Monica Bushman

The better news: Slightly cooler temperatures are on the way for the interior areas of Southern California.

The state's forced sterilization program — the largest in the country — ran from 1909 to 1979 and left 20,000 people unable to have children.

An excessive heat warning is in effect Wednesday through Monday for the high desert areas of Hesperia, Victorville and Apple Valley. Temperatures could hit 115 degrees this week, and 120 degrees over the weekend.

In the days leading up to the Fourth of July, city and county officials called on Angelenos to leave fireworks to the professionals, especially given the continuing dry conditions this year.

Many law enforcement units are paying extra attention to Fourth of July-related misbehavior.

New data out Thursday on firearms sales in California shows that there was a record increase in the number of handguns legally sold in the state in 2020. From 2019 to 2020 there was a 65.5 percent increase in handgun sales and a 45.9 percent increase in long gun sales, according to the office of state Attorney General Rob Bonta.

As wildfires get bigger, stronger and more frequent on the West Coast, experts are calling for more ways to prevent them — by focusing on prescribed fires. Researchers at UC San Diego are currently developing a new tool, using artificial intelligence and data science, to make it easier to plan and carry out controlled burns.

After three years, he is stepping down from his role this week, when his contract with the district expires.

Instead of setting off your own sparklers, go to a city-sponsored fireworks show. These were cancelled last year because of the pandemic but they're back!

Starting Tuesday, there's a chance of monsoonal thunderstorms across the interior of the mountains and desert areas. Dry lightning that often precedes the rainfall can spark wildfires.