It's the most wonderful time of the year, and if you're planning to host a Christmas party, author and lifestyle expert Maria Provenzano is here to help make it a joyful one. She joined us live with festive and easy do-it-yourself ideas.

For more creative DIY ideas, visit her website, FromScratchWithMaria.com, and follow her on Instagram @FromScratchWithMaria.

This segment aired on the KTLA 5 Morning News on Dec. 9, 2024.

Hannah Kobayashi, who vanished in Los Angeles last month, was located and is safe, her family said in a statement shared by attorney Sara Azari. What we know: https://ktla.com/news/local-news/missing-woman-who-vanished-in-los-angeles-found-safe-family-says/

Luigi Mangione, suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, contested his extradition to New York at a court hearing Tuesday, though it isn’t expected to delay legal proceedings significantly. Police are investigating a fingerprint found on a recovered cellphone, but have not said whether it matches Mangione. Little new information has come out about a possible motive, though writings found in Mangione’s possession hint at a hatred of corporate greed. He remains jailed in Pennsylvania. KTLA 5's Jacqueline Sarkissian reports. (Dec. 11, 2024)

Southern California will get a couple of chances at receiving measurable rain this week and into the weekend.

Henry DiCarlo has KTLA's forecast on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024.

You might need a bigger cart. At least that’s what Hyundai says of their newly launched partnership with Amazon, where the South Korean automakers now have cars available for purchase. (Dec. 11, 2024)

A wind-driven wildfire burning in Malibu grew by hundreds of acres overnight but crews have managed to gain some containment as of Wednesday morning. Officials held a press conference shortly after 8 a.m. to provide an update to residents on the status of the firefight. (Dec. 11, 2024)

An audit into Los Angeles’ homelessness services has found a slew of problems within the system, including “severe” issues and “vastly inadequate” program management and monitoring. To top it off, over the five-year scope covered in the audit, an average of one in four interim beds – described by officials as “the gateway to permanent housing” – went unused, costing Los Angeles taxpayers an estimated $218 million.  KTLA 5's Omar Lewis reports. (Dec. 11, 2024)

A wind-driven wildfire burning in Malibu grew by more than thousands of acres overnight and was burning in a southwesterly direction Wednesday morning.

KTLA's Carlos Herrera reports for the KTLA 5 Morning News on Dec. 11, 2024.

The man charged with murder in the killing of the CEO of UnitedHealthcare made it clear he wasn’t going to make things easy on authorities, shouting unintelligibly and writhing in the grip of sheriff’s deputies as he was led into court and then objecting to being brought to New York to face trial.

John Fenoglio reports on Dec. 10, 2024.

Details: https://ktla.com/news/ap-us-news/ap-man-accused-of-killing-unitedhealthcares-ceo-shouts-on-way-into-courthouse-and-fights-extradition/

Two arrests have been made in the targeted killing of a beloved Woodland Hills doctor earlier this year outside of the clinic where he practiced medicine, officials announced Tuesday.

This report aired on Dec. 10, 2024.

Details: https://ktla.com/news/local-news/arrests-made-in-ambush-style-murder-of-beloved-southern-california-doctor/

A Chinese national who resides in Brentwood was arrested moments before boarding a flight to China following allegations that he flew a drone over Vandenberg Space Force Base late last month and took photos, officials announced Monday.

This report aired on Dec. 10, 2024.

Details: https://ktla.com/news/california/chinese-national-caught-photographing-vandenberg-space-force-base-from-drone/

As the Franklin Fire burns areas in and around Malibu, evacuation orders sent thousands scrambling. But for students and staff at Pepperdine University, where the flames and smoke were clearly visible, the best course of action was to shelter in place, not flee, school officials said.

Carlos Saucedo reports on Dec. 10, 2024.

Details: https://ktla.com/news/local-news/franklin-fire-threatens-pepperdine-but-campus-doesnt-evacuate/

Firefighters continued to battle the Santa Ana wind-driven Franklin Fire in Malibu Tuesday morning, and officials say the suppression efforts are far from over.

Chris Wolfe, Meteorologist Vera Jimenez and Mary Beth McDade report on Dec. 10, 2024.

Details: https://ktla.com/news/local-news/franklin-fire-erupts-near-pepperdine-university-evacuations-underway/