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Paralyzed by heaps of post-fire paperwork? Here are 8 tips to get started
LOS ANGELES -- With containment of the Palisades and Eaton fires improving, some residents are now returning to their neighborhoods to sift through the rubble. But the thousands of victims whose homes or businesses have burned down or been damaged are now facing a thicket of post-fire paperwork.
That may include navigating confusing web portals...Read more
Jerry Zezima: Something to sneeze at
As the very model of the modern medical marvel, I have survived an aortic aneurysm, a terrible bout of COVID-19 and, worst of all, a nasty paper cut.
Not to be outdone, my wife, Sue, lived through a heart attack, came down with COVID, too, and underwent painful hand surgery.
But we recently had to deal with the most daunting of medical ...Read more
Gustavo Arellano: The shrine to Mexican horse culture that's now a sanctuary from the fires
As Fernando Lopez Sr. watched live footage of the wildfires raging across Southern California last week, he immediately thought of horses.
The 47-year-old is general manager of the Pico Rivera Sports Arena, the rodeo ring next to the San Gabriel River that has been a shrine to Mexican horse culture for decades. Lopez's extended family, who run ...Read more
The sneaker market is in decline. The sneaker convention is adapting to stay current
MIAMI -- On a recent Saturday at a sneaker convention in Fort Lauderdale, Jay Samuels stood behind a table full of Nike and Adidas sneakers he was hoping to sell.
“Hey, $50!” he yelled as he held up a slightly worn pair of Kanye West Yeezys, now relics of a bygone era following the musician’s acrimonious split from Adidas. After failing ...Read more
Heidi Stevens: Yes, 2025 is off to a heartbreaking start. And we can help heal it
January started off cruel and stayed there.
At least 14 people were killed and dozens more were injured in the early morning hours of New Year’s Day when a driver intentionally slammed his truck into a crowd of people in New Orleans. The suspect died in a shootout with police, leaving families forever shattered and a nation rattled.
...Read more
Famous on TikTok, One Minute Tours guy goes long with new YouTube series
MINNEAPOLIS -- John O’Sullivan was surrounded by studio lights, a gigantic screen and professional cameras. Producers fiddled with them, giving him just a minute before filming.
But a minute is all O’Sullivan needs.
Without warning, without rehearsal, he pulled out his cellphone and filmed a “sneak peek” that he’d later post to his ...Read more
What is skijoring like in Colorado? 'The most fun you can have with your pants on'
Richard Weber III proudly comes from a long line of Western Slope ranchers, and on a recent bluebird day with subfreezing temperatures, he looked the part. Standing amidst a crowd at the Ouray County Fairgrounds, Weber wore a red button-down shirt and blue jeans with a sparkling silver belt buckle.
On his feet, however, were a pair of ski boots...Read more
Millions watch as they swim with gators, snatch snakes. Meet the Everglades influencers
MIAMI -- For many people, visiting the Everglades means staring out the car window at seemingly endless sawgrass marsh in between stops to ride an airboat packed with tourists, stroll a boardwalk or swat mosquitoes.
But millions of others wade deep into pristine sloughs and isolated cypress stands and come face-to-face with all sorts of amazing...Read more
Nuccio's Nurseries' famous camellias survived the Eaton fire. But with no water, what now?
LOS ANGELES -- After 90 years of breeding and selling rare camellias and azaleas to customers all over the world, Nuccio's Nurseries in Altadena is expected to close by the end of 2025. But the ongoing Eaton fire and its ashy aftermath don't appear to be offering the ending the nursery's owners had in mind.
The Eaton fire swept into the Chaney ...Read more
Does your home reek of wildfire smoke? Here's how to get rid of it -- safely
If you were lucky enough to get through the L.A. wildfires with your home still intact, you might be facing another problem: that smell.
As anyone who ever tried concealing the clingy smell of cigarettes from their parents may remember, the acrid odor of smoke is hard to hide and harder to remove. Here are experts' answers to all your smoke ...Read more
Heidi Stevens: Yes, 2025 is off to a heartbreaking start. And we can help heal it
January started off cruel and stayed there.
At least 14 people were killed and dozens more were injured in the early morning hours of New Year’s Day when a driver intentionally slammed his truck into a crowd of people in New Orleans. The suspect died in a shootout with police, leaving families forever shattered and a nation rattled.
...Read more
Minneapolis artist constructs 17-foot ice tower in his front yard
MINNEAPOLIS -- A Minneapolis resident took the Twin Cities’ dreary January days into his own hands, creating a winter wonderland while waiting for snow.
Nate Rylander is known for amusing his Longfellow neighborhood with creative holiday displays. This month, he spent five freezing days sculpting water into ice. He blanketed fence post stakes...Read more
On Gardening: North Pole takes honors in 2025
Now that Christmas and New Years is over it is time to have a little talk about the North Pole. No, I am not referring to the home place of St. Nick, but North Pole arborvitae, Proven Winners Landscape Shrub of the Year for 2025.
While indeed it may correctly be classified as a shrub, many of you may think of it as a tree. North Pole arborvitae...Read more
Column: Her son committed murder and ruined lives. Now she's won an award for helping families rebuild theirs
Virginia Wyne Hammond, a family therapist, was living a contented family life. Her work ethic had brought her professional and personal success. Her long marriage to Wade Hammond III, a Philadelphia schoolteacher and former police officer, was peaceful. In 1977, they moved from West Philadelphia to Bryn Mawr and sent their two sons to Haverford ...Read more
This Philly dad has a Macy's Christmas Light Show tattoo. It means that much to his family
PHILADELPHIA -- Lance Sugarman keeps a secret up his sleeve that’s as sweet as his last name. It’s one about his past and his present, his family and his city, and his undying love of Christmas.
If he believes you to be a kindred spirit who loves Christmas, or Philly, or Christmas in Philly as much as he does, Sugarman will share his secret...Read more
Erika Ettin: How do I tell the person I'm dating to change?
As a dating coach, I sometimes have mixed feelings about what I learn in my job: On the one hand, I’m glad people feel comfortable enough with me to ask the questions they may not want to share broadly or ask their friends/family. And, on the other hand, well, sometimes I wish I didn’t know what goes on in the darkest depths of someone’s ...Read more
Ask Anna: Dating someone polyamorous? Here's what to consider before making the switch
Dear Anna,
I recently started dating someone who's polyamorous. I've always been monogamous but I find myself intrigued by the possibility of exploring this with her. However, I'm worried about jealousy and whether I'm considering this for the right reasons. How do I know if I'm genuinely open to polyamory or just afraid of losing her? — Mono...Read more
Tips to find the best air purifiers to protect against wildfire smoke
LOS ANGELES -- As buildings and brush continue to smolder in Los Angeles, a toxic soup of smoke, chemicals and particulate matter is being spread across the region by gusty winds, prompting a surge in interest in air purifying devices.
Web searches for "air purifier for wildfire smoke" in Los Angeles have increased by more than 5,000% since the...Read more
Laura Yuen: At 91, this Holocaust child survivor celebrates 80 years since her liberation
MINNEAPOLIS -- Eight decades after her family’s liberation from a Nazi labor camp, Reva Kibort sometimes feels the urge to call one of her four older siblings to ask something. A forgotten name of an uncle. A detail about their mother.
Then it dawns on her that she cannot. She is the only one left.
Kibort, 91, is the last living sibling from...Read more
LA fires: Is that GoFundMe account legit? How to spot scams when helping victims
LOS ANGELES -- Thousands of online GoFundMe fundraising campaigns have been created to support the victims of the devastating wildfires that have scorched portions of Los Angeles County, but officials are warning to be on the lookout for fraudulent GoFundMe accounts.
Since the first wildfire ignited Tuesday morning, GoFundMe campaigns created ...Read more
Popular Stories
- Does your home reek of wildfire smoke? Here's how to get rid of it -- safely
- What is skijoring like in Colorado? 'The most fun you can have with your pants on'
- Millions watch as they swim with gators, snatch snakes. Meet the Everglades influencers
- Heidi Stevens: Yes, 2025 is off to a heartbreaking start. And we can help heal it
- This Philly dad has a Macy's Christmas Light Show tattoo. It means that much to his family