via CNN:
California fires: Two people burned in new blaze:
With weary firefighters continuing their assault on several major wildfires wreaking devastation across Southern California, two new blazes fired up Thursday, adding to the region’s smoke-filled misery.
So far, 141,000 acres have burned in the six large wildfires in the state this week, according to Cal Fire officials.
Two people were burned in one new hot spot, known as the Lilac Fire, which was about 45 miles north of San Diego. Officials didn’t release the nature of the injuries to the burn victims nor give their conditions.
The 4,100-acre fire is moving at an “extremely rapid rate,” and burning west toward the Vista and Oceanside communities, officials said.
A dangerous choice looms for Trump on North Korea:
Only President Donald Trump and his closest advisers may truly know how close the US is to war with North Korea as the administration’s standoff with Pyongyang continues to escalate.
Trump’s National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster said last week that the threat of war with North Korea is “increasing every day” — a stark warning that is raising new questions about whether the administration has a predetermined “red line” for military action after the rogue regime’s latest — and most successful — intercontinental ballistic missile test to date.
While Trump has been eager to confront North Korean leader Kim Jong Un both verbally and via Twitter, his threats of “fire and fury” have largely been tempered by assurances from top advisers who insist the US remains committed to prioritizing a peaceful resolution to tensions with Pyongyang.
The strange and fascinating stories behind your favorite Christmas songs:
‘Santa Claus Is Coming To Town’
Inspiration can strike you anywhere, even on a subway. While traveling to a music publisher’s office in 1933, the tune’s songwriters John Frederick Coots and Haven Gillespie sat in a subway car and penned the song on the back of an envelope.
Aztec High School shooting: 2 students killed, shooter dead, police say:
Two students were killed in a shooting Thursday at Aztec High School in Aztec, New Mexico, state police said on their verified Twitter account, and the suspected shooter is also dead.
There were no other injuries to other students or school faculty, officials said in a news conference Thursday afternoon. Officials said the shooter was a male but did not provide any other details, such as whether he was a student or a visitor.
Aztec Police received a call about the shooting about 8 a.m., officials said, and students were in class at the time.
Aztec, in San Juan County, is a small town in northwest New Mexico, about three hours from Albuquerque, and Farmington authorities assisted in the response to the shooting.
It’s snowing in south Texas! Yes, you read that right:
Big and fluffy snowflakes fell across parts of south Texas on Thursday, including San Antonio and Austin.
While snow is common in parts of north Texas, it’s unusual for this region to see snowfall and people shared their delight on social media.
“A Texas Christmas miracle!” one person posted on Twitter.
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