California

Scientists announced Tuesday they have for the first time produced more energy in a fusion reaction than was used to ignite it. LiveNOW from FOX's Josh Breslow spoke with Alex Zylstra, a scientist with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, to explain the importance of the development.

The 40-year-old's death was confirmed on Dec. 14, 2022, by his wife Allison Holker Boss in a statement to People magazine.

U.S. energy officials announced that government scientists in at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory produced the first successful nuclear fusion reaction resulting in net energy gain on Dec. 5. It?s a technology that has the potential to accelerate the planet?s shift away from fossil fuels and produce nearly limitless, carbon-free energy. Dan Clark, a nuclear physicist at the Lawrence Livermore Nat'l Lab, called the moment, "a twinkle in the eye of scientists for 60-70 years." Clark added that the moment wouldn't have been possible without the "decades-long" work done by scientists all around the world.

U.S. energy officials announced that government scientists in California produced the first successful nuclear fusion reaction resulting in net energy gain. The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory said the National Ignition Facility's historic achievement, also known as scientific energy breakeven, occurred on Dec. 5. Michl Binderbauer, the CEO of TAE Technologies, a private company dedicated to commercializing non-radioactive nuclear fusion power and other sustainable technologies called the breakthrough, "a major step for humanity in the right direction." Biderbauer added that the discovery is "transformative," comparing the successful fusion reaction to the first-time a human broke the four-minute mile mark.

Former U.S. Representative Karen Bass was sworn in as the 43rd mayor of Los Angeles. In doing so, she became the first woman and second Black person to lead the city. In her inauguration speech, Bass reiterated her plan to tackle the homeless crisis, one of pillars of her campaign. During her campaign, Bass repeatedly stressed that homelessness and public safety were the two key issues at the top of her agenda as mayor. One of her campaign promises was to house 15,000 people by the end of her first year, as well as build more temporary, affordable, and permanent housing. Her goals also included ending street encampments, reducing homelessness and focusing on mental health and substance abuse services.

According to the Los Angeles Police Department, "The preliminary investigation revealed that Los Angeles City Councilmember Kevin de León was involved in an altercation. While participating in a local community event, Councilmember de León was approached by multiple community members, who blocked his path of travel as he attempted to leave the building. It was during this encounter that an allegation was made of one male, identified as Jason Reedy, headbutting, pushing, and punching Councilmember de León." De León has faced intense pressure from colleagues, state and national elected officials and activists to resign ever since a leaked audio was released of an October 2021 conversation about redistricting that featured the councilman and others, including Gil Cedillo and Nury Martinez, using racial slurs and blunt talk of political power grabs that has roiled the city for months. Meanwhile, LA City Councilmember Gil Cedillo explained in a press release why he refuses to resign, and despite public outcry, he didn’t break any laws. Cedillo wrote, "I refused to resign before my term ended. That’s not who I am, and I did nothing that warranted it. My life’s work has been about fighting relentlessly for those who do not have a voice – regardless of their ethnic background." You can read more of Cedillo's statement on the FOX11 Los Angeles website: www.foxla.com/news/la-city-council-scandal-gil-cedillo-explains-his-refusal-to-resign