WESTWOOD—After two years of being closed, the Bruin Theater will reopen fall 2026. Now operating under new independent management, the Bruin Theater will return to Westwood Village with revival films, first-runs, and host special events.

While the opening date has not been released, the Bruin Theater Instagram announced that the theater will have 670 seats, will feature a mix of films, and will be reinstalling 35mm and 70mm film equipment in combination with its current digital components.

For the past two years, the establishment has been considered “permanently closed” after its 14-year lease with Regency Theaters ended July 25, 2024, with director Lee Isaac Chung’s film “Twisters” being the last film featured.

The Bruin Theater has been part of Westwood’s history since its grand opening on December 31, 1937, with the opening night featuring director James Whale’s “The Great Garrick.”

The Bruin Theater became immortalized in Quentin Tarantino’s film “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” as a set where Tarantino’s Sharon Tate, played by Margot Robbie, goes to the Bruin Theater to watch herself in her film, “The Wrecking Crew.”

Since its opening, the Cinematour website has linked the Bruin Theater to four differing operators, such as Fox West Coast Theaters, National General Theaters, Mann Theaters, and, most recently, Regency Theaters in 2010.

According to the establishment’s Instagram page, the theater will operate on a long-term lease with an independent management company new to Los Angeles and will undergo upgrades before its fall opening.

The Bruin Theater is located at 948 Broxton Ave. in Westwood, across the street from the Westwood Village Theater, which will also be marking its grand re-opening in 2027.

By Megan Hanson

SANTA MONICA—On July 23, at 2:55 p.m., the Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD) announced the federal immigration arrest outside the Santa Monica Public Safety Facility.

“Earlier this morning, SMPD officers arrested an adult male on suspicion of vehicle burglary and possession of burglary tools. He was processed, cited on those charges, and released from SMPD custody. After his release was complete, federal authorities independently took the individual into custody. SMPD officers did not participate in or assist with the federal arrest. There was no coordinated handoff between SMPD and federal authorities,” The SMPD said in a statement. “[The] SMPD does not participate in civil immigration enforcement operations.”

On February 5, 2025, Chief Darrick Jacobs issued the following statement:

…”Consistent with long-standing Santa Monica policy and California law, including Senate Bill 54 (California Law SB54 / The California Values Act (2017) and Title 8 of the United States code, the Santa Monica Police Department does not participate in civil immigration enforcement. We do not conduct immigration sweeps, raids, or detentions based solely on a person’s immigration status, nor do we independently enforce federal immigration laws. Those responsibilities rest with federal authorities.

Public safety depends on trust between the community and law enforcement. When people feel safe contacting the police — whether as victims, witnesses, or individuals seeking help — crimes are reported, investigations move forward, and our city is safer for everyone. Fear of immigration consequences should never prevent someone from calling for help or cooperating with the Santa Monica Police Department.

Let me be clear. While SMPD does not enforce federal immigration laws, we do enforce criminal laws fairly and consistently, without regard to immigration status. Accountability for criminal behavior is essential to public safety, and no one should interpret our policies as tolerance for crime.”

Reports indicate that there is no tracking of the crimes committed by undocumented individuals in California during 2025, as state agencies do not record or report the immigration status of those arrested by local offices.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security reported that there were 4,561 criminal aliens or undocumented individuals who committed crimes on U.S. soil released from California jails rather than turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Agents.

Criminology reports such as those distributed by CATO Institute, reflect that the undocumented population has a lower incarceration rate than U.S. born citizens, and that is due to data limitations imposed by sanctuary cities that do not report the arrests/detention of those who have entered the U.S. illegally.

More information on Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Most wanted fugitives is available online. Some individuals were previously captured and released in the state of California.

By Sharon

BEVERLY HILLS—Rent prices in Beverly Hills are falling noticeably as the city has been building a significant amount of new housing, and a chunk of that new inventory is sitting vacant. Within the past 12 months alone, Beverly Hills and Century City added approximately 400 new premium rental units, with close to 10 percent of them unoccupied.

Landlords are having to compete harder for a limited pool of qualified renters. Rent prices in cities like Palmdale, Lancaster, and San Bernardino are rising sharply. One-bedroom apartments in Palmdale have risen 12 percent year over year, with San Bernardino seeing a 5 percent increase, the New York Post reported.

Many residents have been priced out of these cities and are moving to more affordable neighborhoods. The shift is not only affecting hillside communities, but coastal ones as well.

Malibu saw a 3.6 percent decline, Huntington Beach fell 5.6 percent, and Redondo Beach dropped 6.9 percent year over year.

Data points to a genuine oversupply taking shape. Hundreds of new apartments and condominiums are under construction in Beverly Hills and are expected to hit the market within the next couple of years.

More units mean more competition among landlords for the same pool of renters, which will likely continue driving rent prices down.

By Milan Manesh

SANTA MONICA—On Thursday, July 23, the Santa Monica Police Department announced that a 16-year-old male was arrested in connection to a fatal shooting that transpired on Monday, July 20 in Parking Lot 1 North.

The SMPD reported at approximately 12:32 a.m., officers responded to a report of a possible shooting in Parking Lot 1 North, located at 1550 Pacific Coast Highway. Upon arrival, officers located an adult male suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Despite life-saving efforts, the victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

The preliminary investigation indicates that a physical altercation transpired between two groups prior to the shooting. During the investigation, SMPD detectives identified the juvenile male from Las Vegas as the suspect.

On the evening of July 21, the juvenile surrendered to Santa Monica Police Department detectives and was taken into custody in connection with the homicide investigation. Due to the suspect’s age, no additional identifying information will be released.

“Violence of any kind has no place in our community,” said Santa Monica Police Chief Darrick Jacob. “While nothing can replace the life that was lost, the swift and focused work of our detectives resulted in the suspect being safely taken into custody. This is an important step, but our work is not finished. Our beachfront is one of Santa Monica’s most heavily visited public spaces, and we remain committed to keeping it safe for residents, visitors, businesses, and everyone who comes to enjoy our community.”

The SMPD is still investigating the case, and a motive for the shooting has not been released to the public. The name of the victim has not been released to the public.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has details related to this investigation is asked to contact the SMPD at 310-458-8491.

By Danny Jones

MALIBU—On July 22, the city of Malibu announced its participation in “Plastic Free July,” a shared global initiative promoting the reduction of plastic waste through simple everyday tips that will help protect the environment.

“Plastic Free July” by Plastic Free Foundation is an independent, not-for-profit charity that advocates for a world free of plastic waste. The foundation’s initiative is to motivate simple everyday solutions that contribute to plastic reduction.

The city of Malibu posted 10 simple steps on its website that include: Carry a reusable water bottle, bring reusable shopping bags, skip disposable utensils, bring your own coffee cup, pack reusable containers, choose products with less packaging, skip plastic straws, choose refillable products, pick up plastic litter, and share your efforts for inspiration.

Malibu started its path to sustainability and plastic reduction long before Wednesday’s announcement. Since 2005, Malibu developed multiple policy initiatives that support its commitment to sustainability.

All of Malibu’s sustainability initiatives are listed on the Los Angeles County Public Works website, following the structure of its Commitment to Sustainable Solid Waste Management report. Malibu’s policies are as follows:

-In 2005, Malibu prohibited the usage of polystyrene foam, with a policy update on January 1st, 2017, marking a citywide ban on sales or distribution of products made, in whole or partially, from polystyrene.

-In 2008, Malibu ceased the distribution of single-use plastic shopping bags, with an amended policy update on March 27th, 2017, noting that paper shopping bags will be an effective substitute.

Effective on June 8, 2017, Malibu placed bans on plastic-based sandbags and substituted them for Burlap materials.

Effective on June 1, 2018, Malibu prohibited the use and distribution of single-use plastic and bioplastic straws, stirrers, and cutlery.

The city is celebrating “Plastic Free July” and is asking others to follow the steps listed above to keep plastic waste out of the environment.

By Megan Hanson

TOPANGA CANYON—This week, Southern California residents and travelers can expect traffic delays while driving Pacific Coast Highway towards Topanga Canyon. Following the devastating Pacific Palisades fires, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) announced that crews will be working on PCH and Topanga Boulevard to repair infrastructure.

Due to this construction project, there will be road closures affecting motorists. Expected closures will take place on weekdays between 9 p.m. and 3 p.m., with speeds being reduced to 25-35 mph. These closures will take place along portions of Temescal Canyon Road and Sunset Boulevard to Carbon Beach Terrace.

The biggest impacts include Big Rock Drive, where Southern California Edison crews will close one lane in each direction Monday through Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pena Road to Tuna Canyon Road, where southbound traffic may be reduced to one lane while crews rebuild a retaining wall.

Near Topanga Canyon Boulevard: Northbound lanes may be reduced for slope stabilization and culvert cleanup. PCH at SR-27 as Verizon utility work will narrow traffic where crews are actively working. At the PCH & Rambla Pacifico intersection, from 8 p.m. Friday through 10 a.m. Saturday, traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction while the signal is repaired.

During that time, the traffic light will be off, and drivers must treat the intersection as a four-way stop.

In addition to closures, there will be one-lane traffic controls on Topanga Canyon Boulevard from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. between Happy Trail and the PCH. There is also a strict 15 mph speed limit through the main Caltrans work zone Monday through Saturday.

The overall repair on the PCH is expected to wrap up at the end of this summer.

By Ryley Metten

SANTA MONICA—The city of Santa Monica’s Public Landscape Division and Urban Forestry team previously issued a removal notice for a group of historic coral trees on San Vicente Boulevard. The notice prompted a community appeal, which halted removal operations pending review by the Urban Forest Commission. That review was still underway when, on July 4, one of the coral trees collapsed completely.

Following the collapse, an independent arborist’s report found that 12 of the 13 inspected trees were in poor health, driven largely by drought stress. The report raised safety concerns that the trees could fail, posing a risk to the public. The city of Santa Monica now plans to proceed with the removal work, which is expected to take place over the next few weeks.

A community meeting is scheduled for Thursday, August 6 at 7 p.m. via Zoom. Representatives from the city’s Urban Forestry, Public Landscape, Architecture, and Water Resources teams will discuss the trees’ history, immediate safety needs, and the possibility of replanting in the future.

“The Public Landscape team understands and shares the concerns for the Coral trees lining our iconic San Vicente Blvd. Staff arborists, including our Board-Certified Master Arborist, have been monitoring the tree condition over the years and have taken proactive steps to manage this population of trees. We understand that this is a regional problem, as many of the City of Los Angeles trees are also in poor condition,” the Santa Monica North of Montana Association stated on its website.

Inspections found that this population of Coral trees is threatened by:

Climate change, drought conditions and California state restrictions on watering medians.
Pests of concern include Erythrina Stem Borer (ESB) and Invasive Shothole Borer (ISHB).  ESB has been especially devastating on young Coral trees and has hindered efforts to replant new corals. ISHB is very concerning as it can use corals as an amplifier host tree to attack other tree species in the area.
Poor compartmentalization of decay, which is a species trait that predisposes these trees to branch, stem and root emergency failure.
For some trees, this is the end of their natural expected lifecycle as they approach 60+ years old.

Current work in progress:

Park Maintenance staff are performing an irrigation audit to ensure the system on the median is functioning correctly.
An independent tree consultant has been hired by Public Works to assess 13 trees of concern on the median. He will also be working in partnership with the tree consultant commissioned by Brentwood residents to inspect their row of median coral trees that are also showing signs of significant decline.
Weed abatement has been completed recently by staff.

Coral trees on San Vicente Boulevard are more than 75 years old, planted around 1950. In 1966, Mayor Sam Yorty declared the coral tree the official tree of Los Angeles, which is one of the reasons why residents are so invested in keeping them.

Despite the community’s efforts, experts claim most of the trees are beyond recovery and pose legitimate safety concerns, forcing the city of Santa Monica into the difficult position of removing a beloved piece of local history.

By Milan Manesh

BEVERLY HILLS—On Monday, July 13, the city of Beverly Hills announced that applications for Team Beverly Hills program are being accepted now through Friday, August 21.

Formed in 1996, Team Beverly Hills provides residents with a hands-on look at the operations of local government. This program features a variety of class sessions and includes interactive experiences with many departments. Program participants explore the behind-the-scenes operations of the city including Public Works, Emergency Management, Information Technology, Community Services and Public Safety.

Over 850 residents have completed Team Beverly Hills and over 70 percent of all current elected officials and City Commissioners are Team BH alumni.

The Team Beverly Hills program will select 50 residents (30 appointed by the Beverly Hills City Council, 18 selected by a random lottery, and two selected by the Beverly Hills Unified School District) for its upcoming class. Five representatives from the city’s business community (appointed by the City Council) will also be selected for the program, which kicks off in October 2026 and runs through March 2027.

To learn more about Team Beverly Hills and fill out an application online visit www.beverlyhills.org/teambeverlyhills, by emailing teambh@beverlyhills.org, or link in our bio.

By Danny Jones

SANTA MONICA—Santa Monica’s summer event, “State of the City 2026: From Realignment to Renaissance,” will take place Thursday, July 23, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Ocean Park Branch Library located along Main Street between Hollister Avenue and Ocean Park Boulevard in Santa Monica.

This family-friendly event invites residents and visitors to support local businesses, explore the corridor, and even take part in fun activities and exhibits celebrating the city of Santa Monica’s accomplishments. There will even be special meet-and-greet opportunities with ESPN personality and NFL Network reporter Taylor Bisciotti to celebrate the launch of ESPN Beach next year.

ESPN Beach is scheduled to launch next year as the state-of-the-art multiplatform hub for Super Bowl coverage and will simultaneously serve as an immersive fan experience. ESPN Beach will be located at the Santa Monica Pier and Beach.

Goldenvoice, a division of AEG Presents and creator of Coachella, will offer a preview of Ocean Way Festival, a new music festival coming to Santa Monica this September.

Mayor of Santa Monica, Caroline Torosis, will deliver a speech during the event addressing its importance and attendees. Torosis explains the significance of “State of the City” being held on Main Street.

“Santa Monica is on stronger footing than we’ve been in years, and this year’s State of the City is about what we do with that. We’re holding it on Main Street, outside the newly reopened Ocean Park Branch Library, because the future of this city gets built in neighborhoods like this one. I’ll be sharing where we’re headed on housing, public safety, and a local economy that works for the people who live and work here,” said Torosis. 

The city of Santa Monica will also distribute a limited number of vouchers that are redeemable for one eligible purchase per person, excluding alcohol, at participating Main Street businesses while supplies last. 

The Main Street Entertainment Zone will allow adults 21 and older to purchase alcoholic beverages from participating businesses and consume them on sidewalks between Strand Avenue and Pier Avenue as well as in the closed section of Main Street. Wristbands are required, and outside alcohol is prohibited. 

Due to the event, Main Street will be closed from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. For more information on “State of the City,” including parking, transportation, and accessibility, visit www.eventbrite.com/e/state-of-the-city-2026-tickets-1991414932671

By Ryley Metten

WESTWOOD—On Sunday, July 26, Broxton Plaza will host a Vegan Street Fair kicking off the first of three evening hours from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. the fair will feature more than 30 vendors, DJs, and a 21+ Beer Garden. Located at 1036 Broxton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90024.

The Vegan Street Fair is a monthly event held in Westwood Village that celebrates Vegan and plant-based lifestyles, the event is open for all-ages, and offers vegan-friendly cuisine and pastries, live DJ sets, and games.

For the first time, the Vegan Street Fair will feature a 21+ Beer Garden hosted by Tap Truck Beach Cities, bringing craft beverages on tap with a Vintage Ford truck as the bar.

If attendees are unable to attend this month’s street fair, the Vegan Street Fair will return to Westwood Village for the following dates:

• August 30, 3 p.m. – 9 p.m.
• September 27, 3 p.m. – 9p.m.
• October 18, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
• November 29, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
• December 20, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
• January 31, 2027, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
• February 21, 2027, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Parking will be available at the Broxton Parking Structure or 10919 Lindbrook Dr.

By Megan Hanson