Woman Arrested After Shooting Incident in Venice Argument; Local News Briefs

A 42-year-old woman was arrested following a shooting that wounded a man of similar age during a roadside argument at Seventh Avenue and Broadway in Venice on Saturday afternoon, February 15, 2026. According to LAPD reports, the victim was sitting inside a vehicle when the suspect drove up, exited her car, engaged in a dispute, shot him, and fled the scene. The man was transported by ambulance to a hospital in stable condition.

Officers located and took the woman into custody without further incident shortly afterward. No additional details on the motive, relationship between the parties, or potential charges have been released publicly, as the investigation remains ongoing. The incident has drawn attention in local forums amid broader discussions of safety in Venice neighborhoods.

This event adds to recent crime reports in the area, though violent incidents remain relatively isolated. LAPD continues to encourage community vigilance and reporting of suspicious activity as authorities gather more evidence.

Westside Council Members Pool Funds for Street Light Repairs Amid Copper Theft Outages

Los Angeles City Councilmembers Traci Park (CD 11) and Katy Yaroslavsky have pooled $500,000 from discretionary funds to accelerate repairs of inoperable streetlights across the Westside, where copper wire thefts and repair backlogs have left thousands of lights dark for extended periods.

Neighborhoods in Mar Vista, Venice, Pacific Palisades, and other areas have reported persistent outages, with residents expressing frustration over safety concerns in darkened streets—some waiting up to a year for fixes. The proposal includes exploring solar-powered streetlights, which lack vulnerable copper wiring and could deter future thefts, as well as dedicated repair crews to address the surge in incidents.

The homeless are blamed for stealing copper wires from streetlights—in some cases repeatedly darkening them for weeks or months.

City data shows copper theft accounts for nearly half of streetlight failures citywide, contributing to over 37,000 repair requests pending in recent periods.

Los Angeles City Councilmembers emphasized the need to move beyond temporary fixes, aiming for more resilient infrastructure. The allocation is part of broader efforts to restore lighting quickly while long-term solutions like solar conversions gain traction to protect communities from ongoing theft-related disruptions.

Eight Westside Corridors Proposed for Speed Safety Cameras

The Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) has identified eight high-risk corridors in Council District 11—including segments in Venice, Mar Vista, and other Westside areas—for potential automated speed enforcement cameras under the state's AB 645 pilot program. Selected based on crash data, speeding history, roadway design, and proximity to schools, the proposed sites trigger a 30-day public comment period opened in mid-February 2026.

The program, set to launch citywide later in 2026, would install cameras to detect vehicles traveling 11 mph or more over the limit, issuing citations via license plate recognition to encourage safer driving and reduce collisions. LADOT's report highlights corridors where prior traffic calming measures have proven insufficient.

Community reactions are mixed, with some supporting enhanced safety for pedestrians and cyclists, while others raise privacy or enforcement concerns. Public input is being accepted via email or council files, with education campaigns planned before activation to inform drivers of locations and operations.

National Park Service Launches Study on Potential National Park Designation for LA Coastal Areas

The National Park Service (NPS) has initiated a special resource study to evaluate whether a large stretch of Los Angeles County coastline—from Will Rogers State Beach near Pacific Palisades south to Torrance Beach, encompassing Venice, Santa Monica, and parts of San Pedro—meets criteria for inclusion in the National Park System. Announced in early February 2026, the study assesses national significance, suitability, feasibility, and the need for NPS management, with public comments open through April 6, 2026.

The review, authorized by Congress in 2022, examines the area's natural, cultural, recreational, and scenic values amid growing interest in federal protection for vulnerable coastal zones. It does not propose immediate changes to current management by local agencies but could lead to recommendations for Congress or presidential action.

The proposal has sparked debate among Westside residents about potential benefits like enhanced preservation and access versus concerns over federal oversight, development restrictions, or changes to local beach use. NPS encourages input to shape the findings, which will inform future decisions on the iconic LA coastline.