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Strong winds once again fueled a Southern California brush fire on Monday evening, pushing the Auto Fire to spread through the Santa Clara Riverbed in Ventura dozens of firefighters worked to gain the upper hand.

In today's Boots on The Ground Report, Day 564, an in-depth update on the escalating tensions in Israel, with critical insights into the IDF's preparations against Hamas, northern strikes on Hezbollah targets, and the latest in hostage negotiations. A detailed look at the shifting alliances in the Middle East, including Turkey's growing rift with Iran and the international efforts to address the humanitarian crisis in Syria. Featuring updates on Israel's multi-front strategy, significant diplomatic moves, and a glimpse into the personal stories behind the headlines.

“He answered and said, ‘It is written, “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God”’” (Matthew 4:4). Above all, Satan’s temptations of Jesus Christ solicited His rebellion against the Father. But Jesus had come to earth to do the Father’s will and nothing else. In fact, His will and the Father’s were precisely the same (John 5:30; cf. 10:30; Heb. 10:9). Case in point: In the ultimate test of obedience, just prior to His arrest and betrayal, Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, “My Father, if it is...

The plan will feature a governing alternative to that of Hamas in the Gaza Strip which will include a reformed Palestinian Authority as well as elements from the international community and Arab states. With only a week left in office, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will present his plan post-war Gaza on Tuesday, Axios reported citing three US officials. .....

The Justice Department made public Volume I of Special Counsel Jack Smith’s final report on his now-closed investigations into President-elect Donald Trump, days before he is set to be sworn into office. Attorney General Merrick Garland released the first volume, which focuses on the election case against Trump, of Smith’s report on Tuesday at midnight after back-and-forth in the federal court system. An opening letter from Smith to Garland said that it is "laughable" that Trump believes the Biden administration, or other political actors, influenced or directed his decisions as a prosecutor, stating that he was guided by the Principles...

WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump has expressed frustration that flags will be flying at half-staff when he takes office later this month. ...On Dec. 29, Biden ordered that U.S. flags be flown at half-staff in honor of the late former president. It's an honor that indicates that the country or a state is in mourning. The U.S. flag code lays out parameters for lowering the U.S. flag to half-staff, including a 30-day period for current or former presidents to cover flags at federal government buildings and their grounds, as well as at U.S. embassies and other facilities abroad, including military...

A recall attempt to knock California Gov. Gavin Newsom out of office is underway as he faces sharp criticism for his handling of the Los Angeles wildfires – with opponents labeling his leadership as a “series of catastrophic failures.” Organizers against Newsom vowed to file papers in the next two weeks in hopes of jumpstarting the process that could lead to the Democrat’s ouster in the middle of his second term in the governor’s mansion. The state leader – along with Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass – is fighting for his political life as the wildfires have torched more than...

ST. CLAIR COUNTY, Ala. (WIAT) — St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office is conducting an investigation after a man was shot and killed during a robbery Sunday morning. According to SCCSO, Timothy Jones, 44, of Hale County, entered a gas station in Cropwell around 4:30 a.m. with a knife. The suspect was reportedly shot and killed by the store clerk during the robbery. St. Clair County Criminal Investigation Division is investigating.

SACRAMENTO, California — California Democrats have reached a $50 million agreement to shore up state and local legal defenses against the incoming Trump administration just a week ahead of the president-elect’s inauguration. Half the money would go to fending off any mass deportation plan the new president might enact early in his administration. The move — the first of its kind in the nation that positions California to lead a second term resistance against Donald Trump — comes as Republicans bash state Democratic leaders for focusing on a highly partisan issue even as the southern part of the state suffers...

Humans and mice exposed to long-wavelength red light had lower rates of blood clots that can cause heart attacks, lung damage and strokes, according to research led by surgeon-scientists. The team exposed mice to 12 hours of either red, blue or white light, followed by 12 hours of darkness, in a 72-hour cycle. They then looked for differences in blood clots between the groups. The mice exposed to red light had nearly five times fewer clots than the mice exposed to blue or white light. Activity, sleep, eating, weight and body temperature remained the same between the groups. The team...

Iron Maiden guitarist Adrian Smith is one of the many Los Angeles residents whose home was destroyed in the California wildfires, his wife Nathalie Dufresne-Smith revealed on social media. In a post featuring pictures of a sunset, she wrote, “We lost our house,” adding in the caption, “We are safe. We have each other. We will start again. #malibustrong.” She added, “Thank you for your support during these trying times.” …

New research has found that biomarker testing in individuals at risk of lung cancer led to a major reduction in deaths. This study, conducted with 12,000 smokers and ex-smokers, demonstrates how biomarkers—measurable indicators of biological changes—can identify individuals at high risk of lung cancer, leading to earlier detection and significantly improved outcomes. Professor Frank Sullivan led a large-scale trial involving 12,000 smokers and ex-smokers. The study found that testing high-risk individuals with biomarkers led to a 40% reduction in deaths from lung cancer and other causes over five years. Biomarkers are measurable indicators of biological processes, such as proteins or...

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has called for a campaign for the “liberation” of Puerto Rico from the United States. […] Although the chances of Puerto Rico being invaded appear unlikely, the comments serve as a reminder of the Venezuelan challenges that await President-elect Donald Trump when he returns to the White House on January 20. Maduro invoked Simón Bolívar, the Venezuelan soldier who liberated much of South America from Spanish rule, as he spoke about Puerto Rico. “Just as in the north they have a colonization agenda, we have a liberation agenda,” Maduro said during the closing of the International...

Researchers have found that intensive blood pressure (BP) control produces cardiovascular benefits and increases the risk of adverse events in people with chronic kidney disease (CKD). This approach was initially studied in the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT), a randomized trial with over 9,000 participants. The intervention demonstrated reduced cardiovascular events, mortality, and reduced rates of mild cognitive impairment. Intensive BP control consisted of treatment with antihypertensive medications to maintain a systolic BP below 120 mm Hg, as opposed to <140 mm Hg, the standard target at the time. The study included 85,938 VHA patients (75.7 years, 95% male)...

Adam is back from his evacuation to Vegas with an update on the state of his condo and the structures along California’s Pacific Coast Highway. He dives into viral clips sparked by the wildfires, including a black, female firefighter highlighting the importance of diversity in the LAFD and LA’s water chief explaining how the Department of Water & Power operates with “an equity lens.” Adam also reflects on his experience applying to become a firefighter and the one test that derailed his efforts. He discusses how the devastation in Los Angeles could potentially speed up rebuilding regulations, a dramatic confrontation...

A former high energy Democratic fundraiser, failed congressional candidate and social media influencer is now raising money for President-elect Donald Trump’s inaugural committee. Lindy Li made the shocking 180 after an extraordinary journey though a crazy year in Democratic politics culminating in Kamala Harris' historic loss to Donald Trump. ‘It’s been one of the most painful and rewarding moments of my life,’ Li told DailyMail.com in an exclusive interview. During the 2024 election, Lindy was considered a consummate Democratic influencer combined with her ability to fundraise for the Democratic Party. She was invited to join events with President Joe Biden,...

Nearly 60 workers of a Boston-area bakery and restaurant chain have quit their job after the IRS flagged their tax filings as possibly fraudulent. The Tatte chain said that the employees left their jobs after the IRS contacted them about “discrepancies” in the employee paperwork that showed names, social security numbers, and home addresses not matching to the agency’s records. The discrepancies are often seen when migrants use fake social security numbers or steal the identities of Americans in order to get work in the U.S. The Boston Globe followed up by interviewing some of those who quit the restaurant...

US Bishops Denounce Trump’s Immigration PlansThe Catholic Church has clear teachings on immigration, but US bishops stand to lose lots of money from mass deportations.Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago opposes Trump plan for deportationsAs President-elect Donald Trump is just days away from returning to the White House, American Catholic leaders are denouncing his immigration agenda. Chicago’s powerful Cardinal Blase Cupich warned in a recent interview that U.S. bishops “are going to have to be prophetic and denounce any abuse of human dignity that may occur” as Trump rolls out his mass deportation program. “We are going to be vigilant and...

-snip- When asked about his strategy to end the war, Trump told Newsmax: "Well, there's only one strategy and it's up to Putin and I can't imagine he's too thrilled about the way it's gone because it hasn't gone exactly well for him either. "And I know he wants to meet and I'm going to meet very quickly. I would've done it sooner but...you have to get into the office. For some of the things, you do have to be there." U.S. Congressman Mike Waltz, the incoming national security adviser, said on Sunday he expected a call between Trump and...