Comment on Community Calendar for the Midlands, Dec. 21

By JAIMIE DING, JULIE WATSON and JOHN SEEWER, Associated Press LOS ANGELES (AP) — The two biggest wildfires ravaging the Los Angeles area have burned at least 10,000 homes, buildings and other structures, officials said Thursday as they urged more people to heed evacuation orders after a new blaze ignited and quickly grew. The fast-moving Kenneth Fire started in the late afternoon in the San Fernando Valley just 2 miles from a school serving as a shelter for fire evacuees and then moved into neighboring Ventura County by the evening. Only hours earlier officials expressed encouragement after firefighters aided by calmer winds and help from crews from outside the state saw the first signs of successfully beating back the region’s devastating wildfires that have killed 10 people so far. “We are expecting this fire to rapidly spread due to high winds,” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said, echoing the forecast that called for winds to strengthen Thursday evening through Friday morning. Water is dropped by helicopter on the Kenneth Fire in the West Hills section of Los Angeles, Thursday, Jan.

By MICHAEL R. SISAK, JENNIFER PELTZ and JAKE OFFENHARTZ, Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — In a singular moment in U. S. history, President-elect Donald Trump faces sentencing Friday for his New York hush money conviction after the nation’s highest court refused to intervene. Like so much else in the criminal case and the current American political landscape, the scenario set to unfold in an austere Manhattan courtroom was unimaginable only a few years ago.

General Daily Insight for January 10, 2025 We’re replacing the bad with the good. As the changeable Moon squares balanced Venus, our old vices are beckoning us with the simplicity of nostalgia. The Moon conjoins expansive Jupiter at 5:01 pm EST to help us expand our minds even further. Internal peace will allow us to seek out fresh, healthy ways to be creative and have fun.

Observations and other notes of interest from Thursday night’s 97-92 victory over the Utah Jazz: – As Heat draft picks seemingly were executed by anyone but the Heat for years on end, Pat Riley noted, “To be honest with you, I’m not a draft-pick guy. You know that.” – He also had offered along the way, “I think a draft pick every other year is good.” – So what have the Heat done the last three years?

SALT LAKE CITY – As the Miami Heat broke their huddle in the locker following Tuesday night’s victory over the Golden State Warriors, the chant was, “Breakthrough on three!” The hope, after an excruciating double-overtime loss the night before against the Sacramento Kings, was of better days ahead amid a largely middling season, In that regard, even with their ragged play and needed late heroics, enough again broke right for the Heat in Thursday night’s 97-92 victory over the Utah Jazz at Delta Center. “It was definitely a sign of mentality stability and some improvement in that department,” coach Erik Spoelstra said.

MIAMI GARDENS – Notre Dame has had bad experiences playing at Hard Rock Stadium. Alabama dominated the Fighting Irish in the 2013 BCS National Championship. The Hurricanes did the same to Notre Dame at home in 2017. But those memories are faded now. The Fighting Irish leave Miami Gardens with a 27-24 win over Penn State in the Orange Bowl, and they will have a chance to win their first national title since 1988.