MALIBU—On Monday, March 16, the National Weather Service, which is located in Los Angeles and Oxnard, issued a heat advisory for the Los Angeles area, including Malibu and Santa Monica, this week.

Per the statement released on the city of Malibu’s Facebook page, temperatures will range between 85 and 95 degrees. The heat advisory will last until Friday at 8 p.m. Temperatures in the Santa Monica Mountains and other mountainous areas will be hotter than on the Malibu coast. Heat in mountainous areas will be even worse at night, as temperatures will rise after the sun sets.

Locations of cooling centers in Los Angeles can be found at https://ready.lacounty.gov/heat/.

Also, more information about the heat advisory and heat-related safety information can be found on the following website.

 

By Daniel Diquinzio

MALIBU—On Monday, March 16, the city of Malibu posted on its Facebook page that dangerous beach conditions are expected now through Wednesday, March 18 in the evening, as a Beach Hazards Statement from the National Weather Service remains in effect for the Malibu Coast due to elevated surf creating dangerous rip currents and breaking waves.

These conditions increase the risk of ocean drowning. Rip currents can quickly pull swimmers and surfers out to sea, and powerful waves can wash people off beaches and rocks or even capsize small boats near shore.

Officials advise staying out of the water due to hazardous conditions or remaining close to occupied lifeguard towers.

 

By Danny Jones

BEVERLY HILLS—On Monday, March 16, the city of Beverly Hills posted on its Facebook page that it is holding a student poster art contest about water conservation.

The contest is in partnership with the Metropolitan Water District. This year’s posters should depict the theme: “Being Water Wise is…” and showcase their interpretation of what being water wise means. The importance of quality, clean, and reliable water sources and supplies have become clearer within the past couple years.

The city of Beverly Hills notes that climate change is leading to more frequent droughts and stressing California’s water supplies and environment. Students are invited to create artwork to depict various ways to promote water awareness, water efficiency, and conservation.

Submission is due by Thursday, April 30, 2026 by 5 p.m. To explore more about the art contest visit www.beverlyhills.org/waterconservation.

 

By Danny Jones

SANTA MONICA—On Monday, March 16, Lt. Lewis Gilmour with the Santa Monica Police Department informed Canyon News via email that a suspect has been arrested for a shooting that transpired on the Santa Monica Pier.

On Sunday, March 15, at approximately 9 p.m., officers responded to reports of gunfire on the Santa Monica Pier following a large fight involving multiple individuals.

During the incident, one individual sustained a gunshot wound to the arm and was taken
to a local hospital. Officers responded quickly to the scene and provided initial medical
aid to the victim before paramedics arrived. The department maintains a regular patrol
presence on the Santa Monica Pier, allowing officers to respond rapidly when incidents
occur.

A second individual, who suffered a graze wound, sought medical treatment at a
local hospital. Detectives later determined that the second injured individual was the
suspected shooter.

The suspect, Jaysawn Williams, 18, of Rialto, was taken into custody after receiving
medical treatment and transported to the Santa Monica Jail. He was booked on
charges of assault with a firearm (PC 245(a)(2)) and grossly negligent discharge of a
firearm (PC 246.3(a)).

Officers remain committed to maintaining a visible presence in high-traffic areas
such as the Santa Monica Pier to ensure the safety of residents and visitors. The Santa Monica Pier has reopened and normal operations have resumed.

Anyone with details related to the incident is asked to contact Detective Esteban Hernandez of the Santa Monica Police Department at esteban.hernandez@santamonica.gov or the Watch Commander 24 hours a day at 310-458-8427.

SANTA MONICA—The Santa Monica Police Department on Tuesday, March 17 will visit local bars and restaurants to educate customers on the importance of monitoring how much they drink and to “know your limit.” The “Know Your Limit” campaign will be from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. throughout the region.

According to a news release from the city of Santa Monica’s website, the “Know Your Limit” program raises awareness about dangers of drinking and driving and shows how much, or little, it can take to reach the legal limit to operate a vehicle.

Officers will ask customers how many drinks they have consumed and whether they believe they are still able to drive safely. Officers will invite volunteers to take a breathalyzer test to see if they are able to guess their blood alcohol content (BAC). Customers are provided information on alcohol intake and average BAC levels. It is illegal for anyone 21 or older to drive with a BAC of .08 percent or higher.

According to the California Driver Handbook, it takes two drinks consumed within one hour by a woman between 120-160 pounds and three drinks by a man between 180-220 pounds to be over the legal limit of .08 percent. One drink is based on 1.5 oz. of liquor (40 percent alcohol), 12 oz. of beer (4.5 percent alcohol) or a 5 oz. glass of wine (12 percent alcohol). The BAC lowers at a rate of .01 percent for every 40 minutes between drinks.

The goal is to help people understand the effects of alcohol so they can make smart decisions about how they get home. It only takes a few drinks to impair.

The average cost of a first-time DUI offense is approximately $13,500, accounting for vehicle impound fees, fines, attorney fees, auto insurance hikes and other penalties. Plan ahead and avoid the risk of a DUI by designating a sober driver.

Funding for the “Know Your Limit” program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

 

By Danny Jones

MALIBU—Early afternoon on Saturday, March 14, a traffic collision occurred on the Pacific Coast Highway caused serious injuries to several people.

Close to Bonsall Drive, which is close to Zuma Beach, a vehicle left the side of the highway and drove into the opposite lane, causing the collision.

The Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station has not disclosed how many people were injured in the collision or their identities. Pacific Coast Highway was briefly closed due to the collision but later reopened to traffic.

 

By Daniel Diquinzio

SANTA MONICA—On Sunday, March 15, officers from the Santa Monica Police Department arrived at the Santa Monica Pier after a shooting transpired where two people were injured.  A suspect has been arrested by the SMPD, whose name is Jaysawn Williams.

According to a statement released by the Santa Monica Police Department, the suspect is 18 and he is from Rialto. He was the second person injured during the shooting.  He was released after he was treated for his gunshot wound at a hospital.

Per the statement released by the Santa Monica Police Department, he is being held at the Santa Monica Jail and faces two charges, which include gross negligent discharge of a firearm and assault with a firearm. The Santa Monica Pier has reopened.

Anyone with information regarding the shooting contact Detective Esteban Hernandez via email at esteban.hernandez@santamonica.gov.

 

By Daniel Diqiunzio

MALIBU—On March 15, the city of Malibu Office of Public Safety announced that during the week of March 16 to March 23, there will be closures on parts of both Topanga Canyon Boulevard and the Pacific Coast Highway. The repair work will affect both Malibu and Pacific Palisades.

According to a statement posted on the city of Malibu’s Facebook page, these closures are due to emergency road repairs and ongoing efforts to repair damage from the Pacific Palisades Fire.

Topanga Canyon Boulevard will be closed between midnight and 5 a.m.  One of the lanes will be closed starting around 8 p.m.  Workers will be digging trenches between Old Topanga Canyon Road and Happy Trail during the week, starting between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Between Sunday and Thursday night, the workers will be performing electrical repairs between Happy Trail and Highvale Trail.

On Pacific Coast Highway due to roadwork as well as repairs to the slope, the electrical wiring and the drains one of the lanes will be closed between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

There are chances that there will be road closures between Carbon Beach Terrace and Ventura County Line for repairs to the bridges.  There will also be closures during the day. These will occur between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Sunset Boulevard and Las Flores Canyon Road, workers will be performing repair work.  Also, between Topanga Canyon Boulevard and Carbon Canyon Road, there will be a lane closure while workers dig a trench.

To the South of Big Rock Drive, work will be done on the wall.  Cleanup and repairs will be conducted between Sunset Boulevard and the South Side of Topanga Canyon Boulevard.  In addition, near the Getty Villa, repairs will be conducted on the wall, which will mean closing a lane between Porto Marina Way and Coastline Drive. The repair work will also force traffic speeds to be limited.

For more details visit the California Department of Transportation Quick Map website.

 

By Daniel Diquinzio

SANTA MONICA—On Sunday, March 15, the Santa Monica Police Department reported that they are investigating an incident where shots were fired on the Santa Monica Pier. At approximately 9 p.m., officers responded to reports of shots fired on the Santa Monica Pier.

Preliminary information indicates a large fight involving multiple individuals occurred prior to the gunfire. During the incident, two individuals sustained what are believed to be non-life-threatening gunshot wounds.

Officers provided initial medical aid at the scene. Both individuals are being treated at a local hospital for injuries.

The scene was secured as investigators gathered information about the circumstances surrounding the incident. Portions of the Pier may be temporarily restricted while officers conduct their investigation. This remains an active investigation. Additional details will be released as it becomes available.

 

By Danny Jones

SANTA MONICA—On Sunday, March 15, the city of Santa Monica posted on its Facebook page that after almost 2 years of public outreach and engagement, it has released a draft Framework Diagram for the Santa Monica Airport Conversion Project.

Visit SMACproject.com to take an online survey on the Framework Diagram by April 26.

The Framework Diagram is intended to build shared understanding and consensus before moving into the more detailed design phase. It organizes the site into eight distinct but interconnected districts:

-Immersive Nature, a calm ecological landscape prioritizing native habitat and biodiversity
-Active Sports, a structured regional athletic destination
-Arts & Culture, a dynamic district organized around food, performance, and creative expression
-Urban Edge, a connected district along the north side of the site that extends the park into the surrounding neighborhood through adaptive reuse of existing structures
-The Stroll, a welcoming green gateway serving as the park’s front door from the Clover Park area
-The Lawn, a flexible central gathering space serving as the “living room” of the park
-The Meadow, an intimate community-focused landscape with adventure play and neighborhood-scale gathering
-The Heart, a magnetic civic core where architecture, landscape, and movement intersect.

Members of the community are invited to review the Framework Diagram and share your feedback through our online survey, open through April 26. Both the survey and the Framework Diagram presentation are available on the project engagement website at: SMACproject.com.

To discover more visit:
https://www.santamonica.gov/blog/airport-conversion-project-moves-into-next-phase-with-new-community-survey?fbclid=IwY2xjawQk25RleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETBGTW1NRnRTcVRvek9yUGIyc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHsu2l-33f-5PvNlxkDyeIVgsJoDcaIFy4hNkUIPrVL3A1AjBUJMfPfQwEFla_aem_bg9ibq9kRqfRs0p-PgHArg

 

By Danny Jones