Stories from surrounding communities, closest first.
Moorpark Acorn · Moorpark, CA
Nearby: Moorpark, CAHONORING THE BEST—Recipients of the Moorpark Chamber of Commerce 2026 Community Awards gather for a group photo Oct. 20 at M on High. The annual event celebrates contributions to the community. Isabel Lawrence Photographers The Moorpark Chamber of Commerce recognized 20 individuals, businesses and organizations for their contributions to the community during its annual Community Awards luncheon Oct. 20 at M on High. The 2026 awards honored people making a difference in Moorpark through business, education, public service, volunteer work, athletics and community involvement. This year’s winners included David Pollock, Local Legend; Michelle Barrett, Woman of the Year; and Scott Mosher, Man of the Year. Other honorees included Hearth Restaurant & Coffee, Business of the Year; Moorpark Pantry Plus, Nonprofit of the Year; Golden Plumbing, Professional Business of the Year; and the 100 Group, Best Place to Work.
Simi Valley Acorn · Simi Valley, CA
Nearby: Simi Valley, CATwo Palmdale men were arrested Nov. 3 after allegedly stealing power tools from a Simi Valley Walmart and threatening store employees with a baton before leading police to a nearby gas station, where one man barricaded himself inside a travel trailer. Simi Valley police were called to Walmart at 255 E. Cochran St. at about 7:40 p.m. after a witness reported seeing two men break open a display case and steal several power tools. When loss prevention employees tried to stop the men, they allegedly threatened the employees and displayed a baton before fleeing in a vehicle towing a travel trailer. Officers later found the vehicle at the ARCO gas station at Madera Road and Los Angeles Avenue. One man was taken into custody without incident, while the second refused to leave the trailer and barricaded himself inside. Police temporarily closed nearby roads while officers worked to persuade the man to surrender. He exited the trailer just after 9 p.m. and was arrested.
Simi Valley Acorn · Simi Valley, CA
Nearby: Simi Valley, CACHANGES AHEAD?—Library Director StephanieWronka talks about the improvements made to the Teen Lounge during a grand re-opening ceremony at the Simi Valley Library on Sept. 1. The city could soon have autonomy in making similar additions. MICHAEL COONS/Acorn Newspapers Simi Valley is one step closer to owning its public library, a move that could unlock millions of dollars in renovations and give the city greater control over the building it has operated for more than a decade. The City Council voted unanimously Oct. 26 to advance a property exchange with Ventura County, transferring the Simi Valley Public Library to the city and the Ventura County Animal Shelter property on West Los Angeles Avenue to the county. The city would receive the 6.74-acre library property at 2969 Tapo Canyon Road, including the building and parking lot. The county would receive the 2.25-acre shelter property at 670 W. Los Angeles Ave., including its building and an adjacent vacant site.
Simi Valley Acorn · Simi Valley, CA
Nearby: Simi Valley, CAMAKING CHOICES—Voter’s reflection is seen in the window Nov. 3 at Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District headquarters in Simi Valley. MICHAEL COONS/Acorn Newspapers Voters in Simi Valley have weighed in on contested races for the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District and Simi Valley Unified School District, with apparent winners holding comfortable leads in the latest returns before press time. RSRPD results There may be plenty of fun and games in the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District, but campaigning for a seat on its board is serious business. After months of campaigning, the results are in. In the race for the district’s Division 2 seat, Dawn Smollen held a sizable lead over challenger Mary Northrup as of press time, with 3,320 votes to Northrup’s 2,452. The 5,772 votes cast in the race gave Smollen a 15-percentage-point advantage. Division 2 covers northeastern Simi Valley, including the Rancho Santa Susana Knolls area.
Simi Valley Acorn · Simi Valley, CA
Nearby: Simi Valley, CANote: This story is based on initial election results available by Nov. 4 for this week’s print deadline. As of Nov. 5, more than 161,115 ballots remained unprocessed, and results could change, according to the county Elections Division. Follow the Simi Valley Acorn on Facebook for the latest results. Updated totals will also appear in our Nov. 14 edition. Longtime councilmember Mike Judge is headed for the mayor’s office, while three newcomers are poised to join the Simi Valley City Council following Tuesday’s election, according to unofficial results released Nov. 4 by the Ventura County Elections Division. Judge, who has served on the council for 16 years, defeated his closest challenger, Kareem Jubran, by 10 percentage points in the citywide race for a two-year term as mayor. Judge, 63, received 42% of the vote, with 12,661 votes, compared with Jubran’s 32%, or 9,600 votes. Current Mayor Dee Dee Cavanaugh received nearly 21%, with 6,246 votes.
Noozhawk · Carpinteria, CA
Nearby: Carpinteria, CAThe groups behind the 196-unit apartment complex proposed for a Carpinteria Valley parcel broke down the most recent project plans at a community meeting Tuesday night. The mixed income-restricted and market-rate project is set for 1101 and 1103 Bailard Ave., a seven-acre property located just outside the Carpinteria city limits. Currently on the site is a small farm. The proposal comes to the valley from the Housing Authority of the County of Santa Barbara and Red Tail Multifamily. The Housing Authority, a nonprofit organization, currently houses 3,093 residents across 1,665 income-restricted units around the county. This project has been in the works for several years, but it has repeatedly drawn community pushback from city residents and the City Council concerned about the scale and scope of the development and impacts to the city. The parcel was originally owned by the Carpinteria Unified School District and zoned as single-family residential, with a small farm on the site.
Honolulu Civil Beat · Santa Monica, CA
Nearby: Santa Monica, CANick Nikhilananda has been a member of the Green Party of Hawaiʻi for nearly 35 years. His history is so deep that he played a role in getting the party on Hawaiʻi’s ballot for the first time, way back in 1992. That was accomplished along with people like the late Ira Rohter, a University of Hawaiʻi political science professor who helped found and co-chair the group. The Green Party has fielded dozens of candidates over the years, including Nikhilananda himself. It saw a couple of them elected in the 1990s to the Hawaiʻi County Council, which today is nonpartisan like all county offices. But Greens have not succeeded in getting more members elected since. The state is too dominated by Democrats with Republicans comprising a weak yet vocal minority. On Nov. 3, that all changed, at least for one seat in the 76-member Legislature. Pāʻele Kiakona, a Green, defeated Democrat Sne Patel and Republican Elle Cochran in House District 14 representing the Lahaina area.
Deseret News · Montecito, CA
Nearby: Montecito, CA“The Voice” has reached the live portion of the competition — and it’s time for viewers to weigh in on their favorite singers. Currently, the show is narrowing the Season 30 competition down to a top 10. Here’s a look at the five singers viewers who have already secured their spot. This Utah singer was ‘very, very upset’ with his latest performance on ‘The Voice’ — but he could still win the show ‘Your vocals are insane,’ Kelly Clarkson tells Utah singer on ‘The Voice’ Team Queen Latifah Mia Knight Mia Knight got three coaches to turn around for her during her blind audition. But first-time “Voice” coach Queen Latifah jumped out of her seat when she learned Knight’s age. “I cannot believe you’re 16 years old,” Latifah said following the New Jersey teen’s performance of Sienna Spiro’s “You Stole the Show.” “You own this stage like nobody’s business.” In her coaching pitch, Kelly Clarkson noted that she’s won “The Voice” twice with teenage singers.
Sentinel Colorado · North Hollywood, CA
Nearby: North Hollywood, CALOS ANGELES | The driver of a minivan that crashed outside a Los Angeles metro station, killing three women and critically injuring two more, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and three counts of murder, police said Wednesday. Authorities said the driver was able to talk but appeared to be in shock after Tuesday’s crash, which hit pedestrians and food vendors at a busy intersection in the North Hollywood neighborhood during the height of the evening commute. Police identified the driver as Ihor Demianenko, 61, who lives in the Valley Village neighborhood. Demianenko was booked early Wednesday and his bail was set at a little over $6 million, records show. He was treated for minor injuries at a hospital, police said. It wasn’t immediately clear if Demianenko had a lawyer who might speak on his behalf. In California, drivers under the influence of drugs or alcohol can be charged with murder under certain circumstances.
California · North Hollywood, CA
Nearby: North Hollywood, CAThree women were killed and two others were injured when a van plowed into a crowd of pedestrians in North Hollywood on Tuesday evening, authorities said.
