Photo: Genaro Molina/ Los Angeles Times 08/30/09 — Wildfire rages in Acton.

That Angeles National Forest wildfire continues to rampage with over 105,000 acres burned today. This killer wildfire has claimed two lives, 35-year-old Arnaldo Quinones and 47-year-old Tedmund Hall. Both Los Angeles County firefighters were fatally injured in a truck accident in the fire zone yesterday.

The temperatures are a bit cooler today, but it’s still a tough fight for fire crews. There are about 2,500 firefighters battling the flames. So far, 21 homes have been destroyed. At this time,  as many as 12,000 homes are still being threatened.  

More photos and information on this and other wildfires burning in the Southland on the Los Angeles Times website.

Photo: Irfan Khan/ Los Angeles Times —An air attack on a flank of the wildfire approaching Acton.

That stubborn wildfire menacing several foothill communities north of Los Angeles has grown into a monster blaze. Today officials estimate more than 35, 000 acres have been scorched and thousands of homes are in danger forcing residents to pack-up and leave.

Fire crews are battling in hot temperatures to save homes in a number of neighborhoods. Some folks in La Canada are being allowed to return, but the threat is not over for other areas. The wildfire is spreading in a number of directions. A flank of the fire is bearing down on the Antelope Valley enclave of Acton. Most of the residents of that town have been evacuated as fire crews prepare to face off against the rampaging wildfire. The winds reportedly are kicking up in the area as well.

 Also the landmark Mt. Wilson site, an important communication center for police, fire, and the media, is reportedly in the path of some of those fast moving flames. Fire Officials say efforts to save it continue.

Meanwhile, the air quality was pretty bad today due to this wildfire and others burning in the Southland. This morning in Burbank, the air was hazy with smoke and smelled of brushfire. By the afternoon, the air had cleared somewhat and you could see the bellowing clouds of smoke from the fire in the Angeles National Forest against the backdrop of the San Gabriel mountains.  

UPDATE 8:50 p.m.

Two Los Angeles County firefighters were killed when the truck they were riding in went off a road and rolled over near Acton. The firefighters are the first deaths reported in the Angeles National Forest wildfire. Three civilians have been injured in this fire was well. Also, 18 homes destroyed, mostly in the Big Tujunga Canyon,  and that number is expected to go higher.

The fire has now burned 42,500 acres. There will be 1,800 firefighters on the lines through the night. So far the cost for fighting that fire, $7.7 million.

Photo: Al Seib/Los Angeles Times 08/28/09 — Firefighters take a break from battling the wildfire in the hills above La Canada Flintridge.                       

A wildfire that sparked in the Angeles National Forest above La Canada Flintridge last Wednesday is now on the rampage threatening several foothill communities today. The fire went from about 5,500 acres overnight to more than 20,000 acres today. Firefighters are battling the flames in triple digit temperatures with very low humidity. At one point, those flames came dangerously close to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. More than 1,000 firefighters are on the scene.

Evacuations have been ordered in sections of Glendale, Altadena, Pasadena, La Crescenta,  Big Tujunga Canyon as well as in La Canada Flintridge. Three people reportedly injured, but so far no homes have been lost.

UPDATE: 8:30 p.m.

Three homes damaged, along with several recreational cabins in the Big Tujunga Canyon area.

It’s official. The Los Angeles County Coroner has ruled the sudden death of Superstar Michael Jackson was a homicide. In a new release today, the coroner attributed the entertainer’s death on June 25, 2009 to a deadly combination of drugs.

According to the release: “Cause of death was established as acute propofol intoxication. Other conditions contributing to death: benzodiazepine. The drugs propofol and Lorazepam were found to be the primary drugs responsible for Mr. Jackson’s death. Other drugs detected were midazolam, diazepam, lidocaine, and ephedrine.” The final and complete coroner’s report will remain sealed at the request of the Los Angeles police department and the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

The coroner’s finding is no surprise. There have been numerous news reports over the past few days that have suggested homicide would be the coroner’s conclusion. However, in this case homicide means death at the hands of another and does not refer to a criminal charge. Jackson’s personal physician, Cardiologist Conrad Murray, was with the singer at the time of his death. Dr. Murray is now the target of a Los Angeles Police manslaughter investigation surrounding Jackson’s death. 

The Mega Millions lottery jackpot is HUGE. No winner in last Tuesday’s drawing so now today’s jackpot has ballooned to over $330 million. This is reportedly the second richest Mega Millions jackpot ever. Mega Millions is the largest multi-state lottery and it includes California. What do you have to do to win? Pick the six winning numbers. The drawing is tonight at 8 p.m.

Photo: La Canada Flintridge fire  08/27/09 Christine Cotter/Los Angeles Times

Heat, smoke, and wildfires in the Southland today. Fire crews battling four brushfires will not get much help from the weather. Another hot dry day is expected with temperatures reaching in the triple-digits in some areas. This is typical August weather, which did not arrive until a few days ago.

Overnight that little brusher burning near La Canada Flintridge took off. It has grown to around 1,500 acres and is now threatening hundreds of homes. The flames erupted Wednesday afternoon near the Angeles Crest Highway. Yesterday, smoke from that blaze could be seen swirling in the skies over Burbank. This morning when I stepped outside, I discovered a dusting of white ash from that fire in my neighborhood.

Meanwhile, a 230 acre brushfire in the Rancho Palos Verdes area has forced more than 1,500 residents to evacuate their homes. This morning, fire crews attacked the flames from the air with water-dropping helicopters. At midday, evacuations were lifted. Five homes and out structures reportedly have suffered minor damage.

 Also, Firefighters appear to be gaining ground on the largest of the fires, a nearly 2,000 acre blaze burning near Azusa and Glendora. This fire kicked up in the Angeles National Forest around the Morris Dam on Tuesday. This morning, it is reportedly 60% contained.

In Riverside county, firefighters are battling a fourth blaze that has blackened 1,000 acres in the area of Hemet and Idyllwild. This morning, some homes were evacuated. Brush and grass that has not burned in more than a decade is reportedly fueling this wildfire.

Also, today Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency in both Los Angeles and Monterey counties because of wildfires. 

File Photo: April 2008  Adam Hunger/Reuters

One of the most powerful figures in American politics is being remembered today. U.S. Senator Edward M. Kennedy died last night at the family compound in Hannis Port, Massachusetts at the age of 77 after a valiant battle with brain cancer.

Since the assassination of his brothers, President John F. Kennedy and Senator Robert Kennedy in the 1960s, the Massachusetts senator has been the leader of the most influential political family in the country. Ted Kennedy will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery near the graves of his two older brothers.

Kennedy’s endorsement is considered a major factor in candidate Barack Obama winning the Democratic nomination for president last year. Today, President Obama praised Senator Kennedy as one of the most accomplished Americans ever to serve our democracy: “His ideas and ideals are stamped on scores of laws and reflected in millions of lives — in seniors who know new dignity, in families that know new opportunity, in children who know education’s promise, and in all who can pursue their dream in an America that is more equal and more just — including myself.” More of the president’s remarks about Kennedy on the White House blog.

File Photo: April 28, 2009  Pete Souza/White House  — President Obama and Senator Kennedy share a walk on the White House grounds.

If you’re feeling lucky today, perhaps you should drop some dough on a few Mega Millions tickets. That  lottery jackpot has rolled over 13 times without a winner and now stands at a staggering $252 million.  Mega Millions is played in 12 states including California.

The odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are around one in 176 million. Yeah, pretty long odds, but sooner or later someone’s got to win that jackpot. Mega Millions holds the record for the largest jackpot win, $390 million back on March 6, 2007. Two winning tickets shared that record jackpot.

Tonight’s drawing is at 8 p.m.

File photo —  03/05/09/Bob Chamberlin/Los Angeles Times

Singer Chris Brown escaped a jail term in his felony domestic violence case this afternoon, but the Los Angeles County Superior Court judge slapped him with a tough probation sentence. Judge Patricia Schnegg sentenced the popular R&B entertainer to five years of felony probation, 180 days of community labor, and 52 weeks in a domestic violence counseling program. Brown will be serving his sentence in his home state of Virginia, but must return here periodically to provide Judge Schnegg with a progress report.

In June, the 20-year-old Brown pretty much accepted these terms when he admitted he was guilty of felony assault as part of a plea deal. The singer was arrested last February and was charged with beating then pop star girlfriend, Rihanna, during an argument in a rented sports car on a residential street in Los Angeles. It’s hard to forget that photo of Rihanna’s battered face.

Earlier,  a protective order was issued for the 21-year-old victim, Robyn Rihanna Fenty. Today the judge extended that restraining order until the end of Brown’s five years of probation. That may be the toughest punishment of all for Brown. Also, the judge warned Brown that she had heard “chatter” on the airwaves, like the rest of us, about the former lovers hooking up. If that happens from here on, it’s a violation of Brown’s probation and that would send him to state prison.

Meanwhile, Brown’s career has taken a beating as well. Since his arrest, the entertainer has lost lucrative endorsements and some radio stations have stopped playing his music. Rebuilding his career and image will probably be a top priority for Brown.

“Inglourious Basterds” has a weird title, but a whole lot of other things going for it, for instance, Brad Pitt stars in the film and it’s directed by Quentin Tarantino. Still, I was surprised that this twisted Nazi-killing  World War II feature fought its way to number one at the domestic Box Office this weekend with an estimated $37.6 million.

In second place, “District 9″ with $18.9 million. Last week, the alien sci-fi flick held down the number one ranking. In two weeks, “District 9″ has raked in more than $70 million at theaters across the country. The action movie, “G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra” earned $12.5 million for third, followed by the romantic drama “The Time Traveler’s Wife” in fourth with around $10 million and in fifth, “Julie & Julia” with an estimated $9 million.

Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger is the airline pilot with the nerves of steel who landed that crippled jetliner on the Hudson River last January. You might remember, that shortly after take-off  U.S. Airways Flight 1549 encountered a flock of geese over Manhattan. The geese knocked out all the engines. Quick thinking Captain “Sully” flew the airline like a glider and touched down safely on the river.

Big time publisher William Morrow reportedly paid over three million dollars for the hero pilot’s memoir. Now the publisher has announced a 350-thousand copy first-printing of “Highest Duty: My Search For What Really Matters ” due out this fall, according to the Publishers Weekly website.

Captain “Sully” writes, with the help of co-author Jeffrey Zaslow, about wanting to fly since the age of five. He would grow-up to fly fighter planes, gliders, and eventually airline passenger jets. Also in the book, Sullenberger talks frankly about his commercial aviation career and the difficulties it has caused in his family life, as well as the recent toll the public spotlight has had on his marriage. Whether he likes it or not, Sullenberger’s life has been changed forever by a flight that lasted less than six minutes.

Photo: FLLewis/A Writer’s Groove — Burbank City Hall

Now that the Burbank City Council has filled the vacant seat on the police commission, hopefully, that body can move forward with a busy agenda. Last night, real estate consultant and long time Burbank business owner, Raymond Gerald Adams, was the top vote getter out of a field of six contenders. Adams received votes from council members David Gordon, Jess Talamantes, and Vice-Mayor Anja Reinke. Ironically, these are the exact same three votes that got Human Rights Activist John Brady appointed to the police commission last May.

As you might remember, Brady was later ousted by the Burbank City Council after a controversial disclosure that he was on probation for a DUI. During the application process to replace Brady, all police commission candidates had to agree to background checks.

Councilman Gordon says Adams won him over with his commitment to the community and ability to “…listen carefully” to the concerns of others. Adams joins Hagop Hergelian, Nathan W. Rubinfeld, Robert Frutos, Claudia Bonis, Elise Stearns-Niesen, and James Etter on the police commission.  

The next police commission meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, September 9, 2009. 

I know it was not the “Big One” we’ve all been dreading here in Southern California, but yesterday’s quake felt like a major shaker to me. So what if the U.S. Geological Survey says the magnitude was a measly 2.9. I’m telling you, when it struck at around 3:58 p.m. yesterday afternoon, I thought, uh-oh, this is going to be a wild ride.

First, I hear the roar and then came the rough shaking of the house. I was at the computer and literally grabbed the corner’s of the table to have something to hold onto. The epicenter reportedly was about three miles north of nearby La Crescenta.  Well, it felt like the epicenter was right under my Burbank home or at least on my block.

No damage in my place. Putting things in perspective, I have to admit as earthquakes go, yesterday’s rocker was probably on the lightweight end of the scale of what we get here in the Southland. A little reminder that we live in earthquake country.  The kind of reminder I don’t need for say, another couple of years or so. However, I doubt it will be that long before I experience another quake.

In no time at all, a television version of “The Time Traveler’s Wife” has been snatched up by one of the major networks. Last weekend, a new film based on the best selling novel wooed audiences and landed in second place at the Box Office. In just a few days, the romantic drama has cleared the $20 million mark. This is one of the best openings ever for a romantic drama feature. The movie stars Eric Bana and Rachel McAdams.

ABC has picked up a TV drama based on Audrey Niffenegger’s debut novel, according to the industry website Done Deal today. Marta Kauffman is writing the pilot and will executive produce. “The Time Traveler’s Wife” is an intriguing love story about a Chicago librarian who suffers from a genetic disorder that causes him to randomly time travel and his artist wife who must deal with it all. Released in 2003, “The Time Traveler’s Wife” has sold over two million copies. Today it is in the top ten on both Barnes & Noble and Amazon websites.

ABC is betting TV watchers will want to follow the adventures and love affair of this unusual couple week after week.  

“District 9,”  a new science fiction film with no major stars, invaded  theaters this weekend and won over the biggest chunk of the ticket buyers. In “District 9″ the story centers on an alien population in South Africa.  ”District 9″ took in an estimated $37 million to become the number one movie in the U.S.

Last week’s top flick, the action packed “G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra” had a pretty good second weekend, raking in around $22.5 million.  In third, a new romantic drama, “The Time Traveler’s Wife” had a dazzling opening with around $19.2 million. The movie is based on the bestselling novel of the same title by Audrey Niffenegger.

In four, the Julia Child inspired “Julie & Julia” with $12.4 million, followed by the animated family picture, “G-Force” with $6.9 million.

Woodstock Poster

40 years ago this weekend, around 400,000 music lovers gathered on a rural farm in New York state for the now famous Woodstock Festival and Art Fair. Sure there were great performances by Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Joe Cocker, Sly Stone, and many other rock artists during those three days in August of 1969. Still, there have been many other outstanding music festivals since then, but none has the magic of Woodstock.

Here’s a nicely done story about Woodstock on the Reuters website.  

Photo: Chuck Kennedy/White House

A special ceremony at the White House last night honored 16 super achievers with the nation’s highest civilian award, the Medal of Freedom. In the photo above, former President of Ireland Mary Robinson congratulates fellow medal recipient, Actor Sidney Poitier. The other medal winners included Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, Scientist Stephen Hawking, Tennis Star Billie Jean King, Entertainer Chita Rivera, and Retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor.

In his remarks, President Obama praised the medal winners for their incredible achievements: “The recipients of the Medal of Freedom did not set out to win this or any other award. They did not set out in pursuit of glory or fame or riches. Rather, they set out, guided by passion, committed to hard work, aided by persistence, often with few advantages but the gifts, grace, and good name God gave them.”

More of the president’s remarks and a full list of the 2009 Medal of Freedom award winners on the White House blog.

Photo: Los Angeles Dodgers

Hip Hop Star Snoop Dogg is a big time Dodgers fan. Yesterday, the entertainer took the new Dodgers Ticket Truck on its inaugural spin around Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers Ticket Truck is the first of its kind in Major League Baseball, according to a news release sent out by the team organization.

Photo: Los Angeles Dodgers

The mobile unit reportedly was designed to take Dodger tickets straight to the fans at concerts, parks, festivals, and throughout Southland neighborhoods. Dodgers President Dennis Mannion said: ”The fan experience begins at the moment someone decides to come to a game at Dodger Stadium and we believe our fans will appreciate this process being simplified and brought directly to them like never before.”

Fans can follow the travels of the Dodgers Ticket Truck on Twitter at www.twitter.com/dodgertownusa 

Also, a new Dodgers “This is My Town” billboard featuring Snoop went up on Tuesday, August 11th all around the Los Angeles area. “I think it’s a great billboard,” said Snoop Dogg. “I thought that was a great look, and a great partnership. Dodgers winning, Snoop Dogg winning, so it’s a good thing right now.” 

Federal agents and other law enforcement officers searched a Las Vegas pharmacy today in connection with the criminal investigation into the death of Superstar Michael Jackson. Last month, agents raided the Vegas medical office and home of Jackson’s personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray.

Photo: Justin M. Bowen/Las Vegas Sun

Today’s search of the Applied Pharmacy Services on West Flamingo Road in Vegas is said to be a follow-up to last month’s searches. The agents reportedly went into the pharmacy looking for evidence of prescription drugs linked to Jackson. The entertainer died suddenly on June 25th. Yesterday, the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office completed its probe into the singer’s death, but the results were not released because of the ongoing criminal investigation.

A good report on the pharmacy raid and additional photos as well on the Las Vegas Sun website.

The debate over the pros and cons of health insurance reform is seriously heating up. In an effort to get its message out about what it considers the “stability and security” of health insurance reform, the White House launched a new online resource today WhiteHouse.gov/RealityCheck 

The Obama administration is encouraging the public to visit  ”Reality Check” to find out what is really in health insurance reform and what is not in there. Meanwhile, more town hall meetings on the controversial issue are set for tomorrow. President Obama will be center stage at one of those meetings in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Back here, local Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA) is hosting another of those health insurance reform town halls at the Alhambra Civic Center Library, 101 South First Street in Alhambra. The event kicks off at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, August 11th.