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By EDDIE PELLS AP National WriterMIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — A diving interception off an ill-advised pass set up Notre Dame’s trip to play for the program’s 12th national title after a thrill-a-minute 27-24 victory over Penn State on Thursday night in the Orange Bowl.Fighting Irish defensive back Christian Gray snared Drew Allar’s pass across the middle at the Nittany Lions’ 42-yard line with 33 seconds left, then the Irish moved 19 yards to set up Mitch Jeter’s 41-yard winner with seven seconds left.The game featured three ties, three lead changes and 31 points in the fourth quarter alone.Notre Dame (14-1),…

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Crews battling the massive blazes burning across Los Angeles County include more than 750 incarcerated firefighters, bringing renewed attention to a program that has become a key part of the state’s fire mitigation efforts.As of mid-day Thursday, Jan. 9, with the destructive Palisades and Eaton fires still raging, there were 783 inmate firefighters actively working alongside 4,700 firefighters from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.The long-running initiative – officially known as the Conservation (Fire) Camp Program – is operated out of 35 minimum security fire camps…

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Critics on social media have alleged that Mayor Karen Bass cut the city fire department’s budget by $23 million this year. The accusation has spread quickly, with many looking to cast blame for the devastating wildfires that have destroyed thousands of buildings in Los Angeles County this week and resulted in at least 4 deaths. In her story on criticism’s of Mayor Bass during this crisis, reporter Linh Tat addressed the budget question. “On Thursday, a spokesperson for L.A. City Councilmember Bob Blumenfield, who was budget chair last year, said the city increased the fire department’s overall budget by approximately…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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