Suspect in Palisades fire arrested

More than nine months after a wildfire devastated the Pacific Palisades neighborhood in Los Angeles, destroying nearly 7,000 structures and killing at least 12 people, authorities have arrested a suspect accused of starting the blaze. Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, once lived in the Palisades, the criminal complaint says, and later moved to Melbourne, Florida, where he was arrested. Documents show that after setting the fire the night of Dec. 31, he contacted 911 and left, then returned to record video of firefighters battling the flames. He could face five to 20 years in federal prison; prosecutors also could seek additional charges.

Asteroid scoots past Earth, barely

In the realm of cosmic close calls, this was one of the closest. An asteroid known as 2025 TF zipped by Earth only 266 miles above Antarctica, the European Space Agency said, the second-closest such flyby on record − about the same altitude as the International Space Station's orbits. The rock is up to 10 feet in diameter, not enough to threaten the planet but enough to have produced fireballs in Earth’s atmosphere if it had hit. The closest such approach came nearly five years ago, when the asteroid 2020 VT4 slipped by Earth with only 230 miles to spare in what astronomers called “a remarkably close miss.”

Have some stars and stripes with your shake

Steak ’n Shake can only hope its makeover goes better than Cracker Barrel’s. Saying it wants to “proudly support American values and traditions,” the Indianapolis-based restaurant chain confirmed to USA TODAY that it had begun installing American flags at all its national locations − almost 400 of them. “Every Steak ’n Shake is getting the tallest and biggest American flag that local governments will allow!” the chain posted on social media. Reaction on social media was mixed, but Steak ’n Shake’s move had at least one high-profile fan: Elon Musk, who posted on X: “I’m ordering from there tomorrow!”

Taylor Swift: ‘Hottest ticket in town’

It’s been a Taylor Swift whirlwind. She’s engaged and unveiled a new album; now she’s queen of the silver screen again after “The Official Release Party of a Showgirl” hit No. 1 in theaters − meaning she owned the top-selling album and movie on the same weekend. She kept the momentum going on TV, starting with a three-segment appearance on “The Tonight Show” with Jimmy Fallon. “This is the hottest ticket in town,” Fallon said before introducing his superstar guest. “Today I was on the phone with Pope Leo and said, ‘I’m sorry, Your Holiness − there is no more room.’”

King James dunks on his own fans

LeBron James pulled a fast one, not a fast break. The LA Lakers icon had the NBA world buzzing − and Lakers ticket sales spiking − after teasing a “Second Decision,” a nod to his infamous TV announcement in 2010 that he would be joining the Miami Heat. Many speculated James, 40, would announce he was retiring after 23 seasons. He didn’t; the “decision” turned out to be a Hennessy ad campaign for a limited-edition bottle of cognac bearing his name. James later shared the ad on social media with winking and tongue-sticking-out emojis; much of his audience, however, was not so amused, and one lifelong fan even sued. − Compiled and written by Robert Abitbol

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Taylor Swift's whirlwind, King James' fake-out, asteroid's close call: Week in review

Reporting by Robert Abitbol, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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