CA Wildfire Of 'Great Concern' Blazes On Central Coast

Good morning, and happy Monday! It's Jan. 24, and to catch you up on the weekend, here's a collection of stories from across Patch that we'll be sharing with you:

• More than 100 snakes were discovered in the home of a Maryland man that was found dead in his house last week.
• A California wildfire near Big Sur has burned 1,050 acres as authorities urged 500 area residents to evacuate.
• The Los Angeles Rams ended the Super Bowl repeat hopes of Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with a thrilling last-second victory in the NFC playoffs.
• A Connecticut man got caught on TikTok was caught yelling profanities and throwing his smoothie at a Fairfield establishment.

California Wildfire Forces Evacuations, Shuts Down Highway

A wildfire near Big Sur on California's central coast that started Friday reached the iconic Bixby Bridge on Highway 1 on Sunday, and authorities urged hundreds of residents in the sparsely populated area to evacuate. The fire has burned roughly 1,050 acres, destroyed one structure and is 25 percent contained. >> Big Sur Wildfire Forces Evacuations, Shutters Main Highway, via Santa Cruz, California, Patch

Exotic Snake Collection Found With Dead Man In Maryland House

Over 100 snakes were found alongside a deceased man in his Maryland home earlier this week. The collection included both non-venomous and venomous snakes, some of which are illegal to own in Maryland, and featured pythons, rattlesnakes, cobras and even black mambas. An expert crew was brought in to safely remove the most dangerous snakes from the residence. >> More Than 100 Snakes Found With Dead Man In Maryland House, via Across Maryland Patch

Rams End Buccaneers' Repeat Hopes On Last-Second Field Goal

After Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers clawed back to tie it late in the second half, Matthew Stafford and Cooper Kupp came up with two clutch plays, and Matt Gay nailed the game-winner as time expired to send the Los Angeles Rams to the NFC title game. Both teams made several mistakes late, but the Rams did enough to get within one game of the Super Bowl. >> Rams Hold Off Bucs, Advance To NFC Championship Game, via Los Angeles Patch

Houston Deputy Killed In Patrol Car During Traffic Stop

A Harris County Precinct 5 deputy was shot and killed in his patrol car during a traffic stop early Sunday. Houston and Harris County leaders pled for an end to rising violence in the county and mourned the loss of Corporal Charles Galloway, who Precinct 5 Constable Ted Heap said was "very much loved by the men and women he served with." >> Harris County Precinct 5 Deputy Killed During Traffic Stop, via Houston Patch

Designer, Hand-Crafted Kitchen In Illinois Home

Built in 1941, this house in Arlington Heights, Illinois, features a designer kitchen with beautiful, hand-crafted cabinets. >> $1.3M Wow House: 1 Of Scarsdale's Most Magnificent Homes, via Arlington Heights, Illinois, Patch

This Day In History

American serial killer Ted Bundy — who confessed to murdering 30 women, though many believe the number to be much higher — was executed at age 42 in 1989.

Around 'The Patch'

• 49ers Upset Packers To Advance To NFC Championship, via San Francisco Patch
• Fire At Top Of Philadelphia High-Rise Under Control, via Philadelphia Patch
• MA Knife-Wielding Man Shot After Charging Police, via Hollywood Patch
• Connecticut Man Caught On TikTok Yelling Profanities, Throwing Smoothie, via Fairfield, Connecticut, Patch
• Sinema Censured By AZ Democrats For Blocking Voting Rights Bill, via Phoenix Patch
• A Purrfect Rescue: Tampa Firefighters Free Kitten From Car's Engine, via Tampa Patch
• Brian Laundrie Confessed To Killing Gabbie Petito In Notebook, FBI Says, via Sarasota, Florida, Patch

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