July 3, 2026
July 3, 2026
SANTA MONICA - After more than three decades as a beloved downtown fixture, the Britannia Pub at 318 Santa Monica Blvd. will close for the last time following the expiration of its lease on July 31, 2026. The British-themed pub and restaurant, long operated by the Cain family, is making way for a Taco Bell Cantina, a transition that has prompted a wave of nostalgia and some local concern about the changing character of the Third Street Promenade area. Paul and Sonya Cain,...
Indianapolis - A routine WNBA regular-season game between the Indiana Fever and Phoenix Mercury on June 22, 2026, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse turned into one of the biggest sports internet moments of the year, thanks to a prolonged, silent finger-pointing staredown by Fever forward Sophie Cunningham directed at Mercury veteran DeWanna Bonner. The Indiana Fever defeated the Phoenix Mercury 86-77, with star guard Caitlin Clark delivering a standout performance of 24 points and...
In a stunning blend of extreme adventure, activism, and romance, two experienced Russian "rooftoppers" scaled the antenna spire of New York City's Empire State Building on July 1, 2026. They unfurled a large peace banner before one proposed marriage to the other more than 1,450 feet above Manhattan—then both were arrested. Angela Nikolau , 33, and Ivan Beerkus , 32 — stars of the 2024 Netflix documentary Skywalkers: A Love Story — climbed the restricted 200-foot...
Independent journalist Nick Shirley, whose December 2025 viral exposé on alleged widespread fraud at Somali-run childcare centers, assisted living facilities, autism centers, and healthcare providers across Minneapolis and Minnesota revealed empty buildings receiving millions in public CCAP and other taxpayer funds despite no apparent services or children present, has continued his pattern of on-the-ground investigations; his work prompted state and federal scrutiny, leading...
Vice President JD Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance arrived in downtown Santa Monica on Friday as part of the Vice President's Southern California tour. He arrived at 1:30 p.m. PST on Friday, June 26, 2026. The purpose of his visit was to promote his book at the local Barnes & Noble. His wife Usha joined him on the trail, despite the fact that she was about six months pregnant. Fourth Street remained blocked off between Arizona Avenue and Wilshire Boulevard. Local police...
Greenbelt, Maryland (June 26, 2026) - John Bolton, who served as national security adviser during President Donald Trump's first term before becoming one of his sharpest critics, pleaded guilty Friday to one count of unlawful retention of national defense information in federal court. Bolton entered the plea before U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang as part of a deal with the Justice Department that resolves an 18-count indictment handed up last October. The original charges...
CARACAS, Venezuela — Two powerful back-to-back earthquakes that struck northwestern Venezuela on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, have left at least 235 people dead and more than 4,300 injured, according to the latest government figures released Thursday evening. The quakes—a magnitude 7.2 foreshock followed just 39 seconds later by a 7.5 mainshock—centered near Yumare in Yaracuy state, caused widespread collapses of buildings in Caracas and the coastal state of La Guaira....
La Guaira, Venezuela - In the aftermath of two powerful earthquakes that struck northern Venezuela on June 24, 2026, a remarkable story of resilience has emerged: a woman gave birth amid the rubble of collapsed buildings as rescuers worked frantically to save lives. Twin quakes-a magnitude 7.2 foreshock followed just 39 seconds later by a 7.5 mainshock-devastated the region, particularly areas like La Guaira and the capital Caracas. These were the strongest earthquakes to hit...
SAN FRANCISCO — California State Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) said he was harassed and physically intimidated during two separate incidents in San Francisco this week, including while attempting to attend the annual Trans March. San Francisco's leading candidate for Congress, reports that he was physically intimidated and screamed at as he walked through Dolores Park. This over his alleged lack of support for Gaza. In a statement released Saturday, Wiener...
HOUSTON, Texas - A 49-year-old nurse practitioner from Las Vegas has been indicted in what federal prosecutors describe as one of the largest health care fraud cases in U.S. history. Marizel Cambri Yukee, a Filipino-American originally from Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, Philippines, faces multiple federal charges including conspiracy to commit wire fraud and health care fraud, health care fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States, illegal kickbacks, and transactional money...
Leakey, Texas - A young reticulated giraffe named Gracie, who captivated the internet after escaping from a private ranch in the Texas Hill Country, has been found safe and healthy. Gracie wandered off Cedar Hollow Ranch near Leakey around June 12, slipping through or around fencing into rugged, unfenced terrain on the expansive property. Despite her towering 10- to 11-foot height, the dense brush, canyons, and vast private lands of Real County made her remarkably hard to...
Santa Monica High School (Samohi) proudly conferred diplomas on its Class of 2026 during a vibrant commencement ceremony held on Tuesday, June 10, 2026, at the historic Memorial Greek Theatre on campus. The evening event, which began at 5:30 p.m., drew hundreds of proud families, faculty, and community members to honor the district's largest high school graduating class. The ceremony featured inspiring remarks from SMMUSD Superintendent Dr. Antonio Shelton, who congratulated...
In a landmark 6-3 decision issued yesterday, June 30, 2026, the Supreme Court struck down President Donald J. Trump’s January 20, 2025, executive order limiting birthright citizenship, reaffirming the broad, territorial understanding of the Citizenship Clause of the Fourteenth amendment The executive order had directed federal agencies not to recognize as citizens children born in the United States after February 20, 2025, unless at least one parent was a U.S. citizen or...
Washington, D.C. - Demonstrators, including at least one individual in a pink inflatable frog-like costume wearing an "ANTIFA" bandana and waving a "TEAM ALGAE" flag, appeared near National Guard troops and U.S. Park Police patrolling the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on June 21, 2026. The gathering highlighted ongoing controversy surrounding the pool, which underwent a multimillion-dollar renovation completed in early June. The project, costing around $14 million (with...
