California
California’s non-Election Day
Tomorrow, Californians will vote in a gubernatorial election, however judging by tv advertisements and garden indicators, you’d by no means comprehend it. Incumbent Gov. Gavin Newsom is up by greater than 20 factors on his Republican challenger, who has raised a paltry $400,000 for your entire race. Newsom isn’t working any tv advertisements, and his marketing campaign web site doesn’t embody a platform.
With the Democratic governor cruising to such a simple victory tomorrow, one would possibly anticipate Californians to be extraordinarily pleased with the course by which their state goes. However the reverse is true. The newest ballot from the Public Coverage Institute of California exhibits 54% of possible voters consider their state is headed within the fallacious course. Evaluate that to say, Florida, the place the flip facet is true: 57% of Florida voters say their state is heading in the right direction.
CALIFORNIA IS THE LAND OF BROKEN PROMISES
And Californians have each cause to consider their state is heading within the fallacious course. California has the best poverty fee of any state in your entire nation. Its studying and math scores have been already far behind the nationwide common earlier than COVID, and it has solely fallen additional behind after Newsom shut down faculties for longer than most different states.
Crime is rising steadily in Newsom’s California, as is the variety of homeless, which is now greater than that of some other state. Newsom had pledged to struggle homelessness by constructing 3.5 million properties by 2025, however in 4 years, solely 452,000 new properties have even been permitted, not to mention constructed. He has now lowered his purpose to 2.5 million properties permitted (not constructed) by 2030. Nobody expects him to succeed in that purpose both.
Newsom’s efforts to construct a high-speed rail system have additionally been an entire and complete failure. Initially bought as a $33 billion mission that might join San Francisco and Los Angeles by 2020, the mission is now estimated to price $113 billion, and the primary phase connecting Merced to Bakersfield isn’t scheduled to be accomplished till 2030.
Including to California’s transportation woes, the state now has the best fuel costs within the nation, all due to the state’s personal carbon rules and fuel taxes. The state has even pledged to ban gross sales of all gas-powered vehicles by 2035 whereas asking customers to not cost their electrical autos as a result of state’s continued incapability to supply dependable ranges of vitality.
No marvel thousands and thousands of middle-class households are fleeing Newsom’s California yearly. For the primary time ever, California misplaced inhabitants in 2020 — and once more in 2021.
Fortunate for them, Californians nonetheless dwell in america and are due to this fact allowed to flee to better-governed Republican states corresponding to Arizona, Florida, Idaho, and Texas, which they’ve been doing in droves. However what if Democrats get their method and make the remainder of the nation a one-party state like California?
The place will middle-class households flee to then?
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
California
8 now dead in still-raging Eaton Fire as Santa Ana winds pick back up
The Eaton Fire – one of a multitude of wildfires incinerating the Los Angeles area – is still burning with little containment on Saturday as the Santa Ana wind event fueling the blazes is set to continue into next week.
As of 6:30 a.m. Saturday, the Eaton Fire had scorched 14,117 acres and was 15% contained, which is up from the 3% containment reported on Friday night.
According to preliminary estimates from CalFire, over 7,000 structures have been destroyed by the blaze, which had claimed at least six lives, including one man who died while defending a home that had been in his family for 55 years, as of Friday night.
At a Saturday morning press conference, officials stated that a further two people died in the Eaton Fire, bringing the total deaths to eight.
L.A. County Sheriff Robert Luna also confirmed that 19 arrests have been made in connection with the Eaton Fire; the arrests were made for looting, identity theft, narcotics possession and burglary.
The incredibly destructive wildfire has led to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of area residents.
Fire crews were aided by a lull in the Santa Ana winds that have been fueling the fires over the past couple of days, but authorities and weather officials are now shifting their concerns to an increase in gusty winds throughout the region.
“The fire is burning in an area with steep, complex terrain and critically dry fuels,” CalFire said in their latest Eaton Fire status update, issued at 6:24 a.m. Saturday. “Despite these difficulties, minimal fire growth was observed [on Friday], and priorities include maintaining current containment lines and ensuing perimeter control.”
“Gusty northeast winds will return to high elevations Saturday night into Sunday with gusts up to 30 miles per hour and relative humidity decreasing back below 20 percent,” the status update also stated. “Another Santa Ana wind event is possible around next Tuesday.”
The National Weather Service echoed those same sentiments, forecasting “moderate to locally strong” Santa Ana winds through at least Wednesday.
Elevated to Critical Fire Weather conditions will continue through that time, according to NWS.
“These winds combined with dry air and dry vegetation will keep the fire weather threat in the area,” weather officials said. “Moderate to locally strong Santa Ana winds will affect the typical Santa Ana wind corridors on Saturday to Sunday and again Monday through Wednesday.”
The Eaton Fire started on Tuesday amid hurricane-force winds near Altadena Drive and Midwick Drive in the Altadena area.
It continues to burn as the Palisades Fire — the most expensive in Los Angeles history — began moving towards the heavily populated San Fernando Valley on Saturday morning.
Several other blazes erupted across the Los Angeles region last week, including the Kenneth, Hurst, Sunset and Lidia fires.
Click here for the most up-to-date information on the Eaton Fire from CalFire, and stay with KTLA for continuing coverage of the devastating Los Angeles area wildfires.
California
Hundreds of California prison inmates fight wildfires – and stigma
Nearly 1,000 incarcerated men and women have joined the frontlines in a battle against record-breaking wildfires burning across southern California.
The number deployed – now 939 – are part of a long-running volunteer programme led by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR).
Their numbers have steadily increased since Tuesday, the day the deadly fires began spreading uncontrollably through Los Angeles.
Over 10,000 structures have been destroyed and 37,000 acres burned, as thousands of emergency workers descend on the Los Angeles area to fight the flames.
At least 11 people have been killed in the wildfires, officials said.
The incarcerated firefighters have been drawn from among the 35 conservation fire camps run by the state, minimum-security facilities where inmates serve their time and receive training. Two of the camps are for incarcerated women.
The 900-plus incarcerated firefighters in use account for roughly half of the 1,870 prisoner-firefighters in the scheme.
In the field, they can be seen in prison-orange jumpsuits embedded alongside members of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire).
The incarcerated firefighters have been working “around the clock cutting fire lines and removing fuel from behind structures to slow fire spread”, CDCR told the BBC in an emailed statement.
The programme, which dates back to 1946, has divided critics, who see it as exploitative, and supporters, who say it is rehabilitative.
The state pays inmates a daily wage between $5.80 and $10.24 (£4.75 and £8.38), and an additional $1 per day when assigned to active emergencies.
Those wages are a fraction of the salaries received by citizen firefighters in California, who can earn upwards of $100,000 annually.
“You’re getting pennies compared to the other folks that’s alongside of you. You’re just cheap labour,” Royal Ramey, a former incarcerated firefighter and co-founder of the non-profit Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program (FFRP), told the BBC.
“And if you do pass away while fighting fires, you don’t get any benefits from that,” he continued.
“You’re not gonna get no award. You’re not gonna be recognised as a wildland firefighter,” he said, adding that he would remember in the field that he had already signed his own death certificate.
Still, Mr Ramey said the low pay is more than a California prisoner would otherwise earn performing jobs in the state penitentiaries.
The conservation camps and their “park, picnic-type feel” also offer additional perks like better food, he said, compared to California’s notoriously dangerous and overcrowded prisons.
“It’s a better living situation, definitely,” he said.
Camp participants can also earn time credits that help reduce their prison sentences, CDRC said.
Inmates convicted of crimes categorised as “serious” or “violent” felonies are not eligible to participate.
After incarcerated firefighters are released from prison – having been trained by the state – many try to get hired as citizen firefighters, but are denied, Mr Ramey said.
“There’s a stigma to it. When people think of firefighters they think of some clean-cut guy, a hero, not someone who’s been locked up,” he said.
He launched his nonprofit to help formerly incarcerated firefighters overcome the barriers and help fill the firefighter shortage California has faced for years.
There are currently five wildfires burning through billions of dollars worth of structures in the Los Angeles area, predicted to be one of the most expensive in history.
Strained for resources, the state has called on over 7,500 emergency personnel and first responders, including the state and National Guard and firefighters from as far away as Canada.
The fires have still been difficult to contain and continue to spread, with 35,000 acres from the two largest fires, Palisades and Eaton, already burned.
Additional reporting by Claire Betzer
California
California wildfires live updates: night-time curfew ordered for parts of Los Angeles amid looting
Curfew order issued for Palisades and Eaton Fire evacuation zones
A curfew order has been established for the Palisades and Eaton fire areas in all mandatory evacuation zones, LA county sheriff Robert Luna said.
The curfew order is in effect between 6pm and 6am. The only people allowed in those areas are disaster workers.
“You cannot be in these affected areas. If you are, you are subject to arrest,” Luna warned.
He said the curfew will be “strictly enforced” to enhance public safety, protect property and prevent burglaries or looting in the areas that residents have evacuated.
Anyone found in violation of the curfew will be subject to arrest for a misdemeanor offense and conviction may result in a fine of up to $1,000 or jail time, he said.
“We are not screwing around with this,” Luna warned. “ We don’t want anyone taking advantage of our residents that have already been victimized.”
Key events
Here are the key takeaways from the latest news conference by Los Angeles city and county officials on the wildfires.
A curfew order is in place between 6pm and 6am on all mandatory evacuation zones in the Palisades and Eaton areas. “You can’t not be in these affected areas. If you are, you are subject to arrest,” LA sheriff Robert Luna said. The curfew’s purpose is to enhance public safety, protect property, and prevent any burglaries or looting in areas evacuated by residents, Luna said.
The Palisades fire, the largest of the five fires, currently stands at 8% contained. Firefighters were able to make overnight progress on the fire due to “favorable” overnight weather conditions. Wind gusts are expected to increase in daylight hours that will test containment lines. Red flag warnings continue in Los Angeles county through 6pm PT today.
The Eaton fire, north of Pasadena, has burned 13,956 acres and is 3% contained. About 4,000 to 5,000 structures may be damaged and destroyed by the fire, and 1,527 firefighting personnel have been assigned to the fire. The blaze pushed toward Mount Wilson on Thursday, but the observatory is “OK” and no buildings have been destroyed there.
The Hurst fire, just south of Santa Clarita, has spread to 771 acres and is 37% contained.
The Kenneth fire, in the San Fernando valley, has burned 1,000 acres and is 35% contained. All evacuation orders and warnings in LA county for the Kenneth fire have been lifted.
The Lidia fire is 75% contained. The causes of the fires are still under investigation.
The number of residents under evacuation orders have dipped to 153,000. Approximately 57,830 structures are deemed to be at risk. An additional 166,800 residents are under evacuation warnings.
A super scooper aircraft that was damaged by a drone flown by a civilian should be back in the air by Monday. “Flying a drone in the fire traffic area is not only dangerous but it’s illegal,” Los Angeles county fire chief Anthony Perron said, adding that those who fly them over the wildfire area will be prosecuted.
A man arrested on suspicion of attempting to light a fire in Woodland Hills yesterday will not be charged. Officers found there was not enough probable cause to arrest the person, Los Angeles police department assistant chief Dominic Choi said.
Officials apologized after evacuation order alerts were mistakenly sent on Thursday afternoon and again on Friday. LA county office of emergency management director Kevin McGowan said he could not “express how sorry I am” but implored residents not to disable the messages on their phones, adding: “Not receiving an alert can be a consequence of life and death.”
Airbnb said it has expanded its housing support to an additional 25,000 people who have been impacted by the fires.
The company partnered with 211 LA, a hub for local community members and organizations, earlier this week to offer free, temporary housing to individuals and families who lost their homes or were forced to evacuate. It said 6,500 people have already been offered access to emergency housing with Airbnb hosts, but that thousands more are still displaced.
“The situation is devastating, and we’ll continue to do everything we can to support the Los Angeles community,” it said in a statement.
An Altadena resident has described returning to her home to find it destroyed in the fire.
In a video posted by NewsNation’s Brian Entin, Fran said she “poured everything” into the house that she has lived with her husband and family for 26 years.
“We have nowhere to go,” she said. Pointing to the other destroyed houses on the street, she said her neighbors had sent their children – now in their 40s – to kindergarten together.
LA county fire chief Anthony Perrone said one of the county’s two super scooper aircraft had been taken out of commission for emergency repairs, after being damaged in a drone incursion at the Palisades fire on Thursday.
The aircraft should be back in the air by Monday, he said.
“Flying a drone in the fire traffic area is not only dangerous but it’s illegal,” he said, adding that those who fly them over the wildfire area will be prosecuted.
The LA county fire department earlier said that a SuperScooper Quebec 1, an aircraft specifically used for aerial firefighting, was grounded on Thursday after it was struck by a drone flown by a civilian. The collision caused wing damage to the aircraft, though no injuries were reported.
California insurance commissioner Ricardo Lara said he had used his moratorium power to stop all non-renewals and cancellations by insurance companies for a year.
“My primary concern at this very moment is to ensure that wildfire survivors receive the insurance benefits to which they are entitled to as soon as possible,” he said.
“Now is the time for you to focus on your family and on your health. The last thing you should be worrying about is your insurance.”
He said legislation will be introduced to include businesses in the moratorium. LA county district attorney Nathan Hochman said anyone who is determined to be intentionally setting fires will be arrested for arson, prosecuted and punished to the full extent of the law.
Anyone who violates the curfew order will be arrested and prosecuted, he said.
He described looting as a “despicable crime”. “For the people who have already been arrested, please know this is not going to end well,” he said.
He also warned anyone who is thinking of sending a drone up in the area that “you will be arrested, you will be prosecuted, and you will be punished to the full extent of the law.”
On the subject of scams, he said his team had already begun seeing people being targeted in GoFundMe scams, and warned that there will be insurance and government benefit scams targeting people who have been affected by the fires. “My message to the public is: Beware these scammers. Do not let them take advantage of you,” he said.
More than 200 officers have been deployed to maintain law and order in areas impacted by the fires, assistant Los Angeles police department chief Dominic Choi said.
He said there was a “zero tolerance” policy towards those who are taking advantage of the situation.
“Anybody caught looting or committing crimes in the affected areas will be arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” he said.
Assistant Los Angeles police department chief Dominic Choi said an arrest was made late Thursday afternoon after residents reported seeing a person trying to light a fire in Woodland Hills. That suspect was taken into custody and interviewed, he said.
Officers later determined there was not enough probably cause to arrest the person on arson or suspicion of arson, he said. The investigation is ongoing.
A curfew order has been established for the Palisades and Eaton fire areas in all mandatory evacuation zones, LA county sheriff Robert Luna said. The curfew order is in effect between 6pm and 6am. The only people allowed in those areas are disaster workers.
“You cannot be in these affected areas. If you are, you are subject to arrest,” Luna warned.
He said the curfew will be “strictly enforced” to enhance public safety, protect property and prevent burglaries or looting in the areas that residents have evacuated.
Anyone found in violation of the curfew will be subject to arrest for a misdemeanor offense and conviction may result in a fine of up to $1,000 or jail time, he said.
“We are not screwing around with this,” Luna warned. “ We don’t want anyone taking advantage of our residents that have already been victimized.” Approximately 153,000 residents are currently under evacuation orders and another 166,800 residents are under evacuation warnings, LA county sheriff Robert Luna said.
About 57,830 structures are at risk, he said.
The Hurst fire has been updated to 771 acres and is at 37% containment, LA city fire chief Kristin Crowley said. All evacuation orders and warnings for the fire have been lifted, she said.
The Kenneth fire’s forward progress has also been stopped with 35% contained, she said.
All evacuation orders and warnings within the Los Angeles city have been lifted, she said.
LA city fire chief Kristin Crowley said the Palisades fire stands at 20,438 acres with 8% containment.
More than 3,000 personnel worked overnight to strengthen containment lines and addressed multiple spot fires in and around the Topanga Canyon area, she said. Wind gusts are expected to increase in daylight hours that will test containment lines, she said.
The Kenneth fire, which erupted on Thursday at the border of the Ventura and Los Angeles counties, has been stopped, LA county fire chief Anthony Marrone said.
The fire is currently at 1,000 acres and 35% containment, he said.
The National Weather Service has predicted that the Red Flag warning will continue through Friday or through 6pm, LA county fire chief Anthony Marrone said.
He noted that his team’s priority is to prepare for the next Red Flag event that is predicted to begin on Monday.
LA county fire chief Anthony Marrone said the Eaton fire made a push on Thursday afternoon toward the historic Mount Wilson.
The observatory is OK and no buildings have been destroyed at Mount Wilson, he said.
However a firefighter did suffer a “significant fall injury” at the Eaton fire and remains hospitalized. The cause of the Eaton fire remains unknown, Marrone said.
LA county fire chief Anthony Marrone said the Eaton fire has burned 13,956 acres and is at 3% containment.
Between 4,000 and 5,000 structures are estimated to have been damaged or destroyed due to the fire, he said.
More than 1,500 firefighting personnel have been assigned to the Eaton fire, he said.
LA county supervisor Lindsey Horvath said the fires have continued to have an impact on the air quality throughout the region.
A smoke advisory has been extended through Friday to limit exposure, she said.
“Please remain indoors as much as possible. Avoid outdoor physical activity and run your air conditioner or air purifier if you have one.”
Summary of the day so far
One person arrested for suspected looting, says LAPD chief
Curfew order issued for Palisades and Eaton Fire evacuation zones
More than 150,000 LA County residents remain under evacuation orders
Palisades fire stands at more than 20,000 acres and is 8% contained
Kenneth fire has been stopped, says official
Eaton fire stands at nearly 14,000 acres and is 3% contained
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