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...
Evacuation Order Announced for Residents Near Coffee Pot Fire
Update on August 28, 2024 at 2 PM Authorities have issued an evacuation order for the TLC-E128-B zone, which includes areas north of South Fork Drive, east of Skyline Drive (Salt Creek fire control road), south of Skyline Drive (encompassing the regions south of Case Mountain and Homers Nose), and...
Israeli Forces Launch a Big Operation in the West Bank and Kill at Least 10 Militants
AL-FARAA REFUGEE CAMP, West Bank — Israeli forces launched a large operation in the occupied West Bank overnight and into Wednesday, killing at least 10 Hamas militants, carrying out arrests and sealing off the volatile city of Jenin. The ongoing operation was among the largest in the West Bank in...
French Prosecutors Say Telegram Messaging App CEO Has Been Freed From Custody, Will Appear in Court
PARIS — French prosecutors on Wednesday freed Telegram CEO Pavel Durov from police custody after four days of questioning over allegations that the messaging app is being used for illegal activities. Durov was detained on Saturday at Le Bourget airport outside Paris as part of a judicial inquiry opened last...
Fresno State Marching Band Will Return to Rose Parade
The Fresno State Bulldog Marching Band has been selected to march in the 2025 Rose Parade for just the second time ever, and just two years after its debut. In addition to marching in the parade, the band will participate in the Tournament of Roses Bandfest field show. Want to...
Giants Place Pitchers Robbie Ray and Jordan Hicks on the Injured List
MILWAUKEE — The San Francisco Giants' pitching staff took a couple of major hits Tuesday with left-hander Robbie Ray and right-hander Jordan Hicks going on the 15-day injured list. Ray has a left hamstring strain, and Hicks has right shoulder inflammation. Ray's move to the injured list was retroactive to...