On Monday evening, Aron Wieder was officially sworn in as a New York State Assemblyman during a ceremony held at Rockland Community College. The event drew a large crowd of elected officials, dignitaries, community leaders, family members, and local residents who came to celebrate this significant milestone. Rockland County District Attorney and former judge Tom Walsh administered the oath of office, marking the beginning of Wieder’s tenure as a representative in the state legislature. The ceremony, emceed by David Greenfield, CEO of Met Council and a former elected official, was a celebration of Wieder’s dedication to public service.

Footage from the massive Los Angeles wildfire shows multiple large Chanukah Menorah’s on fire in front of a sign which says “Friendship Circle,” which is a program run by Chabad. Sources tell YWN that the image seen on fire is a storage facility used by the Chabad House. We have been told that the Sifrei Torah and all family members safely evacuated. Please be Mispallel that the adjoining buildings, which house the Chabad House remain safe. Stay with YWN as we bring you updates on this breaking story.

Firefighters scrambled to corral a fast-moving wildfire in the Los Angeles hillsides dotted with celebrity homes as a fierce windstorm hit Southern California on Tuesday, fanning the blaze seen for miles while roads were clogged with cars as residents tried to flee. Forecasters warned the worst may be yet to come with the windstorm predicted to last for days, producing isolated gusts that could top 100 mph in mountains and foothills — including in areas that haven’t seen substantial rain in months. Roughly half a million utility customers were at risk of having their power shut off to reduce the risk of equipment sparking blazes.

CNN anchor Kate Bolduan clashed with conservative political commentator Scott Jennings during a heated segment on Monday, culminating in Bolduan telling Jennings to “zip it” as tensions flared over discussions of January 6 and President Joe Biden’s record. The fiery exchange erupted during a debate on the legacy of the Capitol riot and Donald Trump’s political resurgence. Bolduan pressed Jennings on the apparent shift within the Republican Party since January 6, observing, “You can play all the soundbites from the days after [the riot] when you heard Republicans blaming Donald Trump… And four years later, we are here.” Jennings, defending Trump’s comeback, countered, “In the United States, the people decide.

President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday said he would not rule out the use of military force to seize control of the Panama Canal and Greenland, as he declared U.S. control of both to be vital to American national security. Speaking to reporters less than two weeks before he takes office on Jan. 20 and as a delegation of aides and advisers that includes Donald Trump Jr. is in Greenland, Trump left open the use of the American military to secure both territories. Trump’s intention marks a rejection of decades of U.S. policy that has prioritized self-determination over territorial expansion. “I’m not going to commit to that,” Trump said, when asked if he would rule out the use of the military. “It might be that you’ll have to do something.

The IDF on Tuesday unveiled gripping new footage that lays bare Hamas’s exploitation of Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza. The video reveals the interrogation of Anas Muhammad Faiz al-Sharif, a Hamas operative captured during a high-stakes IDF operation near the hospital. Al-Sharif, 21, was apprehended by the elite 401st Brigade and Unit 504, marking one of the most significant counterterrorism efforts in recent weeks. Now in Israeli custody, al-Sharif’s shocking testimony pulls back the curtain on Hamas’s ruthless tactics—using the hospital not as a place of healing, but as a launchpad for violence and terror.

A suspect is on the run after a series of attempted carjackings, including one successful armed carjacking that ended in a crash in Flatbush. The Flatbush Scoop reported that the incident began on East 18th Street between Quentin Road and Avenue R, where the suspect carjacked a vehicle at gunpoint. A short time later, the stolen car was found crashed a few blocks away on East 16th Street, also between Quentin Road and Avenue R. Following the crash, the suspect attempted two additional carjackings at gunpoint on East 15th and East 16th Streets. Both attempts were unsuccessful, and the suspect fled the scene. In response, NYPD Aviation has been deployed to assist in the search for the perpetrator.

A snow storm dumped around 7 inches of snow in Baltimore on Monday, as yeshivas and Bais Yaakov’s stayed closed for the day, giving children a snow day. Baltimore Scoop was providing updates on their large WhatsApp platform throughout the day with important updates as well as lots of videos and photos. Below is a roundup of some of the videos.

The House and Senate will meet on Monday in a Joint Session of Congress to certify the results of the 2024 presidential vote. The Capitol riot and contretemps over certification of the 2020 presidential election converted the quadrennial, often sleepy affair of certifying the Electoral College into a full-blown national security event. Congressional security officials began erecting 10-foot-high fencing around the outer perimeter of the Capitol complex over the past few days. Some of the fences extend beyond the usual “Capitol Square” which includes the Capitol building itself. One such fence was all the way around the outer boundaries of the Russell Senate Park.

Shas chairman Aryeh Deri traveled to Bnei Brak on Thursday afternoon to be menachem avel the Rosh Yeshivah, HaGaon HaRav Meir Tzvi Bergman, on the loss of his wife, HaTzadeikis Rebbetzin Devorah Bergman, a’h. The Rosh Yeshivah and Deri spoke for over a half hour, including discussing memories from the days of HaGaon HaRav Shach, zt’l. During the conversation, the Rosh Yeshivah brought up the topic that leaves him no rest even as he mourns his wife –  the threat of IDF recruitment hanging over the heads of Bnei Torah. “I want to speak about something regarding the IDF,” the Rosh Yeshivah said in a pained voice. “We need to see to the salvation of Bnei Torah. What do they – it’s only rishus! Where will they put the yeshivah bochurim? Where?