SANTA MONICA—As students return to classrooms and families settle back into the school-year routine, the Santa Monica Police Department is reminding everyone to slow down, stay alert and help make the trip to and from school a safe one.

The start of the school year brings increased vehicle, bicycle, e-bike and pedestrian traffic around Santa Monica schools, particularly during morning drop-off and afternoon dismissal. Drivers should plan for additional traffic, allow extra time and remain especially attentive near campuses, crosswalks and bike lanes.

“Getting students safely to school is a responsibility we all share,” said Santa Monica Police Chief Darrick Jacob. “Slow down. Put the phone away. Pay attention to what is happening around you. A few extra seconds of patience can make a meaningful difference when children are walking, biking and riding through our neighborhoods.”

E-bikes are increasingly part of how students travel around Santa Monica. They can be a convenient way to get to school, but speed, traffic and inexperience can create serious risks.

SMPD is asking parents and guardians to understand what their child is riding before allowing them on public streets. Some vehicles marketed as e-bikes are actually high-powered electric motorcycles or off-highway vehicles and may not be legal for a child to operate on public roadways.

Students riding e-bikes should:

• Wear a properly fitted helmet every ride.

• Obey stop signs, traffic signals and other rules of the road.

• Ride with the flow of traffic and use bike lanes where appropriate.

• Slow down around pedestrians, intersections, driveways and school entrances.

• Keep phones put away and avoid anything that limits the ability to hear or see surrounding traffic.

• Never ride recklessly, weave through vehicles or rely on drivers to see you.

Parents should know how the vehicle is legally classified, where it can be operated, what safety equipment is required and whether their child is legally permitted to operate it. For detailed information, visit: www.santamonica.gov – Know Before Your Ride – E-Bike Safety Information.

Students should use sidewalks and designated crossings whenever possible, make eye contact with drivers before crossing and avoid stepping into the roadway from between parked vehicles. Students should always follow the instructions of crossing guards and wait until they are directed to cross.

Bicyclists should ride predictably, follow traffic signals, use hand signals when turning and remain visible to drivers. Students traveling independently should also know their route before leaving home and avoid distractions while crossing streets.

The SMPD is asking everyone traveling near a school to exercise patience and remember that children may not always recognize traffic hazards as quickly as adults do.

By Danny Jones

MALIBU—On Monday, August 10, the city of Malibu posted that Caltrans will be completing road work that will run through August 16. Motorists should expect delays and changing traffic patterns. Slow down, watch for workers and work vehicles, and remember fines may be doubled in construction zones.

PCH Speed Limits
• 35 mph from Temescal Canyon Road to Sunset Boulevard
• 25 mph from Sunset Boulevard to Carbon Beach Terrace

Planned Closures

• Just north of Big Rock Dr: 9 p.m.–6 a.m. nightly starting Friday, August 7, including weekends. PCH reduced to two lanes for less than 0.5 miles.
• Big Rock Dr: SCE work Sun, Aug 9, 9 p.m.–6 a.m. Northbound PCH reduced to one lane for about one mile.
• Las Flores Canyon Road to Sunset Blvd: Weekdays, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. as needed for creek cleanup, drainage and slope repairs. Rambla Pacifico right-turn lane closed.
• Pena Road to Tuna Canyon Road: 9 a.m.–3 p.m. as needed. Southbound PCH reduced to one lane.
• PCH & Topanga Canyon Blvd: Verizon work Mon, 9 p.m.–5 a.m. Northbound PCH reduced to one lane where crews are working.

• PCH & Topanga Canyon Blvd: SCE shoulder work Tues, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. No lane closures.

Topanga Canyon Boulevard• 15 mph through the Caltrans work zone.
• Mon–Fri nights, 10 p.m.–6 a.m.: One-lane traffic between Entrada Drive and PCH for guardrail work.

Check traffic conditions BEFORE getting on the road: https://quickmap.dot.ca.gov.

By Danny Jones

WEST HOLLYWOOD—One person was shot in the leg Sunday, August 9 at Harriet’s Rooftop, a celebrity-frequented rooftop bar and restaurant atop the 1 Hotel in West Hollywood. The victim, whose identity has not been released, is an adult male.

Lieutenant D. Barkon of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department West Hollywood Station stated a call came in around 8:54 p.m. Barkon noted the victim was rushed to a hospital and is listed in stable condition. Deputies have not released further details about his identity or age.

Following the shooting, deputies spoke with eyewitnesses and reviewed surveillance footage from the scene. Investigators have not been able to identify a suspect, who remains at large. The circumstances surrounding the shooting are still under investigation, and no motive has been released as of this report.

Harriet’s Rooftop has hosted events tied to recognizable names in the entertainment industry. Dave Chappelle held a private after-party there with Lauryn Hill in September of 2018, shortly before the venue officially opened to the public. A corner of the venue reportedly still features memorabilia dedicated to that night, according to a review from The Infatuation.

The h.wood Group, which operates the rooftop bar, has previously hosted Kylie Jenner’s birthday. Anyone with information about the shooting at Harriets is asked to contact the LASD West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station.

By Milan Manesh

WOODLAND HILLS—The Los Angeles Rams recently returned to their practice facility in Woodland Hills, following training camp at Loyola Marymount University. McVay called Saturday’s practice outstanding, noting that the offense struggled to throw and complete passes because of strong coverage and disruptive defensive plays.

He mentioned an upcoming joint practice session with the Dallas Cowboys, which will take place on Tuesday, August 11, at Rams Village in the Warner Center. The Cowboys hold their training camp each year in Oxnard, allowing the two teams to face off before the regular season begins.

Aaron Donald, the retired defensive tackle widely considered one of the best defensive players in NFL history, had a workout at the Rams facility on Wednesday, August 5. The Super Bowl winner has drawn speculation about a possible return to the team, which could pair him with newly acquired defensive end Myles Garrett.

The Los Angeles Rams’ first preseason game is against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on August 15.

By Milan Manesh

STUDIO CITY/LAUREL CANYON—Security camera footage captured a mountain lion outside a home in Studio City on Saturday, August 8. Chad Landers, a Studio City resident, posted on his social media pages that he woke up in the middle of the night and checked his security cameras. He spotted a mountain lion, a raccoon, and two coyotes outside his residence, all within the same night.

Landers said he had never seen anything like it on his property before. The sighting took place on Wrightwood Place in Studio City, a hillside neighborhood near Laurel Canyon and Mulholland Drive. The Laurel Canyon area has a documented history of mountain lion activity, though it is unclear whether this specific animal has been previously tracked in the area.

This marks the third mountain lion sighting reported in Southern California within a matter of days. The other two occurred in Newbury Park and San Dimas.

Byron Weckworth of the Mountain Lion Foundation indicated the apparent rise in sightings is partly due to the increased use of home security cameras, which can automatically capture footage when motion is detected. He noted mountain lions are experiencing a reduction in their natural habitat, which occasionally pushes them into nearby hillside communities.

Weckworth noted that mountain lions generally do not want to be seen and that a sighting alone does not represent a threat to the public.

“Mountain lions are known by many names, including cougar, puma, catamount, painter, panther, and many more. They are the most wide-ranging cat species in the world and are found as far north as Canada and as far south as Chile. Solitary cats, mountain lions are highly adaptable to situations and environments, and this adaptability has enabled them to survive across much of their original range in the America’s, despite severe habitat loss and active threats,” reads the Mountain Lion Foundation website.

By Milan Manesh

STUDIO CITY—On August 8, at approximately 2:30 a.m., a Studio City resident reported a rather large mountain lion in his driveway. Chad Landers, who has reportedly lived in the area for at least 25 years, notified the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) of the mountain lion’s presence. Landers, who is a power lifter, personal trainer, and author of Building Strength and Muscle After 50, shared video captured on his ring camera. He woke up in the middle of the night and checked the pictures on his Ring security camera. He noted that the camera captured footage of a raccoon, a coyote, and what he initially thought was a bobcat that he posted on social media. “But, I’m like, that looks awfully big to be a bobcat. So, then when it came into focus on a different camera, I was like, holy crap, that’s a mountain lion. It was so massive. My Tahoe is a pretty big vehicle, and when you see the cat up against that, you’re like, okay, this thing is huge,” said Landers. He indicated the reason he notified wildlife authorities was more out of concern for the mountain lion’s safety. He lives on a busy street near Ventura Boulevard and didn’t want him to get hit by a car. This is the second mountain lion sighting recently. On Friday, August 7, a mountain lion was spotted in northern San Dimas, roaming along Foothill Avenue between San Dimas Avenue and San Dimas Canyon Road. In this instance, the mountain lion was tranquilized. Wildlife authorities indicated that the mountain lion found in the San Dimas area was a female with external injuries. According to the CDFW, she was transported to a veterinarian for an evaluation to determine the extent of her injuries. “Mountain lions (Puma concolor couguar), also known as puma, cougar, or panther, are native to California and the second largest felid in North and South America. They have the largest range of any carnivore in North America, ranging from the Canadian Yukon to southern Chile. They inhabit diverse habitat types throughout the state, including forests and foothills, coastal, rural, and wildlife-urban interfaces. They are reclusive and solitary animals, mostly avoiding people when possible. Mountain lions provide many ecosystem benefits by helping to maintain healthy prey populations. They will hunt deer and elk, invasive species such as wild pigs and feral horses, and smaller animals such as coyotes, raccoons, and rodents. Potential conflict with mountain lions may occur due to property damage and loss of livestock or pets while hunting. Feeding other wildlife, such as deer, may attract mountain lions,” stated the CDFW website. By Sharon

BEVERLY HILLS/WESTWOOD—The former President of William Morris Agency, Jerry Katzman has died at the age of 89. Katzman died at his Los Angeles home on Sunday, August 9, as a result of battling Parkinson’s disease, a spokesperson for the family stated.

He joined the William Morris Agency in 1972 and rose to the ranks becoming President of the company in 1991. Some of his famous clients included Angela Lansbury, Shelley Long and Burt Reynolds. He became a faculty member at the UCLA School Of Theater, Film and Television.

His father was Sam Katzman who is known for producing films like “Kissin’ Cousins” and “Harum Scarum.” WMA has founded in 1898 and is currently headquartered in Beverly Hills. Jerry was a television packager for popular TV series like “Roseanne” and “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air.” He also served as the President of the Hollywood Radio and Television Society.

Jerry attended Beverly Hills High School and graduated from UC-Berkeley and graduated from UCLA Law School. He is survived by his wife Carol Sinn of 66 years, and his children, Jeff, Jon and Kari.

By Danny Jones

SANTA MONICA—On Thursday, August 6, 2026, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced that Gerald Pitts, 67, was sentenced to life plus seven years in state prison with the possibility of parole for the attempted murder of Santos Tejas Gonzalez during a brutal, unprovoked hate crime attack aboard a Metro bus in March 2023.

On June 16, a jury found Pitts of Santa Monica guilty of attempted murder and found true the allegation that the crime was committed willfully, deliberately and with premeditation in case 26CJCF00325. Jurors also found true allegations that Pitts used a knife, personally inflicted great bodily injury, and committed the offense in whole or in part because of the victim’s actual or perceived nationality, race or ethnicity, making it a hate crime.

On March 25, 2023, at approximately 9 p.m., Tejas Gonzalez boarded a Metro bus and attempted to walk past Pitts to take a seat. Pitts immediately started shouting racial slurs at the victim. When Gonzalez tried to leave the bus at the next stop on Western Avenue and Exposition Boulevard to prevent further escalation of the incident, Pitts stabbed him multiple times in the abdomen, arm, hand and face. As the victim fell from the bus, Pitts kicked him repeatedly in the head while continuing to yell racial slurs.

Gonzalez survived the attack despite suffering life-threatening injuries.

District Attorney Nathan Hochman has pushed back against policies that allow perpetrators of violent hate crimes to avoid standard incarceration. Earlier this year, the Office successfully petitioned a California Court of Appeal to overturn a Los Angeles County trial court’s decision granting mental health diversion to Job Uriah Taylor, charged with attempted murder including a hate crime allegation. The appellate court agreed that the defendant’s case should proceed through the traditional criminal justice process, reinforcing that violent hate crimes demand accountability that protects the public.

Taylor, 28, of Santa Monica is charged with one count of attempted murder, three felony counts of assault with a deadly weapon and one felony count of assault with a deadly weapon with force resulting in great bodily injury in case SA107988. The charges also include multiple hate crime enhancements as Taylor was heard shouting racial slurs at his victims during the attacks. Taylor was arrested on March 3, 2023, after allegedly using a metal pipe to beat a man in an encampment adjacent to the 5th Street Expo station in Santa Monica. The unprovoked attack was the last of three assaults with a deadly weapon Taylor is accused of committing within the span of an hour.

Two of Taylor’s victims were hospitalized and another victim, 64-year-old Christian Hornburg, was beaten with a pipe. He survived but was severely injured. Taylor will face trial after the California Supreme Court declined to review the appellate court ruling agreeing with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office that the trial judge abused her discretion in granting pretrial mental health diversion. The published 2nd District Court of Appeal decision remains binding law and citable throughout the state of California. His motion pursuant to 995 PC and pretrial is set for Aug. 11 in Department 70 of the Airport Courthouse. If convicted as charged, Taylor faces life in state prison.

“I want to thank Deputy District Attorney Jeffrey Illions of the Organized Crime Division for his exceptional work and unwavering commitment to justice on the Gerald Pitts case and the Los Angeles Police Department for its thorough investigation,” District Attorney Hochman said. “When someone commits a calculated act of violence fueled by hatred, our responsibility is to protect the public, seek justice for victims and ensure the law is fully enforced. We will continue to stand with every community targeted by hate and pursue these cases with the seriousness they deserve.”

By Danny Jones

WEST HOLLYWOOD—The city of West Hollywood announced it is launching an E-Bike Incentive Program, giving eligible residents of West Hollywood the chance to receive an e-bike at no cost.

Up to 50 residents will be selected by lottery, with priority given to residents from low- to moderate-income households. Vouchers cover the full cost of an eligible e-bike from Bike Shop LA, plus bicycle maintenance during program participation. Available models include commuter, cruiser, cargo, and small-space-compact folding e-bikes.

Selected participants will complete a BikeLA bicycle safety course and submit quarterly reports on miles traveled as part of the program. Individuals must apply by Monday, August 31 and its open to West Hollywood residents 18 and older.

The city opened an application portal with program details at www.go.weho.org/ebike. Hard-copy applications are also available at West Hollywood City Hall at the Department of Public Works counter on the second floor. A random lottery is anticipated to be held in early September 2026, with priority for residents from low-to moderate-income households.

Selected participants will be required to complete a bicycle safety course offered by BikeLA before receiving their voucher. Participants must agree to submit quarterly reports documenting bicycle miles traveled. Full participation in these requirements is necessary for program participants to keep bicycles for the long term.

The program aims at supporting multi-modal transportation to reduce vehicle miles traveled citywide while supporting the City’s Core Value of Responsibility for the Environment. For more details contact Brandee Thornton, West Hollywood Transportation & Mobility Specialist, at (323) 848-6461 or at bthornton@weho.org. For people who are Deaf or hard of hearing dial 711 or 1-800-735-2929 (TTY) or 1-800-735-2922 (voice) for California Relay Service (CRS) assistance.

By Danny Jones