The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers sparks controversy by opting not to require soil testing after the Eaton and Palisades Fires. Meanwhile, economic losses from the wildfires have soared past $250 billion, hitting the entertainment and tourism industries especially hard. Tensions between Canada and the U.S. are on the rise—could Canada really become America’s 51st state? California is also battling one of its worst flu seasons in years, with hospitalizations surging across the state. And in an unexpected success story, Compton Unified School District is earning praise for its remarkable academic turnaround.