Massive central California wildfire threatens more than 800 structures and leaves 3 injured

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (AP) — More than 800 structures are threatened by a massive wildfire in central California that left at least three people injured as it burned through Los Padres National Forest. The Gifford Fire scorched more than 129 square miles of coastal Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, with 7% containment, according to a U.S. Forest Service update on Tuesday morning. More than 1,900 personnel are battling the blaze that grew out of at least four smaller fires that erupted Friday along State Route 166 between Santa Maria and Bakersfield. The causes of the fires are under investigation.

Titan sub disaster was caused by weak safety and oversight, Coast Guard says

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A U.S. Coast Guard report reveals that the Titan submersible disaster was due to preventable safety failures and deliberate oversight avoidance. The implosion killed all five aboard as they descended to the Titanic wreck, including the CEO of OceanGate, Stockton Rush, who died in the implosion. Released Tuesday, the report highlights ignored safety warnings and inadequate design and maintenance. OceanGate suspended operations in July 2023. The disaster has sparked lawsuits and calls for stricter regulations in private deep-sea tourism. OceanGate suspended operations in July 2023, and a spokesperson for the company said it was fully cooperating with the investigation.

US government proposes easing some restrictions on drones traveling long distances

(AP) — A new federal rule proposed Tuesday would make it easier for companies to use drones over longer distances out of the operator’s sight without having to go through a cumbersome waiver process. The federal government had already approved 657 waivers to allow companies such as Amazon and major utilities to do this in certain circumstances, but the waiver process made it difficult. The rule would establish a clear process for drone operators to seek approval for using drones this way. The industry has long pressed for the rule because being able to operate drones out of sight opens up a multitude of possibilities for their use.

Violent crime in the US dropped 4.5% last year, FBI data shows

WASHINGTON (AP) — Violent crime in the United States fell 4.5% last year, according to a new FBI report, which also shows an 8% drop in property crime from the year before. The FBI statistics released Tuesday show murder and nonnegligent manslaughter in the U.S. in 2024 fell nearly 15% from a year earlier, continuing a decline that’s been seen since a coronavirus pandemic-era crime spike. Reported hate crimes decreased 1.5%, according to the report. Despite that slight decrease, last year’s hate crime totals were the second highest reported by the FBI in the more than 30 years it has been collecting data, according to Brian Levin, founder of the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism and professor emeritus at California State University, San Bernardino.