Month: July 2024

The Park fire in Northern California has now burned more than 350,000 acres, with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) sharing in a statement on Sunday that crews have reached 12% containment as the blaze grew to more than 353,194 acres. Evacuation orders have been issued in Butte County, Plumas County, Shasta County and Tehama County with shelters opened for small and large animals.

Cal Fire said that 4,000 firefighters and other personnel are trying to stop the blaze with at least 134 structures having been destroyed and five others damaged. Improved weather conditions helped firefighters make progress since Saturday, when it was zero percent contained.

The massive Park Fire in California is suspected to have been started when an arsonist pushed a burning car into a gully on Wednesday, and continued to grow despite crews having attempted to contain the blaze. Cal Fire said: “The fire is actively burning in heavy, receptive fuel beds. This allows the fire to expand rapidly. Warm, windy, and dry conditions will increase risk of extreme fire activity, similar to what the fire has done previously,” adding that there would be higher temperatures and lower humidities Sunday.

So far, 66 structures have been destroyed, including homes and businesses, and five have been damaged. Authorities are currently flying aircraft over the fire to map its spread. Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement: “This is already one of the biggest fires in California history, and we’re continuing to see dangerous conditions. Our firefighters and emergency responders are working day and night to protect our communities. Californians must heed warning from local authorities and take steps to stay safe.”

Newsom has proclaimed a state of emergency in Butte and Tehama counties, and California has secured a Fire Management Assistance Grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help in suppressing the fire: “We are using every available tool to protect lives and property as our fire and emergency response teams work around the clock to combat these challenging fires. Stay safe and remain alert for instructions from local authorities as dangerous fire weather conditions continue.”

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A 17-year-old was killed during a shooting inside a shopping mall in a suburb of Baltimore and Washington over the weekend. Police said that the shooting took place in the area of the food court at The Mall in Columbia in Howard County, Maryland on Saturday, with authorities stating that they received a call regarding gunfire in the food court area of the mall at about 6:10 p.m.

Howard County police state that officers found a male victim who was fatally shot, identified as Angelo Little of Columbia. Authorities stated that Little was killed by a suspect after at least one shot was fired “during an altercation between two people” in the mall’s food court area; police also determined that those involved in the shooting fled the mall, and detectives believe the victim was targeted. No arrests have been made, with police adding that the investigation is ongoing.

Police spokeswoman Sherry Llewellyn said during a news conference Saturday evening: “We don’t believe that this was a random incident and we do believe the victim was targeted. We don’t have any information about a history of a relationship between the two, but based on our preliminary evidence, this was not a random incident.” Llewellyn said that police worked to identify who was involved in the incident and escorted shoppers out of the mall in small groups to ensure investigators spoke to all potential witnesses:  “There’s no safety reason, really, that we’re escorting them out rather than sort of opening the doors and letting everyone come out at once. It’s really for investigative reasons.”

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball said: “I am aware of the ongoing situation at the Mall in Columbia. Our Howard County Police Department is actively investigating and will provide updates as information becomes available.”

The Mall in Columbia resumed normal operating hours on Sunday; they shared in a statement: “We are extremely upset that these individuals chose our center for a targeted act of violence. We pride ourselves on being a safe haven for the community to shop, dine and be entertained. Our center maintains a comprehensive and robust security program this is constantly being evaluated to meet the needs of our shoppers. We want to thank our security team and the Howard County Police Department for their swift response.”

Officials in Howard County are investigating the incident, with police offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information about the suspect or shooting. Anyone with information should contact police at 410-313-STOP or HCPDcrimetips@howardcountymd.gov.

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President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris met separately with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Thursday. Biden hosted Netanyahu in the Oval Office for a bilateral meeting, with the two leaders meeting with families of American hostages held hostage in Gaza later in the White House Cabinet Room.  The meeting was the first time the two world leaders have met in person since Biden visited Israel shortly after Hamas’ terrorist attack on Oct. 7, 2023.

Netanyahu thanked Biden for his 50 years of public service and his support of the state of Israel during a press conference at the Oval Office before the meeting: “Mr. President, we’ve known each other for 40 years and you’ve known every Israeli prime minister for 50 years from Golda Meir. So from a proud Jewish Zionist, to a proud Irish American Zionist, I want to thank you for 50 years of public service and 50 years of support for the State of Israel.”

Harris later spoke with Netanyahu in the vice president’s ceremonial office in a high-stakes meeting since news broke that Harris is hoping to secure the Democratic nomination for the 2024 election, following Biden’s decision to withdraw from the race.

A senior administration official told reporters Wednesday that Biden planned to discuss his “ironclad commitment to Israel’s security, the very serious threats from Iran and from Iranian proxy and terrorist groups, including Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis,” adding that the men are also expected to speak “in depth” about developments in Gaza, including efforts to reach a cease-fire agreement and the humanitarian crisis. The administration believes that a deal “is in the closing stages and it’s reaching a point that we believe a deal is closable, and it’s time to move to close that agreement.”

Netanyahu is also scheduled to meet with former President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago on Friday.

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Per Reuters, Vice President Kamala Harris joined Democratic and Republican leaders in condemning protesters who burned American flags and sprayed pro-Hamas graffiti outside Washington’s Union Station on Wednesday. The protests coincided with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to Congress on Wednesday,

The Vice President said in a statement issued from her office: “I condemn any individuals associating with the brutal terrorist organization Hamas, which has vowed to annihilate the State of Israel and kill Jews. Pro-Hamas graffiti and rhetoric is abhorrent and we must not tolerate it in our nation. I condemn the burning of the American flag. That flag is a symbol of our highest ideals as a nation and represents the promise of America. It should never be desecrated in that way .. I support the right to peacefully protest, but let’s be clear: Antisemitism, hate and violence of any kind have no place in our nation.” 

Protesters marched near the U.S. Capitol building, condemning U.S. military aid to Israel during its war with Hamas militants in Gaza. Following Netanyahu’s speech, some of the demonstrators gathered in front of Union Station hoisting Palestinian flags outside the train station as they burned American flags and spray painted the words “Hamas is coming” and “Free Gaza” on a large monument. One American flag was set ablaze under an effigy of Netanyahu. Police used pepper spray on some of the thousands of demonstrators present, with U.S. Park Police sharing in a statement that at least eight people were arrested outside the train station after failing to disperse Wednesday afternoon. The crowd, police said, “damaged and destroyed park property, including vandalizing statues and fountains, tearing down and burning flags, and starting several small fires.”

The actions of the protesters outside Union Station also drew strong criticism from Republican U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson and Hakeem Jeffries, the chamber’s Democratic leader. Harris is now the likely Democratic nominee for president after President Biden dropped his reelection bid.

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