Wildfires in Southern California have burned a combined 28,000 acres and are mostly uncontained. They have killed at least five people, destroyed thousands of structures, and forced over 170,000 residents to evacuate.
A winter storm swept across the Southern states, bringing snow and icy conditions from Texas to Alabama. Officials closed schools, canceled or delayed flights, and warned residents in the worst-hit areas to stay off the roads.
Former President Jimmy Carter was honored with a state funeral at the Washington National Cathedral. His casket was then transported back to his Georgia hometown for a private ceremony and burial.
The Senate advanced the Laken Riley Act, which requires the detention of illegal immigrants charged with certain crimes, bringing the bill to the verge of passage. A significant number of Senate Democrats joined Republicans in supporting the bill.
