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Stories more than a week old. The most recent week is on the home page.

Thursday, May 28, 2026

First brush fire of season burns six acres near Mulholland

Crews stopped the fire within 90 minutes in gentle winds and high humidity; no official cause has been given.

Fire Safety Santa Monica Mountains Wildfire Recovery

Coastal Commission staff back PCH traffic circles, reject appeal

Staff say the western Malibu roundabouts will enhance beachgoer safety and access, not violate the Coastal Act.

PCH Safety Coastal Commission Malibu City Council Caltrans Traffic Enforcement

Becerra and Hilton pull ahead in California governor's primary

A new PPIC poll shows the Democrat at 23 percent and the Trump-endorsed Republican at 20 percent, with the June 2 election underway.

Elections 2026 Donald Trump National

Voters urged to drop ballots off rather than mail them

The U.S. Postal Service no longer guarantees election-day postmarks; Malibu has two drop-off locations.

Elections 2026 Malibu City Hall

Newsom signs law banning police interference with elections

The emergency measure targets Trump administration efforts and follows Sheriff Chad Bianco's seizure of Riverside County ballots.

Elections 2026 Donald Trump Law Enforcement Technology National

Silverstein loses bid to require pre-registration for Zoom speakers

The mayor's proposal to throttle online comments — and to drop the Pledge of Allegiance — went nowhere with the rest of the council.

Malibu City Council Bruce Silverstein Malibu City Hall

Goats and sheep clear Malibu firebreaks for first time in decades

A herd of 400 goats and 100 sheep has been deployed above Big Rock as part of a $3.2 million state-funded brush clearance effort.

Fire Safety Wildfire Recovery Malibu Recovery Wildlife

Wednesday, May 27, 2026

State orders Malibu out of Zuma Creek underpass

The Regional Water Quality Control Board has told L.A. County to suspend all work in the flood control channel used as a road under PCH.

Zuma Beach PCH Safety Caltrans Malibu City Council Infrastructure Malibu City Hall

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Council cools on $3 million Malibu Seafood pedestrian tunnel

Members worry the proposed undercrossing would flood, attract vandalism and still leave pedestrians scrambling across PCH.

Malibu City Council PCH Safety Pedestrian Deaths Caltrans Infrastructure

Two San Francisco tourists arrested racing Ferraris on PCH

Deputies clocked the rented high-end cars above 100 mph before stopping both at Corral Canyon Road.

Sheriff's Department PCH Safety Traffic Enforcement Public Safety

Malibu spends $107,000 to study beachfront sewer assessment

Council moves ahead on a PCH sewer district for fire victims, even as members openly question whether the project will pencil out.

Malibu City Council Malibu Recovery Wildfire Recovery PCH Safety Infrastructure Utilities City Budget

Pepperdine mourns longtime fundraiser Lou Drobnick, 95

The retired senior vice chancellor led Malibu civic groups and helped push Caltrans to rebuild the Malibu Lagoon bridge in 30 days after the 1994 quake.

Pepperdine Obituary Malibu Lagoon Education

Malibu Little League closing parade Saturday morning

Civic Center Way will see street closures as kids march from the library to Bluffs Park for the closing ceremony.

Community Events Sports

Point Dume beach lot access road closed five days next week

Crews will install a new storm drain Monday through Friday, with daytime-only closures from 8 to 3.

Point Dume Infrastructure Utilities Fire Safety

Malibu's controversial radio tower repainted — in 'Warm Sand'

The L.A. County radio tower at Malibu College has a new color, and the top 10 feet will be chopped off.

Malibu City Council Scoup Local Media

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Tuesday, May 26, 2026

Magnitude 3.2 quake hits south of Malibu Pier

A minor earthquake struck Monday night with an epicenter about five miles south of the Malibu Pier.

Public Safety Disaster Preparedness

SCE blames computer error for Point Dume outage confusion

Several hundred Point Dume and Paradise Cove customers lost power for hours Monday in what Edison wrongly labeled a planned maintenance.

Utilities Point Dume Infrastructure

Utilities pour millions into campaign against Steyer for governor

Edison, Sempra and PG&E are funding a multimillion-dollar effort to defeat billionaire Tom Steyer's bid for California governor.

Utilities Energy Elections 2026 State Senate

Malibu pauses lawsuit against LA County over Palisades Fire

The city is dropping the county from its fire-damage lawsuit, citing Supervisor Horvath's $250 million water line plan.

Malibu City Council Palisades Fire LA County Waterworks Malibu Recovery Water Rates Courts

Council to decide fate of disputed Cuthbert Road rebuild

A Malibu Park homeowner's bid to combine a Woolsey Fire like-for-like rebuild with a 3,400-square-foot addition tops tonight's agenda.

Malibu City Council Wildfire Recovery Malibu Real Estate Code Enforcement

Council to revisit rules for Zoom public comment

Malibu staff want speakers to register for remote comments, but state law and the Constitution may limit what the council can require.

Malibu City Council Malibu City Hall Public Safety Commission

Council also takes up street repaving, Corral Creek underpass

Tonight's agenda includes annual residential repaving and a $260,000 Caltrans design deal for a pedestrian underpass at Malibu Seafood.

Malibu City Council PCH Safety Caltrans Infrastructure Pedestrian Deaths

Sandy Fire 75% contained after burning 2,200 acres

About 150 firefighters worked through the holiday on the Simi Valley-area blaze, while a Santa Rosa Island fire is 87% contained.

Fire Safety Ventura County Wildfire Recovery

Today's Weather

An unusual late-spring low pressure system brings marine clouds, possible drizzle, and strong downcoast winds.

Weather

Friday, May 22, 2026

Judge bars LA fire-blame defense in Palisades arson trial

Federal judge rules Jonathan Rinderknecht cannot blame LA City Fire Department's handling of the earlier Lachman Fire at his upcoming arson trial.

Palisades Fire Courts Wildfire Recovery Malibu Recovery Active Investigation

Air monitors set up near Santa Susana amid Sandy Fire

Ventura County deploys temporary air quality monitors near the old nuclear test site as the Sandy Fire smolders 20 miles north of Malibu.

Ventura County Fire Safety Weather Public Safety

Santa Rosa Island fire nearly 60 percent contained

135 firefighters ferried 26 miles offshore battle a blaze that has burned 18,000 acres on the Channel Islands.

Fire Safety Wildlife Ventura County

Five Point Dume streets slated for repaving next year

Malibu's $300,000 share of state gas tax money would resurface streets including Grayfox, Boniface, Portshead, Wildlife, and parts of Selfridge.

Malibu City Council Point Dume Infrastructure Malibu City Hall

Malibu eyes $3 million pedestrian underpass at Corral Beach

City council to vote on using Metro sales tax money to build a tunnel beneath PCH near Malibu Seafood, alongside an existing creek underpass.

Malibu City Council PCH Safety Pedestrian Deaths Infrastructure Transportation

Santa Monica Pier beaches ranked dirtiest in California

Despite $100 million in city upgrades, only a Tijuana beach scored worse on Heal the Bay's annual report card.

Santa Monica Public Safety

California primary voting continues as governor's race tightens

Hilton, Becerra and Steyer are bunched at the top of a crowded primary field with mail-in ballots still being counted.

Elections 2026 Donald Trump National

$2.5 million Ferrari destroyed in PCH passing crash near Nobu

Driver of a Ferrari 812 Competizione Aperta used the center turn lane to pass a truck and slammed into a Mercedes convertible.

PCH Safety Traffic Enforcement

Malibu surf report: small south swell, deep low tide

Two to three feet at the Point, water temperature 64 degrees, with a minus 1.1-foot low tide at 9:32 a.m.

Weather

Wednesday, May 20, 2026

Sandy Fire Slows, But Threatens Santa Susana Hazmat Site

Cooler weather has helped firefighters contain the Sandy Fire's spread, but crews are positioning to protect a contaminated former rocket-testing site.

Wildfire Recovery Fire Safety Ventura County Nasa Santa Ana Winds Public Safety

Air Tankers Hit Santa Rosa Island Fire as Containment Grows

A modified Boeing 737 dropped retardant on key buildings as the fire on the Channel Islands reached 26% containment.

Wildfire Recovery Fire Safety Point Dume Public Safety

Cal Fire Chief: Expect a Fiery Summer

After a record-dry March, California has already seen 50% more acres burn than the five-year average.

Fire Safety Wildfire Recovery Weather Public Safety

Agoura Hills Evacuation Plan Sends Malibu Drivers on 8-Mile Detour

City officials say their new safety element is just a framework, but it assumes only 100 cars per hour fleeing up Kanan and zero from Malibu.

Fire Safety Kanan Road PCH Safety Disaster Preparedness Malibu Canyon Public Safety

One-Lane Traffic Control in Topanga at Grandview

Caltrans maintenance work will close one lane on Topanga Canyon Boulevard from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today and tomorrow.

Caltrans Transportation PCH Safety

Caltrans Sets $154 Million PCH Repaving Project

The first major repaving of Pacific Coast Highway since 2010 will start this fall and run through 2030, including striped bike lanes.

Caltrans PCH Safety Transportation Infrastructure Leo Carrillo

Mother of Two Boys Killed in Crosswalk Testifies in Civil Trial

Nancy Iskander told a Van Nuys jury her career and life ended when Rebecca Grossman and Scott Erickson struck her sons in 2020.

Courts Pedestrian Deaths Traffic Fatalities PCH Safety

Under the Oaks Preschool Reopens in Las Flores Canyon

The longtime Las Flores Canyon school, damaged by last year's fire, has been restored and will fully reopen as a preschool in June.

Education Malibu Recovery Wildfire Recovery

Monday, May 18, 2026

Wildfire burns one-fifth of Santa Rosa Island

A fire sparked by a stranded mariner's flare has scorched more than 10,000 acres on the Channel Island west of Malibu.

Wildfire Recovery Fire Safety Weather Santa Ana Winds Wildlife

City study finds PCH pedestrian undercrossing feasible

An engineering study concludes a tunnel beneath Pacific Coast Highway at Malibu Seafood is possible.

PCH Safety Pedestrian Deaths Infrastructure Malibu City Hall

Northern California blacked out as wind patterns shift

PG&E cut power to 47,000 customers Sunday as Diablo winds raised fire danger, and SCE is preparing Southern California for the same.

Utilities Santa Ana Winds Fire Safety Disaster Preparedness Energy Weather

Governor's race a five-way tossup, polls show

Becerra leads Steyer and Hilton by a point in a new KTLA/Emerson poll, with Porter and Bianco trailing.

Elections 2026 State Senate

Mail ballots arriving; in-person voting opens Saturday

Malibu City Hall opens as the city's first vote center this weekend, with three more sites to follow.

Elections 2026 Malibu City Hall

Colorado River collapse alarms Southern California water agency

Federal cuts loom on the Colorado as Northern California reservoirs sit at 99 percent — the whipsaw effect of a warming climate.

Water Rates LA County Waterworks Weather Infrastructure

Father testifies at Grossman civil wrongful death trial

Karim Iskander told jurors he tried mouth-to-mouth on his 11-year-old son Mark, but the boy's skull was disconnected from his spine.

Courts Pedestrian Deaths PCH Safety Traffic Fatalities

Friday, May 15, 2026

State to unveil new Topanga Lagoon plans May 31

California will reveal revised designs for a 31-acre lagoon and rebuilt PCH bridge at Malibu's gateway, after the Palisades Fire erased earlier plans.

Caltrans Malibu Lagoon PCH Safety Palisades Fire Infrastructure Wildfire Recovery

Newsom budget cuts spending but boosts Malibu fire aid

Governor's revised budget offers $100,000 mortgage grants and a $100 million loan guarantee fund for Palisades, Franklin and Altadena fire victims.

City Budget Wildfire Recovery Palisades Fire Malibu Recovery Donald Trump Insurance

Eight Ben Allen fire-recovery bills clear key committee

The Malibu state senator's package addressing insurance, home hardening and mobile home park protections advanced through Senate Appropriations.

Ben Allen State Senate Wildfire Recovery Insurance Malibu Recovery

Poetry Summit and art show fill Malibu City Hall this weekend

Saturday's "Vibrant Cycles" Poetry Summit and Sunday's opening reception for sisters' joint art exhibit are both free.

Community Events Malibu City Hall Entertainment Industry

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NOAA: 82% chance of El Niño this fall

Federal forecasters say the climate pattern is almost certain to shift, raising odds of subtropical storms and heavy rain in Southern California.

Weather El Nino Disaster Preparedness

Warm water and high bacteria reported on Malibu coast

Ocean temperatures have hit 63 degrees and county health officials warn of elevated bacteria at Paradise Cove, Surfrider and fire-zone beaches.

Weather Public Safety Wildfire Recovery

Mo's surf report: 3-6 foot waves, water at 63

South-southwest swell at the point, bigger west swell on west-facing beaches, with light winds and a 63-degree ocean.

Weather Zuma Beach

Thursday, May 14, 2026

Agoura Hills evacuation plan draws fire from Kanan Road residents

Residents say traffic estimates ignore reality as city approves more apartments along the key evacuation route from Malibu and the Santa Monica Mountains.

Kanan Road Disaster Preparedness Wildfire Recovery Fire Safety PCH Safety Malibu Recovery

Newsom proposes $100 million fund to close wildfire rebuilding gap

The average Palisades and Malibu fire victim is $1.5 million short between insurance payouts and the cost of rebuilding.

Palisades Fire Wildfire Recovery Malibu Recovery Insurance State Senate

Final California gubernatorial primary debate tonight

The CBS News California and San Francisco Examiner debate begins at 5:30 p.m.

Elections 2026 National

Ex-governor candidate Cloobeck charged with witness tampering in Malibu case

Billionaire Steve Cloobeck is accused of trying to intimidate victims of his girlfriend, who allegedly defrauded men she met online in Malibu and elsewhere.

Sheriff's Department Courts Elections 2026

Malibu impound lot at middle school returns to planning commission

For the fourth year, the city wants permission to use the Morningview Drive parking lot to hold summer tow-aways.

Malibu City Council Traffic Enforcement Education PCH Safety

Malibu council members dig into budget as city manager expands staff

Two council members meet today to rework expenses while the city manager seeks a pay raise for the clerk and a new emergency response manager.

Malibu City Hall City Budget Malibu City Council Public Safety Disaster Preparedness

What counts as 'beachfront'? Malibu seeks a formal definition

The planning commission will be asked next Monday to adopt language defining beachfront homes, which face different rules than rural houses.

Malibu Real Estate Malibu City Hall Coastal Commission PCH Safety

Lake Oroville, Malibu's main water source, is 99% full

Four years of heavy winter rains have refilled the state's second-largest reservoir despite a near-snowless year.

LA County Waterworks Water Rates Weather Utilities

Wednesday, May 13, 2026

Trancas Creek bridge faces new round of construction

L.A. County Waterworks will spend seven months installing a water main, followed by a city right-turn lane project at the same site.

Caltrans LA County Waterworks Infrastructure PCH Safety Malibu City Hall

Malibu to reactivate dormant Board of Building Appeals

The board required by state law has never met, even as hundreds of fire-destroyed homes face rebuilding.

Malibu City Council Wildfire Recovery Malibu Recovery Malibu City Hall

Erickson admits deleting texts to Grossman in civil trial

The Malibu man faces tens of millions in damages alongside Rebecca Grossman over the 2020 crosswalk deaths of two boys.

Courts Pedestrian Deaths

Santa Monica to ticket bike-lane parkers with automated cameras

After a July 1 warning period, drivers blocking bike lanes will face $93 fines from cameras mounted on parking enforcement vehicles.

Santa Monica Traffic Enforcement Law Enforcement Technology Public Safety

Santa Monica restarts coastal plan as legislature eyes exemption

The city council voted to begin its land use plan over after eight years, while still backing a bill to remove Coastal Commission jurisdiction.

Santa Monica Coastal Commission State Assembly Business

Swain: El Niño now certain, with extreme event possible

UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain says odds exceed 50% for a strong-to-extreme El Niño that could batter Malibu's burn-scarred coast.

Daniel Swain El Nino Weather PCH Safety Wildfire Recovery Disaster Preparedness

Tuesday, May 12, 2026

Offshore Platform Habitat Catches Fire Off Summerland

Coast Guard reports no oil released after the decommissioning platform 50 miles up the coast from Malibu burst into flames.

Energy Ventura County National

CHP Still Investigating Three Malibu Traffic Deaths in 48 Hours

Sheriff's deputies briefed the city council on a string of fatal crashes outside city limits, including two pedestrians struck near Leo Carrillo.

PCH Safety Pedestrian Deaths Traffic Fatalities CHP Sheriff's Department Leo Carrillo Kanan Road Zuma Beach

Silverstein Pushes Anti-Camping Law, Clashes With Riggins

Malibu's mayor wants to criminalize sleeping in public — and used his platform Monday night to blame a colleague for the delay.

Malibu City Council Homelessness Malibu City Hall

Caltrans to Shift PCH Lanes Inland for Rebuild Access

The shift, expected late next week, will give oceanfront homeowners more room to unload construction materials in the Malibu fire zone.

Caltrans PCH Safety Malibu Recovery Wildfire Recovery Palisades Fire Malibu City Council

Palisades Fire Suspect Says ATF Agent Biased, Cites Past Case

Jonathan Rinderknecht's attorneys want to introduce evidence from a failed Navy arson case investigated by the same federal agent.

Palisades Fire Courts Wildfire Recovery Active Investigation

Erickson Admits Switching License Plates, Martini Posts at Trial

The former Dodgers pitcher conceded on the stand he gave investigators the wrong car and posted Instagrams of cocktails during jury selection.

Courts Point Dume Pedestrian Deaths

Malibu Times Print Edition Delayed by Printer Problem

Publisher Hayley Mattson says the newspaper has been printed and will be delivered today after a production issue.

Malibu Times Local Media

Farmers Insurance Wins 1.5% Average Rate Hike in California

The state's second-largest home insurer will raise rates this fall and must write nearly 5,600 new policies in high-wildfire-risk areas.

Insurance Wildfire Recovery State Farm

Monday, May 11, 2026

Malibu Times Misses Print Edition, Website Silent

The 80-year-old newspaper failed to publish last week, and its website has not been updated since mid-February.

Malibu Times Business Local Media

Federal Judge to Hold Hearing for Alleged Palisades Fire Arsonist

Jonathan Rinderknecht, charged with igniting the fire that killed 12 and destroyed parts of Malibu, faces a key admissibility ruling today.

Courts Wildfire Recovery Malibu Recovery Palisades Fire

El Niño Summer May Supercharge Mosquitoes Carrying Dengue

A new invasive mosquito species is breeding in the Santa Monica Mountains, and last summer brought the first local dengue transmission in Southern California.

Public Safety El Nino Weather Ventura County Wildlife

Schiff Says Trump's Iran War Threatens California Beaches

The U.S. senator toured Ventura and Santa Barbara offshore oil platforms, warning that the administration's pro-oil push risks another coastal spill.

Energy National Donald Trump Ventura County Chevron

California Voters May Be Asked to Repeal Jungle Primary

A Democratic strategist has filed petitions for a 2028 ballot measure after fears two Republicans could capture this spring's gubernatorial primary.

Elections 2026 State Assembly State Senate

Malibu Elementary's Word of the Year Is 'Vocabulary'

New principal Sally Wennes told the school board her campus is honing in on academic and subject-specific vocabulary across every subject.

Education SMMUSD Point Dume Infrastructure

Wednesday, May 6, 2026

Coroner names two men killed on PCH near Leo Carrillo

Steve Griffith, 42, and Anthony Jones, 62, were struck and killed in separate crashes hours apart Monday on Pacific Coast Highway.

PCH Safety Pedestrian Deaths Traffic Fatalities Leo Carrillo CHP

Limo driver carjacked at gunpoint on PCH in March

The L.A. County Sheriff's Department is only now publicizing a March 14 carjacking that began at PCH and Kanan Dume Road.

Carjacking Sheriff's Department PCH Safety Kanan Road Point Dume

Malibu traffic crashes up 33%, tickets more than double

Sheriff's deputies wrote 13,470 traffic tickets in the first three months of 2026, more than twice last year's pace.

Traffic Enforcement PCH Safety Sheriff's Department CHP Public Safety Commission

Plea deal for man accused in pro-Israel demonstrator's death

Loay Alnaji will serve up to one year in jail and three years on probation in the Thousand Oaks bullhorn confrontation case.

Loay Alnaji Plea Deal Israel–Palestine Courts Ventura County

Trash fire in 110 Freeway tunnel renews Caltrans questions

A drainage tunnel filled with debris left by homeless people burned Tuesday near the L.A. Harbor, closing northbound lanes.

Caltrans 110 Freeway Freeway Fire Homelessness San Pedro Infrastructure

Santa Monica parcel tax push aims to replace school subsidy

A citizens' initiative would impose a $495 parcel tax to replace the $12 million Santa Monica sends SMMUSD from its strained General Fund.

SMMUSD School Funding Parcel Tax Santa Monica School District Separation City Budget

Three fire-recovery events scheduled over next 10 days

A landscaping lecture, a Fire Safe Festival in Malibu Canyon and the PaliBu Recovery Expo are all set for the coming days.

Fire Safety Wildfire Recovery Fire Safe Council Palibu Recovery Expo Malibu Canyon Community Events

Malibu to shrink annual Safety and Preparedness Fair

City Manager will downsize the September event to an indoor format as Malibu reckons with budget strain and event overload.

Public Safety Commission Disaster Preparedness Susan Duenas City Budget Malibu City Hall Wildfire Recovery

Hot weekend ahead, but no repeat of March heat wave

UC meteorologist Daniel Swain says temperatures will push into the 90s, with pollen levels expected to spike after recent rain.

Weather Heat Wave Daniel Swain Pollen

Tuesday, May 5, 2026

Two pedestrians killed in PCH crashes near Leo Carrillo

Two fatal car-versus-pedestrian crashes 16 hours apart shut down lanes of Pacific Coast Highway near Leo Carrillo Beach.

PCH Safety Pedestrian Deaths Traffic Fatalities Leo Carrillo CHP Homelessness

State Farm faces tiny fines after 398 violations found

California regulators found State Farm violated insurance law hundreds of times after the 2025 fires, but state law caps fines at $5,000 each.

State Farm Insurance Wildfire Recovery Malibu Recovery

Violent fights, staffing crisis at Campus Kilpatrick

A January brawl involving 14 girls and chronic understaffing have plagued the juvenile detention center in the Santa Monica Mountains.

Campus Kilpatrick Kanan Road Law Enforcement Technology Public Safety Commission

Ballots arrive as two open Malibu legislative seats are wide open

A crowded Democratic field in the State Senate race could let two Republicans advance, mirroring the dynamic in the governor's race.

Elections 2026 Ben Allen State Senate State Assembly

Malibu school district split flying under the radar this election

The biggest political issue in Malibu has gone unmentioned in legislative campaigns as ballots hit mailboxes.

School District Separation SMMUSD Education State Assembly

Santa Monica pushes bill to escape Coastal Commission oversight

Assembly Bill 1740 would strip the Coastal Commission of authority over development in the City of Santa Monica.

Coastal Commission Santa Monica State Assembly

Chevron sues to block hikers from Ventura nature preserve

The oil giant says public access on Hall Canyon Road interferes with its easement, in a fight over the Ventura Hills Nature Preserve.

Ventura County Chevron

Today's Weather

Heat wave arrives inland, but ocean winds keep the Malibu coast cool.

Weather Heat Wave

Monday, May 4, 2026

Pedestrian killed in pre-dawn PCH crash at Leo Carrillo

A person was killed just after 4:30 a.m. on a stretch of Pacific Coast Highway where other fatal crashes have occurred.

PCH Safety Leo Carrillo Pedestrian Deaths Traffic Fatalities

Council slows plan check but rejects builder self-certification

Malibu City Council adopted language to speed rebuilding reviews but stopped short of letting architects self-certify their plans comply with code.

Malibu City Hall Wildfire Recovery Fire Safety

Prosecutors: Palisades arson suspect was angry, jilted on New Year's Eve

Federal trial memo describes Jonathan Rinderknecht as lonely and "pissed off about the world" the night the fire was set.

Courts Wildfire Recovery Freeway Fire

Ex-Dodger testifies in Grossman wrongful death case

Royce Clayton told jurors he confronted Scott Erickson at a Point Dume restaurant the day after two boys were killed in a Westlake Village crosswalk.

Courts Point Dume Pedestrian Deaths

Topanga Lagoon restoration accelerates after Palisades Fire

Plans to remove the 80-year-old PCH bridge and expand the lagoon to as much as 10 acres are moving forward with new state funding.

PCH Safety Wildfire Recovery Infrastructure

Report cites violence, staffing crisis at Campus Kilpatrick

A January classroom brawl involved 14 girls at the county juvenile facility above Malibu, where staff reportedly work back-to-back 20-hour shifts.

Public Safety Commission Malibu Canyon

First L.A. County vote center opens — in Norwalk

Ballots are arriving in Malibu mailboxes for the June primary, but in-person voting locally won't open for another two weeks.

Community Events

Wednesday, April 15, 2026

Malibu Sues MRCA Over Ownership of Two Hiking Trails

City claims Winding Way and Murphy Way easements transferred to Malibu at incorporation in 1993, voiding a later transfer to the parks agency.

Malibu City Hall PCH Safety Pedestrian Deaths Courts Coastal Commission

Trail Residents Ask City: What Took You So Long?

Homeowners along Winding Way and Murphy Way say they handed Malibu legal proof of ownership more than two years ago.

Malibu City Hall PCH Safety Courts

Lawsuit Says MRCA Hikers Are Trampling Sensitive Habitat

The 257-page complaint alleges the parks agency is violating the California Coastal Act through poor trail management.

Malibu City Hall Courts Coastal Commission Wildfire Recovery Fire Safety

Agoura Hills Defends Plan That Could Close Kanan Road in Fires

Officials say emergency provisions are in place, but their traffic counts assume no surge of evacuees from Malibu.

Kanan Road Fire Safety Disaster Preparedness Wildfire Recovery Public Safety Commission

$250,000 Porsche Flies Off Saddle Peak Road

Two men were flown to a hospital after the late-afternoon crash on Saddle Peak Road. They appear to have survived.

Traffic Fatalities PCH Safety

Three Ventura County Deputies Crash Into Each Other

The deputies and their patrol dogs were uninjured in a chain-reaction crash on Highway 118 north of Oxnard.

Ventura County CHP Sheriff's Department

Steyer Leads Hilton in California Governor's Race Poll

A Survey USA poll shows Democrat Tom Steyer at 21% and Republican Steve Hilton at 18%, with Democrats favored 56-26 overall.

National Donald Trump

Santa Monica Lifts Franchise Ban; Chains Move to Promenade

Yogurtland, an upscale Taco Bell Cantina serving tapas and cocktails, and Raising Cane's are all coming to downtown Santa Monica.

Santa Monica

Malibu's Mikke Pierson Pitches Disappearing House on Shark Tank

The Malibu West resident appears tonight at 9 on ABC to pitch HiberTec — a home that drops into a vault when fire approaches.

Entertainment Industry Fire Safety Wildfire Recovery

Mild Santa Ana Wind Event Setting Up for Friday

Mountain tops could see 45 mph gusts Thursday night into Friday in what forecasters call a moderate event.

Weather Santa Ana Winds Fire Safety

KBUU Newscasts on Hiatus Through Middle of Next Week

Family time at Disneyland and out-of-town station business will pause newscasts; Democracy Now moves to morning drive.

Community Events

Tuesday, April 14, 2026

Malibu sues MRCA over Escondido Falls trail ownership

City seeks court order transferring trail interests from county and parks agency, citing pedestrian deaths and environmental damage.

Malibu City Hall PCH Safety Pedestrian Deaths Wildfire Recovery Courts Coastal Commission

Agoura Hills plan would close Kanan Road in major fire

Draft evacuation plan up for public comment Thursday assumes no traffic leaves Malibu, alarming mountain residents.

Kanan Road Disaster Preparedness Wildfire Recovery Sheriff's Department Fire Safety

Controlled pile burn planned Friday above Topanga Canyon

First intentional burn in the Santa Monica Mountains in decades will dispose of brush cuttings along Summit-to-Summit Motorway.

Fire Safety Wildfire Recovery Fire Safe Council

State Parks charges Malibu homeowners $150 to clear brush on park land

Residents within 100 feet of state parkland are legally responsible for fuel modification — and must pay for a permit to do it.

Fire Safety Wildfire Recovery Malibu City Hall Malibu Lagoon

Edison nearly done burying PCH power lines — but cables stay

Telecom companies aren't required to underground their thick black lines and have no incentive to do so in Malibu.

Malibu Recovery Wildfire Recovery Infrastructure PCH Safety

Jury selection begins in Iskander civil suit against Grossmans

About 150 jurors summoned in Van Nuys for wrongful-death trial over two boys killed in Westlake Village crosswalk.

Courts Pedestrian Deaths Traffic Fatalities

Runaway teen sparks Chumash Day brawl, two arrested

A 15-year-old's family confrontation with her new boyfriend turned into a fight in front of hundreds of festival-goers.

Sheriff's Department Community Events Public Safety Commission

Today's weather

Dinky surf, mild temperatures, and gusty northerly winds returning later this week.

Weather Santa Ana Winds

Monday, April 13, 2026

Council to vote tonight on PCH traffic circles west of Broad Beach

Malibu's city council is set to decide whether to install two traffic circles and narrow PCH for a half mile near Broad Beach.

Malibu City Council PCH Safety Caltrans Malibu City Hall Traffic Enforcement

County to begin clearing Zuma Creek underpass this week

L.A. County crews will start moving gravel off the flooded roadway tomorrow, with reopening tentatively planned for next week.

Zuma Beach Infrastructure Caltrans PCH Safety Malibu Recovery

City council to discuss Palisades Fire lawsuit in closed session

Malibu is suing Los Angeles, the state, MRCA and others over the Palisades Fire. State Parks, also a defendant, will brief the council the same night.

Malibu City Council Wildfire Recovery Malibu Recovery Fire Safety Malibu Lagoon

Wildfire costs add $40 a month to power bills

Wildfire-related charges now make up 17% of monthly Southern California Edison bills, and the utility wants more from the state insurance fund.

Wildfire Recovery Insurance Malibu Recovery

Grossman civil trial begins today over crosswalk deaths

Rebecca Grossman and former boyfriend Scott Erickson face the Iskander family in civil court. The judge is already considering sanctions.

Courts Pedestrian Deaths

Pro-housing group sues over governor's SB 9 fire-zone suspension

YIMBY says Governor's emergency orders allowing Malibu to limit lot splits and ADUs in the fire area are unconstitutional.

Malibu City Council Wildfire Recovery Malibu Real Estate Malibu Recovery Courts

Officials convene emergency meeting to keep Baywatch in Venice

Supervisor Horvath and Councilwoman Park brokered a deal at Fox Studios after a Facebook post sparked a week-long crisis over the show's permits.

Entertainment Industry Coastal Commission

Warm ocean, jellyfish and a possible 'Super El Niño' ahead

Zuma Beach water is 7 degrees above normal, jellyfish and stingrays are showing up early, and forecasters warn of a major El Niño this fall.

Weather El Nino Zuma Beach Heat Wave

Today's surf and beach report

Two-foot swell, water 7 degrees above normal, and L.A. County warns swimmers to stay out for 48 hours after weekend rain.

Weather Zuma Beach

Friday, April 10, 2026

Artemis Capsule Splashes Down Off Catalina Tonight

On the clearest days, the splashdown zone may be faintly visible from the highest peaks of western Malibu.

Nasa Point Dume

Today's Weather: Storm Misses, but Weekend Looks Wet

A 70 percent chance of rain arrives late Saturday, with stormy weather expected all day Sunday.

Weather

PCH Roundabouts Plan Returns to City Council Monday

Council will decide whether the western Malibu road-narrowing project meets legal findings to proceed.

PCH Safety Malibu City Council Pedestrian Deaths Caltrans Traffic Enforcement

Malibu Savings Drained as FEMA Money Stalled at White House

City manager proposes 10 percent cuts across all departments as reserves fall from $84 million to $55 million.

Malibu City Hall City Budget Wildfire Recovery Malibu Recovery Donald Trump

Getty Center to Close for a Year; Getty Villa Stays Open

The Brentwood museum closes in 11 months for renovations, with masterworks moving briefly to the Malibu villa.

Entertainment Industry Community Events

Santa Monica Spending $56 Million to Electrify Big Blue Buses

The city is buying 73 battery-powered buses, with more than half the cost going to chargers.

Santa Monica Infrastructure

Jury Acquits Cal State Professor Arrested at ICE Raid

Federal jurors needed only minutes to clear Jonathan Caravello of assault charges over a tear gas canister.

Courts Ventura County National

Riverside Sheriff's Ballot Seizure Built on Thin Evidence

Newly unsealed warrants show Sheriff Chad Bianco seized 650,000 ballots with no insider tips and no expert analysis.

Courts National

GOP Governor Race Turns Vicious Between Hilton and Bianco

The two Republican front-runners are trading immigration attacks ahead of California's June jungle primary.

National

Thursday, April 9, 2026

Bohm returns to court as unlocked phone yields evidence

The Malibu man accused of killing four Pepperdine students on PCH has another pretrial hearing today, with cellphone data potentially in play.

PCH Safety Courts Pedestrian Deaths Traffic Fatalities Sheriff's Department

Six bystanders killed in pursuits; Friedman pushes for tech

Congresswoman Laura Friedman wants federal money to equip local police with grapplers, tracking darts and chase drones to end high-speed pursuits safely.

Public Safety Commission Traffic Fatalities National Law Enforcement Technology

Santa Monica College approved for cloud computing degree

SMC will enroll students this fall in a new four-year baccalaureate program in cloud computing, only its second bachelor's offering.

Santa Monica Education SMMUSD

Rocky Oaks mansion sells for $13 million, 70% off

The mountaintop estate above Kanan Road tunnels, originally listed at $49.5 million, finally sold this week after two auctions.

Malibu Real Estate Kanan Road

Disney plans another round of layoffs, possibly 1,000 jobs

The Walt Disney Co. is preparing major cuts as the Southern California studio industry continues to contract.

Entertainment Industry Layoffs National

Artemis 2 to splash down off Southern California Friday

The moon-orbiting spacecraft and its four astronauts will land in the Pacific about 120 miles south of Malibu at 5:07 p.m. Friday.

National Nasa

Today's Weather

The first storm is a dud, but a second system arrives Saturday night with up to a half-inch of rain possible.

Weather

Wednesday, April 8, 2026

Triple Pacific cyclones may trigger record El Niño

A rare cluster of three tropical cyclones near the equator is pushing warm water eastward, setting up what could be the strongest El Niño in 140 years.

El Nino Weather PCH Safety Daniel Swain

Mountain lion spotted again on Pepperdine campus

Public safety staff saw the cat near Huntsinger Circle at about 2 a.m. Tuesday before it headed up the hill toward the Graduate Campus.

Pepperdine Public Safety Wildlife

Sixth rattlesnake bite of the year reported near Camarillo

A person was bitten Sunday afternoon at a gathering near Cal State Channel Islands, 15 miles west of Malibu.

Public Safety Wildlife Ventura County Weather

Council subcommittee to rewrite public safety director job

With Susan Duenas planning to retire, the city is reshaping the role to include code enforcement before hiring a replacement.

Malibu City Hall Susan Duenas Public Safety Commission Code Enforcement City Budget

UCSB study: PG&E overcharging $686 million for Diablo Canyon

Three professors say California ratepayers are subsidizing a profitable nuclear plant, costing the average SCE customer about $80 a year.

Energy Diablo Canyon Utilities National

Pacific Surfliner adds daily Ventura-Santa Barbara commuter trains

Six daily trips begin next month, with a new morning train timed for commuters from Camarillo and Ventura.

Transportation Ventura County Infrastructure

Santa Monica police running two more traffic crackdowns

Extra officers will write tickets focused on violations endangering bicyclists and pedestrians, 2 to 8 p.m. today and Thursday.

Santa Monica Traffic Enforcement Pedestrian Deaths

Trader Joe's expanding on Westside — but still not Malibu

The chain is seeking liquor licenses for the old Fox Venice theater on Lincoln Boulevard and continues to pursue a third Santa Monica store.

Business Santa Monica

Today's Weather

Warmer today, cooler Thursday, with rain and possible thunderstorms beginning Friday evening through the weekend.

Weather

Tuesday, April 7, 2026

Two storms to bring weekend rain to Malibu

A Friday system and a stronger, colder Sunday storm could deliver more than a half inch of rain — possibly more if thunderstorms develop.

Weather

Homeland Security threatens to pull customs from LAX

New DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin says sanctuary cities like Los Angeles may lose federal customs processing at their international airports.

National Donald Trump Law Enforcement Technology

SpaceX launch from Vandenberg lights up night sky

Twenty-five low-orbit satellites were sent up Monday night, with California suing to learn how much debris SpaceX dumps into the atmosphere.

Nasa National

Busch Drive tank flushed again as Malibu Park water deemed safe

Wind blew open an inspection hatch on the 80-year-old tank, prompting a boil-water order, drainage and superchlorination before service resumes Wednesday.

LA County Waterworks Malibu Recovery Wildfire Recovery Zuma Beach

Tank water ran down hill into Zuma Creek underpass

Half the dumped tank water flowed past the Malibu Equestrian Center; the rest reached the PCH underpass where the county is preparing to divert the creek.

LA County Waterworks Zuma Beach PCH Safety

Analyst: Trump endorsement may hand California to Democrats

CalMatters columnist Dan Walters writes that Trump's surprise backing of Steve Hilton could keep two Republicans from advancing past the June primary.

Donald Trump National

Two governor debates set for April and May

KTLA hosts top-tier candidates April 22; CNN follows May 5 with a wider field for those polling at least 3 percent.

National

Malibu plans April 28 evacuation workshop at City Hall

Residents can identify their evacuation zone, learn how decisions are made, and weigh in on the city's draft Mass Evacuation Plan.

Malibu City Hall Disaster Preparedness Fire Safety Community Events

Wolf that wandered into LA County now heading north

After more than 1,000 miles, the first wolf seen in Los Angeles County in a century is approaching Bishop on her way back to Oregon.

National

Monday, April 6, 2026

County reverses course, will clear Zuma Creek underpass

L.A. County Beaches and Harbors will scrape rocks blocking the PCH underpass next week, after Malibu activists pressed for action.

Zuma Beach PCH Safety Caltrans Infrastructure Malibu Recovery

Malibu Park boil water order lifted after weekend confusion

A Busch Drive water tank issue triggered a precautionary boil order for 300 households, but the city said it was never alerted by the county.

LA County Waterworks Public Safety Commission Malibu City Hall

Why an 80-year-old Busch Drive tank is still in service

The 1947 concrete tank was flagged for replacement decades ago, but Planning Commission objections delayed permits for nearly 18 years.

LA County Waterworks Infrastructure Malibu City Hall Code Enforcement

State delays Zone Zero rules; public hearing set for April 23

California's Board of Forestry has paused the controversial defensible-space rule requiring clearing within five feet of homes.

Fire Safety Wildfire Recovery Fire Safe Council

Council to weigh $272,000 City Hall audio-visual upgrade

Malibu staff recommend new cameras and sound systems for the council chambers and Senior Center, replacing 12-year-old equipment.

Malibu City Hall City Budget Infrastructure

Malibu may expand short-term rental tracking software

The City Council will consider new monitoring tools to track STR revenue, night limits, taxes, and zoning compliance.

Malibu City Hall Code Enforcement City Budget

Trump endorsement of Hilton may upend California GOP primary

Political observers say the president's backing of podcaster Steve Hilton could push Chad Bianco out and clear a path for Democrats.

Donald Trump National

Wildflowers putting on a show across Malibu area

Strong rains and recent warmth have brought goldfields, lupines and poppies to Paramount Ranch and Point Mugu State Park.

Community Events Weather

Rain — possibly a thunderstorm — in forecast for Friday

Forecasters give an 80 percent chance of weekend rain, with a 30 percent chance of an inch or more.

Weather

Friday, April 3, 2026

Santa Ana winds and heat hit Malibu through Sunday

Gusts up to 50 mph are expected in the mountains today, with warming through the weekend before a Monday cooldown.

Weather Santa Ana Winds Fire Safety

54 more apartments coming to jammed Kanan Road interchange

Agoura Hills will add a four-story, income-restricted complex next to another 278-unit project at Malibu's emergency fire exit.

Kanan Road Wildfire Recovery Fire Safety PCH Safety Disaster Preparedness

Abandoned mountain lion kitten rescued in Santa Monica Mountains

The 22-day-old cub, missing toes on one hind foot, was found alive after his mother left the den.

Ventura County Community Events

Council subcommittee questions library mental health hire

With $28 million in a library set-aside account, council members ask whether a proposed outreach worker duplicates Boys and Girls Club services.

Malibu City Hall Wildfire Recovery Point Dume

Santa Monica to power-wash gunk off downtown sidewalks

The city is merging maintenance teams and hiring through Chrysalis to scrub commercial corridors that have gone uncleaned for years.

Santa Monica Homelessness

Diablo Canyon nuclear plant gets 20-year license renewal

The federal NRC extended California's last nuclear plant, which sits on two earthquake faults and supplies 8 percent of the state's electricity.

National Infrastructure

Malibu Library offers free e-book of Takei internment memoir

"They Called Us Enemy" is available with no wait list as part of a 190-library One Book, One Coast campaign.

Community Events Education

Pet toucan on the loose in Topanga Canyon

Frieda was last seen Thursday on Old Topanga Canyon Road. Sightings should be reported to LA County Animal Control.

Community Events

Record March heat across U.S. signals new pressure on Malibu water

With Sierra snowpack at 18 percent of normal and Colorado reservoirs near empty, desalination projects off the Malibu coast are gaining momentum.

Weather Daniel Swain LA County Waterworks Water Rates Coastal Commission

Thursday, April 2, 2026

Malibu shifts code enforcement to Public Safety Department

City Manager Joe Irvin moves code enforcement out of planning, doubling the size of the Public Safety Department.

Malibu City Hall Susan Duenas Code Enforcement Public Safety Commission

Waterworks breaks ground on Carbon Mesa water main

Project will replace aging, undersized lines that have blocked some Carbon Mesa Road building approvals.

Infrastructure Carbon Mesa LA County Waterworks Wildfire Recovery Water Rates

Point Dume food truck sweep finds zero valid licenses

A task force cited every truck checked, and operators are now playing cat and mouse with city officials.

Point Dume Food Trucks Code Enforcement Sheriff's Department Wildfire Recovery

Trump joins critics of State Farm over wildfire claims

President pledges a federal probe of insurers' handling of California fire claims as administration cuts disaster aid.

State Farm Insurance Wildfire Recovery Donald Trump National

Heat and Santa Anas push Malibu toward early fire danger

Fire safety liaison warns brush moisture is dropping fast, with a possible heavy El Niño looming this winter.

Fire Safety Fire Safe Council Weather Wildfire Recovery El Nino

Strong Santa Ana winds expected through the weekend

Gusts of 45 to 55 mph forecast for the western Santa Monica Mountains, with warmer temperatures on coasts and valleys.

Weather Santa Ana Winds Fire Safety Malibu Canyon

Wednesday, April 1, 2026

Today's Weather: Rain Clears, Santa Anas Arrive

After overnight rain, skies clear today before gusty mountain winds build into a moderate Santa Ana event Friday and Saturday.

Weather Santa Ana Winds

PCH Crashes Absent From Public Safety Commission Agenda

Malibu's Public Safety Commission meets at 5 p.m. but cannot discuss the recent Westward Beach Road crashes — they aren't on the agenda.

Public Safety Commission PCH Safety Caltrans Traffic Fatalities

City Reviews Its Own Fire Response — But Only Its Own

Tonight's after-action report examines Malibu city staff during the Palisades and Franklin fires, but not the county fire department's actions.

Wildfire Recovery Disaster Preparedness Malibu City Hall Fire Safety Public Safety Commission

Malibu Wrote Thousands of Parking Tickets in February

Sheriff's deputies issued 4,023 parking tickets last month; city officers wrote 2,725 more, most for license plate violations.

Traffic Enforcement Sheriff's Department CHP PCH Safety

State Asked to Approve Sand Dumping at Zuma Beach

The California Coastal Commission will consider designating Zuma and Westward beaches as approved drop sites for clean inland sand.

Coastal Commission Zuma Beach Scoup Malibu Lagoon Rindge Dam

Santa Monica Seeks Permits for Giant Electronic Signs

The cash-strapped city wants Coastal Commission approval for six Las Vegas-style digital billboards near the Third Street Promenade.

Santa Monica Coastal Commission City Budget

Hollywood in a Coma: L.A. Lost 40,000 Industry Jobs

The Wall Street Journal reports an unprecedented downward spiral in entertainment, with production at its lowest non-pandemic level since 1995.

Entertainment Industry Layoffs

NTSB Chief: Hands-Free Driving Systems Don't Improve Safety

Jennifer Homendy says drivers grow too reliant on driver-assist cameras and pay more attention to phones than the road.

National Traffic Fatalities

Malibu Marks Earth Month With Talks, Cleanups, Giveaways

The city has lined up events on dark skies, chaparral fire ecology, hazmat collection, pollinator plants and a Bill McKibben talk.

Community Events Malibu City Hall Wildfire Recovery