PALISADES PARK — Residents of Santa Monica and cities across Los Angeles County will soon be able to take advantage of $32.1 million worth of programs aimed at reducing smoking and preventing obesity, thanks to a federal grant announced Wednesday.
AIRPORT COURTHOUSE — A former Big Blue Bus supervisor found guilty of abusing City Hall’s rideshare program that provides employees with free bus passes if they take public transit to work has been sentenced to 30 days in jail and ordered to pay restitution and spend 45 days on a beach cleanup crew.
SM BLVD — There’s a new type of scavenger at work on the streets of Santa Monica. Rather than scrounging for aluminum cans, this kind of trash can entrepreneur is looking to turn a profit by recovering used cooking oil from restaurant receptacles and re-selling it as biodiesel.
SACRAMENTO — Charter schools would be held to the same standards for public meetings and open records as traditional public schools under a bill sent to Gov.
MID-CITY — For seven years Saint John’s Health Center filed false, inflated claims to Medicare and now must by the federal government $5.25 million as part of a settlement finalized Wednesday, according to the United States Attorney’s Office.
CITY HALL — The 20 highest paid employees at City Hall each earned more than $200,000 last year, including a sergeant in the Santa Monica Police Department who took home roughly $8,000 more than his boss, the chief of police, a review by the Daily Press of 2009 wage and tax statements revealed.
CIVIC CENTER — Billionaire philanthropist Eli Broad has chosen downtown Los Angeles over Santa Monica as the site to house his extensive contemporary art collection after a decision by the Grand Avenue Authority on Monday to approve his plans for the project.
Dear EarthTalk: Should I fear radiation exposure associated with medical scans such as CT scans, mammograms and the like? — Shelly Johansen, Fairbanks, AK The short answer is…maybe.
CITY HALL — Bicycle activists and their allies on the Planning Commission and City Council are headed for a high-stakes clash with bio-tech firm Agensys over a proposed bike lane they want incorporated into a proposed office development the company is planning on the east side of town.
CITY HALL — A former Big Blue Bus supervisor could spend a year behind bars after she was convicted this week of allegedly abusing City Hall’s rideshare program that provides employees who use public transit to get to work with free bus passes.
SMO — Despite the California Legislature’s urging this week, it appears unlikely the FAA will conduct a review of safety and health concerns at Santa Monica Airport.
BBB HDQTRS — A trip on a Big Blue Bus is about to get more expensive. As of Aug. 29, the standard cash fare for regular passengers and students on most lines is going up 25 cents to $1 per ride, with the fare on Express lines going to $2, up from $1.
