Dear EarthTalk: I am looking at possibly buying a house that is very close to a gasoline station. Is it safe to live so close to a gas station? What concerns should I have? I have toddler and infant babies. — Ranjeeta, Houston, TX Despite all the modern health and safety guidelines they must follow, gas stations can still pose... Read more →

EASTSIDE — Santa Monicans for Renters’ Rights, the city’s leading political party that holds a majority on the City Council and other elected boards here, is opposed to building a maintenance yard for the Exposition Light Rail line in a residential neighborhood adjacent to Stewart Street Park. The politically-influential... Read more →

DOWNTOWN L.A. — The family of a Santa Monica man who was shot and killed here just weeks before he was to graduate Cal State Northridge are asking for the public’s help in identifying the killer, hosting a rally at the murder scene Sunday in hopes that someone will come forward with more information about the crime. Clifton... Read more →

PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITY — Santa Monica narcotics detectives, along with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, seized over two pounds of black tar heroin and arrested two people believed responsible for running a drug dealing operation that covered much of the Westside. Authorities on Friday released the names of the two suspects,... Read more →

DOWNTOWN — In a city that long ago developed a reputation of generosity toward the homeless population, given the moniker as the “home of the homeless,” a one-year-old approach to pay more focused and proactive attention to the issue has apparently led to noticeable results. That approach — the Action Plan to Address... Read more →

DOWNTOWN — Dusk had fallen when Jaime Seoane, an employee of Cozi Couch Washable Luxury, finally arrived at the store on Thursday. He came with a U-Haul. The store is now an empty shell, with just piles of haphazardly stacked pillows atop stray bits of furniture and a sky blue sign in the back that reads: “We reserve the right... Read more →

CITY HALL — Concerned about the environmental impact of harsh dry cleaning chemicals, city officials are considering developing regulations that would force local shop owners to use non-toxic solvents and green methods. The City Council on Tuesday requested its staff to explore dry cleaning alternatives and prepare an ordinance... Read more →

Crime Watch is a weekly series culled from reports provided by the Santa Monica Police Department. These are arrests only. All parties are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Saturday, March 21, at 11:32 p.m., Santa Monica police officers responded to the 1100 block of Second Street — the Huntley Hotel — regarding a... Read more →

PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITY — Santa Monica police officers need the public’s help, but this time it’s not to identify a hit-and-run driver or a suspect in a robbery. It’s to help save the lives of those suffering from Leukemia and other diseases in which the only cure is a bone marrow transplant. In connection with the... Read more →

On Saturday, Santa Monica goes dark. City Hall, along with many residents and businesses, will participate in Earth Hour 2009, a global event to raise awareness about our energy use and how it affects climate change. Residents and businesses are encouraged to turn off all lights and appliances from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Saturday to show... Read more →