This is an L.A. Times Studios podcast.

Hi, I'm Faith Bino, and you're listening to Headlines from L.A. Times Studios.

Here are some of today's top stories from the Los Angeles Times.

The Los Angeles Fire Department is facing new criticism after officials admitted to skipping steps that could have helped stop the Palisades fire before it started.

According to LA Times reporters, Cruz chose not to deploy thermal imaging cameras after a small New Year's Day blaze in Pacific Palisades.

It burned only eight acres, but days later, that same area reignited,

fueling one of the city's most destructive wildfires of all time,

which killed 12 people and destroyed thousands of structures.

Experts say the cameras, which are often mounted on drones, are designed specifically

to catch hotspots or embers that could spark back to life. It's a standard practice for many

fire agencies. One former arson investigator called LA's decision not to use them, quote,

hard to justify. The department's after-action report released Wednesday outlines other lapses,

including a failure to pre-deploy engines ahead of high winds.

Now, LAFD leaders say they've changed staffing and deployment rules for red flag days,

while investigators are focused on how to keep a mistake

like this from ever happening again. And across the country, Letitia James, the Attorney General

of New York, was indicted on charges of bank fraud Thursday night after President Trump publicly

pushed for her prosecution escalating their years-long rivalry.

According to reporters, a grand jury in Virginia handed down the indictment following a mortgage

fraud investigation. The case remains under seal, meaning there's no way of knowing what evidence

the Justice Department has against James.

The indictment comes just two weeks after the DOJ invited former FBI director James Comey

...