Forecasters warn of winds as fires break out in Southern California

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Firefighters scrambled to corral flames churning along hillsides in Los Angeles as winds began gaining strength across Southern California. Forecasters warned Tuesday of “life-threatening, destructive” gusts that could last for days while toppling trees, creating dangerous surf and bringing extreme fire risk to areas that haven’t seen substantial rain in months. The National Weather Service said gusts could reach 80 mph across Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. Public safety power shutoffs are being considered for more than 400,000 customers across the region. Recent dry winds have contributed to warmer-than-average temperatures in Southern California, where there’s been very little rain so far this season.

Appeals court rejects Trump’s latest attempt to get hush money sentencing called off

NEW YORK (AP) — A New York appeals court judge has denied President-elect Donald Trump’s latest bid to delay this week’s sentencing in his hush money case. In a one-sentence ruling following an emergency hearing on Tuesday, Judge Ellen Gesmer denied Trump’s request for an immediate order that would spare him from being sentenced while he appeals Judge Juan M. Merchan’s decision last week to uphold the historic verdict. It was the second time in two days that Trump was denied. Trump went to the Appellate Division of the state’s trial court a day after Merchan rebuffed his initial bid to indefinitely postpone sentencing. Trump’s sentencing remains on schedule for Friday, though he can still ask other courts to intervene.

Suspect in subway burning told police ‘that’s me’ when shown video, transcript says

NEW YORK (AP) — A police transcript says the man accused of setting a woman on fire inside a New York City subway told detectives that he had no recollection of the fatal attack. Prosecutors made the transcript public Tuesday. The documents show that Sebastian Zapeta said in Spanish, “Oh, damn, that’s me,” as he was shown footage of the burning. Zapeta pleaded not guilty to murder and arson charges in a Brooklyn court. Prosecutors say he set fire to Debrina Kawam on a train last month, fanned the flames with a shirt and watched the woman burn from a subway bench. A Brooklyn prosecutor says he would seek the maximum penalty of life in prison without parole.

Trump refuses to rule out use of military force to take control of Greenland, Panama Canal

PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump says he won’t rule out the use of military force to seize control of the Panama Canal and Greenland as he declared U.S. control of both to be vital to American national security. Speaking to reporters less than two weeks before he takes office on Jan. 20 and as a delegation of aides and advisers that includes his son Donald Trump Jr. is in Greenland, Trump left open the use of the American military to secure both territories. Trump has floated having Canada join the United States. The Republican said Tuesday he would not use military force to do that, saying, he would rely on “economic force.”