California joins GOP-led states in raising US flags for Trump inauguration
California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom is joining Republican-led states in raising American flags to full height for President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration ceremony. Flags have been ordered at half-staff across the U.S. to honor the late President Jimmy Carter, who died on Dec. 29.
The standard period for lowering flags in honor of a deceased president is 30 days, under an Eisenhower-era proclamation setting the length of the honor. However, Trump expressed his desire to have flags raised for the inauguration, and fellow Republicans supported the move.
Trump posted on Truth Social, writing, “The Democrats are all ‘giddy’ about our magnificent American Flag potentially being at ‘half mast’ during my inauguration. They think it’s so great, and are so happy about it because, in actuality, they don’t love our country … Nobody wants to see this, and no American can be happy about it.”
Newsom’s office confirmed that flags will be raised to full height on Monday, Jan. 20, making California the first Democrat-led state to do so.
States raising American flag to full height for Inauguration Day:
On Tuesday, Jan. 14, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., also announced that flags at the U.S. Capitol will fly at full staff on Monday, Jan. 20, and be lowered Tuesday, Jan. 21, to continue honoring former President Carter.
Los Angeles fire evacuees told not to return home as landslides pose new threat
A new threat looms in fire-ravaged Southern California: landslides. Authorities said leveled structures no longer hold the earth in place in some parts of the hillside and water from fire hoses and broken pipes has saturated the ground, creating a dangerous situation.
They’re urging evacuees to wait at least another week to return — whether their home remains standing or not — so emergency responders can remove toxic waste from incinerated neighborhoods and cut off potentially dangerous electricity and gas lines.
The Environmental Protection Agency needs to remove hazardous materials from damaged and destroyed homes before crews can remove debris and fully restore utilities.
The deadly fires claimed the lives of at least 27 people and more than 82,000 are still under evacuation orders.
The Palisades and Eaton fires continue to burn with no end in sight. They’ve scorched a combined area of about 60 square miles and destroyed thousands of homes.
As of CalFire’s latest update, the Palisade Fire remains 22% contained while the Eaton Fire is now 55% contained — up from 45% on Thursday.
Israel-Hamas ceasefire and hostage release deal reached: Netanyahu
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the Israeli government would vote on the ceasefire deal with Hamas that calls for a pause in fighting and the release of hostages. And the clock ticks toward TikTok possibly going dark this weekend. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Friday, Jan. 17, 2025.
Ceasefire deal reached with Hamas to release hostages: Netanyahu
A ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas will soon finally come to fruition. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said early Friday morning, Jan. 17, that Israel reached an agreement with Hamas to return Israeli hostages, including Americans held in the Gaza Strip.
Talks of a deal hit a snag Thursday, Jan. 16, when Netanyahu said Hamas tried to reverse parts of the agreement.
Israel’s security cabinet is now set to meet Friday to discuss the ceasefire and hostage release deal. A wider cabinet vote to approve the deal is expected on Saturday, Jan. 18.
The deal would see a pause in fighting in Gaza and the phased release of Hamas hostages and Palestinian prisoners. If approved, it would take effect Sunday, Jan. 19.
This development comes as huge blasts from southern Israel could be seen over the Gaza skyline early Friday morning.
On Thursday, Israeli air strikes killed at least 72 people in the territory, according to Gaza’s health ministry. Israel’s military said it hit approximately 50 militant targets across the Gaza Strip over the past day, including weapons storage facilities and rocket launch sites.
This is not unprecedented in past conflicts. Both sides have stepped up military operations in the final hours before the ceasefire as a show of strength.
Los Angeles residents told not to return home as landslides pose new threat
A new threat looms in fire-ravaged Southern California: landslides. Authorities said leveled structures no longer hold the earth in place in some parts of the hillside and water from fire hoses and broken pipes has saturated the ground, creating a dangerous situation.
Los Angeles officials urged residents forced to evacuate by the deadly wildfires over the past week not to return home yet. They’re urging the evacuees to wait at least another week to return — whether their home was destroyed or spared — so emergency responders can remove toxic waste from incinerated neighborhoods and cut off potentially dangerous electricity and gas lines.
The Environmental Protection Agency needs to remove hazardous materials from damaged and destroyed homes before debris can be hauled away and utilities are fully restored.
The deadly fires claimed the lives of at least 27 people and more than 82,000 are still under evacuation orders.
The Palisades and Eaton fires continue to burn with no end in sight. They’ve scorched a combined area of about 60 square miles and destroyed thousands of homes.
As of CalFire’s latest update, the Palisade Fire remains 22% contained while the Eaton Fire is now 55% contained — up from 45% on Thursday.
Biden admin signals it won’t enforce TikTok ban
As a reported 170 million users wait with bated breath, a Supreme Court decision on whether to uphold a U.S. ban on the popular social media app TikTok is expected anytime now. That ban is set to take effect this Sunday.
However, the Biden administration is now signaling it will not immediately enforce the ban, instead leaving it up to the Trump administration which starts Monday, Jan. 20, with President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration.
Trump already asked the Supreme Court to delay the ban. The Washington Post also reported this week he’s considering an executive order to suspend the ban’s enforcement.
Even if neither administration takes action to enforce the ban, TikTok can still decide to voluntarily shut down when the deadline hits Sunday. However, TikTok is not required to go dark — it’s the app stores and internet hosting services that could be on the hook if they keep providing TikTok to Americans.
The Justice Department has said that TikTok is a national security risk because the app could lead to the Chinese government accessing vast amounts of personal data from Americans.
Confirmation hearing for Gov. Noem, Trump’s DHS secretary pick, to begin Friday
In just three days, President-elect Donald Trump will take the oath of office and become the nation’s 47th president. As Inauguration Day approaches, confirmation hearings continue in Washington for Trump’s cabinet picks.
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, Trump’s nominee to lead the Department of Homeland Security, will appear before the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on Friday, Jan. 17. The hearing was originally scheduled for earlier in the week but was pushed back.
If confirmed by the Senate, Noem would oversee a department with at least 250,000 employees and multiple agencies, including Customs Border and Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Secret Service, the Federal Emergency Management, the Transportation Security Administration and the Coast Guard.
SpaceX Starship explodes shortly after 7th launch
The latest test flight from Elon Musk’s SpaceX Starship rocket did not go according to plan Thursday night. SpaceX said the world’s largest rocket exploded shortly after taking off from Texas for its seventh launch.
FireAid lineup includes Billie Eilish, Green Day, Jelly Roll, Lady Gaga
FireAid, the Live Nation concert benefiting the victims of the California wildfires, will take place on Jan. 30 and the lineup has now been released.
Billie Eilish; Earth, Wind & Fire; Green Day; Jelly Roll; Joni Mitchell; Lady Gaga and Stevie Sicks are among the entertainers committed to performing. Also, Dave Matthews and John Mayer will perform together for the first time.
Live Nation said additional artists will be announced in the coming days. Organizers said the event will raise money for “rebuilding communities devastated by wildfires and supporting efforts to prevent future fire disasters in Southern California.”
FireAid will be held in two venues: the Intuit Dome and the Forum in Inglewood, California. Tickets for the concert go on sale Wednesday, Jan. 22.
FireAid will also be livestreamed across various platforms including Apple TV, Max, Netflix, Paramount+, SiriusXM, Spotify and YouTube. It will also air in select AMC theaters.
Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist arrested in Calif. on child pornography charges
A Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist has been arrested in California for allegedly possessing child pornography. Detectives say some of the images were created using artificial intelligence.
The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at the home of 49-year-old Darrin Bell on Wednesday, Jan. 15, after authorities received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Initially, the tip concerned someone uploading 18 files containing child sex abuse material. Investigators said they ultimately found 134 child pornography videos linked to the same account, which they believe was controlled by Bell.
Before Jan. 1, possession of computer-generated child sex abuse material was not illegal in California. However, state lawmakers passed a bill criminalizing AI-generated child pornography in September, and Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the legislation into law.
California State Sen. Marc Berman, D-Menlo Park, co-author of the bill, said: “Some people might say, ‘Well, there’s no victim,’ because the image is not of an actual child. But I would argue that all the thousands of children whose images were used, scraped off the internet, scraped off of school websites, scraped off of public social media profiles… all of those children are abused when their images are used to create this terrible content.”
The sheriff’s office says this is the first arrest it has made in which a suspect has been charged with possessing computer-generated or AI child pornography.
It remains unclear, however, whether the California law will stand. In 2002, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down portions of the federal Child Pornography Prevention Act of 1996. They ruled that graphic manipulation of images — even if they depict children appearing to engage in sex — is protected under the First Amendment.
It is also unclear if all of the images allegedly in Bell’s possession were computer-generated or real.
Bell is currently in custody, being held on $1 million bail. He is scheduled to appear in court on Friday, Jan. 17.
DeSantis details proposals for Florida’s role in Trump’s immigration plan
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis outlined several proposals for how the state can support incoming President Donald Trump’s immigration plan, which includes mass deportations. The proposals come just a few days after DeSantis announced his intention to call a special session to address illegal immigration.
DeSantis proposed giving local and state law enforcement full authority to enforce immigration laws. It would include the power to arrest and detain immigrants who are in the country illegally. He also suggested appointing a state immigration officer to oversee coordination efforts with federal immigration authorities.
Additionally, the Florida governor recommended implementing a criminal penalty for anyone entering the state illegally. Currently, illegal entry into the United States is only a federal crime.
“We should do this so that we have an ability to hold them accountable in ways,” DeSantis said. “And my thing on this when people say, ‘Oh, well, deport the criminals.’ The problem with that is if somebody is here and they’re in a gang and they haven’t committed a crime yet, are you just supposed to sit there and wait until somebody is victimized? No, your illegal entry into our state was a crime. We get that on the books, and then we send you back home where you belong. So we need to do that.”
DeSantis expressed skepticism that Congress would pass immigration reform. He said it would be up to state leaders to proactively assist the federal government when Trump returns to the White House on Monday, Jan. 20.
However, some Florida state lawmakers have said they are not interested in a special session, complicating if and when the session will be held.
Meanwhile, other state leaders are either preparing to align with Trump’s immigration plan or outlining a defense against mass deportations.
Gov. Newsom convenes special session in California
California Gov. Gavin Newsom convened a “Trump-proofing” special session of the state legislature.
On Monday, Jan. 13, California State Sen. Scott Wiener announced amended legislation allocating $25 million for legal aid to those at risk of deportation. Lawmakers also proposed setting aside $25 million for state and local lawsuits against the Trump administration.
“Senate Democrats are particularly proud to provide funding for providers of legal aid services, which know our communities’ needs best and are best positioned to defend at scale the millions of individuals and families that will be impacted by the incoming administration’s extreme agenda,” Wiener said in a statement.
Idaho bill targets undocumented immigrants
In Idaho, lawmakers introduced a bill Tuesday, Jan. 14, that, if passed, would allow local law enforcement to arrest and charge migrants who are in the country illegally. ACLU officials have stated that they will challenge the legislation if it becomes law. They argue that it is unconstitutional and could lead to racial profiling.
Gov. Hochul, Mayor Adams address immigration in New York
In New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul reaffirmed her commitment to protecting migrants working and living in the country for years. However, she stated that immigrants living in the country illegally who commit crimes should be deported.
“If someone breaks the law, I’ll be the first one to call up [U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement] and say, ‘Get them out of here,’” Hochul said.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams echoed a similar sentiment. After meeting with Trump’s incoming “border czar,” Tom Homan, last month, Adams said they both want to get criminal migrants off the streets of New York.
“We’re going to protect the rights of immigrants in this city that are hard-working, giving back to this city in a real way,” Adams said at the time. “We’re not going to be a safe haven for those that commit repeated violent crimes against innocent migrants, immigrants and long-standing New Yorkers.”
Texas offers land for detention facilities
In Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott’s administration has offered land to the Trump administration where it can build detention facilities and carry out its mass deportations.
Trump’s mass deportation plan
Homan, who Trump tapped to help facilitate the deportations, has said the federal government has a “zero tolerance” policy when it comes to unlawful migration. He also emphasized that sanctuary cities and states undermine the rule of law. Homan warned Democratic lawmakers in November “to get the hell out of the way” if they oppose Trump’s deportation plans.
Trump has stated that he plans to implement his mass deportation plan on his first day in office. The inauguration will take place Monday.
Newsom bans some offers to buy destroyed Calif. properties after fires
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, D, signed an executive order this week to stop what he calls predatory real estate investors from taking advantage of wildfire victims. The order makes it illegal for anyone to make an unsolicited offer on property for an amount less than the fair market value in areas impacted by the Palisades and Eaton Fires for the next three months.
Newsom said the ban comes after hearing from people in the community who’ve received unwelcome and unfair offers.
“This predatory behavior is disgusting at the best of times and of course here in the midst of this tragedy, it’s disgraceful,” Newsom said in a video posted to X.
Today, I signed an executive order prohibiting greedy land developers from ripping off LA wildfire victims with unsolicited, undervalued offers to buy their destroyed property.
The ban, which is modeled after a similar order made by Hawaii Gov. Josh Green, D, for the Lahaina wildfires, is getting some criticism from Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas.
“Now, Dem politicians are making it harder for those devastated by the wildfires to sell their destroyed properties. This will only hurt the victims,” Cruz said on X.
Misguided CA policies (1) limited fire mitigation efforts, (2) produced water shortages & (3) under-funded fire fighters.
Now, Dem politicians are making it HARDER for those devastated by the wildfires to sell their destroyed properties.
Newsom responded to Cruz, “Our executive order doesn’t prevent anyone from selling their property. It prohibits scammers from making unsolicited offers to buy property for pennies on the dollar.”
Openly shilling for scammers and bottom feeder land speculators is a weird play — even for you, Ted.
Our Executive Order doesn’t prevent anyone from selling their property.
It prohibits scammers from making unsolicited offers to buy property for pennies on the dollar. https://t.co/agSnPwT1d4
The disaster left homeowners with several questions about insurance coverage.
State Farm reversed its initial plan to cancel hundreds of policies for homes in the Pacific Palisades over the summer to avoid “financial failure,” but is now offering renewals for policy holders in the Los Angeles area.
AccuWeather estimates the total damage and economic loss from the wildfires is at least $250 billion.
Coast Guard arrests traffickers after high-speed chase off San Diego coast
The U.S. Coast Guard halted a human smuggling attempt off the San Diego coast on Jan. 5, after two men on a boat rammed a patrol vessel and resisted arrest, according to court documents. The incident began at a boat ramp near Mission Bay Drive Bridge, where Border Patrol agents detained four individuals who had exited a vessel.
The four individuals, identified as Mexican nationals without legal documentation, told agents they had agreed to pay between $7,000 and $19,000 to be smuggled into the United States.
Two men, later identified as Oscar Eduardo Audelo-Rodriguez and Francisco Brado-Cota, reboarded the vessel and fled the scene, ignoring commands to stop. The boat, which had fishing poles attached to disguise its purpose, was pursued by the Coast Guard. When intercepted, the men rammed the patrol vessel and threw metal objects at officers, court records said.
Coast Guard members responded by firing disabling rounds at the boat’s motor and deploying non-lethal pepper balls. Despite disabling the vessel, the men resisted arrest until officers boarded the boat and subdued them with pepper spray.
Audelo-Rodriguez, identified as the captain, and Brado-Cota, the co-captain, were taken into custody and transported to Naval Base Point Loma. They were medically cleared and placed in federal custody.
The Coast Guard did not provide comment on the incident.
According to officials, the agency encounters approximately 3,000 migrants attempting to enter the U.S. by sea annually and conducts about 1,400 boardings of high-risk vessels. Between the summer of 2021 and winter of 2023, the service detained more than 27,000 individuals in maritime smuggling cases.
Biden warns of ‘oligarchy’ and ‘tech-industrial complex’ in farewell speech
President Joe Biden’s farewell speech to America on Wednesday included several warnings. And a ceasefire deal to end more than a year of fighting in the Middle East between Israel and Hamas hit a snag. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025.
Biden warns of ‘oligarchy,’ ‘tech-industrial complex’ in farewell speech
Speaking from the Oval Office one last time, President Joe Biden delivered his farewell address Wednesday night, Jan. 15. Biden spoke on reforms he would like to see in Washington and issued a stark warning detailing his concerns about what he sees as a concentration of power among the ultra-wealthy and the risks of technology.
In what is likely his final address to the nation after a political career spanning five decades, Biden opened his speech with the ceasefire deal in Gaza announced earlier in the day. He said he kept the incoming administration fully informed during the process.
He said some of his top accomplishments in office include job growth following the pandemic, infrastructure modernization and Medicare reform, telling Americans it will take time to feel the full impact of what has been achieved.
With the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump just days away, Biden said he would ensure a peaceful transfer of power, but he did have a warning.
“Today, an oligarchy is taking shape in America of extreme wealth, power and influence that literally threatens our entire democracy, our basic rights and freedoms, and a fair shot for everyone to get ahead,” Biden said. “We see the consequences all across America, and we’ve seen it before. More than a century ago, the American people stood up to the robber barons back then and busted the trusts. They didn’t punish the wealthy. They just made the wealthy play by the rules everybody else had. Workers want rights to earn their fair share.”
Referencing former President Dwight Eisenhower’s concerns about a military-industrial complex six decades ago, Biden said he’s equally concerned about the dangers of a potential rise of a tech-industrial complex.
“Americans are being buried under an avalanche of misinformation and disinformation enabling the abuse of power,” he said. “The free press is crumbling. Editors are disappearing. Social media is giving up on fact-checking. The truth is smothered by lies told for power and for profit. We must hold the social platforms accountable to protect our children, our families and our very democracy from the abuse of power.”
Biden remarked on the rise of artificial intelligence, calling it the most consequential technology of our time. He emphasized that the U.S., not China, must lead the race.
The president also spoke of his hopes for change in the nation’s capital, calling for an end of hidden funding called “dark money” from campaign contributions, a ban on stock trading from members of Congress and for the U.S. to enact an 18-year term limit on Supreme Court justices. He also called for the U.S. Constitution to be amended.
“We need to amend the Constitution to make clear that no president, no president is immune from crimes that he or she commits while in office,” Biden asserted. “The president’s power is not limit[less] — it is not absolute. And it shouldn’t be.”
In closing, Biden called on Americans to stay engaged in democracy. Telling the story of a veteran who worked at the Statue of Liberty, known as the Keeper of the Flame, he said America will always be defined by one word: “possibilities.”
“My eternal thanks to you, the American people,” Biden said. “After 50 years of public service, I give you my word, I still believe in the idea for which this nation stands [for] — a nation where the strength of our institutions and the character of our people matter and must endure. Now it’s your turn to stand guard. May you all be the keeper of the flame. May you keep the faith. I love America. You love it, too.”
Republicans, Democrats react to Biden’s farewell address
Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., wrote on X, “Joe Biden discussing democracy, a free press, institutions and the abuse of power in his final farewell speech is rich.”
Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., also weighed in, writing, “Joe Biden’s going out of office the same way he went in: petty, partisan and frankly not telling the truth.”
“President Biden’s ‘farewell address’ should have been a formal apology for the endless lawfare, inflation-fueling policies and reckless decisions made during his administration,” Republican Sen. Rick Scott of Florida added.
Democrats responded differently.
“Tonight, President Biden delivered his farewell address to a nation that is stronger because of his leadership,” former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said. “In doing so, he honored the vision of founders, the sacrifice of our men and women in uniform and the aspirations of our children.”
Former President Barack Obama also responded to his former vice president.
“Four years ago, in the middle of a pandemic, we needed a leader with the character to put politics aside and do what was right. That’s what Joe Biden did… I’m grateful to Joe for his leadership, his friendship and his lifetime of service to this country we love,” Obama said.
Netanyahu says cabinet won’t meet over ceasefire deal with Hamas yet
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said his cabinet will not meet to approve the deal for a ceasefire in Gaza until Hamas ends a “last-minute crisis.” The decision comes after Netanyahu’s office said Hamas retracted on some of the terms of the agreement but did not specify which.
Even as a deal seems close or even imminent, Israeli strikes continued in the Gaza Strip, with the territory’s health ministry reporting at least 48 people killed over the past day.
Under the three-phase ceasefire agreement, fighting will stop in Gaza for 42 days. Thirty-three Israeli hostages, including two Americans, and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners will be freed during the first phase. It is set to go into effect Sunday, Jan. 19.
The remainder of the hostages, including Israeli male soldiers, are to be released during the second phase. Hamas said it will not release the remaining captives without a lasting ceasefire and a full Israeli withdrawal.
Israeli troops will pull back to the edges of Gaza and many Palestinians will be able to return to what remains of their homes — something many people took to the streets to celebrate. Israel is also set to allow a flood of humanitarian aid into the region.
The Associated Press reported Thursday morning that mediators from Egypt, Qatar and the U.S. will meet in Cairo on Thursday for talks on implementing the deal.
On Truth Social, Trump said his administration will continue to work closely with Israel to make sure Gaza never again becomes what he called a “terrorist safe haven.”
Crews work to control Los Angeles area wildfires as winds die down
The National Weather Service lifted the red flag warning for the Los Angeles area Wednesday night as winds died down. Strong winds have made it harder for fire crews to battle the flames.
However, dangerous fire and weather conditions are expected to return next week.
Good news: We are expecting a much-needed break from the fire weather concerns to close this week. Bad News: Next week is a concern. While confident that we will NOT see a repeat of last week, dangerous fire weather conditions are expected. #cawx#PalisadesFire#EatonFirepic.twitter.com/zhXmHUWtgp
This comes as firefighters still work to contain the two biggest, deadliest and most destructive fires in Southern California. The Palisades and Eaton fires continue to rage in the Los Angeles area.
Plus, a new vegetation fire broke out in the San Bernardino area Wednesday afternoon.
The Eaton and Palisades fires have not grown much over the past few days, but they are both still largely uncontained. Fire officials reported some progress in the desperate fight to extinguish the flames.
Meanwhile, the Little Mountain fire in San Bernardino spans over 30 acres at 0% containment. Police arrested a man in connection with that fire on two felony charges, including one of reckless burning.
Senate confirmation hearings continue as Inauguration Day nears
Senate confirmation hearings continue Thursday, Jan. 16, as President-elect Donald Trump’s picks for interior secretary, EPA administrator, housing and urban development secretary and treasury secretary answer questions from lawmakers.
“To my knowledge, Donald Trump has never acknowledged the legal results of the 2020 election,” Democratic Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin said to Bondi. “Are you prepared to say today, under oath without reservation, that Donald Trump lost the presidential contest to Joe Biden in 2020?”
Bondi replied, “Ranking Member Durbin, President Biden is the president of the United States. He was duly sworn in, and he is the President of the United States. There was a peaceful transition of power. President Trump left office and was overwhelmingly elected in 2024.”
Republican Sen. Marco Rubio, Trump’s pick for secretary of state, also had his hearing Wednesday. Straight Arrow News political correspondent Ray Bogan has a complete breakdown of what happened here.
Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket lifts off on first space flight
Thursday morning saw a big win for billionaire Jeff Bezos’ space company, Blue Origin, as its New Glenn rocket blasted off into orbit.
The company’s first rocket powerful enough to launch satellites into space took off just after 2 a.m. ET from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. All seven of its engines fired successfully.
Blue Origin marked the mission a success after demonstration technology on board, called the Blue Ring Pathfinder, was safely carried to orbit.
However, the company did not reach its bonus goal of guiding part of the New Glenn rocket back to a safe landing on a platform in the middle of the ocean after takeoff.
It took rival SpaceX four tries to get a similar maneuver right.
Still, Blue Origin stressed its most important goal was for the test satellite to reach orbit. NASA intends to use the New Glenn rocket to launch two orbiters to Mars in the future.
State Farm offers renewals for people affected by LA fires it planned to drop
State Farm says it will offer renewals to policyholders affected by the Los Angeles County fires. The announcement reverses its initial plans to drop coverage.
The decision affects policies for homeowners, renters and condo associations. It includes about 70% of the residential policies it has in Pacific Palisades.
The coastal community has suffered significant destruction in this month’s fires, with widespread damage and most residents forced to evacuate their homes.
Thousands of other policyholders around LA County will also be able to renew. However, the offer will not apply to policies that lapsed before Tuesday, Jan. 7.
The Illinois-based insurance giant drew criticism in California for its decision last March to not renew thousands of insurance policies in the state, as many areas in California face increased risk of natural disasters.
State Farm’s decision comes after the California state insurance commissioner’s office pushed insurers to hold off on not renewing policies for people in fire zones.
A spokesperson for the insurance commissioner said the office is working with State Farm to get more information.
DOT sues Southwest, fines Frontier $650K for chronic flight delays
The U.S. Department of Transportation has filed a lawsuit against Southwest Airlines and issued a fine to Frontier for chronic flight delays. This action is part of the government’s continued effort to hold airlines accountable for disrupted travel plans.
The lawsuit, filed in a California courtroom, stems from an investigation that uncovered two Southwest Airlines routes with 180 delays. According to the DOT, the airline failed to provide realistic departure and arrival times, leading to consistent passenger disruptions.
For five consecutive months in 2022, Southwest’s flights between Chicago, Illinois, and Oakland, California, were delayed by more than 30 minutes. Another route between Baltimore, Maryland, and Cleveland, Ohio, also saw similar delays, with wait times exceeding 30 minutes. The DOT claims Southwest was given ample time to address the issue but failed to make improvements.
In a statement, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said, “Today’s action sends a message to all airlines that the Department is prepared to go to court to enforce passenger protections.”
Southwest is not the only airline facing penalties. Frontier Airlines has to pay a $650,000 fine. Half of the amount will go to the U.S. Treasury, while the remainder can be forgiven if the airline prevents future chronic delays.
Earlier this month, JetBlue Airways became the first airline to receive a penalty from the DOT, facing a $2 million fine for unrealistic scheduling and repeat delays.
Federal regulations prohibit airlines from creating flight schedules that do not accurately reflect departure and arrival times. DOT officials say these misleading schedules create unfair practices for customers and disrupt travel plans.
The DOT is now pursuing the maximum civil penalty for Southwest Airlines, signaling a continued crackdown on the airline industry’s handling of delays and customer service.