Summer travel plans for Los Angeles residents face a new wave of disruptions as significant construction projects are slated to begin on the Pacific Coast Highway and Topanga Canyon Boulevard. These necessary repairs follow the devastation left by the Palisades Fire.

Caltrans officials have announced that extensive efforts will focus on an 11-mile section of the PCH, stretching from Temescal Canyon Road in Pacific Palisades to Carbon Beach Terrace in Malibu. This work aims to restore essential infrastructure compromised by the fires and the ensuing mudslides.

The scope of these repairs encompasses damaged roadways, bridges, and retaining walls—wounds inflicted by the wildfire that ravaged the region in January 2025. Additionally, restoration efforts will address compromised drainage and electrical systems.

Drivers should prepare for weekday closures from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., featuring reduced speed limits ranging between 25 and 35 mph. These restrictions will impact sections from Temescal Canyon Road to Sunset Boulevard and from Sunset Boulevard to Carbon Beach Terrace.

Further traffic controls will be implemented on Topanga Canyon Boulevard, with one-lane operations scheduled to run Monday night through Saturday morning, from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., between Happy Trail and the PCH.

Drivers are cautioned to slow down and be alert with stretches of the roadway down to 15 mph. 

PCH and Topanga Canyon Boulevard finally reopened months after the Palisades Fire burned thousands of homes. They are currently only open during intermittent times with speed zones reduced as construction work continues. 

On the PCH (SR-1) traffic controls remain in place along the 8.5-mile stretch between Chautauqua Boulevard in Los Angeles and Carbon Beach Terrace in Malibu.

Topanga Canyon Boulevard (SR-27) also reopened to drivers between 5 a.m. and 11:59 p.m., with traffic controls in effect over a 3.6-mile stretch between PCH and Grand View Drive.

The 2025 wildfires caused massive damage along with the PCH, leveling thousands of structures along the Malibu coast and downing utility power poles and powerlines, resulting in full closures of the highways for months.

The fires weakened the soil and vegetation, leading to massive rock slides in the area.

Storms in 2026 further eroded the land, resulting in road closures after parts of Topanga Canyon Boulevard were washed out once again.

Officials said drivers who must travel while the work is in progress should plan for delays or use alternate routes. Real-time traffic controls can be found on Caltrans Quickmap.

A daring legal move has been made by an illegal immigrant convicted of a gruesome murder in Michigan. He is pressing charges against Donald Trump, challenging the former President over comments made during his campaign.

Brandon Ortiz-Vite, a 27-year-old from Mexico, is currently serving a sentence ranging from 39 to 100 years. His incarceration follows a guilty plea for the March 2024 murder of his girlfriend.

In a chilling act, Ortiz-Vite fatally shot 25-year-old Ruby Garcia multiple times in the head before discarding her body from a car onto Highway US 131 in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids.

Following the shocking incident, Trump, whose campaign heavily emphasized combating illegal immigration, addressed a rally in the very city where the crime took place. There, he pointed to Ortiz-Vite as a prime example of the nation’s issues.

Michigan Live reports that Trump also featured Ortiz-Vite’s mugshot in his campaign advertisements. His actions have sparked the current lawsuit, seeking considerable damages and potential citizenship status change.

Ortiz-Vite filed a lawsuit against Trump and White House communications director Steven Cheung seeking $75.5 million, a public apology and US citizenship, claiming the publicity caused him severe emotional anguish and forced him to take a plea deal. 

‘It all became clear to me when I first met with my court-appointed attorneys. They explained how my case had now gotten blown out of proportion and was now a high-profile case!’ he wrote in the court filing. 

‘The shock in their eyes and the tears from mine were a reaction to my realization that I was living everyone’s worst nightmare! To be publicly infamous – a target! To the United States of America, from here everything went downhill. I was now labeled a cold-blooded murderer in the eyes of the people of this nation.’ 

Ortiz-Vite entered the country illegally as a child and was allowed to stay in the US under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which expired on May 10, 2019.

However, the killer stayed in the country past his DACA expiration date and was deported in 2020 after he was arrested for drunk driving. It is unclear when he re-entered the country.

In his lawsuit, Ortiz-Vite claimed that Trump’s spotlight on his immigration status made him feel pressured to plead guilty.

‘I was put into a category. Who I was as a person no longer mattered! What only mattered was my race,’ Ortiz-Vite wrote.

‘My case and immigration status! Once again, it belittled me, shattered my dignity and what I was as a person.’

He claimed that the attention isolated him while behind bars and has made him a target for other inmates.

‘The shame it brought to my family name is a reality I have to live with now,’ he wrote.

‘I took full responsibility for my actions but for them to use my case for political gain on TV was unjust. Humiliating. When I thought it couldn’t get worse, it did. I was center stage in front of a nation, public scrutiny at its finest!’

Ortiz-Vite is seeking $75.5 million in punitive damages for himself and his family, a public apology from Trump and ‘naturalization to this beautiful country.’

He is representing himself in the lawsuit and filed it from his prison cell at the Chippewa Correctional Facility.

Former federal prosecutor Matthew Borgula told Fox News the case is unlikely to succeed.

‘Federal law requires courts to screen prisoner suits before anyone is served. This complaint will likely not survive that screening,’ Borgula said. 

‘Also, presidential immunity covers official acts, and campaign statements can fall outside it – but this suit fails for more basic reasons.

‘Being publicly embarrassed by a politician isn’t a constitutional violation. This case should end before it begins.’ 

The Daily Mail contacted the White House for comment. 

A group of hopeful cruise travelers found themselves diverted from a dream vacation to an unexpected detour at “Iron Bar Lodge,” as a Florida sheriff aptly described. At Port Canaveral, deputies apprehended six passengers, each with outstanding warrants or alleged probation violations.

In a whimsical nod to maritime mishaps, Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey took to social media, posting about the day’s unusual flurry of law enforcement activity, humorously titled “Oh Ship!!,” capturing the bustling atmosphere at one of the globe’s most active cruise terminals.

Among the cases, the one drawing the most serious attention featured Martell Murray, a 24-year-old from Georgia. Authorities took him into custody under an out-of-state fugitive warrant tied to violations of his release conditions related to pending murder charges, according to insights from the sheriff’s office and Brevard County jail documents.

Authorities said the warrant stemmed from an alleged violation tied to an existing murder case. The sheriff’s office did not identify the victim, disclose the jurisdiction handling the case or explain which release condition Murray had allegedly violated.

Murray’s getaway was sunk alongside his traveling companion, Kenderia Burney, 24, who was wanted on a violation-of-probation warrant, Ivey said.

“Luckily these two still got to vacation together at the Lodge even though they got accommodations with separate sleeping quarters,” Ivey quipped.

Both Murray and Burney were booked into the Brevard County Jail on July 17 and remained in custody without bond as of Wednesday, jail records showed. Murray was booked as an out-of-state fugitive, while Burney was being held on an out-of-county warrant.

The deputies’ catch of the day did not end there.

Veronica Hamlet, 38, of Tampa, was arrested on a failure-to-appear warrant, according to the sheriff. Brevard County jail records listed her charge as an out-of-county warrant and showed that she was released the following day after posting $1,000 bond.

James Otha Brewton, 66, of Allendale, South Carolina, was also taken into custody on a violation-of-probation warrant, Ivey said. Jail records showed Brewton was booked on an out-of-county warrant and released July 18 after posting $500 bond.

“It’s smooth sailing from there,” the sheriff said.

Two additional passengers also found trouble waiting for them after they returned from their cruise.

Deputies stopped the unnamed travelers as they disembarked and determined that both were on felony probation but allegedly had left the country without receiving permission from their probation officers, Ivey said.

The sheriff said the two would be enjoying stays at their respective “lodges” once probation officials completed the required paperwork.

Authorities did not identify those passengers or disclose the crimes for which they were on probation.

The sheriff’s office did not identify the ships or cruise lines connected to the six passengers.

“Whether you’re from Florida or Alaska, if you come to Brevard County and break the law…or in this case have a warrant…you better believe that we will lock you up!!” he said.

A coalition of New York City landlords has initiated a legal challenge against what they describe as Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s “rigged” rent freeze. They allege the decision relied on “manipulated data,” calling it a “sham” in a vigorous new lawsuit.

Filed in Staten Island Supreme Court, the lawsuit targets the city’s Rent Guidelines Board, challenging the legality of the board’s June 25 ruling that imposed a two-year rent freeze on one million stabilized housing units.

The landlords argue the board, consisting of nine members, skewed its data and neglected multiple economic factors. According to them, this led to a “predetermined” and “irrational result,” conveniently aligning with Mamdani’s campaign promise to “freeze the rent,” thereby securing a political triumph for him.

The lawsuit claims that the Rent Guidelines Board’s decision on June 25 was not only compromised but also reflects a process marred by “corruption” and “interference.” The filing emphasizes that statutory mandates were dismissed, the board’s independence was undermined, and the outcome was predecided from the very start.

According to the complaint, Mamdani achieved this by appointing tenant activists loyal to his cause onto the supposedly independent board. Furthermore, the lawsuit criticizes Mamdani for allegedly utilizing over $5 million in taxpayer money through his Office of Mass Engagement, aimed more at promoting the rent freeze than fostering unbiased civic involvement.

Mamdani — who appointed six of the current RGB members — has argued the board was independent.

The landlords, who together own over 100 rent-stabilized units, ask a state judge to block the freeze before it can take effect in October.

“If allowed to stand, Order #58 will impose severe, irreparable harm” on the plaintiffs “and similarly-situated landlords (who stand to lose their properties), while setting a dangerous precedent that the RGB’s independence can be cast aside by Mayoral fiat,” the suit states.

One landlord who is part of the suit, Violet Zharku, said the amount of money she makes from renting her 50 units will longer keep up with the costs of running and repairing the apartments, forcing her family to look for other income streams to keep the three fully stabilized buildings in minimum shape.

“Freezing the rent does not freeze my mortgage, property taxes, insurance, water and sewer bills, utility costs or the cost of repairs,” she said.

“We are losing $172,000 annually,” she previously told The Post, citing skyrocketing expenses.

“We can no longer invest in capital improvements or apartment renovations beyond critical repairs and we have no choice but to sell the buildings that we have spent generations maintaining,” Zharku said.

The landlords also seek an expedited discovery request for all communications regarding the RGB vote between the mayor and several of his offices — including the OME and one headed by tenant activist Cea Weaver.

“There is no actual basis for an across- the-board rent freeze here, and the Board’s decision must be overturned,” said attorney Randy Mastro, who represents the landlords and previously worked for then-Mayor Eric Adam’s administration.

“That is not the way government decisions by independent boards are supposed to be made,” he said, calling the suit “a check on the mayor’s abuse of power.” 

City Hall had no immediate comment.

A budget-friendly cruise missile, astonishingly equipped with engines sourced from landfills, is altering the landscape in Ukraine’s ongoing conflict against Kremlin forces. This innovative weapon is raising eyebrows for its ingenuity and effectiveness.

The FP-5 Flamingo missile empowers Ukrainian forces to reach deep into Russian territory—an unprecedented capability. Renowned foreign correspondent Chris Pleasance delves into this significant shift in the latest episode of the Daily Mail’s engaging War On Tape series.

The missile’s intriguing moniker comes from its early prototypes’ vivid pink paint, designed to facilitate easier retrieval. The initials “FP” also pay homage to its creator, Fire Point, marking a novel approach in missile technology.

Initially met with skepticism due to its extraordinary power and impressive range, the missile has since forced analysts to reassess its authenticity—and its potential to redefine conflict dynamics.

Measuring 45 feet in length and boasting a wingspan of 20 feet, the Flamingo stands as one of the most formidable cruise missiles ever engineered, both in size and impact. Its remarkable presence signals a new era in modern warfare.

The projectile weighs six metric tonnes, with a one-tonne warhead, and can fly at speeds of up to 600mph. It is likely its heaviness that gives the missile its signature ‘S’-shaped flight path.

But such power and speed also comes on a budget. Each Flamingo costs around $500,000.

The missile is powered by an Ivcheno AI-25TL engine, originally designed by the Soviets for their training aircraft. Many were scrapped at the end of their service life, so Ukraine bought them from landfill at a cut price. 

In comparison, America’s Tomahawk cruise missile is less than half that size, packs less than half the explosive payload, and costs almost four times as much.

The Flamingos are made of carbon fibre strands woven together by machines and so can be assembled quickly. 

Kyiv claims to be currently manufacturing three Flamingos a day, with the aim of increasing that to seven.

Pleasance said: ‘You can begin to see why this missile caused such a stir when it was first unveiled, and why some people refused to believe it was real. 

‘Because the Flamingo fills a large and sophisticated gap in Ukraine’s arsenal: long-range precision strike weapons.’

He added: ‘On a near daily basis, Russia pummels Ukraine with all manner of long-range precision weapons: cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, hypersonic missiles, even experimental missiles like the Oresnik. These are fast-moving, difficult to shoot down.

‘So there’s a whole domain of warfare in which Russia can cause immense damage to Ukraine, but in which Ukraine cannot damage Russia. At least that is until now. 

‘The Flamingo fills this gap in three ways. First, it has a very long range. Second, it has a very large warhead. And third, it is Ukrainian-made.’

The Flamingo has a range of 1,900 miles – significantly beyond America’s ATACMS, Britain’s Storm Shadow or France’s Scalp missiles. 

Pleasance said: ‘To say the Flamingo has a long range is perhaps understating things. It isn’t just comparable to the long-range Western weapons that Ukraine has been given in the past, it is significantly better.’ 

He added: ‘It is in an entirely different league, and puts virtually the entire western portion of Russia within striking distance. 

‘That means Ukraine can now hit strategically important factories, oil refineries, and military bases, large numbers of which are based in this region, and of course, both of Russia’s most important cities. Moscow and St. Petersburg.’ 

The Flamingo does not contain GPS or GNSS, or a terrain-scanning system like the Tomahawk, but has achieved remarkable military success during its short lifespan.

Ukraine’s first Flamingo strikes took place in late August 2025 and targeted an outpost in Crimea, around 65 miles behind the front line.

Three missiles were launched, two arrived on target, and one scored a hit, satellite images later revealed.

While the target held little value in and of itself, it proved the Flamingo’s capabilities beyond doubt. 

The next strike came a little over three weeks later, in September 2025, when a Flamingo missile hit a factory in Belgorod, Russia, around 40 miles from the front line, which makes components for Russian fighter jets.

Four missiles were launched. All four arrived on target, and photos from the scene showed fires inside the factory, suggesting significant damage was caused.

Russia then claimed two further attacks took place in October. It seems one failed when the missiles were shot down, while it is unclear where the other missile landed.

In November, the missiles were used again, this time against the Oryol power plant, more than 100 miles behind the front. 

Four were launched, all four arrived on target, but all of them were shot down during the final phase of the attack, raining fiery debris on the city. 

Further strikes in December and January saw Flamingos fired almost 400 miles behind the front line, one of which struck the firing range that Russia uses for its Oresnik missiles. 

The pattern appears to be that each strike pushes slightly further into Russian territory, testing the Flamingo’s range. 

Two more strikes took place in February, and both scored hits, destroying two significant facilities in the process. 

First, the Kotlaban ammunition storage, a little over 300 miles from the front was blown up, and then the Votkinsk missile factory was also badly damaged. 

The second strike was particularly significant because it occurred more than 800 miles from the front line, much further than Ukraine has been able to strike ever before, even with Western weapons. 

A further strike in March targeted the Chebyevsk ammunition factory, more than 600 miles away. And while two missiles arrived on target, neither of them hit it. 

The last reported strike occurred in May, targeting the Cheboksari factory that makes navigation components for Russian military vehicles. 

Six missiles were launched, and one landed a hit on the factory, but the extent of damage remains unknown.

Pleasance said: ‘Overall, the hype is very real. Flamingos exist and are broadly capable of everything Ukraine said they would be capable of doing. 

‘They have been used in at least eight strikes over the last nine months, of which five caused significant damage. For the first time since the war began, Ukraine now has a long-range precision strike weapon in its arsenal over which it has full control. 

‘Russia can no longer launch missiles into Ukraine with impunity. Kyiv can and will hit back. The tide of this war is slowly but surely beginning to tilt back in Ukraine’s favour.’