California Today: Malibu Fire Reminds Residents of the Perils of Living in Paradise

Today's top stories from California.

December 12, 2024, 9:31 a.m. Eastern time Good morning. Here are the top stories from across California and the region, selected for you by Times editors. Today's Top Story Philip Cheung for The New York Times Malibu Fire Reminds Residents of the Perils of Living in Paradise Flames threatened residential areas and forced thousands to flee, as firefighters fought to contain the Franklin fire. Read more More California News Wildfire Conditions Are Expected to Ease by the End of the Week Rising humidity and a breeze pushing moist air inland from the Pacific Ocean are expected lower the wildfire risk around Malibu, Calif., by Thursday, forecasters said. How to Resurrect a Radical Artist Forty years after his death, the Californian activist Peter Carr gets a revival of his acerbic paintings and drawings. To make it happen, his protégé spent both labor and love. A California family feels hope and worry for relatives in Syria. Dick Van Dyke and Cher Flee Their Malibu Homes as Franklin Fire Burns Mr. Van Dyke, who turns 99 on Friday, said that he and his wife, Arlene, had fled their home with their pets as the Franklin fire threatened their community. Martin Benson, Regional Theater Impresario With Impact, Dies at 87 South Coast Repertory, a California company he founded with a partner, grew to stage world premieres of major works that made their way to Broadway. G.M. Will Stop Developing Self-Driving Taxis The company said it would now focus its efforts on developing fully autonomous vehicles for personal use. A Chic '70s Vibe in the Desert, Complete With Gems and Crystals Two brothers and a designer created a development company in Pioneertown, Calif., to bring the local natural beauty to the old places that needed it. Why Chinese Americans Have Shifted Rightward A growing number of Chinese Americans, especially naturalized immigrants, say Democrats have become too lenient on crime and homelessness. Local Conditions Look up the heat index in your area using The Times's heat tracker. See active fires using The Times's wildfire tracker. Today's Recipe Christopher Testani for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Spencer Richards. Perfect Instant Ramen Recipe from Roy Choi Adapted by Jeff Gordinier 10 minutes Makes 1 serving Play a Game The Mini Crossword Solve this bite-sized puzzle in just a few minutes. Spelling Bee How many words can you make with 7 letters? Wordle Guess the 5-letter word with 6 chances. See all our games Sign up for Your Places: Extreme Weather. Get notified about extreme weather before it happens with custom alerts for places in the U.S. you choose. Get it in your inbox Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for California Today from The New York Times. To stop receiving California Today, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. To opt out of updates and offers sent from The Athletic, submit a request. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018