The Senate on Wednesday confirmed the 200th federal judge of President Joe Biden's tenure, about a month earlier than when Donald Trump hit that mark in his term, though Trump still holds the edge when it comes to the most impactful confirmations — those to the Supreme Court and the...
Mobile Home Park Bankruptcy Throws Wrench in Fresno’s Plan to Protect Tenants
The city of Fresno wants to partner with a Visalia-based affordable housing developer to keep a mobile home park and its remaining residents in place. But the park owner's bankruptcy may throw a wrench in the city's plans. On Thursday, the city council will vote on whether to grant Self-Help...
Graceland Foreclosure Sale Halted as Presley Estate’s Lawsuit Moves Forward
MEMPHIS — A judge on Wednesday said Elvis Presley's estate could be successful in arguing that a company's attempt to auction Graceland is fraudulent as he halted a foreclosure sale of the beloved Memphis tourist attraction. Shelby County Chancellor JoeDae Jenkins issued a temporary injunction against the proposed auction that...
Why Israel Is in Deep Trouble: John Mearsheimer
After more than six months of conflict, many observers believe Israel is losing its war in Gaza. Concurrently, Israel is also engaged in fighting Hezbollah on its northern border, facing strained relations with Washington, and dealing with an International Court of Justice ruling that a plausible case for genocide in...
Anonymous Gifts Are Common. But a Climate Group Says a $10 Million Gift It Got Is an All-Out Mystery
On a Friday morning in April, Dan Stein, the founder of Giving Green, a climate philanthropy organization, found some big news in a surprising email. An anonymous donor had given his fund $10 million. “I didn’t quite process the number of zeroes,” Stein said, adding he was “tickled, awestruck, surprised”...
Newsom Says No New Taxes, Yet His Budget Has Billions in New Levies on Businesses
When Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled a much-revised 2024-25 state budget this month, he became visibly irritated when reporters pressed him about raising taxes to cover a $44.9 billion deficit, particularly the corporate tax hikes that left-leaning groups have suggested to avoid spending cuts in health, welfare and education programs. “When...
Use of Wegovy and Other Weight-Loss Drugs Soars Among Kids and Young Adults
At 17, Israel McKenzie was so burdened by obesity that he stopped going to high school in person and was embarrassed to speak to people at his restaurant job. “I was in a really dark place,” says McKenzie, whose weight had climbed to 335 pounds on his 6-foot-1 frame, despite...
Reparations Proposals for Black Californians Advance to State Assembly
SACRAMENTO — The California Senate advanced a set of ambitious reparations proposals Tuesday, including legislation that would create an agency to help Black families research their family lineage and confirm their eligibility for any future restitution passed by the state. Lawmakers also passed bills to create a fund for reparations...
Ex-Employee Kills 2, Injures 3 in Suburban Philadelphia Linen Company Shooting
CHESTER, Pa. — A former employee armed with a handgun opened fire early Wednesday at a linen company in a Philadelphia suburb, killing two people and wounding three others, police said. The shooting at Delaware County Linen in Chester occurred around 8:30 a.m., and the shooter fled the scene in...
Daily Marijuana Use Outpaces Daily Drinking in the US, a New Study Says
Millions of people in the U.S. report using marijuana daily or nearly every day, according to an analysis of national survey data, and those people now outnumber those who say they are daily or nearly-daily drinkers of alcohol. Alcohol is still more widely used, but 2022 was the first time...