May 9, 2026
May 9, 2026
5.8.26- As the 2026 Los Angeles mayoral race intensifies, Pacific Palisades resident and former reality television personality Spencer Pratt has emerged as a formidable challenger to incumbent Mayor Karen Bass, framing his candidacy not as a conventional political endeavor but as a "mission" for accountability and renewal in a city grappling with the aftermath of devastating wildfires, persistent homelessness, and institutional inefficiencies. Pratt, who lost his family home...
May 8, 2026 - Meta has discontinued support for end-to-end encrypted (E2EE) direct messages on Instagram, effective today.The company introduced the optional E2EE feature for Instagram DMs in December 2023. Users had to manually enable it for specific chats. Starting May 8, 2026, this option is no longer available. notebookcheck.net Meta stated that very few users opted into the encrypted mode, which led to the decision to remove it. The company has advised users with...
Santa Monica - Legislation that would exempt certain types of development in Santa Monica from individual California Coastal Commission permits is moving forward in the state Assembly, drawing both support for streamlining and criticism over reduced state oversight. AB 1740, introduced by Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur (D-Santa Monica/West Hollywood), originally proposed broader changes for multiple urban coastal cities. It was amended in April 2026 to apply exclusively to...
Santa Monica City Council has unanimously approved a $3 million economic revitalization strategy aimed at breathing new life into the struggling Third Street Promenade. Once the vibrant heart of the city's retail and entertainment scene, the pedestrian-only thoroughfare has faced mounting challenges in recent years, including persistent store closures, declining foot traffic, and shifting consumer behaviors. City officials say the multifaceted plan-funded through a mix of...
Santa Monica, Calif. — Santa Monica High School (Samohi) implemented a temporary shelter-in-place Friday amid a reported potential threat during Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to a joint statement from the Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD) and Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD). This on Friday May 8 2026. At approximately 11:53 a.m., SMPD was notified of the potential threat reported to school officials. School Resource Officers and...
Santa Monica Observer - As the 2026 Los Angeles mayoral race intensifies, Pacific Palisades resident and former reality television personality Spencer Pratt has emerged as a formidable challenger to incumbent Mayor Karen Bass, framing his candidacy not as a conventional political endeavor but as a "mission" for accountability and renewal in a city grappling with the aftermath of devastating wildfires, persistent homelessness, and institutional inefficiencies. Pratt's social...
After nearly 40 years of Nancy Pelosi representing San Francisco in Congress, the seat is finally open. This is a rare generational opportunity - and San Francisco voters deserve more than just another Democrat promising more of the same. I am running as the Republican candidate for California's 11th Congressional District because one-party rule has failed too many people. Despite incredible wealth from the technology sector, San Francisco struggles with sky-high housing...
As the only Republican running for Nancy Pelosi's former seat, voters deserve to know exactly how my views differ from the leading Democratic candidate, State Senator Scott Wiener.Here is a clear, side-by-side comparison on the issues that matter most to San Francisco residents:Housing Scott Wiener has authored several major bills (SB 35, SB 423, SB 79) designed to force more housing development by overriding local zoning. While we both want more housing, I believe we must...
