A wind-driven wildfire in Southern California that's prompted thousands to evacuate has injured 10 people, destroyed 132 structures and damaged another 88 in less than two days of critical fire weather, officials said Thursday.
The big picture: California Gov. Gavin Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency in Ventura County Thursday due to the climate change-related Mountain Fire that's razed some 20,400 acres and was 5% contained Thursday evening. Several county schools will remain shut Friday and a red flag warning was in effect through 11am that day.
Federal health officials are recommending expanded testing of dairy farm workers after a new study found evidence of previously undetected cases of bird flu in humans.
Why it matters: The study is leading officials to recommend the testing of all workers at farms where the H5N1 virus is detected, not just those with symptoms.
Why it matters: Trump repeatedly tried to distance himself from Project 2025 during the campaign, even going so far as claiming he knew nothing about it, despite the fact that it was written by many of his close allies.
Roughly 1 in 6 American adults are thought to have diabetes, including undiagnosed cases, up from 10% at the turn of the century, new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data show.
Why it matters: Even as the U.S. pays more attention to metabolic diseases and is consumed with diabetes and anti-obesity drugs, the burden of the disease is growing and complicating care in an already taxed health care system.
Voters sent conflicting signals about abortion access on Tuesday, approving ballot proposals in seven states to expand abortion rights while also electing Republicans who could provide the margins to pass a nationwide ban next year.
Why it matters: The electorate didn't see a contradiction in expressing support for personal freedoms and voting for anti-abortion candidates.
SHREVEPORT, La. — Should Republicans hold the House, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) tells Axios it's because the GOP is focused on kitchen-table issues over Democrats' emphasis on abortion.
Why it matters: Democrats poured millions into highlighting Republicans' anti-abortion stances and what that could mean in a post-Roe world, but they were unable to translate that into the kind of success they achieved in the 2022 midterms.
