The new head of the federal agency tasked with responding to disasters across the country is warning staff not to try to impede upcoming changes.

President Donald Trump's administration has replaced the acting administrator of the beleaguered Federal Emergency Management Agency even as its continuing existence remains up in the air.

Gov. JB Pritzker of Illinois is trying to chart a path for national Democrats to counter President Donald Trump.

A firefighter watches as a helicopter drops water on the Lake Hughes fire in Angeles National Forest on Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020, north of Santa Clarita, Calif. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)LOS ANGELES Light winds and scattered thundershowers early Thursday were helping to calm the flames of a huge wildfire that prompted evacuations north of Los Angeles, and firefighters hoped to reign in the blaze before temperatures spike later in the day. By nightfall, the flames had consumed more than 15.5 square miles (40 square kilometers) of timber and chaparral. About 100 rural homes were evacuated in the Lake Hughes area of the Angeles National Forest, about 60 miles (97 kilometers) north of downtown Los Angeles. Los Angeles County Deputy Fire Chief David Richardson said late Wednesday that some outbuildings may have been destroyed.