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The Demons' quick start saw them take a commanding lead early with strong performances from pitchers and key offensive contributions leading to their 11th win in the last 13 games Under the guidance of second-year head coach Chris Bertrand limiting Pepperdine to just five hits and allowing only one unearned run The Demons will face Pepperdine again at 5 p.m with Tyler Bryan on the mound for Northwestern against Dylan Stewart from Pepperdine This matchup could further solidify the Demons' momentum if their winning streak continues With a powerful offense and a solid pitching staff Northwestern State is well-positioned for success in the remaining games of the series showcasing their potential to return to top form this season The summary of the linked article was generated with the assistance of artificial intelligence technology from OpenAI We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it OK Privacy policy Game Recap: Baseball | 5/4/2025 6:04:00 PM | by Pepperdine Athletics View this post on Instagram A post shared by Pepperdine Baseball (@pepperdinebaseball) Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here No. 10 seed Tennessee (19-7) defeated Pepperdine (15-13), 4-0, in the NCAA Tournament second round Saturday at Goodfriend Tennis Center The Lady Vols advance to the Sweet 16 and will face No 7 seed Virginia (22-5) on May 9 in Charlottesville "Very excited," Tennessee head coach Alison Ojeda said "Playing at home on Rocky Top makes a huge difference Having home court advantage with the Tennessee men's tennis team here was fantastic The girls compete their tails off all the time but in front of our own crowd makes a difference." Follow Vols Wire on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) the city of Malibu announced on its Facebook page that it is looking to help local businesses in the region with its new Small Business Micro Stabilization Grant Program Grants from $5,000 to $20,000 will be awarded to independent businesses impacted by the recent fires To apply online visit: www.MalibuRebuilds.org/BusinessGrants To obtain a paper application visit Malibu City Hall at 23825 Stuart Ranch Road MALIBU—The city of Malibu is hiring a Deputy City Manager They will serve a world-renowned coastal community nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Monica Mountains supportive environment that values work-life balance according to a post on the city’s Facebook page plus a competitive benefits package including flexible work options and 100 percent paid health coverage for employees and dependents The ideal candidate will bring strong public sector leadership the Deputy City Manager plays an integral role in planning and providing administrative direction and oversight for all activities and operations of the city of Malibu This position regularly interacts with the City Manager City Council and departmental representatives in coordinating projects and information and serves as acting City Manager in the City Manager’s and Assistant City Manager’s absence For more details about the position visit: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/malibucity TrendingResidentialLos AngelesAKanye West’s former Malibu pad lands seat as LA’s top contractOn Hilton & Hyland Kanye West’s previous pad in Malibu made headlines again this past week when it appeared in the No The weekly contracts list from Douglas Elliman’s Eklund Gomes team placed the beachfront property at 24844 Malibu Road at the top of its list had famously stripped the property of its finishes and electrical wiring that left a shell of the home sitting like a concrete bunker on the sand Belwood Investments later swooped in to buy the property in September for $21 million reworked the property and it is now in contract to sell it to Montana developer Mazella Ventures LLC The trickle of agents from Hilton & Hyland over the years after the passing of co-founder Jeff Hyland has set the stage for a new era in L.A.’s high-end brokerage world The peeling off of top talent from Hilton & Hyland has led to a new battle for market dominance in the boutique brokerage world That has led to the emergence of new names that now define the high end Beverly Hills Estates and Christie’s International Real Estate Southern California among others Australian billionaire James Packer made waves yet again in L.A real estate when he landed a buyer for his Beverly Hills property The mystery buyer paid $60 million for the 12-bedroom It was famously owned by Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman before Packer and it also counted Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez among its more recent renters Packer in March agreed to pay $110 million for 630 Nimes Road in Bel-Air telling Australian media outlet news.com.au he planned to move into the 10-bed Records of a closing have not yet been filed Westside Estate Agency’s Kurt Rappaport and Carolwood Estates’ Drew Fenton represented Packer in both instances Rappaport also represented the buyer in the Ridgedale Drive property but declined to provide details citing a non-disclosure agreement SIGN UPThis past week was a wrap — for now, anyway — on the contentious Assembly Bill 1157 which aimed to bolster tenant protections across California said he withdrew the bill from consideration on Tuesday because “more time is needed” to hash out the details The proposed bill aimed to lower the ceiling on rent increases across the state while also providing protections to single-family home renters Los Angeles’ $1 billion budget shortfall, aside from clouding last week’s State of the City, has now translated into a lower bond rating S&P Global Ratings lowered the long-term rating on the city’s general obligation bonds to AA- from AA The city’s lease revenue bonds were adjusted down from AA- to A+ The ratings agency called out the “city’s weakening financial position and an emerging structural imbalance” in a statement explaining the downgrades San Juan Capistrano developer Almquist landed Asian grocer T&T for The Canopy project at the Great Park It’s the first Southern California location for T&T and will finally bring much-needed retail to Great Park residents in Irvine Almquist founder Dan Almquist let slip to The Real Deal back in March there are also plans to bring a “big hamburger chain in California” to The Canopy the woman accused in the fatal July 4 crash on Pacific Coast Highway who calls herself a “wellness advocate,” is claiming the accident was the fault of Martin Okeke the ride share driver who police say was hit head-on while he drove a young passenger home on PCH.  Wheaton asks the court to deny Okeke’s family damages and to award her “judgment and attorney’s fees.” Police investigators state it was Wheaton who drove recklessly causing the fatal crash after returning from a booze-filled party at Nobu restaurant Wheaton has pleaded not guilty and is free on bail She was ordered in March to wear an alcohol-detecting ankle bracelet Architect Nicolò Bini designed Robert Downey Jr.’s Malibu house to be a marvel of human-centered design disaster-ready model for the California home three feet deeper than it would end up,” Nahem recalls yearlong design sprint to transform the sculptural form into something functional The program was straightforward—three bedrooms, a theater, indoor-outdoor living traditional furniture arrangements were out leaned into the organic forms with Roche-Bobois pieces custom fiberglass screens molded in Mexico and playful artisan-made fixtures from Central America and beyond ‘What if we used all three fabrics?’” Nahem laughs “They actually pushed me a little out of my comfort zone the use of the house is surprisingly traditional—hosting friends “Almost every room opens to the outside,” says Nahem “It’s deeply Californian.” Center-pivoting hobbit-like doors add a sense of whimsy while a hidden theater anchors the structure—complete with a garage-style door that opens it to the living space This marks Nahem’s third project with the Downeys and a testament to the trust they’ve built And they really live in the spaces we create.” In the following photographs you’ll see how Nahem’s designs further express the swirling swooping vision of the Binishell and make this radical structure comfortable architect Nicolo Bini explains how the shell itself came to be—and how this strange beautiful structure may just offer a blueprint for the future of building “What was the matter with the typical American house?” “Well, just for an honest beginning, it lied about everything.”  This stark observation encapsulates the fundamental flaws in how we design and construct our homes. From stylistic misreferences to inefficiencies in materials and construction methods, the ways we build often fail us at very basic levels. It is time to reimagine our approach to architecture and shelter, grounding it in principles of resilience, harmony with nature, and efficiency many American homes speak the wrong design language The notion of “coming home” has been reduced to inhabiting a mathematical construct of our own making—cold and impersonal a psychological experiment found that most people preferred an organic reflecting a deep psychological attraction to natural forms Our current homes fail to cater to this innate preference leaving our living spaces disconnected from what feels truly like “home.” Despite these inefficiencies, we continue to build as we have for decades, perpetuating the same mistakes. Insurance policies and building codes encourage rebuilding exactly what was there before eliminate the thermal leaks caused by multiple connections in traditional construction With half the material and a third of the labor we could build homes that are not only more resilient but also stunningly sculptural evoking the comforting enclosures of caves or wombs The responsibility for this transformation lies with architects and builders. We must stop lying to ourselves about what makes a good home. Homes should prioritize safety, sustainability, and harmony with nature. They should inspire us, nurture our psyches, and provide spaces that feel inherently right This isn’t just a dream—it’s achievable. Innovative designs that align with natural forces and use materials efficiently can deliver immense benefits. In Malibu, our Binishells System A prototype was permitted in a record six months reportedly the fastest approval in the area’s history This demonstrates that change is possible when we challenge outdated norms and embrace innovation Our current approach to building homes is fundamentally flawed By looking to nature and leveraging modern advancements It’s time to scrap the old model and start anew building not just structures but spaces that truly reflect the needs and aspirations of the people who live in them and smarter—for ourselves and for future generations Nicolò Bini is an architect and CEO of Binishells a construction technology company that builds houses using pneumatic formwork over which concrete is poured He has designed homes and projects for Cara and Poppy Delevingne and the Binishells home for Robert Downey Jr and so much more delivered straight to your door every quarter Copyright ©2025 S Media International Corporation. SUNSET is a registered trademark of S Media International Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy SUNSET may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website Offers may be subject to change without notice which is completely fair if you're Kylie Jenner or aspire to be If your vibe lately leans more toward sand and surf than summer in the city, head west to Malibu, where you'll see lots of casual flat flip-flops (not heeled) But if you're bound for more polished pastures or just like a fun shoe moment stick to the 101 and lean into the leveled-up leisure look Keep scrolling to shop pieces that can be mixed and matched to re-create Jenner's style-savvy a colorful reusable tote bag goes with pretty much everything On Kylie Jenner: Khy tank top, Ludovic de Saint Sernin jeans; Manolo Blahnik shoes; Gucci bag; Cartier watch Good American always perfects the basics. Take your white to the next level this spring. Looking for a new pair of shades? Found 'em. A bright reusable tote is always a good idea. Gap has so many colorful canvas totes this season. These are lighter-weight than denim but still have the same look. You won't find this style at a better price. An asymmetrical bag adds interest to an otherwise everyday outfit. You'll find her byline on the site around topics such as celebrity fashion beauty favorites (particularly nail polish) The Point Dume Club Residents’ Association convened a general membership meeting for the first time in years on April 23 at the PDC clubhouse to consider and address several matters the most immediately pressing of which is legislation under consideration by lawmakers in Sacramento which seeks to eliminate local governments’ control over setting rental rates and other policies in mobile home parks statewide.  a commissioner serving on the Malibu Mobile Home Rent Stabilization Commission the Mobile Home Residency Law governs tenancies in mobile home parks and includes provisions that apply to those with an ownership interest in a subdivision or condominium for mobile homes or a resident-owned mobile home park these provisions set forth the rights of residents regarding use of the property Existing law exempts the rental of certain mobile home spaces by a homeowner, if the mobile home space is not the principal residence of the homeowner and the homeowner has not rented the mobile home to another party, from any ordinance that establishes a maximum amount that the landlord may charge a tenant for rent.  which is currently pending before the Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee seeks to amend Section 798.21 of the Civil Code, relating to rent protections and local rent control in California’s mobile home parks The bill would apply the current exemption to the rental of certain mobile home spaces by a homeowner only if the mobile home space is actively held available for sale and it is not the only or principal residence of a homeowner The practical effect of the bill would be to eliminate local control over matters relating to mobile home parks and rental rates for such communities noting that  the bill seeks to relegate such decisions to the state because housing is considered a statewide issue and the housing shortage in California is significant.  Assemblywoman Anamarie Ávila Farías (D-Dist 15) introduced the proposal. Avila Faria is a third-generation Contra Costa County resident who was raised by a single mother after her father passed away when she was 3 years old. Her website states that her family dealt with housing insecurity and that she has worked in the housing industry and is an advocate for accessory dwelling units to promote multi-generational affordable housing. She was appointed by former Gov Jerry Brown and subsequently by Gov Gavin Newsom to the Board of Directors of the California Housing Finance Agency which addresses the needs of low- and moderate-income renters and homebuyers by providing financing and programs focusing on housing equity Malibu’s Mobile Home Rent Stabilization Commission remains dormant   At the meeting, Point Dume residents expressed extreme frustration that the city has not reactivated its Mobile Home Park Rent Stabilization Commission a body established years ago to adjudicate any dispute between mobile home park owners and residents. At a City Council meeting on Oct mobile home residents urged the commission’s reactivation after the transition from PDC being a family-run operation to being operated by Homeland America the nation’s largest owner of mobile home parks in the country the council has not reactivated the commission Residents attending the meeting vowed to press the city to do so Malibu City Councilmember Steve Uhring stated that he is supportive of the residents having reasonable rent and of the reactivation of the commission “People who live in mobile homes count too,” Shankman stated. “The council should not only address the concerns of those who live along the ocean and the council should be responsive to PDC residents’ concerns and should immediately reactivate the commission — this meeting is part of your community organizing and demanding action.” longtime Point Dume resident Richard Garvey provided an overview of the Community Emergency Response Team noting that the team’s volunteers work under the city’s purview, is city-funded and the city providesCERT with a lot of support “Our next CERT training is on May 6 and attendees will be instructed on disaster psychology and first aid,” Garvey said.“The CERT team has gotten a lot of support from the sheriff’s and the team supports the first responders by doing welfare checks during an emergency and assists in any way we can.” A representative of Wyesman Wildfire Defense showcased Firebozz can be utilized to harness the water in PDC’s pool and its water basin to help defend PDC’s perimeter as well as individual mobile homes. “The Firebozz successfully defended Malibu Jewish Community Center and Synagogue in the Franklin Fire and the Getty is evaluating whether to install our system,” said Ray A Wyesman representative. “You can also configure the systems so you can operate them remotely on our app.”  Responding to Croney’s presentation vice president of the PDC Residents Association opined that PDC should do all it can to prepare to fight the next wildfire including considering purchasing such fire suppression systems We are stronger together with a fire brigade director of operations for the Community Brigade Program explained how the brigade operates.  “Having a fire truck in your driveway is not going to happen during a wildfire,” Gibbs said. “The idea behind having a fire brigade is that we are stronger together if we are all trained in fire behavior and in how to fight wildfires and if we take steps to mitigate the danger.”  Gibbs noted that the brigade needs volunteers who are at least 18 years old and are physically fit He explained that volunteers are trained for 10 weekend days and learn about evacuation protocols and fight fires. “We have six fire trucks and hoses and we are in the process of getting two more trucks,” Gibbs informed. “We also have all the requisite radios for communications and during the Franklin Fire we had 21 people to staff efforts in support of the first responders.”  He explained that during the Franklin Fire the brigade helped evacuate the Knolls neighborhood and Serra Retreat andduring the Palisades Fire they helped support response efforts at Sunset Mesa and Rambla Pacifico. Gibbs noted that the brigade falls under the auspices of the Los Angeles County Disaster Program which provides insurance for volunteers “Our community brigade has 50 volunteers and they serve County Line Big Rock andHidden Hills. We are growing and are adding brigades in Hidden Hills Topanga and at County Line,” Gibbs said. “The brigade also helps residents evaluate how to mitigate fire risk through home hardening.” He noted that donations can be made to support the brigade either through its oversight organization the Los Angeles Emergency Preparedness Foundation Bowen noted that before Malibu became a city the county employed controlled burns for wildfire management Gibbs responded, “There were plans after the Woolsey Fire to have a controlled burn at Big Rock but it was canceled and now Bowen urged members to strongly consider starting a PDC brigade and purchasing a fire truck for PDC She also admonished attendees that, “if we show up at City Council If signed into law as currently written AB 768 would effectively eliminate rent control protections for many mobile home spaces in Point Dume Club and Paradise Cove — particularly those not used as a homeowner’s primary residence Because housing is considered a matter of statewide concern the nation’s largest owner of mobile home parks is reportedly lobbying in support of the legislation which could result in significantly increased space rents. In practice, if space rent is no longer capped landlords may double rental rates. Homeowners who rent out their mobile homes would likely pass those costs along to subtenants Although four of Malibu’s five city councilmembers have called for a meeting to address the matter the city manager has yet to schedule one — prompting concern among residents who feel there’s no official city mechanism to respond to mobile home park issues.  is deeply problematic but believe there’s potential to amend it in favor of mobile home tenants The Golden State Mobile Homeowners Group has also been vocal in opposing the measure Schmitz’ concept for preventing unbridled wildfires in the Santa Monica Mountains from devastating Malibu is quite simple: We should install a series of enormous water tanks along the ridgelines of the Santa Monica Mountains where firefighters establish fire breaks.  The series of water tanks could at least conceptually make Malibu and properties in the Santa Monicas safer, as would Schmitz’s suggestion that a series of rainbirds be placed in the mountains to help fight spot fires. As to the latter proposal, he displays the proper agricultural full circle irrigation sprinklers in his office — the type capable of withstanding the onslaught of a wildfire.   The latter term refers to policymakers having the strength and tenacity to actually support and implement a difficult, yet potentially lifesaving expansive firefighting system across many acres on land owned by many agencies, organizations and private parties. Why communally discuss a long-term project amid Malibuites’ disaster recovery challenges? What we need is a master plan to address disasters, Schmitz emphasizes, noting that the Palisades Fire is such a phenomenal cataclysm that the community leaders should seize the day, seek funding and cooperation from government agencies at every level, and focus on long term strategies while also addressing the short term, daunting and pressing imperatives of rebuilding Malibu.  “What we do know is that the losses caused by fires are immense and escalating,” he emphasizes. “The system of water tanks and rainbirds would establish a firefighting asset that would never leave once installed.” In sum, he notes, such a system “would give us a better fighting chance when waging war against wildfires and I know we’re all tired of getting beaten by them.” Longtime Malibu resident David Duchovny has listed his Point Dume home for sale. The asking price is $12.5 million. The one-acre estate includes an unusual feature, a train caboose car.  The actor/writer personally renovated an old caboose that he turned into a guest house complete with a kitchen, living room, sleeping area, and bathroom.  The 64-year-old, originally from New York, bought the property that included the caboose in 2016 for $4.75 million. He razed the original home on the site and poured $7 million into a new 3,580 square-foot home and another one-million on the caboose. Duchovny wrote the novel “Truly Like Lightening” in that unusual office and often records his podcast there. He has called the creative space “an amazing little spot to be in.”   The main house on the property has a modern, open floor plan, lap pool, and separate gym. The property includes deeded entry access to the beach. Duchovny has had ties to Malibu since the 1990s when he starred in the television show “The X-Files.” He raised two children in Malibu with his ex-wife, actress Tea Leoni. Chris Cortazzo of Compass has the listing. Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Captain Jennifer Seetoo has been promoted to Commander, effective May 11 — Mother’s Day — after nearly three impactful years serving the Malibu/Lost Hills Station.  Seetoo explained that the promotion process involves applying to be eligible rather than for a specific position. “When certain positions come up, if you’re eligible, you put your name on the list,” she said. As Commander, she will oversee five stations within the North Patrol Division — including Malibu/Lost Hills — working alongside another commander. While the exact scope of her future involvement in Malibu is yet to be determined, Seetoo emphasized that the transition is still fresh. “I will still be captain at Malibu/Lost Hills this upcoming week, and I meet with my new boss on the 12th,” she noted. Reflecting on the promotion, Seetoo became emotional. “When I first found out, I literally cried. I was like, no. That was my frustration,” she said. “I’m super grateful and thankful to my bosses who believe in me… but I also think about what we’ve accomplished here over the last three years.” Her promotion marks both a personal achievement and a transition for a leader who has been deeply connected to the Malibu community. Read the full article in next Thursday’s paper.  Residents were palpably frustrated because the four long months since the fire have been full of tumult and the toughissues discussed in the session are complicated, will take a lot of time and will be expensive.   Whether to build a sewer and how to fund doing so “Caltrans is in the process of evaluating those sea walls along its property lines and seeing areas that need repair. There are three locations that they have identified and that they are in the process of repairing,” Malibu Public Works Director Rob DuBoux said. “As soon as more debris is being removed (by the Army Corps of Engineers), they are going to go back in there and look to see if there are more PCH areas they need to go back and fix.”  He also stated that CalTrans is assessing PCH from Topanga to Carbon Beach and will determine whether any other areas will need to be shored up.  DuBoux delivered an incisive report comparing five alternative approaches to addressing the wastewater needs of the rebuilding coastal property owners who lost a total of 320 homes on the beach as well as of the  land-side owners who are rebuilding a total of 141 homes. He addressed capital costs for such infrastructure to be built.  There are four possible options regarding building a sewer system of some kind. The other option for providing rebuilding homeowners with wastewater treatment that was discussed would be for individual homeowners to install advanced wastewater treatment systems on their properties, which would require the construction of seawalls to protect those individual septic systems’ septic drain fields, also known as leach fields.  All options involving constructing a sewer system would take more than five years, DuBoux noted, adding that the Hyperion option’s cost is approximately half of the cost of individual homeowners installing seawalls and individual wastewater treatment tanks.  Answering Malibu City Councilmember Haylynn Conrad’s questions concerning possible funding sources for constructing a sewer system in East Malibu, DuBoux stated that the Regional Water Quality Board may provide a funding resource, but more negotiations would have to occur between the City of Malibu and that board. Malibu Interim City Attorney Trevor Rusin suggested that the city appoint a task force to explore all options and their costs. Conrad and fellow City Councilmember Steve Uhring volunteered to serve on the task force. Rusin noted that a task force could explore negotiating an interim solution for homeowners concerning sewage waste and water treatment so they could rebuild before any sewer system construction was completed.  DuBoux noted that it will take approximately 18 months of planning and approximately 12 months to obtain necessary permits prior to beginning the construction of any sewer system. He requested funding for securing design engineers to submit plans for whatever system the City Council might select. Construction of sewer systems could take between five toseven years, he estimated.  Malibu Mayor Doug Stewart noted that Norm Haynie chairs the city’s Wastewater Advisory Committee and that body should work with DuBoux and Bundy to explore solutions. The City Council will consider forming a sewer ad hoc committee to explore all options as that item is now agendized for the city’s April 28 meeting.  Presentation by Fran Pavley and Mark Gold — Proposition 4 funding  Fran Pavley, a former California state senator who represented Malibu, now serves as the environmental policy director for the USC Schwarzenegger Institute for State and Global Policy. She also serves on a blue ribbon commission established after the Palisades Fire by Lindsey P. Horvath, Malibu’s representative on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, to support a more resilient and sustainable recovery from recent fires. The work session group listened to a brief presentation by Pavley and Dr. Mark Gold, who also serves on the county’scommission, is a former California deputy secretary for oceans and coastal policy for Newsom and is Director For Water Scarcity Solutions for the National Resources Defense Council. The commission is developing a report to address solutions regarding wastewater systems and water safety after the Palisades Fire. “It would be helpful if the Malibu City Council created a wastewater taskforce,” Gold recommended. He explained that the commission is tasked with exploring how to best strengthen water sources’ resilience and safety with due regard toclimate vulnerability, and it will address creating localized backup systems when the power is shut off by utilities.  Pavley and Gold explained that the commission will be releasing an initial study addressing water quality and sewage disposal options in Malibu. “If the city decides to construct a sewer then the residents on the beach would not need seawalls,” he stated, drawing applause from residents in the audience.  I didn’t start the fire, but I have to pay for it After the presentations regarding sewer systems, Stewart allowed only brief public comments, noting that residents can make further comments at the next City Council meeting. Carl Randall, who lost his family home on Dog Beach, succinctly exclaimed, “I didn’t start the fire, but I have to pay for it? Please find funding solutions!” Angry comments and murmurs stating that the working session meeting should include more public comment pervaded through the audience. Self-certification of some design build reports and geotechnical reports processing issues The marathon work session continued by addressing how to streamline the geology and coastal engineering review processes when residents are rebuilding.  Many residents and design-build professionals are requesting that reports authored by geologists and engineers can be self-certified, as is done in some other jurisdictions. She emphasized that the city has new GIS Mapping Tools and offers one-stop general geology resource webpages for public reports and links, all of which are new technology services that can help to expedite permit processing.  Addressing self-certification issues specifically, Bundy noted that “Currently, self-certification of construction project building plan checks is not authorized, nor specifically prohibited, under the provisions of state law.” Whereas fire and public health plan checks are required to be completed by the Departments of Fire and Environmental Health and zoning conformance review is required to be completed by the Planning Department.”  Addressing that line of thought, City Councilmember Bruce Silverstein noted that “our staffs’ hands are tied” unless the city can somehow find a way to authorize a self-certified process to ease the processing of permits. He suggested that perhaps the city should ask state authorities for leniency and to change the relevant laws with regard to rebuilding after the Palisades Fire. Alternatively, city staff could conduct audits to ensure that no one is cutting corners with regard to self-certification. He noted that if the city authorizes self-certification, “no one is forced to self-certify. Why not give people an opportunity to do it in like-for-like rebuilds?” Stewart stated that “Self-certification in Los Angeles is very reduced and only folks who are building in flat areas can use that process — there is an exclusion for geologically sensitive lots.” In his mind, “The risk is considerable for homeowners if there is self-certification.” Uhring concurred with that opinion.  In the question-and-answer session, resident Darren Graves commented, “By definition, coastal engineers and geologists abide by very conservative standards because they are aware that their errors and omissions insurance is on the line when they self-certify.” That reality, Graves and others in the audience noted, will necessarily make such design professionals act competently when self-certifying reports.   Architect Doug Burdge commented that in his professional opinion, after working in Malibu for decades, if it saves homeowners money and time, the city should consider allowing home builders to hire private, state-certified inspectors who can certify reports as they could perform the same function as city officials could and they are just as qualified as the city’s employees.  Ultimately, the councilmembers in attendance voted 2-2 regarding self-certification, with Conrad and Silverstein voting in favor of the council possibly allowing self-certification and Stewart and Uhring voting against the concept. The councilmembers noted that their vote is not dispositive and the matter will have to be addressed by the entire City Council.   Overall, as the lengthy work session wrapped up, those leaving the meeting were more aware than ever that those who arerebuilding homes face some daunting years ahead and that conundrums that only the city and other government agencies can resolve must be addressed and resolved before they can rebuild their homes.   Crash witnesses and law enforcement officers testified this week in a preliminary hearing before Judge Diego H. Edber found there was sufficient evidence to order a trial.  Deputy District Attorney Nathan Bartos argued that the crash was not a tragic accident, but the foreseeable consequence of reckless driving. “He consciously decided to get that vehicle up to the speed of 104 miles per hour,” Bartos told the court. “This was not an accident.” Bohm’s attorney, Michael Kraut, has argued the accident was the result of road rage against his client. Kraut said he was in court to seek justice, not to have his client freed from any responsibility for the crash. Niamh Rolston, 20; Peyton Stewart, 21; Asha Weir, 21; and Deslyn Williams, 21, were all killed in the incident. Print A Malibu man has been convicted of fraudulently obtaining an estimated $25 million in investments in his tech company and using the funds to finance a lavish lifestyle that included a Rolls-Royce After a nine-day trial, Bernhard Eugen Fritsch, 63, was found guilty of one count of wire fraud and faces a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. The jury found him not guilty of a second wire fraud count. Fritsch remains free on bond and is set to appear at a sentencing hearing in the coming months. An attorney for him did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday. California Olaf Kyros Gustafsson, a.k.a. “El Silencio,” has been accused of running a global scam in which he sold Pablo Escobar-branded products that didn’t exist, authorities say. From 2014 to 2017, prosecutors say, Fritsch raised more than $20 million from investors for his Santa Monica-based tech company StarClub. He claimed the money was to build an application called StarSite that would help celebrities and influencers monetize their fame through sponsored social media advertisements. Prosecutors say he lured investors by telling them that major media companies and a global investment banking firm had already put money into his company, which he asserted had made $15 million in revenue in 2015. He also claimed he was on the verge of closing a commercial deal with Disney. However, none of these statements were true, prosecutors said — nor was his promise to put their money into his tech company. “Instead, Fritsch used much of the investor money to enrich himself and support his luxurious lifestyle, including by purchasing luxury cars such as a McLaren and a Rolls-Royce, fixing up his yacht, and renovating his Malibu mansion, located near Carbon Beach,” the Justice Department said in a statement. The Justice Department has announced the arrest of Orange resident Joseph Sanberg an anti-poverty activist and co-founder of Aspiration Partners Inc Prosecutors estimate those caught up in the scheme lost around $25 million One would-be investor contributed more than $20 million and introduced Fritsch to others who gave millions more Law enforcement have seized the yacht and luxury vehicles County Superior Court three times over allegations of fraudulent financial schemes Record industry executive Haqq Islam and his company sued StarClub and Fritsch in 2013, claiming breach of contact and fraud. Islam alleged that Fritsch owed him $750,000 for helping get celebrities such as Jessica Simpson to meet with Fritsch and consider participating in StarClub’s business ventures, according to reporting by Courthouse News Service. Two 23-year-old Southern California men have been indicted on charges of defrauding investors out of more than $22 million in cryptocurrency, according to authorities. Then in 2017, Eugene McBurney and Bermuda-based hedge fund Harrington Global Opportunities, both of which were investors in StarClub, sued Fritsch on claims of breach of contract and fraud, court records show. This lawsuit alleges that employees of StarClub “obtained over $35 million in cash from investors on the basis of false representations, presenting their social media company as ‘the next big thing.’” A trial setting conference for this lawsuit is scheduled for June 25. Fritsch was sued last year by Marc Montgomery, who alleges that Fritsch — his cousin — owes him more than $593,000 in loans and interest that Fritsch used to cover his mortgage, car payments and utilities, according to the complaint. This case is still pending. Clara Harter is a breaking news reporter at the Los Angeles Times. Previously, she covered politics and education for the L.A. Daily News. While at the Daily News, she published a series on fentanyl addiction that won a first-place investigative journalism award from the L.A. Press Club. Harter majored in political science and Middle Eastern studies at Columbia University. She loves surfing and, when not reporting, can most likely be found in the ocean. World & Nation Subscribe for unlimited accessSite Map Stanford secured the doubles point early and took control winning the first sets in all but two singles matches with Stanford clinching the match after just over two hours of play marking a three-win improvement from last year Pepperdine's focus will shift to the offseason as they aim to build on this year's successes while ensuring they remain competitive for the next season Pepperdine's season showed promise despite ending in defeat highlighting areas of growth as they prepare for future challenges The Waves will look to regroup in the offseason developing their young talent for future seasons the team will focus on growth and experience ahead of next year Pepperdine's early exit from the NCAA Tournament underscores the need for continued development of their young roster as they aim to compete more effectively in the future The match concluded with an impressive shutout showcasing strong performances in both doubles and singles Stanford will now face 13th-seeded South Carolina on May 9 at their home court Stanford will host South Carolina in the NCAA Super Regionals on May 9 aiming to continue their winning streak and advance further in the tournament The match starts at noon and will be critical for the team's pursuit of a championship With a strong home record and recent performances Stanford is positioned as a formidable contender for the NCAA title Their ability to maintain momentum against strong opponents will be key as they face South Carolina in the next round Game Recap: Baseball | 5/3/2025 6:33:00 PM | by Pepperdine Athletics Thanks for visiting 27 Pepperdine women's tennis team's season ended with a 4-0 sweep at the hands of 10-seed Tennessee in the second round of the NCAA Tournament The Lady Vols (19-7) took the doubles point then proceeded to win five first sets in singles play to finish the Waves' (15-13) season. Although the match started outdoors, rain moved the match indoors midway through the first set of singles play. This was the first postseason trip for Interim Head Coach Tassilo Schmid and five of the six players on the young roster After dropping the doubles point, Pepperdine's lone first set came courtesy of freshman Sebastianna Scilipoti at the fourth position. However, freshman No. 56 Anastasiia Grechkina kept the Waves in the fight by pushing her match against No The score held at 1-0 for over an hour of indoor action, then the Lady Vols quickly went up 3-0 with straight-set wins at the first and sixth positions. On court three, Tennessee's No. 66 Leyla Britez Risso went down a break, but came back to put the second set back on serve. Pepperdine freshman Alexia Harmon went back to serve trailing 5-4 and saved three match points yet Britez Risso broke Harmon at deuce for her 6-2 Three of Pepperdine's last four NCAA Tournament runs have come to an end indoors Saturday was also the second-straight year the Waves' season ended at the hands of a Southeastern Conference school Thanks for visiting 25 Pepperdine men's tennis team's season came to an end with a 4-0 loss to the 4-seed Stanford Cardinal at the Taube Pavilion on Saturday afternoon The Cardinal (24-5) took the doubles point and won four first sets en route to completing the sweep Although the Waves (17-11) pushed two matches to third sets Pepperdine waited too long to land a counter-punch in the two-hour Stanford took control of the match early. Twenty minutes into the match, the Cardinal won break points on the second and third doubles positions, which ended up turning the tide of the doubles point. Although Edward Winter and Hugh Winter saved a match point on court one and began to climb out of a 5-3 deficit 48 Samir Banerjee and Alex Razeghi broke the Waves on deciding point for a 6-3 win on court one Stanford won the doubles point with another 6-3 win at the second position Maxi Homberg and David Fix won their first sets at the second and sixth positions Stanford took four first sets across the board to put the Waves in a massive hole Stanford took a 2-0 lead with a straight-set win on court four forcing the Waves to push several matches to third sets to keep their upset hopes alive Sophomore No. 21 Edward Winter answered the call on court one putting together a stellar second set against No 7 Samir Banerjee after dropping the first set 6-4 then rattled off 10 consecutive points to take a double-break lead on the Cardinal junior Banerjee finally held serve in the sixth game and broke Winter in the seventh yet Winter broke right back to win the second set 6-2 and keep Pepperdine in the fight But the Cardinal pushed the matches on courts two and six to third sets keeping Pepperdine off the scoreboard for yet another hour as the match passed the two-hour mark Stanford won a three-set match on court six then Nico Godsick clinched the match with a straight-set win on court five to send the Cardinal to the Super Regional Pepperdine's 17-11 record was a three-win improvement over last season This season was the fourth time in the last five years that the Waves reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament Thanks for visiting Thanks for visiting ! The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. The event kicks off with the 100-meter hurdles at 2 p.m and wraps up with the 5,000-meter run later that evening Key competitors include Ava Maly in the 100 and 200-meter dashes and Brittany Rivas in the 400-meter hurdles where she aims to break her own school record although the meet will not be livestreamed the team will compete at Azusa Pacific University for the Franson Last Chance meet from May 8-10 Pepperdine's track team looks to build momentum at the Oxy Invite with record-breaking performances key participants aiming to mark their place in school history and preparations for upcoming competitions achieving this victory for the first time in program history along with upperclassmen and fellow freshmen ultimately clinching the match with a strong performance from Anastaasiia Grechkina Pepperdine’s next match will take place at 1 p.m The Waves demonstrated remarkable grit and teamwork to overcome an early deficit showcasing their potential as a formidable contender in the NCAA Tournament The views expressed here are the author's own Join us for a hands-on firescaping workshop at the Topanga Library Learn how to protect your home from wildfires by creating a fire-resistant landscape Our expert instructors will teach you about fire-safe plants and other essential firescaping techniques Don't miss this opportunity to make your property safer and more beautiful The first 25 attendees will receive a free Firescaping book courtesy of West Basin and the event's presenter with one lucky opportunity drawing winner taking home a FREE rain barrel at the end of the event Tuesday, 6:00 pmLos Angeles, CA Bloomington housing regulations restrict the number of unrelated adults living in a rental to three but allows as many as 18 if the residence is labeled a sober living home In a city that closely monitors the conditions of thousands of rental units how is that people in recovery can be packed into a residential house with no oversight of unsafe living conditions There are no state or federal rules regulating the sober living industry unless the organization is seeking government funding. In that case, the state has guidelines that must be met to be licensed through the Division of Mental Health and Addiction At the city level, Housing and Neighborhood Development Department inspectors can’t go into a sober living house to check conditions unless a resident files a complaint For months, The Herald-Times has been looking into sober living homes, which are being established all around Bloomington. This story focuses mostly on Malibu House the newest and the only for-profit business of this kind in the city The city’s two other sober living enterprises, locally founded Courage to Change and the national franchise Oxford House Courage to Change has six sober living homes More: Drug recovery houses in Bloomington neighborhoods part of treatment network Malibu House was started early in 2024 by Kiel Sheppard a Bloomington man who has been in and out of jail he took on a mission to help other people like him where residents are asked to pay $125 to $135 a week in rent He knows the importance of having a safe place to sleep peer support from other recovering addicts a job and eventually finding a stable life away from drugs and alcohol "Because 90% of relapses happen when people are living alone we believe community and connections with people in the same situation keep you sober," Sheppard said during an interview on the sidewalk outside the Malibu House office After recent local public media report raising questions about Malibu House Bloomington officials took notice of residents’ concerns about unhealthy living conditions and stepped in Mayor Kerry Thomson announced the city was revoking permits on 11 rental houses owned by Pendragon Property’s Jeff Jones Two of the houses are Malibu House sober living residences the business will have fewer beds available Judges give a choice: Sober living or jailSober living homes are intended to help people like George Thomas Sievers a Bloomington man with nine pending criminal charges mostly fueled by addiction These allegations stand between Sievers and the possibility of turning around his crime-riddled life He’s been in and out of Monroe County Jail the past three years accumulating more charges and complicating his plight Several treatment placements didn’t pan out For Sievers to stay out of jail in light of the crimes he’s facing a judge required he reside at a sober living home where for months he worked the program and became a house leader public defender Stuart Baggerly handed Judge Christine Talley Haseman a letter stating Sievers had the day before been evicted from that sober living residence for “increasingly disruptive behavior that negatively affected the recovery environment and sobriety of others.” Sievers told Haseman he’s been clean for months and wants to be in a sober-living environment He has a job at City Church and a support network Sievers disputes the claims in the Malibu House letter, which recommends he receive long-term treatment at Lighthouse Recovery Center in the town of Washington He asked the judge for time to find a local sober living bed hoping for a spot at Courage to Change or Oxford House Sievers acknowledges he made some extremely bad decisions in the past that addiction got the better of him,” Baggerly told the judge Deputy prosecutor Kris Kritzer requested Sievers be sent straight from the courtroom to jail since he violated the terms of his living situation by getting kicked out of the sober living residence where he had lived for months There aren’t enough sober beds in the city to meet the needs of addicts trying to maintain sobriety “I am taking a chance you can find another place to go.” the judge gave Sievers two more weeks to find a sober living bed There’s not always another place for people recovering from substance use disorder to go Nearly all sober living homes have a waiting list for beds Courage to Change has 500 names on its waiting list This reality is a key reason why Malibu House founder Sheppard is on a mission to provide as many sober living beds as he can basic health and safety standards went by the wayside "The state doesn't really help you or give guidelines so we were pretty much on our own in figuring out how to do this," he said Sheppard wants to upgrade his program and get certification through the National Alliance for Recovery Residences whose standards lend credibility to sober living programs Sheppard said he has been working diligently sometimes employing Malibu House residents "All of the money we’ve made from Malibu House we’ve put back into Malibu House." his organization stands to make a lot it when it reaches its goal of being 75% full He said the houses are at the occupancy goal but fewer than half of residents are paying their rent He said just 35% of residents can afford the weekly rent; tenants are required to be looking for work and find a job to continue the program Malibu House currently has 92 sober living beds available which includes one emergency bed set aside at each house for unexpected which is 62 beds if you take out the seven emergency beds Malibu House could be making $31,000 a month in rent If half of those residents paid $125 a week Perry Township Trustee Dan Combs was surprised to find out Malibu House was in business to make money His job includes providing rent assistance to township residents who qualify The financial help is temporary and cases are reviewed every month Combs was familiar with Courage to Change and Oxford House and the township had helped those residents with rent $3,455 from Perry Township coffers went to Courage to Change residents for rent assistance The township also allocated grants totaling $14,000 to the nonprofit this year and last Malibu residents started finding their way to his township office on South Walnut Street we started getting a lot of clients from Malibu House He said as word traveled that the trustee’s office provided rent money more and more Malibu residents were at the door He said the city categorizes sober living houses as group homes for people struggling with a disability Combs reminded those seeking help that the township paid rent assistance “They had a lot of people from out of county,” Combs said “We went 'round and 'round with the tenants saying they can’t just show up here and say ‘Pay my rent,’ because you’re here for treatment and had to find sober living township trustee officials had a meeting with Sheppard and Amanda Ceil-Campbell Combs said they agreed Malibu House would screen residents to see if they qualify for township help before referring them to the trustee’s office for rental assistance we did not have all of those walk-ins and the amounts of money that we were being asked for dropped tremendously,” Combs said He assumed Malibu House was a nonprofit organization until a news reporter informed him it is not “We didn’t know because we never inquired." Combs didn’t want to malign Malibu House but said its mission would be more credible and its business more transparent as a nonprofit “We have heard success stories and had people from Malibu come in who had completed the program there ready to transition to permanent housing,” he said “We have seen people come out of there with stable lives who qualify income-wise and we help them into housing.” it’s up to them to find a way to pay the rent Relapse for people with substance use disorder is common triggering another round in the recovery process Sheppard says it’s people like him who have served time in jail and struggled with addiction who can best help stop others from falling back into a life of drug-fueled crime Sheppard says he’s been clean from drugs and alcohol “almost 3 years.” He has a lengthy criminal record with charges in several states going back a decade His convictions are listed under that name which combines his nickname and the last name of the man he considers his father that lie at the core of his sober living philosophy: the best people to help addicts recover and step into a drug-free life are those who have been there themselves He counts his life turn-around as an example of success and sees himself as a mentor and coach for people struggling to stay sober He said Malibu House has a van they call “The Malibus” that takes residents to Alcoholics and Narcotics Anonymous meetings which they are required to attend – three a week if they’re working Because like all of the people living at Malibu House residences taking one day at a time like the dozens of people housed at his sober living homes He understands why some people question his motives and doubt his ability to gain trust and change lives given his tainted past He gets how it’s easy to be suspicious of a man running a for-profit business amid a sea of nonprofits doing the same work he said allows him and his staff to decide how to run things They aren’t tethered by administrative rules paperwork and red tape required by government agencies that provide licensing and oversight a reminder he isn’t your average business owner out to do good Police allege Sheppard rolled a shopping cart full of bottled liquor valued at $1,700 out of an Evansville Walmart without paying for it A June 10 trial is scheduled in Warrick Circuit Court Contact H-T reporter Laura Lane at llane@heraldt.com or 812-318-5967 Is "NORTH" The Best Surf Photography Book Ever Made? From Tubes To Turns, Jai Glindeman's Surfing is a Treat to Behold Gerry Lopez Goes Deep With Justin Jay On The Plug Podcast NewsAll NewsEventsBig Wave NewsWorld Surf LeagueEnvironmentalIndustryWave PoolsPosts List ‘He Was Such a Legend’: A Decade After His Death, Shawn “Barney” Barron’s Spirit Shines in Colorful Air Show Hawaiian Big Wave Icon Clyde Aikau Passes Away at 75 an underwater extraterrestrial hotspot off Malibu according to conspiracy theorists dating back to the salad days of the ‘50s and ‘60s yet still living up to its iconic reputation anytime a large south swell swings through town there’s something that’s been stirring up the tinfoil hat community an underwater feature 6.6 miles from the shore has been speculated to be a “UFO base” by conspiracy theorists We’re unable to load this content right now View directly on Instagram According to one UFO sighting Instagram account Sycamore Knoll has been “known to scientists for years particularly with speculation that it might be a hidden alien or government base Others suggest it’s simply due to incomplete data or Google Earth updates.” The coordinates of the oceanic feature are 34° 1'23.31″N 118° 59'45.64″W – go check it out yourself it has been mysteriously blurred out from Google Earth,” continued the conspiracy theorist IG “sparking questions as to why they felt the need to hide its location.” Per an account reported to the National UFO Reporting Center regarding a sighting at Sycamore Knoll: “It looked like a massive cathedral-shaped structure — multiple pointed edges all glowing brilliantly white It happened so fast — like a giant ship or object vanishing beneath the surface in an instant.” Experts have studied Sycamore Knoll in a more scientific manner, citing that it is anomalous. According to a study from 2018: “At the boundary between the Western Transverse Ranges province and Inner Continental Borderland of Southern California strain is partitioned across the sinistral-oblique Anacapa-Dume Fault system a pop-up structure 20 km west of Point Dume in the hanging wall of the north-dipping Anacapa-Dume Fault stands out as an anomalous bathymetric high along the Southern California coast.” Over on the highly credible Reddit thread dedicated to this phenomenon “Time to get a group of UFO hunting divers together.” Jump in — we're going downtown to the Malibu Barbie Cafe If you're looking to get a head start on summer or go back to 2023's peak Barbiecore moment this pop-up installation is full of photo ops including a life-size Barbie box like the dolls come in a rollerskating rink and a lifeguard stand Austin is the latest destination for the pink-drenched concept from Bucket Listers and Mattel The experience opened last month and goes until June 8 Tickets start at $25 plus fees and include a $5 credit for the gift shop and a $10 credit for the cafe with food prepared from the team at Wholly Cow Burgers Of course there are no rules that you must wear pink but you're sure to be in good company if you do 2025-05-05T07:41:43-07:00May 5 2025-05-02T09:39:58-07:00May 2 2025-05-02T08:40:53-07:00May 2 2025-05-04T09:32:06-07:00April 30 2025-04-30T17:06:48-07:00April 30, 2025| The 'X-Files' actor's stunning three-bedroom home of 20 years includes private beach access and a lap pool Print A portion of Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu that was closed over the weekend due to a debris flow has reopened to local residents PCH reopened Sunday morning with soft closure restrictions and was only open to residents with burn scar passes emergency responders and designated Metro and school buses a late season storm dropped about a quarter of an inch of rain across the Southland but up to half an inch in the Palisades fire burn area said meteorologist Rose Schoenfeld with the National Weather Service in Oxnard “It’s definitely a bit late in the month to get a system like this,” Schoenfeld said “Every year at this time of the month can pull in a few late systems that bring rain.” By the end of May, Caltrans expects to reopen a wider swath of the coastal highway, from Chautauqua Boulevard in Pacific Palisades to Carbon Beach Terrace in Malibu, to regular traffic. Nathan Solis reports on breaking news with the Fast Break team at the Los Angeles Times. Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Our beloved Malibu stands at a critical crossroads I’ve never witnessed challenges like those we face today yet I believe in our collective strength to forge innovative solutions The Pacific Coast Highway—our lifeline—continues to fail us Recent rains have again closed this vital artery While it will reopen to passholders soon and to the general public by Memorial Day with one lane each way at 25 mph I must speak plainly: this arrangement is a disaster waiting to happen and potentially more tragedies lie ahead if we continue relying exclusively on this vulnerable corridor As the newly dubbed “Godfather of PCH Safety” (a title I wear with humor and determination) I’ve advocated for revolutionary thinking about our transportation future I’ve been championing an alternative staring us in the face: our magnificent ocean The Malibu Transit Waterway system proposal is gaining unprecedented momentum with California officials Haylynn Conrad and her team have united diverse individuals and foundations who share this vision creating a powerful coalition focused on transformative solutions The caliber of partners stepping forward gives me confidence that this isn’t just a dream but an achievable reality Similar maritime systems thrive worldwide in coastal communities facing constraints like ours The three-year implementation timeline represents remarkably efficient scheduling for a project of this magnitude we’ll progress from approvals through environmental studies and construction to a fully operational waterway system connecting our coastal communities We don’t need to wait for completion to see benefits We can launch a pilot program within months connecting key points from Malibu to Santa Monica while the comprehensive system develops Think of water taxis and ferry services bypassing traffic entirely when PCH faces closures Each phase would establish a marine transportation network as the cornerstone for Malibu’s revitalization reducing dependency on a single vulnerable roadway and opening possibilities for sustainable growth and emergency access When disaster strikes again—and it will—our community deserves more than one fragile lifeline Your presence will support Sheriff Luna and demonstrate our unwavering support for Captain Seetoo I must now bare my soul about something transcending my role as columnist—The Emily Shane Foundation (emilyshane.org) this beacon of hope has illuminated paths for over 1,100 struggling underserved students drowning in a system failing to support their academic challenges What began with three students and a parent’s determination to honor a lost daughter has blossomed into transformative education Each child represents dreams rekindled and potential unleashed But our funding has plummeted to critical levels every future we’ve reclaimed stands in jeopardy unless our community rises to this moment we’re holding our most crucial fundraiser at Cafe Habana Malibu from 6:30-9:30 p.m I’ve spent years advocating for our community without asking for financial support For a $150 ticket price—less than many spend on dinner — you’ll enjoy an unforgettable evening with open bar a dance performance by Malibu’s cherished studio Dance Star Malibu (where Emily thrived as a dancer) a live auction with a fabulous array of items and more – while becoming part of something transcendent You’ll join those who refused to let this vital work falter helping us reach students who desperately need programs transforming futures I’m not simply inviting you—I’m imploring you to mark May 29th on your calendar This small foundation with enormous impact needs you now more than ever Every empty seat represents a student we might not help tomorrow there will be an online silent auction starting Tuesday Link to auction (once live): bit.ly/WOMSilentAuction25 Malibu’s strength has always been our unwavering support for one another in times of crisis In the words of the “Godfather of PCH Safety,” consider these offers you can’t refuse Let’s be the community that illuminates darkness showing the world that what defines us isn’t who we are individually but collectively—people who genuinely care for one another we’ll ensure the Emily Shane Foundation continues its vital mission for decades to come Create a Website Account - Manage notification subscriptions Search autocomplete is currently not responding WELCOME TO Woolsey Fire RebuildsIn early November 2018 Malibu experienced the most catastrophic event and community-wide trauma in our history when the Woolsey Fire burned through our neighborhoods stealing homes from so many of our neighbors this resilient community has already begun taking strong steps to rebuilding and City staff are ready to work with our residents through every step of that process This Malibu Rebuilds site will provide critical information and guidance for residents as they rebuild their homes and together we will restore our community Thanks for visiting as the Palisades Fire morphed and sprawled chewing up parched chaparral from Mandeville Canyon to Saddle Peak Rich and his family left their plant-based lasagna on the table and dirty dishes in the sink or we were never in a situation where there were strong winds blowing the fire toward us and where we live is not densely populated It’s not necessarily a high priority when firefighting resources are limited where the fire was ultimately held in abeyance and they had enough control over the other fronts of the fire that they could dispense air support to our side when we needed it like if the winds had continued to stay high But I think the piece that I spend the most time thinking about is just the impermanence and uncertainty of this area that we love or to delude ourselves into believing that we’re in control and nature just levied a massive dose of reality There’s very little that we have control over and we can either indulge the despair and anxiety that produces or we can seize it as an opportunity to deepen our surrender to that truth I think this fire has made hundreds of thousands of people reframe their relationship with their possessions and what’s really important I say that as somebody who didn’t lose everything So there’s a certain privilege layered on top that I recognize because I didn’t lose my home you’re always kind of connected to that idea of impermanence Because these fires have become much more ferocious and more frequent All these institutions and systems of government that we’ve come to rely upon and I think the key is to develop a healthy relationship with all of it at arm’s distance you’re going to succumb to chronic anxiety and fear We happen to live in a truly unique and irreplaceable corner of the world I don’t think we would ever just pull up the stakes and relocate completely Rich spoke to Adam Skolnick from his Malibu home on Feb and their four children for more than 20 years Platforms NASA operates state-of-the-art platforms that collect critical information about our home planet Drill down to the data and tools you need by exploring platforms on Earth and in the sky Instruments instruments aboard NASA platforms collect a vast array of Earth science data Space Geodesy Techniques These data are used to support scientific and societal applications Earth observations Atmosphere The atmosphere is a gaseous envelope surrounding and protecting our planet from the intense radiation of the Sun Biosphere The biosphere encompasses all life on Earth and extends from root systems to mountaintops and all depths of the ocean Climate Indicators Climate Indicators hold key information for the most relevant domains of climate change: temperature and energy Cryosphere The cryosphere encompasses the frozen parts of Earth Human Dimensions The human dimensions discipline includes ways humans interact with the environment and how these interactions impact Earth’s systems Land Surface The land surface discipline includes research into areas such as shrinking forests Ocean critical reservoir supports a diversity of life and helps regulate Earth’s climate Solid Earth Processes occurring deep within Earth constantly are shaping landforms Sun-Earth Interactions The Sun influences physical and chemical processes in Earth’s atmosphere Terrestrial Hydrosphere The terrestrial hydrosphere includes water on the land surface and underground in the form of lakes and groundwater along with total water storage Earth Observation Data Basics Get a better idea of what we mean when we use basic Earth data terms like remote sensing or data processing level GIS Resources Find all of the resources we have available for the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) community Data in Action Data in Action demonstrates Earth science data applications with interactive explanations as to how the work was accomplished Data Recipes Data Recipes are code-based instructions that help data scientists accomplish a specific task such as converting data into a specific format for analysis or visualization Tutorials Tutorials are step by step “how to” content that cover a broad range of tasks Webinars Webinars are video seminars featuring experts in various disciplines who share their knowledge in a particular subject area from data in the cloud to specific data tools Airborne and Field Data Resource Center All of the resources for the airborne and field data community within our program can be found here Open Data, Services, and Software Policies Open Science and Data Management Plan ESDS Leadership Meet the Earth Science Data Systems Program leadership team Organizational Chart View the internal structure of the ESDS Program Multi-Mission Data Processing System Study We are considering the right data processing system for open-source data Program Performance and Metrics and distribution metrics for the ESDS program Events Sign up or watch a past recording of events covering Earth science data topics Worldview Image of the Week Learn about the Earth through the lens of NASA’s Worldview Feature Articles Read stories inspired by NASA Earth science data Data User Stories Discover how people are researching with NASA Earth science data Earthdata Blog Take a deeper dive into NASA Earth science data These false-color (Bands 12-8A-4) reflectance images show before and after images of the Franklin Fire in Malibu, California. The images were captured by the Multi-Spectral Instrument (MSI) instrument aboard the ESA (European Space Agency) Sentinel-2B platform Swipe the bar left and right to see the before image from December 3 on the "A" left side; the after image from December 18 on the "B" right side; and the extent burned during that fire event (burned area appears red Click the icon in the upper right corner to interactively explore this fire in NASA Worldview The Franklin Fire began on December 9 and strong Santa Ana winds caused the fire to rapidly spread to 2,600 acres (11 square kilometers) within a day The fire burned more than 4,00 acres (16 square kilometers).  The image above shows the OPERA Vegetation Disturbance Status (Color Index) layer overlaid on top of the false color (bands 12=8A-4) reflectance image on December 18 Vegetation disturbance is mapped where there is an indicated decrease in vegetation cover within a 30m pixel The displayed layer describes vegetation disturbance status based on confidence There are three confidence levels: "first detection," which is loss detected in only the most recent observation; "provisional" upon a second detection of vegetation loss; and "confirmed" once there are sufficient loss detections to reach high confidence of disturbance These are reported for both disturbances with <50% vegetation cover loss and those with ≥50% loss whether diffuse across an entire pixel or just a portion of it These labels persist as long as the anomalies continue to be detected Once a location no longer has low vegetation cover confirmed alerts are labeled as "finished" and the others are reset to no disturbance most of the burned area pixels are identified as "Provisional <50%" (greenish khaki color) which indicates this is the second detection of vegetation loss which further confirms that the area lost vegetation due to the fire The input dataset for generating each product is the Harmonized Landsat Sentinel-2 (HLS) dataset. The OPERA Land Surface Disturbance (L3) imagery layer is available through the Observational Products for End-Users from Remote Sensing Analysis (OPERA) project Explore data collected by platforms in space Dive into one of the planet’s largest repositories of Earth science data Access a range of tools that enable data discovery Eos The Landslide Blog is written by Dave Petley who is widely recognized as a world leader in the study and management of landslides the first bout of heavy rainfall since the January 2025 wildfires struck Southern California triggering the much-feared debris flows that were inevitable The main rainfall occurred on 13 February 2025 with further damage being inflicted on the Pacific Coast Highway The most notable event occurred on Big Rock Road in Malibu, where a firefighter was swept off the road in his car by a debris flow. NBC News has posted some good footage of the debris flow and the incident onto Youtube:- Fortunately, the firefighter survived the ordeal with only minor injuries, and the vehicle has now been recovered. The Malibu Times has a good account of the event Elsewhere in Malibu, Duke’s, an iconic beachfront restaurant that survived the Palisades fire, was extensively damaged by a debris flow. ABC7 has a Youtube video that provides an overview of the landslide and the damage:- Reopening of the restaurant has now been delayed whilst a further clean up is undertaken The Google Earth imagery below was captured on 13 January 2025 showing the area that has been burned by the wildfire in Las Flores Canyon this area is likely to be vulnerable to further events post wildfire debris flows are going to be a major issue in the burned areas in the coming months bringing a sting in the tail even to areas that narrowly missed being burnt November 19, 2024JPEG December 13, 2024JPEG The Franklin Fire set more than 4,000 acres (16 square kilometers) ablaze in Malibu where it destroyed structures and forced thousands of residents to evacuate their homes The blaze ignited on the evening of December 9, 2024, in Malibu Creek State Park. Strong Santa Ana winds fueled its spread to 2,600 acres (11 square kilometers) within a day and extended into the campus of Pepperdine University Charred vegetation was visible on December 13 (right image) when the fire was about 30 percent contained December 13, 2024JPEG To help slow the fire’s spread, Cal Fire dropped water and red fire retardant from aircraft A red line of fire retardant is visible along the perimeter of burned vegetation in the natural-color image above As of December 18, the fire was 89 percent contained and had not seen growth for several days, allowing officials to lift evacuation orders NASA Earth Observatory images by Wanmei Liang, using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey. Story by Emily Cassidy View this area in EO Explorer The December 2024 blaze charred vegetation in the hills of the Southern California coastline wildland fires are burning longer and more often in some areas as the world warms A NASA airborne instrument captured images of the fire’s aftermath in and around Altadena Powerful Santa Ana winds and dry conditions contributed to the rapid spread of several brush fires in the county The state’s brutal fire season has not ended Sign up here to get monthly #ZumaBeachHouse updates delivered straight to your inbox Answers to your frequently asked questions about the property as well as the full “Before” tour Since we’re getting ready to dive into renovations on our beach house in Malibu, it felt like a good time to drop in with some “before” shots of the current house, as well as answer a few FAQ’s that I’ve gotten from you guys since I shared about the renovation last month I answered this question in our Breathing Space email, so if you’re a subscriber, feel free to just scroll on and enjoy the “Before” shots… otherwise, why not sign up here The story of Zuma Beach House starts during the first few months of the pandemic with our family locked down at home in Austin With so many distractions eliminated from our day-to-day we found ourselves taking a fresh look at the choices we were making with our lives Though Adam and I had talked for years about having a vacation home at the beach it was always in the context of someday far off in the future But with the pandemic came a new level of flexibility—no longer did we have to be in one location to function in work, school, and life. Plus, we’d recently sold our studio space in downtown Austin and were ready to jump into another project we questioned why we weren’t actually doing this thing we’d been talking about for years Instead of waiting for “someday” in the vague future could we start moving toward our big dream right now Above: photos from the MLS listing when we first laid eyes on the house we were online looking at real estate on the north end of Malibu there was this one 1950’s bungalow listed on Redfin with a crazy floor plan that we kept coming back to but it also had sunset views over the Pacific When we got an alert that the seller dropped the price it was followed by a crazy stressful few months of trying to make it work That was in August 2020, and since then we’ve been working with our architect, Doug Burdge to reimagine the house and transform the floor plan into a space that’s more reflective of our vision and conducive to our family’s life A post shared by Camille Styles (@camillestyles) Nope—Adam’s from San Diego and I’m from Texas but we’ve both been in Austin for over 15 years and (wonderfully) our family’s mostly live in Austin both Adam and I have felt a pull towards the West Coast I remember the first time I visited LA when I was 18 so I spent a week exploring the city and remember feeling such an instant connection and just “at home” feeling immediately and hiking trails than it is about paparazzi a local grocery store that makes amazing smoothies We shop at the local farm stand and sit around watching the stars at night The cell signal is terrible—just the kind of change from “normal life” that we’ve been craving amidst the crazy busy pace of our Austin lives above: the house as it is now in summer 2022 after a basic “freshen up” (mainly re-styling and IKEA finds) to get us through the pre-renovation period just north of Point Dume and across from Zuma Beach We have several incredible beaches within walking distance or a short drive we spend time at the beach every single day—walking in the morning There are honestly not a lot of great restaurants around us but that suits us just fine since it creates a daily rhythm that’s more about cooking our meals at home and often The current house is a 1950’s ranch-style bungalow—although it has some charming elements this house is really all about the property It’s situated on just under an acre overlooking Zuma Beach with towering palm trees and lush citrus and avocado trees We’re on a quiet street with a horse farm as neighbors The current house has some major issues that may have discouraged previous buyers (and that we had to carefully consider when we purchased the property.) there’s a large electrical pole smack dab in the center of our beach view but we’ve been working with the city to get it buried under ground we’re so close…it’s taken some persistence and a lot of patience Another problem is that the house has low horizontal ceilings and a somewhat bizarre floor plan (the result of a not-very-thought-out addition) that somehow makes guests feel lost even though it’s only 1400 square feet I remember the first time we saw it in person we both laid in bed that night trying to sort out how in the world we could make the floor plan work The answer was that we probably couldn’t our plans include demo’ing most of the interior walls to rework it However one major “pro” for the house is its natural light – every photo I take has its own beauty despite the brown granite countertops and dated flooring there’s that feeling of being immersed in nature even when you’re indoors and that’s certainly something I want to carry into the new version of the house Our genius architect Doug found a way to keep the original footprint of the current house and make it make sense but we’ll be reworking the interior rooms so that the layout works We’ll also be adding a 1,000 square foot great room (a large open kitchen with living space) as well as vaulting all the ceilings so it feels airy and open The 600 square foot guest house will keep its footprint but we’ll be gut renovating the interior to turn it into a small but chic Be sure to sign up here if you want to get #ZumaBeachHouse updates delivered to your inbox I’ll be sharing all my design inspiration including the “design style” I’m going with and what materials we’re planning to use throughout the house Wish you could come to Boulder and help with our remodel So fun to watch the space evolve just with new furnishings can’t wait to see what you come up with as your “final” plan and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Proof that small shifts can completely transform a space Print Sales for some restaurants and shops in Malibu have plummeted to less than half what they were before the Palisades fire.Pacific Coast Highway seems likely to remain a choke point for months and possibly years Two months after twin fires destroyed large swaths of two Southern California communities many of the businesses left behind are struggling to revive sales in the face of displaced customers road closures and a massive rebuilding effort that is projected to drag on for years The secondary crisis has hit hard in Malibu because of the ongoing closure of Pacific Coast Highway to most vehicle traffic — isolating the beachside community from customers coming from the Westside. Some businesses have closed and others say they are struggling to stay open. Sales for some restaurants and shops have plummeted to less than half what they were before the Palisades fire roared through the east end of the city in early January. Leaders in the city government and business community have urged the state transportation agency, Caltrans, to expand access to PCH as soon as possible. But with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers only about to begin clearing hundreds of destroyed homes along the highway, the crucial coastal route seems likely to remain as a choke point for months and possibly years. In the meantime, Malibu’s government and business leaders are reminding outsiders that most of the town did not burn and that restaurants and shops are waiting for customers to return. “The main thing we want people to know is, Malibu is open for business,” said Mayor Doug Stewart. “Yes, it’s hard to come in from the east [Santa Monica side] but there are lots of other ways to get here. Malibu is not destroyed. Our retail and restaurants are open for everyone.” acknowledged to The Times that he underreported the sale price to the DMV because he did not want to pay taxes and said he misread the odometer and mistakenly plugged in the wrong mileage Wildfires and floods have beset the city of about 10,000 with striking regularity. But in recent years the onslaught has been particularly challenging. First came the 2018 Woolsey fire, which destroyed 465 homes, with fewer than 40% rebuilt by this year. The Franklin fire gutted 20 structures in central Malibu which burned the vast majority of homes along the ocean from Topanga Canyon to Las Flores Canyon just a part of the 798 total structures lost in Malibu at that point they might have called it a TKO [technical knockout],” Stewart said “This has hit them really hard and they are struggling.” Mitch Taylor, longtime manager of the Becker surf shop in central Malibu agreed: “It’s a guarantee here in Malibu that something nasty happens every five to 10 years Becker Surfboards manager Mitch Taylor, amid surfboards on sale in Malibu on Thursday. (Etienne Laurent / For The Times) Epitomizing the challenges for local business is John’s Garden salad and soup shop in the Malibu Country Mart the restaurant has seen its receipts drop by more than half with many of its non-local customers unable to pass PCH checkpoints Even workers who have passes to get through the checkpoints find the drive painfully slow with the highway reduced to one lane in each direction and the speed limit cut to 25 mph as work vehicles jam the roadway Many workers are forced to take the longer route from the 101 Freeway to Las Virgenes/Malibu Canyon Road The change has lengthened the one-way commute for some from perhaps 40 minutes to two hours When they arrive at work in the Country Mart its to a quaint shopping center hushed by the absence of visitors a patio that can be jammed with diners sat mostly empty Boyan Kinov, a Bulgarian immigrant who bought John’s Garden a dozen years ago a neighboring boutique and a gym have closed Other high-end retailers are open shorter hours it could further reduce foot traffic at the Cross Creek Road shopping center who operates John’s Garden with his brother Boyan inside the Malibu lunch and snack shop on Thursday (Etienne Laurent / For The Times) Kinov said his insurer is balking at paying on a portion of his policy for receipts lost to business interruption saying it is only responsible for the days the business actually shut its doors not deficits linked to the restricted highway access “We’re one of the oldest businesses in Malibu We celebrate our 50-year anniversary in July,” Kinov said And we have zero support from any kind of agencies or the government A man looks at his phone in the empty covered area of Malibu Country Mart where businesses have suffered in the wake of the Palisades fire (Etienne Laurent / For The Times) Others local mainstays Tramonto Bistro and Caffe Luxxe on PCH near Carbon Beach hemmed in by checkpoints on both the east and west John’s Garden reminds customers from outside that they can still reach the city The highway up the coast from the Country Mart remains open and traffic can also come over Kanan Dume Road and Malibu Canyon from the Valley But the bulk of visitors have always come from “town” — Pacific Palisades Santa Monica and points beyond — making greater access to PCH critical At Paradise Cove Beach Cafe, where business is down more than 60%, owner Bob Morris called on political leaders up to the governor to focus on a quicker expansion of access to the highway, also known as State Route 1. A playground at the Malibu Country Mart shopping center stands deserted. (Etienne Laurent / For the Times) Morris said leaders should consider offering the kind of incentive given to the freeway contractor who rebuilt the Santa Monica Freeway after the 1994 Northridge earthquake. That builder earned a $14.5-million bonus for restoring a collapsed section of the freeway 74 days ahead of schedule. Glen Gerson, owner of Calamigos Beach Club restaurant on PCH, suggested Caltrans use reversible dividers on the highway to provide two lanes of traffic in the predominant commuting direction, and one lane in the other direction. “Nobody needs to get hurt. We have to do it safely,” Morris said. “But we’ve got to get this highway open, and in the government somebody’s got to push to make it happen.” The highway through most of Malibu consists of a total of five lanes — two for traffic in each direction and a center lane for left turns. There is also a lane on each side for parking along most of both sides of PCH. Houses on Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu destroyed by the Palisades fire. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times) Now orange traffic cones limit vehicles to one lane in each direction. And the highway will soon be crowded with trucks hauling debris to be removed by the Army Corps of Engineers and private contractors. Ideas to add more affordable and low-income housing in the affluent enclave are facing pushback. In the whole Palisades fire burn zone, it’s estimated it will take 90,000 truckloads to finish the job. The Corps has said the work will be complete in both the Palisades and Altadena burn areas “within a year,” without giving more precise estimates for PCH and other sections of the work. Caltrans spokesperson Nathan Bass said the agency is moving “toward opening as soon as we possibly can,” adding that recovery workers remain busy in the area and that they must “work through” their tasks, including removal of hazards, before opening PCH for people other than first responders, healthcare workers, residents, contractors and essential employees. Locals and visitors who mostly now come from up the coast or from the San Fernando Valley are trying to fill in for the missing customers. The city of Malibu is buying lunch at various local restaurants, every day, for roughly 100 city employees, Stewart said. On March 15, Morris plans to host a “Day of Hope” at the Paradise Cove restaurant, with free meals for first responders and those affected by the fire. Service resumed recently on the Metro bus line traveling from Santa Monica to Trancas Canyon Road, near the far western end of the city. Some locals have wondered whether a ferry service could be launched, to deliver day trippers from Santa Monica Pier to Malibu Pier — an alternative that the city tried during a major landslide decades ago. Kinov and other Malibu businesspeople said their spirits have been lifted by customers who made a special effort to buy extra meals or gifts. Lisa Barron, who lost her home above La Costa Beach, said she came to John’s Garden for a sandwich to help bolster a place she has come to love. “We don’t want what’s still surviving to die before the rest of us can rebuild and get back,” said Barron, a former business professor at UC Irvine. “With these businesses and the people who are still living here, we’ve got to keep them alive and healthy and safe so the community doesn’t go downhill.” A customer eats lunch at the Malibu Country Mart on Thursday. (Etienne Laurent / For The Times) With the same thought in mind, Vanessa Abbott, a film editor who lives in Calabasas, popped over the hill Thursday for lunch. “Everything is still here, and I want to do my part to support it,” Abbott said, “one sandwich at a time.” Lynn Schulz, general manager of Marmalade Cafe in the Country Mart, said the feeling of support operates in both directions. “We feel our role in the community, even during this tragedy, is to be here, to be open, to be cranking out meals, or to do catering, whatever anyone needs,” Schulz said. “We’re doing everything we can to be here and be part of the community.” James Rainey has covered multiple presidential elections, the media and the environment, mostly at the Los Angeles Times, which he first joined in 1984. He was part of Times teams that won three Pulitzer Prizes. Sports Climate & Environment