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In today's newsletter: At least 10 people are dead and 9,000 buildings destroyed as Eaton and Palisades fires continue to rage. Donald Trump is scheduled to be sentenced in his hush money case. And the Supreme Court will hear arguments about the law that could lead to TikTok's ban. Here's what to know today. |
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(Mario Tama / Getty Images) |
At least 10 people have died in the wildfires ravaging the greater Los Angeles area, county officials confirmed last night, as crews continue to battle the fires that have burned thousands of acres and forced nearly 180,000 people from their homes. The Palisades Fire is at more than 19,900 acres (almost 27 sqaure miles) with 6% containment — a small sign of progress against the massive wind-driven blaze. At least two deaths are linked to that fire, officials confirmed, and an estimated 5,000 buildings have been destroyed . Some residents have been allowed to temporarily return to find piles of ash where their homes once stood. Drone video and photos show the scale of destruction from above and on the ground. The Eaton Fire is 13,690 acres and 0% contained, and at least 4,000 structures are believed to have been destroyed. Officials have confirmed four people died in the fire. Atladena resident Brianna Navarro fears her 83-year-old grandmother was among the people killed. Navarro evacuated with her husband and two daughters as the fire approached their home, but her grandmother refused to go with them. A new brush fire emerged yesterday afternoon. The Kenneth Fire in the West Hills section of Los Angeles grew to more than 900 acres, but crews were able to stop forward progress. It was 35% contained as of last night. The Lidia Fire near Acton is about 394 acres and reached 75% containment Thursday night. And the Sunset Fire that broke out in Runyon Canyon on Wednesday night has been 100% contained. Strong Santa Ana winds picked up again and are expected to blow through today, with red flag warnings are still in effect in Southern California. The combination of strong winds and low humidity could complicate the firefight. President Joe Biden announced that the federal government would cover "100% of the cost" of firefighting for the next 180 days after Gov. Gavin Newsom requested an increase in funding. Meanwhile, organizations have started seeking donations to assist in relief efforts. Follow our live blog for updates. |
More coverage of the L.A. wildfires: |
Officials have vowed to crack down on looters who drop in on vulnerable communities. So far, 20 people have been accused of stealing from wildfire-ravaged homes. |
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President-elect Donald Trump is set to be sentenced this morning in his hush money case despite attempts to make sure it wouldn't happen before his inauguration in 10 days. After failed appeals, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to block the proceeding in a 5-4 ruling yesterday evening. Had the sentencing been postponed until after Trump's inauguration, his lawyers would have been able to argue that presidential immunity and his duties as commander in chief should bar the proceedings from happening. New York state Judge Juan Merchan isn't expected to give Trump any jail time and said he would most likely give him an unconditional discharge, which allows the conviction to stand with no further penalties. Trump, in remarks after the Supreme Court's eleventh-hour ruling, alluded to the possibility of further appeals. He's expected to attend today's sentencing remotely. Read the full story here. And follow our live blog for updates during the hearing. Trump was also dealt another legal blow in a the battle to block the release of special counsel Jack Smith's report about his election interference case when a federal appeals court ruled that the report can be released. The ruling clears the way for Trump to ask the Supreme Court to block the report's release. |
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The conservative-majority Supreme Court will hear arguments today as justices weigh whether to allow a law to go into effect that bans social video app TikTok unless its China-based owner, ByteDance, divests itself of the company by next weekend. A preliminary decision is likely in days, if not hours. The ban was signed into law by President Joe Biden with bipartisan support in Congress. President-elect Donald Trump, who threatened a ban during his first administration but has since flip-flopped on the issue, has asked justices to temporarily block the law so that he can "pursue a political resolution" to the dispute when he takes office. The government has defended the law on national security grounds over concerns that the Chinese government could exert influence over the platform and could access data about American users. TikTok and some of its users have sued to block the measure, saying a ban violates their free speech rights. Read the full story here. |
The Senate will debate the Laken Riley Act, a GOP-led bill aimed at cracking down on illegal immigration, but its final passage is uncertain as some Democrats suggest adding amendments. |
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New data to be released this morning is expected to show fewer jobs added last month but the unemployment rate unchanged, adding to mixed signals about the labor market. |
The “Pizzagate” gunman who fired his rifle in a Washington, D.C., pizza restaurant in 2016, acting on a debunked conspiracy theory, died after police shot him during a traffic stop. |
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To see how Los Angeles wildfire evacuees are faring, I traveled to two shelters on opposite ends of the city — the Westwood Recreation Center and Pasadena Convention Center — to visit those who have been displaced by the Palisades and Eaton fires. Many temporary residents brought only a handful of essentials with them. In the midst of tragedy, goodwill prevailed, as people in nearby neighborhoods volunteered and dropped off supplies for those in need. — Angela Yang, culture & trends reporter |
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Thanks for reading the Morning Rundown. Today's newsletter was curated for you by Elizabeth Robinson. If you have any comments — likes, dislikes — send us an email at: MorningRundown@nbcuni.com If you're a fan, please forward it to your family and friends. They can sign up here. |
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