BRENTWOOD—Night commuters can expect road closures on the I-405, specifically on the Sepulveda Pass, for an ongoing pavement rehabilitation project conducted by the California Department of Transportation. There will be a round of major delays this week as the new pavement project continues, designated to bring fresh new lanes, ramps, and connector closures to the 405. 

The K-rail barrier walls along the corridor will begin installation by Caltrans crews on Monday, July 13. This installation is considered the latest phase of the extensive paving that has been underway since last year. 

The speed limit will be lowered to 55 mph to accommodate heavy machinery. Operations for this project are scheduled for 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. this week from July 13 until Friday, July 17. Motorists can expect closures both north and southbound on the 405. 

Up to two lane closures going northbound on I-405 include Sepulveda Boulevard to Victory Boulevard, Wilshire Boulevard to Skirball Center Drive/Mulholland Drive, and Skirball Center Drive/Mulholland Drive to Sepulveda Boulevard. 

Northbound ramp closures include the Getty Center Drive off-ramp, Sepulveda Boulevard on-ramp, and Burbank Boulevard.

Two lane closures going southbound on I-405 include Victory Boulevard to U.S. 101 and Skirball Center Drive/Mulholland Drive to Wilshire Boulevard.

Southbound U.S. 101 to Skirball Center Drive/Mulholland Drive is expected to have a three-lane closure. 

Both the northbound U.S. 101 connector to southbound I-405 and the southbound U.S. 101 connector to southbound I-405 will be closed.

Commuters are encouraged to take alternative routes such as U.S. 101 or local canyon passes to avoid unexpected delays during the construction time window.

By Ryley Metten

SANTA MONICA—The Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows, a staple luxury resort located on 101 Wilshire Blvd in Santa Monica, is returning to the big screen under a different name. “Paris Paramount,” a Warner Brothers romantic comedy directed by Nancy Meyers, is currently being filmed, and moviegoers can expect to see the familiar hotel featured in the film, but under the name “L’AZURINE.”

The Fairmont Miramar is serving as one of the main filming locations for the movie and will play as the fictional setting for “Paris Paramount,” rather than playing the currently standing real hotel; it will be a fictional Parisian Hotel called “L’AZURINE.”  The Fairmont Miramar was featured in the 1946 noir film, “The Blue Dahlia.” 

The hotel was featured in other films including “Let’s Make It Legal” (1951), “That Touch of Mink” (1962), “Hold On!” (1966), and the 2007 legal thriller “Fracture.” Throughout this time, The Fairmont Miramar preserved its real identity while being used as a backdrop.

The filming arrangement takes place at the hotel, which costs the city nothing. Film Santa Monica, a division of Santa Monica Travel and Tourism, charges applicants processing fees for services related to filming on public property. These services can include marketing, permit coordination, notification, monitoring, and complaint-referral services. This system is designated as the city’s new-in-house permitting system, which allows productions such as “Paris Paramount” to continue filming in Santa Monica. 

Look out for The Fairmont Miramar’s appearance in “Paris Paramount” in December 2027.

By Ryley Metten

BEVERLY HILLS—On Friday, July 10, Beverly Hills Fire Department Chief Greg Barton announced his retirement. Barton served the Beverly Hills Fire Department for 31 years and was Fire Chief for the last 9 years. 

Chief Barton earned multiple awards throughout his years of service, including Firefighter of the Year recognition from the Kiwanis Club, the BHFD Felix Rothschild Award, and recognition from the Beverly Hills Masonic Lodge.

“On behalf of myself and my family, I would like to express my eternal gratitude to the members of the Beverly Hills community and my colleagues across the organization for their decades of support and friendship. I have contemplated retirement for several years, but this decision is not easy. I will treasure the memories always and wish Ryan and his leadership team continued success. Beverly Hills is in good hands,” Barton announced regarding his retirement to the city of Beverly Hills.

In 2021, Chief Barton was honored with the city’s highest recognition for outstanding service to the community, leading him to earn the Fred C. Cunningham Award for Distinguished Service from the Beverly Hills City Council. 

 “Over the last three decades, he has become an integral part of the community, earning the respect and admiration of residents, business leaders, and City staff.  His tremendous work ethic and commitment to public health will be deeply missed.  I am grateful that Greg will continue to serve as Chief through the upcoming recruitment process in order to ensure a smooth transition,” stated Beverly Hills City Manager Ryan Gohlich.

Aside from his work in the fire department, Barton also serves on the boards of multiple charitable organizations and was the past president of the Beverly Hills Rotary Club.

By Ryley Metten

SANTA MONICA—On July 10, the Santa Monica Police Department announced that on June 22, the department used the SMART Center to locate a vehicle wanted in connection with a felony robbery in Whittier and identified the driver as George Jeremiah Romero. K9-Norton and his handler discovered the vehicle near Main Street and Pico Boulevard.

They followed the vehicle until it stopped near Main Street and Ocean Park Boulevard. Other officers arrived because it was believed that Romero was armed.  A traffic stop was conducted, which led to the discovery of a firearm magazine inside the vehicle.

Romero was taken into police custody, and the vehicle was turned over to the Whittier Police Department, which is conducting the ongoing investigation into the robbery.

The SMPD thanked K9-Norton and officers who conducted the stop for their efforts and for the help from the Whittier Police Department.

Canyon News reached out to the SMPD for comment but did not hear back before publication.

By Daniel Diquinzio

SANTA MONICA—Around 9:41 p.m. on July 9, officers from the Santa Monica Police Department responded to reports of a body on the I-10 Freeway beneath the Lincoln Boulevard overpass. The victim was struck by a vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene.

According to reports, the deceased man jumped off the overpass. At 9:56 p.m., the Southern Division of the California Highway Patrol issued a signal alert stating that all lanes on I-10 were closed east of Lincoln Boulevard due to police activity. It issued another alert around 1:50 a.m. on Friday, June 10, reporting that traffic reopened.

The investigation into the death, which is being treated as a suicide, is being conducted by the SMPD, and the CHP is investigating the traffic collision. The name of the victim has not been disclosed to the public.

Canyon News reached out to the SMPD, for comment but did not hear back before publication.

By Daniel Diquinzio

WOODLAND HILLS/TOPANGA CANYON—A male pedestrian was struck by a Mini Cooper while walking through a crosswalk in Woodland Hills on Thursday, July 9. The crash occurred around 12:30 a.m. near Oxnard Street and Topanga Canyon Boulevard.

The pedestrian was reportedly propelled through the windshield and was taken to a hospital for treatment.

The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed later that day that the pedestrian was in critical condition. Authorities indicated his injuries may be fatal due to the severity of the crash.

The driver of the Mini Cooper remained at the scene and did not flee. No arrests have been made, and the cause of the crash remains unclear.

By Milan Manesh

GRIFFITH PARK—This July, silent disco hits Griffith Park, as Kristen Smith, the dance captain and organizer of Dance Quest, a silent disco hiking event held at the Old Los Angeles Zoo, takes hikers on a 1.5-mile loop around the park with a curated and private playlist.

According to the Dance Quest Instagram, Smith began the silent disco hike to bring the community together through music, dancing, and light exercise, all while exploring the Griffith Park trails. All ages are welcome, but Dance Quest recommends the participation by hikers over the age of 6.

On the Eventbrite website, the disco is listed as an easy-to-medium-level hike that includes fun nature facts and a curated playlist spanning decades for hikers to dance to, listen to, or both as they are guided by Smith.

Also included in Eventbrite are the Dance Quest dates, times, themed hikes, and ticket purchasing. With July bringing a variety of silent disco opportunities, such as Saturday, July 18, at 9 a.m., Tuesday, July 21, at 7 p.m., and Tuesday, July 28, at 7 p.m. the Halloween in July themed hike takes place.

Meet Dance Quest at Spring Canyon, 5400 Griffith Park Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90027. Eventbrite asks to input the location into Google Maps rather than Apple Maps, as Apple Maps will take hikes to the wrong location.

For more information, visit dancequest_silentdisco on Instagram

By Megan Hanson

WESTWOOD—A man and a woman were found shot to death in Westwood on Friday, July 10 in what police are investigating as a possible murder suicide. Officers from the Los Angeles Police Department responded to a call they received around 5:40 a.m. to a multi-story home in the 1300 block of Holmby Avenue, just west of South Beverly Glen Boulevard.

The deceased have not been identified. Officers found the man and woman’s bodies inside the home, suffering from what police described as possible gunshot wounds. It is not known who placed the call.

No motive has been established, and the relationship between the man and the woman has not been confirmed by authorities.

By Milan Manesh

WESTWOOD—On July 9, the Westside Los Angeles Ronald McDonald House located at 927 Hilgard Avenue announced that they have become the recipients of a generous donation of $1 million from the Mendez Family Foundation to help complete construction at the Westwood Ronald McDonald House. On February 18, 2025, the Ronald McDonald House announced that they officially completed the first phase of the Westside Los Angeles Ronald McDonald House and opened to the public. The completion of phase one included the transformation and conversion of a former boutique hotel to a facility to house up to 11 families near the UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital. According to the Ronald McDonald House charity webpage, upon completion, the facility will be a multi-storied home away from home with 33 rooms that will be free long-term housing for families who have a family member receiving critical care at Westside hospitals. The Amenities include a hot daily meal, laundry facilities, lounges, and family play places. This is the realization of a 30-year dream of dedicated donors and staff that the Ronald McDonald House non-profit had dubbed the “McFamily.” It wasn’t long ago that this same group announced that they had land. “With the recent acquisition of a wonderful property, this dream will become a reality.” In February 2025, another announcement caused even more excitement. “This newly opened area features 11 guest room and a variety of shared family spaces, including a fully equipped kitchen, a bright and welcoming dining room, a spacious business and volunteer hub, a cozy family room…” The following came directly in-part from the website which is updated with each new accomplishment, only made possible through the works and support of others. “The House will be open 24 hours/day, 365 days/year, and provide a home-like setting for the entire family when a child is sick, so they can stay together and focus on what matters most. Our Westside House will now provide vital support to families with children being treated at UCLA Children’s Hospital, St. John’s Children’s Hospital, and Cedars-Sinai Guerin Children’s Hospital. The Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern California purchased the Hilgard House Hotel in the heart of Westwood Village with the vision of transforming it into a 33-room Ronald McDonald House, the 7th in Southern California. While we continue to raise funds to begin full construction and renovations, the urgent need for local, no-cost housing for families of patients at UCLA Children’s Hospital drove us to act quickly. As the only children’s hospital in California without a nearby Ronald McDonald House, they were in desperate need of such support. The Ronald McDonald House is a non-profit organization that provides a temporary “home away from home” for families with critically ill or injured children. It allows families to stay close to the hospital where their child is receiving treatment, easing financial burdens and reducing stress.” By Sharon

BEL AIR—On July 9 at 10:15 a.m., the Los Angeles Fire Department responded to a structure fire within the attic of a two-story family home at 15510 W Azzure Ct. in Bel-Air.

According to the LAFD #0630 report, around 30 firefighters responded to a 911 call on Thursday morning, for smoke and fire showing from the attic of a family home. LAFD operated in offensive mode, and the fire was extinguished 49 minutes from when the 911 call was first placed.

No injuries have been reported, and the cause of the fire is under investigation.

The Azzure fire marks the second structure fire that has transpired in the Bel-Air community this month. On July 1, the Roscomare Road fire broke out at a family’s residence. As the California summer brings higher temperatures, the LAFD emphasizes fire prevention and preparedness for residents and businesses.

By Megan Hanson