$2.5 billion for wildfire recovery - California, funds will be used for housing residents, rebuilding
California will spend $2.5 billion to help the Los Angeles area recover from recent deadly wildfires.
Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the legislation after the state legislature passed it with bipartisan support. The measures include $2.5 billion for emergency disaster response, such as evacuations, housing survivors and removing hazardous household waste. Lawmakers also approved $4 million for local governments to streamline approvals for home reconstruction and $1 million in support for school facilities.
Newsom called lawmakers into a special session in November to prepare for legal battles against the Trump administration. But after major wildfires raged around Los Angeles, the governor reversed course, prioritizing relief funding.
The state Senate also approved $25 million to defend the state against legal challenges from the federal government, along with another $25 million to protect immigrants facing potential deportation and other threats. The state Assembly will still have to approve the bills before they reach Newsom's desk.
The largest of the recent Southern California wildfires erupted on January 7, engulfing the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles and killing 11 people. The Eaton Fire, which broke out the same day near Altadena, has killed 17 people.
The Newsom administration said the state expects to be reimbursed by the federal government for disaster relief funds.
The governor also announced a commitment from 270 state-chartered banks and lenders to provide mortgage relief to homeowners affected by the fires.
Poll

How much are the major currencies being exchanged today?
The US dollar has gained points, being bought today at 93.5 lek and being sold at 94.7 lek according to the local exchange rate compared to last week. The......

Billionaire Michael Bloomberg will fund the UN climate change body after the US exits the Paris Agreement!
One of President Donald Trump's first moves in office this week was to withdraw the US from the Paris Agreement, as he did the first time he was......

US withdrawal from WHO: Can the EU fill the gap in global health leadership?!
If the United States withdraws from the WHO and the Pandemic Treaty negotiations, the global health landscape loses its leading financial contributor, a key......

Balluku: Albania rich in medicinal plants - Albanian companies, exporting to Europe and beyond
In Albania, there are many companies that produce and process aromatic and medicinal plants. Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, also Minister of......

Farmers' "war" with the weather, insurance in agriculture: "We feel threatened by hail, fruit trees are most at risk"!
“Climate conditions have become a constant threat to Albanian farmers. Sudden storms, floods and hailstorms are increasingly destroying agricultural......

Trump promotes cryptocurrencies - Orders the creation of a task force for new industry regulations
United States President Donald Trump ordered the creation of a cryptocurrency task force, tasked with drafting new regulations for digital assets and......

Host country agreement signed with Albania and the European Investment Bank!
Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Igli Hasani, announced today on social networks that the Host Country Agreement signed today between Albania and the......

"Flying cars by 2027" - Serbia in negotiations with the US and China for the ambitious project
Serbia aims to introduce flying cars by 2027, according to President Aleksandar Vučić, who made the announcement during the World Economic Forum in Davos,......