Good Morning! Today’s edition is 1,032 words, a 4-minute read.

What’s on tap: 

• LA wildfires update

• Ukraine captures North Korean soldiers

• Most livable US cities

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Big Story

LA Wildfires Update

Massive wildfires are still burning in Los Angeles.

• Flames have consumed entire neighborhoods, destroying 12,000 structures, killing at least 24 people, and leaving 16 missing. Only 11% of the Palisades Fire is under control, while 27% of the Eaton Fire is contained.

• Strong Santa Ana winds are expected to pick back up and last through Wednesday, keeping the threat high. The winds spread embers which spark new fires and make the blazes hard to contain.

• President Joe Biden has declared the fires a major disaster, which unlocks federal aid to support affected residents. FEMA can now assist with home repairs, food, and medicine replacements.

• Meanwhile, officials have declared a public health emergency due to the toxic smoke created by the fire. The smoke from burning houses and buildings contains caustic chemicals, making it more dangerous than brush and tree wildfires.

• Accuweather updated its preliminary damage cost estimate to $135-$150 billion.

Big Story

Blue Origin Launch

Jeff Bezos’ space company, Blue Origin, is set to launch its first orbital rocket today.

• The rocket, called New Glenn, is named after astronaut John Glenn and stands 320 feet tall. It is designed as a "heavy-lift" rocket, which can carry up to 45 tons into orbit. While it can’t lift as much as SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy, its wider payload capacity makes it ideal for larger objects.

• New Glenn’s reusable first-stage booster can handle up to 25 flights, but the rocket must land on a drone ship in the ocean, a challenging maneuver Blue Origin is attempting for the first time.

• Bezos plans to use New Glenn rockets to deploy satellites for his Project Kuiper internet service to compete with SpaceX's Starlink. However, Blue Origin hasn’t placed a single satellite, while Starlink has over 6,000 and provides internet in 60 countries.

Big Story

Scientists Drill into 1-Million-Year-Old Ice

Scientists in Antarctica have drilled a 1.7-mile-long ice core, uncovering air pockets trapped for over 1.2 million years.

• The ice provides a direct glimpse into Earth’s ancient climate, surpassing previous cores that revealed up to 800,000 years of history. The drilling reached bedrock at Little Dome C Field Camp where summer temperatures average -31°F.

• The ancient ice will help scientists study the Mid-Pleistocene Transition, a period 900,000 to 1.2 million years ago when glacial cycles shifted from 41,000-year intervals to 100,000 years. The reasons behind this change remain a mystery, but this ice core could reveal new insights into how Earth's climate evolved.

• Now that drilling is complete, the ice core will be carefully transported to Europe for analysis. Keeping the core at -58°F during the journey is a major logistical challenge, and specialized cold containers will protect the core as it travels.

Quick Stories

US News

• Vice President-elect JD Vance said that individuals who protested peacefully on Jan. 6, 2021, should be pardoned. However, he emphasized that those who committed violence on that day shouldn’t be. (More)

• Special Counsel Jack Smith has resigned from the Justice Department after submitting his investigative report on President-elect Donald Trump. The resignation follows the conclusion of two unsuccessful criminal prosecutions against Trump. (More)

• President Biden awarded Pope Francis the Presidential Medal of Freedom with distinction, the highest US civilian honor. Biden planned to deliver the honor in Rome but canceled his trip due to wildfires in Los Angeles. (More)

World

• At least 30 people were injured in a tram collision at Strasbourg's central station on Saturday. Social media footage shows smoke and chaotic scenes as alarms blared, with passengers trapped inside the trams. (More)

• The flight data and cockpit voice recorders on the Jeju Air crash that killed 197 people in South Korea stopped recording four minutes before impact at Muan Airport. Investigators are analyzing why the black boxes failed. (More)

• Ukraine captured two North Korean soldiers in Kursk. Zelenskyy announced plans to allow journalists access to the prisoners, aiming to shed light on Pyongyang's role in the conflict. (More)

Business & Economy

• US stock markets closed lower on Friday (S&P -1.54%, Nasdaq -01.63%, Dow -1.63%). Stocks dropped on Friday after a hot jobs report diminished Wall Street’s expectations for more rate cuts in 2025. (More)

• Chuck E. Cheese is making a comeback after its parent company’s pandemic-related bankruptcy. It has added a subscription service, trampoline attractions, and an updated menu. Additionally, the company phased out its animatronic band. (More)

• Walgreens exceeded fiscal Q1 expectations for earnings and revenue as it continues to close stores and cut costs to improve its financial position. The positive news caused the company’s shares to surge by 27%. (More)

Sports & Entertainment

• In NFL playoff action over the weekend, the Texans beat the Chargers 32-12, while the Ravens defeated the Steelers 28-14. The Bills dominated the Broncos 31-7, and the Eagles secured a 22-10 victory over the Packers. (More)

• Duke freshman Cooper Flagg scored 42 points in an 86-78 victory over Notre Dame. His tally set the ACC and school single-game scoring record for a freshman. (More)

• Sam Moore, the legendary soul singer of the 1960s duo Sam and Dave, died at 89 in Coral Gables, Florida, due to complications following surgery. He was known for hits like "Hold On, I’m Comin’" and "Soul Man.” (More)

Science, Health, & Tech

• A study in JAMA by BIDMC researchers found that patient care and staff responsiveness worsened in US hospitals after private equity acquisition. The decline worsened with each additional year post-acquisition compared to non-acquired hospitals. (More)

• A study by Washington State University suggests elderberry juice can boost metabolism and gut health because its high anthocyanin content helps lower blood sugar and enhance fat burning. (More)

• Scientists in the Czech Republic identified a new species of brightly colored crayfish after purchasing a shipment from an Indonesian pet wholesaler. (More)

Extra Credit

🏙️ The 20 most livable cities in the US.

👆️ Why do we say “up the wazoo?”

🫀 The five organs your body can’t live without.

🛩️ You can now book an Airbnb in Pablo Escobar’s private jet.