California Today: From Fires to Mudslides, Catastrophe Has Defined Newsom’s Tenure

Today's top stories from California.

January 24, 2025, 9:31 a.m. Eastern time By Alexandra Berzon Fewer than 20 minutes after the fire in Eaton Canyon was first reported, I got a surprising text from my 14-year-old niece: HEY WE HAVE TO COME TO UR HOUSE CUZ THERE IS A HUGE FIRE. WE NEED TO EVACUATEEEE. She lives in Altadena close to where the fire originated, and was driving away with her sisters and parents. They were headed to my house in Los Angeles, where I welcomed them as they nervously ate the chili my sister-in-law grabbed from the crockpot as she ran out. My 8-year-old niece had brought nothing. Somehow, the 14-year-old had found time to stuff a change of clothes into a bag and to grab some photos. They lamented all the things that had probably burned in their home from a fire that we could see on the news was sweeping rapidly through swaths of the area. "At least you're all safe," I said over and over. I stayed up that first night picturing the last time — just two days earlier — I was at their house and we watched "Bridget Jones's Diary." I tried to sear that warm final memory into my mind. The next morning, we scrolled through apps for any news. It arrived, from a friend who was driving by while the fire was still smoldering: Their home had survived. I took a video of the kids hugging and jumping up and down. We prepared for a quick return. Now, more than two weeks later, they (and their dog) are still here in my house, with their neighborhood still without basic necessities. One of their schools remains closed and is holding virtual classes. On Tuesday, the inspectors came to their house and said it would take some work to get rid of the smoke damage, but that the house was spared of any serious damage. For me, the time has been filled working long hours with colleagues to try to figure out how all this happened. But this experience hit home with a larger, more philosophical question that, even as a hardened investigative reporter always searching for deeper answers, I may not be able to uncover: Why were some homes spared and others not? As I was writing this, the 8-year-old interrupted. She was writing a school assignment and read a passage aloud. She called their synagogue that burned down "her whole heart." "Even though it burned down," she wrote, "it's still there." Today's Top Story Erin Schaff/The New York Times From Fires to Mudslides, Catastrophe Has Defined Newsom's Tenure Gov. Gavin Newsom faces what may be his greatest political test and leadership challenge. He planned to greet President Trump upon his arrival in Southern California on Friday. Read more More California News Trump Expected to Visit Los Angeles on Friday Ahead of his trip, the president threatened to withhold aid from California, which he said had mismanaged its water during firefighting efforts. Los Angeles Schools Reopen to Relief, Though Some Parents Worry About Toxins Many educators and families were thrilled to get back to some routines as a handful of schools reopened after weeks of closures. Others were worried about remaining dangers in fire-hit areas. Trump Says California Failed to Send Water to L.A. to Fight Fires, but Experts Say He's Wrong President Trump has blamed a lack of water during the Los Angeles fires on California decisions that benefit a small fish. Yet experts say he's confusing different issues. Residents Return to See What the Fire Left Behind, and to Say Goodbye Altadena residents were allowed back into their neighborhoods this week. Most were prepared for the worst but needed to find closure in their own way. Despite Quick Spread, Laguna Fire Is Largely Under Control Firefighters were able to stop the progress of the blaze, which had prompted the evacuation of a nearby college campus. Hughes Fire Held to 10,000 Acres Despite Dangerous Wind Conditions The blaze north of Los Angeles forced thousands to evacuate. Red flag fire warnings were in effect for the region, but firefighters had largely stopped the blaze's growth. Trump Says States Should Manage Disasters. Former FEMA Leaders Agree. "I'd rather see the states take care of their own problems," the president said. Federal emergency managers from both parties have made the same argument. Does D.E.I. Help or Hurt Jewish Students? Some students and professors are questioning whether campus diversity, equity and inclusion offices should do more to combat antisemitism, or whether D.E.I. itself is the problem. 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 Ryan Liebe for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Barrett Washburne. Smashed Beef Kebab With Cucumber Yogurt  By Zaynab Issa 25 minutes Makes 4 servings 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. 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