Articles from the July 28, 2014 edition

Jul 28, 2014

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Utility crews struggled today to completely stop the flow of leaking water near a 30-inch riveted-steel pipe that ruptured north of the UCLA campus, sending 20 millions of gallons cascading onto the campus, and Department of Water and Power officials said it could take days to get Sunset Boulevard reopened. The 93-year-old water main, which carries water to the area from the Upper Stone Canyon Reservoir, ruptured on Sunset near Marymount Place just north of the campus shortly before 3:30 p.m....

Jul 28, 2014

A former SMC student was killed after lightning struck Venice Beach Sunday was just three weeks away from fulfilling his long-time dream of entering USC and studying urban development, his parents said. Nick Fagnano, 20, of Los Angeles had been enjoying the beach with at least two friends from high school when he waded into the water to rinse off some sand from his body, friends and family said. Shortly afterward, a flash of lightning struck. "He was the best child a parent could ever have...

Jul 28, 2014

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The level of toxic contaminants in Malibu school buildings is "dramatically higher" than previous reports, according to two groups pushing for the school district to address the environmental concerns they believe caused several teachers to develop cancer and other illnesses. The test results mark the latest concern in a nearly year-long battle involving worried parents and the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District that has kept some students home from school and forced action by the...

Ralph Hattenbach|Jul 28, 2014

by Ralph Hattenbach A fundraiser was held Wednesday night at the Heroes Golf Course at the VA property in West LA. Over 150 people attended an event to help make improvements to the course located on the northern end of the Veteran facility. Ricardo Bandini spearheaded the efforts with a substantial gift of his own money in addition to a $200,000 gift from the Community Justice Foundation. Bandini's family back in 1889 donated the land that the Heroes course stands on today. Recently, a group...

Jul 28, 2014

SM To Consider Water Rationing Californians have failed to voluntarily cut their water usage by 20 percent, as Gov.Jerry Brown called for in January, so now the Santa Monica City Council is considering a mandatory conservation effort. At the Aug. 12 meeting, city staff will ask the Council to declare a Stage II water emergency that will include the implementation of water budgets, require all customers to decrease their water consumption and provide a fee schedule for violators, according to...

Jul 28, 2014

Biologists from the National Park Service released hundreds of California red-legged frog tadpoles this week, part of the first-ever effort to expand the range of the threatened species in Southern California. "California red-legged frogs haven't been seen in the Santa Monica Mountains since the early 1970s," said Katy Delaney, wildlife ecologist for the National Park Service. "Hopefully these tadpoles can help reverse the population decline of native frog species locally and across the state."...

Santa Monica Public Library welcomes Gloria McMillan for the lecture Orbiting Ray Bradbury's Mars on Wednesday, July 30, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. in the Main Library's Martin Luther King, Jr. Auditorium, 601 Santa Monica Blvd. With over five hundred published works, author Ray Bradbury's creativity was boundless and his impact far-reaching. Author and educator Gloria McMillan takes a unique interdisciplinary perspective on Bradbury's life in her new essay collection, Orbiting Ray Bradbury's Mars. In...

The Santa Monica Museum of Art (SMMoA) presents its sixth annual cultural bike tour, Tour da Arts, vol. 6, on Sunday, August 24. Tour da Arts participants explore the creative side of bicycle culture on a casual, nine-mile ride filled with art, music, and theater. Riders also experience Santa Monica as a car-free community, learning about the City's bike lanes and other bike-friendly infrastructure from Tour da Arts' ride leaders. Participation is free and open to all ages; riders must register...

Antje Weser|Jul 28, 2014

Man Stabbed by Woman Santa Monica Police say on July 22, 2014, at approximately 9:40 a.m., officers responded to the 1600 block of Ocean Front Walk after a caller reported a man had just been stabbed by a woman. The officers say they quickly located the victim, who was belligerent and refused to cooperate with the investigation into his injury, a small puncture wound under his left nipple. Lawmen say the victim also refused medical treatment. Authorities say a witness to the incident pointed...

Mitch Chortkoff, Sports Editor|Jul 28, 2014

It's not a lot of fun being hospitalized following surgery but idle time is available. My choice the last month was to focus on baseball, especially because the Dodgers and Angels are doing well. All opinions, of course, come from someone watching on television, listening to radio rather than being at the games along with getting information from colleagues on the phone. Nobody in either the National or American League Is running away from the field. Parity is the proper decryption of this seaso...

Jul 28, 2014

By Mitch Chortkoff Sports Editor Byron Scott said Tuesday the Lakers' organization is all about wining championships.The former backcourt partner of Magic Johnson has become the Lakers' head coach But don't expect a championship in the upcoming season. There are too many better teams in the NBA right now. What fans should expect is a far better Laker team than last season and, at best, a chance of making the playoffs. There was very little defense last season when Mike D'Antoni was the coach....

debbie lynn elias|Jul 28, 2014

I admit it. I had some doubts when it was announced James Gunn (whom I admire and am a fan of his work) would be directing GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY. Although I had no doubts about Gunn nailing the humor and action ideology of the film, I had to wonder, could he execute it on such a grand scale? Given the anticipated scope and magnitude of the film, the large cast, the ideologic concept as a whole, just the pure majesty of the Marvel universe and perhaps most importantly, the heart of the story...

Jul 28, 2014

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Sabine Ganezer|Jul 28, 2014

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