Grooming gangs: Councils only ‘persuaded to probe abuse after bad publicity’ as local authorities fear becoming ‘another Rotherham’ – GB News Source Link Excerpt:
Senate Passes ‘Laken Riley Act’ with Support from 12 Democrats– www.breitbart.com Source Link Excerpt:
The United States Senate passed the Laken Riley Act on Monday, a bill that requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to take illegal aliens who have been arrested, charged, or convicted of crimes such as theft, burglary, shoplifting, or larceny into custody.
In a 64-35 vote, the U.S. Senate passed the Laken Riley Act, hours after President Donald Trump was inaugurated into office.
Twelve Democrats were reported to have voted in favor of the Laken Riley Act, according to the Hill.
Prior to the vote, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) stated that the Laken Riley Act would “ensure that illegal aliens who steal or assault a law enforcement officer” would be detained “instead of being allowed out on the streets.”
“This legislation will ensure that illegal aliens who steal or assault a law enforcement officer are detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement instead of being allowed out on the streets,” Thune said. “I’m looking forward to getting this legislation to the president’s desk.”
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) is catching backlash for using ActBlue, a Democratic fundraising platform, to facilitate donations to California charities involved in wildfire recovery.
Warren posted an ActBlue link Saturday on X in support of two California charities but soon received a Community Note saying it “is not a link to charity. It is a link to a Democrat fundraising platform.”
When clicked, the link leads to a page with “Warren for Senate” at the top with descriptions of two charities, the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation and the United Way of Greater Los Angeles, below.
“Your full donation will directly support these two organizations,” the page says.
Rep. Karen Bass, D-Calif., who is reportedly on Joe Biden’s shortlist of potential running mates, eulogized one of the top members of the Communist Party USA in 2017 and called him a “friend and mentor.”
Politico reported that Bass praised Oneil Marion Cannon on Jan. 30, 2017, in remarks that were inserted into the Congressional Record. The eulogy failed to mention Cannon’s role in the Communist Party USA, the report said.
The report comes at a time when Bass has been trying to distance herself from past controversial comments on Cuba. She most recently told NBC News that she is “not a socialist. I’m not a communist. I’ve belonged to one party my entire life and that’s the Democratic Party and I’m a Christian.”
Bass praised Cannon for his service in WWII and his “fight against injustice” that spanned his entire life, from New Orleans — where he was born — to his time in Los Angeles where he “fought to become the first African American member of the Printer’s Union.” She said he was “deeply involved in politics” and belonging to the Independent Progressive Party.
Politico reported that Cannon was a top member of the Communist Party USA for decades. A spokesman from Bass’ office told the website that she has always been a Democrat.
“The Congresswoman is friends with Kevin McCarthy and is not a Republican,” the spokesman said. Bass never shared her political ideology with Cannon, the spokesman said.
LA wildfire insurance-loss estimates approach $40bn– www.moneyweb.co.za Source Link Excerpt:
The cost of wildfires ravaging swaths of Los Angeles keeps rising, with new estimates of the total losses for the insurance industry now seen as high as $40 billion.
The fresh figure Tuesday from Keefe Bruyette & Woods analysts is double their rough initial estimate from just a day earlier. In a note to clients, they cited “continuing upside insured loss potential” as the fires across the region remain largely uncontrolled. Their most optimistic scenario implies insured losses of $25 billion.
Los Angeles is bracing for increased fire risk through at least Wednesday as hot, dry winds pummel the area. After raging for a week, the blazes killed at least 24 people and incinerated entire neighbourhoods.
The containment of the Palisades and Eaton fires, which unleashed the most devastation over the past week, stood at 17% and 35%, respectively, as of Tuesday, according to California’s Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
Allstate Corp, Travelers Cos and Chubb are the firms that could face the most gross primary losses from the fires, according to the KBW analysts.
However, insurers for high-net-worth homeowners such as Chubb, American International Group and Cincinnati Financial Corp, may have
LA Fire Chief Made DEI A Top Department Priority, Docs Show– thefederalist.com Source Link Excerpt:
Los Angeles Fire Department Fire Chief Kristin Crowley has been transforming the department with “diversity, equity, and inclusion,” according to documents obtained by The Federalist. Meanwhile, the department is strapped for resources — and city payroll glitches have left it struggling to even compensate its firefighters and paramedics correctly.
The city’s poor handling of recent wildfires sparked reports that Crowley and other department officials have been pushing DEI, with the diversity chief drawing a salary of $300,000. But The Federalist found Crowley, who has been fire chief since 2022, also distributed a “Strategic Plan” for 2023 to 2026 — advancing DEI across the department, as shown in various internal memos.
“Our Strategic Plan outlines our commitment to an organizational culture that embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion,” Crowley wrote in a July 2023 memo to staff, which The Federalist obtained from a firefighter who wished to remain unnamed. “We have an opportunity to expand, innovate, and establish systemic equality and inclusivity throughout the organization.”
Crowley’s wording may sound innocuous enough, but DEI is the left’s favorite buzzword for racial discrimination.
Journalists Echo Gavin Newsom’s ‘Misinformation’ Talking Points on California Wildfires– freebeacon.com Source Link Excerpt:
‘Spreading as fast as the flames’
Wildfires are wreaking havoc on Los Angeles, a heavily Democratic city in a heavily Democratic state renowned for being a cesspool of corruption and incompetence. Naturally, the mainstream media have been arguing Republicans are to blame.
Gov. Gavin Newsom, who is inexplicably considered a strong contender for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028, helpfully suggested “local folks” should “figure out” how to address the lack of water to fight the fires and found the time to sit down for a friendly chat with the Pod Save America bros. Newsom and Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass, who was traveling in Ghana when the fires started, are both Democrats, so mainstream journalists are unwilling (or fundamentally unable) to criticize their leadership in a time of crisis. “Speaking truth to power” only applies when Republicans are in charge.
Instead, the media have been regurgitating Newsom’s talking points about all the “hurricane-force winds” of right-wing “mis- and disinformation” swirling around on the internet, suggesting California’s elected (Democratic) leaders might have failed to adequately prepare for the wildfires, which are common in the Los Angeles area. MSNBC hosts and their guests appear to be competing amongst themselves to see who can come up with the dumbest puns involving fire-related disinformation, defined by most journalists as “information that makes Democrats look bad.”
Disinformation is “spreading as fast as the flames.” It’s “spreading, sorry to say it, like wildfire.” They’ve called it a “dumpster fire of disinformation,” as well as a “firehose, so to speak, of disinformation.” In this time of tragedy, it’s important to keep in mind that our nation’s esteemed journalists are indeed no less courageous than the actual firefighters combating the actual flames.
The movie producer took to Instagram Sunday to voice his dissatisfaction with insurance providers who have canceled plans in the state as wildfires become more common.
“Does anyone else find it appalling that insurance companies can take billions of dollars out of communities for years and then, all of a sudden, be allowed to cancel millions of policies for the very people they became rich on?” Perry wrote.
Videos on social media show LA firefighters using professional gear, not ‘women’s handbags’– www.politifact.com Source Link Excerpt:
As wildfires continue to burn this week in California, with more strong winds expected, disinformation also continues to spread.
A Jan. 9 Instagram post said, referring to the Los Angeles Fire Department, “The LAFD are using women’s handbags to hold water to put out fires.”
The video shows firefighters wearing yellow jackets and pouring water into what appears to be a plastic bag with two handles before throwing the water into a smoke-filled structure.
“California firefighters are using women’s handbags to fill them with water and pour it over flames in an attempt to extinguish the ongoing wildfires,” says a Jan. 10 Instagram post.
But the firefighters are using professional gear — not “women’s handbags.”
These posts were flagged as part of Meta’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram and Threads.)
California’s Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom, recently launched a website to combat disinformation about Southern California’s wildfires.
Jimmy Kimmel claims Donald Trump Thinks LA Firefighters “Aren’t White Enough”– www.louderwithcrowder.com Source Link Excerpt:
Donald Trump has only said positive things about the firefighters putting their lives at risk to fight a blaze that should have never gotten this bad in the first place. And he ESPECIALLY has not said anything about the skin color of any first responders. Despite these facts, Jimmy Kimmel decides to make up things no one has said to gaslight his viewers to believe his lies.
You cannot convince people Trump is racist if you solely resort to facts, which is why he is lying.
People take his word for this as if it were the Gospel, which is deeply concerning yet unsurprising given how naive one must be to choose to watch his show.
He does not even believe the crap he makes up, which is exactly why his voice cracked like that the moment he lied about the firefighters. Any criticism that has come out of Trump’s mouth or social media has to do with the incompetence of leadership from people like Newsom, not the ones actually risking their lives to put out their mess.
The blatant disregard for basic fire prevention is so appalling and has been predictable for years and something Trump has spoken about since at least his first term.
The fires are still raging in L.A. The incompetent pols have no idea how to put them out. Thousands of magnificent houses are gone, and many more will soon be lost. There is death all over the place. This is one of the worst catastrophes in the history of our Country. They just can’t put out the fires. What’s wrong with them?
People like Jimmy are objectively stupid. It seems he has no clue that “incompetent pols” is short for “incompetent politicians,” but that is neither here nor there. When Trump claims, “They just can’t put out the fires,” he is not talking about the first responders; he’s talking about the fact that officials did everything they could to make it nearly impossible to put out the fires.
Billionaire couple faces criticism over water control during Los Angeles wildfires – Yeni Şafak English Source Link Excerpt:
Stewart and Lynda Resnick, a billionaire couple who own around 60% of an important California water resource, have come under intense criticism for using more water than every home in Los Angeles combined, with critics arguing that their actions may be hindering efforts to contain the city’s ongoing wildfires.
The Resnicks, California’s wealthiest farming family, with a $13 billion fortune, have come under renewed criticism for their alleged overuse of water during Los Angeles’ worst wildfires in history, according to the UK’s Daily Mail.
The controversy traces back to 1994, when their advisors played a key role in the Monterey Plus Agreement, a deal that transferred the taxpayer-funded Kern Water Bank from public ownership to private control.
Originally designed to ensure a stable water supply during droughts, the bank is now seen as a tool benefiting private interests.
Bombshell Memo Spells Disaster for Karen Bass Amid California Wildfires – PJ Media– pjmedia.com Source Link Excerpt:
Over the past week, the raging wildfires in Los Angeles County have laid bare the ineptitude and misguided priorities of leadership at every level from the state to local government. Scrutiny of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has particularly intensified, and for good reason. For starters, she was in Ghana as the fires broke out, despite a pledge not to travel abroad. The optics were horrible, but the real scandal dates back at least two months.
In November, LAFD Chief Kristin Crowley sent a memo warning of severe staffing shortages and training gaps. The department was dangerously undermanned, yet the mayor’s office reportedly ignored or even buried the warning.
“Los Angeles fire chief Kristin Crowley warned city officials in November that her department had about half as many firefighters as it needed,” reports the Washington Free Beacon. “When deadly wildfires struck the city two months later, Mayor Karen Bass’s administration pulled Crowley’s memo from its website.”
The report reveals that on November 18, Crowley wrote to the city’s fire commissioners — a five-member board appointed by Bass — urging them to relay her concerns to Bass and the city council. She highlighted that the fire department’s staffing levels had remained stagnant for decades, even as the city’s population grew significantly.
Death toll from Palisades and Eaton fires climbs to 25. What we know about those killed – Los Angeles Times Source Link Excerpt:
The number of confirmed deaths from the devastating Palisades and Eaton fires climbed to 25 as of Tuesday night.
Nine of the victims died in the Palisades fire and 16 in the Eaton fire in Altadena, according to the Los Angeles County medical examiner and L.A. County Sheriff Robert Luna.
Two of the victims have been officially identified by the medical examiner, and The Times has identified 12 others.
Victor Shaw, 66, died from smoke inhalation and burn injuries at his Altadena home, according to thyes, e medical examiner. Charles Mortimer, 84, of Pacific Palisades died in a hospital from a heart attack, smoke inhalation and burns, according to the medical examiner.
Additional Palisades fire victims include avid hang-glider Arthur Simoneau, 69; Australian child actor Rory Sykes, 32; Malibu surfer Randall Miod, 55; and Annette Rossilli, who was in her 80s.
Additional Eaton fire victims include Erliene Kelley, 83; father and son Anthony Mitchell Sr. and Justin Mitchell; Dalyce Curry, 95; Kim Winiecki, 77; Rodney Kent Nickerson, 82; Zhi Feng Zhao, 84; and Evelyn McClendon.
Fire tornadoes are a risk under California’s extreme wildfire conditions – The Associated Press Source Link Excerpt:
As if they aren’t already facing enough, firefighters in California also could encounter fire tornadoes — a rare but dangerous phenomenon in which wildfires create their own weather.
The National Weather Service warned Tuesday that the combination of high winds and severely dry conditions have created a “particularly dangerous situation” in which any new fire could explode in size. The advisory, which runs into Wednesday, didn’t mention tornadoes, but meteorologist Todd Hall said they’re possible given the extreme conditions.
24 dead as fire crews try to corral Los Angeles blazes before winds return this week– japantoday.com Source Link Excerpt:
Firefighters scrambled Sunday to make further progress against wildfires that have destroyed thousands of homes and killed 24 people in the Los Angeles area as forecasters again warned of dangerous weather with the return of strong winds this week. At least 16 people were missing, and authorities said that number was expected to rise.
The National Weather Service issued red flag warnings for severe fire conditions through Wednesday, with sustained winds of 50 mph (80 kph) and gusts in the mountains reaching 70 mph (113 kph). The most dangerous day will be Tuesday, said weather service meteorologist Rich Thompson.
“You’re going to have really strong gusty Santa Ana winds, a very dry atmosphere and still very dry brush, so we still have some very critical fire weather conditions out there,” Thompson said at a community meeting Saturday night.
Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone said 70 additional water trucks arrived to help firefighters fend off flames spread by renewed gusts. “We are prepared for the upcoming wind event,” Marrone said. Fire retardant dropped by aircraft Sunday will act as a barrier along hillsides, officials said.
Fierce Santa Anas have been largely blamed for turning the wildfires sparked last week into infernos that leveled entire neighborhoods around the city where there has been no significant rainfall in more than eight months.
House Republicans and Trump discuss tying California wildfire aid to debt ceiling– www.politico.com Source Link Excerpt:
A group of House Republicans and President-elect Donald Trump talked about tying wildfire aid to a debt ceiling increase Sunday night, as the fires spreading across huge swaths of Los Angeles are estimated to become one of the costliest natural disasters in U.S. history.
Of the nearly two dozen House Republicans who attended the Sunday dinner at Mar-a-Lago, where this option was discussed, several are caucus leaders and appropriators with major influence in upcoming budget reconciliation and government funding negotiations.
House Speaker Mike Johnson was not at the dinner, and no final decisions were made about the way forward, according to two people with direct knowledge of the private meeting, who were granted anonymity to discuss it.
Yet addressing the looming debt cliff will be one of Johnson’s biggest challenges in the coming months, especially as Trump continues to agitate for lawmakers to address it quickly. The Sunday night discussions prove Republicans are desperately looking for a plan before the nation is due to exhaust its borrowing authority in June — though Democrats and some Republicans are sure to balk at the prospect of linking disaster relief dollars to a politically charged exercise like extending the debt limit.
FCC Crews Stationed In Los Angeles To Track Wildfire Impact On Telecommunications. – Insideradio.com Source Link Excerpt:
Radio’s resiliency during a natural disaster has once again been on display in Los Angeles as wildfires continue to prompt evacuations and put lives at risk. No radio stations have been knocked off the air despite a close call last week at the Mount Wilson tower site. The Federal Communications Commission now says it has spectrum survey teams on the ground in the city at the request of state officials and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel says they are at work conducting an impact assessment on cellular communications in Los Angeles County as many of the fires have been in remote, hill areas where cell towers are located.
“This data is used to identify communications gaps, which informs emergency response activities and identifies where communications assets are needed,” Rosenworcel said Monday. She said the FCC has also issued several Special Temporary Authority to keep communications operational. “While communications outages remain minimal, the FCC will continue to closely monitor developments and do whatever we can to help ensure that residents and first responders are able to communicate and stay informed during this crisis,” Rosenworcel said.
The wildfires area also showing some limitations to the Wireless Alert System with an evacuation order mistakenly issued to nearly 10 million Los Angeles County residents along with some residents of neighboring counties.
The FCC is also looking into how investigating and finding solutions to how “echoes” of erroneous emergency alerts sent to mobile phones continued to land on phones across LA County, alarming residents already facing the horrifying effects of destructive wildfires that are still burning. The preliminary investigation has pointed to issues with telecommunications systems, likely due to the fires’ impacts on cellular towers. A software vendor that works with the county says it has added safeguards to its software.
“As we work through these serious issues and develop solutions, we want to emphasize that Wireless Emergency Alerts are just one part of the County’s multifaceted emergency notification system,” the county says in a statement.