AUSTIN — Singer, songwriter, satirist and novelist Kinky Friedman, who led the alt-country band Texas Jewboys, toured with Bob Dylan, sang with Willie Nelson, and dabbled in politics with campaigns for Texas governor and other statewide offices, has died. Friedman, 79, died Thursday at his family's Texas ranch near San...
Indictment Accuses Former Uvalde Schools Police Chief of Delays While Shooter Was ‘Hunting’ Children
AUSTIN, Texas — The police chief for schools in Uvalde, Texas, failed to identify an active shooting, did not follow his training and made critical decisions that slowed the law enforcement response to stop a killer who was "hunting" victims and ultimately killed 21 people at Robb Elementary, according to...
7,472 Acre Basin Fire Burning Sierra National Forest Near Balch Camp
Update: June 28 at 2:52PM Evacuation orders have been expanded to include zones K30 and K29, in addition to the previously affected zones K31 and K40. Update: June 28 at 1:29PM According to the CalFire website, the Basin Fire has expanded significantly, increasing from 5,692 acres to 7,472 acres. This...
The Supreme Court Weakens Federal Regulators, Overturning Decades-Old Chevron Decision
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Friday upended a 40-year-old decision that made it easier for the federal government to regulate the environment, public health, workplace safety and consumer protections, delivering a far-reaching and potentially lucrative victory to business interests. The court's six conservative justices overturned the 1984 decision colloquially...
How did CNN’s Moderators Do in the Biden-Trump Debate? It Almost Didn’t Matter That They Were There
NEW YORK — To a large extent, it almost didn't matter that Dana Bash and Jake Tapper were on stage. The two CNN journalists prepared meticulously to moderate Thursday's presidential debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump, the first ever between a sitting president and his predecessor, and asked several...
Supreme Court Allows Cities to Enforce Bans on Homeless People Sleeping Outside
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court decided on Friday that cities can enforce bans on homeless people sleeping outdoors, even in West Coast areas where shelter space is lacking. The case is the most significant to come before the high court in decades on the issue and comes as a rising...
Over 1,500 Personnel Fighting More Than 10,000 Acres of Fire in Fresno County
The Flash, Bolt, and Hog fires have grown to a combined 10,669 acres and are now 37% contained, according to CalFire. There are 1,539 personnel on the scene, supported by 104 engines, 17 helicopters, 26 dozers, and 31 water tenders. Additionally, air tankers are conducting suppression fire missions as conditions...
Johnny Cash’s ‘Songwriter,’ a Collection of Unreleased Songs From 1993, Is a Journey
NEW YORK — In 1993, Johnny Cash was between record contracts — and just about to embark on an iconic collaboration with producer Rick Rubin that would span the last 10 years of his life, starting with 1994's “American Recordings." During that crucial time in his career, Cash immersed himself in...
Bill Cobbs, Prolific and Sage Character Actor, Dies at 90
NEW YORK — Bill Cobbs, the veteran character actor who became a ubiquitous and sage screen presence as an older man, has died. He was 90. Cobbs died Tuesday at his home in the Inland Empire, California, surrounded by family and friends, his publicist Chuck I. Jones said. Natural causes...
Californians Will Decide — in 2024 — Whether to Ban Slavery. What Will the Measure Do?
In 1850, California joined the United States union as a state that outlawed indentured servitude and slavery, except for those serving out a criminal punishment. One hundred and seventy-four years later, California voters will have the chance to put the practice to an end for good. The California State Senate...