Dear EarthTalk What is “nanotechnology?” I’ve heard that nanoparticles are already in consumer products, yet we haven’t really studied their potential health impacts. Dan Zeff San Francisco, CA Nanotechnology makes use of minuscule objects — whose width can be 10,000 times narrower than a human hair —... Read more →

EASTSIDE — Several shots rang out Friday night in the neighborhood bordering Stewart Street Park in what police said may have been a targeted attack. At least two residents were shot at as they arrived at their home in the 2800 block of Delaware Avenue around 9:23 p.m. Police said two suspects approached the victims’ vehicle on... Read more →

SMMUSD HDQTRS — Upset with a proposal to cap employer contributions to their health care coverage, a contingent of teachers flooded the Board of Education meeting on Thursday to address what they believe will be a permanent pay cut. There was not an open seat in the house as a crowd of educators filled the board room, a strange... Read more →

DOWNTOWN — It’s a long-time fixture on the Third Street Promenade, a crowd-drawing line-up of diverse entertainment acts, from crooners to break-dancers to acrobats, all accessible over three blocks. But while street performers have long played a part in making the promenade a world-famous shopping destination, their presence... Read more →

CITYWIDE — Dialing 911 from a cell phone used to be a gamble for those trying to reach the Santa Monica Police Department. Oftentimes the call would be answered by the California Highway Patrol, which was overloaded, leaving some callers on hold for minutes at a time. Not any more. Now those who call for help within Santa... 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. Friday, May 8, at 2:30 a.m., Santa Monica police officers responded to the 2000 block of 14th Street regarding a report of a male bleeding from his neck.... Read more →

LONG BEACH — Less than a week after a U.S. appellate judge upheld an injunction restricting City Hall from enforcing its ban on jets, it looks like the battle with the Federal Aviation Administration could very well end up back in federal court. That’s the likely scenario facing City Hall after the FAA’s hearing officer... Read more →

DOWNTOWN — They’re considered vital to the successful operation of a restaurant with an outdoor dining section, offering patrons the luxury of an alfresco environment with protection from the elements. But depending on how retractable weather screens are used, they can be illegal. That’s what a handful of... Read more →

CITY HALL — Santa Monica families who are about to lose their homes should think twice before returning their keys. City officials are preparing to launch a new program that will give financial assistance to struggling local families on the brink of homelessness, using anticipated incoming funds from the federal stimulus package. The... Read more →

MID-CITY — Children in Santa Monica and the Westside who suffer from cerebral palsy, scoliosis, spina bifida and other muscoskeletal disorders have a new facility to turn to. The Los Angeles Orthopaedic Hospital, a leader in orthopaedic patient care, research and education for nearly a century, held the grand opening Wednesday of the... Read more →