Articles by Christopher Weber and Julie Watson

Associated Press

Guards to Monitor Businessman’s Sites Under California Freeway Where Arson Occurred

More than a month after an arson fire at a storage yard damaged a key Los Angeles freeway, the state has hired security guards to watch out for smoke and other trouble at three additional sites beneath Interstate 10 that …

Fire That Indefinitely Closed Vital Los Angeles Freeway Called Arson

Arson was the cause of a massive weekend fire that charred and indefinitely closed a vital section of a Los Angeles freeway, causing major traffic headaches for hundreds of thousands of commuters, California authorities said. Gov. Gavin Newsom said investigators …

California Regulators OK More Gas Storage Capacity at The Site of Massive Methane Leak

California regulators last week approved a controversial proposal to greatly increase storage capacity at the site of the nation’s largest known methane leak, which sickened thousands of families and forced them from their Los Angeles homes in 2015. Despite opposition …

California Voting on Increasing Storage At Site of Massive Methane Leak Despite Risks

California officials are expected to vote on a proposal to increase storage capacity at the site of the nation’s largest known methane leak that sickened thousands of families and forced them from their Los Angeles homes in 2015. The proposal …

Tackling Threat of Mudslides in Rain Soaked California

Relentless storms from a series of atmospheric rivers have saturated the steep mountains and bald hillsides scarred from wildfires along much of California’s long coastline, causing hundreds of landslides this month. So far the debris has mostly blocked roads and …

Judge Halting Provision Making California Gun Lawsuits Costlier

A federal judge said he will block a provision in a new California law to take effect next year that gun advocates argued was designed to hinder anyone from challenging the state’s famously restrictive gun laws. U.S. District Judge Roger …

Western U.S. Wildfires Explode in Size Amid Hot, Windy Conditions

Wildfires in California and Montana exploded in size overnight amid windy, hot conditions and were quickly encroaching on neighborhoods, forcing evacuation orders for over 100 homes Saturday, while an Idaho blaze was spreading. In California’s Klamath National Forest, the fast-moving …

Parents Suing Vehicle Maker a Year After 9 Troops Died Off California Coast

The families of eight Marines and one sailor who died when their amphibious assault vehicle sank off the Southern California coast last summer plan to sue the manufacturer of the vehicle that resembles an armored seafaring tank, their lawyers announced …

Pot-Infused Fare from Wine to Tacos on California’s Menu

The sauvignon blanc boasts brassy, citrus notes, but with one whiff, it’s apparent this is no normal Sonoma County wine. It’s infused with THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana that provides the high. Move over, pot brownies. The world’s largest …

Former California Rideshare Driver Charged with Assaulting Multiple Passengers

A former driver for Uber and Lyft has been charged with sexually assaulting several women while on the job, and Southern California investigators said that there are likely more victims. An 18-year-old college student reported that she was assaulted Friday …