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Carpenter erects wooden crosses in honor of shooting rampage victims

Mourners returned on Monday to the scene of a shooting rampage at a bar in the Los Angeles suburb of Thousand Oaks, where a Chicago-area carpenter erected wooden crosses dedicated to each of the 12 victims. Greg Zanis, who has been building crosses to remember shooting victims for more than two decades, said he arrived in Thousand Oaks, 40 miles northwest of Los Angeles, early on Sunday morning to meet the families and put up the crosses. A former U.S. Marine combat veteran opened fire last week in the Borderline Bar and Grill bar, which was packed with line-dancing college students, killing 12 people in a mass shooting that stunned Thousand Oaks, a bucolic Southern California community with a reputation for safety.

Northern California officials fear record wildfire death toll could rise

The deadly Camp Fire also ranked as California's most destructive ever in terms of property losses, having incinerated more than 6,700 homes and other buildings in the Sierra foothills of Butte County, about 175 miles (280 km) north of San Francisco. Most of the devastation and loss of life was in and around the town of Paradise, where flames reduced most of the buildings to ash and charred rubble on Thursday night, just hours after the blaze erupted. At least 29 fatalities have been confirmed so far, a tally that ranks as the most ever from a single northern California wildfire - surpassing the 25 lives lost in the 1991 Oakland Hills firestorm - and ties the all-time statewide record set in 1933 by the Griffith Park blaze in Los Angeles.

Miley Cyrus, Neil Young lose homes in Malibu fire; Gaga visits shelter

"I am one of the lucky ones," Cyrus wrote on Twitter. My house no longer stands but the memories shared with family & friends stand strong." Cyrus is engaged to actor Liam Hemsworth. Lady Gaga and members of the Kardashian family said they were forced to evacuate their homes because of the Woolsey Fire, which authorities said has destroyed more than 370 structures.

U.S. plans new limits on heavy-duty truck emissions

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will announce plans to propose new rules to significantly decrease emissions of smog-forming nitrogen oxide from diesel-powered heavy-duty trucks, an agency official said. Industry groups and state environmental officials have urged the EPA to set new nationwide rules as the state of California has been moving forward with plans to set new state emissions limits. California also wants nationwide rules, in part because more than half of all trucks delivering goods in the state are registered in other states.

U.S. bishops delay action on clergy abuse at Vatican's request

The Catholic Church worldwide is reeling from crises involving sexual abuse of minors, deeply damaging confidence in the Church in the United States, Chile, Australia, Ireland and elsewhere. Cardinal DiNardo of Galveston-Houston said the Congregation for Bishops in Rome had sent a letter asking U.S. bishops to wait until after the Vatican-convened global meeting on sex abuse takes place in February.

City of San Francisco threatens court action over Trump's acting Attorney General

San Francisco's city attorney on Monday questioned the recent appointment of a new acting attorney general, saying in a letter to the U.S. Department of Justice that his office may take court action if the DOJ does not provide a legal justification for the designation. President Donald Trump last week named Matthew Whitaker to replace former Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who was forced out after months of attacks by Trump for recusing himself from an ongoing probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election.

U.S. movie theater chains fear Justice Department review may hit profits

U.S. movie theater chains fear that a Justice Department review of little-known mid-century rules may result in studios getting free rein to force them to show unpopular movies in exchange for getting blockbuster releases, threatening their profits. The U.S. Supreme Court in 1948 ruled against the practice, called "block booking," and others that favored studios, leading the plaintiff, Paramount Pictures, Inc, and its peers to sign consent decrees over the next few years with the Justice Department that banned such deals. The agreements regulating relations between movie studios and theaters, which the industry calls the Paramount consent decrees, were reached in the late 1940s and early 1950s when movie theaters had just one screen, televisions were not universal, and online streaming was decades into the future.

Florida Republican Scott asks that ballots be guarded in Senate race recount

On Saturday, a machine recount began in the race between Scott and incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Bill Nelson in one of the most closely watched swing-state contests in last Tuesday's congressional elections. Each side has accused the other of trying to subvert democracy in an echo of the drama in the 2000 presidential vote recount that unfolded for weeks in Florida.

U.S. marks 100th anniversary of end to WWI with poppies, Bells of Peace

More than 100,000 Americans died in World War One, after the United States declared war on Germany on April 6, 1917, driving the nation into a global conflict. Although the United States entered the war in the later stage, many Americans had disagreed with the decision to join allies Britain, France and Russia, some viewing it as an endless fight between old European rivals. The conflict erupted in 1914 after a teenage Bosnian Serb assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, and his wife in Sarajevo.

'New normal' ferocious winds whip up deadly California fires

Two deadly wildfires fueled by "devil winds" tore through opposite ends of California on Sunday, with residents urged to heed evacuation orders by officials forced to leave their own homes. In northern California, the Camp Fire is one of the deadliest and most destructive in the state's history, killing at least 23 since it broke out on Thursday northeast of Sacramento and consumed much of the mountain town of Paradise. Hundreds of miles to the south, at least two people died in the Woolsey conflagration threatening the wealthy beach community of Malibu, near Los Angeles.

Democrats urge acting attorney general to step aside from Russia probe

Top Democrats stepped up pressure Sunday on acting U.S. Attorney General Matthew Whitaker to step aside from overseeing a special counsel probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, vowing to order him to testify early next year. Representative Jerrold Nadler, the expected incoming chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, said Sunday the committee plans to subpoena Whitaker to testify next year as its first witness. In a letter to the Justice Department's chief ethics officer, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi and other top Democrats asked whether any ethics attorneys at the Justice Department have advised Whitaker to recuse himself and demanded details on any ethics guidance Whitaker has received.

Death toll rises to 23 in California wildfire after 14 bodies found

The bodies were recovered in and around Paradise, a mountain community some 90 miles (145 km) north of Sacramento that has been left devastated by the Camp Fire, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection spokesman Scott Maclean said. The Camp Fire burned down more than 6,700 homes and businesses in Paradise, more structures than any other California wildfire on record, and the death toll, which could still rise, also makes it one of the deadliest. Only the Griffith Park Fire in 1933 and Tunnel Fire in 1991 have claimed more lives.

Florida orders vote recount in Senate, governor races

Florida will hold a machine recount of votes in its neck-and-neck races for the U.S. Senate and governor, officials said on Saturday, setting up a days-long wait for closure in two of the most closely-watched contests of the midterm elections. Results of the recount are due by 3 p.m. (2000 GMT) Thursday for the two races, which along with those for governor in Georgia and for the U.S. Senate in Arizona, are the most high-profile contests still undecided after Tuesday's vote. The drama echoed the 2000 presidential vote recount that took place in Florida, with both sides alleging foul play and sending lawyers to the Sunshine State.

Crews fight to save homes from massive California wildfires

At least nine people were killed in and around the Northern California community of Paradise as the Camp Fire burned down more than 6,700 homes and businesses, more structures than any other California wildfire on record. Paradise Mayor Jody Jones said most of the town's homes and about half its businesses had been left in ruins, predicting a long road of recovery was ahead for the town of about 26,000 residents. Some 35 people had been reported missing and three firefighters had been injured.

New drug options, risk factors added to U.S. heart guidelines

The recommendations from the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology, last issued in 2013, acknowledge recent research showing the benefit of very low levels of "bad" LDL cholesterol, which contributes to fatty plaque buildup and narrowing of arteries. The medical groups, which announced the guidelines on Saturday at the AHA's annual meeting in Chicago, still emphasize a healthy diet and exercise as the first line of defense against heart disease, the No. 1 killer in the country. When cholesterol is not controlled by lifestyle efforts, patients are typically prescribed statin drugs, available as low cost generic pills that have long been proven to safely and effectively lower LDL levels and heart disease risk.

Trump to award freedom medals to Elvis, Babe Ruth

U.S. President Donald Trump will award the 2018 Presidential Medal of Freedom to Elvis Presley, George Herman "Babe" Ruth, Jr. and five other individuals, the White House said in a statement on Saturday. The medal is the highest civilian honor in the United States and is given annually to people who have made outstanding contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors. Trump will also award the medal to Miriam Adelson, a physician who together with her husband Sheldon Adelson, a billionaire casino magnate, is a major donor to the Republican party, Jewish causes worldwide, and medical research.

The Great War's end: a grandmother remembers

Jubilant New Yorkers took to the streets when the Great War ended at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, my late grandmother’s ninth birthday. The gritty Brooklyn waterfront neighborhood where she lived celebrated mightily, but a grim legacy of the war went on to take an even deadlier toll. It was so exciting, even though I wasn’t exactly sure what was happening,” Marie Starace recalled years later.

California town in shock and mourning now threatened by wildfire

For residents of the Los Angeles suburb of Thousand Oaks, that moment came at the end of a gut-wrenching week in which a combat veteran entered a local bar and killed a dozen people in the kind of mass shooting that has become increasingly commonplace in the United States. Andrea Campbell Conant, a public relations executive who grew up in Thousand Oaks, said on Friday that roads had begun to close as a precaution, even as she drove to one of the vigils for victims of Wednesday night's shooting at the Borderline Bar & Grill. Authorities have ordered some 75,000 homes near Thousand Oaks evacuated as the 14,000-acre (5,700-hectare) Woolsey Fire approached.

California shooting follows election of gun control advocate as governor

Ian David Long, 28, used a .45 caliber Glock handgun equipped with a high-capacity magazine to mow down patrons late on Wednesday in the bar and dance hall filled with college students, authorities said. The shooting raised questions about the efficacy of existing gun safety laws as Gavin Newsom, a two-term lieutenant governor closely aligned with gun control advocates, prepares to take the helm in the most populous U.S. state following his election victory on Tuesday. "He’s been such a champion on this issue so we expect to see more innovation from the legislators and approved by Gavin Newsom," said Laura Cutilletta, legal director of the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence.

Malibu burning: Kardashians, Lady Gaga, Cher fear for homes

Kardashian, who on Thursday evacuated the home she shares in nearby Calabasas with Kanye West, tweeted on Friday that she "heard the flames have hit our property... but now are more contained and have stopped." The entire 12,000-strong population of Malibu, which stretches 27 miles (43.5 km) along the Pacific Ocean in Southern California and up into the Santa Monica mountains, was placed under mandatory evacuation on Friday as the Woolsey fire exploded overnight. The City of Malibu's Twitter account said the fire was burning out of control. Malibu and Calabasas are home to hundreds of celebrities and entertainment executives attracted by its ocean views, rolling hills and large, isolated estates.

Five dead in California wildfire as second blaze forces Malibu evacuation

A rapidly moving wildfire in Northern California killed five people when flames engulfed their vehicles as they attempted to flee the mountain town of Paradise, authorities said on Friday, as they expressed fears more bodies would be discovered. Nearly 500 miles (800 km) to the south, a blaze forced the evacuation of the upscale oceanside city of Malibu and threatened the beleaguered town of Thousand Oaks, where a gunman killed 12 people this week in a shooting rampage in a bar and dance hall. In the aftermath, a school bus was among several abandoned vehicles left blackened by flames on one road.

California town in shock and mourning now threatened by wildfire

For residents of the Los Angeles suburb of Thousand Oaks, that moment came at the end of a gut-wrenching week in which a combat veteran entered a local bar and killed a dozen people in the kind of mass shooting that has become increasingly commonplace in the United States. Andrea Campbell Conant, a public relations executive who grew up in Thousand Oaks, said on Friday that roads had begun to close as a precaution, even as she drove to one of the vigils for victims of Wednesday night's shooting at the Borderline Bar & Grill. Authorities have ordered some 75,000 homes near Thousand Oaks evacuated as the 14,000-acre (5,700-hectare) Woolsey Fire approached.

California shooting follows election of gun control advocate as governor

Ian David Long, 28, used a .45 caliber Glock handgun equipped with a high-capacity magazine to mow down patrons late on Wednesday in the bar and dance hall filled with college students, authorities said. The shooting raised questions about the efficacy of existing gun safety laws as Gavin Newsom, a two-term lieutenant governor closely aligned with gun control advocates, prepares to take the helm in the most populous U.S. state following his election victory on Tuesday. "He’s been such a champion on this issue so we expect to see more innovation from the legislators and approved by Gavin Newsom," said Laura Cutilletta, legal director of the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence.

Malibu burning: Kardashians, del Toro among celebrities fleeing

Celebrity website TMZ reported that the Malibu ridge home of Caitlyn Jenner, America's best-known transgender person, was destroyed by the flames on Friday. TMZ also reported that the fire had reached the grounds of the mansion in nearby Calabasas owned by Kardashian and husband Kanye West. Kardashian posted on social media late on Thursday that she "had just one hour to pack up and evacuate our home." The TMZ report could not be confirmed but West tweeted on Friday that "our family is safe and close." The entire 12,000-strong population of Malibu, which stretches 27 miles (43.5 km) along the Pacific Ocean in Southern California and up into the Santa Monica mountains, was placed under mandatory evacuation on Friday as the Woolsey fire exploded overnight and jumped a freeway, fire officials said.

Trump dubs California bar shooter 'sick puppy' as community grieves

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday the gunman who killed 12 people in a crowded South California bar this week was a "very, very sick guy," as investigators tried to determine what could have motivated the 28-year-old Marine combat veteran. Victims of Wednesday night's rampage in the city of Thousand Oaks included an 18-year-old freshman student at Pepperdine University, a security guard at the bar, a graduate of California Lutheran University and a Marine Corps veteran. Ian David Long, who served with the Marines in Afghanistan, walked into the Borderline Bar and Grill, which was packed with dancing college students, and opened fire, fatally shooting 12 people before apparently killing himself, law enforcement officials said.

Trump jabs back at 'Mr. Kellyanne Conway,' an unusual critic

"You mean, Mr. Kellyanne Conway?" Trump said to reporters when asked about a Thursday New York Times editorial by George Conway, who wrote that Trump's appointment of Matthew Whitaker as acting attorney general was unconstitutional. "He’s trying to get publicity for himself," Trump said, dismissing the commentary from the lawyer, whose wife Kellyanne Conway is counselor to Trump, and managed his 2016 presidential election campaign. Early in his presidency, Trump had considered George Conway for a top Department of Justice job, but Conway withdrew from consideration.

U.S. regulators snip red tape for medical devices to curb opioid crisis

When President Donald Trump declared a public health emergency over the abuse of heavy-duty painkillers like oxycodone and hydrocodone, he ordered all government agencies to take action in response to the death of 70,000 Americans last year from drug overdoses. The FDA told Reuters it has received over 200 submissions from companies seeking a speedy approval process for their devices.

Accused U.S. mail bomber Sayoc could face life in prison with new charges

New York federal prosecutors on Friday brought new charges against Cesar Sayoc, the Florida man accused of mailing bombs to prominent Democrats and other critics of U.S. President Donald Trump. In an indictment filed in Manhattan federal court, prosecutors charged Sayoc with 30 criminal counts, including multiple counts of using a weapon of mass destruction and interstate transport of explosives. Sayoc's attorney, federal defender Sarah Baumgartel, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

U.S. to restrict e-cigarette flavors to fight teenage vaping 'epidemic'

The ban means only tobacco, mint and menthol flavors can be sold at these outlets, the agency official said, potentially dealing a major blow to Juul Labs Inc, the San Francisco-based market leader in vape devices. The FDA also will introduce stricter age-verification requirements for online sales of e-cigarettes. The FDA’s planned restrictions, first reported by The Washington Post and confirmed to Reuters by the official, do not apply to vape shops or other specialty retail stores.