June 1, 2026
June 1, 2026
LOS ANGELES - Los Angeles County election officials are investigating fire-related damage to a small number of Vote-by-Mail ballots found inside an official ballot drop box at the Department of Public Social Services-Civic Center location. Separately, LA Mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt released a video showing homeless people encamped near that same ballot box. According to a May 31, 2026 news release from the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk, the damage was discovered during...
5.31.26 Paris, France – Celebrations following Paris Saint-Germain's (PSG) dramatic win in the 2026 UEFA Champions League final descended into chaos Saturday night, with riots, fires, looting, and clashes with police across central Paris. PSG defeated Arsenal 4-3 in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw through regular and extra time at Budapest's Puskás Aréna on May 30, 2026. The victory marked PSG's second consecutive Champions League title. Shaky nighttime video...
Santa Monica Police Department Opens New Downtown Substation at Santa Monica PlaceThe Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD) officially opened its new Downtown Substation on Thursday, May 28, 2026, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony held at noon. The event took place at the substation’s location inside Santa Monica Place. The 863-square-foot facility is situated at 395 Santa Monica Place, Suite 122, on the ground floor of the shopping center. It is designed to function as a...
CHANNEL ISLANDS NATIONAL PARK - The Santa Rosa Island Fire, the largest wildfire in the recorded history of California's Channel Islands, has burned 18,379 acres - roughly one-third of the island - and reached 97% containment as of May 27, 2026. While the blaze, which started on May 15, is largely under control, biologists and park officials are now focused on evaluating its effects on one of North America's most biologically unique ecosystems. Santa Rosa Island, often called...
On Sunday, May 24, 2026, around 5:20 p.m., the bustling intersection of Third Street and Broadway in downtown Santa Monica-steps from the iconic Third Street Promenade-turned from a sunny shopping destination into the scene of a frightening confrontation. What began as an ordinary evening stroll for a Jewish couple ended in threats, a baseball bat, a dog attack, and a swift police response. According to the Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD) and multiple eyewitness...
As California voters head to the polls on June 2, Santa Monica's own Ben Allen is positioned as the frontrunner in the crowded race for state Insurance Commissioner, bringing a record of legislative experience and personal connection to the state's ongoing insurance and wildfire crises. Often called the "Steady Hand in a Burning House" by supporters for his measured yet determined approach to complex policy challenges, the third-term Democratic state senator has emerged as a...
On Friday, May 29, 2026, a mountain lion — popularly known as a cougar — made a dramatic appearance in a quiet residential neighborhood north of Montana Avenue on 14th Street in Santa Monica. What began as an evasion saga, with the elusive big cat slipping through initial containment efforts, ended successfully when California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) biologists tranquilized, examined, collared, and relocated the animal. The Sighting and Prolonged...
SANTA MONICA - Pops Bagels has officially opened its new location on Montana Avenue, becoming the third bagel shop on the popular Westside shopping corridor and further solidifying the street's reputation as a bagel hotspot. The shop at 912 Montana Avenue joins H&H Bagels and Sam's Bagels on the same stretch, creating a convenient cluster for bagel enthusiasts. Like Sam's Bagels, which previously relocated within Santa Monica, Pops has moved from its original Brentwood...
San Francisco voters: This June primary is a mess. Three main Democrats are fighting for Nancy Pelosi's seat - but all have serious red flags. They have been conducting a circular firing squad, ever since Pelosi endorsed one of them for her job. Here's why you should think twice before voting for any of them... and why a fresh, pragmatic choice makes sense. 1/ Connie Chan: Accused of ties to BOTH Israel lobby AND CCP influence Connie Chan is the first candidate in California...
As the publisher of the Santa Monica Observer and a candidate for Congress in California's 11th District, I've watched progressive experiments turn San Francisco into a cautionary tale. Sky-high rents, streets littered with needles and tents, businesses fleeing, and a quality of life that once made this city legendary now feels like a distant memory. With Nancy Pelosi retiring after nearly four decades, voters face a critical choice on June 2. There can be little doubt that...
