california

Extreme heat, strong winds and intense lightning create California tinder box

By Stephanie Sy

California has suffered a devastating week, with a blistering heat wave, intense lightning storms and raging wildfires overwhelming firefighters and forcing residents to evacuate in the middle of a pandemic. Gov. Gavin Newsom says the state’s resources are being pushed…

Continue watching

California's wildfire-prone landscape stoked by human actions

By Seth Borenstein, Associated Press

Scientists say California has a really flammable ecosystem and global warming is making it worse.

Hundreds of wildfires tear through California

By Janie Har, Haven Daley, Associated Press

Crews were battling wildfires in the San Francisco Bay Area and thousands of people were under orders to evacuate Wednesday as hundreds of wildfires blazed across the state amid a blistering heat wave now in its second week.

San Francisco blanketed in smoke as California fires rage

By Juliet Williams, Robert Jablon, Associated Press

Thousands of people were under orders to evacuate in regions surrounding the San Francisco Bay Area Wednesday as some 30 wildfires blazed across the state amid a blistering heat wave now in its second week.

WATCH: California governor demands probe of power blackouts

By Janie Har, Adam Beam, Associated Press

The governor warned that customers could again lose power Monday. Newsom also sent an letter to state energy overseers demanding to know why blackouts occurred with such little notice to the public.

Victims tell of trauma, healing in Golden State Killer case

By Don Thompson, Associated Press

Nearly three-dozen victims or survivors plan to tell their stories before the man known as the Golden State Killer is formally sentenced to life in prison.

Lightning sparks new wildfires across California

By Associated Press

A rare summer thunderstorm brought lightning that sparked several small blazes in Northern California on Sunday and stoked a huge forest fire that has forced hundreds of people from their homes north of Los Angeles.

9th Circuit ends California ban on high-capacity gun magazines

By Don Thompson, Associated Press

The panel's majority ruled Friday that the law banning magazines holding more than 10 bullets violates the constitutional right to bear firearms. Gun groups call it a huge victory, while opponents say the ruling is dangerous.

Talk of Harris successor in Senate sets off California guessing game

By Michael R. Blood, Associated Press

When a reporter asked whether any would-be candidates have begun lobbying him, Newsom quipped: "Well you may be the only one that hasn't, unless you just did. And that is only slight exaggeration."…

Health officials are quitting or getting fired amid outbreak

By Michelle R. Smith, Associated Press, Lauren Weber, KHN

Vilified, threatened with violence and in some cases suffering from burnout, dozens of state and local public health officials around the U.S. have resigned or have been fired amid the coronavirus outbreak.