标签： North America

A significant fire erupted at Chevron’s El Segundo refinery near Los Angeles, California, on Thursday night, turning the skies orange and prompting concerns among local residents. The blaze, which occurred at a jet fuel production unit, was reported around 21:30 local time (04:30 GMT). Despite the dramatic visuals, city officials confirmed there is no immediate public threat, and no evacuation orders have been issued. Chevron described the incident as an “isolated fire” and assured that all personnel and contractors were accounted for, with no injuries reported. The cause of the explosion remains under investigation. The refinery, located near Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), supplies jet fuel for airport operations, but Mayor Karen Bass confirmed no disruptions to flights. Built in 1911, the El Segundo refinery is Chevron’s second-largest in the U.S., producing 285,000 barrels of crude oil daily and supplying a significant portion of motor vehicle and jet fuel in Southern California. El Segundo Mayor Chris Pimentel praised the swift response of firefighters, who were stationed just a quarter-mile from the refinery. Residents reported feeling a powerful blast, with some mistaking it for a nuclear explosion or plane crash. Officials are monitoring air quality for potential pollution, while the extent of damage to the refinery remains unclear.

A tragic accident has claimed the life of Balin Miller, a 23-year-old Alaskan climbing influencer, after he fell from El Capitan, the iconic vertical rock formation in California’s Yosemite National Park. The incident occurred on Wednesday while Miller was live-streaming his ascent on TikTok. His mother, Jeanine Girard-Moorman, shared her heartbreak in a poignant social media post, stating, ‘My heart is shattered in a million pieces. I don’t know how I will get through this. I love him so much. I want to wake up from this horrible nightmare.’

Miller was reportedly lead rope soloing—a technique that allows climbers to ascend alone while still being protected by a rope—on the 2,400-foot (730m) route known as Sea of Dreams. According to his brother Dylan, Miller had completed the climb and was hauling up equipment when he likely rappelled off the end of his rope. Witness Tom Evans, a Yosemite-based photographer, recounted that Miller had tried to free his stuck bag before the fall and immediately called 911.

Originally from Anchorage, Miller was a seasoned alpinist who gained international recognition for his solo ascent of Mount McKinley’s Slovak Direct, a feat that took him 56 hours to complete. Veteran climber Clint Helander praised Miller’s recent achievements, calling them ‘one of the most impressive last six months of climbing of anyone I can think of.’ Fellow climber Mark Westman even compared him to Alex Honnold, the first person to free solo a full route on El Capitan.

Miller’s death occurred on the first day of the federal government shutdown, which left national parks ‘generally’ open but with limited operations and closed visitor centers. The National Park Service has launched an investigation into the incident, confirming that ‘park rangers and emergency personnel responded immediately.’

Known affectionately as the ‘Orange Tent Guy’ for his distinctive campsite at the base of El Capitan, Miller had recently completed a notoriously difficult ice climb called Reality Bath in Patagonia, which had remained unrepeated for 37 years. His passing marks the third fatality at Yosemite National Park this year, following the deaths of an 18-year-old climber in June and a 29-year-old hiker in August.

El Capitan, a towering granite monolith standing at approximately 3,000 feet (915 meters), continues to draw climbers from around the globe, despite the inherent risks. Miller’s death serves as a somber reminder of the dangers associated with extreme sports and the fragility of life.

Robert Morris, the 64-year-old founder of one of the largest megachurch congregations in the United States, pleaded guilty on Thursday to sexually abusing a 12-year-old girl in Oklahoma during the 1980s. The former leader of Gateway Church admitted to felony charges of lewd or indecent acts with a child during a hearing in Pawhuska, Oklahoma. As part of a plea agreement, Morris was sentenced to 10 years but will serve only six months in jail, with the remainder on probation. He must also register as a sex offender and pay $250,000 in restitution. The victim, Cindy Clemishire, now 55, emotionally addressed Morris in court, stating that the abuse had profoundly impacted every aspect of her life. The abuse occurred over four years while Morris was living with Clemishire’s family in Hominy, Oklahoma, and working as a traveling evangelist. Clemishire first publicly accused Morris in 2024, prompting his resignation from Gateway Church. Morris, who founded the church in 2000 and once served as a spiritual adviser to former President Donald Trump, acknowledged his actions as a ‘moral failure’ in a public statement. The case highlights systemic failures, as Clemishire revealed she had reported the abuse to her parents and church leaders in 1987, but no legal action was taken at the time.

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, the convicted rap mogul, has penned a heartfelt letter to Judge Arun Subramanian, pleading for leniency ahead of his sentencing on Friday. In the four-page letter, Combs attributes his past behavior to drug addiction and expresses deep remorse for the pain he has caused. He claims to have undergone a transformation during his 13-month incarceration in a Brooklyn jail, stating, ‘The old me died in jail, and a new version of me was reborn.’ Combs was found guilty in July on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, charges that could result in up to 20 years in prison. Prosecutors are pushing for a minimum sentence of 11 years, while his defense team is advocating for his release later this month. In his letter, Combs apologizes to his ex-girlfriend, singer Casandra Ventura, and an anonymous woman who testified under the name ‘Jane,’ acknowledging his past mistakes and the impact of his actions. He writes, ‘I literally lost my mind,’ and describes his downfall as rooted in selfishness. Combs also highlights his efforts to reform, including teaching a class to fellow inmates on how to achieve business success, and emphasizes his newfound sobriety after 25 years. He appeals to the judge for mercy, citing his seven children and his 84-year-old mother, who recently underwent brain surgery. However, his accusers have also written to the judge, expressing fears of retaliation if Combs is released. Ventura wrote, ‘I am so scared that if he walks free, his first actions will be swift retribution towards me and others who spoke up.’ She believes Combs deserves a long sentence, stating, ‘He has no interest in changing or becoming better.’ Combs is expected to address the court on Friday, with his defense team planning to present a 15-minute video. The content of the video remains undisclosed. In July, Combs was acquitted of the most severe charges, including racketeering and sex trafficking, which could have resulted in a life sentence. Prosecutors argue that Combs remains unrepentant, describing his attempts to reframe his actions as the result of ‘mutually toxic relationships’ as disingenuous. They wrote, ‘There is nothing mutual about a relationship where one person holds all the power and the other ends up bloodied and bruised.’

As the US government shutdown continues, conservationists are urging visitors to steer clear of national parks, advocating for their temporary closure due to safety and resource concerns. The National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) has highlighted the risks posed by skeleton staffing, warning that visitors may find themselves without essential services or support. The National Park Service (NPS), responsible for overseeing 433 sites, has opted to keep parks partially open while furloughing over half of its workforce. This decision has drawn criticism from conservation groups and former park rangers, who argue that reduced staffing jeopardizes both visitor safety and the preservation of park resources. Kristen Brengel, NPCA’s senior vice-president of government affairs, emphasized the lack of communication staff to inform visitors about available facilities, describing the situation as unpredictable. She advised against visiting parks during the shutdown, citing the potential for vandalism, environmental damage, and limited emergency response capabilities. The Trump administration’s approach during the 2018 shutdown, which kept parks open with minimal staffing, led to widespread issues, including off-roading, looting, and littering. Many parks are already under strain due to earlier mass layoffs, raising concerns about their ability to recover from any additional damage. In a letter to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, former park superintendents warned of the risks posed by keeping parks open, citing past instances of vandalism and habitat destruction. Bill Wade, executive director of the association of national park rangers, echoed these concerns, describing the decision as ‘dangerous’ and highlighting the potential for increased resource damage. The shutdown, which began after Congress failed to agree on a new spending plan, has sparked bipartisan efforts to keep parks open, with Senator John Hickenlooper emphasizing their economic and emotional significance during stressful times.