LOS ANGELES (AP) — Six weeks after the start of the most destructive wildfire in city history, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass ousted the fire chief Friday amid a public rift over preparations for a potential blaze and finger-pointing between the chief and City Hall over responsibility for the devastation. Bass, a first-term Democrat, said she is removing Chief Kristin Crowley immediately. “Los Angeles needs to move forward. This is a new day,” she told reporters at City Hall. While Bass initially praised Crowley in the early hours of firefighting, she said she later learned an additional 1,000 firefighters could have been deployed the day the blaze ignited. Additionally, she said Crowley rebuffed a request to prepare a report on the fires that is a critical part of investigations into what happened and why. “One thousand firefighters who could have been on the job fighting the fires were sent home” on Crowley’s watch, Bass said. Powerful winds fueled devastating fires The Palisades Fire began during heavy winds Jan. 7, destroying or damaging nearly 8,000 homes, businesses and other structures and killing at least 12 people in the affluent LA neighborhood. Another wind-whipped fire started the same day in suburban Altadena, a community to the east, killing at least 17 people and destroying or damaging more than 10,000 homes and other buildings. Bass has been facing criticism for being in Africa as part of a presidential delegation on the day the fire started, even though weather reports had warned of dangerous wind and wildfire conditions in the days before she left. Speaking at City Hall, Bass said Crowley never notified her of the looming danger before she departed, even though that was standard practice since she took office in December 2022. “She has my cellphone. She knows she can call me 24/7,” Bass said. “That did not happen this time.” At City Hall, Bass was pressed again on how she could have been unaware of the fire risk before leaving the country, given widespread media coverage about intensifying winds and tinder-dry conditions. She didn’t appear to respond directly. The Los Angeles Fire Department said it had no comment about the ousting of the chief. Crowley could not immediately be reached for comment. The mayor’s office said the former chief exercised her Civil Service rights to stay with the department but at a lower, yet-to-be determined rank. Scathing response from firefighters union The firefighters union sharply criticized Bass’ decision and echoed the former chief’s concerns over the department’s staffing and funding. Crowley is “being made a scapegoat ... without the benefit of a full investigation into what actually happened,” United Firefighters of Los Angeles City, Local 112, said in a statement. “The reality is our fire department has been understaffed and under-resourced for years — including during Mayor Bass’ time in office,” the union said. “The LAFD did have operational budget cuts in this fiscal year, including cuts to overtime, brush clearance and civilian positions. In fact, we still have nearly 100 broken down fire engines, trucks and ambulances in the maintenance yard because of civilian mechanic job cuts. This is a city that has neglected its fire department,” the statement said. Chief was appointed during period of turmoil for LAFD Crowley was named fire chief in 2022 by Bass’ predecessor at a time when the department was in turmoil over allegations of rampant harassment, hazing and discrimination. She worked for the city fire department for more than 25 years and held nearly every role, including fire marshal, engineer and battalion chief. Crowley was the department’s first female chief. Her dismissal followed weeks of growing distance between the mayor and Crowley. As chief, Crowley publicly criticized the city for budget cuts that she said made it harder for firefighters to do their jobs. In January, when the Palisades fire was out of control, Crowley said in televised interviews that her department was underfunded and understaffed and emergency vehicles had been idled because the LAFD didn’t have the mechanics to fix them. Bass said Friday that the budget was increased, not slashed. Billionaire developer Rick Caruso, who was defeated by Bass in the 2022 election and has been critical of her wildfire management, called Crowley’s dismissal “very disappointing.” The chief “spoke honestly about the severe and profoundly ill-conceived budget cuts the Bass administration made to the LAFD,” Caruso said in a post on the social platform X. “Honesty in a high city official should not be a firing offense.” Africa trip has left mayor facing lingering questions Since returning to the U.S. last month, an at-times defensive Bass had provided only sketchy insight into her thinking in the days leading up to her departure for Africa. Her absence quickly became an embarrassment –- on her return, she appeared silent with a blank expression when intercepted on camera by a reporter at the airport, who asked repeatedly why she had been gone and if she had regrets. In televised interviews this week, Bass acknowledged she made a mistake by leaving the city. But she faulted Crowley for failing to alert her about the potentially explosive fire conditions. Mayor’s tenure reshaped by deadly fire and rebuilding job Bass’ handling of the Palisades fire and the vast rebuilding job will be the measure of her tenure. She has said that she intends to seek reelection in 2026. Bass, a former legislator and member of Congress who was on former President Joe Biden’s vice presidential short list, is known for an understated, coalition-building style. Her leadership is being tested as the cleanup and recovery get underway involving the Trump administration, the state, Los Angeles County, the city and other municipalities damaged in the fires, along with an array of government agencies and private interests. Tensions already have emerged, including local political rivalries, while Trump has been critical of state water policy. Questions have been raised about who is in charge of the rebuilding, with so many entities and officials involved. Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom has assembled a group of business leaders to dovetail with the larger reconstruction effort. “This is her first major challenge and she is going to be judged on it, and that could be good or bad,” longtime Democratic consultant Bill Carrick said. For the moment, “she seems to be struggling.” Responding to a reporter, Bass disputed the idea that her administration is in upheaval. “The business of the fire department and the city will continue” while the search for a permanent replacement is underway, she said.

In a surprising twist, California’s controversial new fuel standard — a key part of its effort to replace fossil fuels — has been rejected by the state agency that reviews the legality of state regulations. The fuel standard enacted by the Air Resources Board last year was the subject of a rancorous debate, largely because it will potentially increase the price of gasoline and diesel fuels by an unknown amount. The rules were rejected by the state Office of Administrative Law, a state agency whose mandate is to ensure “regulations are clear, necessary, legally valid, and available to the public.” The law office informed the air board that the rule does not conform with a provision in state code that requires “clarity” in rulemaking “so that the meaning of regulations will be easily understood by those persons directly affected by them.” Advertisement The air board said it would review the order and then resubmit the rules, which would be required within 120 days. Any substantial changes, however, would require a delay, including a public comment period. The low carbon fuels program, which offers financial incentives to companies to produce cleaner transportation fuels, aims to help transition the state away from fossil fuels that contribute to smog and other air pollution and greenhouse gases that warm the planet. Related Stories Trump revoked Biden-era electric vehicles incentives. What comes next? California pulls back EPA requests for approval to phase out diesel-powered trains and big rigs Doug Burgum, Trump’s pick for public lands boss, wants US 'energy dominance' The program, which has existed since 2011, is a $2-billion credit trading system that requires fuels sold in California to become progressively cleaner, while giving companies financial incentives to produce less-polluting fuels, such as biofuels made from soybeans or cow manure. In an initial assessment released in 2023, the air board projected that the new rules could potentially raise the price of diesel by 59 cents per gallon and gasoline by 47 cents. But air board officials later disavowed that estimate, saying that the analysis “should not be misconstrued as a prediction of the future credit price nor as a direct impact on prices at the pump. ” A report by the University of Pennsylvania’s Kleinman Center for Energy Policy predicted that the fuel standard changes could increase the cost of gas by 85 cents a gallon through 2030. Republican legislators, who protested the rule and introduced a bill to repeal it, applauded the law office’s decision to reject them. “Families in this state are already grappling with soaring living costs, and a gas price hike of 65 cents or more will only deepen their financial strain,” Sen. Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh, a Republican from Redlands, said in a statement. “It’s deeply frustrating that the governor’s administration ignored calls for reconsideration from the start.” Supporters say the new rules are necessary to keep California on track for its ambitious climate goals, including net-zero emissions by 2045. But critics have warned that the new standards could push gas prices even higher in a state where drivers already pay some of the highest fuel costs in the nation. The air board last month was forced to abandon other climate and air pollution rules that would have cleaned up truck and train emissions because the Trump administration would reject granting them waivers. ___ This story was originally published by CalMatters and distributed through a partnership with The Associated Press.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is restoring jobs for dozens of National Park Service employees fired amid government-wide reductions and hiring nearly 3,000 additional seasonal workers, following an uproar over an aggressive plan to downsize the agency. At least 50 jobs are being restored to help maintain and clean parks, educate visitors and collect admission fees, according to two people familiar with the agency’s plans who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter. The moves come as the park service said in a new memo that it will hire up to 7,700 seasonal positions this year, up from about 5,000 promised earlier this week and higher than the three-year average of 6,350 seasonal workers. The park service has about 20,000 employees. Lawmakers and advocacy groups have criticized the widespread layoffs as unnecessary and a threat to public safety and the parks themselves. Colorado’s Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, which is located west of Colorado Springs and gets about 70,000 visitors annually, announced on social media that effective Monday it will close two days a week due to “lack of staffing.” Advertisement “These roles are critical to protecting America’s treasured natural assets, maintaining public safety and promoting exceptional standards,” said a letter signed by Virginia’s two Democratic senators and six Democratic House members. Related Stories Trump administration fires 1,000 workers at NPS A comprehensive look at DOGE's firings and layoffs so far Trump administration lays off probationary government workers, warns others of large cuts to come “If these directives are not reversed, we fear it will significantly undermine the Park Service’s ability to protect both visitors and park resources, particularly as we approach peak visitation season,” they wrote to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum. Concern about the layoffs was bipartisan. Sen. Susan Collins, a Maine Republican, said she’s worried that Acadia National Park will “not be able to hire the seasonal employees required to collect entrance fees and perform other essential tasks such as maintaining trails and providing first responder services to visitors.” Seasonal workers are routinely added during warm-weather months to serve more than 325 million visitors who descend on the nation’s 433 parks, historic sites and other attractions yearly. Park advocates say the permanent staff cuts will leave hundreds of national parks — including some of the most well-known and most heavily visited sites — understaffed and facing tough decisions about operating hours, public safety and resource protection. A spokesperson for the Interior Department declined to comment Friday. No one at the park service responded to an email from The Associated Press. While the plan to hire more seasonal workers is welcome, “it will take a while to get to the number of seasonals hired to avoid some of the impacts we’ve talked about,” said Bill Wade, executive director of the Association of National Park Rangers and a former superintendent of Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park. Job offers to thousands of seasonal workers were rescinded in recent days, and not all of them will be rehired, Wade and other advocates said. Some permanent employees who were laid off were in human resources and would have been involved in hiring and training seasonal employees. “I’m celebrating because eventually they will be hired, but I’m leery to say everything’s been fixed,’' Wade said Friday, noting that the layoffs and confusion over seasonal employment came after an unknown number of park workers agreed to leave the agency in deferred resignations offered by the Trump administration. “There’s no real staffing plan. It’s chaotic, and there’s no leadership from the secretary of the Interior,’' said Tim Whitehouse, executive director of the group Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility. Burgum “needs to step up and make sure these parks are operating at full capacity this spring and summer,’' Whitehouse said. Problems are likely at parks that are popular in the spring, such as Zion National Park in Utah, park advocates said. “National parks are something that all Americans cherish, and the people making the decisions are disconnected from that reality,” Whitehouse said, referring to billionaire Elon Musk and a team of aides who have overseen an effort to fire thousands of federal workers. President Donald Trump has not nominated a park service director, a position that requires Senate confirmation. Jessica Bowron, the agency’s comptroller, has been named acting director. ___

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Ceiba Phillips, 11, couldn’t believe what he saw when he returned to his Southern California neighborhood a month after a wildfire reduced it to rubble. The ruins of his best friend’s house and his beloved school. His house survived, but the backhouse where his grandparents lived and packed him lunch every morning was reduced to ashes and a silver pool of melted aluminum. His favorite cozy diner, Fox’s, was decimated. Eaton Fire evacuee Alyson Granaderos, left, sobs while trying to comfort her son, Ceiba Phillips, 11, as he visits their home for the first time since the fire in Altadena, Calif., Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Read More Eaton Fire evacuee Alyson Granaderos, left, sobs while trying to comfort her son, Ceiba Phillips, 11, as he visits their home for the first time since the fire in Altadena, Calif., Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More Seeing it in person — after seeing it through photos — brought shock and tears. “There’s not even a word created for it,” Ceiba said. “It’s sad, it’s heavy, somewhat angry. Why did this have to happen?” The Eaton fire that tore through Altadena on Jan. 7 left parents and children alike to deal with the trauma of one of the most destructive fires in California history. As people return to their neighborhoods, many kids are navigating the grief of losing everything that was familiar. Their parents, meanwhile, are learning how to help them cope. Children thrive on routine, and reestablishing one as quickly as possible is key to helping kids cope, said Lori Peek, a sociology professor at the University of Colorado Boulder who studies the impact of natural disasters. It’s essential for kids to stay connected with their friends, and for parents to have honest conversations with them about the difficulty of what they are facing. Related Stories Parents and kids navigate talks of loss and tragedy as they return home after LA fires Wildfire breaks out in Hollywood Hills as Los Angeles battles to contain blazes Amid charred neighborhoods, a handful of L.A. homes remain untouched “Being honest about our own emotions and opening up, but then being very inviting for children to share what they’re feeling, what they’re grieving, what they’re experiencing, that can be one way to start those really important conversations,” Peek said. It’s this kind of space that Chiara Angelicola, who works in early childhood education, was trying to create when she organized a Kids Town Hall event for families affected by the fires. Children had the opportunity to share how they felt and participate in art and somatic therapy exercises, which focus on how trauma can affect the body. Ceiba’s 4-year-old sister, Quoia, went with their mother, Alyson Granaderos, along with more than 100 other kids and parents. Ceiba Phillips, an 11-year-old Eaton Fire evacuee, walks out of his room as he visits his home for the first time since the fire, which destroyed his family's in-law suite, in Altadena, Calif., Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Ceiba Phillips, an 11-year-old Eaton Fire evacuee, walks out of his room as he visits his home for the first time since the fire, which destroyed his family's in-law suite, in Altadena, Calif., Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More Eaton Fire evacuees Ceiba Phillips, 11, plays hide-and-seek with his 4-year-old sister, Quoia, at a park in Pasadena, Calif., Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Eaton Fire evacuees Ceiba Phillips, 11, plays hide-and-seek with his 4-year-old sister, Quoia, at a park in Pasadena, Calif., Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More Eaton Fire evacuees Ceiba Phillips, 11, right, and his 4-year-old sister, Quoia, play at a park in Pasadena, Calif., Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Read More Eaton Fire evacuees Ceiba Phillips, 11, right, and his 4-year-old sister, Quoia, play at a park in Pasadena, Calif., Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More Ceiba Phillips, an 11-year-old Eaton Fire evacuee, looks at a photo on his mother's phone showing the fire destroying his family's in-law suite in Pasadena, Calif., Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Ceiba Phillips, an 11-year-old Eaton Fire evacuee, looks at a photo on his mother's phone showing the fire destroying his family's in-law suite in Pasadena, Calif., Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More Eaton Fire evacuees Ceiba Phillips, right, and his sister, Quoia, left, share a light moment with Justin Graham, center, and his brother, Russell, outside an ice cream shop in Pasadena, Calif., Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Eaton Fire evacuees Ceiba Phillips, right, and his sister, Quoia, left, share a light moment with Justin Graham, center, and his brother, Russell, outside an ice cream shop in Pasadena, Calif., Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More “A lot of these kids had a lot to say ... and some of it even made the adults uncomfortable,” Angelicola said. “I think that exercise in learning how to be uncomfortable experiencing certain feelings is very necessary for children because we’re modeling for them that feelings won’t hurt us.” Hundreds of therapists and non-profits also have offered their mental health services for free to victims of the fires. A last normal day Ceiba’s home was one of about six on his street that wasn’t destroyed, but it sustained so much smoke damage it’s not livable right now. On a recent day, the family carefully entered wearing respirator masks and protective equipment. Eaton Fire evacuee Ceiba Phillips, 11, is overwhelmed with emotion as he visits his best friend’s home, which was devastated by the fire, across the street from his own in Altadena, Calif., Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Read More Eaton Fire evacuee Ceiba Phillips, 11, is overwhelmed with emotion as he visits his best friend’s home, which was devastated by the fire, across the street from his own in Altadena, Calif., Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More Ceiba Phillips, an 11-year-old Eaton Fire evacuee, visits his school gutted by the fire in Altadena, Calif., Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Read More Ceiba Phillips, an 11-year-old Eaton Fire evacuee, visits his school gutted by the fire in Altadena, Calif., Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More Caution tape blocks the charred entrance of Ceiba Phillips’ school devastated by the Eaton Fire in Altadena, Calif., Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Read More Caution tape blocks the charred entrance of Ceiba Phillips’ school devastated by the Eaton Fire in Altadena, Calif., Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More Ceiba looked out his bedroom window and said he didn’t care that his house had survived. “I’d rather have all of Altadena,” he said. Ceiba remembers every detail of his last normal day. School let out early due to intense Santa Ana winds that fueled the fires. He and his sister went to Ceiba’s best friend’s house. They played on a trampoline, drew comics, and chucked LEGO figurines off the balcony. “I’ve probably been to his house more than 2,000 times,” Ceiba said. That evening, the family received a text message from Ceiba’s grandma asking if they saw the fire that had broken out nearby. They ran to their window and saw the whole mountainside ablaze. “I was on the floor like praying, please protect my house and my family. And you know, mom’s like, ‘Come on, you got to get up, pack your stuff,’” Ceiba said. The 11-year-old sprang into action, dumping his clothes and quarters into his bag and packing for his younger sister. They sheltered in their dad’s office in neighboring Pasadena. Ceiba could barely sleep. By the morning, much of his neighborhood was gone. Finding a rhythm again Ceiba’s days have taken on a rhythm again, even at his new school in Pasadena. When he greeted his mom on a recent afternoon, he shared a fun fact he’d learned that day: In 1846, a future president, Abraham Lincoln, had almost joined the ill-fated Donner Party as it set out from Springfield, Illinois, on its infamous journey out West, only to get trapped in California’s Sierra Nevada. Eaton Fire evacuees Ceiba Phillips, right, and his father, Craig, hug Ceiba's best friend, Julian Trobiani, whose home was devastated by the fire, on Ceiba's first visit to his home since the fire in Altadena, Calif., Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Eaton Fire evacuees Ceiba Phillips, right, and his father, Craig, hug Ceiba's best friend, Julian Trobiani, whose home was devastated by the fire, on Ceiba's first visit to his home since the fire in Altadena, Calif., Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More Eaton Fire evacuees Ceiba Phillips, from left, Russell Graham, Ceiba's sister, Quoia, and Russell's brother, Justin, draw on a blackboard at an ice cream shop in Pasadena, Calif., Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Eaton Fire evacuees Ceiba Phillips, from left, Russell Graham, Ceiba's sister, Quoia, and Russell's brother, Justin, draw on a blackboard at an ice cream shop in Pasadena, Calif., Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More Eaton Fire evacuees Ceiba Phillips, 11, left, plays with his 4-year-old sister, Quoia, at a park in Pasadena, Calif., Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Eaton Fire evacuees Ceiba Phillips, 11, left, plays with his 4-year-old sister, Quoia, at a park in Pasadena, Calif., Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More Eaton Fire evacuee Craig Phillips visits his home with his two children, Ceiba, left, and Quoia, in Altadena, Calif., Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. Although the family's in-law suite was gutted, the Phillips' home was one of the few in their neighborhood that survived the fire. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Eaton Fire evacuee Craig Phillips visits his home with his two children, Ceiba, left, and Quoia, in Altadena, Calif., Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. Although the family's in-law suite was gutted, the Phillips' home was one of the few in their neighborhood that survived the fire. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More Ceiba has decided to play the saxophone in band class, and his state project will be on Michigan, where his mom is from. Granaderos said her son already seems to be adapting. But his conversations with friends now veer into unusual topics for 11-year-olds. “The insurance isn’t covering us and how’s your house? How’s this person’s house?” Ceiba said, sharing what he and his friends discuss. He wonders what will become of his community. He’s optimistic though. “I know Altadena and I know that it’s going to stick together,” Ceiba said. Beauty, sadness and destruction Ceiba had clamored right away to go back home after the fire, but Granaderos was hesitant. After the dust settled, she knew that allowing her kids to see and experience what happened was part of the healing process. “You’re facing this realization of certain conversations you have to start to have with your kid, right?” Granaderos said. “There’s beauty in the world, and there’s also a lot of sadness and destruction.” Ceiba Phillips, an 11-year-old Eaton Fire evacuee, looks at a safety sign at his best friend’s home, which was gutted by the fire, during his first visit to his home and neighborhood since the fire in Altadena, Calif., Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Read More Ceiba Phillips, an 11-year-old Eaton Fire evacuee, looks at a safety sign at his best friend’s home, which was gutted by the fire, during his first visit to his home and neighborhood since the fire in Altadena, Calif., Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More Quoia burst into tears when the family drove past what was left of The Bunny Museum in Pasadena dedicated to rabbits. She loved seeing the giant inflatable bunnies that loomed over the street corner nearly every day. Ceiba cried along with her. “I just couldn’t really take it,” he said. But not all is lost. Granaderos named both of her children after trees — Ceiba, the tree of life, and Quoia after the Sequoia. She planted a sapling of the iconic Sequoia — which is extraordinarily resilient to fire, insects and disease — in the home’s backyard when Quoia was a baby. After the fire, it is still standing.

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, Calif. (AP) — Yosemite National Park employees who recently were fired by the Trump administration worry cuts will affect the experience of visitors and the welfare of wildlife that thrive in the popular vacation destination located in California’s Sierra Nevada. Yosemite is home to giant sequoia trees and a haven for myriad wildlife species. El Capitan, a 3,000-foot (914-meter) wall of sheer granite and possibly the world’s most fabled rock face, attracts climbers from around the world. Such majestic qualities also are what attracted people to work at the beloved park that is a destination for families from California and throughout the country. The Trump administration last week fired about 1,000 newly hired National Park Service employees who maintain and clean parks, educate visitors and perform other functions as part of its broad-based effort to downsize government. Advertisement Facing outcry, the administration plans to restore at least 50 jobs across the parks. The park service also said in a new memo it will hire more seasonal workers than normal. The park service has about 20,000 employees. Related Stories LA wildfires: Parents help kids navigate grief as they return home Dramatic drop in monarch butterfly count nears record 30-year low Parents and kids navigate talks of loss and tragedy as they return home after LA fires At least a dozen of those who lost their jobs worked at Yosemite. Aleksander Chmura, who was dismissed from his job as a park custodian, sits along a creek Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, in Yosemite National Park, Calif. (AP Photo/Haven Daley) Read More Aleksander Chmura, who was dismissed from his job as a park custodian, sits along a creek Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, in Yosemite National Park, Calif. (AP Photo/Haven Daley) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More Olek Chmura, a rock climber who moved to California from Ohio and last year took a job as a custodian at the park, received his letter of termination last week. He and another laid-off custodian were the only two who worked his of the park and he fears trash will pile up, restrooms won’t be cleaned and maintenance problems will grow, Chmura said. “You’d be amazed with how many diapers I pick up off the side of the road. Beer bottles, toilet paper, all the stuff so you don’t have to see. You get to see the park in its true natural beauty,” he said. Getting a job at the park was a dream come true because it allowed him to follow his passion of rock climbing during his time off, Chmura said. Visitors take in a view of Bridalveil Fall Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, in Yosemite National Park, Calif. (AP Photo/Haven Daley) Read More Visitors take in a view of Bridalveil Fall Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, in Yosemite National Park, Calif. (AP Photo/Haven Daley) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More “I knew the writing was on the wall but, I mean, nothing will just prepare you for the shock once you get that letter. Because, you know, it’s everything I love. It’s the park service,” he said. “I mean, our national monuments and parks are just our greatest treasure, and it just ruined my dream, you know?” Public safety also could be at risk since the park’s search and rescue teams have been impacted by the layoffs, Chmura said. Other former employees are concerned with the welfare of wildlife living in the park. Andria Townsend was a carnivore specialist with the National Park Service, leading research on the fisher, a mammal and member of the weasel family, and the Sierra Nevada red fox, both endangered species. Townsend had worked for the park service for more than two decades, but a recent promotion to a new position labeled her as a probationary employee and her job was eligible for termination. She said she is worried about the future of wildlife in the park, including animals becoming accustomed to eating garbage left by humans if there is no one to dispose of it properly. “Bigger picture long-term, what does this mean for the state of national parks? What does this mean for wildlife conservation? It’s really scary,” Townsend said. “It’s a really uncertain time for those of us who care about conservation and public lands, so I am definitely worried for the future.” Aleksander Chmura, who was dismissed from his job as a park custodian, walks on the grounds Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, in Yosemite National Park, Calif. (AP Photo/Haven Daley ) Read More Aleksander Chmura, who was dismissed from his job as a park custodian, walks on the grounds Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, in Yosemite National Park, Calif. (AP Photo/Haven Daley ) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More The park service says it is reinstating about 5,000 seasonal jobs across numerous parks that were cut as part of a spending freeze ordered by President Donald Trump. Seasonal workers are routinely added during the warm-weather months to serve the millions of visitors who descend on Yosemite each year. The uncertainty and confusion has lowered morale among park employees and the communities surrounding the park, said Ken Yager, who founded the Yosemite Climbing Association and runs its museum in Mariposa, California, a gateway city to the park. “People around here are pretty depressed,” Yager said. “They’re a little worried about what’s going to happen. How much further is it going to go?”

LOS ANGELES (AP) — When 11-year-old Ceiba Phillips returned to his Southern California neighborhood a month after the devastating Eaton fire, he couldn’t believe his eyes. The fire that tore through the community of Altadena on Jan. 7 left only a few houses standing among the rubble, leaving families dealing with the trauma and painful aftermath of one of the most destructive fires in California history. Eaton Fire evacuee Alyson Granaderos, left, sobs while trying to comfort her son, Ceiba Phillips, 11, as he visits their home for the first time since the fire in Altadena, Calif., Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Read More Eaton Fire evacuee Alyson Granaderos, left, sobs while trying to comfort her son, Ceiba Phillips, 11, as he visits their home for the first time since the fire in Altadena, Calif., Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More Kids are navigating the grief of losing everything that was familiar, while their parents are learning how to help them cope. Experts say reestablishing routine as quickly as possible after disaster is key to helping kids cope. Eaton Fire evacuee Ceiba Phillips, 11, pauses in the doorway for a moment as he visits his home for the first time since the fire in Altadena, Calif., on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. Although his family’s in-law suite was gutted, the Phillips’ home was one of the few in their neighborhood that survived the fire. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Read More Eaton Fire evacuee Ceiba Phillips, 11, pauses in the doorway for a moment as he visits his home for the first time since the fire in Altadena, Calif., on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. Although his family’s in-law suite was gutted, the Phillips’ home was one of the few in their neighborhood that survived the fire. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More Eaton Fire evacuees Alyson Granaderos and her children, Ceiba Phillips, right, and Quoia hug one another as the children visit their home for the first time since the fire in Altadena, Calif., Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Read More Eaton Fire evacuees Alyson Granaderos and her children, Ceiba Phillips, right, and Quoia hug one another as the children visit their home for the first time since the fire in Altadena, Calif., Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More Eaton Fire evacuee Craig Phillips visits his home with his two children, Ceiba, left, and Quoia, in Altadena, Calif., Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. Although the family's in-law suite was gutted, the Phillips' home was one of the few in their neighborhood that survived the fire. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Eaton Fire evacuee Craig Phillips visits his home with his two children, Ceiba, left, and Quoia, in Altadena, Calif., Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. Although the family's in-law suite was gutted, the Phillips' home was one of the few in their neighborhood that survived the fire. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More Ceiba Phillips, an 11-year-old Eaton Fire evacuee, walks out of his room as he visits his home for the first time since the fire, which destroyed his family's in-law suite, in Altadena, Calif., Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Ceiba Phillips, an 11-year-old Eaton Fire evacuee, walks out of his room as he visits his home for the first time since the fire, which destroyed his family's in-law suite, in Altadena, Calif., Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More Eaton Fire evacuee Ceiba Phillips, 11, is overwhelmed with emotion as he visits his best friend’s home, which was devastated by the fire, across the street from his own in Altadena, Calif., Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Read More Eaton Fire evacuee Ceiba Phillips, 11, is overwhelmed with emotion as he visits his best friend’s home, which was devastated by the fire, across the street from his own in Altadena, Calif., Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More Caution tape blocks the charred entrance of Ceiba Phillips’ school devastated by the Eaton Fire in Altadena, Calif., Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Read More Caution tape blocks the charred entrance of Ceiba Phillips’ school devastated by the Eaton Fire in Altadena, Calif., Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More Ceiba Phillips, an 11-year-old Eaton Fire evacuee, sits in his family’s car after visiting his home for the first time since the fire in Altadena, Calif., Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Read More Ceiba Phillips, an 11-year-old Eaton Fire evacuee, sits in his family’s car after visiting his home for the first time since the fire in Altadena, Calif., Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More Ceiba Phillips, an 11-year-old Eaton Fire evacuee, looks at a photo on his mother’s phone showing the fire destroying his family’s in-law suite in Pasadena, Calif., Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Read More Ceiba Phillips, an 11-year-old Eaton Fire evacuee, looks at a photo on his mother’s phone showing the fire destroying his family’s in-law suite in Pasadena, Calif., Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More Eaton Fire evacuees Ceiba Phillips, right, and his father, Craig, hug Ceiba's best friend, Julian Trobiani, whose home was devastated by the fire, on Ceiba's first visit to his home since the fire in Altadena, Calif., Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Eaton Fire evacuees Ceiba Phillips, right, and his father, Craig, hug Ceiba's best friend, Julian Trobiani, whose home was devastated by the fire, on Ceiba's first visit to his home since the fire in Altadena, Calif., Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More Eaton Fire evacuees Ceiba Phillips, 11, left, feels the wind on his face as he chats with his mother, Alyson Granaderos, on their way to pick up his sister, Quoia, in Pasadena, Calif., Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Eaton Fire evacuees Ceiba Phillips, 11, left, feels the wind on his face as he chats with his mother, Alyson Granaderos, on their way to pick up his sister, Quoia, in Pasadena, Calif., Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More Ceiba Phillips, an 11-year-old Eaton Fire evacuee, looks at a safety sign at his best friend’s home, which was gutted by the fire, during his first visit to his home and neighborhood since the fire in Altadena, Calif., Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Read More Ceiba Phillips, an 11-year-old Eaton Fire evacuee, looks at a safety sign at his best friend’s home, which was gutted by the fire, during his first visit to his home and neighborhood since the fire in Altadena, Calif., Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More Eaton Fire evacuees Ceiba Phillips, from left, Russell Graham, Ceiba's sister, Quoia, and Russell's brother, Justin, draw on a blackboard at an ice cream shop in Pasadena, Calif., Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Eaton Fire evacuees Ceiba Phillips, from left, Russell Graham, Ceiba's sister, Quoia, and Russell's brother, Justin, draw on a blackboard at an ice cream shop in Pasadena, Calif., Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More Eaton Fire evacuees Ceiba Phillips, right, and his sister, Quoia, left, share a light moment with Justin Graham, center, and his brother, Russell, outside an ice cream shop in Pasadena, Calif., Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Eaton Fire evacuees Ceiba Phillips, right, and his sister, Quoia, left, share a light moment with Justin Graham, center, and his brother, Russell, outside an ice cream shop in Pasadena, Calif., Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More Eaton Fire evacuee Alyson Granaderos, right, walks with her son, Ceiba Phillips, 11, after picking him up from school in Pasadena, Calif., Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Read More Eaton Fire evacuee Alyson Granaderos, right, walks with her son, Ceiba Phillips, 11, after picking him up from school in Pasadena, Calif., Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More Eaton Fire evacuees Ceiba Phillips, 11, plays hide-and-seek with his 4-year-old sister, Quoia, at a park in Pasadena, Calif., Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Read More Eaton Fire evacuees Ceiba Phillips, 11, plays hide-and-seek with his 4-year-old sister, Quoia, at a park in Pasadena, Calif., Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More Eaton Fire evacuees Ceiba Phillips, 11, right, and his 4-year-old sister, Quoia, play at a park in Pasadena, Calif., Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Read More Eaton Fire evacuees Ceiba Phillips, 11, right, and his 4-year-old sister, Quoia, play at a park in Pasadena, Calif., Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More Ceiba Phillips, an 11-year-old Eaton Fire evacuee, visits his school gutted by the fire in Altadena, Calif., Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Read More Ceiba Phillips, an 11-year-old Eaton Fire evacuee, visits his school gutted by the fire in Altadena, Calif., Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More

Марат Хуснуллин в ходе рабочей поездки осмотрел участки трасс М-7 «Волга» и М-12 «Восток» 21 февраля 2025 Марат Хуснуллин в ходе рабочей поездки осмотрел участки трасс М-7 «Волга» и М-12 «Восток» 21 февраля 2025 Марат Хуснуллин в ходе рабочей поездки осмотрел участки трасс М-7 «Волга» и М-12 «Восток» 21 февраля 2025 Предыдущая новость Следующая новость Марат Хуснуллин в ходе рабочей поездки осмотрел участки трасс М-7 «Волга» и М-12 «Восток» Заместитель Председателя Правительства Марат Хуснуллин в ходе рабочей поездки на автомобиле от Москвы до Казани через Владимирскую и Нижегородскую области осмотрел участки трасс М-7 «Волга» и М-12 «Восток». «Федеральная трасса М-12 “Восток„ – наш крупнейший новый инфраструктурный проект последних десятилетий. Трасса входит в транспортный маршрут “Россия„ от Санкт-Петербурга до Владивостока. Могу сказать, что состояние дорожного полотна, которое я осмотрел в ходе поездки, отличное, дорога покрыта устойчивой мобильной связью, ехать до нужной локации комфортно и, что важно, ощутимо быстрее. По пути посетил многофункциональную зону с АЗС во Владимирской области, где построен целый комплекс и созданы все условия для качественного сервиса, отдыха, есть стоянка большегрузных машин и площадка для выгула домашних животных. Считаю, что такого уровня МФЗ должны быть на всех трассах страны. Участок М-12 от Москвы до Казани, который чуть больше года назад открыл Президент, остаётся стабильно востребованным у автомобилистов – за это время зафиксировано более 30 млн проездов. Несмотря на то что местами маршруты М-12 и М-7 дублируются, магистраль М-7 „Волга“ мы активно обновляем, повышая её качество. Она тоже в хорошем состоянии. Каждый может прокладывать для себя наиболее удобный маршрут, выбирать платную или бесплатную дорогу. Будем, безусловно, продолжать развитие автодорог в рамках нацпроекта „Инфраструктура для жизни“, чтобы в конечном итоге качество жизни людей только повышалось», – сказал Марат Хуснуллин. Вице-премьер также отметил, что заметно развиваются территории регионов, которые находятся в зоне притяжения трасс. Магистрали способствуют повышению объёма жилищного строительства, активности инвестиционных вложений, открытию новых предприятий, зон отдыха, созданию рабочих мест. Во время рабочей поездки Марат Хуснуллин во Владимирской области провёл встречу с главой региона Александром Авдеевым по вопросам социально-экономического развития региона, включая создание нового города Доброграда. В Нижегородской области с губернатором Глебом Никитиным осмотрели ход строительства новых станций нижегородского метрополитена и ИТ-кампуса мирового уровня.

Работа ведётся по поручению Президента. Планируемый размер финансирования на реализацию долгосрочных проектов по социальному развитию центров экономического роста дальневосточных регионов увеличен с 41,4 млрд до 73,3 млрд рублей. Постановление об этом подписал Председатель Правительства Михаил Мишустин. Решение позволит гарантировать федеральное софинансирование проектов, реализуемых в рамках дальневосточной концессии. Документ PDF 284Kb Постановление от 21 февраля 2025 года №196 Средства будут направлены из федерального бюджета в 2027–2039 годах и пойдут на софинансирование расходов регионов при выполнении концессионных соглашений, срок которых превышает период действия лимитов бюджетных обязательств. В числе мероприятий, планируемых за счёт увеличенного объёма финансирования, – строительство набережной в Хабаровском крае, создание парка «Минный городок» во Владивостоке, а также инновационного научно-технологического центра на острове Русский, строительство мостового перехода через реку Биру в Биробиджане, реконструкция автомобильной дороги Биробиджан – Унгун – Ленинское, модернизация наружного освещения в городе Свободном Амурской области и в городе Чите Забайкальского края. Комментарий Из вступительного слова Михаила Мишустина на заседании Правительства, 20 февраля 2025 года «Решением Правительства для пяти дальневосточных субъектов закрепим обязательства по финансированию в размере почти 32 млрд рублей на 12 лет, начиная с 2027 года. Будем их учитывать при формировании федерального бюджета на соответствующие периоды», – отметил Михаил Мишустин на заседании Правительства 20 февраля. Механизм дальневосточной концессии – один из основных инструментов реализации планов социального развития центров экономического роста регионов Дальнего Востока. С помощью такого механизма государство гарантирует компаниям возврат инвестиций и минимизацию рисков. Эту работу Правительство ведёт по поручению Президента.

Границы территории опережающего развития (ТОР) «Приморье» будут расширены, что позволит реализовать новый инвестиционный проект по созданию комфортной городской среды. Постановление об этом подписал Председатель Правительства Михаил Мишустин. Включение в ТОР новых участков общей площадью около 36 га во Владивостоке позволит создать ландшафтно-рекреационный кластер в районе бухты Патрокл. Там планируется обустроить современную городскую набережную, где можно будет проводить фестивали, народные гулянья и другие культурные мероприятия. Строительство набережной предполагается закончить в 2028 году. Общий объём частных инвестиций в этот проект составит 590 млн рублей. ТОР – специальный инструмент развития территорий, призванный стимулировать приоритетные отрасли экономики и привлекать новых инвесторов. Компаниям-резидентам доступен широкий перечень льгот и преференций, в том числе процедура свободной таможенной зоны. Документ будет опубликован.