DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — An oil tanker held by Iran for over a year after being seized amid tensions between Tehran and the United States reached international waters on Thursday, tracking data showed. The Marshall Islands-flagged tanker Advantage Sweet traveled through the Strait of Hormuz, where it was seized...
Average Rate on a 30-Year Mortgage Falls Slightly, Easing Borrowing Costs for Home Shoppers
LOS ANGELES — The average rate on a 30-year mortgage fell slightly this week, providing modest relief for home shoppers facing record-high home prices. The rate fell to 6.89% from 6.95% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. A year ago, it averaged 6.96%. Mortgage Rates and Home Shoppers...
Gavin Newsom for President? These Are His Assets and Liabilities
In the nearly two weeks since President Joe Biden’s catastrophic performance in a televised debate, the Democratic freakout over whether he can continue as their presumptive presidential nominee has not abated. Even as Biden insists that he is committed to finishing out the race, speculation continues among the party faithful...
Supreme Court Stripped Federal Regulators of Power. Do California Rules Offer a Backstop?
Tucked between headline-grabbing opinions on presidential immunity, Jan. 6 rioters and homeless encampments, the U.S. Supreme Court closed out a momentous session late last month with a series of body blows to the federal bureaucracy. Under three back-to-back rulings, regulations that touch nearly every aspect of the American economy and...
Lionel Messi Commits to Playing for Argentina Beyond Copa America Final
EAST RUTHERFORD — Lionel Messi has announced his intention to continue playing for Argentina beyond Sunday's Copa America final. “As I’ve said before, I intend to continue," he stated on Tuesday night following Argentina's 2-0 victory over Canada. "I intend to keep living day by day without thinking about what...
AI Ammo Vending Machines Spark Safety Concerns Amid Expansion in US Grocery Stores
Adults in some U.S. states can now buy gun ammunition from AI-powered vending machines in local grocery stores, NPR reports. The manufacturer claims it's a safer method than online or shelf sales, but experts worry about the increased availability of ammo in a country already plagued by gun violence. American...
Fresno Better Business Bureau Merger Delivers More Resources for Startups
The organization synonymous with business accountability will bring its Fresno chapter into that of Arizona and southern California. The Better Business Bureau's Central California & Inland Empire chapter will join the Pacific Southwest, bringing Fresno and Bakersfield together with San Diego, Newport Beach, Phoenix, and Yuma, Arizona, according to a...
A Trump Ally Is Training 75 Armed Citizens. Is That a Militia?
The leader of a New York City suburb is recruiting 75 armed citizens, many of them former police officers, for a force of “special deputies” to be activated whenever he chooses. Blakeman Jumps Into Culture Wars Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, a Republican who has allied himself with former President...
Tax Preparation Company Intuit to Lay Off 1,800 as Part of an AI-Focused Reorganization Plan
WASHINGTON — Tax preparation and financial software company Intuit announced an AI-focused reorganization plan Wednesday that includes laying off about 10% of its workforce. The company behind QuickBooks and TurboTax said it was laying off 1,800 employees, but that it expects to hire at least that many in fiscal 2025...
House Denies GOP Bid to Fine Attorney General Garland Over Biden Audio Refusal
WASHINGTON — The House on Thursday rejected a GOP effort to fine Attorney General Merrick Garland $10,000 a day until he turns over audio of President Joe Biden’s interview in his classified documents case as a handful of Republicans resisted taking an aggressive step against a sitting Cabinet official. Even if...