POLICE SAY A BURNING TESLA BATTERY PREVENTED THEM FROM SAVING A DRIVER INVOLVED IN WHAT BECAME A DEADLY CAR CRASH.

THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED TUESDAY NIGHT IN TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA.

ACCORDING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS-

A 2025 TESLA MODEL Y WAS TRAVELING SOUTHBOUND WHEN, FOR UNKNOWN REASONS, IT SWERVED TO THE RIGHT, STRUCK A TRAFFIC POLE, AND CAUGHT FIRE.

OFFICERS REPORTED THE DRIVER WAS LEFT TRAPPED INSIDE THE VEHICLE-

BUT THEIR ATTEMPTS TO RESCUE THE PERSON FAILED, DUE TO THE INTENSITY OF THE FLAMES AND HEAT PREVENTING THEM FROM REACHING THE OCCUPANT.

FIREFIGHTERS RESPONDED, BUT THEIR EFFORTS TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES WERE COMPLICATED BY THE LITHIUM-ION BATTERY THAT POWERS THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE-

WITH FLAMES REPORTEDLY SHOOTING UP FIVE TO TEN FEET INTO THE AIR

THE DRIVER, WHO WAS THE SOLE OCCUPANT, WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE.

THIS INCIDENT MARKS THE LATEST EXAMPLE OF THE SAFETY RISKS EMERGENCY CREWS CAN FACE WHEN RESPONDING TO INCIDENTS THAT INVOLVE EVS-

A PROBLEM STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS HAS REPORTED ON IN THE PAST.

ACCORDING TO A 2020 REPORT BY THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD, LITHIUM-ION BATTERIES IN ELECTRIC VEHICLES CAN POSE CHALLENGES FOR FIRST RESPONDERS-

DUE TO RISKS OF REIGNITION AND ELECTRIC SHOCK WHILE BATTLING FLAMES THAT CAN BURN OVER 3,000 DEGREES HOTTER THAN A REGULAR FIRE.

THE VICTIM OF THIS LATEST ACCIDENT HAS YET TO BE IDENTIFIED AND THE FATAL CRASH REMAINS UNDER INVESTIGATION-

WITH THE TORRANCE POLICE DEPARTMENT ASKING ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO CONTACT THEM.

FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS, I’M JACK AYLMER.

[Kennedy Felton]

A MANHUNT IS UNDERWAY FOR AN ARMED AND DANGEROUS WOMAN ACCUSED IN THE DEATH OF A U-S BORDER PATROL AGENT IN VERMONT.

INVESTIGATORS BELIEVE THE FATAL SHOOTING IS TIED TO AN ALLEGED RADICAL CULT ON THE WEST COAST THAT’S LINKED TO AT LEAST THREE OTHER MURDERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. 

MICHELLE ZAJKO (ZAI-ko) IS BELIEVED TO HAVE SUPPLIED THE GUNS USED TO KILL BORDER AGENT DAVID MALAND (MAy-land) DURING A TRAFFIC STOP NEAR THE CANADIAN BORDER ON JANUARY 20TH.
THE ALBANY TIMES UNION REPORTS THAT (ZAI-ko) PURCHASED TWO HAND GUNS FOUND AT THE SCENE OF MALAND’S DEATH. THE GUNS WERE ALLEGEDLY USED BY THE ACCUSED KILLER TERESA YOUNGBLUT. 

YOUNGBLUT’S PASSENGER – FELIX BAUCKHOLT … A GERMAN CITIZEN … WAS ALSO ARMED … AND WAS FATALLY SHOT BY AGENTS AT THE SCENE AFTER YOUNGBLUT REPORTEDLY OPENED FIRE, KILLING MALAND.

YOUNGBLUT WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY AND REMAINS BEHIND BARS IN VERMONT.

MEANWHILE, AS THE SEARCH FOR (ZAI-ko) CONTINUES… THE TIMES UNION SAYS SHE’S ALSO WANTED FOR THE SHOOTING DEATHS OF HER PARENTS INSIDE THEIR PENNSYLVANIA HOME IN JANUARY 20-23 .

ACCORDING TO COURT RECORDS … ZAJKO IS ALSO A “PERSON OF INTEREST” IN *ANOTHER* MURDER … OF A CALIFORNIA LANDLORD EARLIER THIS YEAR.

POLICE WERE ABLE TO MAKE AN ARREST IN THE CASE, FINDING THE SUSPECT HAD A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUNGBLUT.

ACCORDING TO COURT RECORDS, THE PAIR WAS IN “FREQUENT CONTACT WITH EACH OTHER” PRIOR TO THE KILLINGS ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE COUNTRY … JUST THREE DAYS APART.

THIS IS WHERE THE ALLEGED CULT COMES IN … AS INVESTIGATORS CONNECT THE DOTS BETWEEN ALL OF THE INDIVIDUALS ALLEGEDLY INVOLVED IN THE KILLINGS.

AUTHORITIES BELIEVE THEY’RE ALL PART OF AN EXTREMIST GROUP IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA RUN BY A TRANSGENDER WOMAN … LEGALLY NAMED “JACK LASOTA” … WHO GOES BY THE NAME “ZIZ.”

ACCORDING TO COURT RECORDS … “ZIZ” TAKES ON A VIOLENT PHILOSOPHY BASED ON VEGANISM, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND TRANSGENDERISM.

IN A NEW EPISODE OF THE “TRUE ANON” PODCAST … TITLED “THE ZIZIAN MURDER CULT” – THE HOSTS DISCUSS THE GROUP … WITH MEMBERS WHO CALL THEMSELVES “ZIZIANS” AND FOLLOW THE “RATIONALISM” THEORY.

“they’re all basically kind of meeting under this big world view … which is basically is the belief that nothing like no fear of political correctness or uncontrollable or unwanted emotion should get in the way of a human’s ability to see the world as it is”

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTS … “ZIZ” IS CURRENTLY FACING CHARGES OF OBSTRUCTING LAW ENFORCEMENT AND DISORDERLY CONDUCT IN PENNSYLVANIA.

AUTHORITIES HAVEN’T SAID WHETHER THOSE CHARGES ARE RELATED TO THE MURDER OF ZAJKO’S PARENTS, BUT COURT RECORDS SHOW POLICE WERE SEARCHING FOR A GUN USED IN THE KILLINGS WHEN THEY ARRESTED “ZIZ” 12 DAYS LATER AT A HOTEL ABOUT 10 MILES FROM THE SCENE OF THE KILLINGS. 

“ZIZ” ALSO PREVIOUSLY LIVED AT THE PROPERTY IN CALIFORNIA BELONGING TO CURTIS LIND– THE LANDLORD WHO WAS KILLED.

HIS JANUARY 17TH DEATH CAME TWO YEARS AFTER HE SURVIVED A SAMURAI SWORD ATTACK ALLEGEDLY BY TWO KNOWN “ZIZIANS”  WHO LIVED IN BOX TRUCKS ON HIS PROPERTY.

“ZIZ” WAS NOT NAMED IN THIS CASE.

LIND’S FAMILY POSTED ON GO FUND ME … SAYING QUOTE ..

“HIS MURDER WAS A SENSELESS ACT. HE WAS A SENIOR CITIZEN TRYING TO LIVE HIS LIFE TO THE BEST OF HIS ABILITIES DESPITE HOW MUCH HE WAS GOING THROUGH PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY AFTER BEING ATTACKED 2 YEARS AGO.”

WE MAY LEARN MORE DETAILS WHEN THE SUSPECT IN THE CASE MAKES A COURT APPEARANCE IN FEBRUARY.

THE FAMILY OF MALAND … THE BORDER AGENT WHO WAS KILLED SAYS HE WAS “A DEVOTED AGENT WHO SERVED WITH HONOR AND BRAVERY. HE HAD A TREMENDOUS RESPECT AND PRIDE FOR THE WORK HE DID; HE TRULY EMBODIED SERVICE OVER SELF.”

YOUNGBLUT – WHO’S CHARGED IN THAT MURDER IS SCHEDULED TO APPEAR IN COURT FEBRUARY SEVENTH.

AS FOR THE CURRENT MANHUNT FOR ZAJKO … POLICE BELIEVE SHE IS DRIVING A GREEN 20-13 SUBARU OUTBACK WITH AN EXPIRED VERMONT REGISTRATION.

FOR SAN I’M KENNEDY FELTON.

FOR ALL YOUR LATEST NEWS HEADLINES – DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP TODAY.

[RYAN ROBERTSON]

THE ARMED FORCES OF UKRAINE SAYS IT HASN’T SEEN NORTH KOREAN TROOPS ON THE FRONTLINES IN RUSSIA’S KURSK REGION IN WEEKS,

A SPOKESEPERSON FOR UKRAINE’S MILITARY SPECIAL FORCES SAYS HE BELIEVES IT’S BECAUSE OF ALL THE MASS CASUALTIES THOSE SOLDIERS SUFFERED.

AT THE END OF LAST YEAR, AROUND 12-THOUSAND NORTH KOREAN TROOPS WERE DEPLOYED TO RUSSIA AND UKRAINE SAYS AROUND FOUR THOUSAND WERE EITHER KILLED OR INJURED SINCE THEN

UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY ANNOUNCED LAST WEEK IN DAVOS THAT DESPITE RUSSIA’S 60-THOUSAND TROOPS IN KURSK AND 12-THOUSAND NORTH KOREANS, UKRAINIAN FORCES REMAIN IN THE REGION…FIGHTING TO HOLD ONTO RUSSIAN LAND IN THE HOPES OF HAVING A BETTER BARGAINING CHIP SHOULD PEACE TALKS START. 

THE INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF WAR, A D-C-BASED MILITARY THINK-TANK, ALSO REPORTS KYIV RECENTLY MADE SOME ADVANCEMENTS IN KURSK.

WHILE RUSSIA’S DEFENSE MINISTRY SAYS MOSCOW’S FORCES RECAPTURED A KURSK VILLAGE ON THE BORDER OF RUSSIA AND UKRAINE.

UKRAINIAN MILITARY OFFICIALS SAY THEY BELIEVE PYONGYANG SENT HIGHLY-TRAINED SOLDIERS BUT MOSCOW REALLY ONLY USED THEM TO CARRY OUT GROUND ASSAULTS AND MEAT-WAVE ATTACKS–MAKING EASY TARGETS FOR UKRAINIAN FIGHTERS AND DRONE PILOTS. 

SO FAR, NEITHER MOSCOW NOR PYONYANG PUBLICLY MENTIONED THE PRESENCE OF NORTH KOREAN SOLDIERS IN UKRAINE.

THOUGH, AS WE REPORTED, LAST YEAR, MONTHS BEFORE THOUSANDS OF PYONGYANG SOLDIERS WENT TO FIGHT IN RUSSIA’S WAR, DICTATOR VLADIMIR PUTIN AND KIM JONG UN SIGNED A KEY DEFENSE AGREEMENT PROMISING TO AID EACH OTHER IN CASE OF AN ATTACK.

IN ADDITION TO THE TROOPS, PYONGYANG ALSO SUPPLIED RUSSIA WITH MILLIONS OF ARTILLERY SHELLS, ROCKETS AND MISSILES, ACCORDING TO WESTERN INTELLIGENCE.

FOR MORE ON THIS STORY– DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP OR VISIT SAN DOT COM.

FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS– I’M RYAN ROBERTSON.

[Jack Aylmer]

WHAT WAS ONCE THE WORLD’S LARGEST SOLAR POWER PLANT OF ITS KIND MAY SOON CLOSE-

MORE THAN A DECADE BEFORE IT WAS SUPPOSED TO.

UTILITY OFFICIALS SAY CUTTING TIES WITH THE PLANT WILL ACTUALLY RESULT IN CHEAPER ENERGY PRICES FOR CONSUMERS-

AS THE FACILITY HAS ALSO FACED ALLEGATIONS OF BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR THOUSANDS OF WILDLIFE DEATHS.

OPENED IN 2014, THE IVANPAH SOLAR POWER PLANT IS LOCATED ACROSS FIVE SQUARE MILES IN THE MOJAVE DESERT NEAR THE CALIFORNIA-NEVADA BORDER.

THE 2.2 BILLION DOLLAR FACILITY HAS STRUGGLED TO COMPETE WITH NEWER, CHEAPER SOLAR TECHNOLOGIES.

THE IVANPAH PLANT OPERATES USING CONCENTRATED SOLAR POWER TECHNOLOGY-

IN WHICH THOUSANDS OF MIRRORS FOCUS SUNLIGHT ONTO TOWERS TO GENERATE STEAM-POWERED ELECTRICITY. 

BUT INDUSTRY ADVANCEMENTS IN SOLAR PANELS AND BATTERY STORAGE HAVE MADE OTHER RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES MORE COST-EFFECTIVE.

AS A RESULT, CALIFORNIA’S TWO LARGEST POWER PROVIDERS HAVE INDICATED THEY WANT TO TERMINATE THEIR CONTRACTS WITH THE PLANT.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON IS IN TALKS FOR A POTENTIAL BUYOUT OF ITS CONTRACT-

WHILE PACIFIC GAS AND ELECTRIC HAS ALREADY ANNOUNCED AN AGREEMENT WITH THE FACILITY’S OWNERS TO END ITS CONTRACTS.

IF THE CONTRACT TERMINATION WITH PACIFIC GAS AND ELECTRIC IS APPROVED BY REGULATORS-

TWO OF THE PLANT’S THREE UNITS WOULD SHUT DOWN IN 2026-

13 YEARS AHEAD OF SCHEDULE.

MEANWHILE, CONSERVATIONISTS HAVE WELCOMED NEWS OF THE IVANPAH PLANT’S POTENTIAL CLOSURE-

CALLING IT AN ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTER.

THEY SAY THE FACILITY HAS CAUSED NUMEROUS BIRD DEATHS FROM ITS INTENSE SOLAR REFLECTIONS-

INCINERATING ABOUT 6,000 MID-AIR EVERY YEAR.

AND HAVE ALSO BLAMED THE PLANT FOR DESTROYING HABITATS OF THE THREATENED DESERT TORTOISE.

IF THE AGREEMENTS TO END POWER CONTRACTS WITH IVANPAH ARE FINALIZED-

ITS OWNERS HAVE INDICATED THE SITE MAY BE REPURPOSED FOR SOLAR PANELS IN THE FUTURE- 

THOUGH DETAILS ON THE DECOMMISSIONING PROCESS OR FUTURE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE TRANSITION HAVE YET TO BE PROVIDED.

TO GET MORE STORIES ABOUT THE RENEWABLE ENERGY SECTOR, DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP AND SIGN UP FOR ALERTS FROM ME- JACK AYLMER.

[CRAIG NIGRELLI]

CHINA IS BUILDING THE WORLD’S LARGEST MILITARY COMMAND CENTER.

AT LEAST TEN TIMES BIGGER THAN THE PENTAGON.

THAT’S WHAT U-S INTELLIGENCE OFFICERS TOLD THE FINANCIAL TIMES.

SATELLITE IMAGES OBTAINED BY THE NEWS OUTLET SHOW ABOUT A 15-HUNDRED ACRE SITE JUST SOUTHWEST OF BEIJING.

THOSE INTEL OFFICERS BELIEVE THIS COMPLEX COULD BE A “DOOMSDAY” BUNKER FOR THE PEOPLE’S LIBERATION ARMY’S TOP BRASS IN CASE OF NUCLEAR WAR.

WHEN FINISHED, THE COMMAND CENTER, DUBBED “BEIJING MILITARY CITY” MAKES THE CURRENT WORLD’S LARGEST MILITARY COMMAND CENTER, THE PENTAGON, LOOK TINY IN COMPARISON.

INTELLIGENCE EXPERTS ALSO NOTE, THE IMAGES OF THE CONSTRUCTION SITE TAKEN IN MID-2024, ARE FITTING FOR BEIJING AS THE P-L-A PREPARES FOR ITS 100TH ANNIVERSARY IN 2027.

IT ALSO COMES AS CHINESE PRESIDENT XI JINPING REPEATEDLY VOWS TO REUNIFY WITH TAIWAN IN 2027 USING FORCE IF NECESSARY.THE SELF-GOVERNING ISLAND HAS DEFENSEIVE AGREEMENTS IN PLACE WITH THE UNITED STATES, AND THE U-S IS DEPENDENT ON TAIWAN FOR MOST OF THE MICROCHIPS WHICH MAKE ELECTRONICS WORK. 

BUT BACK TO THE COMPLEX–A FORMER C-I-A ANALYST SUSPECTS CHINA’S NEW FACILITY IS MEANT TO ENHANCE BEIJING’S “NUCLEAR WAR-FIGHTING CAPABILITY.”

AROUND 100 CRANES WERE OBSERVED OPERATING AT THE THREE-MILE SITE, CONSTRUCTING UNDERGROUND FACILITIES CONNECTED BY  TUNNELS.

THE FINANCIAL TIMES REPORTED THERE IS NO MILITARY PRESENCE CURRENTLY AT THE SITE, BUT IT HAS ALL THE HALLMARKS OF A SENSITIVE MILITARY SITE. POPULAR HIKING TRAILS NEAR THE INSTALLATION ARE CLOSED AND ACCESS TO THE GROUNDS IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED.

THERE ARE ALSO SIGNS WARNING AGAINST FLYING DRONES OR TAKING PICTURES AND THE BACK OF THE PROJECT IS BLOCKED OFF BY A CHECKPOINT.

AS WE’VE REPORTED ON BEFORE, BEIJING IS BEEFING UP ITS NUCLEAR ARSENAL AND THE PENTAGON ESTIMATES CHINA WILL HAVE 15-HUNDRED NUCLEAR WEAPONS BY 2035.

BEIJING ALSO APPEARS TO BE BUILDING A MASSIVE NUCLEAR FUSION CENTER IN THE SOUTHWEST CITY OF MIANYANG, WHICH COULD ALLOW FOR NEW NUCLEAR WEAPONS DESIGNS AND THE HOUSING OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS.

FOR MORE ON THIS STORY– DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP OR VISIT SAN DOT COM.

FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS– I’M RYAN ROBERTSON.

[KENNEDY FELTON]

IT WAS ONE OF DISNEY’S MOST AMBITIOUS AND IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCES – PART HOTEL, PART LIVE-ACTION ROLEPLAY, ALL SET IN A GALAXY FAR FAR AWAY.

But less than two years after opening, the Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser permanently closed its doors in Orlando, Florida. Now, the multi-million dollar space is getting a second life, but not in the way fans might expect.

THE WRAP REPORTS THE HOTEL WILL BE TRANSFORMED INTO A WALT DISNEY IMAGINEERING OFFICE… THE BRANCH OF THE COMPANY RESPONSIBLE FOR DESIGNING THE CREATIVE ASPECTS OF DISNEY FROM THEME PARKS TO CRUISE SHIPS.

The former luxury spacecruiser hotel was once a two-night all-inclusive experience that came with a hefty price tag – $4,800 for two guests and $6,000 for a family of four.

DISNEY ORIGINALLY MARKETED THE HOTEL AS A FULLY IMMERSIVE STAR WARS ADVENTURE WHERE GUESTS COULD LIVE OUT THEIR OWN STORYLINE… INTERACT WITH CHARACTERS… AND EVEN ATTEND LIGHTSABER TRAINING.

“You’re provided with a trip itinerary which blocks out pretty much everything, almost down to the minute. You’re better off thinking of it as a summer camp. Space camp, if you like.” – JENNY NICHOLSON, YOUTUBER

Jenny Nicholson is an immersive entertainment YouTuber who shared her experience at the hotel in a four-hour video last year titled ‘The Spectacular Failure of the Star Wars Hotel.’ The video—with nearly 12 million views as of Friday—breaks down why it wasn’t worth it. She shows herself walking through the hotel, attending themed dinner shows, and playing mini-games she described as boring. Her video went viral, amassing three million views within just a few days—a reaction many believe contributed to the hotel’s premature closing.

It sparked widespread discussions across various platforms in response to Nicholson’s video. Some users even shared personal experiences echoing her sentiments.

“Based on our experience I do not think the star cruiser is worth the money at this time. I know that it just opened but I really thought that Disney would have some of these kinks worked out.” – AmberHeartsDisney, Reddit user

And while other die-hard fans of the franchise praised the detailed storytelling, saying – “The service throughout was at a level even beyond Disney’s normally high standards and the actors were incredible.” – silver_moon21, Reddit user

The impact of Nicholson’s video led to Disney filing a copyright claim against it, citing the use of background music from their marketing clips.

Nicholson addressed the situation on X shortly after, saying Disney tried and failed to copyright claim her video.

So for now—instead of a Star Wars escape for guests, the space will serve as an office for the team behind Disney’s biggest—and maybe even their next—attractions.

With SAN, I’m KF. Download our app or visit SAN.com for more.