In a raucous meeting that saw several disruptions, Fresno is saying no to camping in public places. By a 7-0 vote, the Fresno City Council approved an ordinance to restrict public camping and spelled out penalties during a special meeting that began Monday morning and extended to the late afternoon...
Artist Tree Cannabis Dispensary Donates $40K to Fresno Nonprofits
The Artist Tree, a cannabis dispensary and lounge in northwest Fresno, donated $20,000 to both the Fresno Arts Council and the Poverello House on Friday. The donation to the Fresno Arts Council will help create the Art Haven program, a safe space for the unhoused to make art. The Poverello...
Roy Cooper Is Said to Withdraw From Harris’ Vice-Presidential Field
Gov. Roy Cooper of North Carolina, who has been seen as a leading contender to become Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate, has informed her team that he has withdrawn from the vice-presidential sweepstakes, according to two people briefed on the matter. Cooper, who previously served as chair of the...
U.S. National Debt Tops $35 Trillion for First Time
WASHINGTON — America’s gross national debt topped $35 trillion for the first time Monday, a reminder of the nation’s grim fiscal predicament as legislative fights over taxes and spending initiatives loom in Washington. Debt Raising Faster Than Economists Predicted The Treasury Department noted the milestone in its daily report detailing...
NY Judge Hands Former NRA Head Wayne LaPierre a 10 Year Ban but Declines to Appoint Monitor
NEW YORK — A New York judge on Monday banned Wayne LaPierre, the former head of the National Rifle Association, from holding a paid position with the organization for a decade, but declined to appoint an independent monitor to oversee the gun rights group. Split Decision in Civil Trial The...
Will You Have to Pay Thousands Extra to Buy a Home? Realtor Commissions Are Changing
The homebuying world is still trying to figure out how the market will work after Aug. 17. That day, the settlement between the National Association of Realtors and the U.S. Department of Justice will come into effect, changing how homebuyers' agents get paid. That change has Realtors and brokerages scrambling...
AI May Save Us, or May Construct Viruses to Kill Us
Opinion by Nicholas Kristof on July 27, 2024. Here’s a bargain of the most horrifying kind: For less than $100,000, it may now be possible to use artificial intelligence to develop a virus that could kill millions of people. That’s the conclusion of Jason Matheny, president of the Rand Corp.,...
Displaced by Park Fire, Some Wonder if They’ll Have a Home to Return to
CHICO, Calif. — Paul Mozzino was working an afternoon shift at a Trader Joe’s grocery store in Chico, California, last week when he heard a chorus of phones pinging simultaneously with alerts about a nearby wildfire. “Oh God, not again,” Mozzino, who had evacuated from a fire before, recalled thinking...
Republicans and Democrats Name Members of Trump Assassination Inquiry
WASHINGTON — House leaders on Monday appointed 13 lawmakers to serve on a newly formed bipartisan congressional task force to investigate the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, choosing mostly members with significant military or law enforcement experience. Rep. Mike Kelly Names Panel Chair Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Pa., who...
Electric Cars Help the Climate. But Are They Good Value?
Electric vehicles cost more to buy than gasoline cars, and they may lose value more quickly. Even for people eager to own a car with no tailpipe emissions, it’s reasonable to wonder whether it makes sense to buy one now. The answer may well be yes, but there are a...