When a massive fire erupted at one of the world's largest lithium-ion battery storage facilities in Monterey County, it didn't just send a toxic plume of smoke over nearby communities — it cast a shadow of doubt over the future of California's clean energy industry.

The visit came the day after a new ballot initiative asking voters whether the state should become an independent country was cleared by the California Secretary of State's office to begin gathering signatures. Could the Golden State just fly the coop, become its own nation and walk away from 175 years of union with the United States?

USA TODAY analysis finds 3.3 million Americans live in areas with "very high" wildfire risk and 14.8 million more at “relatively high” risk.

A new bid to place a measure on the ballot that would ask California voters to approve the state's secession from the U.S. has been cleared for signature gathering.

Crews spent much of the past week removing vegetation, shoring up slopes and reinforcing roads in devastated areas of the Palisades and Eaton fires, which reduced entire neighborhoods to rubble and ash after breaking out during powerful winds Jan.

Rain was falling across Southern California on Sunday, bringing some relief to thousands of firefighters battling multiple major blazes for nearly a month in the Los Angeles area, but also prompting new threats of floods and mudslides across burn-scarred lands.

Rain on the way to parched Southern California on Saturday will aid firefighters mopping up multiple wildfires.

Crosstown Los Angeles rivals meet as Big Ten Conference foes for the first time on Monday when UCLA visits Southern California.

With actions big and small, Trump has spent his first days in office pushing the levers of government – and his unique powers as commander in chief – to target his perceived political enemies both inside and outside the government.