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. Sunday, July 12, at 11:35 a.m., Santa Monica police officers on routine patrol in the area of Fourth Street and Olympic Boulevard spotted a driver who... Read more →

SM PIER — As attendance at the Twilight Dance Series increases, the Santa Monica Pier Restoration Corp. is looking to reorganize to accommodate more concert-goers each week. Last week the Santa Monica Police Department added heightened security along the beach once the pier reached capacity and people began to overflow onto the sand.... Read more →

CITY HALL — A controversial law requiring photovoltaic panels to be installed in the least visible location from the street got the greenlight from the City Council on Tuesday just weeks after solar advocates argued the rule would deter interested property owners in the future. The ordinance, meant to streamline the permit application... Read more →

City Hall has unveiled a new Web site aimed at fostering a greater understanding of what it means to live a sustainable lifestyle. The Web site, www.sustainablesm.org, is the latest creation from the Office of Sustainability and the Environment. It will provide information on important city services, programs, and resources for individuals... Read more →

CITY HALL — A new proposal to move a planned rail maintenance yard further away from homes in the Pico Neighborhood will go onto the next phase of evaluation, disappointing some nearby residents who said the alternative doesn’t go far enough. The City Council on Tuesday authorized its staff to continue exploring a recently... Read more →

Drivers better pay close attention to pedestrians this Thursday. The Santa Monica Police Department’s Traffic Safety Unit will be out in full force that day, paying additional attention to the many crosswalks and intersections. Officers want to remind pedestrians to use caution when approaching intersections and crosswalks. All... Read more →

OCEAN AVENUE — Eating at some of Santa Monica’s best restaurants can now also help in the fight against breast cancer. The Los Angeles County affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure is hosting the first annual Dine Out for the Cure today, with restaurants donating 10 percent of their proceeds toward the cause. “This event... Read more →

SM BEACH — Under the late morning sun, a man and his young daughter stand in line at the Annenberg Community Beach House, waiting to pay the price of admission to enjoy a day by the pool. They were teased in the meantime by the sounds of children splashing and laughing nearby, and the sights of wet haired little ones exiting the... Read more →

With temperatures soaring to near triple-digit territory in Southern California and rising above normal on the Westside, emergency physicians at Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center and Orthopaedic Hospital encourage residents to take precautions to prevent heat exhaustion and other heat-related illnesses. Dr. Wally Ghurabi, medical director of... Read more →

WILMONT — The staff of Upward Bound House would like nothing more than to lose their jobs — because that would mean homelessness and the many problems it causes have been eliminated. As it stands, though, they have a months-long waiting list of families hoping to obtain housing, classes, and other services offered by the agency.... Read more →