A monarch butterfly at the Coastal Access Monarch Butterfly Preserve in Los Osos, Calif., on Jan. 20. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) ...

The Western population of the monarch butterfly has declined to a near-record low with fewer than 10,000 found living in California this winter, a foreboding sign for the future of the beloved ...

The Western population of the monarch butterfly has declined to a near-record low with fewer than 10,000 found living in California this winter, a foreboding sign for the future of the beloved ...

The 10,000-acre Hughes Fire near the Los Angeles County community of Castaic, which sent thousands fleeing this week, was more than 95% contained Sunday with all mandatory evacuation orders lifted.

While evacuation orders remained in place for areas around the immediate perimeter of the fire, other nearby neighborhoods were reduced from evacuation orders to warnings, while warnings were ...