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Arson Trial Starts for Man Blamed for Los Angeles’ Deadly Palisades Fire

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By Steve Gorman
LOS ANGELES, June 10 () – Opening statements were set to begin on Wednesday in the federal ⁠arson ⁠trial of a former Uber driver charged with deliberately setting ⁠a blaze that grew into one of the deadliest and most destructive wildfires on record in Los Angeles.
Jonathan Rinderknecht, 30, was indicted last October on one felony count each of destruction of property by means of fire, arson affecting property used in interstate commerce, and illegal burning of timber on public lands.
He is accused of "maliciously" starting a fire in ‌January 2025 that was quickly suppressed but continued to smolder ‌under dense vegetation before re-igniting a week later.
Fierce winds then whipped it into a conflagration that killed 12 people and laid waste to the seaside enclave of Pacific Palisades, leading to about $150 billion in property ⁠damage.
He pleaded not guilty ⁠but has remained in custody since his arrest in Florida, about two weeks before his indictment.
If convicted on all three counts, he would face at least five years in prison, and up to 45 years behind bars, the U.S. Justice Department says.
Prosecutors and defense lawyers were expected to begin presenting their case on Wednesday in U.S. District Court in downtown Los Angeles after Tuesday's completion of jury selection.
According to prosecutors, Rinderknecht kindled the fire a few minutes after midnight on New Year's Day near a hiking trail in the mountains near Pacific Palisades, overlooking the ocean adjacent to Santa Monica, after finishing an Uber shift.
Los Angeles firefighters believed they had swiftly extinguished the blaze, known as the Lachman Fire. But it erupted again on ⁠January ⁠7 and grew swiftly into the devastating Palisades ⁠Fire, federal investigators say.
Driven by hurricane-force Santa Ana winds, the flames scorched more than 23,000 acres (9,300 hectares) and destroyed some 6,000 structures.
It coincided with another catastrophic wildfire northeast of Los Angeles known as the Eaton fire, which killed 19 people and ravaged the community ⁠of Altadena.
MANGIONE ADMIRER, OR FIREFIGHTING SCEGOAT
Federal prosecutors have said Rinderknecht peared to harbor a resentment of the wealthy.
A pre-trial memorandum alleged he was closely news of Luigi Mangione, charged with murdering the CEO of insurance giant UnitedHealthcare and admired in some extreme left-wing circles as a working-class folk hero.
The memo also said Rinderknecht was "deeply agitated" over a fraying romantic relationship.
Court documents and public statements by Rinderknecht's lawyers suggested that at least part of his defense would hinge on the argument that he was being scegoated for failures of the Los Angeles Fire Department.
A onetime Pacific Palisades resident, Rinderknecht professed his innocence in a court declaration ⁠in March, denying that he wilfully started any fire.
He acknowledged seeing flames erupt from the vantage point of a hilltop he had climbed to ⁠watch New Year's Eve fireworks after dropping off his Uber passenger.
He said he called the 911 emergency number to report the blaze, and stayed on the scene until after firefighters arrived and offered to help them.
But according to a criminal complaint filed in the case, cellphone data showed that no one besides Rinderknecht was in the area where the Lachman Fire started.
WATCHING FROM 'BUDDHA HILL'
Court documents showed that while perched on "Buddha Hill," Rinderknecht listened to a r song whose music video depicted things being set on fire.
He then proceeded to light a real blaze and fled the scene, only to return a short time later to watch the flames and the firefighters.
During his 911 call, according to the complaint, Rinderknecht typed a question into the AI p ChatGPT asking, "Are you at fault if a fire is lift (sic) because of your cigarettes." ChatGPT's response was, "Yes," the complaint said.
Federal investigators concluded the blaze was probably started by someone using a lighter to burn combustible material such as vegetation or per.
In seeking bail for his client at a hearing last October, defense ⁠lawyer Steve Haney said Rinderknecht was essentially being charged with arson allegedly committed seven days before a much larger fire for which he is being prosecuted.
"So why are they blaming him for whatever the fire department didn't do?" Haney asked rhetorically, adding that the defense was not conceding prosecutors' assertion that one fire was a continuation of another.
At the time Haney said his client had no prior criminal record and no documented history of mental illness.
Prosecutors said in court filings that Rinderknecht was motivated by anger against the rich, saying he followed Mangione news on Google using such search terms as "Let's take down all the billionaires," and ranted to various Uber passengers about the December 2024 shooting death.

Source: U.S. News & World Report

Published: June 10, 2026 10:05 AM

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Business

Volatile Summer Weather Threatens to Turn World Cup Into Test of Heat

By Angelica Medina and Janina Nuno Rios
June 10 () – The World Cup will kick off on ⁠Thursday ⁠under familiar North American summer threats: extreme heat, ⁠suffocating humidity and thunderstorms cable of delaying matches with little warning.
Seasonal forecasts indicate above-normal temperatures across large parts of the United States, while moisture flowing north from the Gulf of Mexico could fuel thunderstorms and severe weather during the opening weeks of the tournament.
While conditions for individual matches cannot be predicted ‌this far ahead, sports scientists say there are ‌clear weather-related risks facing a summer World Cup spanning Canada, Mexico and the United States.
The key measure is not air temperature alone but wet-bulb globe temperature, which incorporates heat, humidity, ⁠sunlight and wind ⁠to estimate heat stress on the body.
World Weather Attribution has warned that roughly a quarter of matches could be played in conditions that exceed recommended safety limits.
INTERNAL HEAT CHALLENGE
Chris Minson, a physiology professor and co-director of the Exercise and Environmental Physiology Labs at the University of Oregon, said elite players generate enormous internal heat even before the weather is considered.
"Seventy-five percent of all the energy that we utilise during exercise gets converted to heat," Minson told . "Only about 25% goes to actually doing the exercise."
In hot, sunny or humid conditions, the body's normal cooling system begins to struggle. Humidity is a particular concern, since sweat cools the ⁠body ⁠only when it evorates.
"One of the hardest ⁠things for us is when the humidity is very high," Minson said.
High-humidity World Cup venues include Houston, Miami, Dallas and Monterrey.
CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT ON PERFORMANCE
Climate change has increased the likelihood of temperatures high enough to affect player performance ⁠at 97 of the 104 tournament matches, according to new research from Climate Central.
The biggest such increase is projected for the June 26 group-stage match between Uruguay and Spain in Guadalajara, where researchers estimated a 70% chance of performance-impairing heat – 37 percentage points higher than it would have been without climate change.
Ryan Calsbeek, a biological sciences professor at Dartmouth College who studies how body type affects athletic performance in different climates, said heat and humidity could influence not only player welfare but the pace and style of matches.
"Higher temperature, higher ⁠humidity is likely to slow games down," he said. "When athletes have to perform for a very long time, they're just not ⁠going to be able to balance the explosive power of their fast-twitch efforts with the more aerobic long-term efforts of a 90-plus minute game in the heat and humidity."
Nearly half of all matches face at least a 50% chance of temperatures exceeding 28 degrees Celsius (82.4 Fahrenheit) — a threshold linked to declines in sprinting, distance covered and recovery time.
Calsbeek said Mexico City's altitude – some 2,240 meters (7,350 ft) above sea level – could also prove significant, particularly for those arriving from lower elevations without time to acclimatise. The city is set to host five matches.
FIFA has said every match at the World Cup will include a three-minute hydration break in each half, while scheduling decisions took into account factors including average temperatures, travel, rest days, medical planning and cooling infrastructure.
SAFETY PROTOCOLS QUESTIONED
Several venues feature retractable roofs or climate-control systems, and tournament regulations allow matches to be delayed, suspended, rescheduled or relocated for health, safety ⁠or security reasons, including severe weather.
Minson said FIFA should mandate interventions when the wet-bulb globe temperature reaches 26C and should consider postponing matches around 28C to 30C.
Minson also called for six-minute cooling breaks, shaded cooling areas, emergency ice baths and longer halftimes when conditions warranted.
"If you have a player who seems to be having some delirium or not thinking straight, or collses on the field, you need to cool them down immediately," he said.
For FIFA, the tournament is a logistical showpiece. For players, coaches and scientists, it may also be a test of how football adts to a hotter future.

Source: U.S. News & World Report

Published: June 10, 2026 11:03 AM

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Business

Chamber invites community to Business Expo

News release
The Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce invites the community to attend the 2026 Business Expo on Thursday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Valencia Town Center.
As the largest business showcase in the Santa Clarita Valley, the Business Expo will bring together more than 100 local businesses and nonprofits for an exciting evening of discovery, networking, community engagement and fun, said a news release from the chamber. Admission is free and open to the public.
Attendees will have the opportunity to explore a wide variety of local businesses, discover new products and services, connect with business owners and community leaders, learn about organizations serving the community, and experience firsthand the innovation and entrepreneurship that help drive the local economy, the release said.
The Business Expo is one of the most anticipated business and community events of the year, and we are looking forward to welcoming the community to Valencia Town Center, Di Thompson, 2026 chair of the SCV Chamber board, said in the release. This is a great opportunity for residents, professionals, and business leaders to connect with local businesses, discover new products and services, and support the companies and organizations that help make the Santa Clarita Valley such a great place to live, work, and do business.
Attendees will have the opportunity to enter for a chance to win more than $10,000 in raffle prizes donated by local businesses and community partners. Many exhibitors will also be offering their own giveaways and promotional prizes throughout the evening.
The Business Expo is a celebration of the businesses, nonprofits, and organizations that help make the Santa Clarita Valley such a vibrant community, Ivan Volschenk, president/CEO of the SCV Chamber, said in the release. With more than 100 exhibitors, thousands of dollars in prizes, and opportunities to connect with businesses from across the valley, the Expo offers something for everyone. We encourage the entire community to come out, explore, connect, and enjoy a great evening supporting local business.

Source: Santa Clarita Valley Signal

Published: June 10, 2026 1:05 AM

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Business

LePage Wins Maine Republican Nod in Key US House Battleground

June 9 () – Former Maine ⁠Governor ⁠Paul LePage won ⁠the Republican nomination on Tuesday to run in the state’s 2nd Congressional District, U.S. media ‌projected, setting up a ‌November contest in a race that ⁠could ⁠help decide control of the U.S. House of Representatives.
The district, which covers much of Maine’s forested interior, is considered a key battleground and one of a handful of competitive seats likely to ⁠play ⁠a decisive role in ⁠determining the balance of power in Congress.
LePage, a combative political figure who ⁠served two terms as governor, is seeking a return to elected office and is expected to mount a high-profile campaign.
He will ⁠face the Democratic nominee emerging from a crowded primary ⁠field that included state Senator Joe Baldacci and progressives Matt Dunl, Jordan Wood and Paige Loud.
The seat will be open following the decision of centrist Democrat Jared Golden to not run for re-election. He had managed to hold the district despite ⁠its Republican leanings in presidential elections.
As with other Maine races, the final outcome may take time to confirm because of the state’s ranked-choice voting system.
(Editing by Michael Learmonth and Howard Goller)

Source: U.S. News & World Report

Published: June 10, 2026 12:20 AM

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Factbox-NASA’s Artemis III Crew: a Test Pilot, an Italian, a Record-Holder and a First-Timer

June 9 () – NASA on Tuesday named three U.S. astronauts ⁠and ⁠an Italian astronaut as the crew ⁠for its next Artemis mission, a docking demonstration involving three spacecraft in Earth's orbit and planned for next year.
U.S. astronauts Andre Douglas, Frank Rubio and Randy Bresnik and Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano ‌of the European Space Agency will ‌be the crew for Artemis III, due to launch in 2027, with no specific date yet announced.
The ⁠four-man mission will ⁠test moon landers from Elon Musk's SpaceX and Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin for the first time in space, setting up a delicate docking demonstration one by one.
Here are some highlights from the crew's careers:
MISSION COMMANDER RANDY BRESNIK
Bresnik, 58, was selected to join NASA's astronaut corps in 2004. He has flown to space three times, logging roughly 150 days in space, 32 hours of which he spent spacewalking.
He is ⁠a ⁠test pilot and retired U.S. ⁠Marine Corps colonel who has more than 7,000 hours of flying experience in 95 different aircraft.
PILOT LUCA PARMITANO
Italy's Parmitano, 49, joined the European Space Agency ⁠astronaut corps in 2009 and has flown to space twice. He is the first European Space Agency astronaut to join an Artemis mission and the second non-U.S. citizen, as Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen flew on Artemis II.
The inclusion of Parmitano in the Artemis mission marks Italy's latest involvement in NASA's Artemis program, as ⁠the agency's other international partners eye new roles.
MISSION SPECIALIST FRANK RUBIO
Rubio, 50, broke the record ⁠for the longest continuous spaceflight by a U.S. astronaut at 371 days during his first and only spaceflight.
He set that record in 2023 when the duration of his six-month stint on the International Space Station doubled because the Russian spacecraft he rode there on sprang a leak while docked. After waiting months for Russia to send a replacement craft, he returned to Earth in early 2023.
Rubio is also a board-certified family physician and flight surgeon.
MISSION SPECIALIST ANDRE DOUGLAS
Artemis III will be the first trip to space for Douglas, 40, who was selected to join NASA's ⁠astronaut corps in 2021. Born in Miami, he holds degrees in various areas of engineering, including three master's degrees and a doctorate in systems engineering from George Washington University.
Before joining NASA, he served in the U.S. Coast Guard as a naval architect and worked on various NASA programs while at the Johns Hopkins University plied Physics Lab as a professional staff member.
(Compiled by Joey Roulette; Editing by Jamie Freed)
Copyright 2026 Thomson .

Source: U.S. News & World Report

Published: June 9, 2026 10:51 PM

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Business

China’s Xi Says He Reached Important Consensus With Kim in North Korea Visit, KCNA Reports

SEOUL, June 10 () – Chinese President Xi ⁠Jinping ⁠said he and ⁠North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reached an "important consensus" and agreed to safeguard regional and global peace, in a ‌message of thanks following his ‌visit to Pyongyang, North Korean state media KCNA said ⁠on ⁠Wednesday.
In the message carried in full by KCNA, Xi said the two sides had exchanged in-depth views on issues of common concern and reached a series of important joint consensus, reflecting their determination to further deepen ties.
Looking ahead, Xi said he was willing ⁠to ⁠work with Kim based on ⁠fundamental and long-term interests to steadily safeguard, consolidate and develop bilateral ties and contribute more to ⁠regional and global peace and development.
He also said the visit had been successfully concluded and that relations had entered a new historical stage, while expressing hope to meet Kim again.
Xi visited Pyongyang ⁠from Monday to Tuesday in his first trip to North Korea ⁠in seven years. Xi said the visit had established a deeper, more comprehensive understanding yielding a clearer path for development of ties, China's official Xinhua news agency said.
The two leaders agreed to expand cooperation across politics, the economy and culture, while pledging closer strategic communication between their governments, according to both countries' state media.
Other ⁠KCNA reports on Wednesday said the two leaders paid tribute at Pyongyang's Sino-Korean Friendship Tower that commemorates Chinese soldiers who died in the Korean War and toured a political training school for party cadres.
(Reporting by Kyu-seok Shim; Editing by Jamie Freed)

Source: U.S. News & World Report

Published: June 9, 2026 10:05 PM

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