Laurel Wamsley

NPR's Laurel Wamsley reporting. U.S. stocks ended the day higher. The Dow closed up more than 300 points. It's NPR News. A former Georgia prosecutor has been acquitted of felony charges that she abused her power to protect the white men who chased and killed Ahmaud Arbery, a black man, in 2020.

NPR's Laurel Wamsley reporting. U.S. stocks ended the day higher. The Dow closed up more than 300 points. It's NPR News. A former Georgia prosecutor has been acquitted of felony charges that she abused her power to protect the white men who chased and killed Ahmaud Arbery, a black man, in 2020.

Today, a judge threw out the remaining charge that former District Attorney Jackie Johnson violated her oath of office. Senior Judge John Turner granted a defense challenge that the indictment used to charge Johnson had technical errors. The judge told attorneys it was a decision he did not want to make, and he expressed condolences to Arbery's mother, who was also in the courtroom.

Today, a judge threw out the remaining charge that former District Attorney Jackie Johnson violated her oath of office. Senior Judge John Turner granted a defense challenge that the indictment used to charge Johnson had technical errors. The judge told attorneys it was a decision he did not want to make, and he expressed condolences to Arbery's mother, who was also in the courtroom.

The FireAid benefit concert held in Los Angeles last week featured performances from more than 30 artists, including Billie Eilish and Joni Mitchell. Organizers say the concert raised more than $100 million. NPR's Isabella Gomez-Armiento has details.

The FireAid benefit concert held in Los Angeles last week featured performances from more than 30 artists, including Billie Eilish and Joni Mitchell. Organizers say the concert raised more than $100 million. NPR's Isabella Gomez-Armiento has details.

There have been reports in recent days of a few wealthy Angelenos hiring private firefighters to protect their homes and businesses. But more common are crews working on behalf of insurance companies. David Torgerson is executive chairman at Wildfire Defense Companies, which works for nearly three dozen insurers.

There have been reports in recent days of a few wealthy Angelenos hiring private firefighters to protect their homes and businesses. But more common are crews working on behalf of insurance companies. David Torgerson is executive chairman at Wildfire Defense Companies, which works for nearly three dozen insurers.

Saving more structures means insurance companies can reduce losses, and these services now come standard on some homeowner policies in fire-prone states. But not everyone has this kind of coverage, or any coverage, as rates have skyrocketed in recent years. Laurel Wamsley, NPR News.

Saving more structures means insurance companies can reduce losses, and these services now come standard on some homeowner policies in fire-prone states. But not everyone has this kind of coverage, or any coverage, as rates have skyrocketed in recent years. Laurel Wamsley, NPR News.

Right. So these are back in the news here in Los Angeles. And a lot of the attention is stemming from this single tweet that's now been deleted. Last week, a resident of the wealthy Pacific Palisades area posted on X asking if anyone had access to private firefighters who could protect his home. as his neighbor's homes were burning. He said he would, quote, pay any amount.

Right. So these are back in the news here in Los Angeles. And a lot of the attention is stemming from this single tweet that's now been deleted. Last week, a resident of the wealthy Pacific Palisades area posted on X asking if anyone had access to private firefighters who could protect his home. as his neighbor's homes were burning. He said he would, quote, pay any amount.

Right. So these are back in the news here in Los Angeles. And a lot of the attention is stemming from this single tweet that's now been deleted. Last week, a resident of the wealthy Pacific Palisades area posted on X asking if anyone had access to private firefighters who could protect his home. as his neighbor's homes were burning. He said he would, quote, pay any amount.

And of course, there was a lot of blowback to that idea. It struck a lot of folks as unfair and just crummy. And so there have been media reports of billionaires hiring private firefighters to protect their homes and businesses. But of course, many wealthy people did lose their homes in these fires.

And of course, there was a lot of blowback to that idea. It struck a lot of folks as unfair and just crummy. And so there have been media reports of billionaires hiring private firefighters to protect their homes and businesses. But of course, many wealthy people did lose their homes in these fires.

And of course, there was a lot of blowback to that idea. It struck a lot of folks as unfair and just crummy. And so there have been media reports of billionaires hiring private firefighters to protect their homes and businesses. But of course, many wealthy people did lose their homes in these fires.

I found that a much bigger part of this story is actually not the individuals hiring extra fire protection, but that insurers are hiring them as part of people's homeowners policies.

I found that a much bigger part of this story is actually not the individuals hiring extra fire protection, but that insurers are hiring them as part of people's homeowners policies.

I found that a much bigger part of this story is actually not the individuals hiring extra fire protection, but that insurers are hiring them as part of people's homeowners policies.

Yeah. So I spoke with David Torgerson. He's executive chairman of Wildfire Defense Companies, and they work on behalf of nearly three dozen insurers, and they're regulated under California law. So when there's a wildfire endangering homes insured by these companies, his crews arrive loaded with water, but most of what they provide is labor.