PALMDALE, Calif.

Crews gain ground on fire in desert north of Los Angeles

Higher humidity and lower temperatures helped firefighters nearly contain a wildfire smoldering Sunday in the high desert north of Los Angeles.

The fire charred nearly 22 square miles of brush in the Antelope Valley. It was 87 percent contained Sunday, and crews hoped to have it fully surrounded by this evening, Los Angeles County Inspector Don Kunitomi said.

All roads were reopened Sunday.

BILLINGS, Mont.

Cubs’ malnourishment may have spurred sow’s attack

Three grizzly bear cubs whose mother killed a man last week in a late-night attack at a Montana campground were malnourished.

The cubs have arrived at their new home at ZooMontana in Billings. Zoo Executive Director Jackie Worstell said Sunday the two female cubs and one male cub were underweight, possibly explaining their mother’s unusually aggressive behavior.

The year-old cubs each weighed only 60 to 70 pounds, versus a normal range of 80 to 130 pounds. Wildlife officials are investigating what caused the cubs to be malnourished.