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The Daily Briefing

YOUR MORNING NEWS ROUNDUP

Thu Jan 9 2025

Nicole Fallert | Newsletter Writer

@nicolefallert

Forecasters warn conditions spawning wildfires in the Los Angeles area aren't slowing down. Thursday is a national day of mourning to mark the passage of former President Jimmy Carter. Content creators are preparing for a potential ban on TikTok.

🙋🏼‍♀️ I'm Nicole Fallert, Daily Briefing author. Tiptoe the famous tortoise made it to safety from the wildfires.

One of the most devastating Los Angeles fires in recent history

As crews battled infernos across Los Angeles County Wednesday evening, yet another brush fire erupted. Dubbed the Sunset Fire, the new blaze spurred mandatory evacuation orders and scorched 60 acres. Meanwhile, the Palisades Fire grew to 17,234 acres late Wednesday, an increase from 15,832 acres earlier in the day. These join the Eaton Fire and the Hurst Fire consuming the area.

The fires in the region are still 0% contained. Winds were expected to ease overnight Wednesday, but forecasters warned conditions will remain critical through at least Thursday.

•	What caused the fires? The cause of the concurrent blazes are still under investigation, according to Cal Fire. But the powerful Santa Ana winds are likely driving their rapid growth.
•	The iconic Hollywood Hills have erupted in fire. A blaze is located about 10 miles southwest of the world-famous Hollywood Sign in the celebrity-populated neighborhood in central Los Angeles.
•	Firefighters are exhausted and facing low water supply. L.A. officials are urging residents to conserve their water use as firefighters run out of fuel to tamp down the flames. Firefighters went through at least three 1-million gallon tanks.

USA TODAY is here to help. Here are resources for those affected:

•	Get weather and fire alerts via text: Sign up to get current wildfire updates by location.
•	Where are the fires? See maps of blazes that could get worse.
•	If you want to help: Use this list of the organizations taking donations for victims.
•	Smoke safety: Here's how to keep you, your family and pets safe.
•	Worried about the air quality near you? This map tracks the entire U.S.

Families flee. Their homes turn to ash. Then comes the cost.

"You go onto Zillow right now and before you even plug in 'dog' … I think there were 21 choices and the least expensive was $4,500 a month. And that would be cramming five people into 1,200 square feet. We're circling the wagons and trying to figure out what our best options are. California is our home."

-Beth Davis, who left her Altadena, California, home with her family around 6 p.m. Tuesday. The Eaton Fire destroyed their rented home overnight. Davis is among many Californians now without housing — and facing potentially devastating costs to rebuild. Organizations including Airbnb are offering temporary shelter.

A person is pictured as a home burns during the Eaton Fire in Altadena, California.

Mario Tama, Getty Images

More news to know now

•	Trump asked the Supreme Court to block Friday's sentencing in a New York hush money case.
•	Today is a national day of mourning. Here's what that means.
•	The Laken Riley Act would require ICE to detain immigrants without legal permission who commit theft-related crimes.
•	Trump wants to buy not-for-sale Greenland. What's Denmark's first move?

What's the weather today? Check your local forecast here.

A final farewell to Jimmy Carter

The nation will say goodbye to former President Jimmy Carter on Thursday as he is laid to rest. Carter's remains will be taken to the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., after lying in state at the Capitol this week. Following the service, the former president's remains will be taken to Plains, Georgia, for a private funeral service and interment Thursday evening. Here's how to watch the state funeral for Carter.

President-elect Donald Trump and Melania Trump pay respect as Former President Jimmy Carter lies in the Capitol Rotunda on Jan. 8, 2025.

Jack Gruber, Jack Gruber-USA TODAY

Why the kids are on Lemon8

Content creators are flocking to Lemon8, a new social media platform, in anticipation of a ban on TikTok that may be implemented in less than two weeks. However, the two apps are owned by the same Chinese parent company and could both become unavailable if the ban is put into place. Lemon8, which functions a bit like TikTok, Instagram and Pinterest all in one, has quickly become the No. 1 app in the Apple App Store. But is it a viable replacement for TikTok?

Today's talkers

•	The Critics' Choice Awards were postponed amid California wildfires.
•	"The View" is coming for your screens on weekends.
•	Shop rings just like Zendaya's new rock.
•	"Abbott Elementary" star Janelle James dished on the show's "It's Always Sunny" crossover.

For hire: NFL head coach

The first Monday after the 2024 regular NFL season concluded may not have lived up to the "Black Monday" moniker: Doug Pederson, formerly of the Jaguars, was the only NFL head coach fired that day. There nevertheless are (currently) a half-dozen vacancies across a league that remains in constant flux but has simply moved away from 24 hours of mass professional carnage. The diminution of Black Monday underscores the possibility – perhaps likelihood – that more coaching changes are coming down the pike. While the list could grow beyond six openings, USA TODAY Sports assessed the current ones from most attractive to least.

Photo of the day: Unbelievable flames

Incredible, dystopic images capture the scene across the Los Angeles area as rapidly growing blazes killed at least five people, destroyed hundreds of homes, and forced evacuations for over 100,000 residents. See the photos.

A firefighter battles the Palisades Fire as it burns during a windstorm on the west side of Los Angeles.

Ringo Chiu, REUTERS

Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer at USA TODAY, sign up for the email here . Want to send Nicole a note? Shoot her an email at NFallert@usatoday.com.