SMC Police Seek Suspect in Sexual Assault
May 1, 2025 -- The Santa Monica College (SMC) Police Department is seeking the public's help finding the suspect in an alleged sexual assault that took place at the school's library Wednesday morning.

Santa Monica Exempted from Voting Rights Bill
April 30, 2025 -- Santa Monica has been exempted from a State Assembly Bill that could have forced it to hold district elections while a voting rights lawsuit against the City winds its way through the courts.

Santa Monica Rents See Slight Increase
April 29, 2025 -- Santa Monica rents remained relatively flat in April, inching up 0.2 percent and furthering the streak of monthly increases this year, according to Apartment List's rent report released Tuesday.

Local Man Pleads Guilty to Multiple Federal Counts
April 29, 2025 -- A Santa Monica man on Tuesday pleaded guilty to running an illegal gambling business, money laundering and concealing more than $13 million in income from the IRS.

County Homeless Budget Cuts Won't Impact City
April 28, 2025 -- The steep budget cuts LA County Supervisors made to homeless services over the past month will have little or no impact on the City, City officials said.

Santa Monica Wheel to Glow on World Wish Day
April 28, 2025 -- Pacific Park's iconic solar-powered Ferris Wheel on the Pier will join other iconic LA landmarks that will glow a brilliant blue on Tuesday in honor of World Wish Day.

Bill to Boost Major Housing Developments Easily Clears Committee
April 25, 2025 -- A bill that would focus and streamline California's environmental process for major developments was approved by a key Senate committee this week.

Police to Hold DUI Checkpoint Under New Laws
April 25, 2025 -- Santa Monica police next Friday will hold a DUI checkpoint after penalties for driving under the influence were enhanced under new State laws that took effect this year.

City Seeks Volunteers to Adopt Bus Stops
April 25, 2025 -- The City is seeking volunteers to help keep Big Blue Bus (BBB) stops clean and safe under a new Adopt-A-Stop volunteer program.

Search for City Manager Intensifies
April 24, 2025 -- The search for a City Manager is picking up steam with the City Council on Tuesday holding a special closed door meeting dedicated entirely to filling the post.

Housing Bill to Help End Single-Family Zoning Fails
April 23, 2025 -- A State Senate housing bill to make it easier and faster to build as many as four units on a single family lot failed to advance out of committee on a 4 to 3 vote Tuesday.

Rent Control Rates Inch Up, Turnover Remains High
April 23, 2025 -- The price of a rent control apartment in Santa Monica increased slightly in each of the past four years, while the turnover rate for recently rented units remains high, according to the Rent Board's 2024 annual report.

Pali High Returns to Class in Santa Monica
April 22, 2025 -- For the first time since the devastating Palisades Fire drove them from their high school in January, more than 2,500 students flocked to a quickly constructed campus in Downtown Santa Monica on Tuesday.

SMC Planetarium Celebrates 35 Years of Hubble
April 22, 2025 -- The Santa Monica College Planetarium next month will explore radio astronomy and look back at the history of the Hubble Space Telescope that has been circling Earth for 35 years.

Two Stabbed on Beach, One Suspect Arrested
April 21, 2025 -- A man and a woman were stabbed on the beach south of the Pier in the early morning hours Saturday, and one of the two suspects has been arrested for attempted murder, according to police.

Poll Gauges Support for Homeless Initiatives
April 21, 2025 -- Santa Monica residents are divided over a new program that gives homeless individuals who commit minor crimes an alternative to jail, a monthly poll found.

Santa Monica Celebrates Earth Day
April 21, 2025 -- Santa Monica will celebrate Earth Day on Tuesday with free bus rides, educational events and special flashing colors on the world's only solar powered Ferris Wheel.

Santa Monica First California City to Use AI Trip Planning Tool
April 18, 2025 -- Travelers headed to Santa Monica can now have their entire itinerary instantly planned and their questions answered both before and during their stay using AI technology.

Homelessness Emergency Now in Third Year
April 17, 2025 -- The City Council on Tuesday is expected to ratify a proclamation extending Santa Monica's local homelessness emergency for a third year.

Long Beach Takes Radically Different Approach to Olympics
April 16, 2025 -- One week after Santa Monica failed to reach a deal with the organizing committee for the 2028 Summer Olympic Games, the City of Long Beach eagerly embraced the chance to host beach volleyball.

Owner of Dog that Mauled Poodle Identified
April 16, 2025 -- Santa Monica police have identified the owner of the dog that killed a toy poodle near Main Street on Friday but did not release the man's name.

Proposed Ordinance Requires Council Appoint Residents to Key Boards
April 15, 2025 -- Only Santa Monica residents will qualify for City Council appointments to three major Boards under an ordinance the Council is expected to approve Tuesday.

Pier Rolls Out Red Carpet for Locals
April 15, 2025 -- Local artists and guests will be in the spotlight once again Thursday when "Locals Night" returns to the Santa Monica Pier.

LETTERS -- It’s Time to Expel Hug-a-Thug Criminal Enablers from City Hall
April 15, 2025 -- The City's myriad programs not only allow the homeless who commit crimes to escape punishment, but rewards them with a “respite hub” or even free housing.

Pit Bull Owner Sought By Police Unlikely to Face Arrest
April 14, 2025 -- The owner of a pit bull that fatally mauled a toy poodle near Main Street on Friday evening will not likely be arrested if he is found, police officials said Monday.

Bomb Threat Suspect Not Talking to Police
April 14, 2025 -- A Santa Monica man arrested for allegedly threatening to bomb the Coachella Music & Arts Festival remained in custody Monday afternoon after declining to talk to police.

Zwick Takes Back Suggestion to Sell Fairview Library
April 11, 2025 -- City Councilmember Jesse Zwick said Tuesday night that he was "wrong" to suggest selling the Fairview Branch Library to address the City's budget crisis.

New Federal Task Force to Probe Homeless Funding
April 11, 2025 -- The Federal government this week announced it has formed a criminal task force to investigate potential "fraud, waste, abuse and corruption" involving funding for homeless programs in Southern California.

Public Health Cites Upscale Food Market for Roaches
April 10, 2025 -- Erewhon Market in Santa Monica -- known for its celebrity clientele and a $19 strawberry -- made global headlines Thursday after its cafe was shut down due to a "vermin infestation."

Art Fellowship Winners Chronicle LA Life
April 10, 2025 -- Four artists who chronicle hot-button issues -- from affordable housing to human rights -- are the recipients of Santa Monica's 2025 Artist Fellowship.

Santa Monica to Explore Options to Beach Curfew
April 9, 2025 -- The City Council on Tuesday voted to explore ways to make the beach safer late at night in the wake of several deaths but stopped short of backing a curfew.

Fire-Related Beach Water Advisory Lifted
April 9, 2025 -- Beachgoers can enter the water at nearly all Santa Monica beaches and recreate on the sand but should avoid any debris from the recent Palisades Fire, LA County Health officials said Wednesday.

County Committee to Vote Again on Malibu Split
April 8, 2025 -- A County committee's vote last week denying Malibu's split from the School District will need to be taken again, District officials confirmed Monday.

Santa Monica Won't Host Beach Volleyball at 2028 Olympic Games
April 8, 2025 -- Santa Monica's dream of hosting beach volleyball during the Summer Olympics was dashed last week after the City and organizing committee for the 2028 Games failed to reach a deal.

City to Quickly Build "Greenway" on Congested Street
April 7, 2025 -- A congested road where speeding drivers routinely compete with students walking or biking to school could soon become safer under a project that will test traffic measures that can be permanently implemented.

Fire Department Launches Program to Fight Stress
April 7, 2025 -- The Fire Department this week unleashed a new weapon to help firefighters and other City employees combat stress and support mental health, City officials announced Monday.

Program Gives Homeless Offenders Alternative to Jail
April 4, 2025 -- Starting this month, homeless individuals who have committed low-level crimes in Santa Monica can choose between going to jail or entering the SaMo Bridge program.

Police Make Multiple Arrests for Parole Violations, Warrants
April 4, 2025 -- Nearly a dozen individuals with criminal records who are on parole or have existing warrants were arrested in Santa Monica during a one-week stretch this month.

Beach Curfew, Remote Work on Council Agenda
April 3, 2025 -- The City Council next week will explore establishing a night-time curfew for Santa Monica Beach and posting criminal prosecution data on a public dashboard.

Council to Take Positions on 2 Key Housing Bills
April 3, 2025 -- Councilmember Jesse Zwick is asking the City Council to support State legislation that makes it faster and easier to develop multi-family housing near transit stops and in single-family neighborhoods.

County Supervisors Overhaul Homeless Services
April 2, 2025 -- Santa Monica, along with the other 87 LA County cities, will begin working with a new County department to tackle homelessness that replaces the beleaguered Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA).

Supporters of Fairview Library to Rally at City Hall
April 2, 2025 -- One month after Councilmember Jesse Zwick floated the idea of selling the Fairview Branch Library, a rally will be held at City Hall opposing the potential move.

Malibu Fails to Meet Criteria for District Split
April 1, 2025 -- Malibu's proposal to separate from the School District has likely been dealt a fatal blow eight years after it was first submitted to the LA County Office of Education (LACOE).

Police Remind Drivers to Stay Focused
April 1, 2025 -- Keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road. That's the message Santa Monica police want to drive home during Distracted Driving Awareness Month.