California Today: L.A. Homeowners Face Toxic Hazards After Wildfires

June 24, 2025, 6:31 a.m. Pacific time

Good morning. Here are the top stories from across California.

Today’s Top Story

Tag Christof for The New York Times

L.A. Homeowners Face Toxic Hazards After Wildfires

After the fires clouded neighborhoods in smoke, residents whose homes were spared learned that danger was still lurking in the walls, the furniture and the air. But their insurers have doubts.

Bodies of 3 Hikers Who Jumped in Water Near Lake Tahoe Are Recovered

The three men had been hiking in Soda Springs, Calif., when they jumped into the water near Rattlesnake Falls, a remote and isolated area that made rescue difficult.

Oil Companies Fight Climate Lawsuits by Citing Free Speech

The firms say their First Amendment rights are being violated when cities and states sue and accuse them of spreading misinformation about climate change.

6,000 Pounds of Sculpture Are Stolen, Somehow

Two massive works were heisted from a warehouse, then found a week later in a trailer, the authorities said.

In Los Angeles, a Blank Canvas Gets a Rock Star Makeover

The musicians Andy and Meredith Hurley bought a house that had white walls. Not anymore. Their designer also layered in plenty of patterns and textures.

Fernando Tatis Jr. sues Big League Advance Fund for exploitative business practices

Tatis is suing Big League Advance Fund, alleging they have "for years run an unlicensed lending business that evades legal oversight."

$1.3 Million Homes in California

A three-bedroom in Mill Valley, a farmhouse in Philo and a cottage in Berkeley.

Trump Got the Fight He Wanted. Did It Turn Out the Way He Expected?

The president’s clashes with Los Angeles over immigration were a decade in the making — and their outcome remains unclear.

L.A. Sheriff’s Dept. Apologizes for Post Sympathizing With Iran Bombing Victims

The department called its social media post “offensive and inappropriate” and said it was investigating how it had been published.

Local Conditions

Look up the heat index in your area using The Times’s heat tracker.

See active fires using The Times’s wildfire tracker.

Today's Recipe

Four beige bowls hold bright orange blended gazpacho; each serving has a swirl of olive oil on top. A pitcher with more gazpacho is just out of frame.

Christopher Simpson for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews. Prop Stylist: Paige Hicks.

Best Gazpacho

By Julia Moskin

14,169

20 minutes plus chilling time

Makes 8 to 12 servings, about 1 quart

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