What happens to stolen art: in lieu of the louvre
From the Ocean’s franchise to classic Pink Panther films to the real-life phenomenon, the concept of a museum heist has always been something that pulls the public's attention. The elaborate plans and suspenseful escapes are bound to draw in a crowd, whether or not the story is fiction or reality. In recent years, however, art heists had become far less common-until Oct. 19, 2025, when $102 million worth of historical jewelry was stolen from the Louvre Museum. Immediately, social media exploded, mocking the Louvre’s security, memeing the event and even coining the heist as ‘chic’. Among this uproar, almost nobody seemed to be concerned about the stolen items; millions of dollars worth of culturally significant jewelry was taken, quite literally pieces of history, but despite this, there appears to be no concern for the future of these jewels.
Free Art Opportunities on the Westside
All of the following art experiences are free and located on the West side of Los Angeles.
Samo boys’ soccer sets sights high for the upcoming season
Boys’ Soccer looks to build off of a successful ’24-’25 season, ending with a perfect 9-0 record in Ocean league and a 22-4-2 record overall, which qualified Samo for the open division of the CIF playoffs.
Students unite for climate action
On Nov. 14, students from Samo and Palisades Charter High School gathered for a joint climate rally in front of the Santa Monica Pier. The rally centered around the “Make Polluters Pay” campaign, which aims to hold large companies accountable for environmental and health issues that they have contributed towards.
Santa Monica City Council approves new ‘Realignment Plan’
A new reshaping effort for the city of Santa Monica has been approved by the Santa Monica City Council, promising to reinvigorate tourism while stabilizing the local economy. This ‘Realignment Plan’ was proposed by City Manager Oliver Chi on Oct. 27 and aims to make neighborhoods safer, keep streets cleaner and rebuild a solid foundation for generations to come.
Should social media influencer be considered a job?
With the rise of influencers, a debate has been sparked whether being an influencer should be counted as a job or not. These articles explore both sides of the argument.
Girls’ basketball aims higher this season
Last year, Samo girls’ Varsity basketball made
it to the first round of the CIF playoffs, losing
by a score of 32-34. Finishing their season with
a league record of 6-4 and an overall record of
11-15, they finished third in the Ocean League.
Head Coach Lance Radford reflected on the
successes of last season.
The development crisis in santa monica
As new buildings take over the streets of Santa Monica, it is now more urgent than ever to rethink the development of the city. With increasing frequency, multi-use high rises and apartment buildings are swallowing up entire blocks and dulling the city’s character. The charm of Santa Monica is fading at the hands of urban developers and something must be done before it is too late.
To those who keep our campus safe, seasoned, and sanitary
Everyday, you endure cleaning up food fights, breaking up angsty teen aggression and dealing with a non-stop stream of peckish students. Your significant efforts as Samo’s security, custodians and cafeteria staff go overlooked too often. With your consistency, students can easily forget that it’s hired hands, not magic, that keeps the campus so well tended to. It’s not absurd to think that without your management, much of Samo would fall into chaos. Bathrooms would soon turn into biochemical hazards and lunch lines would transform into a high school edition of “The Hunger Games”. The impact that you have made on our school is beyond comprehension.
Premier league executive to lead new USL Division One
On Nov. 3, it was announced that the current chief football officer of the Premier League, Tony Scholes, was named President of the United Soccer League (USL) Division One. The USL’s Division One was formed on Feb. 13. With this new league, a system new to the U.S is planned to be put in place. Scholes was brought in due to his background in the Premier League, where he worked running competitions as well as player development.
Holiday helper: a gift guide for all your special someones
Whether it’s a gift for the hardcore gym bro, an aspiring pâtissier or a self-proclaimed fashionista, finding the perfect present during the holiday season can be difficult. From the personalized products on Etsy cursed with long delivery times, to Amazon’s overwhelming amount of items, to thousands of small shopping sites that end up being scams half the time, it’s hard to know where to start. Rather than stuffing stockings with last-minute cards and candles, take a trip down to one of many local mom-and-pop shops all around Santa Monica.
Samo water polo builds early momentum
On Nov. 3, it was announced that the current chief football officer of the Premier League, Tony Scholes, was named President of the United Soccer League (USL) Division One. The USL’s Division One was formed on Feb. 13. With this new league, a system new to the U.S is planned to be put in place. Scholes was brought in due to his background in the Premier League, where he worked running competitions as well as player development.
A realistic day of a stressed out senior
Waking up on this dreadful winter morning, I’m met with a pounding headache and the sore sight of the previous night’s empty tropical red bull. Last night’s nightmares—full of rejection letters from my top schools and missing assignment notifications—kept me tossing and turning until morning.
Massive sports betting scandal unravels with nba stars
On Thursday, Oct. 23, authorities announced that 34 people
had been arrested on charges of sports betting and rigged poker
games
Boys’ water polo season ends in a close loss at cif
The boys’ water polo team ended their season on Oct. 30 in round 1 of Division II California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) playoffs against Etiwanda High School. On Oct. 22, the team had their last game of the regular season against Malibu High School, which ended with a 12-7 win. They started off their season strong with their opening home game on Aug. 21, against Notre Dame High School, which ended in a 13-6 win.
The dodgers foundation keeps l.a.
In their 136th season, the Los Angeles Dodgers won their division, the National League West, and have had many dramatic victories. Contrasting with the excitement surrounding these wins are the social crises that have recently plagued the team's home city, including the widespread detainment of immigrants and the Pacific Palisades fires. In times of crises, Dodger Stadium, along with its network of foundations, has been a common place for Los Angeles (LA) residents to feel a sense of belonging.
Students respond to greater enforcement of campus policies
As a new school year at Samo unfolds, students have noticed new policies and a stricter enforcement of pre-existing rules. Whether it’s at football games, pep rallies or other school events, the school security and policies seems to have tightened for the ’25-’26 school year.
HOTLB: What is your favorite Halloween memory?
Students shared their favorite nostalgic Halloween memories.