As the catastrophic fires continue to burn in Los Angeles, a fascinating documentary of the 1961 Bel Air fire has resurfaced, and it's as if it were talking (and warning us) about today's Palisades and Eaton Canyon fires. Only, unlike today's "experts," the narrator of Design for Disaster: The Story of the Bel Air Conflagration 1962 explains the dangers of living in the flammable hills of LA - especially perilous when the Santa Ana winds hit - with old-fashioned facts, rather than modern-day misinformation and conspiracy theories. The most eye-opening moment in the 27-minute film, which was produced by the Los Angeles Fire Department more than 60 years ago, was the segment about dry fire hydrants. "Even in attempts to save individual homes, firemen are further thwarted by the loss of water. How can a modern water system properly designed to meet emergency fire conditions fail to function?" the narrator asks. He then goes on to explain. read more
California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sunday issued an executive order aimed at cutting red tape for rebuilding efforts in the wake of the deadly Los Angeles County wildfires. read more
Special Counsel Jack Smith has resigned from the Justice Department on Friday, officials said in a court filing on Saturday. read more
Gov. Gavin Newsom penned a letter to President-elect Donald Trump on Friday, inviting him to California to see the devastation left by the fires in Los Angeles County firsthand. read more
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced today that the state's high school graduation rate has reached an all-time high of 89.7% for the 2023-2024 school year, marking an increase of 1.7 percentage points over the previous year and exceeding pre-pandemic levels. The 2023-2024 rate surpasses the 86.9% recorded during the 2018-2019 school year, establishing a new benchmark in Florida's educational achievements. This year's results do not include the pandemic-era exemptions from statewide assessment requirements, solidifying the milestone as a true indicator of academic progress. "Florida leads the nation in education because we prioritize learning over indoctrination, empower parents, and provide universal school choice," said Governor Ron DeSantis. "This record graduation rate is yet another testament to our commitment to delivering top-quality education and maintaining our #1-in-the-nation status."
It's lather, rinse and repeat SP.