FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 2011
Volume 10 Issue 139
Santa Monica Daily Press
BANS BECOMING POPULAR SEE PAGE 3
We have you covered
THE HAPPY EARTH DAY ISSUE
Sea lions rescued near SM Pier BY ASHLEY ARCHIBALD Daily Press Staff Writer
SM PIER Two sea lions washed onto the beach near the Santa Monica Pier Wednesday, victims of a deadly neurotoxin that has been wreaking havoc amongst the sea mammal population in Southern
California. The poison, called domoic acid, causes grand mal seizures, which lead to lesions in the victims’ brains. It’s produced by algae blooms and siphoned out of the water by planktoneating fish including sardines and anchovies, which are then eaten by the
larger mammals. The toxin then concentrates in the bodies of the larger animals until symptoms appear. According to a release from Heal the Bay, it’s unclear where and how large the bloom is. This year’s bloom is more intense than in previous years. Scientists don’t know
much about what causes the higher concentration of toxin, just that pollution from agricultural and industrial uses feeds the algae. The result has been dramatic. Eighty-two large animals — including SEE SEA LIONS PAGE 8
Obama’s visit grounds planes at SM Airport BY DAILY PRESS STAFF SMO Pilots wishing to use Santa Monica Airport have to wait until 9 a.m. Friday, with the Federal Aviation Administration putting temporary flight restrictions in place while President Barack Obama was in Los Angeles. “Any pilot who violates the restrictions can face FAA sanctions as well as criminal charges,” Ian Gregor of the FAA said. Only airlines, law enforcement aircraft and approved ambulance aircraft were able to fly within a 10-mile radius of SMO between 2:30 p.m. Thursday and 9 a.m. Friday. During that time, private pilots were not able to fly into or out of Los Angeles International Airport, Santa Monica Airport and Hawthorne Municipal Airport. Obama was scheduled to arrive at LAX at 2:30 p.m. Thursday. He attended a fundraiser at Sony Studios in Culver City and then a private fundraiser at the Tavern restaurant in Brentwood. While the restrictions were in effect, private pilots were able to fly into and out of airports within 10-30 miles from Santa Monica Airport. Private pilots were able to travel through that airspace provided air traffic controllers could handle the workload. However, all pilots flying in this area have to have filed flight plans, must have talked to air traffic controllers and were required to use transponders, which provide controllers with data on the type of aircraft, its altitude, airspeed and destination. The transponders had to broadcast a code that is unique to each aircraft. news@smdp.com
Brandon Wise brandonw@smdp.com
PRICE PAIN: Steve Abelar pumps gas at the Chevron station on 14th Street and Santa Monica Boulevard on Thursday afternoon.
High gas prices rattle local businesses BY ASHLEY ARCHIBALD Daily Press Staff Writer
CITYWIDE As the price of gas nears $5 a gallon, the pump has the same connotation as dentists’ offices — you know you have to go, and you know it’s going to hurt. Nationwide, prices have begun to creep
up in response to increased demand for petroleum from developing countries and unrest in the Middle East. The West Coast languishes under the highest prices — an average of $4.08 a gallon — while the Rocky Mountain region enjoys the lowest at $3.61 per gallon. Living in Southern California isn’t help-
Gary Limjap
ing anything. Of the 10 cities noted on the federal Department of Energy website, Los Angeles tops out with the highest average price at $4.23, beating even San Francisco by just over a tenth of a cent. SEE GAS PAGE 9
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