on Pages 18 and 19 of the recorded mortgage.

The rider establishes the occupancy classification represented to the mortgage lender at the time 

January 1, 2025, homestead eligibility date.

Cerritos recall petitions raise additional residency questions

The Florida records also raise questions concerning Vo’s participation in Cerritos political activities.

LCCN has obtained information indicating that Vo signed petitions supporting the recall of Cerritos Mayor Lynda Johnson and Councilman Frank Yokoyama early this year using his Cerritos residential address.

California recall petitions generally require signers to be registered voters eligible to vote in the jurisdiction involved.

If Vo had established Florida as his permanent legal residence, questions could arise concerning his California voter registration and eligibility to sign a Cerritos recall petition.

Conversely, if Vo continued to maintain California as his permanent residence, questions arise concerning the basis for the Florida homestead exemption.

Vo did not respond

LCCN contacted Vo seeking an explanation of the apparent discrepancy between his signed second-home mortgage and the subsequent Florida homestead exemption.

Vo did not respond by publication time.

LCCN is also seeking records from the Bay County Property Appraiser’s Office, including the original homestead exemption application, its filing date, supporting residency declarations, and any findings concerning the property’s eligibility.

Add this section at the end of the article, immediately before the final paragraph.

Not the first time Vo has faced scrutiny

This is not the first time Vo’s conduct as an elected official and political candidate has come under scrutiny. For nearly a decade, Los Cerritos Community News has investigated his campaign contributions, taxpayer-funded benefits, police department connections and disputes involving public records.

In March 2017, LCCN reported that Vo, then a Cerritos City Council candidate, accepted a $5,000 campaign contribution from the Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs, the union representing Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies. The contribution drew scrutiny because of the union’s efforts to prevent the disclosure of disciplinary records involving deputies accused of misconduct.

In February 2020, LCCN revealed that Vo received a $7,500 campaign contribution from the Southern California Motor Dealers Association, representing Cerritos Auto Square interests. The contribution accounted for approximately 30 percent of his reported campaign receipts at the time and raised questions about the influence of major business interests in local elections.

In December 2021, LCCN questioned Vo’s possible connection to the Torrance Police Department’s racist text-message scandal, which involved officers accused of exchanging discriminatory and offensive messages. Vo, a Torrance police officer, did not respond to the newspaper’s inquiries. LCCN did not establish that Vo participated in the exchanges.

In January 2022, LCCN reported that attorneys representing the City of Cerritos resisted a California Public Records Act request seeking Vo’s official emails and text messages. The city’s attorneys characterized the request as overly burdensome, raising questions about public access to communications involving elected officials.

One month later, in February 2022, LCCN reported that Vo was receiving approximately $780 per month in cash payments in lieu of city-provided healthcare benefits while also receiving salary and benefits through his employment with the Torrance Police Department. Records examined by the newspaper showed that Vo received approximately $191,000 in police salary and benefits in 2020, while his Cerritos healthcare payments amounted to approximately $9,400 annually. The payments were not established to be unlawful.

That investigation also examined Vo’s financial disclosure statements, which identified two Cerritos residential properties, including rental real estate.

City activates emergency operations plan, prepares flood-control measures and positions crews ahead of potentially damaging winter storms.

By LCCN Staff Report

PICO RIVERA — The Pico Rivera City Council voted Tuesday, Oct. 13, to declare a local emergency ahead of the 2026–27 El Niño storm season, allowing the city to accelerate flood prevention efforts, mobilize emergency personnel and prepare for potentially severe winter weather.

The declaration follows Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Sept. 21 statewide emergency proclamation related to the developing El Niño weather pattern, according to the city.

According to the city, forecast data indicate a greater than 90 percent probability of an intense storm track capable of producing prolonged atmospheric river events, flash flooding and mudslides across Southern California this winter. The forecast claim has not been independently verified.

Pico Rivera’s location within the low-lying San Gabriel River watershed makes the city particularly vulnerable to flooding, with storm channels, roadways and residential neighborhoods facing increased exposure during heavy rainfall.

“Our job is to be ready before the first storm arrives, not after,” City Manager Steve Carmona said. “This proclamation gives our team the tools to move quickly, whether that’s clearing catch basins, staging sandbags, or putting crews on standby, while we continue working side by side with the County and our regional partners.”

“We are asking every resident to do their part by signing up for emergency alerts and getting their household plan in place,” Carmona said.

The emergency declaration activates Pico Rivera’s Emergency Operations Plan under Chapter 2.52 of the Municipal Code, giving city officials additional authority to expedite preparations and coordinate resources.

Among the immediate priorities are clearing storm drains and catch basins, establishing sandbag distribution locations, and placing Public Works crews and contractors on standby to respond to flooding.

The declaration also allows the city to accelerate emergency purchasing procedures and seek reimbursement for eligible expenses through the California Disaster Assistance Act while coordinating with the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services and Los Angeles County.

Forty-six city employees recently completed a three-day Emergency Operations Center training program, including a three-hour simulated emergency exercise designed to test the city’s response capabilities.

Pico Rivera is also purchasing generators and pumps to address potential flooding at street underpasses, while the City Council has funded a project to retrofit catch basins to improve stormwater management.

A Rapid Response Team will be activated ahead of forecast heavy rainfall, with crews monitoring flood-prone streets, major thoroughfares and urban runoff channels.

The city will coordinate emergency operations with the Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Management, Sheriff’s Department, Fire Department and neighboring Gateway Cities communities.

City officials said the action will have no additional impact on the General Fund. Anticipated preparation expenses will be covered through money already allocated to the Emergency Preparedness Account in the city’s adopted 2026–27 budget.

Residents are encouraged to register for emergency notifications through Alert Los Angeles County at alert.lacounty.gov, assemble emergency supply kits, monitor weather forecasts and develop household evacuation and communication plans.

City officials also urged residents to check on older adults and neighbors who may need assistance during severe weather.

Information about sandbag distribution sites and storm preparations will be posted at www.pico-rivera.org and through the city’s social media accounts. Residents can contact Pico Rivera City Hall at (562) 942-2000.

By Loren Kopff • @LorenKopff on X

This time, there was no doubt who was going to win the Mid-Cities League in girls flag football. As Cerritos High was preparing to host Paramount High this past Monday in the final league contest of the season, the Dons had already claimed first place all to themselves with Paramount being three games behind,

The only thing left on their regular season resume was an undefeated league season, and that’s what happened in grand fashion as senior quarterback Kianna Rangel completed 23 of 41 passes for 219 yards and four touchdowns and the defense held the Pirates to barely over 120 yards in a 25-0 victory. It was the fifth straight win and 12^th in the last 13 wins for the Dons, who improved to 16-2 overall, 8-0 in league, with the last three victories coming via the shutout.

Cerritos joined the ranks of the sport for the first time last season as the CIF-Southern Section implemented the fall season sport for the first time in 2023, minus the playoffs. Cerritos head coach Brittany Goodin remembered putting together an inexperienced team except for one player, but the Dons finished 14-8 and tied Artesia High for the top spot in the 605 League. Then in the playoffs, they lost to Adelanto High 52-0 in the Division 6 semifinals.

“It was a learning year, but we had incredible athletes last year,” said Goodin. “We had a lot of returners this year; we graduated a few that we had to fill gaps in, so that’s what we were looking for this year. This year has been more about really solidifying their football IQ and really understanding positionality; understanding what the field looks like. But really [it was about] building their capacity this year, and I think that’s really served them well, especially the second half of league.”

She added that a few athletes have been peaking at the right time, which has been putting the team in a ‘pretty good position for playoffs next week’.”

On the first drive of the game, the Dons drove down the field and on the seventh play, Rangel tossed a 12-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Jaslyn Macaraeg. On its next drive, Cerritos went up 13-0 when junior wide receiver Aubrey Padilla caught a five-yard score from Rangel. Just in the opening quarter, Rangel completed 10 of 15 passes for 104 yards and the Dons had no rushing plays.

After Rangel threw an interception on the first play of the second quarter, the defense made sure the Pirates would not take advantage, gaining zero yards on four plays. That left the door wide open for Rangel to do her magic and on the fourth play of the new drive, she found senior wide receiver Alexi Olmos open for 17 yards and a 19-0 lead with 7:34 left in the half.

“Kiki came to us last year brand new to flag [and] she had an arm, but we needed to kind of reel it in,” said Goodin. “Kiki definitely started as a pocket passer, but we’ve tried to work towards, again, building her IQ. She does a lot of work off the field outside of practice to kind of hone in on those skills. She worked a lot in the offseason to prepare for this season. But I think this year, she’s stepped into that leadership role.”

The score remained 19-0 until 1:55 remained in the contest when junior Julia Santos caught Rangel’s last completion and matriculated 39 yards down the field for the final touchdown. Sophomore Cailey Heng caught five passes for 44 yards while Santos had three catches for 72 yards. Senior Kalana Nguyen also had five receptions for 31 yards while five other players all caught a pair of passes.

“That’s one thing I love about this team; there’s no one key player from game to game,” said Goodin. “We don’t have one outstanding player; we have great depth with our program, and that [allows us to] throw different things out there. If someone is having an off game here, someone else is stepping up to the plate. Having depth is just one of those things that we are very, very incredibly fortunate to have, and I think it continues to serve us really well.”

After beginning last season 5-7, the Dons lost to Artesia 13-7 in second league game of the season before winning nine straight heading into the semifinals. Cerritos ended up outscoring its opponents 382-284, but this season, it’s been completely different as the Dons have piled up 441 points ahead of the postseason while the defense has allowed 90 points with eight shutouts and seven games of allowing either a touchdown or a safety.

The CIF-SS divisional playoff brackets will be released on Friday afternoon with the first round games beginning on Tuesday.

October 12, 2026

By Brian Hews

CERRITOS — Families looking for a fun and free way to celebrate Halloween are invited to the first annual Trunk or Treat at the Cerritos Auto Square on Sunday, Oct. 25, from noon to 5 p.m.

The community celebration will take place at McKenna Volkswagen Cerritos, located at 18303 Studebaker Road, and will feature 14 decorated vehicle trunks filled with Halloween treats, along with games, refreshments and raffle prizes.

Organizers are inviting children and families to dress in their favorite Halloween costumes and enjoy an afternoon of activities in a festive, family-friendly atmosphere.

In addition to the decorated trunks, attendees can enjoy complimentary popcorn, coffee and hot chocolate throughout the afternoon.

Families can also participate in carnival-style games and activities, including cornhole, ring toss, life-size Connect 4 and other attractions. Raffle prizes will be awarded during the event.

The celebration is designed to bring local families together while providing children with a fun and welcoming environment to enjoy Halloween festivities.

Costumes are encouraged, and organizers emphasize that the event is open to everyone, with no admission charge.

The inaugural Trunk or Treat is part of the Cerritos Auto Square’s effort to provide community activities and family entertainment beyond its automotive dealerships.

The event will be held Sunday, Oct. 25, from noon to 5 p.m. at McKenna Volkswagen Cerritos, 18303 Studebaker Road, Cerritos.

Admission, candy, games and refreshments are free.

For additional information, contact Andrew at Andrew@CerritosAutoSquare.com.

October 12, 2026

By Loren Kopff • @LorenKopff on X

Gahr High’s offense piled up nearly 300 yards on offense against Norwalk High last Friday, but the final score and the statistics proved it was more of a defensive challenge. Both teams combined for five interceptions thrown by three quarterbacks, punted eight times while two rushing touchdowns, a passing touchdown, an interception returned for a touchdown, a field goal and a safety accounted for all the scoring as the visiting Gladiators squeaked past the Lancers 16-14.

Following a missed 37-yard field goal attempt by Gahr junior Matthew Barcelos with 2:26 left in the game, the Lancers could only generate 15 yards of offense before an incomplete pass on fourth down ended a chance to get into field goal territory.

“Defensively, I thought we played very well,” said Gahr head coach Greg Marshall. “But without our two best offensive guys, it was more than we thought.”

“We tried to run the football to get the defense to play us honest because we knew they were going to play some type of quarters; some type of soft zone to make us thread it in there,” said Norwalk first-year head coach Anthony Cobbs. “They knew we were lacking [players]; we don’t have a ton of speed. We have a couple of guys who can run pretty good; I’m not sure they can run as good as the Gahr defensive backs. We could not really get beyond them, so we had to try to get them to make a mistake, and they did. On a deep ball, we got a pass interference call, which gave us life.”

The Gladiators were without the services of junior Branden Martinez, who was ejected the previous week against Paramount High while the Lancers sat out senior running back Erick Dominguez, who was injured after last week’s game against California. Dominguez admitted to Cobbs that he could go but still did not play. Both players are expected to play on Friday.

The scoring got started on the fourth play of the game when Gahr was set to punt from inside its 20-yard line, but a bad snap sailed just past the endzone for a safety. Later in the quarter, Gahr (4-2-1, 1-1) took the lead when sophomore quarterback Kalen Swanson tossed a 47-yard touchdown pass to junior Miguel Lopez.

The score remained 7-2 until just under three minutes remained in the first half when the Lancers regained the lead following a two-yard run from senior running back David Ibarra. But a fumble on the second play of Norwalk’s next possession gave the Gladiators life near midfield and they drove down to the 25-yard line before Barcelos booted a 42-yard field goal with 11 seconds remaining.

The tempo heated up with 5:17 remaining in the third quarter and lasted through the opening minutes of the final stanza. First, Gahr free safety Jacob Burson picked off Norwalk sophomore Jeremiah Lopez at the Gahr 43-yard line. Six plays later, Norwalk senior linebacker Riley Howard intercepted a Swanson pass and returned it 70 yards for a score, making it 14-10.

“Jeremiah was just a little bit flustered tonight and just couldn’t get it going,” said Cobbs. “I was just trying to get a spark, and it just didn’t happen. Gahr’s defense did a good job of playing bend but don’t break and they didn’t give us very many lanes to throw it to.”

Following the ensuing kickoff, Gahr regained the lead for good when senior running back Nick Washington busted loose for a 72-yard touchdown run. Then two plays after that, Burson intercepted senior quarterback Johnniele Madera at the 46-yard line and took it back to the Gahr 17-yard line. Gahr ran three plays before junior defensive back David Pelayo picked off Swanson in the endzone.

“It was crazy,” said Marshall of that sequence of events that led into the fourth quarter. “We had an opportunity to go for a field goal to go up by five and I don’t trust kicking the ball off today. If we kick the ball off, they might return it for a touchdown the way things are going.”

After Norwalk (1-6, 0-2) was stalled at its own 15-yard line, Ibarra punted with 7:52 remaining in the game where Gahr drove down to the 20-yard line before Barcelos missed a 37-yard field goal attempt which would have sealed the game. But the Lancers could only get to their own 35-yard line following four straight incomplete passes.

“We both looked like a little bit out of sorts,” said Marshall. “They didn’t run some stuff we normally have seen in the running [department], but probably because they were missing some guys; it limits what you can do. That’s just one of those games you’re just glad to get away with a win. When you go on the road going to Norwalk; win a league game on the road and when you play bad, you can’t be mad.”

Swanson completed seven passes for 96 yards but was intercepted three times. Marshall indicated that Martinez would probably be the quarterback on Friday when the Gladiators host California. Washington gained 106 yards on 13 carries while Payne added 49 yards on 10 carries. Defensively, Lopez had 14 tackles while senior lineman R’shon Livingston and junior linebacker Nathan Moreno added nine and eight tackles, respectively. Livingston also had one and a half sacks.

“He had guys open; he was just misfiring,” said Marshall of Swanson. “We were hoping he would be advancing at a quicker pace.”

For the Lancers, senior running back Jayden Barrios rushed seven times for 17 yards and senior Jordan Ballinger had 14 carries for 10 yards while Lopez completed a pair of passes for 13 yards. Norwalk punted five times out of its 11 possessions and had five first downs.

“Both teams were dealing with a lot of injuries and both teams had young quarterbacks,” said Cobbs. “So on defense, we were either feast or famine. The defensive play we gave up for a long [touchdown] run, that didn’t help at all. I think both of their touchdowns came off busted plays where we had guys in the wrong gaps.

“We had two teams that are really young in certain spots whereas we have a very heavy senior-laden team, but most of our contributors are underclassmen,” he continued. “It’s just a matter of two teams not having a workhorse; two teams that don’t have necessarily a guy that they know is going to score two or three touchdowns.”

The Gladiators will host California on Friday with the winner staying in the top three of the league which would guarantee an automatic berth to the playoffs while Norwalk will host Santa Fe High with that winner avoiding sole possession of last place.

“We usually throw against [California] in the summer, so we know each other,” said Marshall. “In this league, besides Paramount and Bellflower now…is here to stay. Norwalk, us, Cal and Santa Fe…I think we’re all just good football teams [and] whoever is the best or worst sometimes, in the case of [tonight]…I didn’t think either team played well.”

“I’m very confident that we’ll be successful,” said Cobbs. “But I’m still proud of these boys. We’ve played a different brand of ball every week and we’re getting very close to having some success with that. I know there are no moral victories, but at the same time, just the way they played tonight with the least number of players we’ve had all season to suit up…we had at least eight to 10 players not suit up tonight due to injuries. We didn’t have depth that we normally have.

“Like I just told the guys after the game, don’t put your heads down,” he later said. “[They] are so blessed to be able to come out again next week and [they’ll] have this type of atmosphere. It was electric; [they] have one win and these people are still out here encouraging [them] and cheering for [them]. Next week, I think we have a similar type of a team to Gahr and to Cal High. It just comes down to a matter of who has the fortitude and the moxie to not make more mistakes than the other team. I think it’s a very winnable game for us. I think we’ll have momentum from tonight knowing that we’ll be able to get three to five starters back next week.”