NoScrubs, an AI-powered laundry delivery service promising 4-hour turnarounds, has launched in Santa Monica with $4.2M in funding. The service uses AI for quality control and partners with local laundromats to clean and fold clothes for less than $1 per day.
Santa Monica has published application and operational requirements for new cannabis retailers ahead of the January 26, 2026 application period. Applications will be processed first-come, first-served, with social equity provisions and a 4% cannabis business tax.
Registration for the LA28 Olympic Games ticket draw opens January 14, 2026, marking the first opportunity for fans to secure access to purchase tickets. Los Angeles area residents will receive priority through a special early access window.
The eighth annual Polar Bear Plunge returns to Santa Monica's Annenberg Community Beach House on January 10, 2026, featuring an ocean plunge, 300-yard swim, heated pool access, and hot chocolate for participants of all ages.
One year after devastating fires affected Pacific Palisades and Altadena, Grammy Award-winning violinist Anne Akiko Meyers and other talented artists will perform at St. Matthew's Church for Concerts of Remembrance, Healing and Renewal on January 7, 2026.
Faux Sweets, founded by Japanese American artist Mae Hirota, is launching hands-on food-replica workshops at Venice Beach's Albion Garden beginning January 2026. The series will teach participants to create hyper-realistic Japanese-style food replicas.
The Malibu City Council has appointed Joseph 'Joe' Irvin as the city's next city manager following an extensive recruitment process. Irvin, who brings over 20 years of municipal leadership experience, will begin his tenure March 2, 2026.
Los Angeles County has opened applications for its $30 million Emergency Rent Relief Program, offering up to $15,000 per household for residents impacted by the January 2025 wildfires or federal immigration enforcement actions.
Santa Monica College has remained California's #1 transfer institution to the UC system for 35 consecutive years, sending 995 students to UC campuses. SMC also leads in transfers for African American and Latinx students, and ranks first for USC and LMU transfers.
The Santa Monica City Council approved a digital display district for the Third Street Promenade and Santa Monica Place, potentially generating up to $7 million annually while transforming downtown's visual landscape. The 6-0 vote establishes standards for up to 16 digital displays.
Santa Monica College has been named Outstanding Higher Education Program for 2025 by the National Recycling Coalition, joining Stanford University as recent recipients of the prestigious honor. The award recognizes SMC's Sustainable Materials Management program.
