Los Angeles Devastated By Wildfires

Good Thursday morning. A famous (and massive) sculpture has mysteriously disappeared, and there are fears the guy who invented Beanie Babies illegally destroyed it. Have a great daIn Today’s Brief

• Carter: Funeral today

• Iran: War games

• Biden: Still believes

• Dockworkers: Labor deal

• SAG Awards: Nominations out

... and more

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Top Tips

1) Raging blazes

The Los Angeles area is reeling amid wildfires driven by fierce winds 

• The news: There were reportedly six different fires burning with limited containment as of 12:30 a.m. ET as firefighters battled quick spreads due to winds. The Palisades Fire has engulfed close to 16K acres and destroyed at least 1K buildings, becoming the most destructive in Los Angeles County history. The Eaton Fire is over 10K acres and threatens 13K buildings. At least five people have died in the various blazes.

• Evacuation orders: Over 100K people have been forced to flee their homes. The entire Los Angeles Unified School District -- the nation's second-largest -- is closed. Comedian Billy Crystal was one of several celebrities and public figures to announce their home was destroyed in the fires; President Joe Biden said his son Hunter's home may have been destroyed. The president has canceled his final foreign trip to Italy in order to lead the federal response.

• Blame game: Many attributed the disaster to the consequences of climate change. President-elect Donald Trump blasted California Gov. Gavin Newsom, alleging his environmental rules have limited the amount of water available to fight the blazes. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass was accused of mismanagement by Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, the billionaire owner of The Los Angeles Times; she was also criticized for being out of the country when the fires broke out.

• Big picture: Over 450K people in southern California are without electricity and boil water notices have begun. Residents were being told to prepare for immediate evacuation orders. Officials said the newest fire was threatening the Hollywood Walk of Fame; dangerous weather conditions are expected to continue into tomorrow.

2) Shocking claims

One of the tech world's biggest names is accused of sexually assaulting a family member.

• The news: OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's sister alleges he abused her for close to a decade in a federal lawsuit. Ann Altman previously made similar accusations on social media. The filing claims the final abuse incident occurred when Altman was an adult and his sister was still a minor.

• The reaction: Altman denied the "utterly untrue" claims in a joint statement released with his mother and two brothers. The family said Ann Altman "faces mental health challenges" and "refuses conventional treatment." The statement also claims she has made false sexual abuse allegations against other people and accused her family of financial misdeeds.

• Big picture: Altman has become a global figure due to the rise of OpenAI's ChatGPT and is estimated to have a $2B net worth. An attorney representing Ann Altman told The Wall Street Journal that "there is no evidence that her own mental health has contributed to her allegations.”

3) Mayor bust

It sounds like a Parks and Recreation plot come to life.

• The news: A Louisiana city's 25-year-old mayor is accused of being part of a drug trafficking operation. State Police said Tyrin Truong assisted in the distribution of drugs such as MDMA, opioids and high-grade marijuana; he also faces other charges, including using public money to solicit prostitutes at a convention in Atlanta.

• More details: Truong has posted $150K bail and declared his innocence. The Democrat was elected to lead Bogalusa -- a town of 10K near the Mississippi border -- in 2022, posting a 30-plus point victory over an incumbent. Six other people were arrested in the sting; Truong has dealt with other scandals since being elected.

• The irony: Truong reportedly advocated for an increased police presence in Bogalusa, earning some credit for a downturn in serious crime. But cops allege profits from the drug ring were used to buy guns linked to violent incidents in the region. 

Quick Tips

U.S. News

• Former President Jimmy Carter's state funeral is today in Washington. It is a national day of mourning and all five living presidents will attend; a man was arrested for trying to enter the Capitol with a machete and knives yesterday as Carter lay in state (More | More)

• Grizzly bears will remain protected under the Endangered Species Act in Idaho, Montana, Washington and Wyoming. But the bears will be reclassified so ranchers can shoot them if they attack livestock; the move is opposed by the Republican-led states in question (More)

• A Virginia man accused in the FBI's largest-ever bomb raid will stay in jail until his trial. A federal judge ruled he has “shown the capacity for extreme danger" after accumulating over 150 pipe bombs and other explosive devices (More)

World News

• Iran's military forces are carrying out large-scale war games. The exercises are believed to be rehearsals for how Tehran would respond to U.S. or Israeli attacks on its nuclear facilities (More)

• Romania will re-run its presidential election on May 4 with a runoff scheduled two weeks later. Far-right upstart Calin Georgescu's initial first-round victory was nullified due to alleged Russian interference; he remains a presumed candidate at this time (More)

• An arrest warrant was re-issued for South Korea's suspended president over last month's failed martial law decree. The impeached Yoon Suk Yeol remained holed up in his Seoul residence as of last night and denied reports he fled the country (More)

Political News

• President Biden told USA Today he still believes he could have won re-election and defeated President-elect Trump. But he conceded he is unsure he would have had the stamina to complete another four-year term and exit office at age 86 (More)

• Trump asked the Supreme Court to block tomorrow's sentencing in his New York hush-money case. Attorney General Merrick Garland said the Department of Justice only intends to release a partial version of Special Counsel Jack Smith’s report on the president-elect (More | More)

• Trump strongly considered Fox News host Maria Bartiromo as his running mate, according to a new book. Revenge: The Inside Story of Trump's Return to Power also alleges the president-elect was leaked questions before a January 2024 town hall in Iowa hosted by the network (More | More)

Business & Markets

• Major indexes closed mixed yesterday. Federal Reserve meeting minutes showed central bankers are concerned about inflation risks presented by the incoming Trump administration’s proposed policies (Dow +0.25%, Nasdaq -0.06%, S&P 500 +0.16%).

• East and Gulf Coast dockworkers agreed to a tentative new labor deal, likely avoiding a strike that could have damaged the national economy. The International Longshoremen's Association and U.S. Maritime Alliance have agreed to a six-year pact (More)

• Microsoft plans a $3B investment in India. The tech giant will grow its artificial intelligence and cloud computing businesses in the nation; it already employs over 23K people in the country (More)

Entertainment & Sports

• Shogun and Wicked each received five Screen Actors Guild Award nominations to lead the television and film categories, respectively. This Sunday's Critics Choice Awards are postponed to Jan. 26 due to the Los Angeles wildfires (More | More) 

• Notre Dame and Penn State will play the first College Football Playoff semifinal tonight in the Orange Bowl (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN). The Fighting Irish are a slight betting favorite; both programs are seeking their first national championship in 30-plus years (More)

• Tupac Shakur's accused killer filed a motion to dismiss murder charges against him on constitutional grounds. Duane "Keffe D" Davis claims a 2008 immunity agreement is not being honored; he also argued against a 27-year prosecution delay following the rapper's infamous 1994 slaying (More)

Quick Hitters

• Feel Good: A Chinese woman broke free from her abusive marriage after almost 40 years and just started driving. She has become a social media sensation after trekking through 400 cities and 20 provinces while living "a vibrant, unrestrained life."

• Chow Down: Opinions on breakfast vary. But if you still believe it is the most important meal of the day, here are some high-protein options that are easy to pre-make.

• Go Deep: The UnitedHealthcare CEO was allegedly assassinated with a 3D-printed firearm. Homemade and partially-homemade "ghost guns" have quickly become a global issue.

• Take Note: Pet toys are among the dirtiest household items, regardless of their material. Here are some tips on how to clean your best friend's prized possessions.

• Life Hack: Becoming a better dancer can be as easy as reading a comic book. No, really -- these helpful illustrations will get you moving like a professional.

Watch This

What the world has learned from digging very deep holes.

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Looking Ahead …

The NHL will play a pair of outdoor games next year in -- naturally -- Florida. The Florida Panthers will play the New York Rangers in the annual Winter Classic in Miami; a Stadium Series game between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Boston Bruins will follow.

Question of the Day — Thursday Trivia

Yesterday’s results:

For fun: Which U.S. foreign neighbor would you most like to have join the country?

• Canada (43%)

• Greenland (27%)

• The Bahamas (21%)

• Mexico (9%)