‘Unprecedented’ wildfires burn through Los Angeles, Jimmy Carter honored at U.S. Capitol, Trae Young hits half-court buzzer-beater

Good morning, all. If you’re dealing with snow this winter, keep these surprising safety tips in mind before going out to shovel. Now, on to the news.

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NEED TO KNOW

'Unprecedented' wildfires

More than 30,000 people in Southern California were under evacuation orders yesterday as “unprecedented” wildfires, driven by powerful winds, began to tear through the Los Angeles area. Here’s what to know.

Three fires: Firefighters are battling active fires in Pacific Palisades, Eaton and Sylmar. The Palisades Fire, which has already burned more than 2,900 acres, forced many to abandon their cars and escape on foot as traffic snarled evacuation routes. [Reuters/Los Angeles Times]

State of emergency: California Gov. Gavin Newsom said that more than 1,400 firefighters had been deployed. Los Angeles and Orange counties are under “particularly dangerous situation” red flag warnings through this afternoon. [ABC News]

Staying safe: If you live near a fire zone, experts advise evacuating before orders are issued to avoid congestion. Packing a go bag with essentials like prescriptions, medical supplies, a flashlight and important documents is also crucial. [AP]

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

🇺🇸 Carter lies in state

The body of former President Jimmy Carter arrived yesterday at the U.S. Capitol for a memorial service, during which Vice President Kamala Harris and congressional leaders eulogized him. He’ll lie in state there until tomorrow. [NBC News]

➡️ Trump press conference

During a news conference, President-elect Donald Trump reiterated his desire to take over the Panama Canal and Greenland, refusing to rule out the use of military force, and said he’d use economic force to make Canada the “51st state.” [CNN]

🍪 Cookie o’clock

Girl Scout Cookies season kicked off yesterday, but two beloved flavors — S’mores and Toast-Yay! — will be retired after this year to make way for new recipes, so get ’em while you can. [CBS News]

🥛 Milking it

In a nod to her character in Babygirl, Nicole Kidman chugged a glass of milk onstage while accepting the award for best actress at the National Board of Review Gala. “To all of the babygirls in the room,” she said in her toast. [People]

🏀 Buzzer-beater

As the clock struck zero last night, Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young sunk a last-ditch half-court shot, shocking the crowd and saving his team from overtime with a 124-121 win over the Utah Jazz. Watch the wild shot. [Yahoo Sports]

WHAT’S HAPPENING TODAY

🏀 After three losses in a row, the Knicks face off against the Raptors at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBA League Pass. [AP]

🚘 Hey, Home Improvement fans: Tim Allen returns to TV opposite Kat Dennings in the new comedy series Shifting Gears, premiering on ABC at 8 p.m. ET. (More on that below.) [Hollywood Reporter]

📺 Also on ABC: Season 3 of Celebrity Jeopardy premieres at 9 p.m. ET. Some of the faves competing include Rachel Brosnahan and Neil deGrasse Tyson. [Entertainment Weekly]

☀️ And don’t forget to: Read your daily horoscope. Play the Crossword. Check the forecast in your area.

TODAY IN HISTORY

In 1994, Tonya Harding won the women’s U.S. Figure Skating Championship after an attack on her rival Nancy Kerrigan forced her to drop out. Harding was later stripped of the title for her role in the attack, and the scandal became one of the most notorious in sports history. [E! News]

3 QUESTIONS

...about Shifting Gears

I asked Yahoo Entertainment reporter David Artavia, who interviewed the cast of Shifting Gears, what to expect from the new show.

Jessica: First up: What’s Shifting Gears about?

David: Tim Allen plays Matt Parker, a widower mechanic whose estranged daughter, Riley (Kat Dennings), moves back home. His views routinely collide with Riley’s. Allen told me it’s about “how wonderful people have horrible things happen to them, and they stay human. They don’t fall apart.”

Jessica: Who else can we expect to show up?

David: It’s like a ’90s Mount Rushmore, with Seann William Scott as Gabriel and Daryl Mitchell as Ed. They’re a funny duo that work at Matt’s classic-car workshop, where they help Matt and Riley — who may form a romance with Gabriel in future seasons — patch up their relationship.

Jessica: Is it worth the watch?

David: I’ve watched the first two episodes, and I’d say it’s worth a shot! It’s a family-friendly sitcom that delivers all the nostalgic charm of a classic ’90s show. Sure, some of the jokes are a little cheesy (complete with a laugh track), but that’s part of its appeal.

As for behind the scenes: There was no shortage of Tim Allen dad jokes and pranks.

FEEL-GOOD MOMENT

Madison Vaughan has known her mailman for over 20 years, ever since she lived with her mom down the street. Recently, after deciding to move away, she wrote him a farewell letter — and was surprised to receive a reply. Watch her read his sweet response. [People]

Have a great day! See you tomorrow.

💡 P.S. Before you go, your daily advice: Want to eat healthier? Eat more beans and lentils. Whichever you like the most will do, but these five are the healthiest. [Yahoo Life]

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