WE BEGIN WITH THE LATEST FROM SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA — WHERE THE IMAGES ARE STUNNING. 

THREE SEPARATE WILDFIRES ARE BURNING IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA WITH NO END IN SIGHT AS STRONG WINDS ARE FUELING THE FLAMES. 

WHILE ALL THREE FIRES ARE CURRENTLY ZERO PERCENT CONTAINED — THE MOST EXTREME OF THREE IS THE PALISADES FIRE WHICH SPANS NEARLY THREE THOUSAND ACRES AND HAS ALREADY FORCED 30-THOUSAND RESIDENTS TO EVACUATE. 

CITIES SURROUNDING PACIFIC PALISADES HAVE ISSUED EVACUATION ORDERS, INCLUDING MALIBU — WHICH IS TO THE WEST OF THE FIRE.    

OFFICIALS THERE HAVE TOLD ALL RESIDENTS TO PREPARE TO LEAVE THEIR HOMES, WHETHER THEY’RE UNDER EVACUATION ORDERS OR NOT, SINCE THE INFERNO IS MOVING SO QUICKLY. 

THE NEIGHBORING CITY OF SANTA MONICA ISSUED AN EVACUATION ORDER FOR THE NORTHERN PART OF THE CITY AND CLOSED THE AREA TO THE PUBLIC — WARNING OF AN IMMEDIATE THREAT TO LIFE. 

EVEN AS THOUSANDS OF FIREFIGHTERS BATTLE THE OUT-OF-CONTROL FLAMES, AUTHORITIES ARE WORKING TO FIGURE OUT THE CAUSE. 

A SECOND WILDFIRE — DUBBED THE EATON FIRE — IS BURNING NEAR PASADENA. 

A CITY SPOKESWOMAN SAYS IT HAS “CREATED ITS OWN FIRESTORM” — WITH FLYING EMBERS IGNITING AT LEAST A DOZEN OTHER BURNERS CALLED SPOT FIRES. 

SO FAR, THE EATON FIRE HAS CONSUMED ABOUT ONE THOUSAND ACRES. 

IT ENGULFED HOMES AND FORCED MORE THAN 100 PEOPLE TO EVACUATE FROM A NURSING HOME — SOME IN WHEELCHAIRS AND ON GURNEYS. 

A FEDERAL DISASTER DECLARATION IS NOW IN-EFFECT FOR THE EATON FIRE. 

AND FINALLY, CREWS ARE ALSO BATTLING THE HURST FIRE. 

THAT’S BURNING ABOUT 100 ACRES IN THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY, WHICH IS IN THE NORTHERN PART OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY — PROMPTING EVACUATION ORDERS THERE, AS WELL. 

SCHOOL IS CANCELED FOR TODAY IN 19 DISTRICTS ACROSS LOS ANGELES COUNTY AND MORE THAN 200-THOUSAND PEOPLE ARE WITHOUT ACCESS TO POWER, EITHER BECAUSE OF THE POWERFUL SANTA ANA WINDS OR BECAUSE A UTILITY PROVIDER TURNED OFF THEIR ELECTRICITY TO PREVENT ADDITIONAL FIRES.  THE FORECAST CALLS FOR THE WINDS TO CONTINUE FOR DAYS, PRODUCING  GUSTS THAT COULD TOP 100 MILES-AN-HOUR IN THE MOUNTAINS AND FOOTHILLS — INCLUDING IN AREAS THAT HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY RAIN IN MONTHS.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAS ASKED A FEDERAL APPEALS COURT TO BLOCK A PLEA AGREEMENT FOR ACCUSED 9/11 MASTERMIND KHALID SHEIKH MOHAMMED. 

THE CONTROVERSIAL DEAL WOULD SPARE MOHAMMED FROM THE DEATH PENALTY FOR HIS ROLE IN PLANNING THE TERROR ATTACKS ON THE WORLD TRADE CENTER, AND PENTAGON ON SEPTEMBER 11-TH, 2001, THE ROCKED THE ENTIRE COUNTRY. 

IN COURT FILINGS TUESDAY, THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT ARGUED THE GOVERNMENT WOULD BE IRREPARABLY HARMED IF THE GUILTY PLEAS WERE ACCEPTED FOR MOHAMMED AND TWO CO-DEFENDANTS IN THE SEPTEMBER 11-TH, 2001 ATTACKS. 

IT SAID THE GOVERNMENT WOULD BE DENIED A CHANCE FOR A PUBLIC TRIAL AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO QUOTE “SEEK CAPITAL PUNISHMENT AGAINST THREE MEN CHARGED WITH A HEINOUS ACT OF MASS MURDER THAT CAUSED THE DEATH OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE AND SHOCKED THE NATION AND THE WORLD.” 

THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT NEGOTIATED AND APPROVED THE PLEA DEAL BUT LATER REVOKED IT. 

HOWEVER, ATTORNEYS FOR THE DEFENDANTS ARGUE THE DEAL IS ALREADY LEGALLY IN EFFECT AND THAT DEFENSE SECRETARY LLOYD AUSTIN — WHO BEGAN THE ADMINISTRATION’S EFFORTS TO THROW IT OUT — ACTED TOO LATE. 

MOHAMMED IS SET TO ENTER HIS GUILTY PLEA ON FRIDAY, IF THE APPEAL IS NOT GRANTED. 

HIS CO-DEFENDANTS — ACCUSED OF LESSER ROLES IN 9/11 — ARE DUE TO ENTER THEIRS NEXT WEEK.

THE BODY OF FORMER PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER IS LYING IN STATE AT THE CAPITOL THIS MORNING – FOLLOWING A CEREMONY WHERE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, THE SUPREME COURT AND OTHER GUESTS PAID THEIR RESPECTS. 

THE 39TH PRESIDENT DIED LAST WEEK AT THE AGE OF 100. CARTER’S BODY HAD BEEN LYING IN REPOSE SINCE SATURDAY AT THE CARTER PRESIDENTIAL CENTER IN ATLANTA – BEFORE BEING MOVED TUESDAY MORNING TO D.C. 

VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS AND HOUSE SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON EACH GAVE A EULOGY DURING THE CEREMONY AT THE CAPITOL. 

HOUSE SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON 

“We all know that his care for humanity didn’t stop at building homes. In the face of illness, President Jimmy Carter brought lifesaving medicine. In the face of conflict, he brokered peace. In the face of discrimination, he reminded us that we are all made in the image of God. If you were to ask him why he did it all, he would likely point to his faith.” 

VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS 

“James Earl Carter Junior loved our country. He lived his faith. He served the people. And he left the world better than he found it.” 

CARTER’S BODY WILL LIE IN STATE THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING AND THEN BE TAKEN TO THE NATIONAL CATHEDRAL FOR A STATE FUNERAL WHERE PRESIDENT BIDEN WILL DELIVER A EULOGY.

IN A WIDE-RANGING PRESS CONFERENCE FROM MAR-A-LAGO ON TUESDAY – PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP TOUCHED ON A BUNCH OF TOPICS, INCLUDING A 20 BILLION DOLLAR FOREIGN INVESTMENT TO BUILD DATA CENTERS IN THE U.S. ALSO, HIS PLANS TO REVOKE PRESIDENT BIDEN’S RECENT BAN ON OFFSHORE OIL AND NATURAL GAS DRILLING AND EXPANSION STRATEGIES FOR THE UNITED STATES. 

TRUMP REPEATED HIS GOALS OF ACQUIRING THE PANAMA CANAL, WHICH HAS BEEN UNDER PANAMA’S SOLE CONTROL SINCE 1999, AND GREENLAND, A TERRITORY OF DENMARK. TRUMP’S SON – DONALD TRUMP JR. IS LEADING AN AMERICAN DELEGATION THAT IS CURRENTLY IN GREENLAND – THOUGH THE COUNTRY’S PRIME MINISTER SAYS DON JR.  IS THERE AS “A PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL.” 

A REPORTER ASKED THE PRESIDENT-ELECT IF HE CAN ASSURE THAT HE WOULD NOT USE ANY MILITARY FORCE TO TAKE CONTROL OF EITHER THE PANAMA CANAL OR GREENLAND, TRUMP RESPONDED — 

PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP 

“I can’t assure you, you’re talking about Panama and Greenland. No, I can’t assure you on either of those two but, I can say this we need them for economic security. The Panama Canal was built for a military. I’m not going to commit to that now it might it that you’ll have to do something.” 

IN RESPONSE TO THESE REMARKS, THE PRIME MINISTER OF DENMARK CALLED THE UNITED STATES ITS COUNTRY’S “CLOSEST ALLY” AND DID NOT BELIEVE THE U.S. WOULD USE ANY FORCE TO SECURE GREENLAND. 

WHILE PANAMA’S FOREIGN MINISTER REPEATED EARLIER COMMENTS FROM THE COUNTRY’S PRESIDENT – THAT THE SOVEREIGNTY OF THE PANAMA CANAL IS NOT NEGOTIABLE. 

TRUMP ALSO SAID HE IS LOOKING TO TURN CANADA INTO THE 51ST STATE – BUT IN THIS CASE — WOULD NOT USE MILITARY FORCE TO DO SO. 

PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP 

 “No. Economic force because Canada and the United States, that would really be something. You get rid of that artificially drawn line and you take a look at what that looks like. It would also be much better for national security. Don’t forget, we basically protect Canada.” 

OUTGOING CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER JUSTIN TRUDEAU ISSUED HIS RESPONSE IN A POST ON X – SAYING –  “THERE ISN’T A SNOWBALL’S CHANCE IN HELL THAT CANADA WOULD BECOME PART OF THE UNITED STATES.” 

AND THE PRESIDENT-ELECT SPOKE OF ONE MORE GEOGRAPHICAL GOAL OF HIS IN THE UPCOMING TERM – TO RENAME THE GULF OF MEXICO – THE GULF OF AMERICA – SAYING IT QUOTE “HAS A BEAUTIFUL RING TO IT.” 

NOT LONG AFTER HIS REMARKS – REPUBLICAN CONGRESSWOMAN MARJORIE TAYLOR GREEN OF GEORGIA, SAID SHE HAS DIRECTED HER STAFF TO BEGIN DRAFTING LEGISLATION FOR THE NAME CHANGE.

MORE DETAILS ARE EMERGING ABOUT THE MAN WHO BLEW UP A TESLA CYBERTRUCK OUTSIDE TRUMP HOTEL IN LAS VEGAS ON NEW YEAR’S DAY. 

STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS REPORTER LAUREN TAYLOR EXPLAINS HOW POLICE SAY THE FORMER SOLDIER USED ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO PLAN THE ATTACK. 

LAS VEGAS POLICE SAID TUESDAY THE ATTACKER WHO EXPLODED A TESLA CYBERTRUCK OUTSIDE THE TRUMP INTERNATIONAL HOTEL  

USED GENERATIVE AI INCLUDING CHATGPT TO PLAN THE ATTACK. 

AN INVESTIGATION INTO 37-YEAR-OLD FORMER SOLDIER MATTHEW LIVELSBERGER FOUND HIS SEARCH HISTORY 

ON GENERATIVE AI PLATFORM CHATGPT INCLUDED QUESTIONS ABOUT FIREARMS AND EXPLOSIVES. 

AUTHORITIES SAID LIVELSBERGER LOOKED FOR INFORMATION ON EXPLOSIVE TARGETS, AMMUNITION SPEED — 

AND WHETHER FIREWORKS WERE LEGAL IN ARIZONA. 

THE LAS VEGAS SHERIFF SAID IT WAS THE FIRST INCIDENT HE KNEW OF IN THE U-S —  

WHERE AN ATTACKER USED CHATGPT FOR HELP IN BUILDING A DEVICE. 

CHATGPT OWNER OPENAI TOLD THE ASSOCIATED PRESS “CHATGPT RESPONDED WITH INFORMATION ALREADY PUBLICLY AVAILABLE  

ON THE INTERNET AND PROVIDED WARNINGS AGAINST HARMFUL OR ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES.  

WE’RE WORKING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT TO SUPPORT THEIR INVESTIGATION.” 

AUTHORITIES SAID THE LIVELSBERGER CONSIDERED CARRYING OUT AN ATTACK ON THE SKYWALK AT THE GRAND CANYON IN ARIZONA. 

HE ALSO LEFT NOTES DETAILING HIS MOTIVATION. 

ACCORDING TO INVESTIGATORS, LIVELSBERGER SAID HE FELT A BURDEN TAKING LIVES AS A SERVICEMEMBER… 

WARNED THAT THE U-S WAS HEADING FOR COLLAPSE AND URGED  

THE COUNTRY TO RALLY AROUND PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP AND TESLA CEO ELON MUSK. 

OUR LAUREN TAYLOR REPORTING. YOU CAN FIND MORE ON THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE CYBERTRUCK EXPLOSION ON OUR WEBSITE SAN DOT COM AND THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP.

FINALLY THIS MORNING – WE END ON WHAT SOME MAY CALL A BITTERSWEET NOTE. 

GIRL SCOUT COOKIE SEASON HAS KICKED OFF. THE ANNUAL TRADITION IS MEANT TO TEACH YOUNG GIRLS ABOUT ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS THROUGH SELLING BOXES OF COOKIES – LOTS AND LOTS OF BOXES. 

EVERYONE HAS A FAVORITE – OF COURSE – BUT IF YOURS IS GIRL SCOUT SMORES OR TOAST-YAY COOKIES – WE HAVE SOME BAD NEWS. THE GIRL SCOUTS ARE RETIRING THOSE TWO FLAVORS LATER THIS YEAR. 

THE ORGANIZATION HOWEVER SAYS THAT DISCONTINUING THOSE TWO FLAVORS MAY LEAD TO SOMETHING NEW AND DELICIOUS. 

YOU COULD SAY THAT’S WAY THE COOKIE CRUMBLES.