BEVERLY HILLS—The city of Beverly Hills is hosting a Wildlife Workshop on Thursday, August 13. Any residents who have questions about coyotes being spotted in their neighborhood can join the interactive workshop.

The event will take place from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. The online Zoom link will be provided after registration. Specialists will share information on how residents can keep their pets safe.

Join Rebecca Dmytryk, President & CEO of Humane Wildlife Control Inc. and a nationally recognized expert on coyote behavior and intervention, alongside Sam Ramirez, CEO of Humane Pest Control Inc., who specializes in wildlife exclusion, prevention, and poison-free rodent control.

The workshop is designed to be interactive and practical. Residents should come with questions about their property, their neighborhood, recent coyote encounters, or any other coyote-related concerns they have.

The city of Beverly Hills notes on their website that coyotes are a natural part of the urban ecosystem. Contrary to popular belief, they are not limited to hillsides or “wild’ areas. It is normal to see coyotes in their neighborhood, but there are steps to take to reduce the likelihood of a coyote interaction and to appropriately react when you see a coyote. For more details visit: https://www.beverlyhills.org/1459/Coyote-Resources.

By Danny Jones

WEST HOLLYWOOD—On Tuesday, August 11, the city of West Hollywood announced its co-sponsorship of the fourth-annual Los Angeles Kids Book Festival, which will take place in West Hollywood Park, located at 647 N. San Vicente Boulevard, on Sunday, August 23, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The free event aims to celebrate children’s literature, foster a love for reading, and provide a platform for both young readers and rising authors to engage with the magical world of books and meet authors and illustrators.

The city co-sponsored and hosted the Los Angeles Kids Book Festival since 2023. The keystone event from the nonprofit ABC Foundation (American Born Chinese Foundation) offers families and young readers an immersive experience that celebrates storytelling and reading.

The event will feature a wide range of activities catering to children of all ages, including special appearances, performances, guest book readings by renowned authors, engaging arts activities, and an epic foam party. Local authors and illustrators will be present to share insights, inspirations, and stories. For schedule details, visit: lakidsbookfestival.com/2026-schedule.

Parking at the city’s five-story parking structure, located at 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard, is expected to be impacted, as a result of the event. Attendees are asked to carpool, use public transportation by planning their trip with the Metro Trip Planner, or consider rideshare services. Paid public parking is also available at the Pacific Design Center, located at 8687 Melrose Avenue.

For announcements about the Los Angeles Kids Book Festival by visiting www.lakidsbookfestival.com. For media inquiries, or additional information contact the Los Angeles Kids Book Festival at info@lakidsbookfestival.com.

By Danny Jones

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

BEVERLY HILLS—On August 7, residents near Baldwin Hills, Beverly Hills, and West Hollywood lost internet service after vandals reportedly cut over 1,400 fiber-optic lines affecting thousands of internet users in the area. Reports indicate that the cause was a criminal act of vandalism, and that the internet lines were deliberately and intentionally severed. According to reports, thousands of Spectrum customers lost service in what has been referred to by Spectrum as a “criminal attack.” Photographs captured in the Baldwin Hills neighborhood depict cables that were ripped out of the ground and sliced in half. This cyber attack occurred one day prior to an instance that occurred on Verizon’s network, that similarly caused mass interruptions of Verizon’s cell phone and internet customers. Spectrum sent out work crews to splice the damaged lines and are offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to an arrest of the guilty parties responsible for these acts. Reports indicate that Verizon has approximately eight million Verizon customers. Additionally, there are five million Spectrum customers in California as well. By Sharon

SANTA MONICA—On August 9, at approximately 3 a.m., the Santa Monica Fire Department and officers with the Santa Monica Police Department responded to a call of a structure fire at 533 Lincoln Boulevard.  When responders arrived at the scene, the home was fully engulfed in flames.

“Crews did pull both victims out, almost simultaneously. We were able to provide Advanced Life Safety (ALS) support. Unfortunately, we were unsuccessful in reviving the patients. We have investigators on scene right now, along with our Santa Monica Police Department, that are coming out to investigate the fire a little bit further,” said SMFD Battalion Chief James Altman in a statement.

The couple was identified as Anthony “Tony” who was 92, and his wife, Helen of 70 years, who was also 92, were pronounced dead at the scene. A caregiver stayed with the couple who lived at the home for decades.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

By Sharon

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