PCH to Reopen Sunday
January 31, 2025 -- In an "important step forward," PCH will reopen to essential traffic Sunday morning after being shut down three weeks ago with the start of the Palisades Fire.

Lunar Seas and Galaxies at SMC Planetarium
January 31, 2025 -- Learn about the only known life form currently inhabiting the space beyond earth's atmosphere at the Santa Monica College (SMC) planetarium next month.

Local Property Crime Rate Among Nation's Highest, Report Finds
January 30, 2025 -- A recent report posted by Vivint, a resource for home security, found Santa Monica had one of the highest property crime rates in the country based on FBI crime data.

Plenty of Beach Activities Safe to Enjoy
January 30, 2025 -- While the ocean water off Santa Monica remains off limits, the popular beach is open for recreation and "non-water" activities, City officials noted Thursday.

Housing at Airport Site Picks Up Steam
January 29, 2025 -- Affordable housing -- which has been largely ignored in crafting a plan for the future use of Santa Monica Airport land -- took center stage at Tuesday night's City Council meeting.

Ocean Waters Off Limits
January 29, 2025 -- An "Ocean Water Closure" has been declared for Santa Monica State Beach due to recent rains and an increase in fire debris, Public Health officials announced this week.

Local Rents Jump to a Fast Start in 2025
January 28, 2025 -- Santa Monica rents in January saw the largest rise in more than a year, bucking a seasonal trend nationwide.

Police to Crack Down on Dangerous Driving
January 28, 2025 -- Santa Monica police will hold traffic safety operations Wednesday as the City Council prepares to further crack down on "dangerous driving."

City May Need to Explore Housing at Airport
January 27, 2025 -- As the Airport Conversion Project prepares to fly into its next phase Tuesday night, the possibility looms that the plan to create "a great park" could eventually include housing.

OPINION -- Airport Closure Will Trigger More Housing Development, Not a Great Park
January 27, 2025 -- It is dangerous and irresponsible to move forward with airport closure planning without a clear legal basis that would allow for a Great Park without housing development.

OPINION -- Honor the People's Mandate for a Great Park
January 27, 2025 -- Every great city has a great park. Santa Monica had one, but lost it. It is this generation’s obligation to future generations in a densifying environment to bring it back.

Local Librarians Named to Prestigious Awards Committees
January 24, 2025 -- The American Library Association (ALA) has selected two Santa Monica librarians to help judge the most distinguished books for youth published last year.

2 Men Charged with Fire-Related Crimes
January 24, 2025 -- Two men with prior criminal records were charged with wildfire-related crimes committed in Santa Monica and just across the city border in Brentwood, the LA District Attorney announced Friday.

Cemetery to Buy Plots from Odd Fellows
January 24, 2025 -- Nearly 150 years after they were sold, the City is poised to buy back 35 unused burial plots from the Odd Fellows Seaside Lodge, which no longer has an active Santa Monica chapter.

Michigan Man Sentenced For 2022 Murder Near Pier
January 24, 2025 -- A Michigan man who stabbed a fellow hometown resident to death in a Pier parking lot in November 2022 was sentenced this month to 25 years to life in state prison.

Fires Set in Santa Monica During Emergency
January 22, 2025 -- As flames swept across Pacific Palisades driven by dangerous winds, firefighters put out at least four fires in Santa Monica, according to public safety officials.

City Fills 2 Key Posts
January 22, 2025 -- Santa Monica brought back a former top official to serve as interim city manager and hired a new head of community development, City officials announced Wednesday.

NEWS ANALYSIS -- 5 Reasons SMRR Swept the Council Race
January 21, 2025 -- The swearing in on Monday of President Donald Trump signaled a conservative turn reflected in election results nationwide and, to a lesser extent, in Santa Monica.

Pier to Host Fire Relief Fundraiser
January 21, 2025 -- The Santa Monica Pier will host a fundraiser Thursday to help victims of the Palisades Fire that has destroyed more than 6,200 structures, including the local high school.

Final Evacuation Warning Lifted
January 20, 2025 -- The City of Santa Monica lifted its last remaining evacuation warning on Saturday, as progress continues to be made containing the Palisades Fire.

Santa Monica Steps Up During Fires
January 17, 2025 -- (UPDATED) Santa Monica residents can offer help to fire victims and first responders during upcoming donation drives and a number of ongoing efforts.

Curfew Still in Place, Burglary Suspect Charged
January 17, 2025 -- Areas north of San Vicente Boulevard remained under curfew Friday, as the LA District Attorney's office filed charges against a burglary suspect who defied Santa Monica's evacuation orders.

City Suspends Rental Enforcement Laws for Fire Victims
January 16, 2025 -- Santa Monica property owners can offer short-term rentals to those displaced by the wildfires burning across the region, under an Emergency Order adopted Tuesday.

Police Identify Suspect in Year's First Homicide
January 16, 2025 -- Santa Monica police are asking the public's help finding an armed and dangerous suspect who fatally shot a homeless man in a Downtown alley Wednesday.

Santa Monica Hosts 40th Annual MLK Celebration
January 16, 2025 -- One of Southern California's largest and most diverse Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. celebrations will mark its 40th anniversary in Santa Monica Monday morning.

Homeless Man Shot in Year's First Homicide
January 15, 2025 -- SMPD detectives are investigating the fatal shooting of a homeless man in a Downtown alley at around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday, marking the first homicide of the year.

Preps for High Winds as Palisades Fire Rages
January 14, 2025 -- With high winds and dry conditions persisting through Wednesday, the evacuation warning for the area north of San Vicente Boulevard will remain in place, City officials said Tuesday evening.

Traffic Officer Injured in Hit-and-Run
January 14, 2025 -- An SMPD traffic services officer (TSO) was injured early Monday morning by a hit-and-run driver who was attempting to gain access to evacuation areas that had been shut down.

Police Arrest 10 Burglary Suspects in Evacuation Zones
January 13, 2025 -- Since emergency orders were issued in Santa Monica last Tuesday, police officers have made more than 40 arrests in evacuation zones during the Pacific Palisades fire, police officials said Monday.

Santa Monica Residents Can Return Home
January 13, 2025 -- Santa Monica has lifted its mandatory evacuation order for the area north of San Vicente Boulevard allowing residents to return home for the first time in nearly a week, City officials announced Monday morning.

Santa Monica Remains on Fire Alert
January 12, 2025 -- All but one Santa Monica public school will open on Monday and City services will largely return to normal, but curfews remain in place in evacuation zones as winds pick up and police continue making arrests.

SMC Holds Fire Drive, Homeless Count Postponed
January 10, 2025 -- Santa Monica College (SMC) announced it would collect donations on Monday and Tuesday for those affected by the Pacific Palisades fire, while LA County postponed its annual homeless count.

City Updates Evacuation Orders
January 10, 2025 -- The City of Santa Monica on Friday afternoon lifted the Evacuation Order for the area between Montana Avenue and San Vicente Boulevard, allowing residents to return to their homes.

Poll Gauges Concerns from Laws to Health
January 9, 2025 -- Are there too many laws in California? Should the Council have made it easier for large projects to be approved? Does the bird flu pose a serious health threat?

Curfew in Place, Air Qualify Worsens
January 9, 2025 -- A curfew is now in place for the mandatory evacuation zone North of Montana Avenue, as Santa Monica residents are being urged to stay indoors with smoke from the Pacific Palisades fire approaching unhealthy levels.

Help, Justice Sought for Fire Victims
January 8, 2025 -- The American Red Cross is soliciting help for victims of the Pacific Palisades fire, while the County's top prosecutor is vowing to punish those who prey on them.

Evacuation Order Expanded, Local Schools Closed
January 8, 2025 -- City officials have extended the Evacuation Order issued for the area north of San Vicente Boulevard on Wednesday to include areas north of Montana Avenue between 11th Street and PCH.

Local Rents Dropped Last Year
January 7, 2025 -- Santa Monica rents dipped in 2024, reflecting state and national trends that saw apartments renting for less than they did a year ago, according to Apartment List's monthly report.

Evacuation Order Issued
January 7, 2025 -- City officials have issued an Evacuation Order for all areas of Santa Monica north of San Vicente Boulevard due to an "immediate threat to life" from the Pacific Palisades fire.

How Santa Monica Voted
January 6, 2025 – Bucking Santa Monica's liberal tradition, local voters on November 5 opposed a statewide rent control law and joined a large majority of Californians who voted to crack down on crime.

New Planning Head Assumes Post
January 6, 2025 -- Santa Monica began the year with a new interim head of planning as the City Council begins quickly shifting its policies to make it easier to build new housing.

City Preps for Homeless Diversion Program
January 3, 2025 -- The City this spring will launch an $8 million three-year program that provides homeless persons arrested for misdemeanor crimes an alternative to jail.

Lower Speed Limits Go Into Effect
January 2, 2025 -- Traffic will slow down this year on some 30 miles of streets across Santa Monica, which has seen fatal and serious injury crashes rising since 2020.

Arson Charges Reinstated in 2020 Police Car Torching
January 2, 2025 -- A Federal Appeals Court last month ruled that two men accused of setting a police car on fire during the violent 2020 protests in Santa Monica will go back on trial.

TOP STORIES OF 2024
First Quarter -- A Tale of Two Murals, Voting Rights Battle Drags On While Century's Biggest Development Gets Swift Approval

Second Quarter -- A Flawed Count, Death on the Streets and Million-Dollar Units Put Homelessness in the Spotlight

Third Quarter -- Pier Lands on Beach Bummer List, Speed Limits Drop and Sexual Assaults Mark 'Disturbing' Trend

Fourth Quarter -- Political Establishment Returns to Power; Murder Charges Filed in Shooting, Stabbing, Hit-and-Run Killing; City Manager Resigns