California Today: Former L.A. Fire Chief Appeals Her Dismissal

Today's top stories from California.

February 28, 2025, 9:31 a.m. Eastern time Good morning. Here are the top stories from across California. Today's Top Story Richard Vogel/Associated Press Former L.A. Fire Chief Appeals Her Dismissal The appeal came less than a week after Mayor Karen Bass removed the chief from her job. She blamed her for a lack of preparation as a blaze destroyed the Pacific Palisades neighborhood. Read more More California News Conan O'Brien Is Terrified of the Oscars. (He's Hosting Anyway.) It can be a thankless gig, but that's part of the appeal. "I am drawn to the things that scare me," O'Brien said as he made final preparations. Senior Leaders Are Leaving an Already-Depleted Disaster Agency Along with about 1,000 rank-and-file workers, FEMA is losing some of the managers most experienced in handling emergency efforts. Gene Hackman, Hollywood's Consummate Everyman, Dies at 95 The winner of two Oscars, he was hailed for his nuanced performances in films like "The French Connection," "Unforgiven" and "The Royal Tenenbaums." Who Makes the Red Carpet? Steve. Steve Olive, who has worked in the event carpet business for more than three decades, is the man the Academy trusts to get its iconic rug just right. A Couple on a Flight Boasted of Illegal Hunting. Wildlife Officers Were Listening. The passengers also showed the officers the skull of an endangered sea turtle they were smuggling in a carry-on bag during the flight. How 'The Substance' Helped Mubi Break Through The niche movie streaming service has become a real Hollywood player thanks to the success of the body horror film. Google's Sergey Brin Urges Workers to the Office 'at Least' Every Weekday The tech giant's co-founder said that if employees worked harder and were in the office more, the company could reach an artificial general intelligence breakthrough. Trump's Plan to Repeal Climate Policy Could Upend Shift to Electric Cars The administration is setting the stage for Congress to repeal a longstanding waiver that allows California to set its own pollution standards. State officials say the effort is illegal. 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: Simon Andrews. Fattoush Recipe from Ramzi Osseiran Adapted by Joan Nathan 30 minutes Makes 6 to 8 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. 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