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Los Angeles wildfires rekindle 'eco-terror' arson suspect manhunt after fake firefighters arrested

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Los Angeles wildfires rekindle 'eco-terror' arson suspect manhunt after fake firefighters arrested

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The FBI has rekindled a decades-long manhunt for a serial arson suspect accused of operating a domestic “eco-terror” cell that lit off more than a half-dozen fires in the 1990s and early 2000s shortly after Los Angeles authorities announced the arrests of a pair of fake firefighters from Oregon – one of whom has a criminal history of arson.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department told Fox News Digital Sunday that Dustin Nehl, 31, and Jennifer Nehl, 44, were arrested after allegedly impersonating firefighters and driving into a restricted zone in a fake firetruck from a fake department.

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The FBI is offering $50,000 for information leading to the arrest of Josephine Sunshine Overaker, a suspected domestic terrorist accused of setting arson fires to spread an animal rights message alongside a group of fellow radicals. She, too, has been accused of posing as a firefighter.

COUPLE WITH FAKE FIRETRUCK BUSTED FOR IMPERSONATING FIREFIGHTERS NEAR PALISADES FIRE IN LA: SHERIFF

The Vail Ski Resort arson fire in 1998 that authorities say was the work of Josephine Sunshine Overaker and her alleged domestic terror cell known as “The Family.” (FBI/YouTube)

Overaker was indicted 24 years ago Sunday on charges including arson, destruction of an energy facility and domestic terrorism. Her exact age is unknown, but she is believed to have been born between October 1971 and November 1974.

The incidents she is alleged to have been involved with were linked to extremist groups known as the Earth Liberation Front and the Animal Liberation Front. The alleged attacks took place in Oregon, Washington, California, Colorado and Wyoming beginning in 1996. 

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Several hours after L.A. authorities announced the couple’s arrest, the FBI’s Most Wanted account on X reposted a flyer seeking information on Overaker, a longtime fugitive. 

LOS ANGELES WILDFIRES: ARMED HOMEOWNERS PATROL FOR LOOTERS INSIDE EVACUATION ZONE

A split image shows fugitive Josephine Sunshine Overaker’s distinctive back tattoo and an age-progressed sketch of what she may look like now. She is the last remaining fugitive suspect in the 1998 firebombing at the Vail Ski Resort that caused millions of dollars in damage, one of the most devastating ecoterrorism attacks in U.S. history. (FBI)

It was not clear that the Nehls had any connection to Overaker or the radical groups she is accused of working with. The FBI re-shared her wanted poster on the 24th anniversary of her federal indictment. 

Dustin Nehl has a criminal record that includes prior arson charges, according to authorities, who found him dressed up in firefighting gear, carrying radios and riding with his wife in a decommissioned firetruck that had been purchased at auction. 

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The vehicle was emblazoned with the name of a fake Oregon agency, the “Roaring River Fire Department.” Under their firefighting gear, according to authorities, they were wearing CAL-Fire T-shirts, California’s state firefighting agency.

Dustin Nehl served five years in prison for a series of vandalizations that culminated in an arson attack at a country club and at other locations, LA Magazine reported. 

‘AMERICA’S MOST WANTED’ PROFILES OREGON ARSON FUGITIVE TIED TO DOMESTIC TERRORIST GROUP

The rebuilt Two Elk Lodge in the Vail ski area at Vail, Colorado, in October 1999. It was built to replace the original building, destroyed in an arson attack by an eco-terrorist group known as The Family, which had ties to the Animal Liberation Front and Earth Liberation Front. (John Epperson/The Denver Post via Getty Images)

Overaker is the last remaining suspect out of 17 in a catastrophic 1998 fire at the Vail Ski Resort in Colorado that has not been captured, according to federal prosecutors. In 2018, fellow longtime fugitive Joseph Mahmoud Dibee was arrested in Cuba for his role in the plot. He pleaded guilty in 2022 in exchange for an 87-month prison sentence.

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LA MAYOR’S OFFICE SILENT ON DEPUTY WHO WAS IN CHARGE OF FIRE DEPT PLACED ON LEAVE FOR ALLEGED BOMB THREAT

The FBI calls it the “largest eco-related arson in history.” The fire destroyed the luxe Two Elk Lodge restaurant, which was later rebuilt, disabled chair lifts and leveled other buildings, according to authorities. 

Other targets were the Cavel West Meat Packing Plant in Redmond, Oregon, and a barn that belonged to the Bureau of Land Management in Litchfield, California.

Overaker allegedly led an cell of domestic terrorists known as “The Family,” blamed for between $45 million and $80 million worth of damage across 25 arson attacks. To avoid detection, she allegedly shoplifted her bombmaking materials rather than buy them.

 

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Overaker, a Canadian-born American citizen, has a large bird tattoo across her back and may be posing as a firefighter, a midwife, a sheep tender or a masseuse, according to the FBI. She has brown hair, brown eyes, stands 5 feet, 3 inches tall and weighs an estimated 130 pounds. Agents have said she has facial hair on her upper lip.

She has used a number of aliases over the years, including Lisa Quintana, China, Jo and Osha, according to the FBI. She is fluent in Spanish and may have relocated to Spain.

She faces up to life in prison if convicted. 

Fox News’ Stepheny Price contributed to this report.

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Hawaii

Ongoing Kilauea eruption in Hawaii. Live cam here!

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Ongoing Kilauea eruption in Hawaii. Live cam here!


Kilauea, on the Big Island of Hawaii, erupted again on Saturday, December 6, 2025, in spectacular fashion.

The fountains erupted from both the north and south vents, spewing lava more than 1,000 feet (300 meters) into the sky and destroying one of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) live cams.

In addition, an enormous plume of gas and fine glass particles extended up to 20,000 feet (6,000 meters) above sea level.

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The 2026 EarthSky lunar calendar makes a great gift. Get yours today!

Kilauea began its new series of eruptions last December, and they have continued off and on throughout 2025. You can watch the current status of Kilauea on the USGS live cam at the top of this post, or on YouTube.

Keep up with Kilauea at this USGS page

Kilauea volcano in Hawaii, erupting on December 6, 2025. Image via USGS live cam.

Bottom line: Kilauea volcano erupted spectacularly on Saturday, December 6, 2025. Watch a live cam here.



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Idaho

Idaho Business Review honors professionals in the region

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Idaho Business Review honors professionals in the region


The Idaho Business Review named more than 15 entrepreneurs, academics, medical providers and experts from north central Idaho to its 2025 Idaho 500 list.

The list recognizes the most influential and accomplished professionals throughout Idaho, according to the website of the Idaho Business Review.

“Our editorial team carefully selects 500 outstanding individuals who are driving innovation, creating jobs, building communities, and making Idaho a better place to live and work,” according to the website.

The people from this region on the list are:

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Aviva Abramovsky, dean, University of Idaho College of Law.

Eric Steven Anderson, associate director of employer relations, co-op & experiential learning, UI Career Services.

Dr. Mary Barinaga, assistant clinical dean, Idaho WWAMI (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, Idaho) Medical Education, Moscow

Rachael Bickerton, director, government & external relations, UI College of Agricultural & Life Sciences.

Liz Bryant, director, North Idaho Area Health Education Center, Moscow.

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Xiaoli Etienne, professor and Idaho Wheat Commission endowed chairperson in commodity risk management, UI Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology.

C. Scott Green, UI president.



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Montana

Montana State set for Friday quarterfinal, Montana to play Saturday

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Montana State set for Friday quarterfinal, Montana to play Saturday


BOZEMAN — It’ll be Friday night lights for the Montana State Bobcats in the quarterfinal round of the FCS playoffs.

The No. 2-seeded Bobcats will host seventh-seeded Stephen F. Austin at 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 12, inside Bobcat Stadium. Third-seeded Montana will host No. 11-seeded South Dakota on Saturday, Dec. 13. Kickoff between the Grizzlies and Coyotes is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. inside Washington-Grizzly Stadium.

The quarterfinal schedule was announced during ESPN2’s Saturday night broadcast of the second-round game between No. 8 seed UC Davis and No. 9 seed Rhode Island.

Montana State, seeking its second consecutive trip to the FCS championship game, advanced to the quarterfinal round with a 21-13 win over Yale on Saturday, while Stephen F. Austin — quarterbacked by former Griz QB Sam Vidlak — got past No. 10 Abilene Christian 41-34 in the second round.

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Montana cruised to a 50-29 win over No. 14-seeded South Dakota State in the second round. The Grizzlies will meet a South Dakota squad coming off a 47-0 demolition of sixth-seeded Mercer.

The winners of those two quarterfinal games will meet in the semifinal round on Dec. 20. Montana and Montana State have never met in the playoffs.

The other quarterfinal games will both be played Saturday, Dec. 13. Fourth-seeded Tarleton State will host No. 12 seed Villanova at 10 a.m. Mountain Time. The other quarter will pit Illinois State, which stunned top-seeded North Dakota State on Saturday, against the winner of the game between UC Davis and Rhode Island. Kickoff time has yet to be determined.





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