Monarch Madness Requires City Biologist

Posted on March 1, 2026 by Sue Pascoe

Lots cleared by the Army Corps of Engineers and other contractors had little or no greenery left. Trees that people hoped might survive were kept, but then later they had to be cut down, too.

By HANK WRIGHT

I read “Residents Need Biologists to Rebuild” click here in the February 27 issue of Circling the News.

A Highlands resident needs a biologist’s approval before they can get a final plan check.

The city requires it.

Here is the timeline.

January 12, 2025. Governor Newsom suspends CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act) — the law that requires biological surveys, habitat analyses, and monarch butterfly studies before you can build anything in this state. CEQA is suspended forPalisades fire rebuild projects. Gone. Done. The governor said so.

January 13, 2025. Mayor Bass issues Emergency Executive Order 1. She calls it a sweeping order clearing the way for residents to rebuild. She promises to cut red tape. The press conference is confident. The language is urgent.

April 24, 2025. The City of Los Angeles Department of City Planning creates Form CP-3613: Biologist’s Statement of Biological Resources. It is a new form. No earlier version exists. The form cites CEQA as its authority. But governor suspended CEQA one hundred and two days earlier.

July 23, 2025. Bass issues Emergency Executive Order 8, expanding streamlined permitting for Coastal Zone rebuilds. Inside EO8, a quiet instruction: the Director of Planning shall prepare and adopt environmental protection measures to protectbiological resources from any project approved under EO8. Bass writes the mandate herself. It is in her order. Her name is on it.

August 2025. The EO8 Implementation Guidelines are published specifying properties flagged “Medium” or “High” biological potential in ZIMAS must have a qualified biologist prepare Form CP-3613. The biologist must be city-approved. There are twenty-two firms on the list. Each has a contract with the City Planning Department. The applicant pays them directly.

February 2026. A Highlands resident trying to get a final plan check is told they need a biologist to inspect water/plants/trees on the property.

Here is the problem. The fire burned everything. The trees are ash. The habitat is gone. ZIMAS didn’t update. The flag stayed. Parcels carrying medium or high ratings before January 7 — most of the hillside and coastal Palisades — are still flagged.

An approved biologist, for a fee, must survey land permitted, built upon, and taxed for thirty years.

They will find ash. They will find whatever the Army Corps of Engineers left behind.

The governor suspended the law. The mayor created the requirement under the suspended law. The Planning Department built the form requiring an approved biologist. The city-contracted biologists wait for the work to roll in.

Karen Bass did not miss the memo. She wrote it.

The form is dated April 24, 2025,. This is not a revised form dug out of a filing cabinet. It is a new form, created four months into a rebuild period, grounded in a law the governor suspended.

The house was permitted. The biology known. City approved it, zone, and taxed for 30 years. The city’s fire department left the hillside before the fire was out. The houseburned. Now the city wants a biologist to survey the ash.

That someone in the Planning Department has a name. The authorization chain for CP-3613 is a public record.

The Palisades is burning twice: once in January, and once in the permit office.

Posted in General | 2 Comments

Palisadian Songwriter Celebrated in Upcoming Screening March 7

Posted on March 1, 2026 by Sue Pascoe

The documentary “More than Santa Baby” celebrates the life and music of long-time Palisadian composer Philip Springer, 99. The film will screen at 6 p.m. on Saturday, March 7, at The LA Live Regal Cinema – in the LA REEL Independent Film Festival.

Written and directed by his daughter, Tamar Springer, the film goes far beyond that iconic song to explore the depth of his musical legacy and the extraordinary resilience that has defined his journey through nearly a century of music.

Through intimate interviews, archival footage, and rare recordings, More Than Santa Baby takes viewers on an evocative journey through the golden decades of American songwriting — from the vibrant world of 1940s Tin Pan Alley to the glamour of 1950s and 1960s New York recording studios, to the creative energy of 1970s Hollywood. Along the way, Philip’s story intersects with legendary performers including Eartha Kitt, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, and Judy Garland, all of whom brought his compositions to life.

But at its heart, More Than Santa Baby is more than a music documentary. It is a story of perseverance, reinvention, and hope — a portrait of an artist who never stopped creating, even into his nineties. . . and of the love of a daughter Tama Springer, who celebrated his life and achievements.

Set against the backdrop of New York City, where Philip was born, raised, and launched his career, the film doubles as a love letter to the city itself and to the Golden Age of Song. Rich with nostalgia yet vibrant with contemporary relevance, More Than Santa Baby celebrates a lifetime of artistry and reminds us all that creativity knows no expiration date.

Ultimately, More Than Santa Baby is both a tribute and a timeless message — that no matter where we are in life, it is never too late to pursue, to dream, and to leave a lasting mark on the world.

The documentary has won 5 awards to date. Two audience choice awards, a Best Short Documentary, and an award from the Zions Independent Film Festival Utah this past weekend.

To buy tickets: click here. To Park, use West garage (Lot W) Gates E & F only. It is $8 first four hours with Regal validation.

Posted in Film/Television | 1 Comment

Residents Need Biologists to Rebuild

Posted on February 27, 2026 by Sue Pascoe

Those rebuilding in the Palisades need a biologist to verify it is not a Monarch Butterfly potential area.

People rebuilding in Pacific Palisades lost their homes/possessions, their yards, everything. The Army Corps of Engineers came to town and within five months had scrapped most lots clean. Then it’s been more than a year with insurance not paying and city requirements fluctuating.

Just when a Highlands resident had worked through those roadblocks and thought he was reaching the finish line and a final plan check, he was told he needed a biologist’s statement.

This four-page “Biologist’s Statement of Biological Resources,” through the City of L.A. Planning Department (CP-3613 [4.24.2025]) is required.

The biologist’s application statement notes “The California Environmental Quality Act directs public agencies to assess and disclose the environmental effects of the projects it approves. . . .failure by a project applicant to disclose known biological resources on the project site may results in a violation of CEQA.”

The form requires protected trees/shrubs to be addressed, to find out if the project is in the Monarch Butterfly Potential area and if there any other special status species within a 0.25-mile radius of the site.

Most of the builders, inspectors and architects the resident spoke with had never heard of this new requirement, so the resident reached out to a company Envicom, located in Westlake Village, for guidance.

The resident learned that Envicom will come to the site, fill out the report and the resident pays $2,200.

To recap. The entire lot burns. The resident rebuilds, but can’t get a final plan check until a biologist okays it.

The form specifies it has to be a qualified biologist, with a bachelor’s degree in biology or ecology and five years of professional experience . . .and knows the relevant local, state and federal laws and regulations governing the protection of biological resources and meets the CDFW qualifications for botanical field surveyors.

Biologists Statement of Biological Resources

Posted in City | 12 Comments

Layer by Layer, Palisades Fire Secrecy Unwinds

Posted on February 27, 2026 by Sue Pascoe

The 8-acre Lachman Fire in Topanga State Park was not fully extinguished and resulted in the January 7, 2025 Palisades Fire.

Initial depositions relating to the Lachman Fire were released, February26. Lead Attorney Rober Behle of Foley Bezek Behle & Curtis, LLP said, “These depositions are game changers. For more than a year, the public has been kept in the dark by the government.

“The truth is now coming out, and it proves what we all knew: The Palisades Fire was avoidable,” Behle said. “The government failed the people of Pacific Palisades miserably.”

According to initial reports there was no reason to investigate the January 7, 2025, Palisades Fire because it was caused by climate change, “hurricane” force winds and lack of resilient building materials and landscaping. It was only after lawsuits were filed by fire victims, and hundreds of public records requests filed by the media and attorneys, is the truth starting to emerge.

The Palisades fire destroyed nearly 7,000 homes, killed 12 and left thousands displaced. It is estimated to have cost between $28 and $53.8 billion in property damages.

The Palisades Fire was a holdover of a fire from the January 1 Lachman Fire, which had been considered extinguished on January 1. Witnesses claimed there were wisps of smoke on the burn scar several days later. A rekindling of that fire was later given as the cause of the January 7 fire. If the Lachman Fire had been properly extinguished the January 7 Fire would not have happened.

Attorneys for the people asked the judge in December if depositions could be taken of 12 LAFD firefighters and five State Parks personnel about the Lachman Fire before memories faded. The judge agreed.

The first four LAFD firefighter depositions were scheduled to begin on December 18, 2025. On December 16, two days before, lawyers received an email from attorneys representing the City of Los Angeles indicating that the firefighters wanted to hire private attorneys – rather than being represented by City attorneys.

After depositions were completed at the end of January, City attorneys asked for a 30-day period of confidentiality, which was granted.

But, one attorney told CTN that “what I heard last Friday from one witness was stunning. . .and will be a game changer.” The records were sealed until February26.

In one deposition, Firefighter/Paramedic Scott Pike, who was stationed in Sunland came to Station 23 on January 2 to pick up an overtime shift. The 23-year-department veteran with the department had not heard about the Lachman Fire, until he was sent to the Highlands to roll up hoses.

When Engine 23 was called away, and it was Pike and his ambulance partner left with the hoses. The men were in two different areas of the burn scar. Pike started to see signs that the fire might not have been fully extinguished where he was working.

In his deposition he said about the ground, “I just kicked it with my boot to kind of expose it, and there was, like, red hot, like, coals what I believed to be the base of a bush or branches that was still smoldering. And I even heard crackling.

“So, what I did, . . .the way the hose was coming down the hill into my area, I did what any good firefighter would do,” he said. “I cracked the coupling and I pinched the hose, and I directed residual water into the ash pit to just cool that off, to start to mitigate these ash pits.”

As Pike said his deposition “I’m like the house guest. I’m not going to just tell people or try to micromanage and give commands. I’m not in charge.”

Eventually he was joined by more firefighters – no one he knew. But he told them about the smokers, and it was agreed he should tell the Captain, who may have been from 69.

Pike remembers saying, “Hey, Cap, that area over there. . .there’s an ash pit and some smokers. Hey, maybe — maybe we should do a little more overhaul.” He said the Captain paused and “I remember him just kind of . . .listening to what I’m saying. And he said, ‘Yeah, you know what, if that’s the case maybe we should get some — at least get some hand tools up here.’”

Towards the end of his disposition, the City Attorney attacks Pike and wanting to know why he needed a lawyer, when he was hired and questions him about text messages.

Pike responds, “Am I not allowed to seek personal counsel — is there some sort of rule I broke?”

Pike continues “Why is that relevant? I feel I should have the right to seek counsel. I’m asking why you’re so concerned? That’s why I have a UFLAC attorney represented here with me. . .

Pike said to Benjamin Barokh of the law firm of Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP, “You represent the City, so we should want to get all of our kinks figured out, get our fire department back to normal staffing, good command, good decisions and whatnot. What does it matter where I seek legal counsel? Because I don’t see anybody just wanting to get the truth.”

Pike also noted he was happy to answer anything related to January 2, which was the only time he was at the Lachman Fire for about a three-and-a-half-hour window. . .. “But if you want to step outside of those, I’m not going to answer anything because I don’t trust the City.”

Pike further explained that with everything going on, “I think people are looking for scapegoats. I think people are looking to make people look bad. And I haven’t seen anybody step up and take responsibility. None of my leaders, none of the City leaders.· Nobody.

“It’s not my responsibility to share opinions about all the bigger stuff . . . ·Because I’m just saying, I don’t think a lot of people would want my opinion because it involves truths that I feel people are already ignoring,” Pike said.

Posted in Accidents/Fires | 2 Comments

Palisades Bowl Listed for Sale

Posted on February 26, 2026 by Sue Pascoe

The Paliades Bowl Mobile Home Park is located across from the Pacific Ocean. The property has been listed for sale.

The real estate brochure shows gorgeous photos of the Palisades Bowl at 16321 Pacific Coast Highway. The square footage is listed as 861,181-square-feet on a lot size of about 19.77 acres.

The brochure notes that the Bowl is “Situated along one of Southern California’s most iconic corridors . . . offers investors and developers the chance to acquire a prime asset in a highly coveted, supply-constrained market.

“Formerly home to 173 mobile residences, the Property was impacted by the Palisades Fire, creating a blank canvas for redevelopment. With favorable RE40 zoning and exceptional visibility along Pacific Coast Highway, the site is ideally positioned for a transformative residential or mixed-use project. . . .and offers direct access to beaches, hiking trails and scenic vistas.”

There was no asking price.

There were also are a few caveats not mentioned in the brochure.

Prior to the Palisades January 7 Fire, the Bowl provided affordable housing for a large number of seniors and people with families, many of whom are on rent control. Residents owned the mobile homes that were on the lots, but paid rent to the Biggs family who owned the land. The residents have leases and anyone purchasing the land would have to honor those documents.

Bowl resident Jon Brown, who has advocated for the displaced residents and his neighbors, said that for a buyer close the park, an impact report would have to be filed, and whoever bought the property would be responsible for removing more than 100 senior citizens, most on fixed incomes.

The person would also have to file a change of use for a property that is zoned RE-40.

Chief Executive Officer of Crest Steven Somers said that RE40 Zoning means “properties are typically utilized for single-family homes,” and noted that “this property in particular has a unique entitlement history allowing the previous multifamily use, which could be maintained under the various fire rebuild executive orders as long as the building footprints are not increased by more than 10% and the unit count is not increased.”

Somers said that if a future owner wanted to redevelop with more units, “a coastal development permit and additional discretionary entitlements would be required.”

Senator Ben Allen was asked about the status of the Palisades Mobile Home Parks. “We recently introduced SB 1092 to provide residents or their designated representative (a qualified nonprofit or local entity, perhaps) with an opportunity to compete to purchase the park if the owner receives an offer,” Allen said and noted that if a sale would go through before the bill would take effect on January 1, 2027, there are existing local protections in place.

Those protections mean if a new owner wants to close the park or apply for a change of use of the land, “The City will require impact reports and relocation assistance for the residents,” Allen said. “By the time that is done, our SB 1093 will be in effect (if passed and signed) to provide additional protections and clarifications in the event of a proposed closure or change of use.”

There had been talk about the displaced residents trying to buy the property. They have formed a nonprofit Palisades Bowl Community Group.

Also not mentioned in the brochure is the active landslide behind the Palisades Bowl. Asilomar Avenue, between El Medio and Almar Avenues, is built on a hillside that has two landslides. One starts 90 feet below the surface, extends into the Pacific Ocean, and is considered inactive. The other, 35 feet down, is continually moving.

The hill is owned by the City, and owners of the Palisades Bowl and Tahitian Terrace. In 2023, the City spent money to stabilize its portion – the top of the hill, but neither mobile home park owner has addressed the slide. Sommers was asked if that would have to be disclosed.

“Sellers of real estate are required to disclose any material facts that they are aware of regarding their property,” Sommer said. “This would typically include any known information regarding geotechnical instability.”

Brown said that if the infrastructure, electric, water and sewer could be installed, most residents could return because the homes could be built quickly and cheaply.

The hill behind the Palisades Bowl has two landslides, one is inactive, the other active.

Posted in General | 5 Comments

Artists Sought for Temescal Mural Conservation

Posted on February 26, 2026 by Sue Pascoe

Carlos Rogel of MuralColors works on the Temescal Mural restoration.

There are three spots available, for volunteers, ages 16+ to learn and to help with the very detailed phase of restoring the mural on Temescal Canyon and Bowdoin.

Volunteers will be working with the conservation team, MuralColors on specific areas of the mural to clean and reapply the paint film where it has detached from the wall. Conservation supplies and guidance will be provided; no prior conservation experience required. This is a hands-on opportunity to learn about conservation and caring for an iconic 552-foot mural that has been a part of the community for over 40 years.

To apply, please send the following to [email protected] by MONDAY, MARCH 9.

Name
Email
Phone number
Digital portfolio of three to 10 artworks
Brief paragraph describing your experience /interest in public art
Availability during April (weekdays, weekends and what hours)

Applicants will be notified of status and volunteer dates within two weeks.

The mural on Temescal Canyon Road opposite Palisades Charter High School was started in 1983 by students Kat Kozik, David Strauch, Jennifer Wilsey and Cathy Salser. The mural depicts the landscape of Pacific Palisades, particularly Temescal Canyon, painting a local history of the land and indigenous ways of life. The mural, which was slated to start restoration in 2025, survived the Palisades 2025 Fire.

After the fire, everything in Pacific Palisades was put on hold.

Caty Salser also gave this update on February 26, 2026,“the Mural Colors team is on site this week doing final stages of removing the old coating.

“Then in March we will begin ‘consolidation,’ which involves applying a substance which restores, secures and renews the flexibility of the original pigments.”

Salser said that in April some detailed “reattachment,” in-painting and repair will take place. “So excited for each step of this,” she said.

Posted in Arts | Leave a comment

Tickets Available for May Santa Monica Inaugural Jazz Festival

Posted on February 26, 2026 by Sue Pascoe

Stanley Clark is leading the inaugural Santa Monica Jazz Festival.

Tickets for the Santa Monica Inaugural Jazz Festival, curated by Topanga resident and legendary bassist Stanley Clarke, are now available.

The festival, which will be held May 1 – 9, is a Route 66 Edition celebrating 100 years of Miles Davis and John Coltrane (and Route 66).

The festival promises world-renowned headlining performances, star-studded tributes to jazz legends, and multiple stages that include Tonva Park, the Broadstage, Third Street Promenade and the Orpheum Theater.

Hiromi’s Sonicwonder – led by world-renowned pianist Hiromi Uehara, who blurs the lines between jazz improvisation and classical composition will open the festival on May 1 at the Orpheum Theatre in downtown L.A.

A full line-up is planned for the free concert on May 3 at the Third Street Promenade. Performing will be keyboardist Elijah Fox, a special solo set by KNOWER vocalist Genevieve Artadi, Duffy x Uhlmann – the guitar duo of Meg Duffy (Hand Habits) and Greg Uhlmann – bassist Billy Mohler, and psych jazz group Instant Alter.

The Promenade gig will also provide young artists and students with an opportunity to step into the spotlight. There will be performances by Aidan Farrell, Varad Sahasrabudhe and the Samohi Jazz Combo.

Also on the festival lineup are stellar saxophonists Lakecia Benjamin, a six-time Grammy nominee, and Isaiah Collier, a Chicago Tribune Jazz Artist of the Year, New York Times Top Ten honoree, and Downbeat Magazine cover star.

Benjamin and Collier will each give special tributes to John Coltrane at the BroadStage on May 8. Joining them on the program will be ad hoc saxophone ensemble Tenor Madness.

After double 2026 Grammy wins, sonic trailblazer Kamasi Washington will headline a May 9 set at Tongva Park in Santa Monica.

“I’m excited to join one of my musical heroes and an incredible artist Stanley Clarke for his Santa Monica International Jazz Festival,” Washington said. “Come listen to incredible music!”

A limited quantity of Early Bird discount tickets for the Tongva Park event will be available. VIP packages, including prime seating and viewing areas, comfortable bar/lounge access, artist meet and greets, priority entry, exclusive merch and other premium experiences, will also be available. For ticket information and the complete schedule click here.

Posted in Music | Leave a comment

Council District 11 Candidate Forum Sunday

Posted on February 25, 2026 by Sue Pascoe

The Westside Regional Alliance of Councils (WRAC) is holding a Los Angeles City Council District 11 candidate forum featuring the incumbent Traci Park and challengers Faizah Malik and Jeremy Wineberg from 1 to 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 1.

The event will be held at the Venice First Lutheran Church at 815 Venice Boulevard and will be moderated by ABC7’s Josh Haskell. All CD11 constituents are invited. Those wanting to ask candidates questions, will need to write them on a card and hand them to a moderator before the event begins.

Haskell, is the political and general assignment reporter for ABC7 Eyewitness News. He spent 18 months on the 2016 campaign trail, first based in Iowa for the caucus and then part of the ABC News team following Hillary Clinton’s campaign.

While at ABC, Haskell also covered the 2012 presidential election and breaking news stories including the Boston Marathon terror attack and the Newtown school shooting. He was part of the team who earned a Peabody Award for the network’s coverage of Superstorm Sandy.

To learn more about the candidates, visit their websites: Traci Park click here, Faizah Malik click here, and Jeremy Winneberg Jeremy Wineberg for LA City Council District 11 (2026 Election)

Posted in General | Leave a comment

Bridgeman Notches First PGA Victory at Genesis Invitational

Posted on February 25, 2026 by Sue Pascoe

Golf fans pack the amphitheater surrounding the famed 18th green during Sunday’s final round at the Riviera Golf Course under sunny conditions.
Photo: STEVE GALLUZZO

By STEVE GALLUZZO

CTN Contributor

Heading into Sunday’s final round of the Genesis Invitational it looked like the 41-year old tournament scoring record would finally be broken.

However, the famed layout at Rivera Country Club once again for the 61st time—held its own on the 100th anniversary of a golf tournament that debuted in 1926 at the Los Angeles Athletic Club and first came to Riviera three years later.

Jacob Bridgeman analyzes his par attempt at the 13th hole Sunday in the Genesis Invitational.
Photo: STEVE GALLUZZO

Jacob Bridgeman started the day at 19 under par and with a seemingly safe six-stroke lead, which he upped to seven with birdies on the first and third holes, it looked like winning his first PGA Tour event would be a walk in the park. Instead, the 26-year-old had to hang on for dear life as several players made fierce charges ahead of him to whittle the margin down to a single stroke.

Bridgeman bogeyed the 16th to drop to 18 under while Kurt Kitayama birdied the 17th to get to -17 and followed with a par at the iconic 18th, putting pressure on the leader to play mistake free over the last two holes, which he did to hold off Kitayama and playing partner Rory McIlroy.

“I had a bunch of putts I thought I was going to make that just bounced out and didn’t go in,” said Bridgman, who was a collegiate standout at Clemson. “I thought I’d be a few under par going into the last three but I wasn’t so that made it a lot more stressful.”

Bridgeman left his 20-foot birdie putt at No. 18 three feet short, but calmly tapped in his par putt to triumph on a course he had never played prior to Wednesday’s pro-am.

“I kind of had everything under control especially to start the day and I felt great throughout the day,” said Bridgman, who won $4 million and was handed the trophy from tournament host Tiger Woods at the 18th green. “Then some guys started making a little run and they got a little closer.

“I had a couple unfortunate breaks,” he said. “Yeah, it got a lot tighter than I wanted it to, but I don’t think it will get any easier than a six-shot lead so I’ve got to figure out how to make that gap bigger to finish the day. To get my first win here at probably one of the coolest places that I could have done it, and having Tiger as the host is a dream come true.”

Jacob Bridgeman tees off at No. 13 in Sunday’s final round at the Riviera Golf Course. He shot one-over to win by a shot.
Photo: STEVE GALLUZZO

The final round 72 gave Bridgeman a four-day score of 266, two off the tournament record set by Lanny Wadkins at the 1985 Los Angeles Open. Wadkins won by seven shots in 20 under par and his 264 remains the longest-standing 72-hole scoring record for an active PGA Tour event.

Asked later if he was aware of how close he came to the scoring record, Bridgeman admitted he “had no idea.”

Two-time Riviera winner Adam Scott shot eight under Sunday, his second 63 in three days, and finished alone in fourth at 16 under. The 45-year-old Australian, who won a rain-shortened Nissan Open at Riviera in 2005 (playing only 36 holes) and won the Genesis in 2020, shared his thoughts on the event possibly being moved to later in the year.

“Yeah, I guess there’s more chance of it being firm and fast,” Scott said. “I think it would be a good thing. This tournament at any time of year is going to be great. It’s got the history and it’s got the venue. It’s amazing, the crowd shows up.

“I know it’s a big metropolitan area, but I don’t think of L.A. as golf fans, but they are. I’ve always had great support here and it’s a great vibe at Riviera so as long as we’re coming back here anytime will be good,” Scott said.

Adam Scott (left) and Tommy Fleetwood congratulate each other after Sunday’s final round at Riviera.
Photo: STEVE GALLUZZO

Kitayama, whose putter got hot the last three days after an opening round 71, began Sunday nine shots off the lead and came within one of forcing a playoff.

The biggest final-round comeback in tournament history was in 1959 when Ken Venturi shot a 63 to rally from eight shots back at Rancho Park.

“I played awesome, I had a dream start to the day,” Kitayama said after his final round 64. “I didn’t really go into it thinking I had a chance, I just kind of plugged along and I had good speed all day. Coming down the stretch I figured If I could make some birdies, I could maybe add a little pressure.”

McIllory, the world’s second-ranked player, fell just short of notching his 30th PGA Tour win at Riviera, where he debuted in 2016 when it was called the Northern Trust Open. His best result before Sunday was a tie for fourth in 2019—the year before the Genesis Open gained invitational status.

“I just kept plugging away and trying to make something happen,” said the 36-year-old from Northern Ireland, who had four birdies on the back nine but had to split the $2.2 million runner-up check with Kitayama.

“I felt like I could’ve made something happen on the front nine if I holed a few putts but I didn’t,” McIllory said. “Sometimes it’s harder when Jacob has a big lead and I’m not doing anything to put pressure on him so he sees that.

“I’ve had this before when I had a big lead and the guy playing with me isn’t putting pressure on and then the guys in front are,” McIllory said. “He was making a lot of pars and then at the end Kurt did what he did and Adam posted and I started making a couple birdies. I thought Jacob did really well to hang on and play the way he did coming down the stretch.”

Rory McIlroy watches his birdie putt track towards the hole on the 13th green in Sunday’s final round.
Photo: STEVE GALLUZZO

World No 1. Scottie Scheffler kept his consecutive cuts streak alive (he has advanced to the weekend in 68 straight events dating back to August 2022, the longest active streak on the Tour) and carded a final-round 65 to share 12th place with Jordan Spieth, Min Woo Lee and Alex Noren.

Scheffler was through 10 holes and tied for dead last in the 72-player field at five over par when the horn blew to suspend play Thursday at 5:41 p.m. because of darkness after a morning drizzle had delayed the first round for three hours.

Englishman Aaron Rai was six under through 16 holes, one shot better than clubhouse leaders Bridgeman and McIilory but bogeyed 18 early Friday morning and shot a second-round 69.

“When we went out on Thursday, the wind was blowing so hard and the greens were so bumpy and so fast it was a complete crapshoot whether or not the ball was going to get in the hole,” Schreffler said. “You had to hit it with a little bit of speed to negate some of the bumps, and if you hit a putt with speed, you had another three or four-footer… especially with how much pitch is on these greens. So it was real challenging going out there starting the way we did Thursday. After that I did lots of solid stuff.”

Scottie Scheffler and Matt Fitzpatrick make the famous walk up the fairway to Riviera’s 18th green.
Photo: STEVE GALLUZZO

At the halfway point, Bridgeman was tied with Englishman Marco Penge at 12 under par, one shot ahead of McIilory, who carded a 65. Bridgman fired a 64 Saturday, the lowest score all day, to equal the 54-hole scoring record set four years ago by Joaquin Niemann, who shot even par in the final round to become the event’s first wire-to-wire winner in 53 years.

“Wherever the leaderboards are today, I saw them all,” Bridgeman said. “II don’t shy away from knowing where I’m at.

“Maybe that’s a bad thing at times, but I wanted to know if somebody was doing something and I needed to press a button to make a couple of birdies,” Bridgeman said. “I was very aware the whole day. I felt comfortable right till the end there.”

Bridgeman is the first golfer to get his first PGA Tour win at Riviera since James Hahn in the 2015 Northern Trust Open. After being in contention the week before at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am (tying for eighth) and winning Sunday, he hopes he can play well at his first Masters in April.

“Getting the monkey off my back of winning for the first time is huge,” he said. “The Masters in itself is going to be another whole challenge just because that’s the tournament every golfer growing up wants to play in and win.

“I’m very excited for it,” Bridgeman said. “I’m hopefully going to take a couple trips down there and see the golf course a little more. I haven’t played since college, so I want to do some prep and maybe learn something from some of the older guys.”

Asked if he watched the men’s gold medal hockey game that morning in which the USA beat Canada 2-1 in overtime, Bridgeman said he did not. “I honestly thought it was a little bit later because yesterday when I was warming up in the truck we were watching Canada play, so I figured I’d see it again in the truck this morning. Then Haley said on the way to the course this morning that they won, which is great.”

Posted in Sports | Leave a comment

No Surprise Palisades Has 2 of Most Dangerous Intersections

Posted on February 25, 2026 by Sue Pascoe

This was the scene after a pedestrian was hit at Sunset Boulevard and PCH.
Photo: Rosalie Huntington

The Los Angeles Times has analyzed and identified the most dangerous intersections in the in the more than 7,500 miles of streets in Los Angeles. The Times analysis included high traffic volume and frequent crashes dating back to 2010.

The top 14 are highlighted and two are from Pacific Palisades. Garnering top honors in the poll was Highland Avenue and Sunset Boulevard. Palisades streets making the list were Pacific Coast Highway and Sunset Boulevard ranked 7 and PCH and Channel Road/Chautauqua Boulevard was 14.

It comes as no surprise to Pacific Palisades residents that two of the only three entrances and exits to the town are in that list.

Number 7 on the list is Pacific Coast Highway and Sunset Boulevard. Many may need to be reminded that during the Palisades Fire, residents trying to exit from the Highlands and the west side of Palisades found themselves in a huge gridlock in that area and were told to exit their cars and run.

For official fire/police vehicles to gain access to the Palisades during the fire, a grader had to plow cars to the side. Most residents oppose any added density to the town, because as recently proven, it is nearly impossible to evacuate in an emergency.

Evacuation was nearly impossible at Palisades Drive and Sunset Boulevard, with the result of people having to leave their cars and flee on foot to the Gladstones parking lot.

When a controversial five-story, 60-ft.-high, 32,225-sq.ft. mixed-use building with 39-dwelling units was approved in 2016 by the City for the Jack-in-the-Box site near the corner of PCH and Sunset, residents wanted a traffic study, done. The study in the project file was from 2016, but a new one was not required. If the project is revived, maybe residents will now be able to request an updated study.

Number 14 on the list is at PCH and Channel Road/Chautauqua Boulevard. Chautauqua, one of the three evacuation points out of the Palisades, is a two-lane road. It widens to four lanes, about 100 yards from PCH.

When a tree fell across Chautauqua on February 18, 2025, the entire road was shut down more than six hours, closing a major arterial. During the Fire, this road, too, was backed up as people tried to exit.

Chautauqua Boulevard, a two lane road, is only one of three roadways for nearly 26,000 Palisades residents to evacuate.

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