Maurene Comey, a Manhattan federal prosecutor who worked on the criminal cases against Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, was abruptly fired Wednesday by the Trump administration, according to six people with knowledge of the matter. Though the reason for Comey’s firing was not immediately clear, her dismissal immediately raised questions,...
Why California Ag Is at Odds Over Converting Land to Solar Farms
This commentary was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. The Imperial Irrigation District, which provides water to farmers in the southeastern corner of California, drew a figurative line in the sand earlier this month, calling for a halt to the conversion of agricultural fields into solar panel...
Fresno County Irrigation District Pitches 137% Fee Hike for More Kings River Flood Water
Growers in southern Fresno County are facing a possible 137% increase in land assessment fees that the Consolidated Irrigation District hopes will help it nearly double its recharge capacity and capture more Kings River flood water. Consolidated, which covers about 141,000 acres in central southern Fresno County, is holding a...
Trump Says He Is Ending Government Funding California’s High-Speed Rail Project
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that he is ending government funding for California's High-Speed Rail project. The announcement follows the release of a U.S. Transportation Department report from the Federal Railroad Administration that cited missed deadlines, budget shortfalls and questionable ridership projections. "Thanks to Transportation Secretary Sean...
Bakersfield Tax Return Preparer Pleads Guilty in $25 Million Fraud Scheme
Victor Cruz, 40, who was a tax return preparer in Bakersfield, pleaded guilty Monday for his role in a $25 million fraud, the Department of Justice announced. Cruz helped Miguel Martinez, a Mexican national who was in the United States illegally, submit phony federal income tax returns claiming $25 million...
Congressional Hopeful Lorenzo Rios Says No to PBS Funding. Once Led Local Station
Republican congressional candidate Lorenzo Rios said he would not support federal funding for PBS in their current form, citing a shift away from the values that once defined public broadcasting. Rios, who is challenging longtime Democratic Rep. Jim Costa in District 21 and currently leads the Clovis Veterans Memorial District,...
US Attorney Beckwith Dismissed by Trump Admin, Replaced With Sanchez
Michele Beckwith is out as acting U.S. Attorney for the sprawling Eastern District of California, which includes Fresno County. Department of Justice spokesperson Lauren Horwood confirmed that Beckwith was terminated on Tuesday. Kimberly Sanchez replaces her as new acting U.S. Attorney. Beckwith, a Democrat, was named acting attorney, replacing Phillip...
Trump Says He Would Love for Fed Chair Powell to Resign
WASHINGTON - U.S. President Donald Trump said he would love for Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell to resign but acknowledged that many have said it would disrupt the markets if the president were to remove him. Trump made the comments in an interview with the Real America's Voice network aired...
Trump Says Coca-Cola Agreed to Use Real Cane Sugar in US
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Coca-Cola had agreed to use cane sugar in its beverages in the U.S. after his discussions with the company. "I have been speaking to Coca-Cola about using REAL Cane Sugar in Coke in the United States, and they have agreed to...
7.3 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Off Alaska Coast. No Danger to California
A powerful earthquake struck off the coast of Alaska’s Aleutian Islands on Wednesday afternoon, but officials say there is no tsunami threat to California. The U.S. National Weather Service reported the magnitude 7.3 quake occurred around 1:35 p.m. off the remote island chain. Despite the size of the earthquake, the...