Author: Grace Thompson

Dry wind gusts that can produce watery eyes or runny noses, as well as occasionally be strong enough to stop traffic or topple trees, are experienced by Southern Californians every year between fall and spring. The terrain of the western United States allows for the natural occurrence of the so-called Santa Ana winds. When coupled with other climatic factors, like dryness, they become much more dangerous since they raise the possibility of wildfires like the ones that are raging right now in the Los Angeles region. This year's gusts were more widespread than usual and occasionally approached hurricane strength. They combined with an unusually dry winter to provide the perfect environment for fires to spread. The Palisades and Eaton fires, which started on Tuesday, along with three minor fi...

A number of fierce wildfires broke out Tuesday and blazed throughout the Los Angeles area, fueled by strong winds and dry conditions. The fires destroyed hundreds of homes and killed at least 13 people, some of whom perished attempting to stop the fires from engulfing their homes. Two of the fires were linked to an undetermined number of serious injuries, according to a Los Angeles County fire official, while a city official in Los Angeles called Tuesday night's fire one of the most horrific and catastrophic she had ever seen in her area of the city. For live coverage, click this link. According to climate scientist Daniel Swain, the more information we get, the worse this appears to be. What we know about the flames is as follows. Where are the fires? The Palisades Fire started as ...

Over the past few days, wildfires have destroyed over 37,000 acres of the Los Angeles metropolitan region, burning over 12,000 buildings, forcing over 150,000 people to relocate, and killing at least 11 individuals. In order to support California's recovery efforts, the White House made federal disaster funding available to the state on Tuesday, the day the fires first broke out. Worldwide donations have also poured in as a result of the tragedy. Stay tuned for real-time updates. Here are the best ways you can support Los Angeles' recovery efforts as the fires continue to burn and the city prepares for a potential recovery. Long-term giving The Center for Disaster Philanthropy's president and CEO, Patricia McIlreavy, emphasized that the Los Angeles community will require gifts that ...

WASHINGTON — In a court filing on Saturday, officials announced that Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith had resigned on Friday. The action was anticipated prior to Donald Trump, the president-elect, taking the oath of office. Smith's investigation into Trump's purported meddling in the 2020 election is anticipated to be published shortly. Trump has refuted the accusations. According to a footnote in a federal court filing, the Special Counsel finished his work and turned in his final secret report on January 7, 2025, and departed from the Department on January 10. The footnote was included in a Justice Department document where the government requested that Trump appointee U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon refrain from extending a limitation that is now preventing the release of...

For the first time during his presidency, Pope Francis has received the Presidential Medal of Freedom with distinction from President Joe Biden, the White House said on Saturday. Pope Francis, the first pope from the Southern Hemisphere, is unique, the White House said in a statement. Above all, he is the Pope of the People, a beacon of love, hope, and faith that illuminates the entire world. Additionally, according to the White House, Biden informed the Pope about the prize this morning. According to the White House, the two also talked about initiatives to promote international peace, such as Pope Francis's efforts to lessen suffering in areas that are at risk. Additionally, Biden tweeted, "Pope Francis, your love for everyone is unmatched, and your humility and grace are beyond words."...

In the Los Angeles area, a number of large wildfires are causing death and destruction. Due to strong winds and dry weather, a few wildfires that started on Tuesday have grown significantly in size. By Saturday night, almost 12,000 buildings and structures had been damaged, and 11 people had been killed. Over a dozen people are missing, and over 153,000 people are under evacuation advisories. For real-time updates, click this link. The fires' sizes and conditions are depicted on the maps below. They will be regularly updated.

WASHINGTON — In a court filing on Saturday, officials announced that Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith had resigned on Friday. The action was anticipated prior to Donald Trump, the president-elect, taking the oath of office. Smith's investigation into Trump's purported meddling in the 2020 election is anticipated to be published shortly. Trump has refuted the accusations. According to a footnote in a federal court filing, the Special Counsel finished his work and turned in his final secret report on January 7, 2025, and departed from the Department on January 10. The footnote was included in a Justice Department document where the government requested that Trump appointee U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon refrain from extending a limitation that is now preventing the release of...

On Friday, the Supreme Court decided to take into consideration reintroducing some of the Affordable Care Act's requirements for preventative care coverage that had been overturned by a lower court. After the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of companies who contended that they could not be required to offer complete insurance coverage for things like HIV prevention drugs and certain cancer screenings, the federal government filed an appeal with the top court. The program, popularly known as Obamacare, was eroded by the lower court decision. Some of the requirements were contested on the grounds of procedure and religion. The decision did not jeopardize all preventive care. According to a 2023 analysis by the organization KFF, certain screenings, such as cervical cancer and...

On Saturday, a winter storm that dumped snow and ice on portions of the South and East Coast will continue to move offshore. There are still some winter alerts in place for the middle Appalachians, and into Saturday afternoon, sporadic snow showers are still occurring in certain areas of northern New England. In some areas, another coating of snow of up to 2 inches is expected. On Saturday night and Sunday, a clipper system will move across the Great Lakes, bringing sporadic snow showers to parts of North Dakota and South Dakota as well as Michigan. The Upper Midwest could see up to 3 inches of dusting from the system, with some areas of Michigan's Upper Peninsula seeing more over 5 inches. A few developing pockets of flurries to light showers are anticipated throughout the day, according ...

WASHINGTON — In a court filing on Saturday, officials announced that Special Counsel Jack Smith had resigned from the Justice Department on Friday. The action was anticipated prior to Donald Trump, the president-elect, taking the oath of office.