WESTWOOD—On July 8, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California announced that Jeffrey Ying, 39, of Fremont, near San Francisco Bay, was sentenced to 366 days of home confinement for stealing rare copies of historical Chinese manuscripts from the University of California, Los Angeles library. The value of the manuscripts is $216,000.

Ying was arrested in August 2025. He pleaded guilty in October 2025 to one count of theft of a major artwork for stealing a manuscript that was made in the 17th century during China’s Qing dynasty.

In December 2024, he borrowed rare manuscripts from the library, and days later returned a copy he made instead of the original. Each time, Ying would also travel to China several days later.  During this period, he used the name Austin Chen, Jason Wang and Alan Fujimori.

In 2025, university librarians noticed rare manuscripts were missing.  Their search revealed that the texts had been reserved by Alan Fujimori, due to their value, the texts were not included in those placed in regular circulation and were checked out by him.

An investigation by the UCLA Police Department commenced where authorities searched Ying’s hotel room in Brentwood, and discovered asset tags, pre-made labels used by libraries for inventory and checkout. They also found blank manuscripts and paperwork that resembled the books Ying checked out of the library.

After Ying was arrested, he was in possession of an ID bearing the name Austin Chen, along with two library cards, one bearing that name and the other bearing the name Jason Wang. The FBI’s Art Crime Team also conducted an investigation, and no further information has been released to the public.

By Daniel Diquinzio

BEVERLY HILLS—Around 11:30 a.m. on June 30, officers with the Beverly Hills Police Department responded to reports of vandalism by three elderly women near Gregory Way and La Cienega. According to NBC 4 Los Angeles, the three women are 75, 65, and 60 years old.

Another officer spotted the women and reported them.  After the responding officer arrived at the scene, they found the women posting political signs on traffic utility boxes owned by the city of Beverly Hills and using glue from a bucket to secure them.

The BHPD issued them a citation for vandalism defined by Title 5, Chapter 9 of the Beverly Hills Municipal Code and by Section 594 PC of the California Penal Code as occurring when someone either defaces property with material or graffiti or damages or destroys property.

The women were cited because removing the glue from the boxes would be difficult. They were released by police but had to pay a fine of less than $400.

By Daniel Diquinzio

MALIBU—On July 8, the city of Malibu announced its inclusion in California’s 2026 Fire Risk Reduction Community List (FRRCL), awarded by the Board of Forestry & Fire Protection of the state of California.

Malibu was recognized for its dedication to reducing wildfire risk, and creating safer environments for wildlife, residents, and vegetation through its fire planning and prevention strategies. This list, which includes 41 other committed California cities, took effect on July 1, 2026, and will remain active until July 1, 2028.

To showcase the dedication Malibu has taken in protecting its community against wildfires, Malibu presented its After-Action Review (AAR), specific to Malibu’s wildfire operations, to the Malibu City Council on March 9, 2026, and to the Public Safety Commission Meeting on April 1, 2026.

Malibu’s AAR consists of 10 major focus categories, all of which provide recommendations to improve emergency response and operations. As listed in Malibu’s AAR, the 10 major focus categories are:

Preparedness, ECO & Incident Management, Government & Policy, Operational Coordination, Communication, Community Evacuation, Emergency Public Information, Technology, Emergency Purchasing Process, and Workforce & Staff Sustainability.

Malibu has already begun implementing the strategies presented in their AAR as early as June. On June 27, 2026, the city announced the Merlin Circuit Undergrounding, which is covered in the Communication category of the AAR.

As stated in the cities announcement, with FRRCL recognition comes its own set of advantages and priorities from organizations such as CAL FIRE, including access to fire prevention grants, state funds, and potential lower insurance costs for Malibu homeowners.

To read Malibu’s AAR, visit https://malibucity.org/DocumentCenter/View/37295/FINAL_-PUBLIC_Malibu-AAR_-2526

To read Malibu’s Merlin Circuit Undergrounding, visit https://www.malibucity.org/m/newsflash/Home/Detail/2104

To read more on FRRCL, visit https://bof.fire.ca.gov/projects-and-programs/fire-risk-reduction-community-list/

By Megan Hanson

GRIFFITH PARK—Two baby raccoons were spotted wandering into Dodger Stadium during the baseball game on Tuesday, July 7 against the Colorado Rockies. They were seen roaming underneath the outfield wall padding and along the warning track. Broadcasters acknowledged the furry critters on air and told viewers that help was on the way.

The two raccoons, one brown and one gray, went viral on social media. Multiple posts and clips spread quickly across platforms including TikTok, Instagram and X. Fans joked online about wanting to adopt the raccoons, despite it being illegal to do so.

Officials gave no explanation for how the animals got onto the field. The incident occurred during the same game in which Shohei Ohtani hit his 300th career home run. The Dodgers lost the game 4 to 3, falling behind after Colorado scored three runs in the eighth inning.

By Milan Manesh

BEVERLY HILLS—The Union 76 Gas Station on the corner of Crescent Drive and Santa Monica Boulevard in Beverly Hills, is expected to transition into Maggie’s Refuel, a high-end luxury gas-station founded by Alex Canter and set to open its doors later this year.

As seen on Maggie’s Refuel website, the gas station labels itself as “the first nice gas station,” with founder Alex Canter promoting that promise to future customers through the company’s social media platforms. Maggie’s Refuel is set to feature a coffee bar, specialty snacks, soft-serve ice cream, Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations, craft beer and fine wines, and locally sourced pastries from Beverly Hills bakeries.

CEO and Founder Alex Canter is also known for his association with the Los Angeles restaurant, Canter’s Deli, and is the co-founder of Nextbite. With this next business venture, Canter is looking to bring a luxury-style experience to Beverly Hills by reimagining gas-station culture. Maggie’s Refuel is looking to take gas-station convenience and elevate it into a luxury experience for all customers.

According to Finally Offline, Maggie’s Refuel has raised $2 million in pre-seed funding through capital firms Matchstick Ventures, Mucker Capital, and Everywhere Ventures. In addition to the funding, Jim Keyes, the former president and CEO of 7-Eleven, and Walter Robb, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, are listed as two of the five advisors on the Maggie’s Refuel advisory board.

There is no exact opening date yet, but Alex Canter and Maggie’s Refuel Inc. have advertised a 2026 opening.

For more information on Maggie’s Refuel, visit https://maggiesrefuel.com/about/ page.

By Megan Hanson

PACIFIC PALISADES—The Home Gallery, a Malibu-based manufacturer of high-end factory-built homes, has built and installed the first factory-built home in Pacific Palisades following the January 2025 Palisades Fire. The home includes a 1,700-square-foot main residence and a 600-square-foot ADU. It was built in sections and assembled on site, similar to pieces of a puzzle coming together.

Trace McGuire, Vice President of Sales for The Home Gallery informed the Santa Monica Daily Press, that the factory-built portions took about 15 days to construct, but an additional 3 months of on-site work were required before the clients got the keys. The Home Gallery manufactures its homes at facilities in Riverside and Perris, California.

Factory-built homes can be constructed much quicker and cheaply than conventional homes while retaining a clean, modern look. These types of solutions are becoming increasingly popular among Palisades homeowners struggling to rebuild for various reasons. They have been stuck navigating insurance claims, facing permitting delays, and dealing with rising construction costs, which have created a massive bottleneck in the number of homes being rebuilt.

McGuire informed the SMPD that permitting has finally started moving, with the company expecting three or four new homes to land in the Palisades within the next month.

By Milan Manesh

MALIBU—On July 4, Gene Simmons, co-founder of the 70s rock band Kiss, gave a patriotic message during his concert in Milwaukee, WI. The Gene Simmons Band is a solo band that features a group of rotating, skilled musicians. Simmons took a moment to speak to fellow immigrants. In his profanity-laced style of speaking, Simmons called the United States, “The greatest effing country on the planet. I myself am an immigrant, but a legal one. You wait in line, you respect the country, you respect the laws, and you become a citizen of the United States of America…And if you don’t like America, please go back to where you effing came from. Politicians talk the talk, but veterans put their lives out there. All gave some, some gave all. Don’t forget.” Over 2,000 miles away in Lookout Mountain, Tennessee, Jack Peterson, a train conductor at a historical attraction, lost his job after giving a similar message to passengers he welcomed them to the railway. Footage of the conductor’s message was recorded and made into a TikTok video with 530K views by the time he was fired. “To the very, very few Americans in here, Happy Independence Day. To the rest of you, welcome to the greatest country on the face of the planet, and if you disagree, you can leave,” Peterson stated. Passengers took offense to the conductor’s message and told him to “shut up.” Others posted comments on social media, accusing Peterson of racism and xenophobia. Incline Railroad fired Peterson. A GoFundMe for Peterson after he lost his job. Simmons is an immigrant from Israel. His mother was originally from Hungary. She survived concentration camps during the Holocaust and came to the United States with a young, Gene.  Simmons speaks about how his mother persevered when they immigrated to the U.S. legally as depicted on his website. He and his wife, Sharon Tweed, now live in Malibu. By Sharon

GRIFFITH PARK—Los Angeles Dodgers rookie catcher Eliezer Alfonzo who lost two family members following twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24, made his debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday, July 5.

The stronger of the two earthquakes measured with a magnitude of 7.5, following a 7.2 magnitude earthquake just 39 seconds earlier, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. As of July 5, Venezuelan officials reported nearly 3,000 people dead, more than 12,000 injured, and over 41,000 people still missing. The numbers continue to rise as rescue efforts continue.

Alfonzo’s stepmother, Patricia, and his 16-year-old sister, Eliana, were reported missing. They were found dead on Sunday, July 5, in the rubble of a collapsed hotel in La Guaira, Venezuela.

Alfonzo was called up from the minor leagues on Saturday, July 4, to serve as a backup catcher for the Dodgers. He learned of his family members’ deaths on Sunday, just hours before the game, and made his major league debut that same night.

Dodgers’ infielder Miguel Rojas, a friend of Alfonzo’s father and a fellow Venezuelan, wrote “Alfonzo” along with a cross and “Fuerza Matatán” on his cap to show his support. Alfonzo wrote “E y P, RIP” near the brim of his own cap in honor of his stepmother and sister.

Despite the Dodgers losing 5-2 to the San Diego Padres, Alfonzo made his debut just hours after receiving the news.

By Milan Manesh

BEVERLY HILLS—On July 7, legendary Beatle’s drummer, Ringo Starr celebrated his 86th birthday at the Beverly Gardens Park. He was joined by his wife, former Bond girl, Barbara Bach, her sister, Marjorie Bach, brother-in-law, Joe Walsh, Grammy-winning guitarist T-Bone Burnett, drummer, Jim Keltner, and actor Ed Bagley Junior. A musical performance by Molly Tuttle and her band was enjoyed by all those present, including hundreds of fans. “Born Richard Starkey on July 7, 1940 “at a very young age” he knew from very early on what he wanted to do. ‘When I was 13, I only wanted to be a drummer,’ remembers Ringo,” states Ringo Starr’s website. He played in various bands in the beginning before in August 1962, Ringo officially joined Paul McCartney, John Lennon, and George Harrison as a Beatle. Starr’s Peace and Love Tour began in 2011, when Ringo held a “Peace and Love birthday event outside the Hard Rock Café in Hamburg, Germany. It has been a tradition ever since July 7, 2012. Earlier they all convened for a moment of “Peace & Love” in front of the Hard Rock Café Nashville. In June 2013, the Grammy Museum opened with the first major exhibit, “Ringo: Peace and Love,” in Los Angeles’ live entertainment district, located at 800 W. Olympic Boulevard. This event attracted 120,000 visitors. On July 7, 2014, and July 7, 2015, Ringo celebrated his birthday with his traditional Peace & Love event at Capitol Records in LA. In 2016, and 2017, and 2019, Ringo was in Los Angeles. He celebrated his 76th birthday by hosting his annual “Peace & Love” event at Capital Records Tower in Hollywood. He celebrated his 78th birthday in Nice, France in July 2018, with his family and the All-Starr Band. Starr hosted a virtual charity broadcast in 2020, entitled, “Ringo’s Big Birthday Show.” The online concert was available on his official You Tube Channel. In 2021, on his 81st birthday, Ringo celebrated from his Beverly Hills home on what his website refers to as a photo call. In 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026, Ringo Starr’s Peace and Love celebrations were held at Beverly Hills Gardens. Starr is the 2013 recipient of the French Medal of Honor and was appointed Commander of Arts and Letters in recognition for his musical and artistic contributions. In April 2015, He was inducted by Paul McCartney into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, for the second time as a solo artist for Musical Excellence. The First time was as a Beatle. In October 2015, Ringo and the All Starrs went on tour performing 21 shows in 31 days. He earned 9 Grammys, released 18 solo studio records between 1970-2015, acted in 15 films, and earned an Academy Award. He was nominated for an Emmy and has published three books. Ringo resides in the Trousdale Estates in Beverly Hills. By Sharon

MALIBU—The city of Malibu is currently looking to hire a Public Safety Director. The salary for the position ranges from $199,767 – $260,651 annually plus benefits.

This executive leadership position oversees emergency management, wildfire preparedness, homelessness initiatives, contracted law enforcement, code enforcement, parking enforcement, and other critical public safety programs while working closely with the City Manager, City Council, and regional partners.

Candidates who have experience as a public safety leader and passion for emergency preparedness, collaboration, and serving the community are asked to apply.

The ideal candidate will possess a bachelor’s degree in public administration, Criminal Justice, Emergency Management, Public Safety, or a closely related field, along with substantial progressively responsible experience in public safety, emergency management, enforcement operations, fire services, or related disciplines. Candidates should have a minimum of eight years of professional experience, including at least three years in a leadership or management capacity overseeing programs, staff, budgets, and complex operations.

The deadline for application submissions is Friday, July 31. In-person interviews will take place on Wednesday, August 19. To apply visit: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/malibucity.

By Danny Jones