Ross Palombo

4 weeks ago | cbsnews.com | Ross Palombo

KCAL News investigation uncovers brush issues in wake of Palisades Fire Sam Rubin watched on January 7 when the Palisades Fire began to rapidly approach his home. "It was just all so surreal," he said, recalling the moments he saw the first embers and smoke begin to swirl in the midst of the intense windstorm. "We saw the sky, it was if you saw a tornado and you were right in the path," Rubin said.

2 months ago | cbsnews.com | Ross Palombo

A Southern California lawmaker is calling for a state audit of the Los Angeles Unified School District after a lawsuit claims it defrauded taxpayers of millions of dollars in funding. "I've never called for a state audit for anything else before," Assemblyman Isaac Bryan said. "Many of my colleagues have not either ... It's a major move.

Mar 7, 2025 | cbsnews.com | Ross Palombo

A KCAL News investigation has found a troubling connection between the county's homeless population and a growing number of fire-related instances in recent years. The news comes in the wake of a devastating January that saw several large wildfires erupt, including the Palisades and Eaton fires that combined to torch tens of thousands of acres, destroy thousands of homes and kill more than two dozen people.

Feb 18, 2025 | cbsnews.com | Ross Palombo

Starbucks will replace its plastic cups at select stores in California and several other states after a KCAL News investigation showed that its current plastic cold cups ended up in landfills. The coffee company said it couldn't control the entire process or what happens after customers leave the store. But suddenly, it announced that it would start using compostable cups for cold drinks. Both the cups and lids are made of fiber-based paper board with a bioplastic liner.

Feb 12, 2025 | cbsnews.com | Ross Palombo

A KCAL News investigation has found that there are possibly hundreds of fire hydrants across Los Angeles that need maintenance or repair. The information comes in the wake of the devastating Palisades and Eaton fires in January, which destroyed tens of thousands of buildings and killed more than two dozen people.