Lauren Frayer

The UK has special visa programs for people fleeing from Ukraine and Hong Kong, but not for Palestinians. Lauren Freyer, NPR News, London.

The UK has special visa programs for people fleeing from Ukraine and Hong Kong, but not for Palestinians. Lauren Freyer, NPR News, London.

In 1964, one of Queen Elizabeth's senior courtiers, her private art collector, confessed to being a Soviet spy. But the monarch wasn't told for nine years. Aides apparently saw no advantage and didn't want to worry her. The man was later stripped of his knighthood. This is one of several tidbits in a trove of documents declassified ahead of an upcoming exhibition at Britain's National Archives.

In 1964, one of Queen Elizabeth's senior courtiers, her private art collector, confessed to being a Soviet spy. But the monarch wasn't told for nine years. Aides apparently saw no advantage and didn't want to worry her. The man was later stripped of his knighthood. This is one of several tidbits in a trove of documents declassified ahead of an upcoming exhibition at Britain's National Archives.

Other documents show how British secret agents lobbied for an honorary knighthood for J. Edgar Hoover, the notorious FBI director, and then tried to get him listed in a who's who almanac to boost his ego and U.S.-British relations after another Cold War spy scandal. Lauren Frayer, NPR News, London.

Other documents show how British secret agents lobbied for an honorary knighthood for J. Edgar Hoover, the notorious FBI director, and then tried to get him listed in a who's who almanac to boost his ego and U.S.-British relations after another Cold War spy scandal. Lauren Frayer, NPR News, London.

Yeah. You know, in a lot of ways, L.A. is a leader on wildfires because there's a lot communities can do ahead of time to reduce the chances that houses will burn. And, you know, L.A. realized how vulnerable it was back in the 1960s. Design for disasters. This is a documentary from the Los Angeles Fire Department that it made after the Bel Air fire in 1961.

Yeah. You know, in a lot of ways, L.A. is a leader on wildfires because there's a lot communities can do ahead of time to reduce the chances that houses will burn. And, you know, L.A. realized how vulnerable it was back in the 1960s. Design for disasters. This is a documentary from the Los Angeles Fire Department that it made after the Bel Air fire in 1961.

Yeah. You know, in a lot of ways, L.A. is a leader on wildfires because there's a lot communities can do ahead of time to reduce the chances that houses will burn. And, you know, L.A. realized how vulnerable it was back in the 1960s. Design for disasters. This is a documentary from the Los Angeles Fire Department that it made after the Bel Air fire in 1961.

That fire also had extreme winds, and they realized it was the burning embers blown by the wind that spread that fire so fast.

That fire also had extreme winds, and they realized it was the burning embers blown by the wind that spread that fire so fast.

That fire also had extreme winds, and they realized it was the burning embers blown by the wind that spread that fire so fast.

Yeah, you know, Los Angeles was one of the first major cities to ban wood roofs. And now there are strict rules about the vegetation around homes in risky areas. Every year, residents get an inspection for defensible space. Trees have to be cut back from your roof. You know, the brush has to be spaced out. The gutters have to be cleared of dead leaves.

Yeah, you know, Los Angeles was one of the first major cities to ban wood roofs. And now there are strict rules about the vegetation around homes in risky areas. Every year, residents get an inspection for defensible space. Trees have to be cut back from your roof. You know, the brush has to be spaced out. The gutters have to be cleared of dead leaves.

Yeah, you know, Los Angeles was one of the first major cities to ban wood roofs. And now there are strict rules about the vegetation around homes in risky areas. Every year, residents get an inspection for defensible space. Trees have to be cut back from your roof. You know, the brush has to be spaced out. The gutters have to be cleared of dead leaves.

And in 2022, Los Angeles County did more than 58,000 inspections.

And in 2022, Los Angeles County did more than 58,000 inspections.

And in 2022, Los Angeles County did more than 58,000 inspections.

The city or county will fine them and then hire a contractor to do the work, which the homeowners also have to pay for. Many other Western states don't have policies that are even close to this. But even in California, they're realizing it's not enough because studies show it's the area right next to a house that matters the most.

The city or county will fine them and then hire a contractor to do the work, which the homeowners also have to pay for. Many other Western states don't have policies that are even close to this. But even in California, they're realizing it's not enough because studies show it's the area right next to a house that matters the most.