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LOS ANGELES — It’s not often that an NFL head coach gets a text from an opponent checking in on him the week of a playoff game. But Rams head coach Sean McVay received messages from his Minnesota Vikings counterpart Kevin O’Connell and Vikings offensive coordinator Wes Phillips, both former Rams staffers, checking in on him in the wake of the fires that have ravaged Los Angeles County this week.“It’s one of those deals that almost doesn’t feel real,” McVay said, “but it certainly is real to the people that are affected. Praying that as many people are OK, and…

Areas under mandatory evacuation orders due to the Palisades and Eaton fires burning in Los Angeles County could be under a 12-hour curfew starting as early as Thursday evening, Jan. 9.At a news conference earlier in the day, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna announced the potential curfew as part of an effort to combat looting and crime in the burned areas. Once implemented, the curfew would be in effect from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., according to officials.The evacuated areas are off limits to everyone except first responders and maintenance workers, Luna said at a news conference Thursday evening.“Do…

By STEPHEN HAWKINS AP Sports WriterARLINGTON, Texas — There is still a sense for some Ohio State players that they haven’t done anything yet, even after winning twice already this postseason to get into the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Cotton Bowl against Texas.“Absolutely. I have been here for four years, and I have absolutely no hardware to show for it,” receiver Emeka Egbuka said. “That’s really on the forefront of our minds.”While Ohio State is the only school to appear in four of the last six CFPs, all since Ryan Day became head coach, and won four consecutive…

Priority one: Get away from the fire.Priority two: Find safe shelter.That’s the choice Altadena resident Karen Dekker faced as she packed her 87-year-old mother, 15-year-old son and two German shepherds into the car and fled the Eaton fire Tuesday night.“I went online and Googled pet-friendly hotels, calling and calling until I got one that had a spot available. We had to go out to Pomona to find a pet-friendly hotel,” said Dekker, an elementary public school teacher who booked a few nights at La Quinta by Wyndham, which she has for another night.Short-term lodging is tenuous for those who find…

Federal disaster assistance is now available to people affected by the ongoing devastating wildfires in Los Angeles County. Individuals displaced from the wildfires can apply for housing grants, including basic home repairs, temporary hotel stays and rental assistance. Funds are also available to cover uninsured personal property losses. As well as essential items such as food, water, medications and baby formula, the Office of Los Angeles County 5th District Supervisor Kathryn Barger announced Thursday, Jan 9. “Residents affected by the Eaton Fire, Palisades Fire, and others have had their lives completely upended,” Barger said in a statement. “We are working…

EL SEGUNDO — Derwin James Jr. was named the AFC’s Defensive Player of the Month on Thursday, because, of course he was. Over the final weeks of the regular season, the Chargers’ standout safety had 28 tackles, three sacks, seven tackles for loss, an interception and a fumble recovery.It was an added bonus after James was selected last week to the Pro Bowl for the fourth time in his seven-year career. Technically, he was named as a safety, but he fills so many roles, playing so many positions in a Chargers’ defense that was the NFL’s stingiest in 2024 that…

By Jeanne Kuang | CalMattersCalifornia businesses are suing to halt a new state law that bars them from requiring employees to attend anti-union meetings at work.The state’s Chamber of Commerce and California Restaurant Association filed the suit in federal court on New Year’s Eve, a day before the new law was to go into effect, seeking to block it from being enforced.The law prohibits employers from disciplining workers who refuse to attend workplace meetings to hear about their bosses’ “opinion about religious or political matters” — including whether or not employees should unionize. Businesses could be fined $500 a day…

The South Coast Air Quality Management District warned Thursday that air quality in the Los Angeles area remained “unhealthy” as a result of the multiple wildfires ravaging the region, and the agency has extended a smoke advisory at least through 5 p.m. Friday.The smoke was expected to most heavily affect northwest coastal L.A. County, and in areas nearest the Palisades, Eaton and Hurst wildfires, the agency reported.WEATHER: Strong winds forecasted Thursday as fires rage across LA County, and more expected next weekSmoke impacts will depend on fire activity, containment efforts and the weather, according to the AQMD.Wildfire smoke is a…

By COLLEEN LONGWASHINGTON — As cataclysmic wildfires rage across Southern California, President-elect Donald Trump hasn’t been offering much sympathy. Instead, he’s claiming he could do a better job managing the crisis, spewing falsehoods and casting blame on the state’s Democratic governor.Trump has lashed out at his longtime political foe Gov. Gavin Newsom’s forest management policies and falsely claimed the state’s fish conservation efforts are responsible for fire hydrants running dry in urban areas. Referring to the governor by a derisive nickname, Trump said he should resign.PALISADES FIRE: Wind-whipped blaze damages or destroys more than 5,300 structuresMeanwhile, more than 180,000 people were…

LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers reached contract agreements with four of their five remaining arbitration-eligible players on Thursday.Relievers Michael Kopech, Brusdar Graterol, Evan Phillips and Anthony Banda agreed to one-year contracts. The lone remaining unsigned arbitration-eligible player is left-hander Alex Vesia.Thursday was the deadline for teams to reach agreements with arbitration-eligible players before exchanging figures for hearings to be held next month. Although negotiations can continue up until the start of the hearing, most teams have recently adopted a “file and trial” policy that ends negotiations past the point when figures are exchanged.Phillips and Kopech agreed to the highest salaries…