An anti-price-gouging hotline set up by the Riverside County District Attorney’s Bureau of Investigation is active today. Â Â The number was established to report suspected instances of price gouging following Gov. Gavin Newsom’s declaration of a state of emergency on Jan. 7 due to wildfires in Los Angeles, according to a statement from the DA’s
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Two more people were behind bars today for allegedly setting small fires in Los Angeles amid high fire-danger conditions as crews continued efforts to contain two major blazes that have killed over two dozen people and destroyed thousands of structures. Â Â Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said officers responded at 5:15 p.m. Tuesday to
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Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order today aimed at cracking down on land speculators who make “aggressive and unsolicited cash offers” to purchase properties affected by the Southland wildfires.  “I have heard first-hand from community members and victims who have received unsolicited and predatory offers from speculators offering cash far below market value —
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The district attorneys for Los Angeles and Orange counties are urging Gov. Gavin Newsom to convene a special legislative session to enact urgency legislation that would allow state prison sentences for looting during a local emergency.  The proposed legislation was submitted Monday to the state Legislative Council by Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman
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A 37-year-old man was arrested for allegedly running over an officer’s foot while trying to access fire evacuation areas in Santa Monica without authorization, police said today. According to the Santa Monica Police Department, officers responded to the intersection of Ocean and California avenues around 6:45 a.m. Monday to reports of a hit-and-run incident involving
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A Jurupa Valley man who killed his estranged wife with his nephew’s help to prevent her from taking his home in a divorce — then blamed another man, who was wrongfully convicted of the crime — was bound for California’s Death Row today, while his relative was headed to state prison to serve a life
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Eight people who allegedly looted homes during the massive fires in Altadena and Pacific Palisades have been charged with residential burglary and two others have been charged with other crimes, including a man who allegedly set a fire at a park in Azusa, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced today.  Roy Sims, 18;
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In an effort to secure $2.5 billion in additional funding for ongoing emergency response efforts in the L.A. region, Gov. Gavin Newsom today expanded a special session of the California Legislature. The governor signed a proclamation Monday, which expands the scope of the current special session and allows the legislature to consider and approve new
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Joining the numerous relief efforts to aid wildfire victims as well as firefighters, the L.A. area’s 12 professional sports organizations have combined to pledge more than $8 million in donations, according to numbers compiled by the Dodgers. Â Â The combined donations of the Dodgers, Angels, Rams, Chargers, Lakers, Clippers, Sparks, Kings, Ducks, Galaxy, LAFC and
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By Brenda Goodman, CNN (CNN) — A child in San Francisco who had red eyes and a fever had a probable case of H5N1 bird flu, according to the city’s Department of Public Health. The case was caught by routine surveillance. When the child developed symptoms, they were checked for RSV, Covid-19 and the flu,
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A man suspected of driving under the influence on Highway 79 in Aguanga allegedly slammed into the rear of a motorcycle, ejecting the rider onto the roadway and inflicting fatal injuries, authorities said today.  The suspect, a 74-year-old man from Aguanga, was arrested Thursday on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter and DUI resulting in great
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The Walt Disney Company today announced it was making a $15 million commitment to Los Angeles area fire relief and rebuilding efforts, including the American Red Cross, the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation, the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank and other organizations.  “As this tragedy continues to unfold, the Walt Disney Company is committed to
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Following concerns that firefighters lacked resources and dealt with low water pressure to combat the devastating Palisades Fire in the initial stages of the crisis, Gov. Gavin Newsom today ordered an independent investigation into the matter. In a letter addressed to the heads of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and L.A. County
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While the death toll from the various wildfires ravaging parts of the Los Angeles area remained unclear today, relatives of four people who died in the Eaton Fire near Altadena and Pasadena paid tribute to their lost loved ones.  One of the people who died was identified by his daughter as Rodney Nickerson, 82, of
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The Kenneth Fire in Calabasas is being investigated as a possible arson incident with a person being detained, the Los Angeles Police Department. LAPD officials said at around 4:30 p.m., they received a call regarding a possible arson suspect. “A man called in stating a suspect was ‘attempting to light a fire’ in the area
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A water-dropping aircraft was struck by a drone today over the Palisades Fire, prompting a Federal Aviation Administration investigation. The aircraft landed safely, and no crew members were injured. Â Â Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone told the Los Angeles Times the aircraft was a Super Scooper, and the drone strike put a hole
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A curfew officially took effect overnight barring anyone without authorization from entering areas under mandatory evacuation orders due to the Palisades and Eaton fires, and county Sheriff Robert Luna warned that it will be “strictly enforced.” Â Â The curfew will be in effect nightly from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. the following morning. Anyone arrested
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By Cole Premo Click here for updates on this story MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — The Minnesota Vikings organization is showing support to Los Angeles Rams fans as wildfires rage in the LA area. “We’re thinking of our Rams friends, their community and the first responders during this time,” the team wrote on X early Wednesday afternoon.
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A fast-moving brush fire in the Eaton Canyon area exploded in size today, topping 10,000 acres while claiming five lives and destroying hundreds of structures while prompting school closures throughout the area.  The fire was reported at about 6:20 p.m. Tuesday in the area of Altadena Drive and Midwick Drive in the hills above Altadena,
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Driven by unrelenting winds, a massive brush fire engulfed over 15,000 acres through the Pacific Palisades area, destroying or damaging more than 1,000 structures and forcing thousands of people from their homes as it moved toward Malibu on the west and Santa Monica on the southeast with no reported containment today. Â Â The fire was
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