In its final soil testing report, the L.A. County Department of Public Health found a sizeable number of Altadena properties had significantly higher levels of lead than what the state deemed safe.

Altadena

In Altadena, California, residents attempting to rebuild homes destroyed by recent wildfires have discovered elevated levels of toxic lead in the soil. A final report from the Los Angeles County Health Department confirmed that many properties in the area contain lead concentrations exceeding state safety standards. The University of Southern California is conducting additional soil testing for concerned families, with findings consistent with the county's report. 

Exposure to lead-contaminated soil poses significant health risks, particularly for children and pregnant individuals, including brain and kidney damage as well as developmental delays. Despite cleanup efforts, such as the removal of six inches of soil from damaged properties, contamination remains. Advocacy groups report that over a third of homeowners have not received the soil testing they desire, and in severe cases, hazardous soil must be removed before rebuilding can proceed.

Residents find toxic lead levels in soil after California wildfires

In Altadena, CA, thousands of homeowners are trying to rebuild the homes destroyed by the devastating wildfires in January. But a new report shows the ground where many of those homes once stood may be highly contaminated. In tonight's In Depth, Elise Preston reports on the toxic danger delaying their recovery. Armed with a spoon and sandwich bags, lifelong Altadena resident Gillian Selsby digs up some of the land she's called home for decades to be tested for toxins. It's a little scary because I'm wondering what's going to be in it. Three generations of her family lost homes in January to the Eaton fire. She and her parents all plan to rebuild in Altadena. But before they break ground, they have to be sure their land is safe. Are you concerned that their property has contaminants as well? Yes, because their home was built in 1925. I'm concerned because they're older and I want to make sure that they aren't exposed to anything that could be unhealthy. In its final report, the Los Angeles County Health Department found a sizable number of Altadena properties had significantly higher levels of lead than what the state deems safe. The University of Southern California is leading its own testing project for concerned families. Director Sujit Rao. We know that lead is a dangerous contaminant that can be present in places in or near fires. And that's true whether your home burned down or was partially damaged or only had smoke damage or even if you were downwind and just sort of had a lot of smoke and ash fall in your yard. Exposure to lead can cause brain and kidney damage and developmental delays. The risk is that if young children or people who are pregnant come in contact with soils that have really elevated levels of lead. Over time, that lead can accumulate in the body. Rao says USC's findings are consistent with LA County's report, which found that lead contamination was present even after the Army Corps of Engineers scraped six inches of soil from damaged properties. Why can't you take another six inches? I am glad that we can do our own soil testing now just to make sure it's safe to build. More than one in three Altadena homeowners say they haven't gotten the soil testing they want, according to Department of Angels, an advocacy group. In extreme cases, homeowners will have to remove the hazardous soil. I love it when I hear that people are rebuilding. I even love it when I hear that people's homes have survived because that's kind of the scaffolding that's keeping us all up. Giving Selsby hope as she awaits the results. Elise Preston, CBS News, Altadena, California.

Ukraine and Russia have carried out another exchange of prisoners of war. About two hundred Ukrainian prisoners released by Russia have arrived in the Chernihiv region near Ukraine’s border with Belarus.

Chernihiv

Ukraine Invasion

Russia, Ukraine exchange 185 prisoners of war in latest swap

Two Jewish men were killed and three other men were seriously injured in a terror attack outside a synagogue in the northern English city of Manchester, authorities said.

Manchester

Two killed in U.K. terror attack outside synagogue on Yom Kippur

President Trump has declared the U.S. is in an "armed conflict" with drug cartels as the White House calls drug runners "unlawful combatants."

Washington

Trump declares U.S. in 'armed conflict' with drug cartels

The head of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Presidential Library has resigned after sources say he resisted a request from the Trump administration to give a sword from the library's collection to King Charles.

Abilene

Eisenhower library head resigns

Two regional jets crashed into each other on the tarmac at New York's LaGuardia Airport when the wing of one aircraft hit the front end of another. One flight attendant was injured.

LaGuardia Airport

Two regional jets collide on tarmac at New York's LaGuardia Airport

Blame was thrown around by all sides on the first day of the shutdown after the White House and Congress failed to agree on a way to keep the U.S. government funded and open. The White House said layoffs to the federal workforce were ‘imminent.’

White House says federal worker layoffs ‘imminent’ after shutdown

Jane Goodall, the British conservationist and researcher renowned for her work with chimpanzees, has died at age 91. The Jane Goodall Institute confirmed her death on Instagram Wednesday, saying she died of natural causes.

Los Angeles

Jane Goodall, chimpanzee researcher and conservationist, dies at 91

U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order, promising military action if necessary, to defend Qatar in the face of any future attack. It follows an Israeli strike on Doha last month, targeting a Hamas negotiating team. Qatar called the attack a violation of its sovereignty, prompting Trump to issue the new security assurances to the Gulf nation.

Doha

Trump signs executive order protecting Qatar after Israeli strike

The Israeli military is pressing on with its offensive in Gaza, launching strikes across the territory, as Hamas weighs up its response to the U.S. peace proposal. Debora Patta reports.

Jerusalem

Middle East Conflict

Israel continues Gaza offensive as Hamas weighs U.S. peace deal

The Supreme Court has added another blockbuster case to its new term of cases. The court announced it would hear whether President Trump can legally fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. Jessica Levinson has more.

Supreme Court to weigh Trump firing of Fed's Lisa Cook

Flash floods in Ukraine's Odesa killed at least nine people, including a family of five trapped in their home as it was engulfed by water, emergency services said on Wednesday (October 1), as torrential rain left hundreds in need of rescue and thousands without power.

Odesa Oblast

Deadly flash floods hit Odesa after downpours in Ukraine's south

Parts of the U.S. government remain closed after Senate votes failed to pass funding. A GOP-backed House bill fell short of the 60-vote threshold, leaving 750,000 federal workers facing furloughs and possible military pay delays.

Government shutdown continues after Senate votes down resolutions

In Afghanistan, concerns are growing after days of virtually no internet connectivity. The blackout has disrupted banking, commerce and aviation. The Taliban denies banning internet services.

Kabul

Afghanistan imposes internet blackout

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that Hamas militants have about three or four days to respond to his Gaza peace plan proposal or face the consequences. But Gazans saw little hope in the plan, which was presented to Hamas after Israel had endorsed it as satisfying its war aims.

Hamas under pressure as Trump issues deadline on Gaza peace plan

U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to use 'dangerous' U.S. cities as training grounds for the military at a rare meeting of top military officials where he and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth took aim at what they called 'woke' military standards.

Trump threatens to train military in U.S. cities

At least 69 people were killed after a 6.9-magnitude earthquake shook the coastal city of Bogo and outlying rural towns in Cebu province in the Philippines, officials said. CBS News foreign correspondent Anna Coren has the latest details.

Cebu

Dozens killed after 6.9-magnitude earthquake shakes Philippines

U.S. President Donald Trump and lawmakers failed to reach a funding deal, causing the government to shut down Wednesday. Tens of thousands of federal workers will be told to stay home – furloughed without pay.

U.S. government shuts down after lawmakers fail to reach funding deal

U.S. President Donald Trump is amping up pressure on Hamas to respond to his 20-point peace plan to end the war in Gaza. He says he wants a response in a matter of days or there will be a ‘very sad end’ to the conflict.

Trump puts pressure on Hamas with deadline on Gaza peace plan

U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said there would be no more ‘overbearing rules of engagement’ for the U.S. military while President Donald Trump threatened war on ‘the enemy from within’ at a gathering of top U.S. military commanders.

Hegseth calls for end to ‘politically correct’ U.S. military leadership

European leaders, from Ursula von der Leyen to Emmanuel Macron, have reacted positively to U.S. President Donald Trump's plan to end the war in Gaza.

EU leaders urge Hamas to accept Trump's Gaza plan 'without delay'

Military leaders have been summoned to Quantico Marine Corps base from all around the world by Defense Secretary Hegseth for a rare, in-person meeting. Democratic lawmakers have raised safety concerns about the military leaders leaving their posts for the well-publicized meeting.

Quantico

Hegseth gathers U.S. military leaders for rare, in-person meeting

Imelda is now a Category 1 hurricane, threatening dangerous weather conditions on the East Coast alongside Hurricane Humberto. CBS News' Rob Marciano has more details.

Folly Beach

Imelda becomes hurricane, threatens dangerous conditions on East Coast

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said Monday he is ready to declare a state of emergency over the threat of U.S. "aggression," following a spate of deadly U.S. strikes on suspected Venezuelan drug boats.

Caracas

Maduro ready to declare state of emergency over U.S. 'aggression'

Some have expressed excitement after Bad Bunny was announced as the Super Bowl halftime performer, while others have criticized the pick. CBS News' Lilia Luciano reports.

Bad Bunny to headline Super Bowl 2026 halftime show

President Donald Trump said he would impose a 100% tariff on all films produced overseas that are then sent into the U.S., repeating a threat made in May that would upend Hollywood's global business model.

Hollywood

Global Tariffs

Trump says U.S. to impose 100% tariff on movies produced overseas

Moldova's pro-Europe governing party has won a majority in key parliamentary elections. The result brings Moldova closer to EU membership — but not everyone is celebrating.

Chișinău

Pro-EU party wins majority in Moldova election

U.S. President Donald Trump outlined a 20-point plan for peace in Gaza as he stood with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House. Hamas has yet to comment on the plan.

Trump, Netanyahu announce plan to end Gaza conflict

Amid growing impatience over the Kremlin’s reluctance to participate in direct talks with Ukraine, Washington is now considering providing Kyiv with Tomahawk missiles, according to U.S. Vice President JD Vance.

Washington might send Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, Vance says

The FBI says it is investigating 'an act of targeted violence' after a man crashed his vehicle through the front doors of a Michigan church, opened fire with an assault rifle and set the church ablaze, killing at least four people and wounding at least eight others.

Grand Blanc

Investigators look for motive in deadly Michigan church shooting

Washington is preparing for the arrival of Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, who is set to meet with President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday. President Trump is advancing a plan aimed at securing the release of hostages, ending the war in Gaza, and outlining a post-war strategy.

Breakdown