Citing concerns about a potential legal fallout, Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill that would have allowed undocumented college students to work on campuses in California.

AB 2586 would have prohibited California colleges and universities from disqualifying students from being hired on campus if they were unable to provide proof of federal work authorization. The governor said his reason for the veto was federal funding potentially being at risk for employees and students since the federal law forbids employers from hiring undocumented individuals.

“I have to now struggle to figure out if I can even afford tuition for the next semester,” said Jeffrey Umana Munoz, a UCLA graduate who is studying for his master’s at Cal State LA. “I don’t know if I’m going to be able to finish this master’s program.”

Munoz, who was brought to the US at the age of 2 from El Salvador, is part of a movement called Opportunity for All. The organization rallied across the UC and state college system to allow undocumented students to work.

Assemblymember David Alvarez, who authored the bill, said he found the veto a “profound disappointment” and said his efforts would not stop.

“Students who are legally allowed to study at California’s public colleges and universities should also be allowed to work to pay for their own education,” his statement read. “The students who worked together to bring this bill to the Legislature will continue to fight for it, and I will stand with them, along with the Latino Caucus.”

In the meantime, Opportunity for All will continue championing for its cause and said it plans to attend the UC Regents meeting in January to push for a similar bill.

An investigation is underway after a bus struck and killed an elderly man in the City of Industry Monday evening, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The crash was reported around 6:30 p.m. near the intersection of Azusa Avenue and Pepper Brook. CHP said a Foothill Transit bus on its way to La Habra was traveling northbound on Azusa when it hit a pedestrian.

An investigation is underway after a bus fatally struck a pedestrian in Hacienda Heights. Eliana Moreno reports for the NBC4 News at 7 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 23, 2024.

It’s unclear if the man was on a marked crosswalk or in the street.

A total of nine people, including the driver, were aboard the bus at the time of the crash. No one aboard the bus was injured.

Authorities did not release the name of the pedestrian who died.

Containment lines were bolstered around three major Southern California wildfires over the weekend in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties before a rise this week in temperatures.

The Bridge, Airport and Line fires started during an extended stretch of extreme heat, but cooler temperatures helped firefighters gain ground over the past week. Warmer weather is in this week’s forecast.

Here are updates on the three wildfires.

Bridge Fire

The Bridge Fire has burned more than 54,800 acres in Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties with containment at 71 percent. The fire started Sept. 8 in the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument east of Los Angeles.

Eighty-one structures were destroyed with another 17 damaged, according to fire officials. Crews are cutting down dead trees and those weakened by flames, and putting out hot spots.

“Current fire conditions show limited heat sources, allowing resources to hold direct lines and complete indirect lines in critical areas,” officials said over the weekend. “Current weather observations include good humidity recovery over the fire footprint.”

Some evacuations and forest closures remained in effect this week. Road closures were in effect at the following areas.

• Big Pines Highway
• Big Rock Creek Road
• Largo Vista Road
• Mescal Creek Road
• Panorama Motorway
• State Route 39 at the base of San Gabriel Canyon
• Glendora Mountain Road north of Big Dalton Road
• Westbound state Route 2 at Flume Canyon Road

Five firefighters were injured. The cause remains under investigation.

Airport Fire

The Airport Fire in Orange and Riverside counties was 81-percent contained at 23,500 acres.

Fire officials said containment increased daily as weather conditions improved. The fire will be fully contained by lines of cleared vegetation by Sept. 24, according to estimates.

“Crews are mopping up and tying in all open line that remains on the perimeter,” fire officials said in a statement.

Some crews will camp on the fireline in the mountains as they access hot spots in rough terrain. Drone flights will help firefighters with infrared maps that show areas of high heat.

“We’re doing everything we can while it’s cooler to construct those fire lines, improving them and making sure they’re tested by the wind,” Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Steve Concialdi said. “They’re camping out there so it doesn’t take hours commuting back and forth because it’s inaccessible terrain.”

Highway 74 has reopened. The Cleveland National Forest has a temporary closure of the Trabuco Ranger District.

On Monday, Edison officials will use a helicopter to remove damaged power poles and lines and replace them.

The fire started at 1:21 p.m. on Sept. 9. It has destroyed 160 structures, damaged 34 others and resulted in 15 injuries, according to Cal Fire. Of the 15 injured, all but two were firefighters who suffered minor injuries, many of them heat- related.

On Thursday, eight firefighters were injured when a transport truck carrying an Orange County Fire Authority hand crew swerved and rolled over on on a freeway on the way back from the fire. Four crew members remain hospitalized in stable to critical condition while four others were treated and released, authorities said.

Line Fire

The Line Fire in the Santa Bernardino County mountains was 39,200 acres Monday with containment at 67 percent.

Four structures were damaged and one was destroyed by the fire, which started by arson Sept. 5 in the Highland area.

A San Bernardino National Forest closure order remained in effect. Highway 330 is still closed northbound from Highland Avenue to Live Oak.

People flying drones into the fire zone continued to be a problem for firefighters.

“There have been multiple drone incursions over the Line Fire area,” fire officials said in a statement. “Please be respectful of those fighting the fire and the community members who are impacted by fire. Never fly drones near wildfire. If you fly, we can’t.”

An arson suspect accused of starting the fire was expected in court Monday. The Norco man pleaded not guilty to starting a wildfire that forced the evacuation of thousands of homes.