Riverside County in the spotlight for active wildfires near L.A. and Riverside; residents brace as first-season blazes spark. Population: 2.4M as of 2020.
Two wildfires broke out in Riverside County and near Los Angeles on Friday, burning over 4,000 acres combined. Fire crews worked through the night to contain the blazes, with some evacuation orders still in effect. The cause remains under investigation, and winds have helped efforts to control the fires.
Multiple wildfires in Southern California, including the Springs and Temecula Valley fires, have burned thousands of acres. Authorities have made arrests related to the Temecula fire, and containment efforts are ongoing amid strong winds and evacuation orders. No fatalities reported as firefighting continues.
With mail-in voting opening for the June 2 primary, California's gubernatorial field remains unsettled. A crowded slate including Democrats and Republicans has limited consensus, raising questions about the path to a contest against a Democrat-led state government. Recent campaign twists and endorsements have not yielded a clear frontrunner.
Seven children rescued on Tuesday are in hospital care, with one in critical condition. Officials say the group is under temporary state custody as investigations uncover years of abuse and neglect. The state faces a foster-care shortage and questions over caregivers. The Turpin case in California and related incidents are cited to illustrate systemic failures and ongoing challenges in child welfare.