In an exciting development for book lovers and community members, the Leo Politi Branch of the Fresno County Public Library is gearing up for a significant expansion. The beloved library, which has served the community for half a century, is set to move into a spacious new location that promises...
Killings of Invasive Owls to Ramp Up on US West Coast in a Bid to Save Native Birds
MISSOULA, Mont. - U.S. wildlife officials beginning next year will drastically scale up efforts to kill invasive barred owls that are crowding out imperiled native owls from West Coast forests, under a plan finalized Wednesday that faces challenges from barred owls returning after they've already been removed. Trained shooters will...
Workers Are Breaching Klamath Dams, Salmon Will Swim Freely for First Time in a Century
Workers are breaching the final dams on a key section of the Klamath River on Wednesday, clearing the way for salmon to swim freely through a major watershed near the California-Oregon border for the first time in more than a century as the largest dam removal project in U.S. history...
Wired Wednesday: Homebuyer Assistance Bill Offers $150K For Undocumented Immigrants
GV Wire’s Edward Smith talks with KMPH Fox 26 “Great Day” anchor Jim De La Vega about a California bill that would provide up to $150,000 to first-time, first-generation homebuyers, including undocumented immigrants, as down payment and closing cost assistance. Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula (D-Fresno) authored the bill.
How Much Will Interest Rates Drop? Wells Fargo Expert Predicts a Sharp Decline by December
Wells Fargo experts predicted this month that the country's top bankers would not just pump the gas a little on interest rates following a worrisome July jobs report but push the pedal to the metal. Fears at the Federal Reserve have quickly shifted from record-high inflation to slowing labor market...
With 28 Months to Go, Will Newsom Now Pay More Attention to His Day Job?
Gov. Gavin Newsom has devoted much of his second term to building a national political profile and more or less succeeded. Why he did is less evident. He says he was helping his Democratic Party become more aggressive. National media assumed he was laying the groundwork for a presidential campaign....
Trump Claims God as His Ally After Surviving Assassination Attempt
Donald Trump’s electoral narrative consistently centers on his never losing, The Washington Post notes. One of many examples is Trump's claim that he didn't lose the popular vote in the 2020 presidential race to Joe Biden. The former president maintains instead that illegal votes or miscounted votes in battleground states...
Is Gov. Newsom Jealous of VP Harris’ Success?
Is Gov. Gavin Newsom jealous of Vice President Kamala Harris and her Democratic presidential nomination? LA Times Columnist Mark Z. Barabak says the answer is a definitive "yes." Both Newsom and Harris hail from the San Francisco area and have navigated similar political circles for more than two decades. They...
California’s GOP Hope? Ex-Fox Host Steve Hilton Eyes Governor’s Mansion
Former Fox News host Steve Hilton is considering a run for California governor in 2026, potentially joining a crowded field of candidates, Politico reports. Despite the state's strong Democratic leanings, Hilton, a Republican, is exploring the possibility of bringing his "positive populism" to Sacramento. Hilton appears regularly as a guest...
Merced County Public Health Director Resigns After Nearly Seven Years on the Job
Merced County's public health director has stepped down from her role after nearly seven years on the job, The Merced FOCUS has learned. Rebecca Nanyonjo resigned from her position effective Aug. 20, Merced County spokesperson Mike North confirmed in an email. Meanwhile, the county is in the beginning stages of...