BEVERLY HILLS—From June 4 through August 20, the Beverly Hills Community Services is bringing back their free “Concerts on Cañon” every Thursday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at the Beverly Cañon Gardens located at 241 North Cañon Drive.

As listed on the Beverly Hills City calendar, the Concerts on Cañon is a weekly summer concert series featuring a variety of musical genres. The genres include but are not limited to Latin, Jazz, Rock & Soul, Brazilian, Funk, R&B, Pop, and Tributes.

July performances include Midnight Regret on Thursday, July 2, Susie’s Hansen Latin Band on July 9, Tom Nolan Band on July 16, Joyce Partise on July 23, Woodie and the Longboard on July 30.

August performances include Groovis Maximus on August 6, The Brat Pack on August 13, and concludes with The Tokens on August 20.

For more information on the summer concert series, visit www.beverlyhills.org.

By Megan Hanson

BRENTWOOD/WESTWOOD—On Monday, June 29, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced that the speeding driver who struck on-duty Los Angeles Police Department Sgt. Shiou Lih Deng and stranded motorist Jesús Arturo Garcia on the 405 Freeway last year was charged with murder in the deaths of both men. Sgt. Deng was 53 years old and served the LAPD for over 26 years.

“This was a complex investigation, completed by the California Highway Patrol Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team, which took just under a year to complete,” said California Highway Patrol Southern Division Chief Chris Margaris. “Our hearts remain with the families, friends, and colleagues of LAPD Sergeant Shiou Deng and Mr. Jesus Garcia who lost their lives. We hope this report provides answers and reflects the California Highway Patrol’s unwavering commitment to a thorough, objective investigation.”

“Sergeant Deng dedicated his life to serving others, and on that tragic morning, he made the ultimate sacrifice,” said Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell. “Our thoughts remain with his family and all those who loved him. I want to thank the California Highway Patrol investigators whose dedication and persistence led to today’s arrest. We also appreciate the partnership of the District Attorney’s Office as this case moves through the judicial process. We remain steadfast in our commitment to pursuing justice while honoring Sergeant Deng’s extraordinary legacy of service.”

Mario Joseph Bickham, 36, of Hawthorne was charged with two felony counts of second-degree murder.

At approximately 1:54 a.m. on June 23, 2025, Jesús Garcia, 34, was driving home from work on I-405 south when his pickup truck was struck by an unknown driver near the Getty Center just before the Sunset Boulevard exit. Garcia’s vehicle became disabled, blocking the HOV lane and the adjacent traffic lane.

A few minutes later, at approximately 2:01 a.m., Sgt. Deng spotted the disabled truck and Garcia. To aid a stranded motorist who was in a particularly vulnerable position, Sgt. Deng activated his emergency lights and stopped his marked Los Angeles Police Department patrol car. The emergency lights remained on throughout the incident. Sgt. Deng got out of his vehicle to assist Garcia.

At approximately 2:04 a.m., the defendant, driving his sedan alone in the HOV lane, slammed into Sgt. Deng’s LAPD patrol vehicle, the disabled truck, Sgt. Deng and Garcia. It is alleged that five seconds before the crash, defendant was driving at 112.5 mph. Sgt. Deng and Garcia died from the impact, and the defendant sustained serious injuries.

The speed limit in this section of the highway was clearly posted as 65 mph. An arraignment date was expected Monday afternoon. The prosecution is requesting the court deny bail or in the alternative set bail at the scheduled amount of $4 million.

If convicted as charged, Bickham faces up to 15 years to life in state prison for each victim.

By Danny Jones

BEVERLY HILLS—The city of Beverly Hills in a partnership with the American Red Cross will be hosting a Community Blood Drive and volunteers are needed.

To make an appointment visit www.Redcrossblood.org and enter our sponsor code:
CityBevHills.

The event will take place on Thursday, July 9 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the City Hall Municipal Gallery located at 455 N. Rexford Drive.

“As a top charity brand with the trust of the American people, our mission is to fulfill the need for safe, reliable, and cost-effective blood products and services. We accomplish this mission through the hard work and commitment of staff and volunteers located throughout the country, along with numerous fixed and mobile collection sites, manufacturing locations, and the National & Biomedical Headquarters, which are based in Washington, D.C.

The foundation of this mission lies with the extraordinary act of voluntary blood donation. Blood donors play an integral role in the delivery of modern healthcare, and many life-saving medical treatments and procedures would not be possible without a safe and reliable blood supply,” as stated on the American Red Cross website.

By Danny Jones

MALIBU—On Monday, June 29, the city of Malibu announced that its Malibu Community Services Department was awarded the 2026 Southern California Public Pool Operators Association Innovative Program Award for the Water Safety Program, Sensory Swim.

Designed for participants of all ability levels, the Sensory Swim program provides a supportive aquatic environment where individuals with sensory sensitivities and diverse needs can comfortably enjoy the benefits of swimming.

By prioritizing accommodations and trained staff support, the initiative helps create a safe, welcoming space where everyone—regardless of ability—can experience the joy and wellness benefits of swimming.

Through a collaboration with the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District and the Malibu Esperance Center, Malibu aims to expand access to recreational opportunities while strengthening community inclusion.

To learn more visit www.MalibuCity.org/Aquatics to view upcoming programs at the Malibu Community Pool.

By Danny Jones

WEST HOLLYWOOD—On Sunday, July 5, at 4 p.m., the city of West Hollywood’s Summer Sounds Concert Series kicks off. Summer Sounds includes three concerts on July 5, July 26, and August 16. Each event will begin at 4 p.m. at Plummer Park and is located at 7377 Santa Monica Boulevard. 

Summer Sounds is an annual free concert series open to the public. While RSVPs are encouraged, reserved seating is not available. All ages are welcome, and attendees can bring lawn chairs and picnic blankets. 

Artist É Arenas and DJ Que Madre are the first artists to perform at Plummer Park on Sunday. Arenas is an LA-born and raised musician from Boyle Heights. His music focuses on pioneering the resurgence of 90s cumbia-quebradita with the release of many dance anthems. He is also a founding member and bassist/guitarist/vocalist of the group Chicano Batman. 

DJ Que Madre is a local DJ from East Los Angeles with roots in Durango and Jalisco. Grounded in vinyl culture, her DJ set, weaving together rhythm, resistance, and nostalgia, is sure to bring the community together. 

The next Summer Sounds Concert will be on July 26, featuring nu-soul artist Nikka Costa and DJ Anthony Valdez. Summer Sounds will end with performances by The Soul Space featuring Tamara Jade & Orlando Dixon, Mark Evich, and DJ Rosegawd on Sunday, August 16th.

By Ryley Metten

SHERMAN OAKS—A fire broke out in the 1400 block of Hesby Street on Saturday, June 28 around 3 a.m., with the fire igniting in the front yard bushes of a residential home, as first reported by KTLA 5.

In an interview with CBS, 13-year-old resident Myron Tkechenko, who lives at the home where the fire broke out, told the reporter that he heard the fire crackling outside his house and woke his family to alert them of the fire, then called 9-1-1. Video of the fire was caught by Tkechenko’s neighbor Penny Johnson’s home surveillance system. Before the fire broke out at the residence, an unidentified man pushing a shopping cart could be seen next to the home, and moments later the fire started and the man is seen walking away.

Surveillance footage shows the Tkechenko family moving their cars from the fire’s path and trying to tame the flames with a garden hose while awaiting help from the Los Angeles Fire Department.

The suspect in the footage has not been identified, and the Los Angeles Police Department is investigating the case.

By Megan Hanson

SANTA MONICA—On June 23, Vice President JD Vance, Second Lady, Usha Vance, and their dog Atlas landed in San Diego following their stay at the Bürgenstock Resort, a luxury mountaintop destination above Lake Lucerne. They traveled for a summit regarding U.S. diplomacy and peace talks with Iran. Vance is leading the delegation in negotiations to end the Iran War. “The Honorable JD Vance at the Nixon Library.  Join us on Thursday, June 25, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library for a candid conversation with Vice President on the issues of shaping America’s future. This program marks the release of his deeply personal memoir, Communion: Finding My Way Back to the Faith, and how his convictions continue to inform his public life,” and “Seating is limited,” stated the website for the Richard Nixon Library. Approximately 400 supporters filled the seats of the Nixon Library and received a copy of Vance’s new book. During his speech, Vance spoke on his faith journey, and making his way back to his Catholic roots, back to his faith, as discussed in his first book, “Hillbilly Elegy.” Vance talked about similarities between himself and Nixon stating: “Young Senator, Vice President, writes some best-selling books, is hated by the media.  It kind of sound like JD Vance.” “If Watergate happened tomorrow, it would be like a 12-hour news story. The idea that it would have taken down a presidency is crazy. If you look at the story of how the deep state took down Richard Nixon, it’s not all that different from what the same groups of people, the same institutions tried to do to Donald Trump in the first Trump Administration.” Supporters and critics against the Trump Administration were in attendance outside the Nixon Library as the Vice President spoke. They utilized military transport for their security motorcade and were escorted by the Secret Service and the California Highway Patrol as they traveled to Santa Monica. VP Vance appeared on “Real Time with Bill Maher,” to discuss foreign issues related to current Trump Administration. The second couple will return to Washington DC for the 250th birthday of the nation in Washington D.C. As Chair of Finance for the Republican Party, Vance spent the Fourth of July weekend in San Diego in 2025. His motorcade was spotted at Soichi Sushi during, and he was the recipient of an award last year given by Claremont Institute.

By Sharon

MALIBU—On Friday, June 26, the city of Malibu announced the continuation of graffiti removal continued in Malibu’s Palisades Fire area, with crews removing graffiti from four additional fire-damaged properties on June 24 as part of the City’s Graffiti Cleanup Pilot Program.

The voluntary program helps clean up graffiti on private properties within Malibu city limits that were impacted by the Palisades Fire and have graffiti visible from the street. By removing graffiti it helps decrease blight, discourage repeat vandalism, improve public safety, and support the community’s ongoing recovery and rebuilding efforts.

The City’s Code Enforcement Division and Public Works Department began graffiti abatement in late May. A total of 61 eligible properties has been identified, signed consent forms have been received from 29 property owners, 28 additional consent forms are pending, and graffiti has now been removed from 11 properties. Three property owners declined participation.

The program is voluntary and requires property owner permission before work can begin. City staff continue conducting outreach through phone calls, emails, and follow-up communications to encourage participation and answer questions.

The program runs through April 12, 2027. To have graffiti removed from one’s property through the program, the individual must provide a signed Trespass Authorization to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. To get the process started for a fire-impacted home or business, contact Code Enforcement at Code@MalibuCity.org or call City Hall at 310-456-2489.

Graffiti within the public right-of-way continues to be addressed by Caltrans and the city of Malibu Public Works. You can report graffiti to Caltrans at (213) 897-1200 or Public Works at 310-456-2489 ext. 391.

By Danny Jones

SANTA MONICA—The Santa Monica Police Department will be celebrating National Night Out on August 4. The public can join the Police Department for a family-friendly evening is all about connection, conversation, and community safety.

Meet your public safety team, visit with community partners, and be part of a night focused on bringing Santa Monica together. The event will take place from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at 1685 Main Street.

National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make neighborhoods safer and more caring places to live. It provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances.

National Night Out was introduced in August 1984 through an already established network of law enforcement agencies, neighborhood watch groups, civic groups, state and regional crime prevention associations and volunteers across the nation. The first annual National Night Out involved 2.5 million neighbors across 400 communities in 23 states.

By Danny Jones

 

BEVERLY HILLS—The city of Beverly hills will be conducting routine water main flushing through Monday, June 29 as part of its ongoing program to maintain high water quality throughout the system.

The goal is to ensure water is safe for the environment and our local waterways before it reaches the storm drain.

The affected areas include:
-Charleville Boulevard (north)
-Maple Drive (west)
-Almont Drive (east)
-Southern City limits (south)

Anyone with questions can email askBH@beverlyhills.org or call (310) 285-1000.

By Danny Jones