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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…

When Gov. Gavin Newsom looks out over the state Legislature while giving his still unscheduled state of the state speech sometime in the next few weeks, he will see slightly reduced Democratic majorities in both the Senate and Assembly.He may wonder why. The answer is much the same as it was in years like 2002 and 2012, when Democrats voted in far lower numbers than previous elections because many were disillusioned, maybe even uninterested, by state government.Under Newsom, voters have authorized spending more than $15 billion in state and local taxes to solve the problem of homelessness. But California today…

Not quite as exciting as Santa’s arrival, but the date when the Real ID becomes a real big deal is real soon. Here are some facts, most of them fun: On May 7, a federally accepted ID will be required to board a domestic commercial flight and enter some fed buildings. … Once you have a Real ID, you have it for life – no more document-pulling required to prove you are worthy of one. … Unless you move – then you must show some evidence of that. … Or if you change states – then, Honk was told a…

A former California Employment Development Department employee admitted this week in federal court to fraudulently obtaining more than $768,000 in COVID-19 unemployment payments for dead people and unsuspecting, ineligible claimants.Phyllis Hope Stitt, 61, of Carson pleaded guilty Wednesday, Jan. 8, to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and bank fraud for filing at least 29 phony unemployment insurance claims. Stitt’s former boyfriend — Kenneth Earl Riley, 64, of South Los Angeles — pleaded guilty to the same charge.Stitt and Riley face a maximum of 30 years in prison when they are sentenced on May 9.According to a plea…