I received and paid my monthly electric bill from the Sacramento Municipal Utility District the other day. In addition to $75.76 in metered power consumption and $1.58 in taxes, SMUD’s bill included a $24.80 “system infrastructure fixed charge” that, frankly, I’d never noticed before in decades of receiving SMUD service....
Rescued from the Streets: Jules the Pup Finds New Lease on Life
In a heartwarming tale of resilience and redemption, meet Jules, a tiny pup who defied the odds to find her happily ever after. Several months ago, Jules was discovered wandering aimlessly in the sprawling parking lot of a Bank of America branch. Hidden beneath a tangled mess of fur, her...
Severe Storms in Houston Kill 4, Cut Power to 900,000 Homes and Businesses, See Photos
HOUSTON — Fast-moving thunderstorms pummeled southeastern Texas on Thursday for the second time this month, killing at least four people, blowing out windows in high-rise buildings, downing trees and knocking out power to more than 900,000 homes and businesses in the Houston area. Officials Urge Residents to Stay Off Roads...
Report: Child Migrant Arrivals in Italian City Double
ROME — The number of unaccompanied children who arrived in the northern Italian city of Trieste through the Balkan migratory route more than doubled last year, an aid group said Thursday. About 3,000 unaccompanied children arrived in Trieste, which is close to Italy's borders with Croatia and Slovenia, in 2023,...
Cohen Grilled Over Past Lies as Defense Targets Key Witness in Trump Hush Money Trial
NEW YORK — Donald Trump's lawyers accused the star prosecution witness in his hush money trial of lying to jurors, portraying Trump fixer-turned-foe Michael Cohen on Thursday as a serial fabulist who is bent on seeing the presumptive Republican presidential nominee behind bars. Defense Attorney Challenged Cohen for Hours As Trump looked on,...
Stock Market Today: Wall Street Edges Back From Records After Dow Briefly Tops 40,000
NEW YORK — U.S. stocks edged back from their record heights Thursday after the Dow Jones Industrial Average briefly topped the 40,000 level for the first time. The Dow slipped 38.62 points, or 0.1%, to 39,869.38. The S&P 500 index, which is much more widely followed on Wall Street, dipped...
Two Bills Seek to Boost Valley’s Role in Solar Power. Which One Got Killed Today?
Bills introduced this year by two state legislators from Fresno were written to allow Valley farmers to more quickly convert their land from agricultural use to solar projects and to give the Westlands Water District the authority to own electric generation, storage and transmission facilities within its district. Assembly Bill...
What Is Mayor’s Plan to Handle $47 Million Fresno Budget Deficit?
Presenting his plan for what Mayor Jerry Dyer called a “unique year,” the city’s record $2 billion budget comes in the face of higher costs and reduced revenues. In March, Dyer’s administration forecast a $37 million deficit. By the meeting Thursday, a more accurate projection showed the administration having to...
Bulldogs Fall to Air Force in Opener of Crucial Baseball Series at Air Force
The Fresno State baseball team (29-24, 16-12 MW) dropped the first game of a crucial road series on Thursday at Air Force, falling out of first place in the Mountain West. The Bulldogs, who lost 3-1 to the Falcons in Colorado Springs, have games Friday and Saturday to close out...
Former Congressmember Cox Close to Plea Deal in Money Laundering Case
Former Congressmember TJ Cox plans to change his not guilty plea, federal court documents show. Cox, a Fresno Democrat, faces 28 counts of fraud, money laundering, and illegal campaign contributions. He represented the Central Valley in Congress from 2019 to 2021, defeating incumbent David Valadao, R-Kings County, before losing a...