Simi Valley is usually that quiet, rolling-hill suburb where the biggest drama is a coyote sighting or a long line at the DMV, but this week has been heavy. If you’ve been looking for breaking news Simi Valley, you’ve probably seen the headlines about the Santa Susana Field Lab or the sentencing that finally closed a dark chapter for a local family.
Honestly, it’s a lot to keep track of. One minute we're talking about massive legal rulings affecting our soil and water, and the next, there’s a truck snarl on the 118 that makes everyone’s morning a nightmare.
The Santa Susana Ruling: Why People Are Frustrated
Let’s start with the big one. On January 8, 2026, a Ventura County Superior Court judge handed down a ruling that has a lot of neighbors feeling uneasy. The court basically sided with Boeing and the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC).
What does that mean for you?
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Well, a group of local activists—including Parents Against Santa Susana Field Lab—had sued to stop a cleanup agreement from 2022. They argued the plan wasn't strict enough and would leave too many toxins in the dirt. The judge, Mark Borrell, essentially said the agreement is legal and doesn't prevent future, stricter reviews.
But if you talk to people like Melissa Bumstead, who has been a powerhouse advocate for years, the news is a gut punch. They fear that up to 95% of contaminants could stay put. Boeing, on the other hand, says they’re ready to get to work on the final soil cleanup this year. It’s a classic "he-said, she-said" but with radioactive stakes.
Justice for Rachel Castillo
In a much more somber piece of breaking news Simi Valley, justice finally arrived for the family of Rachel Castillo. On January 12, 2026, Zarbab Ali was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
It has been over three years since Rachel was killed in her Wood Ranch apartment. The details of the case were frankly horrific, involving the murder and later desecration of her body. Watching the community rally around her two young children has been one of the few silver linings in a truly dark story. With the sentencing, the legal battle is over, though the grief for the Castillo family certainly isn't.
Traffic and the 118 Freeway Mess
If you tried to get anywhere on Saturday morning, January 17, you know the 118 was a disaster zone. A truck crash near the connector left things at a standstill.
This coincided with some planned chaos, too. Caltrans had already warned everyone about the overnight full closure of the westbound 118 in Moorpark. They’re finally installing those suicide deterrent fences on the Arroyo Simi Bridge. It’s a project that has been delayed by weather and contractors for months, but seeing the K-rails move into place means they’re actually making progress.
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- Westbound Closure: Started Friday night, Jan 16, at 11:00 p.m.
- Reopening: Things started moving again around 6:00 a.m. Saturday.
- The Goal: A permanent safety barrier to prevent the tragedies we've seen at that bridge over the last decade.
A Shake-up in Local Politics
Nobody saw this coming quite so fast. U.S. Rep. Julia Brownley announced she’s retiring, which has sent local political circles into a frenzy. Simi Valley used to be a Republican stronghold, but recent redistricting (and the whole Prop 50 mess) has shifted the lines.
Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin jumped into the race almost immediately. Some people are calling it a "coronation" because of how fast the endorsements rolled in, but others are just glad to see fresh blood. If you live in the 26th District, expect your mailbox to be full of flyers for the next six months.
Small Wins and Community Vibes
It's not all lawsuits and crime, though. The Reagan Library just opened a new exhibit called "Cowboy Spirit," and honestly, it’s pretty cool if you’re into Western history. They’ve got Hollywood costumes and some seriously impressive saddles.
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Also, shout out to Holly Herzenach, a local Girl Scout who just got her Gold Award for a melanoma awareness project. It's easy to get bogged down in the "breaking news" that feels heavy, but kids in Simi are still out here doing good work.
What You Should Do Now
Staying informed in a town like Simi requires checking a few different spots because the "big" news sites often miss the nuance of what’s happening on Erringer Road or at the Town Center.
- Check the Detours: If you're heading toward Moorpark or the 23 this weekend, check QuickMap. The safety fence construction is ongoing, and while most of it is at night, the leftover congestion is real.
- Grant Deadlines: If you run a local non-profit, the City of Simi Valley has a January 30 deadline for Community Projects Grants. Don't leave that money on the table.
- Santa Susana Updates: Keep an eye on the DTSC public calendar. Now that the court case is settled, there will likely be "public comment" periods for the actual physical cleanup phases starting later this year.
- Support Local: Simi Sports Cards on Erringer was recently hit by burglars. If you're a collector, maybe stop by and show them some love—they’ve had a rough start to 2026.
The landscape of our city is changing, from the physical barriers on our freeways to the people representing us in D.C. Staying on top of breaking news Simi Valley is the only way to make sure you aren't caught off guard by the next big shift.