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Raging brush fires in California are causing mass destruction, exacerbating the state's home insurance crisis.

• Wildfires are burning across Los Angeles, coating the county in smoke.
• Health agencies issued warnings and schools closed as air quality reached unsafe levels.
• Experts break down why the fine-particle pollution can cause serious, long-term damage.

Wildfires erupted across Los Angeles, coating the county in smoke, haze, and an acrid smell.

The LA Public Health department issued an air quality alert, and many schools closed due to dangerous air quality. 

The mist that hovers over wildfire sites is a collection of fine-particle pollution (PM 2.5), Dr. David Hill, a pulmonologist with the American Lung Association, told the AP. 

"We have defenses in our upper airway to trap larger particles and prevent them from getting down into the lungs. These are sort of the right size to get past those defenses," Hill said. "When those particles get down into the respiratory space, they cause the body to have an inflammatory reaction to them."

What is the risk of wildfire smoke?

Fine-particle air pollution can cause inflammation in the lungs and reduce heart function — lasting effects similar to smoking cigarettes or exposure to diesel exhaust, the New York Times reported. 

Dr. Kari Nadeau, a physician and scientist at Stanford University, told the Times she believes the risk to our health is higher than that of smoking cigarettes. "Cigarettes at least have filters," Nadeau said.

This kind of air pollution is particularly risky for children, whose lungs are still developing. 

"They breathe in more air per unit of body weight," Laura Kate Bender, the lung association's National Assistant Vice President of healthy air, told the AP.

The risk of lung and heart irritation is also higher for older adults and people with lung or cardiovascular conditions, including asthma.

6 ways to stay safe when it's smoky outside

• Keep an eye on the air quality in your area to determine how long you should exercise caution. Until the risk passes, there are easy things you can do to protect yourself from experiencing long-term lung inflammation.
• If possible, stay inside and close your windows, Hill said. (You can put your zip code into AirNow.gov to find out the air quality in your area.)
• Do not burn candles, light a fire, or smoke indoors. That increases indoor pollution, according to a blog post from epidemiologist Katelyn Jetelina, of the University of Texas Health Science Center.
• Do not vacuum. That also affects your indoor air by kicking up any fine particles that may have come in through your window or door, Jetelina said.
• If you do go outside, wear an N95 mask, which — if fitted correctly — blocks out 95% of particles larger than 0.3 microns. As such, they effectively keep out 2.5-micron particles, which we're seeing from the wildfire smoke. "N95 masks are the type of face covering protection that I would recommend for somebody who is outside during the air pollution caused by wildfires," Marina Vance, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Colorado, Boulder, told Healthline.
• While inside, you can run your air-conditioning unit if it has a good HVAC filter, and an air purifier can help too, the American Lung Association recommends.

• Employers see AI and cybersecurity skills as some of the most important in the next few years.
• Employers expect nearly 40% of skills to change or become irrelevant by 2030, a WEF report said.
• Big data specialists and fintech engineers will likely be the fastest-growing jobs.

Employers say AI and big data proficiency are now some of the most important skills for job seekers in the next few years, according to the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report.

The sweeping survey found that employers believe various tech-related skills will grow in importance the fastest, while manual dexterity and reading will decline this year. This highlights the rapid workplace transformation happening across industries.

Over 1,000 employers representing more than 14 million employees worldwide were surveyed for the report, which previews the job landscape for 2025 to 2030.

AI and big data, networks and cybersecurity, and technological literacy ranked as the three skills growing the fastest in importance. The AI boom has not only transformed Silicon Valley but also reshaped once-mundane tasks across industries, from legal research to code writing.

A Google Cloud director previously told Business Insider that cybersecurity is one of the most broadly relevant skills, with industries from agriculture to financial services seeking professionals in the space. Yet demand isn't being met, he said, and the field is here to stay.

Survey respondents said they don't anticipate that tech skills alone will be in demand. Creative thinking and resilience ranked No. 4 and No. 5, respectively, on the list of skills growing the fastest in importance.

On the flip side, employers surveyed said they believe manual dexterity, endurance, and precision will decrease in importance. Reading, writing, and mathematics also saw a small dip among respondents. Overall, employees globally can expect that nearly 40% of their current skills will drastically change or become irrelevant by 2030, according to the survey.

Compared to the World Economic Forum's previous reports, tech skills saw the biggest jump in projected importance, with AI spiking in anticipated value across almost all agencies. Though the tech industry has hit a hiring slump in recent years, tech and non-tech companies alike are eager to hire AI roles, BI previously reported.

The fastest-growing jobs in the next five years will likely be big data specialists and fintech engineers, while clerical and secretarial workers will continue to decline, according to the report. With job growth slowing and unemployed Americans staying out of work longer, economists previously told BI that 2025 will prove challenging for job hunters overall, especially those in white-collar industries.

• Disney Cruise Line's sixth ship, Disney Treasure, set sail in late 2024.
• Its most luxurious Tomorrow Tower Suite has a private elevator, four bedrooms, and a spiral staircase.
• The suite starts at about $57,440 for a family of four.

If you're a Disney cruise fan with a genie, consider using one of your three wishes on a stay in Disney Treasure's Tomorrow Tower Suite.

Otherwise, expect to pay more than $57,000 for the luxury marine penthouse.

Disney Cruise Line's newest ship, Disney Treasure, set sail in December 2024, marking the sixth vessel to join the entertainment powerhouse's fleet. Don't expect the company to slow down — its popular cruise arm plans to double its fleet over the next six years.

It's no wonder fans of the brand have been indulging in its floating theme parks. Treasure is filled with amenities referencing Disney films and rides.

If you fondly remember the Jungle Cruise ride, grab a drink at the themed Skipper Society lounge. If you're a "Zootopia" fan, grab an ice-cream cone from Jumbeaux's Sweets.

If you love Walt Disney World's Epcot, consider booking Disney Treasure's Tomorrow Tower Suite.

The two-story suite's unconventional art, metal accents, and glittering stained glass are callbacks to Epcot. It's also about 1,970 square feet, making it Disney Treasure's largest and most luxurious cabin.

With luxury comes a hefty price tag.

The ship is spending its inaugural year operating weeklong Caribbean cruises from Port Canaveral, Florida.

The suite starts at about $57,440 for a family of four (about $22,625 per adult and $5,660 per child), as per a sailing in late November.

To compare, inside cabins on the same voyage start at $7,330.

The price for the high-end Tomorrow Tower is relatively steep. Yet, it's already been booked for several of Disney Treasure's coming voyages.

The luxe accommodation is perched in the ship's funnel — off of a private elevator, no less.

The front door opens to a cozy living space with a lounge, dining table, and bar, all bathed in light from the adjacent two-story floor-to-ceiling window that overlooks the ship's top deck.

Use the motorized sheer or blackout curtains for more privacy. Or, enjoy the sun with a pick-me-up from the coffee maker or a soda from the stocked bar.

Keep a chilled bottle in the bar's wine cooler and snacks in the pantry's refrigerator.

No need to hand-clean any post-grazing dishes — the expansive pantry also has a dishwasher.

Take the spiral staircase to the upstairs bedrooms.

The penthouse can sleep up to eight people with its two primary bedrooms (both with walk-in closets), a children's room with bunk beds, and a library with a queen mattress.

Expect a sumptuous slumber courtesy of the down duvets, 1,000-thread-count Frette cotton linens, and pillows of your choice, courtesy of the "pillow menu."

The living room and bedrooms all have their own TVs and bathrooms.

The primary bedrooms' restrooms are especially luxurious, outfitted with dual sinks, bathtubs, and rain showers.

No need to share — visitors can use the downstairs guest bathroom.

Guests also receive perks exclusive to those vacationing in the ship's Concierge-level cabins.

This includes a team to help book nursery or spa services and a private lounge with a pool and two hot tubs.

Ultra-luxury, one-of-a-kind suites have become popular picks in new floating resorts.

Similar to the Tomorrow Tower Suite, several of Royal Caribbean's new mega-ships have a distinctive two-story family suite with amenities like a slide, air hockey table, and butler-like Royal Genie.

The aptly named Ultimate Family Townhouse on the cruise line's one-year-old Icon of the Seas had been reserved for most of 2024 — for an average cost of $100,000 a week.

• China could destroy or neutralize US and allied airpower in a war with fewer shots than the other way around, a new report argues.
• China has prioritized hardening and expanding its airfields in the region at a faster rate than the US and its allies.
• The report's authors argue the US needs to prioritize defense, hardening airbases, and evolving its force.

In a war, China could suppress or destroy critical American airpower in the Indo-Pacific region with far fewer shots than it would take the US and its allies to do the same to Beijing's air forces, a new research report argues.

The report's authors note that China has been working faster than the US to harden its airbases and diversify its combat aircraft in the region, creating an imbalance in China's favor. American airfields are vulnerable to attack in a conflict, such as a fight over Taiwan.

A new Hudson Institute analysis from researchers Thomas Shugart and Timothy Walton highlights the serious threat facing US installations in the Pacific and echoes Department of Defense concerns about growing China's arsenal of missiles and those of US lawmakers about inadequate defenses.

In the report, Shugart and Walton write that China "has made major investments to defend, expand, and fortify" its airfields and more than doubled its hardened aircraft shelters and unhardened individual aircraft shelters over the past decade. China has also added to its taxiways and ramp areas. All of these efforts effectively give the Chinese military more places to protect and launch combat aircraft in a potential fight.

US efforts have been modest by comparison. And its military airfield capacity, including that of allies in the region, is roughly one-third of China's; without South Korea, that drops to one-quarter, and without the Philippines, it falls to just 15 percent.

The Air Force has been looking at dispersion and atypical runways as part of its Agile Combat Employment efforts, but there is still a notable shortfall that could be exploited.

This imbalance means it would take China far fewer missiles or airstrikes to neutralize US and allied airfields than it would the other way around, Shugart and Walton write. A preemptive strike, surprise being important in Chinese military doctrine, could catch the US and its allies off guard and give China an edge in air operations.

"Strategically, this destabilizing asymmetry risks incentivizing the PRC to exercise a first-mover advantage," the report says. "China could initiate a conflict if it sees an opportunity to nullify adversary airpower on the ramp."

Shugart wrote in 2017 that this is a real possibility, "particularly if China perceives that its attempts at deterrence of a major US intervention — say in a cross-strait Taiwan crisis or in a brewing dispute over the Senkaku Islands — have failed."

China has not been shy about its investments in being able to pull off such a strike, either. Beijing has invested heavily in its rocket force, with the Pentagon's annual report on Chinese military power documenting staggering growth in the number of stockpiled missiles and launchers, including the weapons it would need to hit US installations in the region. Satellite images have also documented mock American military assets, such as aircraft carriers, widely seen as missile targets.

For the conflicts and airpower operations in the Middle East, the US military enjoyed the ability to deploy to forward airfields uncontested, but the threat environment is different in the Pacific. A war with China would be very different.

But despite the significant concerns both within the Pentagon and Washington about vulnerabilities in US airbases, "the US military has devoted relatively little attention to countering these threats compared to its focus on developing modern aircraft," Shugart and Walton write. Older and newer aircraft differ in the air but are equally vulnerable on the ground.

The Ukraine war and ongoing fights in the Middle East have demonstrated that airfields are high-priority targets.

In order to counter the threat China poses, the Hudson report argues the US should invest further in active defenses for its air operations, harden its airfields to maintain resilience, and accelerate its efforts to field aircraft and unmanned systems that can operate from short or damaged runways or don't require runaways altogether, efforts fitting with ACE operations.

"Executing an effective campaign to enhance the resilience of US airfield operations will require informed decisions to prioritize projects — and sustained funding," Shugart and Walton write. "What is clear, however, is that US airfields do face the threat of attack, and the current DoD approach of largely ignoring this fact invites PRC aggression and risks losing a war." 

• California fires have led people to turn to apps, security cameras, and social media accounts for real-time updates.
• The Watch Duty wildfire maps app said it added over 1 million new users in recent days.
• Residents are also using security apps like Ring to check in on their homes and discuss updates in forums.

As California fires spread across the Los Angeles region, residents are turning to online resources and smartphone app communities to track the blazes and find up-to-date information on their impact.

Along with the Watch Duty wildfire maps app, people are using security apps like Google Nest and Ring to check footage of their homes and communicate in forums.

Others are sharing resources and information in subreddits and on social media platforms.

Watch Duty

Watch Duty describes itself as a wildfire mapping and alert app "powered by real people giving you real-time information vetted by trained professionals, not robots." There's also a web-based version.

Adam Wood, a 45-year-old film producer, director, and editor, living in North Hollywood, helped his friend evacuate from Pasadena and said he used the app to track the fires. He told BI it helped him assess whether his friend's area was likely to have been impacted, although they don't know if his house is still standing.

The app, which is free to use with the option to pay $25 for a yearly membership that unlocks some additional features, was developed by a nonprofit company in 2022 and isn't affiliated with a government agency. It focuses on providing real-time information about fires from sources including retired firefighters, dispatchers, and first responders.

"Our reporters undergo extensive training as well as background checks before joining our elite team," the company said on its website, adding that they "diligently radio scanners and collaborate around the clock to bring you up-to-the-minute life-saving information."

Ring and other home-security apps

Security app users have shared experiences of watching their homes being burned down from the app's camera footage.

Zibby Owens, a writer, shared to social media on Wednesday footage from her Google Nest camera of parts of her Palisades property in flames.

Some have also used the "Neighbors" forum on the Amazon-owned Ring app to share information about the fires.

"Fire close to Mandeville Canyon (photo from 9:50PM), seems to be going rapidly toward South," one user posted last night with a photo.

The app has also released information about the wildfires and dedicated a tab to resources for impacted residents called "California Wildfire Information." The page includes shelter locations, where to find food in LA County, what to pack, and wildfire smoke tips. It also links over a dozen resources including media updates, Airbnb temporary housing details, and a list of school closures.

The Ring Neighbors team also released a statement in the app about the wildfires with links to help those impacted, including organizations like The American Red Cross, the California Community Fund, and California Fire Relief.

Social media

In addition to people posting stories, photos, and videos about their experiences with the wildfire, specific accounts are also being used to inform people about up-to-date information.

Facebook users are active in groups like Calfire Updates, which has over 300,000 members. The group dedicates posts to firefighters, shares information about damage, and discusses the fires. Other groups, like California Wildfires Information ALERT, post evacuation notices and resources for those who have fled impacted areas.

Local police, fire departments, and emergency services have been sharing information on their dedicated social media pages, such as the Los Angeles Fire Department account on X or the City of Pasadena account on Facebook.

Local community forums on Reddit

People are also turning to community subreddits like r/PacificPalisades and r/Pasadena to share updates and discuss wildfire damage. Some posts have offered practical tips for evacuees, such as suggestions to film the contents of their homes before leaving for insurance purposes if they have time to do so.

One user named OnerKram17, has dedicated two days to monitoring police and fire scanners, providing frequent updates in the r/PacificPalisades subreddit in between what they said was a few hours of sleep.

Others have taken on similar roles, posting about power lines that are blocking off crossings or potentially false alarms for fires.

• Wildfires are rampaging across Los Angeles County this week.
• Hundreds of thousands of people are under evacuation orders or warnings.
• A JP Morgan analyst estimated that the fire could become the costliest in US history.

Wildfires continue to rage in Los Angeles — and could become the costliest blazes in US history, according to a JPMorgan research note.

JPMorgan analyst Jimmy Bhullar estimated insured losses from the devastating fires in the Palisades area and beyond could total more than $20 billion, "significantly more severe" than the Camp Fires that struck the state in 2018 and racked up $10 billion in insured losses.

"The fires have not been contained thus far and continue to spread, implying that estimates of potential economic and insured losses are likely to increase," Bhullar wrote in the research note.

The LA area battled several fires that continued to rip through its picturesque mountains and hillsides on Thursday — creating a hellscape of burned-out neighborhoods and livelihoods, with nearly 180,000 people under evacuation orders.

Thick bands of smoke could be seen in several directions from the city's downtown core — with at least five fires burning throughout the 4,000 square-mile county that's home to nearly 10 million people.

As of Thursday morning local time, an additional 200,000 people had been placed under evacuation warnings — with officials advising them to get ready to leave their homes if the fires raging near their residences got closer.

More than 27,000 acres have burned so far — and at least five deaths have been reported, officials said. Authorities wouldn't confirm an exact death toll at a Thursday briefing.

They said "thousands" of homes and other structures had been destroyed so far.

Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman described the scene in LA as apocalyptic.

"Not since the 1990s, when Los Angeles was hit with the fires, the flood, the earthquake, and the riots, have I seen such disaster occur here in our city," Hochman said at the briefing, referring to the Northridge Earthquake and the disturbances in the wake of the Rodney King verdict.

Two of the largest fires, the Eaton Fire and the Palisades Fire, are still at zero percent containment, officials said. The National Weather Service predicted the "red flag warning" that signals high fire danger will persist for LA County and nearby Ventura County through Friday.

But there was some brightening on the horizon: Officials said weather conditions are beginning to turn favorably for firefighters.

Meanwhile, 20 people have been arrested on suspicion of looting in areas affected by the fires, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said at Thursday's briefing.

And he issued a stern warning to the public: Anyone who remains in areas under mandatory evacuation orders is guilty of a misdemeanor, and his officers will begin enforcing that. Beyond that, crimes like looting could reach the felony level, he said.

As for people still in their homes, around 95,000 power customers remain in the dark, Janisse Quiñones, the CEO and chief engineer of the city's Department of Water and Power, said. Satellite images showed the destruction in the wake of the fires.

Here's a look at the latest happenings in the main fires spreading throughout the area:

Palisades Fire

The Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades area north of Santa Monica was the first fire to strike the region on Tuesday morning. It has spread to over 17,000 acres, with zero percent containment, making it one of the worst natural disasters in LA history, officials said Thursday morning.

The blaze has reduced thousands of structures to rubble, but exact numbers are not yet known, the officials said.

Wind gusts in the area have tamed down some since their Tuesday highs of nearly 100 mph but remain up to 60 mph. They're expected to continue through Thursday.

Los Angeles City Fire Chief Kristin Crowley would not confirm reports that the fire started in a resident's garden, saying the origin is still under investigation.

The affluent area is home to many celebrities, including Paris Hilton and Billy Crystal, who have lost their homes in the blaze.

Eaton Fire

The second-largest fire in Los Angeles County is the Eaton Fire, which started on Tuesday evening in the Pasadena-Altadena area at the foothills of the Angeles National Forest.

The blaze has spread to over 10,000 acres and reduced at least 1,000 homes to ash as of Thursday, officials said. Like the Palisades Fire, it is zero percent contained.

Still, LA County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said the fire's growth has been "significantly stopped," and the cause remains unknown.

Hurst Fire

The Hurst Fire, which began late on Tuesday night in the northern part of the San Fernando Valley, has spread to around 855 acres, according to data from CalFire, a state agency.

LAFD's Crowley said the Hurst Fire was zero percent contained, while CalFire data estimates it is 10% contained.

Crowley said firefighters have been able to hold the fire within a containment area and have established a perimeter.

Sunset Fire and others

The Sunset Fire broke out in the Runyan Canyon area of the Hollywood Hills on Wednesday evening, quickly spreading to scorch over 40 acres and threaten major LA landmarks.

As of Thursday morning, firefighters were able to stop the fire's forward progress, Crowley said. Crews are still working to "put out spot fires within the perimeters to keep the wind from spreading any additional embers," she said.

All evacuation orders related to the Sunset Fire were lifted as of 7:30 a.m. Thursday, Crowley said.

Meanwhile, a large structure fire broke out nearby, consuming two large homes in the Studio City area. Still, firefighters were able to stop its forward growth at just one acre and prevent another brushfire, Crowley said.

Yet another fire, the Lidia Fire, started Wednesday afternoon in Acton near the Antelope Valley, about 20 miles northeast of the San Fernando Valley. It spread to consume 348 acres but has been 40% contained, with forward progress stopped, county fire chief Marrone said.

One of this week's fires has been 100% contained. The Woodley Fire, which began Wednesday morning in the southern part of the San Fernando Valley, has been suppressed and there are no current threats, Crowley said. Patrols are monitoring the area for any flare-ups, she added.

This a developing story. Please refresh for updates.

• This January, Costco is stocking its shelves with fun food items and home goods.
• Accomplish 2025 workout goals with the King Smith WalkingPad Pro folding treadmill.
• I recommend picking up the Pressed wellness smoothies and Del Real tamales.

With the start of the new year, I'm excited to see what kinds of products Costco will introduce in 2025. As an employee, I always love browsing the store for unique items I haven't seen before.

This January, I've already noticed lots of great food, home goods, and beauty products on shelves. Here are 10 things I recommend checking out at Costco this month.

The Optimum Nutrition micronized creatine powder could be good for fitness fanatics.

I think the Optimum Nutrition micronized creatine powder could be a great addition to your routine, especially if you're hitting the gym.

According to its packaging, this powder can support muscle building and performance when used daily, over time, alongside an exercise routine. To use it, mix a rounded teaspoon of the unflavored powder into a shake or glass of water.

The Optimum Nutrition creatine powder is $20 at my location. 

The Pressed wellness smoothies are one of my favorite recent purchases.

Each box of the Pressed wellness smoothies contains 10-ounce bottles in acai-berry, strawberry-orange-mango, tropical, and greens flavors. The smoothies contain 100% juice and three to four grams of dietary fiber.

At my location, an eight-count package costs $16.90, which comes out to less than $2.20 per bottle.

Prepare for spring and summer activities with the Macsports XL folding wagon.

As Costco starts bringing in springtime items, I think the Macsports XL folding wagon will be a hot seller.

This collapsible wagon has brakes for easy stopping, an inside zipper pocket, and an adjustable handle. The wagon can also hold up to 350 pounds and has durable, all-terrain wheels.

The Macsports wagon is $90 at my Costco. 

The Cat Cube lithium four-in-one portable jump starter could come in handy.

If you ask me, everyone should have the Cat Cube lithium portable jump starter in their garage or car.

This four-in-one tool has a few features, including a lithium jump starter and an air compressor.

The Cat Cube lithium portable jump starter costs $130 at my location.

You can add the Turbotax 2024 federal e-file and state download to your cart this month.

I recently added the Turbotax 2024 federal e-file and state download to my shopping list.

These downloads are available in deluxe, home-and-business, and premier packages, so there's something for almost everyone's tax needs. Each package also comes with a $10 in-product credit that can be used for services like live tax advice or state e-file fees.

At my store, the Turbotax download packages run from $56 to $96.

Keep extra food cool in the Midea convertible chest freezer.

If you're running out of freezer space, I recommend heading to Costco to check out this Midea product.

This freezer chest has two removable wire storage baskets, a front-mount temperature control, and an interior LED light. Best of all, it can turn into a refrigerator with the flip of a switch.

The Midea convertible chest freezer is $200 at my location.

The Del Real cheese-and-green-chile tamales could be a delicious lunch or dinner.

If you're a fan of Mexican-style dishes, these Del Real tamales are a great find.

The tamales come with a cheese-and-green-chile filling — don't worry, they aren't spicy — and take less than three minutes to heat in the microwave. I also like that each serving contains 13 grams of protein.

At my store, a 15-count pack of the Del Real tamales can be found in the deli section for $18.80.

The Thomasville Wills oversize chair and storage ottoman are comfy and functional.

The Thomasville Wills oversize chair and storage ottoman both have ultra-soft furry corduroy fabric that's comfortable and chic. The chair, which measures 64 inches long and 35 inches high, has an extra-wide seat and two large pillows.

At my store, this set is $500.

Upgrade your skincare routine with the Hero Mighty Patches.

Acne products can be expensive, so I was happy to see the Hero Mighty Patches available at Costco.

Each package contains 54 original patches for nighttime use and 27 invisible patches that can be worn during the day. These patches can extract pus and visibly shrink whiteheads.

The Hero Mighty Patches are $23 at my Costco.

Get a workout in with the King Smith WalkingPad Pro folding treadmill.

If you have a busy lifestyle, the King Smith treadmill could be a good way to accomplish your workout goals at home.

This product comes fully assembled and has a USB charging port, a 250-pound weight capacity, and a brushless motor (so the walking pad runs smoothly and quietly). It's also foldable, making it easy to store in small spaces.

The King Smith walking pad is $500 at my store.

• I visited KFC's spin-off restaurant, Saucy, that's all about chicken tenders and dipping sauces.
• The first Saucy location is in Orlando, and I'd definitely go back for its delicious food.
• The restaurant's crispy chicken tenders and tasty sauces felt like an excellent value.

Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) has a new spin-off in town that's all about chicken tenders and dips — and it's called Saucy.

The restaurant's first location opened in Orlando in late December, about 90 minutes away from my home.

Although I couldn't tell you the last time I went to KFC, I was excited to try Saucy, as it's a concept the chain hopes to expand around the country.

Here's what it was like and why I'll absolutely be back.

Unsurprisingly, Saucy is all about sauce.

The stars of the menu at Saucy are the chicken tenders and the 11 dipping sauces. The number of sauces is a nod to the 11 herbs and spices in KFC's original fried-chicken recipe.

Saucy sauces include: chimichurri ranch, peri-peri ranch, jalapeño-pesto ranch, smoky bacon ranch, Thai sweet and spicy, Sweet 'N Saucy BBQ, Saucy's Sauce, spicy mango chutney, Saucy ranch, Creole honey mustard, and sweet teriyaki.

Otherwise, the menu is fairly short and simple, with a slew of non-alcoholic beverages, a few chicken sandwiches, two desserts, and sides like toasted Hawaiian rolls and coleslaw.

We decided to eat inside the restaurant.

Although Saucy has a drive-thru, we chose to dine in. I'm glad we did: Saucy feels like a 100% modern twist on its Kentucky-fried roots.

I loved its funky decor, which was bright with shades of pink and hints of red that seemed to pay homage to KFC.

With its futuristic light pendants and cool sculptures resembling dripping sauce, Saucy had a vibe all its own and felt very different from the KFC dining rooms of my youth.

The ordering process was automated and simple.

Ordering at Saucy was easy and contactless.

We used one of several touchscreens to order, paid at the kiosk, and then waited for our name to be called so we could collect our food.

We got a lot of food for under $40.

My husband and I were able to try everything we wanted to at Saucy for under $40.

We ordered a six-tender box combo ($16) that came with two sauces, fries, coleslaw, and a toasted Hawaiian roll; a Key-lime-cake dessert ($4); an extra coleslaw ($2); two tropical black teas ($4); a spicy-queso-crunch sandwich ($5); and nine additional sauces (49 cents each).

The tenders were delicious.

We got our tenders with crinkle-cut fries and a toasted Hawaiian roll, though we could've also chosen coleslaw as a side.

Saucy's tenders are apparently made using the same recipe as KFC's. Still, I thought the tenders I got at Saucy seemed plumper, moister, and crispier than any I remember getting on past KFC runs.

We were impressed by many of Saucy's menu items, including all 11 dipping sauces.

Our meal at Saucy was nothing short of incredible — truly the kind of fast food that tasted like it could've been from a sit-down restaurant.

Nothing we had was overly greasy, and the tasty sauces made our dining experience even more enjoyable. I liked that there seemed to be one for everyone, from several ranch-based dips and classics like barbecue sauce to even Asian-inspired delights.

Although we had some clear favorite sauces, there wasn't a single one we didn't enjoy.

The sandwich we ordered was great but not necessary.

My husband also got the spicy-queso-crunch chicken sandwich ($5).

We liked the crunchy, battered chicken tender topped with queso sauce and spicy peppers on a buttery Hawaiian roll. Still, we'd probably skip it next time. The tenders and many dipping sauces were the clear stars of our meal.

The dessert in a can was easy to share.

Saucy had both a chocolate and Key-lime cake available for dessert, and both were served in a plastic can.

We chose the latter, which cost $4. It was the perfect size, especially considering how full we were from our meal.

I liked the citrusy icing and cake layers and felt this was a wonderful sweet ending to our meal. Plus, the spoonable cake was easy to share.

My top five sauces came home with my leftovers.

When we'd dipped and nibbled until we had no room left in our stomachs, it was time to pack up our leftovers to take home.

Our to-go container had room for just five sauces, so we kept our favorites: jalapeño-pesto ranch and per-peri ranch, two spicy and flavorful dips we really loved; smoky bacon ranch, our favorite of the ranch-based dips; and sweet teriyaki and Thai sweet and spicy, which were packed with tons of flavor and sweet twists.

I can't wait to go back to Saucy for more chicken-dipping fun.

As a lover of chicken tenders, I was smitten with Saucy. The food was really good, and dipping delicious fried chicken tenders in all of those sauces was tons of fun.

Our meal also felt surprisingly affordable, especially since we got far more food than the two of us could finish — and next time, we'd order less.

Based on my finger-lickin'-good experience, I'd definitely go back to Saucy, even if its only location is a 90-minute drive from me.

If you're visiting Orlando, I suggest treating yourself to a little culinary sauce journey at Saucy. Hopefully, though, more locations will open soon.

• Celebrities have been known to splurge on expensive engagement rings.
• In 2016, billionaire James Packer reportedly spent $10 million on a ring for Mariah Carey.
• Kris Humphries auctioned off the engagement ring he gave Kim Kardashian for $749,000.

On Sunday, stars gathered at the Golden Globes to kick off the 2025 awards season, yet all anyone could talk about was the apparent engagement ring Zendaya debuted on the red carpet.

The "Euphoria" star has been in a confirmed relationship with fellow actor and "Spider-Man" costar Tom Holland since September 2021, and though the pair has yet to confirm if they're actually engaged, experts have already estimated the ring may be worth upward of $300,000.

If the speculation is true, Zendaya's cushion-cut diamond would rank as one of the most expensive celebrity engagement rings of all time.

So, while the internet anxiously awaits an official announcement, here's a look back at 40 other memorably expensive celebrity engagement rings, from Prince William and Kate Middleton's $500,000 diamond-and-sapphire bauble to James Packer and Mariah Carey's $10 million emerald-cut stone.

Prices are based on available estimates, reports, and auction prices.

Amy Daire and Brenna Opelka contributed to an earlier version of this article.

Colin Jost and Scarlett Johansson

Jost and Johansson were first spotted together in May 2017, and have had a low-key relationship ever since, minus the occasional "SNL" joke and red-carpet appearance.

They got engaged in May 2019, but the ring wasn't revealed until two months later.

Representatives for Rare Carat, a diamond search engine, told Business Insider in July 2019 that Johansson's diamond is an old cut that has great clarity, especially for a light-brown diamond, and estimated the ring would cost $450,000.

Jost and Johansson tied the knot in October 2020, and they welcomed their son in August 2021.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced their engagement to the world on November 27, 2017, with Markle debuting a three-stone diamond ring designed by Prince Harry and jeweler Cleave & Company.

People magazine reported that the ring features a 3-carat, cushion-cut center stone sourced from Botswana — a location of special significance to the couple — while the side stones are two round diamonds from Princess Diana's jewelry collection. Experts estimated it cost $350,000.

The couple married the following May and now reside in California with their two children.

Prince William and Kate Middleton

Kate Middleton's unique 12-carat sapphire — surrounded by diamonds, no less — popped perfectly with her navy dress when the royal couple announced their engagement in 2010.

The $500,000 heirloom might not be the most expensive ring on the list, but its sentimental value is worth much more. Princess Diana famously wore this ring while she was engaged to Prince Charles.

The pair wed in April 2011 and have since welcomed three children.

Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani

Shelton and Stefani got engaged in October 2020 after five years of dating, and they announced the happy news with matching posts on Instagram.

But the "Hollaback Girl" singer didn't give fans a closer look at her ring until a few weeks later on her Instagram story.

"We're looking at a gorgeous 8-carat, radiant-shape diamond with trapezoid sides — an Art Deco look," Rare Carat founder and CEO Ajay Anand told BI in November 2020. "We're talking $500,000 in all, as the center stone is an icy white D-to-F color diamond."

Lady Gaga and Taylor Kinney

Lady Gaga never ended up saying "I do" to "Chicago Fire" star Taylor Kinney, who proposed in 2015 on Valentine's Day with a 6-carat, heart-shaped diamond ring by Lorraine Schwartz.

The $500,000 ring had a micro-pavé platinum band and was engraved with "T ♡ S," which stands for Gaga's birth name, Stefani Germanotta.

The couple split in summer 2016, but seemingly remained friendly, with Kinney telling Entertainment Tonight in 2019 that "the sky is the limit" for Gaga after her success with "A Star Is Born."

Christian McCaffrey and Olivia Culpo

The San Francisco 49ers running back proposed to the model and former Miss Universe winner in April 2023 after almost four years of dating with a three-stone ring designed by Ring Concierge.

Nicole Wegman, Ring Concierge's founder and CEO, told People, "We worked with Christian to thoughtfully design a ring that encompassed Olivia's trendsetting style while still remaining timeless — a beautifully cut Oval flanked with Epaulette side stones in a handcrafted gold and platinum setting." It's estimated that the ring is worth $600,000.

The pair tied the knot in June 2024 in a lavish Rhode Island ceremony.

George and Amal Clooney

Actor George Clooney proposed to British international human rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin (now Clooney) with a 7-carat, emerald-cut diamond.

The solitaire ring, which features side baguettes set in platinum, is worth an estimated $750,000.

The couple publicly revealed their engagement in April 2014, and by September of that year, they had tied the knot. They later welcomed twins in 2017.

Hilary Duff and Mike Comrie

In February 2010, professional hockey player Mike Comrie proposed to Hilary Duff while the pair were on vacation in Maui.

E! News reported, per Forbes, at the time that Duff's 14-carat, princess-cut ring cost $1 million.

The couple kept their engagement short, marrying in August of that year. They later welcomed their son in 2012 before announcing their separation in 2014. The couple's divorce was finalized in February 2016.

Duff has since gone on to marry musician Matthew Koma, with whom she shares three daughters.

Gucci Mane and Keyshia Ka'oir Davis

In 2016, Gucci Mane proposed to entrepreneur Keyshia Ka'oir during an Atlanta Hawks game with a 25-carat, cushion-cut diamond ring.

And three years later, the rapper decided to up the ante with a whopping $1 million, 60-carat round-cut diamond creation by Pristine Jewelers Ben Shimon and Avi Davidov, BET reported.

The outlet added that it took the jewelers 45 days to complete the ring.

The couple wed in October 2017 and have since welcomed two children.

Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones

Michael Douglas did pretty well choosing a $1 million antique Fred Leighton 10-carat engagement ring for Catherine Zeta-Jones, and their relationship isn't so bad either — the actors have been together for more than 20 years and have two children.

Kourtney Kardashian Barker and Travis Barker

Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker proposed to Poosh founder Kourtney Kardashian in October 2021 with an engagement ring designed by Lorraine Schwartz.

"It's a flawless, beautifully cut diamond stone," Schwartz told People.

Kathryn Money, SVP of Merchandising and Retail at Brilliant Earth, told Brides that the center stone — an elongated oval solitaire diamond — is likely 10 to 12 carats with an estimated cost between $500,000 and $1 million.

The pair went on to host three weddings — in Las Vegas, Santa Barbara, and Portofino, Italy — throughout 2022. They welcomed their son in November 2023.

Justin Theroux and Jennifer Aniston

In August 2012, Justin Theroux asked for Jennifer Aniston's hand with a $1 million 10-carat diamond ring designed by her friend Jennifer Meyer, E! Online reported.

The couple announced their divorce in February 2018, but remain close friends.

Demi Lovato and Max Ehrich

In July 2020, Demi Lovato announced her engagement to actor Max Ehrich on Instagram.

Rare Carat CEO Ajay Anand told BI that the ring appeared "to feature a 10-carat, emerald-cut stone" and estimated that it "would sell for no less than $1 million."

But Lovato and Ehrich's engagement was short lived — they split just two months later in September 2020.

"I think I rushed into something that I thought I was supposed to do," Lovato said in her 2021 documentary "Dancing with the Devil," adding, "I realized as time went on that I didn't actually know the person I was engaged to."

Lovato is now engaged to musician Jordan 'Jutes' Lutes.

Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union

Gabrielle Union said yes to former NBA star Dwyane Wade and the $1 million 8.5-carat, cushion-cut diamond he chose for her.

The couple married in 2014 and welcomed a daughter via surrogate in 2018. Union is also stepmother to Wade's three children.

Lady Gaga and Michael Polansky

Lady Gaga has her mother to thank for her fiancé, businessman and philanthropist Michael Polansky.

Gaga told Vogue in September 2024, "My mom met him and she said to me, 'I think I just met your husband,' and I said, 'I'm not ready to meet my husband!'"

The pair officially met in December 2019 and got engaged in April 2024, the outlet reported. For the occasion, Polansky chose a large oval-cut diamond set on a pavé band.

Zack Stone, CEO of UK-based jewelry retailer Steven Stone, told InStyle in December 2024 that the ring appears to be 15 carats and estimated that it was worth around $1.25 million.

Justin and Hailey Bieber

Justin originally proposed to Hailey in July 2018 with an 18-carat Solow & Co engagement ring, Vogue reported.

However, six years later, the "Peaches" singer decided to upgrade the Rhode founder's ring, this time selecting a piece by Lorraine Schwartz that she debuted on her Instagram in May 2024.

After tabloid speculation about the new ring's size, Hailey Bieber told W Magazine in July 2024 that her new bauble "is only one carat bigger" than her original ring. "It's just elongated," she said. It's estimated that the upgraded ring cost $1.5 million.

The couple have been married since September 2018 and welcomed their first child in August 2024.

Justin Verlander and Kate Upton

In 2016, model Kate Upton said yes to MLB pitcher Justin Verlander and a one-of-a-kind ring by Anita Ko, featuring an 8-carat, round-cut diamond in a unique six-prong setting that was estimated to cost $1.5 million.

The couple have been married since 2017 and they share one daughter.

Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise

Tom Cruise proposed to Katie Holmes with a 5-carat rock in 2005.

The center oval-cut diamond was surrounded by another 6 carats of diamonds and has been estimated to cost as much as $1.5 million, per Who What Wear.

They welcomed their daughter in 2006 before splitting in 2012.

Kris Humphries and Kim Kardashian

Kim Kardashian's marriage to Kris Humphries only lasted 72 days, and the best thing to come out of it was the 16-carat center diamond designed by Lorraine Schwartz.

While the ring was initially reported to be worth nearly $2 million, in 2013, when Humphries auctioned it off at a charity event, it went for $749,000.

Paris Hilton and Carter Reum

Paris Hilton and M13 Ventures founder Carter Reum got engaged in February 2021.

The following month, Hilton shared on "On Air with Ryan Seacrest" that Reum designed the ring with Jean Dousset, the great-great-grandson of Louis Cartier.

"It is a three-stone ring design with an emerald-cut center stone, featuring baguette-cut and trapezoid accent diamonds," Dousset said in a 2021 interview with The Knot.

He added, "The design of the ring derives from a combination of classical and Art Nouveau era influences. The geometric shapes of this ring are befitting to resemble the structure of the Grand Palais in Paris." It's estimated that the ring cost $2 million.

The pair wed in November 2021 and share two children.

Paris Hilton and Chris Zylka

Before Reum, Hilton was engaged to actor Chris Zylka from January to November 2018.

Hilton kept the $2 million 20-carat pear-shaped diamond after their split, telling "The Jenny McCarthy Show" in December 2018, "The person who we got it from got millions and millions of dollars of free publicity, so I love how social media has basically become a new form of money. It's pretty sick."

"Diamonds are a girl's best friend," she added.

Ciara and Russell Wilson

When NFL quarterback Russell Wilson put a ring on it, he made sure no one could miss the news by gifting Ciara a 16-carat round, brilliant-cut center diamond.

And that's not all — the center stone is flanked by a trapezoid-shaped and pear-shaped diamond on each side, bringing the ring's total estimated value to about $2 million, per The Knot.

They married in July 2016. They have three children together and also parent Ciara's son whom she had in her previous relationship.

Nick Cannon and Mariah Carey

Mariah Carey got engaged to Nick Cannon in 2008, who proposed with a 17-carat, emerald-cut pink diamond by Jacob & Co.

"I wanted to do something extremely special, something that Mariah would really appreciate," Cannon told People magazine at the time, adding, "We got the pinkest stone we could find, surrounded by other diamonds."

People reported that the center diamond was surrounded by 58 smaller pink diamonds and two half-moon diamonds, leading it to cost an estimated $2.5 million.

The two married in 2008 and had twins, but they got divorced in 2014. Cannon now has 12 children.

Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds

Blake Lively's trendy 12-carat, oval-cut diamond set in 18-carat rose gold was made by celebrity favorite Lorraine Schwartz and reportedly cost her husband, Ryan Reynolds, $2.5 million.

The two wed in 2012 and have four children.

Jackie Kennedy Onassis and Aristotle Onassis

The former first lady wed Aristotle Onassis, a Greek shipping magnate, in 1968.

He proposed with the Lesotho III diamond, a 40.42-carat, marquise-cut diamond.

The ring sold for $2.6 million at auction in 1996.

Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian

Reddit cofounder Alexis Ohanian proposed to 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams with a $3 million 17-carat, emerald-cut engagement ring in December 2016, The New York Post reported.

The pair wed the following November in New Orleans and now share two daughters.

Donald and Melania Trump

Current President-elect Donald Trump proposed to wife Melania in 2005 with an emerald-cut diamond from Graff Diamonds that weighed more than 10 carats.

At the time of their engagement, he told The New York Times he got a $1 million discount on the ring — however, according to Forbes' reporting in 2018, Trump paid the full price of $1.5 million.

Regardless, he upgraded Melania's ring in 2015 for their 10th wedding anniversary, selecting another Graff Diamonds piece that weighed 25 carats and cost $3 million.

Alexa Dell and Harrison Refoua

In December 2017, tech heiress Alexa Dell got engaged to real-estate investor Harrison Refoua at the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai.

The Daily Mail estimated that the 12-carat diamond ring is valued between $2 million and $3 million.

Kobe and Vanessa Bryant

Kobe Bryant upgraded his wife Vanessa Bryant's ring in 2003 to "an eight-carat, emerald-cut purple diamond worth $4 million," Brides reported.

Kobe and their daughter Gianna died in a helicopter crash in January 2020.

Kanye West and Kim Kardashian

In October 2013, Kanye West (who now goes by Ye) proposed to Kim Kardashian with a 15-carat, cushion-cut diamond ring designed by Lorraine Schwartz that was estimated to cost upward of $3 million, per E! News.

And almost three years later, West surprised his wife with another Lorraine Schwartz ring, this time weighing 20 carats.

However, Kardashian was robbed of the ring just weeks later while on a trip to Paris in October 2016; lawyers and police officials estimated that it was worth about $4.5 million.

The couple finalized their divorce in 2022 after six years of marriage. They have four children.

Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez

Jennifer Lopez said "I do" to Marc Anthony in 2004 after he proposed with an 8.5-carat blue diamond ring by Harry Winston worth an estimated $4 million, according to E! News.

The pair welcomed twins in 2008 and were married for 10 years before divorcing.

Prince Rainier III of Monaco and Grace Kelly

When Prince Rainier III of Monaco proposed to Grace Kelly in 1955, he pulled out a 10.47-carat, emerald-cut diamond ring by Cartier then worth about $4 million.

The couple married the following year, and remained so until Kelly's death in 1982. They had three children.

Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez

Lopez was engaged to the former New York Yankee from 2019 to 2021.

At the time of their engagement, experts from James Allen estimated to BI that the emerald-cut diamond ring was 15 carats and worth at least $1 million, while gemologists at Rare Carat estimated the ring was 20 carats and worth around $4.5 million.

Paris Kassidokostas-Latsis and Paris Hilton

Paris Kassidokostas-Latsis proposed to Hilton in 2005 with a 24-carat canary diamond.

She stopped wearing the reported $4.7 million ring just four months after they initially announced their engagement.

Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom

Orlando Bloom proposed to Katy Perry in February 2019 with a floral-inspired engagement ring.

It was widely reported that the center stone is either a ruby or a pink diamond, while eight white diamonds flank it to resemble petals. Since the center stone composition has never been confirmed, experts' reported price estimates have ranged from $25,000 all the way to $5 million, The Knot reported.

The couple welcomed their daughter in August 2020, and despite their engagement happening nearly six years ago, they've never announced if they're officially married.

However, they've continued to support each other publicly at events, with Bloom presenting Perry with the MTV VMA Video Vanguard Award in September 2024.

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez

Bennifer rekindled their romance in 2021 and got engaged in April 2022 with a three-stone ring featuring a rare light-green radiant-cut diamond as the center stone.

Lopez told Apple Music in 2023 that Affleck also had the words "not going anywhere" engraved on the band as a reference to his email signatures when they reconnected.

Unfortunately, the couple's second chance was too good to be true; Lopez filed for divorce in August 2024 after just two years of marriage, though she will keep the $5.6 million ring, People reported, citing their divorce settlement.

Jay-Z and Beyoncé

One of the world's most iconic musical duos said "I do" in 2008 at a secret wedding. Her engagement ring has an overwhelming 24-carat, emerald-cut flawless center diamond.

Jay-Z gave Beyoncé the center diamond set on a split shank band with micro-pavé diamonds in platinum. It reportedly cost $5 million.

Anna Kournikova and Enrique Iglesias

Anna Kournikova and Enrique Iglesias were lowkey about their relationship until she went public with a large radiant-cut canary diamond.

The unique, yellow diamond is set in platinum and has two other diamonds on either side — but this may be her second engagement ring. The tennis pro was spotted with a huge 11-carat, pear-shaped pink diamond back in 2004 which was reportedly worth as much as $2.5 million dollars.

These days she has mostly been spotted with the yellow one, paired with an equally impressive wedding band, though the two have long maintained that they're not interested in getting married. They have three children.

Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton

When Elizabeth Taylor wed Richard Burton for the first time in 1964, she had said yes to an emerald Bulgari brooch, not a traditional engagement ring, Vogue reported.

However, four years into their marriage, Burton purchased the 33-carat Asscher-cut Krupp diamond for $305,000 — it sold for $8.8 million at a Christie's auction in 2011.

Mariah Carey and James Packer

Mariah Carey and billionaire James Packer broke the record for most expensive celebrity engagement ring in 2016 with a whopping 35-carat, emerald-cut diamond.

The wedding was called off just months later, but luckily for the "Always Be My Baby" singer, she got to keep the $10 million ring since Packer was the one who broke it off, Us Weekly reported. She sold it in 2018 for just over $2 million, Page Six reported.

• Vox Media laid off at least 12 staffers at Vox.com, in the company's second round of cuts in about a month.
• The company also announced expanded duties for some top leaders.
• Vox Media faces challenges as advertisers move toward Big Tech platforms over news sites.

Vox Media laid off staff on Thursday for the second time in just over a month, this time at its general news and politics site Vox.com.

Vox Media didn't specify the number of people let go but said several teams were impacted in what was a "difficult but necessary step as the industry evolves." The Writers Guild of America, East, which represents the Vox newsroom, said the layoffs included 12 of its members. The Vox Media Union had 256 members across Vox Media sites before the new cuts.

Vox Media also announced a raft of leadership changes Wednesday, expanding duties for two top leaders as it looks to diversify its business. Pam Wasserstein was named copresident and vice chair of Vox Media and will serve as CEO Jim Bankoff's "strategic partner." She'll continue to oversee New York, Vox, and Vox Media Studios.

Revenue head Ryan Pauley also added responsibilities. He was named copresident, adding oversight of the lifestyle brands and the podcast business and production. He continues to oversee advertising, commerce, consumer revenue, and marketing.

"These changes will create clearer focus, faster decision making, and increased executive capacity for tackling larger strategic questions," Jim Bankoff wrote in a company email viewed by Business Insider. "This is particularly important given our complex, multi-brand environment."

In December, Vox Media laid off staff at its lifestyle titles Thrillist, PS (formerly Pop Sugar), and Eater and said that Thrillist would be operated by Eater going forward.

At the time, Bankoff said the company would focus on areas where it saw the most opportunity, including building direct audiences and its Vox Media Podcast Network. Vox Media also recently put its tech-focused property, The Verge, behind a paywall.

Vox Media grew out of the boom in digital media, raising more than $400 million from investors, including NBCUniversal and General Atlantic. It styled itself as the Condé Nast of digital, with a collection of websites devoted to news and lifestyle topics. Its last funding round was in 2023 when it raised $100 million from Penske Media in a deal that made Penske the biggest shareholder with 20%, The New York Times reported.

As investor interest in digital media soured generally, Vox Media rolled up other properties, including New York Magazine, Group Nine Media, and NowThis (which it later spun off).

Vox Media, along with many of its digital-media contemporaries, has faced challenges as digital advertisers flock to Big Tech platforms.

Here's Wednesday's full memo from Bankoff:

Team,

I hope that you all had restful time off over the holidays and were able to recharge. First, my thoughts are with everyone affected by the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles - please stay safe and vigilant as conditions develop. If you need support, please reach out to your People BP.

I'm writing to share an update on new responsibilities for Pam Wasserstein and Ryan Pauley. These changes are focused only at the leadership level, and do not impact any day-to-day operations.

Pam Wasserstein will expand her scope and grow our leadership capacity by serving as my strategic partner, as co-president and vice chair of Vox Media, working directly with me on strategic initiatives and areas of opportunity to best position our company in the changing and tumultuous media environment. In this role she will also work closely with Shyra Smart, our chief development and strategy officer, Sean Macnew, our CFO, and our general counsel Brian Leung, all of whom will continue reporting to me.

Already our company president and a member of our board since we merged with New York Media in 2019, Pam is also being elevated to vice chair. New York Magazine, Vox, and Vox Media Studios will continue to report up to Pam.

Ryan Pauley will also grow his responsibilities in the new position of co-president of Vox Media. Ryan is adding oversight of our lifestyle brands (Eater, Thrillist, PS), The Verge, Polygon, SB Nation, and The Dodo to his remit. Their group publishers will report to him. He will work closely with these leaders to continue to build industry-leading editorial brands.

The podcast business team led by Ray Chao, and the podcast production team led by Nishat Kurwa, will also report to Ryan. The advertising, commerce, and consumer revenue business lines, as well as marketing, will continue to separately report to Ryan.

Pam and Ryan have been invaluable partners to me as we've built this business in a rapidly shifting climate, and they both have a deep understanding and immense appreciation of our work. These changes will create clearer focus, faster decision making, and increased executive capacity for tackling larger strategic questions. This is particularly important given our complex, multi-brand environment. I believe that these expanded roles will best leverage Pam and Ryan's unique strengths and areas of expertise.

I look forward to working together this year to produce more outstanding work and achieve our ambitious goals. I am grateful, as always, for your contributions.

Jim

• One of the hardest years ever for hopeful homebuyers is officially in the books.
• Property sales were weighed down once again by restrictive mortgage rates.
• Here's why millennials and Gen Zers made the right call by not buying, and what will change in 2025.

Young would-be homebuyers largely put off their purchases last year, and for good reason.

Lofty prices and elevated mortgage rates made 2024 an unusually tough year for all buyers, but they were especially formidable obstacles for those who weren't already homeowners.

First-time buyers only accounted for 24% of US home purchases last year, a new report from Realtor.com found. That's the lowest rate since at least 1981, researchers noted on January 9, even though home affordability has improved significantly from its late-2023 lows.

Millions of millennials and Gen Zers hoping to buy homes and were shut out last year weren't alone.

Housing market transactions underwhelmed for a third straight year during a stalemate between aspiring buyers and sellers. Home prices drifted down in late 2024, but not enough for some buyers to feel like they were getting good value, given where mortgage rates were. And owners held out for renewed price growth since they didn't want to sell for less than their neighbors did.

"Prices have been so sticky; they just stay where they are," said Joel Berner, an economic researcher at Realtor.com who co-authored the report with Danielle Hale, in a recent interview. "People have seen the house down the street a couple of years ago sold for $700,000. Why would I list mine for $600,000?"

Some housing market analysts think property prices will get a second wind, likely starting in the busier spring and summer months. Realtor.com's official forecast is for 3.7% price growth, though that's way slower than a few years ago. And in some markets, prices could keep falling.

"It takes time for people to adjust to the new normal, and so prices are finally starting to drop," Berner said.

Why not buying a home paid off last year

Although buying a house and building equity is a worthy aim, many young Americans may end up glad that they waited to sign on the dotted line.

Mortgage rates remained a major headache last year, even though they were below their peak. The Federal Reserve's plan to cut interest rates more slowly may keep many iced out of the market, though the consensus among real-estate observers is that borrowing costs will still fall.

In the meantime, those who've opted for apartments likely aren't breaking the bank. Rent growth has stagnated as inflation remained below 3%, and Realtor.com's research shows that rent has fallen for the last 16 months. Whether rent was flat or down, there was little rush to buy.

"Rents have been so soft in the last year that people look around and they say, 'Why would I pay a $3,000 mortgage payment when I can rent the same place for $1,500?'" Berner said.

It makes sense that young renters were reluctant to swap their reasonably priced leases for exorbitant mortgages, especially if there weren't many attractive options available. Home inventory has long been limited and is only now returning to pre-pandemic levels.

Steadily rising home supply is one of the healthiest signs possible for the housing market. While Berner said this isn't a buyer's market quite yet, improved inventory could send it that way.

Opportunities abound for young buyers

While millions are looking for homes, Hale and Berner focused their report on younger buyers, specifically those born in the 1990s who were between the ages of 25 and 34 last year.

Those younger millennials and older Gen Zers may want to start their search on the East Coast, which is home to most of the 10 best cities for first-time buyers, according to Realtor.com.

Their methodology is based on factors like home prices, the local economy, and price growth history. The typical home in each of these markets is below the US median of $416,880 and is also considered affordable, meaning monthly payments are less than 30% of a buyer's income.

Three of these top markets for 25- to 34-year-olds are in Florida, two are in Western New York, and three others are in the Mid-Atlantic region. Only one city cited by Realtor.com was west of the Mississippi River: North Little Rock, Arkansas.

"These larger, Eastern, older communities have a lot of things to offer," Berner said of the list. "They're well established; there's a lot of infrastructure, a lot of restaurants, a lot of daycares, etc. And the listing prices are pretty soft out there. So it's just kind of a good mix."

What's even more fascinating is which markets didn't make the list. So-called "Zoomtowns" that were trendy during the pandemic were absent, as were highly popular cities in Sun Belt states like North Carolina, Tennessee, and Kentucky. Cities in California didn't come closer either.

Some of the hottest markets in recent years ranked well in previous renditions of this report, Berner said. If history repeats, young buyers who settle down in cities on this year's list will be glad they did since they'll see price appreciation in the years to come. And they also might be grateful that they didn't get suckered into a subpar deal last year.

"People saw the previous ones and they said, 'These are really good places to buy,' went and bought, and then those listing prices were up," Berner said. "We're kind of chasing our tail a little bit with things, trying to stay ahead of the market. And so it wouldn't surprise me next year if the list looks a whole lot different."

• Russian glide-bomb attacks against Ukraine are down compared to a few months ago.
• Ukraine's long-range strikes on Russian airfields and ammunition depots helped to reduce the threat.
• A Ukrainian soldier on the southern front said attacks are down by 70 percent compared to months ago.

Russia is carrying out fewer glide-bomb attacks on Ukraine compared to a few months ago, but the highly destructive weapons are still a severe threat to soldiers and civilians.

Factors behind the recent decrease in bombing runs include a string of Ukrainian drone strikes on airbases and ammunition storage facilities inside Russia during the summer and fall. Kyiv's forces are also getting better at defending against the glide bombs.

Russian aircraft have launched glide bombs at Ukraine throughout much of the war. The weapons are equipped with special kits converting dumb bombs into precision-guided munitions. They are quite difficult to intercept because they fly on non-ballistic trajectories, have small radar signatures, and have fairly short flight times.

Glide bombs come in various sizes, but among the larger is one weighing over 6,000 pounds that delivers tremendous destruction on impact.

A Ukrainian soldier fighting on the front lines in the south told Business Insider that glide bombs cause a lot of problems, but there has been a significant decrease in attacks since the summer.

Yuriy, a major in an electronic warfare unit of the Ukrainian National Guard, said that in his sector of the front, Russia has reduced the number of its attacks by around 70 percent compared to the summer.

He attributed the decrease to Ukraine's long-range strike campaign inside Russia. He also suggested that the presence of F-16 fighter jets, which made their combat debut for Kyiv last August, might be making Russian pilots hesitant to fly too close to the border.

The only way really for Ukraine to defeat glide bombs is to either shoot down the warplane before it releases the munition or strike the aircraft on the ground at its base. They can also destroy the ammunition stores.

During the summer and fall, Ukraine used domestically produced drones to carry out a string of high-profile attacks on Russian storage facilities where glide bombs were kept and airfields where the warplanes carrying them were based.

Ukraine has also benefitted from the Biden administration's decision to lift restrictions on Kyiv's use of American-made tactical ballistic missiles, known as ATACMS, in cross-border strikes. Ukrainian officials long argued more freedom in this space would allow them to threaten Russian airfields and reduce glide-bomb attacks.

Yehor Chernev, the deputy chairman of Ukraine's parliamentary committee on national security, defense, and intelligence, explained to BI that Kyiv's strikes on the airfields forced Russia to move its tactical aviation deeper into the country and away from the front lines.

This campaign has led to a decrease in sortie rate — how often Russia can get its warplanes in the air to conduct the bombing missions — and has increased the detection time that Ukrainian forces have since the aircraft are approaching from farther out.

Chernev said that Ukraine has also been chipping away at the number of glide bombs in Russia's arsenal by targeting its ammunition depots.

But these strikes aren't a "magic tool," he said. The Russians can always build another storage depot to replace one that has been destroyed. Chernev said that while glide-bomb attacks are ultimately down, "it's still a problem for us because we cannot intercept these guided bombs."

Ukraine can, however, take actions short of interception. George Barros, the geospatial-intelligence team lead and a Russia analyst at the Institute for the Study of War, told BI that Ukraine has gotten better at using electronic warfare to interfere with the Russian glide bombs, reducing their efficacy.

On the front lines in the eastern Donetsk region, Barros said that he's observed a correlation between the decrease in the glide-bomb attacks and the rate of Russian advances, which have slowed over the past month or two.

"The Russian forces there are very tired and very much attrited," he said, acknowledging that as a contributing factor.

But hindrances impacting Russia's ability to drop glide bombs on Ukraine, coupled with the decreased effectiveness of these weapons, "also tracks with the observation of the Russian rate of infantry advance," given that Moscow uses these munitions to support its ground forces, Barros said, adding that "these all sort of align in a mutually supporting way."

He emphasized that to prevent the glide-bomb threat from reemerging, the US and NATO need to continue arming Ukraine with long-range missiles so it can keep the pressure on Russia's airbases.

Despite an overall decrease in glide-bomb strikes, these weapons are still causing death and destruction across Ukraine. On Wednesday, Russia attacked the city of Zaporizhzhia with two munitions, killing over a dozen people and injuring more than 30, authorities said.

"This shows once again what Russia truly seeks," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said later that evening. "They want only war, and only victims."

• In "Squid Game," people who are in debt compete for money in survival contests inspired by children's games.

• Both seasons have had a high death count.
• Here are the most shocking deaths ranked

Warning: Spoilers ahead for "Squid Game" seasons one and two.

"Squid Game" is Netflix's biggest success — and it has a pretty high death toll, at over 700 in two seasons. 

 The story of characters in debt competing, and often dying, in gratuitously violent games inspired by children's games to win money had viewers hooked from its premiere in 2021, and quickly became Netflix's most-watched show of all time.

Season two is equally violent and has beat Netflix's record for the TV series with the most views in its first week on the platform.

Season two follows Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) as he competes in the survival competition for a second time after winning the contest in season one. 

This time, Gi-hun tries to shut down the games for good but is unable to stop more people getting killed.

Here are the most significant deaths from the first two seasons of "Squid Game," ranked from least to most shocking.

19. Byeong-gi

Contestant 111, Byeong-gi (Yoo Seong-ju), is a doctor who tries to survive by forming a pact with the game's guards, offering his surgical skills so that they can harvest the organs of the other players in exchange for information about the upcoming game.

In episode five, the guards aren't told what the next game is, so Byeong-gi panics, kills some guards to escape, and is eventually trapped and killed by the Frontman (Lee Byung-hun), the mastermind of the games.

In the next episode, his body and the bodies of the guards who worked with him are hung in the center of the game as a message to the remaining players.

18. Park Gyeong-seok

In the season two finale, Gi-hun leads a rebellion against the games, stealing the guards' guns and storming through the game building to get to the command center.

Player 246, Gyeong-seok (Lee Jin-uk), who is competing to raise money for his sick daughter, joins the charge but the guards overpower the rebels and kill him.

Although his death is tragic, we do not learn enough about Gyeong-seok for his death to be more shocking than others on this list.

17. Jang Deok-su

From stealing food, leaving a woman to die after having sex with her, to being the first to kill a contestant outside a game, Jang Deok-su (Heo Sung-tae) is an undeniably unlikable character. 

Karma finally catches up with him in episode seven when Han Mi-nyeo (Kim Joo-ryung), Deok-su's brief lover, throws them onto a brittle platform in the glass bridge challenge as an act of revenge. They fall to their deaths together.

16. Oh Il-nam

Oh Il-nam (Oh Yeong-su) fakes his death during the marbles game in season one, which was much more hard-hitting than his real death in the season one finale.

During this challenge, he pairs up with the show's protagonist, Seong Gi-hun, and discovers that only one person can proceed to the next stage. But instead of playing marbles with Gi-hun, Il-nam seems to hallucinate and wander off.

Gi-hun chases after Il-nam, and, in an out-of-character moment, cheats once they finally play the game.

Il-nam reveals that he knows Gi-hun is cheating but still allows him to progress in the games so he can live a full life. At the time, the pair share an emotional goodbye, like a farewell between a parent and child.

Of course, after Il-nam reveals he is the creator of the games and faked his death in the season finale, the gut-punch of the marbles scene lessens somewhat.

15. The 13 people who died during the glass bridge game

The glass bridge challenge in season one is by far one of the most shocking games.

While the other challenges can be won by skill, intelligence, or strength, the glass round is solely based on luck. 

Players cross a bridge made up of two columns of identical glass platforms. One of the platforms is stable, allowing the players to cross the bridge, while the other will break immediately, leading to a long fall to their deaths.

Only three of the 16 players survive, and the final death is the most brutal. Close to the end, player 017 (Lee Sang-hee) reveals he is a glassmaker who can tell the difference between the platforms. But when the lights are switched off, he struggles to figure out which platform is the right one.

With time running out, Cho Sang-woo (Park Hae-soo) ruthlessly pushes the glassmaker onto one of the glass platforms, which turns out to be the unsafe one.

14. Mr. Kim

In season two, Gi-hun hires Mr Kim (Kim Pub-lae), his former creditor, to help him track down the man who recruited him to participate in the games in season one.

Mr Kim and his young underling Woo-seok (Jeon Seok-ho) succeed in finding the Recruiter (Gong Yoo), but he surprises them and knocks them out.

When they wake up, the Recruiter forces them to play a game combining the rules of Rock, Paper, and Scissors with Russian Roulette. Mr. Kim purposely loses the game so Woo-seok can live, and the Recruiter shoots him.

Once Mr Kim is captured, it is pretty clear he will die, but it's heartening that his last act is protecting Woo-seok rather than selling him out.

13. Se-mi

Se-mi (Won Ji-an) stands up against the season two bullies Thanos (Choi Seung-hyun) and his sidekick Nam-gyu (Roh Jae-won) to defend a shy man called Min-su (Lee David).

But this backfires during the riot in the season two finale. Nam-gyu corners Se-mi, but Min-su, who is hiding above them, is too scared to save her. Nam-gyu then stabs Se-mi multiple times with a fork, in an undeservedly cruel death.

12. The Recruiter

The opening episode of season two shows that the Recruiter is as sadistic as his employers, as he toys with homeless people and tortures Mr. Kim and Woo-seok.

In the last scene of the episode, the Recruiter confronts Gi-hun, and they play a game of Russian Roulette. 

Gi-hun wins, and the Recruiter, without flinching, shoots himself.

10. Player 196

Player 196 (Song Ji-woo) is one of the multiple characters who gets a substantial amount of screentime in season two, episode three when they enter the games. So it seemed like she was going to be one of the season's main players.

That notion goes out the window during the first game, Red Light, Green Light. After feeling a bee on her neck, she moves when she is supposed to be still and is shot in the head.

It is a reminder that this is "Squid Game," and no character is truly safe.

11. Players 069 and 070

The only thing we know about players 069 (Kim Yun-tae) and 070 (Lee Ji-ha) is that they are married, which makes episode six's plot twist so cruel. The players are asked to get into pairs, but only after they've done so are they told they will have to compete against each other to move onto the next stage. 

No. 69 dies by suicide the night after the game, feeling guilty about his wife's death.

9. Ali Abdul

Abdul Ali (Anupam Tripathi), a migrant worker from Pakistan, is a season one fan-favorite because he is kind to all the other players.

This allows him to form useful alliances but also leads to his demise during the marbles game. Ali pairs up with Sang-woo, whom he sees as a close friend, and tries to play fairly.

But Sang-woo tricks Ali into dropping the marbles needed to progress in the games and gives him a bag of rocks instead. Ali doesn't realize he has been fooled until time runs out to save himself, and he is shot by a guard.

Although his death was tragic, it was always clear Ali was not cut out for the competition.

Park Jung-bae

Park Jung-bae (Lee Seo-hwan), a former marine and Gi-hun's friend from outside the game, joins in with the rebellion in the season two finale.

Jung-bae and Gi-hun eventually have to surrender when they are cornered by the guards. The Frontman then appears with a gun, and it appears he plans to kill Gi-hun.

He then turns and shoots Jung-bae dead as a lesson to Gi-hun.

The saddest part about Jung-bae's death is that he never finds out that the Frontman was his former ally. In season two, the Frontman poses as a player to keep his eye on Gi-hun and eventually sabotage the rebellion. When the Frontman shoots Jung-bae, he is wearing a mask to hide his identity.

7. Ji-yeong

After forming a bond with Kang Sae-byeok (Jung Ho-yeon) in previous episodes, Ji-yeong (Yuuki Luna) is forced to battle against her during the marbles challenge.

But instead of fighting, the pair decide to talk about their life story and why they entered the games.

After hearing that Sae-byeok is competing to raise money to save her mother from North Korea and reunite her family, Ji-yeong decides to surrender so Sae-byeok can continue competing.

Ji-yeong's death is made even more tragic by the fact that Sae-byeok doesn't win, so the sacrifice was for nothing. 

6. Cho Sang-woo

The creators and organizers of the competition are the villains of the show, but Sang-woo is a close second.

Sang-woo is determined to win at all costs in season one, sacrificing several people so he can proceed. Sang-woo reaches the final but is beaten by Gi-hun in a battle of Squid Game.

Gi-hun then offers Sang-woo a chance to quit so they both have the chance to survive. But Sang-woo chooses to lethally stab himself so Gi-hun can win the money.

It's not shocking that Sang-woo died, but that even in the end, he chose money over life.

5. Gi-hun's mom

After fighting for his life in six brutal challenges to raise money for his mother's (Kim Young-ok) medical bills to treat her diabetes, Gi-hun returns home to find her dead.

We don't know much about her but her death makes Gi-hun's efforts in the games pointless. He goes through that entire trial but is not able to save a single loved one.

4. Thanos

Thanos, the callous, self-obsessed bully of season two, is killed by another player during a riot in the male bathrooms in the season two finale.

Sure, Thanos does deserve to be punished at some point for the way he harassed and harmed other players. And yes, he causes the circumstances of his own death by inciting the riot and bullying his eventual killer, Lee Myung-gi (Yim Si-wan).

But at the same time, Thanos is a really entertaining villain, and it's surprising he is killed so soon, leaving a major villain gap for the third season.

3. Young-mi

Young-mi (Kim Si-eun) is another player who is not cut out to survive the games' brutality, but she seemed to have the potential to get a little further in the show.

She is introduced just before the Six-Legged Pentathlon game, forming a team with Hyun-ju (Park Sung-hoon) and a few other major characters. Most members of this team become really close after surviving this challenge, and Hyun-ju and Young-mi, in particular, form a familial bond.

But during the next challenge, the Mingle game, Young-mi gets knocked and pushed outside the safe zone. In a heartbreaking moment, Young-mi is shot and killed right in front of Hyun-ju.

Justice for Young-mi!

2. The 255 people who died in the Red Light, Green Light game in season one

By the end of season one, viewers may feel numb to the show's violence, but the brutality of the competition is not made apparent until the first games.

More than half of the contestants in the competition die in Red Light, Green Light alone, where they are shot by hidden snipers if they are caught moving by a giant rotating doll. It is nothing short of a massacre in seconds, and only 201 out of 456 contestants survive.

It makes it clear from the start that there will be no trickery or bargaining in this competition — if you lose, you die.

Thankfully, in season two, Gi-hun instructs the players on how to beat the game so fewer die.

1. Kang Sae-byeok

While Gi-hun is the protagonist, Sae-byeok is one of the characters with the most moving story and arguably most deserving of the money. 

She is a North Korean defector who needs the money to look after her younger brother and bring her mother to South Korea. Though she has a hard exterior, she goes out of her way to help other vulnerable people, even stopping Gi-hun from killing Sang-woo when he is sleeping.

Jung Ho-yeon, who plays Kang Sae-byeok, told The Times in 2021 that her role taught her to have "faith in humanity" because Sae-byeok is so caring to her family.

But the cards were not in her favor. After the glass bridge game, the remaining glass platforms are blown up, and a shard of glass hits her stomach.

During the night after the game, Sang-woo kills Sae-byeok after she passes out due to the injury.

Kang Sae-byeok's death makes it clear that only one player is making it alive out in season one.

• Cover Corp, a top virtual influencer company, is expanding its business in the US.
• Its creators, known as VTubers, use digital avatars and are gaining popularity on YouTube.
• The company is using sold-out live events and collaborations with traditional media to grow abroad.

Japan-based Cover Corporation is betting on the US as the next big market for growing its virtual anime-style influencer fan base.

The company manages creators who use technology to appear in videos and other online posts as digital avatars, often resembling anime characters. These influencers are most popular on YouTube. The VTubers, as they're known, typically livestream. Many make music or play games.

Their popularity is small but on the rise. From January 2023 to June 2023, VTubers comprised 1.4% of the active YouTube live gaming community but captured 9.6% of all viewer hours, according to data from the game-marketing platform GameSight. VTuber viewership increased by 28% during the period, while that of other gaming creators on YouTube Live fell by 6%.

Cover is one of several companies that exclusively work with VTubers to expand their businesses. Its agency division, Hololive Production, manages VTubers in Japan, Indonesia, and English-speaking countries, which have been a major area of expansion for the company since 2023.

Last year, Cover opened an office in Los Angeles through its first overseas subsidiary.

Hololive's popular VTubers in the US include Mori Calliope (2.49 million YouTube subscribers) and Nerissa Ravencroft (805,000 YouTube subscribers). Globally, its talent includes some of the most-watched and subscribed VTuber channels on YouTube.

The company's international expansion has helped boost revenue and earnings. Cover's revenue rose 50% year over year to 10,688 million yen, about $67.6 million, during its last reported quarter, which ended in October. It posted a profit of 1,500 million yen during the period.

Cover has a market capitalization of about $160 billion yen, or around $1 billion.

Motoaki Tanigo, CEO of Cover, spoke to Business Insider in an interview conducted through translators. In 2025, he said the company plans to focus on gaming collaborations, pop-up shops, and live events like concerts to grow its business in the US.

Hololive collaborated last year with the Los Angeles Dodgers on exclusive merchandise, for instance. VTuber Gawr Gura (4.5 million YouTube subscribers) also sang "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" on screens throughout the stadium.

Inside the business model of a top VTuber company

While Hololive primarily manages livestreamers, several of the company's creators sing and make their own music. That has opened up avenues for revenue and growth.

Mori Calliope, for instance, is scheduled to headline a solo concert in February in Los Angeles. Hololive's VTuber talent uses 3D technology to bring its digital avatars to the stage.

Tanigo said music is one of the top ways its talent reaches new audiences.

In 2023, Cover held a concert at the 6,000-seat YouTube Theater in LA, which sold out in 30 minutes, the company said. Its August concert at the Kings Theater in New York, another 6,000-seat venue, sold out in 10 minutes.

"The popularity of these events proves that North American audiences have a tremendous appetite for VTuber content," Tanigo said. "Our goal is to elevate VTubers alongside popular Japanese exports like manga, anime, and games."

Cover's top revenue drivers are merchandise, such as made-to-order items and a collectible card game; streaming revenue from super chats and channel memberships; concerts and live events; and licensing and collaborations, per its earnings report. Licensing and collaborations was the fastest-growing segment.

Hololive's international expansion

In 2025, the company is making a behind-the-scenes shift that it hopes will make its VTubers more engaging.

Until now, Hololive's VTuber models had been created through the gaming software Unity. Tanigo said the company is switching to another platform, Unreal Engine, which it believes will create "better quality" models.

The company is also working on finding better ways to sell tickets to and improve its in-person events. Tanigo said he'd love to see a function on YouTube or Twitch for ticket sales and better real-time translation for live videos, for example.

Hololive's international expansion has faced roadblocks.

Tanigo said the company has struggled with music copyright outside Japan, including getting the rights for talent to cover a song.

One of his priorities for the year ahead is to make inroads into traditional US media.

In Japan, the company has placed its talent on TV shows and other traditional media spots, and the team is working on animation projects based on its talent.

"We'd like to have that opportunity in the US as well and try to have more exposure in a TV show and different types of mediums," Tanigo said.

• The Palisades and Eaton fires have razed thousands of homes and burned tens of thousands of acres.
• Some buildings have survived, though, like the Getty Villa art museum in Pacific Palisades.
• The Villa is not your average home, but homeowners can learn from what Getty staff have been doing all year.

As the Palisades and Eaton fires burned through thousands of acres on Tuesday, razing nearly 2,000 homes, the iconic Getty Villa remained standing with minor damage. Meanwhile, homes and trees around it went up in flames.

"We deeply appreciate the tireless work and dedication of the Los Angeles Fire Department, Los Angeles County Fire Department, and other agencies," the museum said in a statement Wednesday morning.

The Getty Villa is part of the J. Paul Getty Trust, which includes the largest endowment of any museum in the world, estimated at more than $8 billion in 2023. It houses the trust's collection of Ancient Greek and Roman art.

Fire departments used "state-of-the-art air handling systems" to help protect the building, Katherine E. Fleming, the president and CEO of the Getty Trust, told USA Today.

Moreover, builders designed the galleries with double-walled construction, which also helped protect the precious art inside.

However, it wasn't just expensive architecture and state-of-the-art firefighting that helped. Getty staff have been consistently clearing brush from the surrounding area all year as part of its fire-mitigation efforts, the museum said.

That's a crucial lesson for homeowners in fire-risk areas.

Yard work to save your home

The Palisades fire has become the most destructive ever to hit Los Angeles, CNN reported, citing CalFire data.

The fire has been fueled by an explosion of grasses and brush that grew abundant over the past two winters, which were rainier than usual. But with drought conditions over the past few months, that brush dried out, becoming kindling for the fast-moving blazes.

To mitigate the risk of fire, cities, fire departments, and community members can clear dried grasslands around residential areas.

Individual homeowners can also protect their properties by clearing a 5-foot perimeter around their houses and removing flammable materials like ornamental plants, bark mulch, or deck furniture.

"This is an urban fire. We're burning urban fuels," said Pat Durland, a wildfire-mitigation specialist and instructor for the National Fire Protection Association with 30 years of federal wildfire management experience.

Keeping gutters and roofs clear can also prevent spot ignitions that can send entire structures up in flames.

"People believe that they're helpless," Durland told Business Insider in 2023. But that's not the case, he said. "Nine out of 10 times, this boils down to two words: yard work."

Homeowners can also install noncombustible, 1/8-inch mesh screening on any vents to a crawl space or attic to prevent embers from entering the home that way.

"You are where the rubber meets the road. The things you do on your house and around your house are going to make the difference," Durland said.

• Kate Middleton became the Princess of Wales in September 2022.
• She's shown off different facets of her style while taking on new royal responsibilities. 
• Kate has embraced pantsuits, and for her two public appearances in 2024, she wore chic dresses. 

Kate Middleton became the Princess of Wales after Queen Elizabeth II died in September 2022. 

The mom of three, who celebrated her 43rd birthday on Thursday, has had fun with her fashion since her title changed, showing off a sleeker side of her style.

Following her abdominal surgery and chemotherapy treatment in 2024, Kate made a handful of appearances, and her recent royal looks seemed to blend the best of royal tradition with modern trends.

Business Insider looked back at some of the best ensembles Kate has worn since becoming the Princess of Wales. 

Ahead of Queen Elizabeth II's state funeral in September 2022, Kate Middleton and Prince William met with troops who were set to participate.

Middleton wore a black, military-esque coat by Catherine Walker with buttons down its bodice and epaulettes on its shoulders.

She completed the look with a black hat, semi-sheer tights, leather heels, and the late Queen's pearl earrings from her Silver Jubilee.

In December 2022, Kate attended the Christmas Day Service at St. Mary Magdalene Church while wearing a navy-green ensemble.

Her Alexander McQueen coat had a high neckline, multiple pockets, and a long pleated skirt.

She wore it with a handful of accessories in rich tones and textured fabrics, like dark velvet boots, brown leather gloves, and a green, wide-brimmed hat adorned with ribbon.

She also visited Boston, Massachusetts, that month, and showed the more colorful side of her wardrobe.

She wore a burgundy pantsuit designed by Roland Mouret with matching pumps and a baby-pink blouse. The shirt's long bow added a feminine flair to her outfit.

To kick off 2023, Kate and her husband wore matching red pieces for a Royal Foundation Centre event.

The Prince of Wales wore a blue suit with a red tie, which matched Kate's vibrant red suit.

Alexander McQueen designed her asymmetrical blazer and pleated pants, which she wore with red heels, a matching clutch, and geometric earrings from Chalk.

For the Wales versus England Six Nations rugby game in February 2023, Kate wore a coat that featured the colors of both teams.

Her houndstooth-print Catherine Walker coat was red and white, mirroring the colors of both rugby teams.

The BBC reported that, on the day of the match, the Prince of Wales described his wife's attire as "diplomatic," though she was rooting for England. Her team went on to win the game.

For the Commonwealth Day Service in March 2023, Kate wore a printed set with lots of flair.

Designed by Erdem, her navy-blue outfit included a fitted blazer top with peplum detailing at the waist, and a mermaid-style skirt that flared just above her ankles.

She wore the outfit with velvet pumps and a wide hat.

Kate subverted expectations by wearing teal to the St. Patrick's Day Parade at Mons Barracks in March 2023.

Rather than wearing true green as most do on St. Patrick's Day, the Princess of Wales opted for a Catherine Walker coatdress in a shade of teal often referred to as "St. Patrick's Blue," as People reported.

The color also matched the plumes the 1st Battalion of Irish Guards wore in their hats. It was a fitting choice for Kate as she inherited the title of Colonel of the battalion from William in December 2022.

She paired the look with coordinating shoes from Gianvito Rossi and a hat designed by Jane Taylor London.

Kate's blue ensemble for an Easter service at St. George's Chapel in April 2023 coordinated with her family members' looks.

The Waleses marked the full family appearance with coordinating blue ensembles, and Kate chose another Catherine Walker coatdress for the occasion. It had a two-toned lapel and pocket detailing.

A matching hat and nude heels tied the look together.

The Princess of Wales chose a more relaxed look for a visit to the charity the Anna Freud Centre in May 2023.

Kate's emerald dress was designed by Suzannah London. She wore it with white-and-black shoes from Alessandra Rich.

The gown's detailing and slightly puffy sleeves created a more relaxed but still professional look.

Kate put a royal spin on the sheer fabric trend with her dress for a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May 2023.

Designed by Elie Saab, the powder-blue dress had a sheer overlay and was covered in velvet embellishments.

An oversize bow sat on her neck, and a coordinating hat with a large flower completed the ensemble.

Even better, the look was recycled. Kate previously wore it to the 2019 Royal Ascot.

The princess popped in polka dots while opening Hope Street, a residential space for women in Southampton, in June 2023.

Puffy sleeves and a ruffled neckline gave the navy polka-dot dress from Alessandra Rich a feminine feel. 

She paired the look with a white clutch and black-and-white heels.

The pink dress Kate wore to officially open the Young V&A at V&A Museum of Childhood in June 2023 was perfect for the summer of "Barbie."

First worn by the princess to Wimbledon in 2021, the Beulah London dress had short sleeves. Buttons lined the bodice, and it belted at the waist.

White shoes accented the summery outfit, just one of the pink looks she wore over the summer.

Kate showed off her penchant for polka dots at The Order of The Garter service at St. George's Chapel in June 2023.

The white dress was designed by her go-to designer, Alessandra Rich. Polka dots covered the form-fitting, long-sleeved dress, which cinched at the waist.

A black hat with polka-dot feathering and black-and-white shoes completed the ensemble.

Kate also showed off her curtsying skills at the event.

She embraced a more casual side of her style at the Out-Sourcing Inc. Royal Charity Polo Cup in July 2023.

Kate chose another Beulah London dress for the polo game, which William played in, this time in pale blue.

The long-sleeve dress flowed to Kate's ankles, and it was covered in stripes of floral print. 

She paired it with nude heels.

Kate's lime-green dress for Wimbledon 2023 felt playful and fresh.

The dress from Self-Portrait had a shirt-like bodice, with a collar, large buttons down the center, and pocket detailing.

It cinched at the waist with a belt, creating a peplum silhouette, while the ruched skirt flowed to Kate's ankles.

She paired the dress with a purple brooch and nude heels.

Kate embraced a power suit in September 2023.

Kate wore a green suit from Burberry to visit the textile company, AW Hainsworth.

The jacket was slim-fitted while the pants were slightly wider, giving her a long look. A white blouse and gold jewelry completed the professional ensemble. 

The princess wore a chic sweater set to visit Nottingham Trent University in October 2023.

The cream ensemble was designed by Sézane, consisting of a sweater with button detailing on the sleeves and a pencil skirt.

The sweater material of the ensemble made it feel perfect for fall. Kate paired the effortless ensemble with cream shoes and a matching purse. 

A casual jacket and jeans was a nice change of pace for Kate in October 2023.

During a visit to Moray, Scotland, Kate paired a checked Burberry jacket with flared jeans and boots, and she added a red flower to her lapel.

Her jacket subtly matched William's green outerwear, and the pattern was the perfect fit for a visit to Scotland. 

Kate chose a red coatdress with a statement bow for a state visit at the end of November 2023.

The princess turned to Catherine Walker for her dress in November, when she was ceremonially welcomed by the president and first lady of the Republic of Korea. 

The red coatdress flowed past her knee, draping over her arms almost like a wrap. An asymmetrical bow on the gown's collar acted as a modern touch, and coordinating red shoes, a red purse, and a red hat tied the look together. 

She attended the "Together at Christmas" celebration with an all-white outfit that looked more Hollywood glam than royal chic in December 2023.

Kate tapped menswear bespoke tailor Chris Kerr for her cream coat, which flowed to her ankles.

She paired the structured coat with a white blouse, matching high-waisted trousers, nude shoes, and a mini-purse. The outfit looked both trendy and timeless. 

Kate made her much-anticipated return to the public eye in June 2024 at Trooping the Colour in a white Jenny Packham outfit.

Jenny Packham designed the knee-length dress Kate donned for Trooping the Colour 2024, which marked her first public appearance of the year. The Princess of Wales announced she was undergoing chemotherapy in March 2024.

The dress was upcycled, as Kate was previously seen wearing it at a luncheon before King Charles' coronation in May 2023. But Packham added a black-and-white bow and altered the belt to give it a second stripe for Trooping the Colour, making it look new.

She paired the dress with a coordinating white hat, pointed-toe heels, and the Irish Guards Regimental Brooch on her lapel to highlight her role as Colonel of the Irish Guards.

When she made her first solo appearance of the year at Wimbledon in June 2024, Kate wore a purple dress.

Kate attended the men's final of Wimbledon 2024 with Princess Charlotte at her side.

She arrived in a purple dress designed by Safiyaa London. The dress featured cap sleeves, a cinched waist, and a tea-length skirt with pleats. Ruching on the bodice added dynamism to the boatneck bodice, as did a navy brooch shaped like a bow.

Nude shoes and a pair of sunglasses completed the ensemble. 

Kate paired a classic coatdress with modern accessories for the ceremonial welcome of the Amir of the State of Qatar in December 2024.

Alexander McQueen designed the double-breasted burgundy coatdress Kate wore to the ceremony, which was the first she attended in 2024.

Her coordinating hat was from Sahar Millinery, and Kate played up the autumnal vibes of her look with brown gloves, a brown Chanel clutch, and brown knee-high boots from Gianvito Rossi.

She chose pearly jewelry to complete the ensemble, including a four-strand choker Queen Elizabeth and Princess Diana both wore in the past.
 

Kate used a scarf to make her outfit for the Christmas walk at Sandringham coordinate with her family members' looks.

The Prince and Princess of Wales participated in the royal family's annual walk through Sandringham on Christmas with their children, and Prince William, Prince George, Prince Louis, and Princess Charlotte all wore navy ensembles. 

Instead of matching her family, Kate donned an emerald green coat from Alexander McQueen with a matching beret from Gina Foster. She wore black boots and gloves with the look, but the standout accessory of her ensemble was her navy and green tartan scarf, which connected her look to her family members' outfits. 

It complemented Charlotte's look in particular, as Charlotte's blue coat featured a checked pattern.

• Los Angeles' Palisades Charter High School was damaged by a wildfire on Tuesday.
• The school has a rich pop-culture legacy; alums include J.J. Abrams, Will.i.am, and Forest Whitaker.
• "Carrie," "Teen Wolf," "Freaky Friday," and an Olivia Rodrigo music video were filmed on its campus.

A wildfire damaged an iconic Los Angeles high school with A-list alums that was used as a set for films including "Freaky Friday" and "Carrie."

On Wednesday, as numerous fires raged across the greater Los Angeles area, the California Department of Education said that 335 schools had closed, affecting more than 211,000 students.

Palisades Charter High School, which was set to start a new term next week, caught on fire on Tuesday evening. The Los Angeles Times reported that some of the school's athletic facilities and bungalow structures at the back of its campus burned.

A representative for the school did not immediately respond to a comment request from Business Insider about the extent of the damage.

The Times said staff members and student-athletes who were at the school when the fire broke out were quickly evacuated.

It said that the main building was still standing and that the school's principal, Pam Magee, told the parents of the approximately 3,000 students that 70% of the campus structures may have survived.

The school's website said it would provide updates on when the new term would start.

Palisades Charter High School has a rich pop-culture legacy

PCHS, which opened in 1961 and became an independent charter school in 2003, has appeared in several TV shows and movies.

It was one of the many schools used to represent Bates High School in the 1976 film adaptation of Stephen King's novel "Carrie." The film received two Oscar nominations and has been referenced many times in movies, TV series, and music.

All the school scenes for 2003's "Freaky Friday," starring Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis, were filmed at PCHS. A sequel is in the works and set to premiere in August.

Seasons three to seven of "Teen Wolf," a supernatural teen drama released in the 2010s, used PCHS for the outside shots of Beacon Hills High School. The first two seasons were filmed in Atlanta. The Times reported in 2012 that the production moved to LA to take advantage of tax laws there.

In 2021, the Grammy-winning pop star Olivia Rodrigo recorded part of her "Good 4 U" music video in the school's locker room and sports facilities.

The PCHS website also says that 2012's "Project X," a found-footage teen comedy, was filmed there.

Palisades Charter High School's list of alums is full of stars

J.J. Abrams, a co-creator of the Emmy-winning show "Lost" and the father of the pop star Gracie Abrams, is one of several stars who attended PCHS.

In 2015, Abrams told the community news outlet the Palisadian Post that he based the "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" character Maz Kanata on an English teacher of his at PCHS, Rose Gilbert.

"We really wanted the story to feel authentic, despite being a wild fantasy," Abrams said. "I mentioned Rose in an early story meeting as a sort of timeless, wise figure that I'd actually known in my life." Gilbert, who worked at PCHS for more than 50 years, died in 2013 at 95.

Another PCHS alum is Forest Whitaker, the Oscar-winning actor who has starred in "Black Panther," "Star Wars: Rogue One," and "The Butler."

He told Collider in 2020 that he starred in two high-school musical productions, "Jesus Christ Superstar" and "Cabaret."

The Oscar-nominated actor Jennifer Jason Leigh, Whitaker's costar in the 1982 movie "Fast Times at Ridgemont High," also attended PCHS.

Other successful PCHS alums are Will.i.am, the seven-time Grammy-winning member of the Black Eyed Peas; A. Scott Berg, a Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer; and Steve Kerr, the head coach of the Golden State Warriors.

Correction: January 9, 2025 — An earlier version of this story misstated the year of Rose Gilbert's death. She died in 2013, not 2017.

• I started pulling my kids out of school for travel when they were little.
• Traveling out of regular vacation meant I spent less money on tickets and hotels.
• Now that they are in high school, academics and sports are more important.

Growing up, I did not miss school. Maladies like Chickenpox and raging stomach bugs that didn't respond to ginger ale and saltines were the only acceptable reasons for being absent. Vacations were for summer and the occasional Christmas visits to grandparents.

My kids — the youngest two are in high school — have had unarguably cooler traveler experiences. Pulling them out of school to see the world was never the goal; it just sort of happened.

It started with living in Europe while my daughter was in elementary school. I discovered low-budget air carriers with cheap weekday flights from Frankfurt to London. I decided that seeing the crown jewels with our eyes was better than seeing pictures in a book and that missing a few days of third grade wouldn't hurt anything.

Traveling during the school year means extra savings

When my sons were in first grade, I learned I could save a substantial chunk of change by traveling to the Caribbean in early fall instead of late summer. Cruise lines, theme parks, and other vacation spots catering to families charge more in the summer, and I found I could save almost $3,000 by moving my early August cruise to late September. I decided my kids would probably still get into college if they missed a week of first grade. The verdict is still out on that one — they're halfway through their freshman year, but things are looking good.

Offseason vacations are just better. Resorts and flights are less chaotic, and we escaped the really hot part of the summer. Missing school in the elementary years was easy to navigate, and my kids did well with keeping up with their classes. Our travels were usually well-received by teachers, and we worked to keep the communication flowing and stay on everyone's good side, although sometimes only just. Our district policy allows up to nine unexcused absences per semester — anything above that, and we'd have to make our case to the administration.

We were close to the limit on the number of absences a couple of times but never hit the magic number nine.

They started asking not to miss school

But, as my kids got older, we encountered more teachers who were less than thrilled with our way of managing family travel. We managed to smooth things over when necessary and taught our kids to be proactive about requesting work in advance. When that wasn't possible, we helped them stay on top of their makeup work.

As they hit middle school, I noticed my "Hey kids guess where we're going!" announcements weren't being met with as much enthusiasm. Instead of excitement about seeing someplace new, the first question became, "Do we have to miss school?"

We now prioritize academics over travel

As my kids got older, they worked harder in school. Teachers are more heavy-handed with homework and projects, and once they hit high school, each grade becomes part of the bigger picture.

My kids became more aware of the ripple effects of not getting a good grade and began understanding the importance of cumulative learning. Missing a week of algebra and having to catch up on what you missed without falling further behind the rest of the class caused my kids stress. My kids don't struggle academically, but playing catchup wasn't easy after a certain point.

My boys are also athletes, and absences weren't winning them any points with their coaches. One of my sons is a starting pitcher and missed practice due to travel, and was subsequently benched for one game. These things started to take a little bit of the shine out of exploring the world together, and I realized we needed to change how we planned to travel.

I don't love that my kids talk about how their performance in ninth grade will impact getting into their college of choice. Part of me wants to whisk them away to Disneyland, the Canadian Rockies, or the Great Barrier Reef and tell them they have lots of time to worry about being adults. But really, they don't.

Now, I plan travel during school breaks, just like everyone else

I lament that I'm now a "regular mom" and not a "cool mom." Now, I plan our family vacations around school vacations, just like everyone else. Mostly. I'll still tack the occasional Friday onto a holiday Monday, but I'm more thoughtful about it now.

I'm not going to lie; I miss the days when I could pull them out of school because I saw a great deal on airfare. They've learned about fine art and architecture by visiting an art museum with a moveable sunscreen on the roof and practical things like how to exchange currency and navigate a major airport. They're also not timid about trying food that's not mac and cheese.

Most importantly, travel has taught my kids that the world is big and helped them be more open-minded about other cultures and viewpoints. Traveling as a family has strengthened our bond and taught us cooperation and problem-solving skills. I wouldn't have done things differently.