Los Angeles County residents were thrown into disarray on Thursday night when they received an erroneous evacuation alert. The warning, intended for those near the Kenneth Fire in Woodland Hills, was mistakenly broadcast to millions across the county, urging them to gather loved ones, pets, and supplies and evacuate their homes.
The panic was palpable as residents, like Thomas Jenkins from Downtown LA, began preparing to leave their homes only to learn moments later that the alert was a mistake. “I immediately jumped up and started packing my things even though I live Downtown,” Jenkins shared with The Post, expressing frustration over the unnecessary alarm. “It was irresponsible, annoying and caused panic for nothing.”
Social media platforms, including X, were flooded with reactions from confused and angry residents. One anonymous user described the ordeal of their neighbor, who was left frantic and in a panic. Another user criticized the handling of the situation as a “complete and utter failure” and highlighted the added stress to those already dealing with the ongoing wildfires.
The evacuation alert was meant for a specific area where the Kenneth Fire was actively burning, but a technical error led to the countywide dissemination. Kevin McGowan, Director of the Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Management, acknowledged the mishap, stating, “An evacuation order for residents near the Kenneth Fire currently burning in West Hills was mistakenly issued to nearly 10 million County residents along with some residents of neighboring counties.”
County Supervisor Janice Hahn was quick to clarify the error on social media, informing the public that the evacuation warning was mistakenly issued countywide due to a technical glitch. She assured that a correction would follow.
This incident has brought the reliability of emergency alert systems into question, especially given the backdrop of multiple wildfires currently devastating the region. The Palisades Fire, among others, is reported as the most destructive in the county’s history, with containment efforts still at 0%.
Residents and officials are now calling for improvements in communication and emergency management to prevent such errors in the future, as the city continues to battle the natural calamity alongside the fallout from this significant communication blunder.
]]>Jeffries claimed, according to a report from the Washington Examiner, that, “House Democrats believe that we are not sent to Washington to invade Greenland, rename the Gulf of Mexico, or seize the Panama Canal by force.”
Those three options all have been discussed by Trump as he prepares to move into the White House and again work to enhance America’s security, and indeed, the security of the world.
The threat being addressed is China’s increasing influence over other nations through its various Belt and Road infrastructure investment plans, through which is routinely takes control of transportation routes and facilities by building the projects, and then running them.
Trump, in fact, has mentioned the concepts of America being in control of Greenland, and Canada joining the U.S., as various ways to enhance America’s security internationally. For example, a military base on Greenland would be only a short 2,000-mile flight from Moscow.
U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-S.D., said, “President Trump is right to consider repurchasing the Panama Canal. China’s interest in and presence around the canal is a cause for concern. America must project strength abroad – owning and operating the Panama Canal might be an important step towards a stronger America and a more secure globe.”
Johnson has introduced a bill that would empower Trump to negotiate over the canal management.
It also would have Trump report to Congress on the possible outcomes and ramifications.
Some Republicans long have objected to the agreement that provided Panama with supervision over the canal, as the U.S. built it and paid for it.
Panamanian officials said they own the canal … “every square meter.”
Content created by the WND News Center is available for re-publication without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact [email protected].
]]>“One day you’re swimming in the pool and the next day it’s all gone,” Woods told anchor Pamela Brown on Wednesday while repeatedly choking up. Woods then recounted his evacuation and how he helped rescue his 94-year-old neighbor, who has dementia.
“He’d been left alone,” Woods added. “There was so much chaos, it was like an inferno. Every house was on fire around us.”
Keith Olbermann is glad. But not because Woods saved an elderly man with dementia from burning. Olbermann is glad that Woods’ house burned to the ground.
He says he deserved it. […]
]]>— Read More: www.outkick.com
Senator Ted Cruz, R-Texas, introduced the Senate version.
Under the amendment , a senator could serve two services and a House member could serve three terms.
In terms of a special election, the amendment defines a “qualifying term” as one year or more in the House of Representatives and three years or more in the Senate.The amendment would not be retroactive and would apply to terms lawmakers serve after its adoption.Term limit bills have been introduced in the past but they haven’t become law.Some of the longest serving members of Congress include the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., who served from 1993 to 2023 and former Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., who served from 1975 to 2023.
]]>— Read More: justthenews.com
This is the highest total in Texas history – shattering last year’s record by nearly $1 billion.
What the industry paid in one year, $27.3 billion, is more than what 34 states received in total tax revenues.
It translates to $74.8 million paid every day for a range of public services, including toward Texas’ public schools, universities, roads, first responders and other essential services.
“Remarkably, 2024 was yet another record-breaking year as the Texas oil and natural gas industry does its part to help reach Governor Abbott’s goal for our state’s economy to surpass France as the 7th largest economy in the world,” TXOGA president Todd Staples said. “From tax revenues and production to pipelines, storage, processing, refining, and exports, Texas’ oil and natural gas industry has achieved record-breaking performance across every sector.”
Staples said the industry has been so successful because “Texas leaders embrace policies that recognize oil and natural gas as an asset, not a liability. They view businesses as a partner, not an adversary. For its part, the industry has persevered through hostile federal policies of the outgoing Administration, global unrest and market volatility – including negative prices for natural gas – to shatter its own records, all while protecting and improving the environment.”
The industry primarily funds three major state funds: the Economic Stabilization Fund (Rainy Day Fund), Permanent School Fund and Permanent University Fund.
Since the Texas legislature created the Rainy Day Fund in 1987, it’s received more than $33.9 billion from Texas oil and natural gas production taxes.
The industry is a major funder of Texas public education. In fiscal 2024, 99% of Texas oil and natural gas royalties were deposited into the Permanent School Fund and the Permanent University Fund, $1.5 billion and $1.9 billion, respectively.
By the end of fiscal 2024, the value of the funds totaled $57.3 billion and $31.7 billion, respectively.
“The Texas Permanent School Fund is larger than Harvard’s endowment and is the largest education endowment in the nation,” Staples notes. “The oil and natural gas industry is the only significant contributor of fresh investment capital to these critical Texas education funds.”
In addition to these funds, in fiscal 2024, Texas school districts directly received $2.92 billion in property taxes from mineral properties producing oil and natural gas, pipelines, and gas utilities. Counties directly received $1.03 billion in industry property taxes.
According to TXOGA data of ISDs, the districts that received the most oil and natural gas industry property taxes are in west Texas in the Permian Basin. In these and many districts, the industry represents the majority of the tax base.
Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD received the most of $304.4 million, with industry taxes representing 83% of the tax base.
Midland ISD received the next greatest amount of $217.5 million, representing 50.7% of the tax base. Wink-Loving ISD received $184 million, representing 92.4% of the tax base. Rankin ISA received $130 million, representing 92.4% of the tax base.
According to TXOGA data of counties, the top counties receiving the most oil and natural gas property taxes are in West Texas in the Permian Basin.
Reeves County received the most of $110.1 million with industry taxes representing 85% of the tax base. Martin County received the next greatest amount of $54.9 million, with industry taxes representing 94.5% of the tax base; Loving County received 53.6% million, with industry taxes representing 94.7% of the tax base.
In counties where the industry paid significantly less property taxes, it still represented a majority share of the county’s tax base. In Andrews County. for example, the industry paid $23.2 million in property taxes but represented 80.5% of the tax base; it paid $13.2 million in Crockett County representing 83% of the county’s tax base.
The Texas oil and natural gas industry has paid more than $257.6 billion in state and local taxes and state royalties since TXOGA began compiling the data in 2007. The total excludes hundreds of billions of dollars in payroll for some of the highest paying jobs in the state. It also excludes taxes paid on office buildings and personal property, as well as other service jobs that depend on the industry and taxes paid by other sectors benefitting from the industry, TXOGA notes.
]]>Mangione reportedly used a 3D-printed “ghost gun” for his murder—specifically, a Chairmanwon V1, which is a variation of a partially 3D-printed Glock-style design known as the FMDA 19.2, according to the tech publication Wired.
The accusation that Mangione obtained the weapon from a “black-market operator” comes from 3D gun group Defense Distributed, which is in a copyright dispute with another entity called Gatalog, which deals in digital firearms information.
According to Defense Distributed, Gatalog has illegally trafficked in the digital firearms information that Defense Distributed handles legally.
“The Gatalog is a black-market operator in the worst sense,” Defense Distributed alleged in a Dec. 27 counterclaim against Gatalog, which is also suing over copyright issues. […]
]]>— Read More: headlineusa.com
On Truth Social, he posted:
One of the best and most beautiful parts of the United States of America is burning down to the ground. It’s ashes, and Gavin Newscum should resign. This is all his fault!!!
Trump has been hammering Newsom non-stop since the fires started ravaging Los Angeles County, killing at least five people and destroying thousands of buildings and homes. Speaking to reporters on Capitol Hill Wednesday, Trump said:
“It’s very sad because I’ve been trying to get Gavin Newsom to allow water to come – you’d have tremendous water up there, they send it out from the Pacific – because they’re trying to protect a tiny little fish. For the sake of a smelt, they have no water… It’s a mistake of the governor, and you could say, the administration.”
Newsom’s press office offered a feeble excuse:
“LADWP said that because of the high water demand, pump stations at lower elevations did not have enough pressure refill tanks at higher elevations, and the ongoing fire hampered the ability of crews to access the pumps. Broadly speaking, there is no water shortage in Southern California right now, despite Trump’s claims that he would open some imaginary spigot.”
Democrats across the state have been taking heat. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass was lambasted for not answering basic questions from a Sky News reporter when she arrived from her vacation in Africa.
To make matters worse, she botched her press conference by reading “URL” instead of giving the actual URL that residents should visit:
The fires continue to rage across the county with 0% containment as of Wednesday night.
]]>The Washington Times reported Tuesday that 25-year-old Democrat Mayor Tyrin Truong of Bogalusa, Louisiana, was arrested for his connections to drug trafficking and soliciting prostitutes.
Seven suspects were arrested in total, accused of distributing drugs like THC, opioids, marijuana, and ecstasy via social media, according to police.
The money from the sales allegedly went toward buying firearms used in other crimes.
Truong himself was not charged with distributing drugs, but was charged with solicitation of prostitutes and unauthorized use of another person’s vehicle. […]
]]>— Read More: www.westernjournal.com
The JetBlue passenger was expected to face charges and be arraigned Wednesday, Massachusetts State Police spokesperson Tim McGuirk said in a statement Tuesday night. The passenger’s name was not released.
The door was opened about 7:30 p.m. “suddenly and without warning,” McGuirk said.
The opening of the overwing exit door caused an emergency slide to deploy aboard JetBlue flight 161 from Boston to San Juan, the airline said in a statement.
Some passengers panicked. […]
]]>— Read More: headlineusa.com
The deal encompasses all items discussed for the new contract, with both parties agreeing to continue operations under the current contract until a ratification vote can be scheduled. Details of the tentative agreement have not been disclosed publicly, as they are pending review and approval by ILA rank-and-file members and USMX members.
A key aspect of the agreement involves compromises on automation and semi-automation, areas that were central to past disputes. Sources indicate that while full automation has been ruled out, USMX retains the right to introduce technology deemed necessary for port modernization. In return, the ILA is guaranteed specific job roles linked to new equipment installations. This technology and labor integration will continue to be managed through a committee process composed of members from both the union and port management.
The joint statement from ILA and USMX highlighted the agreement’s significance: “We are pleased to announce that ILA and USMX have reached a tentative agreement on a new six-year ILA-USMX Master Contract, subject to ratification, thus averting any work stoppage on January 15, 2025. This agreement protects current ILA jobs and establishes a framework for implementing technologies that will create more jobs while modernizing East and Gulf coasts ports – making them safer and more efficient, and creating the capacity they need to keep our supply chains strong.”
The statement further described the deal as a “win-win,” emphasizing that it supports American consumers and businesses by maintaining the U.S. as a central hub in global trade.
The agreement comes after previous labor tensions, including a strike in October 2024, which underscored the importance of labor peace in maintaining the efficiency of America’s supply chains. With this tentative deal, both sides aim to foster a stable environment for port operations moving forward.
Article generated from corporate media reports.
]]>