Hundreds of GoFundMe pages to help friends, neighbors and even strangers impacted by the L.A.-area fires are being shared online, but the language of their fundraising pages could curb the FEMA aid they receive.
The big picture: By law, FEMA cannot duplicate benefits people receive from another source, according to the agency.
A powerful Arctic outbreak tied in part to the polar vortex is set to send temperatures by next week tumbling down to as cold as 25 to 35 degrees Fahrenheit below average for mid-January, forecasts show.
Why it matters: The hazardous cold could endanger public health, stress electricity grids, damage crops and make for a frigid Inauguration Day.
President-elect Trump is pledging his full support for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, telling organizers in a meeting late Wednesday that he wants to help the area recover from the devastating wildfires.
Why it matters: The fires that have destroyed more than 10,000 homes have left Los Angeles County with a massive rebuild. Trump told the local Olympic organizing committee, LA28, that he wants to ensure the games go on without a hitch, according to a source briefed on his meeting at Mar-a-Lago with Casey Wasserman, LA28's president and chairman.
President-elect Trump's pick to lead the Energy Department Chris Wright walked a fine line Wednesday as he called climate change "a real and global phenomenon" but remained skeptical during his U.S. Senate confirmation hearing.
Why it matters: Wright, the CEO of fracking company Liberty Energy, looked to temper his tone but stood by prior statements criticizing "climate zealots" and calling climate change not a pressing concern.
President-elect Trump's Monday inauguration ceremony is set to be colder than the norm.
Why it matters: D.C. is preparing for 250,000 ticketed guests and thousands more at the National Mall for the outdoor ceremony — which has caused emergencies from extreme weather in its history.
State of play: The latest analysis from the Energy Department's independent stats arm sees just modest output growth this year and next (albeit from already record levels).
The Lower 48 states had their hottest year on record in 2024, in keeping with global trends.
Why it matters: The year featured numerous extreme weather events in which record warmth played a role — from the obvious, like deadly heat waves, to torrential rains.
Chris Wright, President-elect Trump's nominee to lead the Energy Department, will celebrate his 60th birthday Wednesday by introducing himself to senators as a "science geek, turned tech nerd, turned lifelong energy entrepreneur."
Why it matters: Increased energy production is central to Trump's overall economic strategy, and he'll need an energy secretary who can translate his vision of an oil and gas boom into a practical reality.
Federal pipeline safety regulators have proposed stronger standards for carbon-dioxide pipelines in the Biden administration's waning days.
Why it matters: The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration's proposed rule is a long-awaited effort to address safety concerns around pipelines needed to scale up carbon capture and storage projects.
At least two wildfires ignited in Southern California during critical fire weather and triggered fresh evacuations on Tuesday, one week after deadly blazes first erupted across Los Angeles County.
The big picture: The fires have killed at least 25 people and the "Particularly Dangerous Situation Red Flag Warning" that the National Weather Service's L.A. office issued remains in effect until Wednesday afternoon.
Some of the most destructive wildfires in California's history have killed at least 25 people in Los Angeles County, caused hundreds of thousands to evacuate and choked air quality across the region for the past week.
The big picture: The fires erupted in extremely dry conditions last Tuesday as powerful Santa Ana winds struck. As some assess damage in what's set to be among the most costly wildfire disasters ever in the U.S., parts of L.A. and Ventura counties face a "Particularly Dangerous Situation" red flag warning into Wednesday.
/2025/01/15/1736981326769.gif?w=3840)
