Author: admin

This is what politicians in LA Mayor Karen Bass’ current predicament say when they are pressed to the wall by horrible realities that they helped to create, they say things like this: “My number one focus and the focus of all of us here is we have to protect lives, save lives and save homes…Rest assured, when that is done, when we are safe, when lives have been saved, we will absolutely do an evaluation to look at what worked, what didn’t work, and to correct or hold accountable any body, department, individual, etc.”I wonder what Bass means by “hold…

By CAROLYN THOMPSONSchools around the country are reviewing what to do if immigration agents come knocking as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office after campaigning on a pledge to deport millions of people.In several large cities, school systems are speaking up for the rights of immigrant students to attend school, regardless of whether they are in the country legally, and saying they would not assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. In California, officials this week offered guidance to schools on state law limiting local participation in immigration enforcement.“I know there is a lot of fear and anxiety around the…

By PAUL WISEMAN, AP Economics WriterWASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. job growth surged and unemployment fell last month, an unexpected show of strength that may prove costly to homebuyers and businesses who were counting sharply lower interest rates that would lower the cost of buying everything from refrigerators to homes.Job growth rose 212,000 last month from November, the Labor Department reported Friday.The U.S. continued to create jobs steadily throughout 2024, 2.2 million in all, yet that growth has slowed as the explosion of hiring that followed the pandemic begins to normalize. The number of jobs created last year was down from…

The Eaton fire that has caused widespread destruction in several foothill communities grew slightly to 13,956 acres charred by Friday morning, Jan. 10, with decreased overnight winds helping crews reach 3% containment as they worked to set a perimeter line on the deadly blaze.Fire officials suspect that more than 7,000 homes, business and other structures in Altadena, Sierra Madre and Pasadena have been damaged or destroyed by the wind-driven flames, based on aerial imagery. Crews have not yet officially confirmed the vast majority of that damage.With the winds that prevented aerial water drops earlier in the week decreasing, crews have…

By AMANDA SEITZWASHINGTON (AP) — Thousands of people were dying from COVID-19 every day. Americans were still being ordered to stay-at-home or mask in public. Millions of people were eager to line up for jabs of the newly-released COVID-19 vaccines.That’s the scene the nation’s top health official, Xavier Becerra, wants Americans to remember as he readies to leave the office, possibly to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. Kennedy is a vehement critic of the vaccine that government officials — Becerra included — promoted to combat the deadly virus.“We…

By FATIMA HUSSEIN, Associated PressWASHINGTON (AP) — At the very top of Republicans’ 100-day agenda with President-elect Donald Trump in the White House and GOP lawmakers in a majority is the plan to renew some $4 trillion in expiring tax cuts.On Friday, the U.S. Treasury released a new analysis of the various ways that extending the expiring individual and estate tax provisions of Trump’s 2017 tax overhaul — known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act — could cost the government, and who would directly benefit the most from the legislation’s permanent extension.For instance, the Treasury’s Office of Tax Analysis…

Forward progress of the Kenneth fire in the West Hills area of Los Angeles and Ventura County was stopped overnight at 1,000 acres as fire crews achieved 35% containment, authorities said Friday morning, Jan. 10.All evacuation orders and warnings within Los Angeles were lifted by Thursday evening, officials said.A person of interest was detained for questioning as a possible arson suspect, but was arrested on a felony probation violation and not related to the fire, Los Angeles Police Assistant Chief Dominic Choi said.“Detectives interviewed the suspect and after the interview and additional investigative steps, there was not enough probable cause…

NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump doesn’t have to go to jail, pay a fine or perform community service as a result of his New York hush money conviction. A judge ended the case Friday with a sentence of an unconditional discharge, closing the case with no punishment.But unless the conviction for falsifying business records is someday overturned, Trump will have felonies on his criminal record, which will affect some of his rights.Here are some of the potential impacts and some things that won’t change:Can he still vote?Trump is registered to vote in Florida and he will be able…

CHARGERS (11-6) at TEXANS (10-7) When: Saturday, 1:30 p.m. Where: NRG Stadium, Houston TV/radio: CBS (Ch. 2)/98.7 FM; 105.5 FM/94.3 FM (Spanish) Line: Chargers by 2.5 points Notable injury designations Chargers: OUT: WR Joshua Palmer (foot). DOUBTFUL: DB Ja’Sir Taylor (rib). QUESTIONABLE: CB Eli Apple (hamstring), RB J.K. Dobbins (ankle), WR Simi Fehoko (elbow), WR Quentin Johnston (thigh/illness), LB Denzel Perryman (groin), RG Trey Pipkins III (oblique). Texans: OUT: G Shaq Mason (knee). QUESTIONABLE: DL Denico Autry (knee), LB Christian Harris (ankle), WR John Metchie III (shoulder), TE Teagan Quitoriano (calf). What’s at stake: The winner moves on to play…

Q: Our HOA directors serve two-year terms per the bylaws. The board recently voted to delay the date of the HOA annual members’ meeting by six months, and to extend their terms an additional six months, declining to hold an election after expiration of their terms. There is no provision in our bylaws conferring this power to our directors. Is this legal? —LM, Rancho MirageA: Boards cannot normally be amended by laws without a membership vote, but sometimes HOA boards will slightly postpone an annual meeting because of scheduling concerns. However, six months seems to be more than just a…