California Today: ‘Which Way Do I Go?’ Altadena Resident Awaits Answers After Eaton Fire

Today's top stories from California.

March 4, 2025, 9:31 a.m. Eastern time Good morning. Here are the top stories from across California. Today's Top Story Nicole Salazar Video | 'Which Way Do I Go?' Altadena Resident Awaits Answers After Eaton Fire Roosevelt Banks's home in Altadena, Calif., was destroyed by the California wildfires. Nearly two months later, he's still awaiting answers from his insurer and living week to week in hotels. Read more More California News In the L.A. Fires, a Photographer Finds a Moment of Stillness A photojournalist was on the ground in Southern California in January to capture the fires' devastation. China Targets San Diego Biotech Firm in Broadening Blacklist In a sign it is willing to go further in responding to President Trump's tariffs, Beijing blocked more American companies from importing goods into China. For L.A. Fire Victims, Two Words Bring Hope and a Little Normalcy: 'Play Ball' A Pacific Palisades youth baseball league has found a temporary home and, with lots of help, is reviving a sense of togetherness that was lost in January. A.I. Start-Up Anthropic Closes Deal That Values It at $61.5 Billion The announcement follows new fund-raising efforts from rivals like OpenAI, which is set to close a deal that values the company at $300 billion, and Elon Musk's xAI. A Scenic California Rail Line Sits on an Eroding Cliff. Where Should the Tracks Go? In the city of Del Mar, near San Diego, most agree the train tracks must move off eroding bluffs. But debate over its new route has stalled the project while climate change raises the risks. After the Fires, Los Angeles Becomes Even Tougher for New Buyers With fierce competition and less inventory, potential buyers are bracing for a fight or wondering if they will have to leave the city to become homeowners. Video | Highlights From The 2025 Oscars "Anora" director Sean Baker tied with Walt Disney for most Oscars won in a single night, and the International Film category showcased a drastic flip in one-time favorite "Emilia Pérez." Inside Vanity Fair's 2025 Oscars Party Conan O'Brien, Zoe Saldaña, Timothée Chalamet and more packed the annual post-awards bash for burgers, cocktails and victory laps. A New Home, Filled With the Same History That Inspired Her The movie producer Nicole Avant grew up in Beverly Hills, as her parents welcomed famous entertainers into their home. She's making her own memories now in another part of Los Angeles. A Chabad House for a Growing Family After a lengthy search, a rabbi and his wife decided the Bay Area was the right place to serve a large Jewish community. Local Conditions Look up the heat index in your area using The Times's heat tracker. See active fires using The Times's wildfire tracker. Today's Recipe Armando Rafael for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews. Semlor (Cardamom Cream Buns) Recipe from Ingrid Schatz Adapted by Matt Haines 1 hour, plus rising  Makes 10 large semlor Play a Game The Mini Crossword Solve this bite-sized puzzle in just a few minutes. Spelling Bee How many words can you make with 7 letters? Wordle Guess the 5-letter word with 6 chances. See all our games Sign up for Your Places: Extreme Weather. Get notified about extreme weather before it happens with custom alerts for places in the U.S. you choose. Get it in your inbox Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for California Today from The New York Times. To stop receiving California Today, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. To opt out of updates and offers sent from The Athletic, submit a request. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018