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Two NASA astronauts, Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley, splashed down safely in the SpaceX Crew Dragon "Endeavour" in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Pensacola, Florida, at 2:48 p.m. EDT. It is the first time a commercially built and operated American crew spacecraft has returned from the International Space Station to complete a test flight, beginning a new era in human spaceflight. NASA is continuing live coverage of the recovery. After the spacecraft splashed down,...

7/13/20: Big Blue Bus bid farewell to William Alvarenga, its longest-tenured bus "Operator," or driver. Alvarenga had driven for the company for 37 years. "(Alvarenga) was an exceptional Operator. He skillfully drove 30 – 60 ft. buses in dense LA traffic, with no preventable accidents for a record-setting 37 consecutive years," said the company in a statement. "He was (and still is) a dedicated, hard-working, and family-oriented man, who is admired by many, and respected by a...

In a marriage between 2 delivery and transportation rivals, Postmates announced today that a deal had been reached for Uber to acquire the food delivery service. This in an email sent to Postmates 2,000,000 US drivers. The deal is subject to the approval of regulators. The pricetag was said to be $2.65 billion. Postmates and DoorDash had reportedly discussed a merger earlier this year to fend off Uber, GrubHub, Amazon, according to Recode.com. The text of the email is as follo...

LA County's ten million residents can look forward to a 4th of July with no fireworks, no bars, no public gatherings. But the marijuana dispensaries will be open, because after all that is an essential business. "It feels like the disintegration of the country is exacerbating and accelerating," says political commentator Ben Shapiro "LA County beaches are closed from July 3 through July 6 at 5:00 a.m. to prevent crowded situations that could result in more spread of COVID-19....

They will allow you to reinstate registration for an impounded vehicle, reinstate a suspended drivers license, and get a California ID Card. But forget about getting a learners permit. The California Dept of Motor Vehicles cancelled thousands of appointments in March, April and May. They are not rescheduling those appointments. However, residents may drop in for Real IDs, and certain other services. (If you need a learners permit, word on the street is you may still get one...

For just $3100 a month, you can be the lord and master (or goddess and mistress, as the case may be), of 670 square feet in 90402. To be fair, folks all over the world pay a premium to be close to the ocean. San Vicente View Apartments occupy the very Northwest corner of Santa Monica. This is a choice property in one of the priciest zip codes in the entire US. Fun fact: Up until 1961, railroad tracks ran down San Vicente's center divider. SVV Apartments is located right where...

Protesting the death of Minnesota security guard George Floyd at the hands of white police officers in Minneapolis, Minnesota, about 100 protestors walked down Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica from the Santa Monica Police headquarters, to Windward and Pacific. The protestors chanted "I can't Breathe," and ironically were escorted by police officers. The SMPD Equine Patrol provided 2 officers on horseback; about a dozen were in SMPD vehicles as well. Both sides kept their distance...

In line with the County of Los Angeles, the City of Santa Monica has issued new guidance for Covid-19 social distancing. Churches and synagogues can reopen, with 25% as many congregants. Theaters and swap meets can even resume. But you are encouraged not to drive to work, still. The following activities are now permitted: Faith-based organizations may resume services, with the number of congregants limited to less than 25% of the building's capacity, or a maximum of 100...

The Pier has been a bit of a mystery since the Coronavirus lockdown began 9 weeks ago. It's closed, and the police won't allow you to walk down the ramp to see it for yourself. The 110 year old Santa Monica pier was almost destroyed by storms in 1982, 1983 and 1992. But nothing has threatened the pier's businesses like the Coronavirus shutdown. To find out more about what's going on at the closed monument at the center of Santa Monica's 4 miles of beaches, we spoke to the...

It's 2020, and all sorts of arts and educational programs are looking for ways to continue teaching, in a time of social distancing. Santa Monica's Westside Ballet has some brave and innovative continuation plans, in the face of Covid19. "We were to have a benefit performance honoring Patricia Neary 5/15, and then 5/16, our Spring Performance, two show times, at The Broad Stage," explains Jewels Solheim-Roe, press coordinator for WB. "Up until last week, Westside Ballet was st...

Destiny Church has a program to give "Care Bag" lunches during the pandemic, "Just to show the hospital staff we care about them." They also give out lunches to grocery stores. The Church gives out 5000 hot meals a week. They donate 200 meals to Desert Regional Hospital in Palm Springs, which is where we ran into Pastor Jeff and Pastor Joshua. "We deliver 1000 bags every week for the Coachella valley," he explained. "We give out 2000 in Los Angeles. This includes 5000 hot...

5/9: As part of State-wide “Open California Now" demonstrations, about 80 protestors at the Santa Monica Pier demanded that California reopen immediately. Some wore masks and others did not, and they were tired of socially distancing. One man who told me he was an independent contractor and an Uber driver, said that he had not worked for two months. "I'm tired of being at home and being broke," he said. He was not wearing a mask, but a protestor named Lori, herself s...

A parade of cars wound around St. Johns early in the evening of Saturday May 2nd. It was intended to show support and say "Thank You" to the Frontline workers at hospitals of St. John's and UCLA. Participants met at McKinley Elementary School parking lot on Chelsea Avenue. Supporters stayed in cars but were invited to "cheer, honk, have noisemakers, signs, flags, decorate their cars to show appreciation for the nurses and doctors," said a message to potential participants. "Th...

5 year old Mikey Strauss found a way to use his three dimensional printer, in order to help first responders working in the Coronavirus age: Making plastic face shields for them. "My 14 year old has a 3-D printer, and weeks ago he was one of the first to start making these facial shields," said Krista Strauss, Mikey's Mom. "Mikey delivered over 100 to St. Johns and 50 to 3 other hospitals in Louisiana, and in St. Louis. In doing so, he became an inspiration to me." "He just s...

if you're looking for some interesting shopping on a sunny day down on Main Street in Santa Monica, the Victorian is the place. Kelly Stromberg and Caitlin say that they are selling, fish, meat, gloves, hand sanitizer, disinfectant and toilet paper in front of the Victorian all day Friday and Saturday, April 24th and 25th. How do they keep their social distance in the time of Covid-19? "We only assist two customers at a time and people have to wear masks," said Caitlin. Rolls...

In Monday’s Covid-19 press conference, a reporter asked President Donald Trump where Kim Jong Un was, and what the North Korean dictator‘s state of health might be. The president was asked during a White House briefing whether he had any updates on Kim’s health, which has been the subject of rampant speculation in recent days. “I can’t tell you, exactly — yes, I do have a very good idea, but I can’t talk about it now. I just wish him well,” Trump said. “I hope he’s fine,...

A woman wrote us today that she is suffering from an acute medical problem of the female variety. She needs an obstetrician to perform a hysterectomy on her. It will not wait, she is in great discomfort, she writes. She is told she has 4 fibroids the size of grapefruits, she says. The woman went to a local emergency room today. "You are not bleeding, hence this is not an emergency. Here's some codeine. Thank you, please go home now and shelter in place like everyone else."...

In a weekend appointment that says they must have met in secret before meeting via Zoom, the Santa Monica City Council appointed one of their own as City Manager: City Attorney Lane Dilg. This leaves open the question of who will run the City Attorney's office. Lane is known for not offending anyone, if possible. And for doing what the Council asks, for example, by resisting districting even after the City lost a lawsuit over it. We are in the middle of a pandemic, and it is p...

City Manager Rick Cole has offered his resignation to the City Council. In recent meetings, dramatic budget cuts due to Covid-19 have been discussed, but never formalized. His letter is articulate, but my take on it is the City budget is a train wreck and Rick Cole wants to get out of the way of it. Covid-19 and Coronavirus only hastened what was in the cards anyway. A small beach city couldn't build its way out of promising 10,000 pensioners six figure pensions. Not to...

Starbucks coffee company has begun to close locations on the pricey Westside. A sign in the window at the 15th and Montana Avenue location says the store will not reopen after Covid-19 ends. The letter says that the store will be closing permanently. It refers patrons to the locations on 11th and Wilshire, 26th and San Vicente, and 7th and Montana Avenue. It is signed by Michael Haddad, District Manager. Some experts expect the lockdown to continue on and off throughout 2020....

For the past month, the City and LA County have forbidden people to exercise in parks or on the beach. It's an open secret that people are going to the beach anyway, both jogging and bike riding down one of the most scenic concrete bike paths in the State of California. A handful of them have been threatened with misdemeanor citations and fines. Los Angeles County is of course, under lockdown from Coronavirus/Covid-19. Now the City of Santa Monica has piled sand on the path...

4/15: An online petition appeared on Thursday morning 4/9/2020, and seeks to fire Santa Monica City Manager Rick Cole. This after a Tuesday night City Council meeting, where he and other discussed whether Covid-19 and its attendant loss of revenue to the City, require the City to furlough some of its employees. Mgr. Cole sent us the following comment after an earlier version of this story appeared online: "At the meeting, I did not advocate for furloughing workers, a topic whi...

How did an artist and her husband begin making Covid-19 masks for homeless people, nurses and others? "It all started with a friend of ours asking Jennifer to volunteer to make masks for the social workers and volunteers of Step Up on Second, who work with the homeless," says Edward Biagiotti. His wife Jennifer made masks for Step Up on Second, a Santa Monica charity serving the homeless. She has since made masks for homeless people themselves, which her neighbor has been...

No Easter egg hunts in the park, but honestly, have you been to one lately? Easter will be celebrated on Zoom and Skype this year, as we are all locked down due to Coronavirus. I'm sure you already knew that. But did you know that Saint Monica's Catholic Church will live stream Easter sunrise service at their website, https://stmonica.net/hw-portal The Vintage Church live streams all of its Sunday services at : https://www.vintagechurchla.com/sundays And this from St. Paul's L...

Coronavirus has changed the way we all do business, without a doubt. Most businesses are simply closed, and non essential medical procedures are being delayed. We wondered what to do if, during the national emergency, they get a toothache, broken tooth, or other situation that just won't wait? We asked Lily at Best Natural Smile dental office in Santa Monica, whether they are seeing patients for routine dental needs. "In light of current events, our dental team has fully trans...