The Summary Rain is in the forecast this weekend for Southern California. The rain could help firefighting efforts, but it also brings risks of mudslides, flash flooding and toxic runoff. California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said preparations are underway to address those threats. Southern California is expected to see some much-needed rain this weekend, which could be a welcome respite for firefighters who have been fighting deadly wildfires in the Los Angeles area for almost three weeks. However, the anticipated precipitation also increases the potential of hazardous runoff, flash flooding, and mudslides. According to the National Weather Service, the San Gabriel Mountains might receive up to 1.5 inches of rain, while the majority of Los Angeles...

This Monday, Democratic state senator Bradford Blackmon of Mississippi submitted a bill that would appear to forbid males from masturbating or performing other sexual actions if they do not have the "intent to fertilize an embryo." Under the "Contraception Begins at Erection Act," it would be illegal for "a person to discharge genetic material without the intent to fertilize an embryo." It has exclusions for sperm donation and the use of birth control to avoid conception. Fines of $1,000 for a first offense, $5,000 for a second offense, and $10,000 for any further infractions would be imposed by the law, which was submitted on Monday. It seems unlikely that the plan will pass the Republican-controlled Legislature, but if it does and is signed into law by Republican Governor Tate Reeves, it...

AVIV TEL Posters of a happy, red-headed infant boy holding a pink elephant can be seen all around Israel on lampposts, storefront windows, and smartphone screens. The nation is now preparing to learn Kfir Bibasfate. Kfir, the youngest prisoner still held captive in Gaza, was abducted during the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led terrorist onslaught, barely under 9 months old. Having never celebrated a birthday outside of confinement, he turned two on Saturday. The Israeli government said 33 captives, including Kfir, his 5-year-old brother Ariel, and his parents Yarden and Shiri Bibas, will be released during the first phase of the ceasefire agreement. However, whether the toddler is still alive is unknown. Sometimes I want to scream because it's so difficult to not know. Kfir's aunt, Ofri Bibas...

SEATTLE In what is expected to be a protracted legal struggle over the new administration's agenda, a federal district court judge temporarily stopped President Donald Trump's executive order on Thursday that sought to limit birthright citizenship. After 25 minutes of arguments, Senior U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour issued an order from the bench prohibiting the policy's implementation for 14 days. While the case is pending, there will be another briefing on a preliminary injunction to permanently prohibit the executive order. Go here to watch live political coverage. "I've been on the bench for over four decades," Coughenour, who was appointed by Ronald Reagan, stated. "I can't think of another instance when the question is as obvious as this one. This directive is obviously unc...

More than 31,000 people were warned and ordered to evacuate Wednesday near two new wildfires north of Los Angeles. More than 10,000 acres, or 15 square miles, have been burned since Wednesday morning in the Hughes Fire near Castaic Lake in northern Los Angeles County.At 2 p.m. local time on Thursday (8 p.m. ET), Cal Fire reported that it was 24% contained. Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna informed reporters that the Hughes Fire was being fueled by strong winds and dry conditions, but the interagency fire information center reported that no structures had been burned. Late Wednesday saw the start of a fresh brush fire in Sepulveda Pass, which spread to 40 acres close to UCLA and the heavily populated Sherman Oaks neighborhood before being put out. At 11:46 p.m. ET on Thursday, the Los...

Washington Pete Hegseth's candidacy as President Donald Trump's defense secretary was advanced by the Senate on Thursday, setting him up for ultimate confirmation at the end of the week. Only two moderate Republicans, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, voted with all 47 Democrats to try to block Hegseth, and the vote was 51-49. To move on to a final vote, he required a simple majority. Murkowski became the first Republican to publicly criticize Hegseth's candidacy just before the vote, claiming that some of the actions he has acknowledged show a "lack of judgment" and are "unbecoming of someone who would lead our armed forces." Collins claimed that following the vote, she had spoken with Hegseth personally about her worries regarding his remarks that women shouldn't be ...

A massive operation in Jenin, which the military said was intended to target Iranian-backed extremist organizations in the unstable West Bank city, continued Wednesday, while Israel's defense minister stated that soldiers were putting lessons learned in Gaza to use. The operation was comparatively similar, but in a lesser area, to one that took place in August when hundreds of Israeli troops, supported by drones and helicopters, raided Jenin and other flashpoint cities in the occupied West Bank, according to a military spokesperson who declined to provide specifics. In less than two years, the Israeli army has made three significant incursions into Jenin, a long-standing key bastion of militant groups like Hamas and Islamic Jihad, which claimed their men were engaged in combat with Israeli...

One descendant of the 25th president was ecstatic when President Donald Trump signed an executive order on his first day back in office renaming Alaska's Denali, the highest peak in North America, after President William McKinley. "He deserves to have the mountain named after him," said great-great nephew Massee McKinley on Thursday. "His integrity was unmatched. People held him in high regard. However, a number of Alaskan officials, including the state's two Republican senators, have expressed objection to the shift, indicating that Trump's decision is being met with resistance. Massee McKinley is therefore in favor of a solution that would preserve Denali National Park and Preserve while renaming it Mount McKinley. "The international community's always going to know the entire park and t...

It's easy to forget to put on a warming headband or a pair of earmuffs while you're getting ready to leave the house on a particularly cold winter day. Our ears regrettably become an afterthought since we are nearly always more concerned with keeping our bodies and legs warm and covered. This is why it's so crucial to wear a really nice pair of earwarmers, headbands, or earmuffs. I asked several winter clothing and travel specialists for advice in order to locate the best earmuffs, and they clarified the factors to consider before making a purchase. GO Ahead and SkipHow did I choose the greatest earmuffs? Why should I trust NBC Select? Selected. Our top picks. Best overall earmuffs Maxw Collection Wool Ear Muffs $25.99 $...

The Summary Two of President Donald Trump s executive orders take aim at Biden administration efforts to boost electric vehicles and wind power. Both are among the fastest-growing climate technologies in the U.S., but the orders could stymie that growth. Advocates for electric vehicles and green energy criticized the moves. President Donald Trump on Monday altered the course of two of the fastest-growing climate-friendly technologies in the United States—wind power and electric vehicles—with two executive orders. The directives targeted the Biden administration's initiatives to advance these technologies, which have gained popularity in the recent years as part of the movement to decarbonize the US energy market. Trump also announced that the United States would withdraw ...