Firefighters reported some progress Tuesday against a gigantic blaze on the edge of Los Angeles, but warned that this one might be just a preview of even greater dangers ahead.

The National Science Foundation is giving $1.5 million to a San Diego-based program that's trying to get new math teachers into struggling schools.

A San Diego economist says the city has several fiscal challenges but should be able to make it through the recession. A city councilman is calling for a better accounting of San Diego’s expenses.

Two former San Diego City Councilmen appeared before an appeals court today. Former Councilmen Ralph Inzunza and Michael Zucchet appealed their cases to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger may not attend the annual gathering of U.S. and Mexican border governors that kicks off in Monterrey, Mexico on Wednesday.

L.A. County fire officials said defensible lines had been established around one-fourth of the mammoth Station Fire, which has denuded more than 120,000 acres in the past week.

It's the same story across the country, where teachers - once among the groups exempted from furlough days - are being forced to take unpaid days off amid massive state budget cuts.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has declared a state of emergency in San Bernardino County, where two wildfires are threatening nearly 3,000 homes.

Is life toxic? Award-winning paleontologist Peter Ward thinks it is and has put forth a provocative theory about the unhealthy relationship between humans and other life forms and the planet in his new book The Medea Hypothesis: Is Life on Earth Ultimately Self-Destructive?

Culture Lust culls through the world of online reading to bring you the most interesting arts and culture content.

As part of our monthly series on ethics and technology, we'll look at whether robotic warfare makes the world a better place.

What are the latest details on the Station Fire burning in Los Angeles? We speak to KPCC reporter Molly Peterson about the latest evacuation orders, and the firefighting efforts that took place over night.

What can be done to reduce overcrowding in California prisons? The state Senate and Assembly have been debating the issue over the last couple weeks, and Sacramento insider John Myers updates us on the latest. We also discuss why September 4 could be considered the end of the state's "Summer of Debt."

Several wildfires continue to burn across California. We're joined on Morning Edition by non-partisan Sacramento political consultant Leo McElroy.

California hospitals are looking to bypass a 2013 deadline to make their facilities earthquake-safe. The California Hospital Association says most of its members can't afford the construction costs.

The debate over the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy is heating up on Capitol Hill as gay-rights groups call for the law to be repealed. We speak with a legal defense group about the developments as well as a retired lesbian service member about how the law affected her career.

Christopher Nolan has been basking in praise for his two Batman film -- "Batman Begins" and "The Dark Knight." But he takes a break from superheroes for his next outing "Inception" (opening July 16, 2010). Check out the latest trailer now.