Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas defended President Joe Biden’s delay in taking executive action on the southern border during an interview with PBS NewsHour on Tuesday. Facing criticism from outgoing ICE Deputy Director P.J. Lechleitner, who argued the administration should have acted sooner, Mayorkas emphasized that earlier action would have likely faced litigation with uncertain outcomes.
Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley revealed that over half of the city’s fire trucks were out of service due to budget cuts as wildfires swept through the region.
As President-elect Donald Trump prepares to assume office with intentions to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Biden administration officials caution against actions that could strengthen Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Washington State Senator Rebecca Saldaña (D-Seattle) has introduced a bill that would allocate state funds to provide unemployment benefits to illegal immigrants, despite the state's $10-17 billion budget deficit. The proposed legislation, SB 5023, aims to create a separate program for workers ineligible for federal unemployment insurance due to their immigration status.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) called for a special legislative session to require local governments in the state to enforce incoming President Donald Trump's deportation goals.
Freddie Escobar, president of the United Firefighters of Los Angeles County (UFLAC), criticized Los Angeles leaders for neglecting the city’s fire department, contributing to challenges in combating massive wildfires like the Palisades Fire. The fire has burned 24,000 acres, with another 14,000 acres scorched by the Eaton Fire, exposing severe resource and staffing shortages within the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD).
The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) announced that most schools and offices will reopen on Monday, Jan. 13, following improved conditions across the region after last week’s wildfires.
California Democrats have reportedly reached an agreement to allocate $50 million to the state's budget as part of a legal fund to combat incoming president Donald Trump's policies in the state.
