MALIBU—The city of Malibu posted on its Facebook page on January 29 that preliminary results are showing a decline in homelessness in the region.

Preliminary results from the 2026 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count show 44 people experiencing homelessness in Malibu (33 individuals and 11 vehicles), continuing a multi-year decline. The LAHSA-coordinated count was conducted January 22 by city staff, the Homeless Outreach Team, LAHSA, and volunteers. Since 2017, Malibu’s outreach and coordinated encampment response efforts have led to significant housing placements and declining counts.

Homeless Count by Year

2016: 161
2017: 178
2018: 155
2019: 154
2020: 239
2021: 157
2022: 81
2023: 71
2024: 69
2025: 46
2026: 44

Housing placements:

2021: 22
2022: 67
2023: 51
2024: 72
2025: 46

The city of Malibu cleared 44 encampments in both 2024 and 2025, providing advance notice, outreach services, and environmental cleanup. To learn more visit: www.malibucity.org/Homelessness.

 

By Danny Jones

SANTA MONICA—The city of Santa Monica posted on its Facebook page on Sunday, February 1 that it has expanded its Electric Fleet.

The city has added two electric rear loader trash trucks and its first fully electric street sweeper, marking another milestone in the transition to a cleaner, more efficient fleet. Electric vehicles now make up 26 percent of the city’s fleet.

These new additions operate with fully electric systems that eliminate emissions and reduce maintenance needs, supporting long term efficiency and cost savings.

 

By Danny Jones

BRENTWOOD—Actress Catherine O’Hara, known for her roles in the “Home Alone” films alongside Macaulay Culkin and for her role as Moira Rose from “Schitt’s Creek” died on Friday, January 30. O’Hara was 71. An official cause of death for the actress has not been disclosed to the public. According to reports, the actress died at her home in Brentwood “following a brief illness.”

O’Hara, born in Toronto, Canada in 1954 got her career started in 1974 as a member of ‘The Second City’ in her hometown before serving as an understudy for Gilda Radner until she left the NBC sketch-comedy series “Saturday Night Live.”

The actress had a break-out role in Tim Burton’s horror-comedy “Beetlejuice” in 1988 alongside actress Winona Ryder. O’Hara portrayed, Delia Deetz in the hit film. Many fans know O’Hara from her role as Kata McCallister in the comedy film “Home Alone” and the sequel “Home Alone 2: Lost in New Yor,” where she portrayed the mother of protagonist Kevin McCallister.

Other notable movie roles for the actress included “Best in Show,” “For Your Consideration,” “Wyatt Earp,” “A Mighty Wind,” “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” and recently performed voice work for the animated films “Elemental” and “The Wild Robot.”

She became a breakout in the TV arena for her work as Moira Rose in the CBC comedy “Schitt’s Creek.” She starred on the series alongside Eugene Levy and his son Dan Levy. She won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for her work on the series. O’Hara married production designer Bo Welch in 1992, and they share two sons together. The actress recently appeared on the HBO comedy series “The Studio” alongside Seth Rogen.

O’Hara’s “Home Alone” co-star Macaulay Culkin posted on Instagram:

“Mama. I thought we had time. I wanted more. I wanted to sit in a chair next to you. I heard you but I had so much more to say. I love you. I’ll see you later.”

Director Tim Burton posted on Instagram:

“Catherine, I love you. This picture shows how much light you gave to all of us. You were a special part of my life and after life.”

 

By Danny Jones

HOLLYWOOD HILLS—On Friday, January 30, the Los Angeles Fire Department battled a structure fire located on 3704 N. Barham Blvd. The fire was reported at 4:07 p.m. at a large, three-story, center hall condo complex with heavy smoke showing from one unit on the 2nd floor.

By 4:30 p.m. firefighters extinguished it in 23 minutes with no injuries reported. The primary search of the fire unit is clear with no occupants located.

Firefighters conducted ventilation operation to clear out the smoke in the hallway and the unit above. The additionally requested resources are being released. No further details about the incident has been disclosed to the public.

 

By Danny Jones

SANTA MONICA—On January 29, WAYMO issued a press release about an incident where an autonomous vehicle stuck a child on January 23 at approximately 7:40 a.m. during parent drop off near Grant Elementary School which is located at 2368 Pearl St. According to the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), WAYMO voluntarily contacted the family of the child and is in full cooperation with authorities investigating the incident. WAYMO reported that the pedestrian came out from behind a large SUV and stepped out into the roadway directly into the path of the autonomous vehicle. The vehicle was traveling at a speed of approximately 17 MPH when it braked, reducing its speed down to 6 MPH when the child was hit. Following the accident, the child stood up immediately and walked to the sidewalk. WAYMO called 911. The vehicle stayed at the scene until police arrived and cleared it to leave. On its website, WAYMO claims that another vehicle with a human driver would not have been able to reduce its speed down to that low of a speed, and would have hit the person at 14 MPH. The Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) indicated the investigation will most likely result in an upgrade to autonomous vehicle’s ability to detect both school zones and hours of reduced speed zones. The child was not injured and was not on the sidewalk with the on-duty school crossing guard; the parent was nearby.   By Sharon

BEVERLY HILLS—On January 29, former CNN News Anchor, and host of the YouTube series, The Don Lemon Show was covering the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles when he was arrested and taken into custody by federal agents. He spent the night in jail pending his first court appearance on January 30. Reports indicate that on January 18, Lemon followed three Anti-ICE protesters into Cities Church in St. Paul, MN interrupting a two-hour church service. The protesters were targeting pastor, David Easterwood, over his work outside of the Church for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Three protesters: Nekima Levy Armstrong of Minneapolis, MN, Chauntyll Allen, of Minneapolis, MN, and former Army and Iraqi war veteran, William Kelly, aka, “DaWokeFarmer” on Tik Tok were arrested that day and booked into Sherburne County Jail. “I surrendered myself peacefully, deliberately, and with intention. I demanded dignity, humanity, and respect, not just for myself, but for every person who has ever been brutalized, silenced, or disappeared by unchecked government power. We stood in protest because families are being torn apart, communities terrorized, and constitutional rights trampled. And we will not be intimidated into silence,” said Levy Armstrong Lemon indicated that he was there “As an independent journalist, not as a protester.” Multiple reports indicate that there were members of the congregation that were not permitted to go get their children, and there were children who were scared and wanted their parents and were unable to get to them. Don did not intervene on behalf of those who were there to worship, as his crew filmed the protesters. On January 20, Monique Mullers, co-founder of Black Lives Matter (BLM) and other Twin Cities community activists gathered that the Hennepin County Government Center to demand that Pastor Easterwood step down as Pastor of Cities Church due to his full-time employment with ICE. Cities Church Pastor Jonathan Parnell gave thanks for the help of federal agents on his X social media page. “We are grateful that the Department of Justice acted swiftly to protect Cities Church so we can continue to faithfully live out the church’s mission to worship Jesus and make him known.” An additional statement was made by North Legal attorneys Renee Carlson and Doug Wardlaw. “The freedom to worship God without fear of violence and intimidation is a fundamental right that defines who we are as Americans. True North Legal and Cities Church are grateful that the Department of Justice is committed to upholding that freedom and is holding the agitators who invaded the church, accountable.” On January 23, a Minneapolis Federal Judge freed the three protestors due to indicating that the arresting officers didn’t meet Minnesota’s burden of proof needed to warrant detention.   By Sharon

STUDIO CITY—On Tuesday, January 27, at approximately 4:30 a.m. Los Angeles Police Department responded to a call of shots fired in the 11600 block of Laurel Crest Drive. The responding officers reported that the homeowners were woken up by the sound of intruders. One of the homeowners opened fire hitting one of the two intruders in the upper torso. The suspects fled the scene. The home was reportedly located on the top of a hill. Two male suspects in gray hooded sweatshirts were seen speeding away from the residence in a black Chevy Traverse SUV. Police reports indicate that a person identified only as a 16-year-old boy with gunshot wounds was dropped off at an area hospital. Reports indicate that the patient drives a black Chevy Traverse SUV. The patient was listed in stable condition. There were no other reported injuries. Neighbors across the street were woken up by the noise of the vehicle and were able to verify the make and model of the car to police. Anyone living on or in the vicinity of Laurel Crest Drive, Laurel Canyon Drive, and Ventura that may have information or video footage of the vehicle is asked to call LAPD North Hollywood Police Station at (818) 754-8300.   By Sharon

BEVERLY HILLS—On January 28, at approximately 5:45 p.m., the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) South Bureau responded to a call of a fire in the alley at 1075 S. Fairfax Avenue in Mid-Wilshire. According to the LAFD, firefighters arrived at the scene discovered that the fire spread to the next commercial building, which was a 7-Eleven convenience store. LAFD Arson and the Department of Transportation (DOT) were at the scene. Multiple LAFD units responded to assist. The fire was extinguished within 14 minutes. One patient was found in the alley and was pronounced dead at the scene. The name of the deceased and the cause of the fire have not been released. There were no reported injuries.   By Sharon

SHERMAN OAKS—On January 27, the Los Angeles Police Department Valley Traffic Detectives (VTD) announced that they are investigating a hit-and-run traffic collision that killed an elderly man in his 80s and his dog while out for a walk.

The LAPD reported that at around 11:35 p.m., a 2009 Gray Maserati Quattroporte was traveling northbound on Woodman Avenue passing Moorpark Street when it struck an elderly male pedestrian who was crossing Woodman Avenue with a dog. The hit-and-run vehicle continued northbound Woodman Avenue without stopping, identifying themselves, or rendering aid as required by law. The vehicle was abandoned near the area of the collision and is in police custody.

Paramedics with the Los Angeles Fire Department responded to the scene and transported the male pedestrian in grave condition to a local hospital and he later died as a result of the injuries sustained. His name is being withheld until a notification has been made to his next of kin.

VTD Detectives are asking the public to come forward with information regarding this fatal hit-and-run. If you were driving on Woodman Avenue and Moorpark Street on Tuesday night around 11:35 p.m., and/or witnessed the collision contact VTD Detectives with any information.

Motorists are reminded that if they become involved in a collision, they should pull over and stop as soon as it is safe to do so, notify emergency services, and remain at the scene to identify themselves.

On April 15, 2015, the City Council amended the Los Angeles Administrative Code and created a Hit-and-Run Reward Program Trust Fund. A reward of up to $50,000 is available to community members that provide information leading to the offender’s identification, apprehension, and conviction or resolution through a civil compromise.

Anyone with details about this collision is asked to contact Valley Traffic Division, Officer Takishita at (818) 644-8116 or Officer Reyes at (818) 644-8114. During non-business hours or weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (1-877-527-3247).

Those wanting to remain anonymous may contact LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (1-800-222-8477) or visit www.lacrimestoppers.org. Anonymous tips can also be submitted through www.lapdonline.org by clicking “Anonymous Web Tips” under the “Get Involved – Crime Stoppers” menu.

 

By Danny Jones

MELROSE—On Sunday, January 18 at approximately 3 p.m. the Los Angeles Fire Department West Bureau responded to a call of a structure fire at a one-story single-family home located at 1323 N. Kenmore Avenue in East Hollywood, not far from Melrose. In over 20 minutes, first responders declared a knockdown structure fire. Initial reports indicated one person was trapped. A search for additional victims was initiated. Multiple units responded to the call. The LAFD Public Information Officer, LAFD Arson, and the LA County Medical Examiner’s Office were called in. A 53-year-old male, and his pet were pronounced dead at the scene. Traffic was delayed for hours. Motorists were encouraged to take alternate routes. No further information is available, at this time. The name of the victim has not been disclosed.   By Sharon