Rant and Rave: Reader urges boaters to be whale wise

President Joe Biden announced a one-time payment of $770 to each California resident affected by wildfires. During his last week in office, Biden signed proclamations establishing the Chuckwalla National Monument and the Sáttítla Highlands National Monument, protecting hundreds of thousands of acres of land in California. The Chuckwalla National Monument will safeguard over 600,000 acres in the California desert, while the Sáttítla Highlands National Monument will protect more than 224,000 acres in Northern California. Full...

In the aftermath of the devastating Palisades Fire in northwest Los Angeles, Dr. Karina Maher and her husband Michael Kovac's sustainable and fire-resistant home stood out among the rubble, thanks to features like fire-resistant cladding and defensive space. As they watched their security cameras capture the fire approaching, they experienced mixed feelings of relief and survivor's guilt seeing their home intact amidst the destruction. With a focus on climate change and extreme weather events, the...

Pete Hegseth's contentious four-hour hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee saw Democrats criticizing him as unqualified, while Republicans praised him as the Pentagon's needed choice. Senator Joni Ernst's support after initial reservations suggests Hegseth has the votes to move forward. Despite facing questions about his past conduct and views on women in combat, Hegseth's communication skills were highlighted by Republican senators as a valuable asset for the role. Full Article

President Yoon Suk Yeol was detained for questioning by criminal investigators after a standoff over his martial law declaration. Despite initial resistance by his security guards, he agreed to be questioned to avoid a violent clash. The investigation and warrant to detain him are being challenged as illegal, as South Korea faces a political crisis over the unprecedented attempt to detain a sitting president. Full Article

Expect a traffic jam in the Senate soon as the race is on to confirm President-elect Trump’s cabinet nominees, with committees already scheduling "markups" to potentially discharge or send nominations to the floor. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee has a meeting set for January 20 to discuss Sen. Marco Rubio's nomination for Secretary of State, with potential confirmations expected shortly after Trump takes office. However, challenges such as paperwork delays and potential filibusters could slow...

Former Northeastern University employee Jason Duhaime was sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison for staging a bomb hoax on campus. Duhaime called campus police claiming an explosion in the lab, but investigators found no evidence of an explosion and discovered a fake threatening letter on his computer. Despite his attorney's plea for a reduced sentence due to Duhaime's health and personal consequences, United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy emphasized the seriousness...