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HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii Gov. Josh Green on Monday proposed a range of new penalties to crack down on those who flout the state’s fireworks laws, nearly two weeks after a fireworks explosion at a Honolulu home on New Year’s Eve killed four people and injured about 20 others. The potential new measures include $300 tickets police could issue to those who shoot off fireworks and class A felony charges and decades in prison for those whose use of fireworks leads to serious injury or death. The governor plans to include the proposals in a bill he will send lawmakers for the new legislative session beginning Wednesday. “We want to deter people from doing this. Three hundred dollars will probably send a chilling effect over a lot of young people, I would expect,” Green said at a news conference. “But getting a major felony on one’s record and doing time in jail, I hope will give everyone pause.” State and county officials have struggled for years to contain illegal fireworks in Hawaii, where it’s become common for people to launch professional-grad aerial explosives from the streets in front of their homes all year round. Law enforcement officers have seized 227,000 pounds (103,000 kilograms) of fireworks since 2023, much of it from container ships at ports, but also from packages shipped by air. The director of the state Department of Law Enforcement said last week that authorities intercept U.S. Postal Service parcels containing illegal fireworks almost daily. New Year’s is a particularly active time for contraband fireworks displays. They usually result in injuries and in some years people have died, but the start to this year was deadlier than ever. Green said his proposals were aimed at streamlining and clarifying Hawaii’s fireworks laws so prosecutors can secure convictions more quickly and successfully. Under the proposal, police issuing $300 citations wouldn’t need to collect evidence. They would just need a witness – a police officer or someone else – to identify the person who set off fireworks, said Tricia Nakamatsu, deputy attorney general. This would be particularly helpful for law enforcement because evidence in fireworks cases often go up in smoke. The person receiving a ticket would either pay the fine or go to court to contest it, much like a traffic ticket. This infraction wouldn’t be a crime and so would decriminalize fireworks use at a low level. Crucially, courts would only need a preponderance of evidence to impose a fine. That’s in contrast to a criminal charge which prosecutors must prove beyond a reasonable doubt to secure a conviction. “The citations themselves can also be issued much, much faster. It does not require an officer to go back to the office to write reports, to collect evidence, to submit for testing,” Nakamatsu said. This would help officers get back on the road more quickly, she added. The governor’s team came up with $300 amount because that’s currently the fine imposed on those who use cell phones while driving. The principle in both cases is similar, she said, in that both actions could kill one or more people. For the more serious penalties, the governor proposes to slap heavier punishments on repeat offenders and those who cause serious injury or death with their fireworks. This would apply to those who import illegal fireworks, those who buy and sell them and to the end user who lights them. It’s currently a Class C felony to possess more than 25 pounds of fireworks, which is punishable by up to five years in prison in Hawaii. The enhanced charges could lead to Class A felony convictions, which under Hawaii law are punishable by up to 20 years to life in prison. “People, if they take the life of an innocent soul near them, have to be accountable and they’re going to have to spend significant time in prison,” Green said. The governor said he understands people enjoy the spectacle of fireworks but he said they must be enjoyed in a safe way. He said he would support having more public fireworks displays throughout the year so people can still watch fireworks. The Department of Law Enforcement last week asked lawmakers for $5.2 million to hire eight people and expand a forensic lab to crack down on fireworks smuggling. Brought to you by www.srnnews.com

By Nathan Layne, Helen Coster and Alexandra Ulmer (Reuters) – For California Governor Gavin Newsom and other Democratic leaders in the left-leaning state, the still-raging wildfires could have been a chance to showcase their competence and unity with the White House in dealing with a natural disaster. Instead, questions about the state’s preparedness and response to the massive fires have rendered party leaders vulnerable to escalating attacks from the right, in a possible prelude to the politicization of disaster response under president-elect Donald Trump. Newsom and Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass have tried to deflect criticism of their leadership, stressing the unprecedented scale of wildfires that have leveled whole neighborhoods and killed at least 24 people in less than one week. But with Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk using their reach on social media to attack both leaders, the crisis has evolved into a political battle with lines drawn broadly along two competing visions for America: the environmentally-conscious and regulatory-heavy ethos of the left versus a right skeptical of government expertise and progressive ideas. Roger Salazar, a Sacramento-based Democratic strategist, said he believes Trump will continue to use California as a political foil once he takes office on Jan. 20, as a way to advance the Republican agenda of regulatory and tax cuts. “They want less regulation,” said Salazar, who was appointed by Newsom in 2020 to an unpaid position chairing a state recreational commission, but who is not involved in the disaster response. “The easiest way to do that is to demonize those on the other side.” The political fallout comes with potentially grave consequences for the most populous state. House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson, a Trump ally, said on Monday that Congress should place conditions on aid for California, saying local officials had mismanaged the response. Trump, who derogatorily refers to the governor as “Newscum,” plans to tour the destruction next week, a source familiar with the matter said, following President Joe Biden’s trip to Los Angeles last week, where he promised significant federal aid. In an interview on NBC News’ “Meet the Press” over the weekend, Newsom criticized Trump and his allies for deploying what he described as mis- and disinformation covering a range of topics from water and forest management to programs protecting fish. Several have claimed – without providing any evidence – that Los Angeles officials were more focused on ensuring race and gender diversity in the ranks than fighting fires. “DEI means people will DIE,” Musk wrote on his social media platform X, referring to diversity, equity and inclusion programs. The post has received 38 million views. Presidents and other political leaders traditionally waited until after a disaster had subsided to air criticisms. Trump broke that precedent during the COVID-19 pandemic in his first term, when he fought openly with governors. “His federalism is: if you’re nice to me, then I will be nice to you,” said Timothy Kneeland, a professor at Nazareth University in Rochester, New York, who has authored a book on the politics of natural disasters. Kneeland said it was counterproductive for Newsom and Bass to have to counter Trump’s broadsides when “all the government resources should be focused on putting these fires out, rescuing people and attempting to help them recover.” Zach Seidl, a spokesperson for Bass, said the mayor was “laser focused” on keeping Angelenos safe and protecting property. “She has secured the federal, state and local resources we need to continue fighting these fires and is moving forward on an all-of-the-above plan for recovery.” Representatives for Newsom, Trump and Musk did not immediately respond to emailed requests for comment. NEWSOM AS FOIL Many political analysts expected Newsom to use the run-up to Trump’s inauguration and the early days of his presidency as a period to establish himself as a standard bearer for his party. He’s been forced to play defense instead. “Newsom should be living in Los Angeles right now and be very focused on this disaster,” said Jon Fleischman, former executive director of the California Republican Party. “Is that going to keep him from really engaging with Trump and setting himself up to be the 2028 alternative? Probably. But on the other hand, adversity creates opportunity.” Newsom has acknowledged some things went wrong. He has called for an independent investigation into the local water supply, for instance, after some fire hydrants ran dry on Wednesday, especially in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood. Officials have said that ahead of the windstorm, the city had filled all available tanks, including in Palisades. Municipal water systems were working effectively, officials said, but were not designed for tackling wildfires. Palisades quickly exhausted its three water tanks. Trump has used his Truth Social platform to portray the water shortages and widespread destruction as evidence of “gross incompetence and mismanagement of the Biden/Newscum Duo.” Bass, who was on an official trip to Ghana when the fires broke out on Tuesday, has come under similar criticism from Trump. When asked about her travels at a news conference last week, Bass declined to directly answer. Trump also falsely claimed that Newsom prioritized preservation of small endangered fish called smelt over public safety. In the “Meet the Press” interview, Newsom called any connection between the fish and the fire “inexcusable because it’s inaccurate.” The ongoing clash over the fires reflects a broader effort by Trump and his allies to paint Newsom – and Democratic leaders elsewhere – as part of the rich establishment that is out of step with large swaths of the American public. It’s how Musk himself framed a decision in June to move the headquarters for both SpaceX and X from California to Texas, pointing to a law California passed that barred school districts from mandating that parents be informed of a child’s gender identification. Berkeley political scientist Henry Brady said attacking California made political sense for conservatives. “Watch Fox News,” he said. “California is the boogeyman. California has cities out of control. California is doing all these crazy things with climate change. We are the people who have sanctuary cities and the place where people are woke beyond belief.” He added: “Punishing California is something that is, from their perspective, a positive good.” (Reporting by Nathan Layne and Helen Coster in New York; Alexandra Ulmer in San Francisco; editing by Paul Thomasch and Lincoln Feast.) Brought to you by www.srnnews.com

By Laila Kearney (Reuters) -A lawsuit filed against the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power on Monday accuses the public utility of failing to properly manage water supplies critical to fighting the deadly Palisades Fire, a court filing showed. The complaint, filed on behalf of residents and others affected by the historic blaze that destroyed the wealthy Los Angeles community of Pacific Palisades last week, says LADWP should have maintained water in a nearby reservoir, which was dry at the time the flames erupted. “The water supply system servicing Pacific Palisades failed miserably, leaving residents and firefighters with little to no water to fight the blaze,” Roger Behle, one of the plaintiffs’ attorneys said in a statement. The LADWP, which is the largest U.S. municipal utility, did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment outside of regular business hours. The Santa Ynez Reservoir, which can hold as much 117 million gallons (443 million liters) of water, had been empty since February 2024, the lawsuit said. The complaint, which was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court by law firm Robertson & Associates and Foley Bezek Behle & Curtis, claimed LADWP delayed repair work on the water resource to cut costs. The Palisades Fire, which has killed at least eight people and destroyed thousands of homes and businesses, has burned more than 23,700 acres (96 square km) and continued to threaten neighborhoods as of late Monday. Officials have not released a cause for the fire. Governor Gavin Newsom on Friday called for an investigation into reports that firefighters struggled to get enough water, and water pressure, to battle the inferno. LADWP said earlier it appreciated the investigation and would conduct its own review of the incident. “As we face the impacts of climate change and build climate resilience, we welcome a review and update of these codes and requirements if city water systems will be used to fight extreme wildfires,” LADWP spokesperson Ellen Cheng said on Monday, before the lawsuit was filed. LADWP CEO Janisse Quinones last week said the demand to fight water at lower elevations was impeding the ability of the city to refill water tanks at higher elevations. LADWP said it had filled all available water tanks in the city ahead of the windstorm that perpetuated the rapid spread of the fires. Three water storage tanks were exhausted within a day of the fires starting, Quinones said last week in a press briefing. The suit follows other legal actions in connection with the California wildfires, which have been linked to the deaths of at least two dozen people and have burned tens of thousands of acres across Los Angeles in what is expected to be the most costly natural disaster in American history. A group of residents and business owners also recently sued Southern California Edison over the Eaton Fire, which is still raging near Pasadena. (Reporting by Laila Kearney; Editing by Lincoln Feast.) Brought to you by www.srnnews.com

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Additional water tankers and scores of firefighters arrived at the Los Angeles area on Monday ahead of fierce winds that were forecast to return and threaten the progress made so far on two massive infernos that have destroyed thousands of homes and killed at least 24 people. Planes doused homes and hillsides with bright pink fire-retardant chemicals, while crews and fire engines were being placed near particularly vulnerable spots with dry brush. Dozens of water trucks rolled in to replenish supplies after hydrants ran dry last week when the two largest fires erupted. Tabitha Trosen and her boyfriend said she feels like they are “teetering” on the edge with the constant fear that their neighborhood could be the next under threat. “Our cats are ready to go, we have their carriers by the door prepped with their little stuffed animals and things like that,” Trosen said, adding that she’s packed things as she thinks about what she could lose. “It’s like, how do I take care of myself, and what are the things that will ground me as a human and remind me of my background and my life and my family.” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and other officials — who have faced criticism over their initial response to fires that began last week — expressed confidence Monday that the region was ready to face the new threat with additional firefighters brought in from around the U.S., as well as Canada and Mexico. “We’re absolutely better prepared,” LA County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said when asked what will be different from a week ago, when hurricane-force winds propelled multiple fires across the parched, brush-filled region that hasn’t seen rain in more than eight months. The winds are predicted to pick up late Monday into early Tuesday, but they are not expected to reach hurricane-force like last week. However, they could ground firefighting aircraft, Marrone said, warning if winds reach 70 mph (112 kph), “it’s going to be very difficult to contain that fire.” Fire officials advised residents in high-risk areas to just leave home – and not wait for formal evacuation orders — if they sense danger. That’s exactly what Tim Kang of La Crescenta did last Wednesday. Feeling sick from the smoky air and fearful of nearby fires spreading, Kang and his brothers packed up and have stayed away from their neighborhood. “Everything just felt like, ‘Oh man, the world’s ending,’” said Kang, who’s staying with his girlfriend in Pasadena. In less than a week, four fires around the nation’s second-biggest city have scorched more than 62 square miles (160 square kilometers), roughly three times the size of Manhattan. The National Weather Service warned the weather will be “particularly dangerous” on Tuesday, when wind gusts could reach 65 mph (105 kph). A large part of Southern California around Los Angeles is under this extreme fire danger warning through Wednesday, including densely populated Thousand Oaks, Northridge and Simi Valley. The Eaton Fire near Pasadena is roughly one-third contained, while the largest blaze in Pacific Palisades on the coast is far less contained. The death toll is likely to rise, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said Monday. At least two dozen were missing, he said. Luna said he understands that people are eager to return to their homes and neighborhoods to survey the damage, but he asked for their patience. “We have people literally looking for the remains of your neighbors,” he said. At a Monday evening community meeting about the Palisades Fire, a Los Angeles Police Department official said many people reported as missing had been found. It wasn’t clear if there was overlap in the numbers shared by the sheriff. The slower winds over the weekend allowed some people to return to previously evacuated areas. Many had no idea if their homes or neighborhoods were still standing. Jim Orlandini, who lost his hardware store in Altadena, a hard-hit neighborhood next to Pasadena, said his home of 40 years survived. “The whole time I was thinking, I don’t know what I’m going to find when I get back here and after 40 years, you know, you got a lot of stuff you forget about that would disappear if the house burned down. So we’re thankful that it didn’t.” LA city Fire Chief Kristin Crowley urged people to stay away from burned neighborhoods filled with broken gas lines and unstable buildings. Just under 100,000 in Los Angeles County remained under evacuation orders, half the number from last week. Firefighters over the weekend fought flames in Mandeville Canyon — home to Arnold Schwarzenegger and other celebrities — after the Palisades Fire spread, prompting new evacuation orders. Crews continued battling there Monday before potentially strong winds could push the flames toward the famous J. Paul Getty Museum and the University of California, Los Angeles. Beyoncé, Disney and other celebrities and entertainment organizations have pledged millions to help those who have been displaced or lost their homes. Other stars — and ordinary people — have left large donations of clothing and other items along street corners in around the city. Dozens of people have been arrested for looting after the wildfires. Officials are now starting to see price gouging and scams, including with hotels and short-term rentals and medical supplies, said Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman. The fires that began Tuesday north of downtown LA have burned more than 12,000 homes, cars and other structures. Authorities haven’t determined an official cause for any of the fires. Southern California Edison has acknowledged agencies are investigating whether its equipment may have started a smaller blaze. A lawsuit filed Monday claims the utility’s equipment sparked the much bigger Eaton Fire. Edison did not respond to a request for comment and last week said it had not received any suggestions that its equipment ignited that blaze. AccuWeather’s early estimates suggest the fires could be the nation’s costliest ever, topping $250 billion including what’s to come in the next days. The reconstruction cost for commercial and residential properties inside areas with active fires could be $14.8 billion, according to real estate data tracker CoreLogic. ___ Watson reported from San Diego and Seewer reported from Toledo, Ohio. Associated Press journalists Jaimie Ding in Los Angeles, Holly Ramer in Concord, New Hampshire, Julie Walker in New York, Sophia Tareen in Chicago, Ben Finley in Norfolk, Virginia, and Mead Gruver in Cheyenne, Wyoming, contributed. Brought to you by www.srnnews.com

AURORA, Colo. (AP) — A Colorado apartment complex where armed members of a Venezuelan gang were caught on video entering a unit last summer is expected to close in about a month under an emergency court order, city officials said Monday. The city of Aurora had pursued a lawsuit to declare all but one building at the complex a criminal nuisance. Officials last week asked a judge to close the property in the meantime, arguing the situation reached a “breaking point” following the violent kidnapping and assault of two residents last month. The city’s request was granted Friday ahead of a court hearing Monday. Lawyers for the property owner, CBZ Management, dispute the city’s allegations and have asked for a trial to decide the lawsuit. However, the process to close the building will still continue as the lawsuit plays out in court, Aurora City Attorney Pete Schulte said at a news conference following the hearing. A lawyer representing the property owner, Stan Garnett, said he was not authorized to comment on the order. While CBZ Management has previously said it was unable to provide maintenance to the complex because a notorious Venezuelan gang, Tren de Aragua, took over the buildings, the city has said the company created the problem by abandoning the running of them, which created a vacuum that let crime flourish. Aurora Police Chief Todd Chamberlain backed the closure, saying in a court filing that the complex had become a hub for crime because of a “criminal element that has exerted control and fear” over residents. After the hearing, Chamberlain said he believed that members of Tren de Aragua were part of the problem there, noting that federal authorities say seven of the suspects in the kidnapping and assault are members of the gang. However, Chamberlain said gang members had not taken over the complex and emphasized that the main problem was the lack of management and oversight by the property’s owners. The city said it is working with the surrounding county and others to provide relocation assistance to residents in 52 affected apartments. The footage of the armed men at the complex from August drew the attention of President-elect Donald Trump during the presidential campaign. During a rally in Aurora in September, Trump announced a plan called “Operation Aurora” to target migrant gangs. Four of the six men shown in the August video have since been arrested, according to Aurora police. There was speculation at the time the video circulated that it showed members of a gang. Authorities did not confirm a connection until December when Immigration and Customs Enforcement said two suspects from the video who were arrested in New York were members of Tren de Aragua. According to Colorado court documents, the rifle seen in the video was used in a fatal shooting about 10 minutes later outside the apartment complex. It was found disassembled in an oven in one of the apartments, according to an arrest warrant. The city did not seek the closure of a sixth building at the complex because a different branch of CMZ owns it. That building is being managed by a court-appointed official at the request of the mortgage lender who is making improvements to the building, according to the city. Brought to you by www.srnnews.com