President Donald Trump will embark on his first official trip of his second term on Friday, focusing on areas impacted by natural disasters in North Carolina and California. The visit will include meetings with victims of Hurricane Helene in North Carolina and those affected by devastating wildfires in California, as he emphasizes the need for better disaster preparedness and response.
South Africa’s Chief Rabbi, Dr. Warren Goldstein, has launched a Counter-Terror Task Force to enhance the security of Jewish communities in the region.
Mayor Karen Bass announced on Friday that Steve Soboroff, former president of the Los Angeles Police Commission, will lead the city’s wildfire recovery efforts as the newly appointed chief recovery officer.
The devastating wildfires in California have exposed glaring deficiencies in public services while underscoring the effectiveness of private efforts. In Pacific Palisades, where entire neighborhoods have been reduced to rubble, one striking exception remains: the upscale Palisades Village mall. Owned by billionaire Rick Caruso, the mall survived thanks to private firefighting teams and fire-resistant construction materials—measures unavailable to most residents.
Michigan State Representative Karen Whitsett announced Thursday that she would no longer caucus with the Democratic Party, citing their “out of touch” and “disconnected”...
The devastating wildfires raging across Los Angeles have drawn sharp criticism over years of mismanagement and budgetary neglect under Democrat leadership. The crisis has exposed a severely underfunded Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD), leaving firefighters and residents to face unprecedented challenges.
A new Rasmussen Reports poll highlights dissatisfaction among Los Angeles voters with Mayor Karen Bass's leadership, showing her approval rating at 42% and disapproval at 44%. The survey, conducted January 13-15 among 809 likely voters in Los Angeles County, has a margin of error of 3.5%. The results reflect a Democratic-leaning electorate, aligning with the area’s typical political composition.
L.A. Times columnist Sammy Roth has attributed the recent Palisades Fire and other devastating wildfires in Los Angeles to climate change, framing the issue as a result of fossil fuel dependence and global warming. In his column titled “Los Angeles is a climate disaster. The fires will change nothing,” Roth called for systemic changes, such as reducing fossil fuel use, supporting green businesses, and prioritizing climate action in public policy and personal decisions.
As if battling devastating wildfires isn’t challenging enough, California firefighters could soon face an additional threat: fire tornadoes. These rare but dangerous phenomena occur when wildfires generate their own weather systems.
The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) is under intense criticism following its handling of the Pacific Palisades fire, which has destroyed much of the area and remains uncontained more than a week later. Records reviewed by the LA Times reveal significant lapses in resource allocation, with over 1,000 available firefighters and dozens of engines left unused during the critical early hours of the fire.
