Human Rights Watch has confirmed Israel's extensive use of white phosphorus in south Lebanon since October 2023, posing significant risks to civilians and causing widespread displacement. HRW verified that Israeli forces deployed white phosphorus munitions in at least 17 municipalities, including five where airburst munitions were unlawfully used over populated...
AWOL Councilmembers Latest Twist in Polarized Parlier Politics
For the second meeting in a row, a majority of Parlier city councilmembers refused to participate in a scheduled city council meeting on Monday. Thus, the impasse over Neal Costanzo continuing as the city attorney remains unresolved. In addition, Mayor Alma Beltran says the council majority boycott is putting $700,000...
The Urgent Need to Blow Off Swing Voters
Opinion by Elizabeth Spiers on June 25, 2024. THURSDAY’S DEBATE IS TIME TO PREACH TO THE CHOIR. In a presidential election where both leading candidates are unpopular, there’s much talk about what each candidate can say to swing voters in Thursday’s debate. But true swing voters are disengaged from political news;...
Today’s Teenagers Have Invented a Language That Captures the World Perfectly
Opinion by Stephen Marche on June 25, 2024. OUR KIDS’ LINGO IS NOT ONLY BETTER THAN ANY WE USED, IT’S A USEFUL WINDOW INTO THE WAY THEY THINK. My son just completed high school and when he leaves for college in the fall my life will change in ways I’m...
Lawsuit Challenges New Louisiana Law Requiring Classrooms to Display the Ten Commandments
BATON ROUGE, La. — Civil liberties groups filed a lawsuit Monday to block Louisiana's new law that requires the Ten Commandments to be displayed in every public school classroom, a measure they contend is unconstitutional. Plaintiffs in the suit include parents of Louisiana public school children with various religious backgrounds,...
UN-backed Contingent of Foreign Police Arrives in Haiti as Kenya-led Force Prepares to Face Gangs
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — The first U.N.-backed contingent of foreign police arrived in Haiti on Tuesday, nearly two years after the troubled Caribbean country urgently requested help to quell a surge in gang violence. A couple hundred police officers from Kenya landed in the capital of Port-au-Prince, whose main international airport...
International Court Seeks Arrest of Russian Officials Over Attacks on Ukrainian Power Plants
THE HAGUE, Netherlands — The International Criminal Court said Tuesday it issued arrest warrants for Russia's former defense minister and its military chief of staff for attacks on Ukraine's power plants, the third time the global court has accused senior Russian leaders of war crimes. There is no immediate likelihood...
Medical Center in Porterville Graduates First Class of Internal Medicine Residents
Sierra View Medical Center in Porterville graduated its inaugural class of internal medicine residents this month at a festive ceremony attended by the 13 graduates, their families and friends, and medical center officials. The ceremony marked not only a milestone in their medical training but also in the hospital's history....
Israel’s High Court Orders the Army to Draft Ultra-Orthodox Men, Rattling Netanyahu’s Government
JERUSALEM — Israel's Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled unanimously that the military must begin drafting ultra-Orthodox men for compulsory service, a landmark decision that could lead to the collapse of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's governing coalition as Israel continues to wage war in Gaza. The historic ruling effectively puts an...
Which Fresno Unified High School Is Getting a Second Gym?
Fresno's oldest high school, Fresno High, is getting a second gymnasium as well as other sports-related campus improvements. The district will celebrate the start of construction with a groundbreaking ceremony at 2 p.m. Wednesday. The high school is at 1839 N. Echo Ave. The new gym, which will be built...