SANTA MONICA—A Silver Alert was issued by the Santa Monica Police Department for a missing elderly woman. Authorities are asking for the public’s help to locate Ana Lopez, who is 83.

She was last seen at the corner of Pico Blvd and 7th Court. She was last seen around 11 a.m. on Monday, December 29.

Ana Lopez is 5 feet and 3 inches tall, she has black/grey hair and weighs 105 pounds. She has brown eyes and is believed to be moving on foot.

The Santa Monica Police Department is asking anyone who sees Ana Lopez to call 9-1-1.

By Daniel Diquinzio

SANTA MONICA—On Tuesday, December 30, the National Weather Service office in Los Angeles and Oxnard issued a flood watch alert at 11:26 a.m. for parts of Southwest California. It is in effect from 10 p.m. on Wednesday until 10 p.m. on Thursday.

The reason for the warning is the excessive rainfall from the recent storm, which may cause flooding in streams, rivers, and creeks, as well as in urban areas and low-lying areas with poor drainage.  In addition, the rain may cause rock and mudslides. The low-water crossing might flood, and debris might flow near burn scars left by the wildfires.

The cities impacted by the flood watch include Topatopa Mountains, Refugio State Beach, Mount Wilson, Wrightwood, Hollywood, Big Pine Mountain, Culver City, San Gabriel, East Ventura, Gorman, Pomona, Moorpark, Figueroa Mountain, Santa Barbara, Mill Creek, Simi Valley, Ozena, Norwalk, Newbury Park, Torrance, Beverly Hills, Piru, Oxnard, The Angeles Crest Highway, Malibu Lake, Long Beach, Goleta, Oat Mountain, Downey, La Canada Flintridge, Pasadena, El Capitan State Beach, Woodland Hills, Northridge, Fillmore, Camarillo, Sunland, Lake Castaic, Oak View, Westlake Village, Rancho Palos Verdes, Malibu Bowl, Llano, Warm Springs, San Rafael Mountain, Lake Palmdale, Acton, Pacific Palisades, Valencia, Mount Baldy, Newhall, Montecito, Ojai, Meiners Oaks, Thousand Oaks, El Monte, Port Hueneme, LAX, Compton, Gaviota, Pyramid Lake, Universal City, Pearblossom, Santa Clarita, Chatsworth, Valyermo, Burbank, Malibu, Matilija, Montecito Hills, Jalama Beach, Glendale, Van Nuys, Tejon Pass, Topanga, Elizabeth Lake, Santa Paula, Rose Valley, East Los Angeles, San Marcos Pass, Redondo Beach, Santa Monica, Point Mugu, Carpinteria, Ventura, Lockwood Valley, and Mount Pinos.

The National Weather Service advises residents to monitor future forecasts and to be alert for possible flood warnings.

By Daniel Diquinzio

WOODLAND HILLS—On Tuesday, December 30, the Los Angeles Fire Department reported that 1:24 p.m. they battled a single-family dwelling fire in Woodland Hills. The fire was reported at 4996 N. Llano Drive.

The fire involved a one-story property with moderate smoke showing from the attic upon arrival of firefighters. Firefighters proceeded in the offensive mode, coordinating interior fire attack and roof ventilation to achieve knockdown of flames in 24 minutes by first-arriving companies.

There were no other structures exposed, or any injuries reported by officials. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

By Danny Jones

SANTA MONICA—On Monday, December 29 and Tuesday, December 30, Southern California will be impacted by moderate to strong Santa Ana winds. Once those subside, rain is expected to return to the area on Wednesday, December 31.

The weather conditions pose no fire danger, but parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties, can see winds reach 35-55 mph.  The potential for winds to knock down power lines and cause power outages is possible.

The National Weather Service issued a high wind warning until 3 p.m. for the Interstate 5 Corridor.  The area includes the Western San Gabriel Mountains and Santa Susana Mountains.  A high wind warning has been issued for the Highway 14 Corridor and the Western Santa Monica Mountains Recreational Area. All winds are expected to subside on Tuesday, December 30.

By Daniel Diquinzio

WEST HOLLYWOOD—On Monday, December 29, a power outage affected power to West Hollywood’s City Hall, forcing the facility to shut down and close to the public. Crews worked to restore power to the facility.

Backup generators are now operating, but full power has not been restored to the building, and it remains closed to the public.

City services will continue to operate, with staff working either at other city facilities or remotely.  In addition, signs have been posted at West Hollywood City Hall to inform visitors that City Hall remains closed.

West Hollywood City Hall will release updates regarding the status of power being restored to the building to the public.

By Daniel Diquinzio

MELROSE—On December 29, at approximately 9:30 p.m., the Los Angeles Fire Department West Bureau responded to a call of a structure fire at Larchmont Apartments located at 5234 Melrose Avenue.

First responders arriving at the scene discovered the fire at the two-story garden-style apartments and extended into the attic. The fire required more units to assist in extinguishing the fire. According to the LAFD, the fire may have started in a second-floor apartment toward the rear of the building.

At 9:51 p.m., the fire was extinguished by 46 firefighters. Firefighters remained on the scene to determine the extent of the damage. There were no reported injuries. The cause of the fire has not been determined. Motorists were encouraged to use alternate routes.

The location was one of the first offices of Canyon News from 2003 until 2004. Canyon News is now located in Beverly Hills.

By Sharon

MALIBU—On Monday, December 29, the city of Malibu indicated that the ground is saturated after the heavy rains, and NWS forecasts a high risk of downed trees through Monday due to moderate to locally strong Santa Ana Winds. Additional rockslides/mudslides are possible later this week with the next round of rain, expected Wednesday, December 31, 2025, through Sunday, January 4, 2026. See NWS weather info: https://www.weather.gov/lox/

City Public Works will patrol roads, clear drainage, and pre-place heavy equipment and K-rails, and place backup generators to keep traffic signals operating, if needed.

Residents should be prepared for mudslides, debris flows, rocks, and water on roads, especially in canyons and recent burn areas. Rain rates as low as 0.50 inches per hour can trigger debris flows. Be prepared for power and traffic signal outages. Under California law, come to a complete stop at any malfunctioning traffic signal. Watch for crews and work vehicles and check on vulnerable neighbors.

SANDBAGS
• All LA County Fire Stations have sandbags (some have sand)
• Camp 13, 1252 Encinal Cyn Rd – sand & bags
• Fire Station 70, 3970 Carbon Cyn Rd – sand & bags
• Zuma Beach Main Entrance, 3000 Pacific Coast Highway – sand & bags
• Malibu Library, 23519 Civic Center Way – filled sandbags through Apr 15 (staff will load your vehicle 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. before/during storms)
• Do not remove sand from beaches.

Sandbag locator website – https://dpw.lacounty.gov/dsg/sandbags/

By Danny Jones

BEVERLY HILLS—On Monday, December 29, the city of Beverly Hills posted a reminder on its Facebook page for residents to remember that before the year ends, the City of Beverly Hills encourages residents to take advantage of valuable rebates and tax credits that can help you save on energy and water-efficient upgrades for your home or business.

Upcoming 2025 Deadline:
-Federal Clean Energy Tax Credit – expires December 31, 2025

Available Now:
-Go Zero Program – Incentives for zero-emission space & water heating
-Commercial Turf Replacement Rebate – $7 per sq. ft. of grass removed. Please review permitting requirements with the City’s Development Services before purchasing or installing.

Beverly Hills can start the new year with lower bills—and help the city become more sustainable. To learn more, visit www.beverlyhills.org/rebates.

By Danny Jones

WEST HOLLYWOOD—On Monday, December 29, the city of West Hollywood announced that they are spreading the word about end-of-year tree recycling information.

The city’s solid waste hauler, Athens Services, will have no pickup of trash on New Year’s Day, Thursday, January 1, 2026; services will be provided one day later than the regularly scheduled pickup day.

Holiday trees are 100 percent recyclable. Athens Services will collect holiday trees on regular pickup days through Saturday, January 10, 2026.

Tips to ensure collection of your holiday tree: remove stands, ornaments, lights and tinsel; place holiday trees at the curb; trees over six feet in length must be cut in half; trees with flocking or fire retardants will not be accepted; and please do not leave the tree in a plastic bag as the bag gets caught in the chipper blades. Trees not picked up during the recycle window must be cut up and placed in yard waste containers.

Gift boxes, wrapping paper, and other paper packaging can be recycled with regular paper and cardboard recycling.

Residents should take old electronics to a collection center such as the UCLA S.A.F.E. Drop-Off Center (call 1-800-773-2489 for more information), or may schedule an e-waste pickup with Athens Services. For details, please visit the City of West Hollywood’s website Trash and Recycling page: www.weho.org/city-government/city-departments/public-works/environmental-services/trash-and-recycling.

Bulky or large items, such as refrigerators, carpet, and wood, can be picked up at no charge to residents, limited to a maximum of two items. Contact Athens Services directly at (888) 336-6100 for details and to arrange pickup.

Residents are asked that they DO NOT place extra trash and recycling on the ground with your bins or carts. They should contact Athens Services to schedule extra services to accommodate your extra trash and recycling.

For more details, or to arrange for extra trash and recycling services, please contact Athens Services’ Customer Service Office at (888) 336-6100. 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

WEST HOLLYWOOD—The city of West Hollywood is a co-sponsor for, #BOOM!2026–An Evening in Oz, a New Year’s Eve celebration, organized by the Institute for Public Strategies (IPS). IPS leads the Safer WeHo Coalition, which is dedicated to reducing and preventing substance use-related harm within the West Hollywood community. By offering innovative alternatives to traditional nightlife activities, the Safer WeHo Coalition fosters environments that promote community engagement and healthier lifestyles.

#BOOM!2026–An Evening in Oz will take place Wednesday, December 31, beginning at 8:30 p.m. and it will run until 12:30 a.m. on Thursday, January 1, 2026. The celebration will be held at Plummer Park’s Fiesta Hall, located at 7377 Santa Monica Boulevard. The event is free and open to attendees 18 or older. Advance registration is encouraged; to reserve your spot visit www.eventbrite.com/e/boom-tickets-1968302841785.

Plummer Park’s Fiesta Hall will be transformed into a dazzling Emerald City, coming alive with decorations, light refreshments, music from a DJ, and a photobooth to capture all the memories and friends made along the Yellow Brick Road.

The PickUp will be operating from 8 p.m.-3 a.m. on New Year’s Eve. The service runs along Santa Monica Boulevard, and the closest stop to Plummer Park is at Santa Monica Boulevard and Gardner. Visit wehopickup.com for more route information.

Since 2014, West Hollywood has co-sponsored alcohol- and drug-free New Year’s Eve experiences. The city is committed to programs that support people in connecting to recovery services in the community. West Hollywood previously partnered with IPS to bring forward events such as #BOOM, #SIZZLE!, and, most recently, Novemberfest to support the sober community in West Hollywood. For more information about substance use and addiction recovery resources visit www.weho.org/services/human-services/programs-and-services.

For details about #BOOM!2026–An Evening in Oz, contact Jennifer Del Toro, West Hollywood Community Affairs Supervisor, at jdeltoro@weho.org or at (323) 848-6549. 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