Opinion by Mary Ziegler on August 15, 2024. KAMALA HARRIS SHOW VOTERS WHAT DONALD TRUMP COULD DO IN A SECOND TERM. Protecting reproductive rights is one of Democrats’ strongest issues, and their ability to capitalize on it may decide a tight election. Chances are even better now with Kamala Harris,...
He Still Thought He Could Win: Inside Biden’s Decision to Drop Out
WASHINGTON — In the end, he was alone. Confined to a spare bedroom in his vacation home and fighting off bouts of coughing from COVID-19, President Joe Biden was exhausted when he turned in for the night Saturday, July 20. Whether he slept soundly or fitfully or not at all,...
Secret Service Pulls From Biden’s Protective Team to Guard Trump
The Secret Service has bolstered former President Donald Trump’s security in a variety of ways since the assassination attempt on him last month, several people familiar with the matter said Thursday, including by temporarily shifting part of President Joe Biden’s protective team to Trump. The Secret Service has also secured...
U.S. Unveils Price Limits for 10 Costly or Common Medications
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration on Thursday unveiled the results of landmark drug price negotiations between Medicare and pharmaceutical companies, allowing President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to cast themselves as confronting the drug industry on behalf of older Americans at a critical moment in the presidential campaign....
Feds Announce SNAP Benefits Increase. How Big Is It?
The U.S. Food and Nutrition Service has announced new maximum payment amounts for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, set to take effect in October 2024. While most states and territories will see a slight increase, the changes are modest. For the 48 contiguous states and Washington, D.C., the maximum monthly...
Californians: Your Rent May Go Up Because of Rising Insurance Rates
Like single-family homeowners in California, landlords are facing higher insurance premiums, too. And they're passing along some of those costs to their tenants. Many insurance companies have stopped writing policies in the state because of increased wildfire risks, but that's not the only reason. They say in the case of...
With Patience and Craftsmanship, Ficklin Achieves Port Perfection at Madera Winery
The Ficklin family has been marching to the beat of a different drum — or should I say, stomping to the rhythm of a different grape — for over 75 years perfecting Port. Peter Ficklin is like Doc Brown with a DeLorean, except instead of traveling through time, he's bottling...
California’s Retail Crime Task Force Arrests Surge 106%, $7.2 Million in Stolen Goods Recovered
The California Highway Patrol achieved record progress in combating organized retail theft, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Thursday. In July, the Organized Retail Crime Task Force conducted 128 investigations, resulting in 167 arrests — a 212% increase in investigations and a 106% rise in arrests from the previous month. Since January,...
10 Ex-Fresno Courthouse Workers Have Rare Cancers. Lawsuit Points to Underground Gas Station.
Many may not know, but there's a gas station beneath the Fresno County Courthouse. Now, the safety of that gas station and its underground storage tanks is under question. Fresno attorney Warren Paboojian has sued the county, saying his 10 clients —all of whom once worked at the courthouse —...
Area School Board Races Are Set: Who’s Competing and Who’s a Shoe-In?
About half of the Board of Education races in the Fresno area will be competitive in November's election, with two or more candidates in the field. That doesn't include the Fresno County Board of Education, where two incumbents and a newcomer are winners already, since they are the only candidates....