Strong Santa Ana winds bring wildfire danger for New Year’s Eve

A 39-year-old woman, Shannon Nicole Womack, has been arrested and charged with 43 counts, including identity theft and endangering the welfare of a care-dependent person, after impersonating four nurses and using around 20 aliases since 2020. She secured nursing positions through fraudulent means, including submitting forged documents and creating a false LLC, and is currently held on a $250,000 bail. Want More Context? 🔎

The top free app on Apple's App Store is Tea, a dating advice platform where women can review men and warn others about bad dates, boasting over 1.6 million users. While it enhances safety by allowing background checks and requiring selfies for verification, it recently suffered a data breach affecting user images and comments, raising concerns about misinformation and privacy. Want More Context? 🔎

The U.S. will implement new tariffs starting at 15%, with potential increases up to 50% unless countries negotiate trade deals, impacting consumer prices and operational costs for companies like Nestlé and General Electric. Economists warn of gradual price hikes across various goods, particularly in categories reliant on imports, as the U.S. tariff regime becomes established. Want More Context? 🔎

Washington — Ghislaine Maxwell's lawyer stated she answered every question posed by Todd Blanche, a Justice Department official, during two days of meetings, discussing numerous individuals and topics related to her involvement with Jeffrey Epstein. Maxwell, serving a 20-year sentence for aiding Epstein's abuse of underage girls, has been subpoenaed by the House Oversight Committee, while former President Trump indicated he hasn't considered a pardon for her. Want More Context? 🔎

Rep. Ro Khanna, speaking at the Voters of Tomorrow Summit in Washington, D.C., called for a "new Democratic Party" that prioritizes the working class and rejects big money in politics. He emphasized the need for transparency and a shift away from the old guard in the party to regain trust and align with the values of younger voters, advocating for a populist, multiracial approach to leadership. Want More Context? 🔎

A phenomenon known as "corn sweat," resulting from evapotranspiration, may worsen the extreme heat affecting much of the U.S. during summer. As corn and soybean crops release moisture into the atmosphere, they can increase local humidity, making high temperatures feel even more dangerous, especially in the Midwest's Corn Belt, where heat alerts are in effect. Want More Context? 🔎