By BRUCE SHIPKOWSKI

CHATSWORTH, N.J. (AP) — A fast-moving wildfire engulfing part of New Jersey’s Pine Barrens has not resulted in any injuries, officials said, though it’s expected to grow before forecast rain later this week.

Related Articles

Lawsuits accuse insurers of colluding to drop coverage in fire-prone parts of California

Public health risks of urban wildfire smoke prompt push for more monitoring

In fight over insurance, neighbors crowdsource LA fire contamination data

Climate disasters are on the rise. These states want to make oil companies pay

States’ wildfire plans at risk amid budget woes and federal uncertainty

The fire in southern New Jersey’s Lacey and Ocean townships grew to roughly 19 square miles and could continue to burn for days, officials said during an update on Wednesday. No one has been injured so far in the blaze, and 5,000 residents were evacuated but have been permitted to return home. A single commercial building and some vehicles were destroyed in the fire.

“This is still a very active fire,” said Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn LaTourette. “As we continue to get this under full control the expectation is that the number of acres will grow and will grow in a place that is unpopulated.”

Officials said the fire is believed to be the second-worst in the last two decades, smaller only than a 2007 blaze that burned 26 square miles.

The Garden State Parkway, one of New Jersey’s busiest highways, also reopened Wednesday morning after officials closed a roughly 7-mile stretch in the southern part of the state.

Acting Gov. Tahesha Way declared a state of emergency early Wednesday as officials said they’ve contained about 35% of the wildfire.

Video released by the state agency overseeing the fire service showed billowing white and black clouds of smoke, intense flames engulfing pines and firefighters dousing a charred structure.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, authorities said.

Forest fires are a common occurrence in the Pine Barrens, a 1.1 million-acre state and federally protected reserve about the size of the Grand Canyon lying halfway between Philadelphia to the west and the Atlantic coast to the east. The region, with its quick-draining sandy soil, is amid peak forest fire season. The trees are still developing leaves, humidity remains low and winds can kick up, drying out the forest floor.

It’s a vast wilderness in the country’s most densely populated state. LaTourette, the DEP commissioner, said the fire is straddling an area on the edge of wilderness and residential areas.

“It’s the interface where the environment and development meet,” he said.

The area had been under a severe drought until recently, when early spring rains helped dampen the region, but officials cautioned recent low humidity and a dry stretch have heightened the risk of fire.

The Jersey Central Power and Light Company cut power to about 25,000 customers at the request of the Forest Fire Service and the wildfire’s command post Tuesday evening, including thousands in Barnegat Township. A spokesman for the company said Wednesday that some customers could have power restored later in the day.

“This is for the safety of crews battling the fire,” the company wrote on X.

Debi Schaffer was caught in gridlocked traffic after evacuating with her two dogs while her husband agreed to stay with their 22 chickens, The Press of Atlantic City reported.

“I wanted to take them in the car with me; can you imagine 22 chickens in a car?” she told the newspaper.

Around her Waretown house it was “like a war zone,” she said, describing smoke, sirens and the buzz of helicopters.

The site of the fire is near an alpaca farm. The farm said in a Facebook post that the property wasn’t threatened and all of the animals were safe.

The blaze is the second major forest fire in the region in less than a week.

Associated Press writer Mike Catalini in Trenton, New Jersey, contributed to this report.

The fact that the Vikings enter the 2025 NFL draft with fewer picks than any other team isn’t lost on Kevin O’Connell. It also doesn’t appear to be bothering him too much.

Asked this week about only having picks in the first (No. 24), third (No. 97), fifth (No. 139), and sixth (No. 187) rounds, the head coach did his best the change the narrative, instead emphasizing all of the pieces the Vikings have already added to the mix.

“The starting point on all of that would be looking at what we did in free agency,” O’Connell said. “I don’t know if we’re going to be on the clock with any of those picks and think we need to do anything.”

In other words, as the Vikings have done their due diligence leading up to the draft, they feel they’re in a position to select the best player available

Will they pull the trigger on somebody they believe can contribute to winning immediately? Will they trade back with hopes of giving themselves more darts to throw? The answers will come soon.

If the Vikings decide to stick and pick at No. 24, there are a number of different ways they could go. Let’s run through some of the options they might have at their disposal:

Defensive linemen

Derrick Harmon, Oregon (6-foot-5 inches; 315 pounds): The potential here could be too much to pass on. Harmon does a little bit of everything in the trenches and has shown steady improvement throughout his career. He projects as a disruptor at the next level after leading all FBS interior defensive linemen with 55 pressures last season.

Kenneth Grant, Michigan (6-4, 330 pounds): It’s not hard to imagine Grant being able to stop the run from the onset of his career. He’s absolutely massive and, frankly, that’s something that can’t be taught. Though the concern with Grant is whether he can rush the passer effectively, he still has a high ceiling because of his athleticism.

Walter Nolen, Mississippi, (6-4, 300): Not nearly as stout as some of his peers, Nolen fires off the line of scrimmage in a way that allows him to win at the point of attack. As much as his talent speaks for itself on the surface, he could benefit from some seasoning, which makes his landing spot important.

Offensive linemen

Tyler Booker, Alabama, (6-5, 320): Booker looks as if he were built in a lab to be an interior offensive lineman. He has the ability to anchor in the pass game and move bodies in the run game. The only area that might give teams some pause is a perceived lack of athleticism because of some of his test results at the combine.

Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas, (6-5, 315): Though there is some debate about where Banks will line up at the next level, he should step in as an immediate starter. He has proven to be a sturdy presence up front at tackle or guard, and that versatility could make him even more attractive.

Grey Zabel, North Dakota State, (6-6, 310): It can’t be overstated how much Zabel has raised his stock over the past couple of months. He balled out at the Senior Bowl and has been on a rocket ship ever since. He’s light on his feet and should be an effective blocker in both the pass game and run game, largely because of his advanced technique.

Cornerbacks

Jahdae Barron, Texas, (5-11, 195): It’s probably not fair to pigeonhole Barron to a single position. He has played a little bit of cornerback, a little bit of safety, and a little bit of linebacker, and has done it all with an aggressiveness that will be attractive to a lot of teams.

Will Johnson, Michigan, (6-2, 195): Johnson was once viewed as a lock to go in the top 10. Though he has fallen a little since then, the upside can’t be ignored. He has prototypical size and has displayed fluidity on tape. His lack of speed might be the biggest reason he falls into the back half of the first round.

Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky, (5-11, 185): Hairston might seem a little too lean to be a shutdown cornerback, but his blazing speed should make up for that. He ran than 40-yard dash in 4.28 seconds at the combine, which helped him become a potential first-round pick.

Safeties

Nick Emmanwori, South Carolina, (6-3, 220): To say that Emmanwori is a freak athlete would be an understatement. There aren’t many people blessed with his combination of size and speed. He’s probably best suited to roam rather than drop into coverage, and should contribute from the jump with a clear pathway to grow into his role.

Malaki Starks, Georgia, (6-1, 195 pounds): There is a lot to like about the way Starks plays the game. He has proven capable of playing multiple positions in the secondary because he can do a little bit of everything. He has the speed needed to run in space, and the ball skills needed to make plays downfield.

Texas defensive back Jahdae Barron (DB04) poses for a portrait at the NFL football Combine on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025 in Indianapolis. (AJ Mast/AP Content Services for the NFL)

Related Articles

Aaron Jones returns to Vikings feeling like he has something to prove

Why returning to the Vikings was an easy decision for Harrison Smith

J.J. McCarthy has no limitations as Vikings begin offseason program

Vikings mock draft: Will they trade back or take best player available?

How will the Vikings approach the 2025 NFL Draft?

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles police say they’ve arrested a man who used a chainsaw to cut down large trees in at least three neighborhoods around the city.

Outraged residents began reporting the destruction last Friday afternoon. Photos posted online showed multiple mature trees toppled onto downtown sidewalks, and at least one fell onto a street.

The LAPD said “numerous” trees were felled at city-owned property on at least four blocks, and detectives were investigating other possible locations. On Tuesday, they released a photo of a suspect on a bicycle wearing dark clothing and carrying two bags. A community alert described him as a man in his 40s.

Hours later, police announced an arrest, saying a 45-year-old man had been taken into custody on suspicion of felony vandalism and that “detectives located evidence linking him to the crimes.” There was no information about a possible motive.

A message was sent to the LA Public Defender’s Office inquiring if one of its attorneys was representing the man and could speak on his behalf.

Some of the trees had wide trunks. A number appeared to be ficus trees.

Trees lie on the street after being cut down the previous Friday night seen on Sunday, April 20, 2025 in Los Angeles. (Carlin Stiehl/Los Angeles Times via AP)

In a statement, the office of Mayor Karen Bass called the carnage “truly beyond comprehension.”

“City public works crews are assessing the damage and we will be making plans to quickly replace these damaged trees,” the statement said.

By JIM VERTUNO

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — City leaders in Uvalde, Texas, approved a $2 million settlement for families of the victims of the 2022 Robb Elementary School shooting, marking the first time one of the myriad lawsuits has led to financial compensation.

Attorneys for the families first announced the terms of the settlement with the city in May 2024, and it was approved by the Uvalde city council Tuesday night.

The settlement with the city will spread the $2 million among the 21 families of the victims killed in one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history, said Javier Cazares, whose daughter Jackie was one of 19 fourth-graders killed by the gunman. Two teachers were also killed.

The suit addresses the botched law enforcement response by requiring enhanced training for city police officers. It also expands mental health services available to the families and the greater Uvalde area, sets May 24 as an annual day of remembrance, and establishes a permanent memorial in the city plaza.

“This is a small win in a larger battle and a lot of injustice we are still going through,” Cazares told The Associated Press. “I couldn’t care less about the money.”

Uvalde is a city of about 15,000 people about 80 miles west of San Antonio. Uvalde Mayor Hector Luevano said the city’s settlement included “restorative justice initiatives for the families” but declined to discuss details. He did not say why it took nearly a year to approve the previously announced deal.

“The City of Uvalde is committed to honoring the memories of the lives lost, families of the victims, survivors and those affected by this tragedy,” Luevano said.

The families have several other lawsuits pending in federal and state courts, including a $500 million lawsuit against Texas state police officials and officers. There’s also a suit against social media company Meta Platforms and the company that made video game ”Call of Duty,” as well as Daniel Defense, the maker of the rifle used in the attack.

Multiple reports from state and federal officials have laid bare cascading problems in law enforcement training, communication, leadership and technology, and questioned whether officers prioritized their own lives over those of children and teachers.

FILE – Crosses are surrounded by flowers and other items at a memorial, June 9, 2022, for the victims of a shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)

More than 370 responding officers from multiple local, state and federal agencies waited more than an hour to confront and kill the gunman.

Two former Uvalde schools police officers, Pete Arredondo and Adrian Gonzales, face criminal charges of child endangerment and abandonment and are scheduled for trial later this year, but they remain the only two officers charged. They have pleaded not guilty.

The track record for lawsuits following mass shootings is mixed. Over the past decade, courts have tossed numerous attempts, many of which brought negligence claims against the government or the places where the attacks took place. But some get results for victims and their families.

In 2020, the casino company MGM Resorts International and its insurers agreed to an $800 million settlement over a shooting on the Las Vegas Strip that killed 58 people and injured hundreds more.

In April 2023, the Justice Department announced a $144 million settlement with relatives and families of a 2017 Texas church attack, which was carried out by a former U.S. airman with a criminal history.

An attorney for the Uvalde families in the recent settlement with the city said they did not want to bankrupt their community — and that the settlement will be paid through the city’s insurance coverage.

“Faced with a difficult decision, these families worked with the community they love to make things right without creating deeper economic hardship,” attorney Josh Koskoff said. “The road to healing is long and painful, but we are hopeful that this agreement enables families who lost so much and the city they call home to continue that process.”