Winter weather alerts impacted more than 80 million people this weekend, bringing significant snowfall to Texas, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. Over 3,000 flights were canceled due to icy runways, high winds, and poor visibility. Downed trees, power outages, and treacherous roads kept communities on their toes—but for many Southerners, the rare snow became a chance to play and enjoy what felt like a winter wonderland.
On the West Coast, the story took a devastating turn. Wildfires continue to ravage the Los Angeles Metro area, leveling homes, businesses, cars, and even schools. Areas like Pacific Palisades, Altadena, and Malibu were among the first to be hit, before high winds scattered embers far enough to ignite new fires elsewhere. Thousands of residents have lost everything they’ve worked their whole lives to build. As firefighters battle to contain the flames, prayers and support are pouring in from all over the country. If you’d like to help, the LA Dream Center is accepting donations for “Disaster Relief” at DreamCenter.org/Donate.
Meanwhile, on the political front, the country paid respects to former President Jimmy Carter, who was laid to rest on Friday. Many former presidents and their spouses attended, with Michelle Obama notably absent. Cameras quickly zeroed in on the moment Donald Trump struck up a conversation with Barack Obama, sparking widespread curiosity about what they were discussing.
In related news, President-elect Donald Trump received his sentencing in the hush money case and was granted an “unconditional discharge.” His 34 counts of falsifying records will stand as a criminal conviction, but he faces no additional penalties. Once sworn into office next Monday, Trump will become the first U.S. President in history to have been criminally convicted and sentenced. He didn’t hold back his frustration, posting on Truth Social that the legal proceedings were a “despicable charade,” and vowing to appeal and “restore the trust of Americans in our once great System of Justice.”