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L.A. Fire Officials Encourage Residents to Fight Future Wildfires Themselves

In the wake of January’s devastating Eaton and Palisades fires, Los Angeles County fire officials are encouraging able homeowners to take a more active role in wildfire defense. Through the free, FEMA-approved Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program, residents can learn fire safety, light search and rescue, disaster medical response, and more—skills that may prove vital when professional crews are stretched thin. Officials stress that the training is voluntary and not suited for those with health risks or without escape routes, but for many, it could mean the difference between losing and saving a home.

Giorgio Armani, Legendary Fashion Designer, Dies at 91

Giorgio Armani, the iconic Italian designer who transformed global fashion and left a lasting mark on Hollywood style, has died at 91. The founder of the Armani empire, he dressed film stars, revolutionized red carpet fashion, and devoted himself to philanthropy and sustainability throughout his career. Armani’s team announced his passing on Thursday, noting he worked until his final days and was surrounded by loved ones. His legacy of elegance, independence, and compassion will endure through the brand he built and the countless lives he influenced.

Paramount Orders Full Return to Office After Skydance Merger

Paramount Chairman and CEO David Ellison has announced a phased return-to-office mandate beginning January 2026, marking a major shift following the studio’s $8.4 billion Skydance acquisition. Employees in Los Angeles and New York will be the first required to return full-time, with other offices to follow later in the year. Paramount is also offering a severance opt-in program for those unable or unwilling to comply. The move aligns Paramount with Amazon MGM’s strict in-office policy, even as Disney, NBCUniversal, and Warner Bros. maintain hybrid schedules.

Weekend 405 Closures Kick Off Sepulveda Pass Repaving Project

Drivers, brace for delays: Caltrans will close three lanes in each direction of the 405 between Santa Monica and Sunset boulevards from Sept. 5–8 for repaving, with more closures set to repeat roughly every two weeks for the next six months. The $143.7 million project aims to improve pavement safety and mobility along the Sepulveda Pass, with several on- and off-ramps also impacted.

NBA Probes Allegations Clippers Paid Kawhi Leonard $28M for “No-Show Job”

The NBA has launched an investigation after sportswriter Pablo Torre alleged that the LA Clippers and owner Steve Ballmer paid star forward Kawhi Leonard $28 million through a bankrupt tree-planting company for what’s being called a “no-show job.” Legal documents suggest the deal required Leonard to stay with the Clippers without taking any real action, raising concerns it may have been an attempt to skirt league salary cap rules.

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