MALIBU — An environmental expert hired by the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District met with concerned parents, teachers and community members on Thursday for an update on many pressing questions looming over the environmental issues at the school. “How long is it going to take to know we are safe?” one parent asked. The... Read more →

Santa Monica City Council CITY HALL — Who doesn’t want to spend Saturday morning discussing protocol regarding the second reading of an ordinance? While the rest of Santa Monica is watching cartoons or eating a leisurely breakfast, City Council will be discussing the commissioner selection process, rules for public speakers and... Read more →

Many trees died shortly after being planted, some from a condition known as root girdling. When that occurs, a tree’s roots are not allowed to grow properly and instead wrap tightly around the tree’s trunk, choking it to death. (File photo) CITYWIDE — More than 200 street trees that are dead or dying will be removed later this... 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.   Thursday, Oct. 17, at 4:30 p.m., A Santa Monica Police officer driving westbound on Santa Monica Boulevard near Seventh Street got a hit on... Read more →

The Santa Monica Democratic Club will be hosting a symposium regarding high tuition costs at colleges and universities. The meeting will cover issues including student loan debt, accessibility and diversity. In addition, the state and future of former Gov. Pat Brown’s 1960 Master Plan for Higher Education will also be discussed. Ben... Read more →

File photo City Hall is inviting residents and businesses to develop a plan to help eliminate trash from the streets. The Zero Waste Strategic Plan is part of City Hall’s goal to prevent at least 95 percent of trash from being tossed into landfills by 2030. Participants can take a survey to provide ideas for possible programs,... Read more →

The fountain at Ken Genser Square in front of City Hall reflects the sunset. Three City Hall projects have been recognized by an organization of public works agencies. Tongva Park and Ken Genser Square; Ocean Park Boulevard Complete Green Street Project; and the Advanced Traffic Management System were recently awarded the 2013 Projects... Read more →

DECEASED: A sea lion that washed up in Malibu on Oct. 10 was found with four bullet wounds (see arrows). The animal later died of its injuries. (Photo courtesy Jonsie Ross) MALIBU — Wildlife rescue workers confirmed last week that two sea lions that washed onto the Malibu coast on Oct. 10 and 11 died of gunshot wounds, while a third... Read more →

File photo SMO — A tire blowout was not the cause of last month’s fatal Santa Monica Airport crash, according to a preliminary report issued by the National Transportation and Safety Board on Thursday. “The three landing gear tires were inflated and exhibited no unusual wear patterns,” the report stated, invalidating initial... Read more →

Renovation of the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium has been put on hold since the state took back RDA money. (File photo) CITY HALL — City Hall will pay the state $56.78 million over the next two years as part of a settlement over redevelopment agency funds, city officials said at Tuesday’s City Council meeting. The move saved the... Read more →