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  • Bad Bunny's Spanish Only Superbowl Performance Offends Some Conservatives, Entertains Millions of Viewers

    Good Rabbit, Observer Staff Writeer|Updated Feb 10, 2026

    Bad Bunny (Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio) delivered a controversial and highly celebrated halftime performance at Super Bowl LX on February 8, 2026, at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. This marked the first time a Latin artist headlined the Super Bowl halftime show solo, and it was performed entirely in Spanish, making it a groundbreaking celebration of Puerto Rican and broader Latin culture.The roughly 13-minute set was described as an exuberant, high-energy...

  • Santa Monica Residents Raise Conflict-of-Interest Concerns Over Council Vote on Affordable Housing Project

    Stan Greene, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Feb 9, 2026

    Santa Monica, CA - February 9, 2026 - A group of local residents and neighborhood organizations has formally questioned the validity of a December 17, 2025, Santa Monica City Council vote approving development agreements for an affordable housing project with the Hollywood Community Housing Corporation (HCHC). The vote, listed as Agenda Item 11.A, approved a 99-year ground lease on city-owned land at 14th Street and committed $13.5 million from the city's Housing Trust Fund...

  • Los Angeles County Hospice Industry Under Scrutiny for Suspected Medicare Fraud

    Updated Feb 1, 2026

    - 18% of THE WHOLE COUNTRY'S home health care billing is coming out of Los Angeles County - One doctor billed the government $120 million in a single year claiming to oversee 1,900 patients Los Angeles County has drawn significant attention from federal officials due to concerns over potential fraud in the Medicare hospice and home health care sectors. Recent reports indicate that the county accounts for approximately 18% of the nation's total Medicare billing for these...

  • New Poll Reveals Strong Voter Support for Keeping Santa Monica Airport Open

    Fanny McCracken, Observer Stqaff Writer|Updated Jan 29, 2026

    Santa Monica Airport reverts to the City on January 1, 2028 after 120 years as an airport. A few residents want to turn it into high density housing or a park or both. Others want to keep it an airport. A new poll reveals that they are in the majority. A newly released independent poll indicates that a solid majority of Santa Monica voters want to keep the Santa Monica Airport (KSMO) operating in some form, directly challenging years of city planning that has leaned toward...

  • City Sues Landlord Alleging Systematic Violation of the City's Anti-AirBNB Laws Banning Short Term Rentals

    Mike Litoris, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Jan 29, 2026

    The City of Santa Monica has filed a lawsuit seeking approximately $18 million in restitution and penalties against a landlord and his family, accusing them of illegally converting dozens of rent-controlled apartments into short-term rentals listed on Airbnb and VRBO. This action continues the city's enforcement efforts against illegal short-term rentals to protect its rent-controlled housing stock, explained the City Attorney in a press release. In a complaint filed on...

  • Child struck by Waymo autonomous vehicle near Grant elementary school in Santa Monica

    Updated Jan 29, 2026

    A Waymo robotaxi hit a child near Grant Elementary School on January 23 during morning drop-off hours. The low-speed incident (vehicle slowed from 17 mph to 6 mph) caused minor injuries after the child entered the roadway from behind a double-parked SUV. Federal regulators (NHTSA) opened an investigation, highlighting ongoing concerns about self-driving cars in school zones. A Waymo autonomous vehicle struck a child near Grant Elementary School in Santa Monica on January 23,...

  • As Reporter Covers Capture of Mountain Lion, a Coyote Strolls Behind Her in San Francisco

    David Ganezer, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Jan 29, 2026

    San Francisco, CA – In a quintessential Bay Area moment blending urban life with wild surprises, a young mountain lion was safely tranquilized and captured in the upscale Pacific Heights neighborhood on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, after days of sightings that captivated-and concerned-residents. But the story took an even more ironic twist when a coyote casually strolled into the frame during a live television report on the big cat's removal. The 2-year-old, 77-pound male m...

  • Video Emerges of Alex Pretti Spitting on ICE Agents, Then Kicking the Taillights Off Their SUV

    Stan Greene, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Jan 29, 2026

    Minneapolis, MN – January 28, 2026 - Newly surfaced video footage has revealed an earlier confrontation involving Alex Jeffrey Pretti, the 37-year-old intensive care nurse fatally shot by federal agents during an immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis on January 24, 2026. The video, which appears to have been recorded on January 13, 2026-11 days before Pretti's death-shows a man identified by multiple sources as Pretti engaging in aggressive behavior toward U.S. I...

  • US DOJ Sues UCLA Medical School for Admitting Unqualified Minority Candidates Over Qualified Whites and Asians

    Stan Greene, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Jan 29, 2026

    The U.S. Department of Justice has intervened in a federal lawsuit accusing the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) of using race as a factor in its admissions process, in violation of federal civil rights laws and California's long-standing ban on affirmative action.In a statement released on January 28, 2026, the Justice Department announced it was joining the existing class-action suit originally filed in May 2025 by Students...

  • Big Kitty in the City: Young Mountain Lion Spotted in San Francisco's Pacific Heights Neighborhood

    David Ganezer, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Jan 27, 2026

    San Francisco, CA - January 27, 2026 - Authorities are monitoring a rare urban wildlife incident after a young mountain lion was captured on security camera footage prowling streets in the upscale Pacific Heights neighborhood late Sunday night, January 25, 2026. San Francisco Animal Care and Control (SFACC) confirmed the sighting near Lafayette Park, located near Gough and Sacramento streets. The animal, estimated to be about one year old and described as a subadult, appeared...

  • Midnight Ride Through Downtown Los Angeles Shines Spotlight on LA County Homelessness

    David Ganezer, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Jan 25, 2026

    A viral TikTok video by content creator John Hicks has once again drawn national attention to the persistent homelessness crisis in Downtown Los Angeles (DTLA), showcasing stark scenes of encampments, trash accumulation, and large numbers of unhoused individuals filling the streets, particularly in and around the Skid Row area.In the clip, titled along the lines of "What it's like in LA after dark" and posted on Hicks' account (@john_hicks ), the creator rides an e-bike...

  • Historic Winter Storm Fern Batters Much of U.S., Causing Widespread Disruptions and Fatalities

    Stan Greene, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Jan 25, 2026

    January 25, 2026 - A massive winter storm unofficially named Winter Storm Fern by The Weather Channel has unleashed heavy snow, freezing rain, ice, and Arctic cold across a vast swath of the United States, impacting more than 230 million people from Texas and the Southwest to the Northeast and parts of Canada. The storm, which originated from an upper-level low developing over the Pacific near Baja California around January 22, has traversed much of the country, prompting...

  • Federal transportation funding, CDL enforcement, and capacity signals are reshaping the freight market for 2026

    Stacker, Alyssa Wolfe for WSI|Updated Jan 23, 2026

    Federal transportation funding, CDL enforcement, and capacity signals are reshaping the freight market for 2026 While many supply chain leaders focused on the peak shopping season, holiday sales, and returns, transportation policy and freight market dynamics continued to move quickly. Over the past month, a series of announcements from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), along with emerging capacity signals in the trucking market, point to a more regulated,...

  • Violent Crime Spree Across Northern California Ends in San Jose Shootout, Death of Mohammed Hussein

    Stan Greene, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Jan 23, 2026

    San Jose, CA – A five-day rampage of armed robberies, carjackings, and high-speed pursuits came to a violent end on January 21, 2026, when 30-year-old Muhammed Hussein of Davis opened fire on San Jose police officers, seriously wounding a sergeant before being struck by a patrol vehicle and killed in a downtown shootout. According to San Jose Police Department officials, Hussein – identified following the incident – began his crime spree on January 17 in Sacramento, where...

  • After Ten Years of Discussion, LA Metro Board Unanimously Approves Underground Heavy-Rail Plan for Sepulveda Pass

    Stan Greene, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Jan 23, 2026

    LOS ANGELES — It took ten years just to approve the plan for a long awaited train from Van Nuys to Westwood, along the 405 Freeway. It'll add half a cent to LA's sales tax, and there still isn't nearly $25 billion to fund it. They tell us it will take eight years to build it, but it will really take say, 25. But finally the MTA said yes. On January 22, 2026, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) Board of Directors unanimously approved the L...

  • Homeless Woman Gives Birth on Sidewalk, After Exiting Starbucks on Main Street in Santa Monica

    Stan Greene, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Jan 22, 2026

    Santa Monica Observer – January 22, 2026 In an incident widely reported on social media, a homeless woman gave birth directly on a downtown Santa Monica sidewalk late last week, with the aftermath still visible two days later. According to witnesses and local business owners along Main Street, the woman - who appeared to be experiencing significant distress and was reportedly not wearing pants - exited a nearby Starbucks and walked a short distance before collapsing near a t...

  • Caroline Ellison, Key Figure in FTX Collapse, Released from Federal Custody After Serving 14 Months in Prison

    David Ganezer, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Jan 22, 2026

    New York, January 22, 2026 - Caroline Ellison, the former CEO of Alameda Research and a central figure in the dramatic 2022 collapse of cryptocurrency exchange FTX, has been released from federal custody. The 31-year-old completed approximately 440 days - roughly 14 months - of her original two-year prison sentence, walking free on January 21, 2026, according to records from the U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and multiple reports. Ellison began her sentence in November...

  • Pres. Trump has Gavin Newsom Removed From World Economic Forum Conference at Davos

    David Ganezer, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Jan 21, 2026

    California Governor Gavin Newsom attended the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in January 2026, where he criticized international leaders for what he described as excessive deference to President Donald Trump. During remarks to reporters on the sidelines of the event, Newsom urged global figures to "stand tall and firm" and "have a backbone" rather than engage in what he called "complicity" or "appeasement" toward Trump. He likened the president's approach to...

  • Record-Breaking Snowfall Buries Buildings in Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula, Prompting State of Emergency

    David Ganezer, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Jan 21, 2026

    Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia - Towns across Russia's remote Far Eastern Kamchatka Peninsula have been engulfed by historic snowfall, with accumulations exceeding seven feet in many areas and massive drifts reaching several meters high. The extreme weather, described as the heaviest in over 60 years, has buried vehicles, blocked roads and building entrances, and forced authorities to declare a state of emergency. The relentless storms, driven by powerful cyclones from the...

  • Big changes in 2026 traffic laws: What drivers should know nationwide

    Stacker, John Davey for Cheap Insurance|Updated Jan 17, 2026

    Big changes in 2026 traffic laws: What drivers should know nationwide Traffic laws in the U.S. are changing in 2026. States are adding new ways to catch people breaking laws, increasing fines, and putting in place rules to make driving safer. While not every new rule directly affects car insurance, certain violations, such as speeding and DUI-related offenses, often contribute to higher premiums. It’s not one big national change. Instead, it’s a trend toward using cameras and...

  • Why January can feel emotionally heavy: The gap between January's promises and its reality feels disorienting

    Stacker, Ann Dypiangco for Blueprint|Updated Jan 17, 2026

    Why January can feel emotionally heavy It’s early January. Your inbox is crowded with fresh-start messages, your calendar looks untouched, and social media hums with promises of transformation. Everywhere you look, momentum seems to be building. Yet you’re sitting with your coffee, feeling oddly out of sync with all this optimism. The gap between January's promises and its reality feels disorienting. While the world races toward change, you might feel a heaviness in these ear...

  • Santa Monica Pauses Downtown Parking Rate Changes After Business Backlash

    Dick Schvantz, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Jan 17, 2026

    Santa Monica Pauses Downtown Parking Rate Changes After Business Backlash City officials have postponed the implementation of new parking rates in eight downtown structures until at least January 27, 2026, following intense opposition from local businesses. The planned changes, originally set to take effect on January 12, would have reduced the free parking period from 90 minutes to 30 minutes in facilities such as Structures 1 through 8 and the Ken Edwards Center. This...

  • Pacific Palisades Landscape Revives One Year After Devastating Fire on January 7, 2026

    Mike Hunt, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Jan 17, 2026

    PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. - Homes are not being rebuilt, by and large. But satellite images released this week reveal a remarkable transformation in Pacific Palisades, where winter rains have restored vibrant green vegetation to hillsides charred by the catastrophic January 2025 Palisades fire. The blaze, which destroyed over 6,800 structures and claimed 12 lives, left vast areas barren, but new growth on surviving trees and the appearance of rebuilt structures on former...

  • Big Investors Snap Up Fire-Damaged Lots in Pacific Palisades Following January 7, 2025 Fire that Destroyed Half the Town

    Samuel Alioto|Updated Jan 17, 2026

    PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. - A new analysis by Redfin shows that real estate investors purchased about 40% of vacant lots sold in fire-damaged areas of Pacific Palisades during the third quarter of 2025, sparking worries among locals about the community's future character. Following the January 2025 Palisades fire's destruction of thousands of homes, many owners face tough choices between rebuilding or selling, leading to a surge in available lots and cash purchases by outside...

  • 550-Pound Black Bear Finally Evicted from Underneath House in Altadena, California

    Sarah Storkin, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Jan 17, 2026

    ALTADENA, Calif. - After more than six weeks of an unusual - and increasingly frustrating - cohabitation, a 550-pound male black bear has been successfully removed from beneath an Altadena resident's home, bringing relief to homeowner Ken Johnson and ending a saga that drew national attention. The bear, tagged by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife as Yellow 2120, first squeezed into the crawl space under Johnson's kitchen around Thanksgiving 2025. It remained there...

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