Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 3624

Eyewitness accounts and vote data from the June 2026 Los Angeles mayoral primary paint a disturbing picture of how late mail-in ballot "drops" in Downtown LA (DTLA) are disproportionately boosting one candidate: Nithya Raman. This explains why after June 2, the race for LA Mayor shifted from Spencer Pratt and Towards Nithiya Raman to finish second and make the November runoff against Karen Bass, who allowed the Palisades to burn down. Pratt himself says: "A net swing of more...

First he was up by 7 percent. Then Spencer Pratt was up by 3.5%, and Saturday night, he was up by just 1%. The prediction markets (Kalshi, Polymarket) now give socialist Nithiya Raman a 99% chance of beating her. Incumbent Mayor Karen Bass secured first place early and advanced to the November runoff with roughly 34.8–35% of the vote. The contest for the second runoff spot pitted reality TV personality Spencer Pratt against progressive City Councilmember Nithya Raman. Early r...

SACRAMENTO — With roughly two-thirds to 72% of ballots counted statewide in California's June 2 primary, former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary **Xavier Becerra** (D) has secured first place and advanced to the November general election. The battle for the second spot remains tight between Republican Steve Hilton and Democrat Tom Steyer, though Hilton maintains a narrow edge as late mail ballots continue to be tallied. Current statewide estimates show: - **Xavier B...

Incumbent Sheriff Robert Luna holds a solid lead with approximately 44-46% of the vote in early returns from the June 2 primary, but he falls short of the 50% needed for an outright victory. Former Sheriff Alex Villanueva trails in second place with around 24%, setting the stage for a November rematch of their contentious 2022 contest. Other challengers, including Eric Strong, remain far behind in single digits. The race has drawn significant attention due to ongoing debates...

Los Angeles, CA - With ballots still being tallied days after the June 2, 2026, Statewide Direct Primary Election, Los Angeles County and City voters weighed in on several key local measures focused on taxes, revenue, and public services. There were no statewide ballot propositions on the June primary ballot. In the City of Los Angeles, two revenue-focused measures are on track for passage while a third appears headed for defeat. Measure CB, which would apply the existing...

18: With the majority of votes now counted in California's June 2, 2026, top-two primary for Insurance Commissioner, State Senator Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica) has solidified a strong second-place position, positioning him to advance to the November general election. Latest results (as of early June 4 reporting, with most precincts partially or fully reporting): Jane Kim (D, progressive/Working Families Party): 23.8% (~1,140,336 votes) Ben Allen (D): 19.2% (~920,814 votes)...

Yesterday, San Francisco voters went to the polls in the primary to choose who will succeed Nancy Pelosi in California's 11th Congressional District. I ran as a Republican in one of the most reliably Democratic districts in the country. I felt strongly that in a once in 38 year open seat election, Republicans should be represented--even if SF is the bluest city in America. I didn't advance to the general election-nor did I expect to-but the experience was invaluable. Here's...

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...

Santa Monica, CA - Voters in Santa Monica encountered notably long lines at polling locations on Election Day, reflecting a broader trend of increased participation across Los Angeles County in the June 2, 2026, Statewide Direct Primary Election. According to the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk Dean Logan, the county - home to more than 5.8 million registered voters - experienced modestly higher turnout compared to the 2022 primary. Officials projected...

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...

17 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 cir...

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 Res...

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...

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 p...

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...

Sacramento, CA - A video circulating widely on social media shows Sacramento City Councilmember Mai Vang facing away from the American flag as fellow officials and attendees recite the Pledge of Allegiance during a council meeting, reigniting debate over patriotism and elected officials' responsibilities. Vang, a Democrat representing District 8 and a candidate in the June 2, 2026, primary for California's 7th Congressional District, has made no secret of her practice. She...

In a move blending sci-fi aesthetics with pointed political messaging, the Trump administration has unveiled a new page on the official White House website: https://www.whitehouse.gov/aliens/. The site opens with dramatic, glowing green text against a starry backdrop: "THEY WALK AMONG US." It teases a "closely guarded secret" held for 60 years, complete with "TOP SECRET" stamps and a call to "SCROLL TO CONTINUE." But this isn't about little green men from Mars or declassified...

UCs and Cal States Should Admit Students Totally on Merit The University of California system and California State University system are among America's great public universities. They built world-class reputations through rigorous standards and merit. But recent policies have eroded that foundation, leading to unprepared students, strained faculty, and long-term damage to California's higher education brand. It's time to return to pure merit-based admissions : objective measu...

LA - Seven suspects, all Colombian nationals, were charged Wednesday 5/20/26 with felonies in connection with a series of organized residential burglaries across Los Angeles County, authorities announced at a multi-agency press conference. Authorities detailed the arrests, which targeted members of a South American theft group responsible for dozens of home break-ins, particularly in the San Fernando Valley and surrounding areas. The suspects face charges including first-degre...

Summary: Average San Francisco voters distrust Scott Wiener, yet commentators call him a moderate progressive with well-intentioned YIMBY housing laws. In reality, he is California's most extreme legislator, exploiting constituents, stoking division, and ramming through unwanted policies while accusing opponents of bigotry. He enabled addiction by opposing Prop 36, authoring SB 57 for safe injection sites, and killing bills enhancing fentanyl penalties and targeting dealers....

**San Francisco** - In a city where parking spots can fetch six figures and tech millionaires bid up multimillion-dollar homes, a 5,000-square-foot "lot" near Candlestick Point just sold for a jaw-dropping $250 - with one major caveat: it's entirely underwater. The parcel at 0 Bancroft Avenue, Lot 17, in the Bayview District, consists of roughly 4,996 square feet of San Francisco Bay seabed. Listed on Zillow as a "rare underwater parcel" offering "unique opportunity for...

SANTA MONICA - The iconic Santa Monica Pier and the surrounding beach waters have once again landed on Heal the Bay's notorious "Beach Bummers" list, ranking as the second most polluted beach in California during dry weather conditions according to the organization's 2025-2026 Annual Beach Report Card, released just ahead of the busy Memorial Day weekend. This marks the 10th consecutive year that the popular tourist destination has appeared among the state's worst performers f...

Hundreds of residents packed Santa Monica City Hall on the evening of May 12, 2026 (with the main public comment session spilling into May 13 coverage), delivering what organizers described as one of the largest and most passionate shows of support yet for keeping Santa Monica Airport (SMO) operational beyond its planned December 31, 2028, closure. An overflow crowd of approximately 200 airport supporters, many wearing white "Keep Santa Monica Airport Open" caps and gear,...

Good afternoon, I am writing to request a correction to the May 17 article claiming that eight bodies of homeless individuals were found in a half square mile area near Reed Park over the past four weeks. The article states this information was drawn from SMPD daily reports. That claim is inaccurate. SMPD has no information supporting that eight unhoused individuals were found deceased in or around Reed Park during the time period described. The death related calls referenced...

BRENTWOOD - Los Angeles police are searching for three suspects who broke into a home on Montana Avenue near Bristol Avenue Monday night while residents were inside, authorities said.Officers responded to a call of a burglary in progress around 8:41 p.m. on May 18, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Three individuals dressed in all black used a crowbar to smash the glass of the front patio door and entered the residence. A female tenant of the residence says that...