Ukraine’s Parliament passed a bill on Wednesday that would allow certain convicts to serve in the military in exchange for the chance of parole after their service, aiming to bolster the army’s ranks after years of conflict. This practice is currently used in Russia, which has drafted thousands of inmates....
Boeing 737 Catches Fire and Skids Off the Runway at a Senegal Airport, Injuring 10 People
DAKAR, Senegal — A Boeing 737-300 plane carrying 85 people skidded off a runway at the airport in Senegal's capital, injuring 10 people, according to the transport minister, an airline safety group and footage from a passenger that showed the aircraft on fire. “Our plane just caught fire,” wrote Malian...
Jokic Wins NBA’s MVP Award, His 3rd in 4 Seasons
Nikola Jokic did it all again. And the MVP trophy is his again. Jokic, the Denver Nuggets star from Serbia, was announced Wednesday night as the NBA's Most Valuable Player — his third time winning the award in the past four seasons, a feat that just six other players in...
Pete McCloskey, GOP Congressman Who Once Challenged Nixon, Dies at 96
FRESNO — Pete McCloskey — a pro-environment, anti-war California Republican who co-wrote the Endangered Species Act and co-founded Earth Day — has died. He was 96. A fourth-generation Republican "in the mold of Teddy Roosevelt," he often said, McCloskey represented the 12th Congressional District for 15 years, running for president...
Harvey Weinstein Returns to Court Amid NY-CA Prison Debate
NEW YORK — Harvey Weinstein appeared in a New York City courtroom Thursday as authorities consider California's extradition request to serve his pending sentence for a 2022 rape conviction in Los Angeles. Weinstein's Original Sentence The 16-year sentence Weinstein received in 2023 for raping a woman at a 2013 Los Angeles film festival...
‘Vile’ Antisemitic Flyers Left in Clovis Driveways
Rabbi Rick Winer called antiemetic flyers distributed to homes in Clovis "vile" and "disturbing." However, Clovis police said that passing out the flyers wasn't a crime. Clovis Police responded Sunday to reports of several neighborhoods receiving flyers with anti-Jewish messages enclosed in baggies and distributed in driveways. "While we determined...
Conforto Homers Sparked 6-Run Inning to Beat Rockies 8-6
DENVER — Michael Conforto homered and singled in a six-run second inning that sent the San Francisco Giants past the struggling Colorado Rockies 8-6 on Wednesday night. Blake Sabol and Conforto each finished with three of San Francisco's 13 hits. Jordan Hicks pitched five effective innings and the Giants won...
Rapidly Growing Hanford Meat Company Buys Cargill Plant in Fresno
Hanford-based Central Valley Meat Co. announced another major acquisition for the family-owned company — this one from a national name. On Tuesday, Central Valley Meat made clear its plans to purchase Cargill Meat Solutions' beef processing plant in Fresno, allowing Central Valley Meat to expand its capacity, according to a...
Maximus, a Marmalade Tabby, Wants to Join Your Family Circus
Could meow-velous Maximus have a more gorgeous face, with showstopping racing striped cheeks and a classic tabby forehead “M” like a bold russet crown? His soft orange coat is dusted with sugary white and is purrfect for the hugs he always hopes will come his way. His 8-month-old good looks...
Politicians Keep Shifting Blame as California’s Homelessness Crisis Worsens
Over the last half-decade, state government has spent about $24 billion to ameliorate California’s worst-in-the-nation homelessness crisis. Local governments and private charities have spent countless billions more. Despite those immense expenditures, the number of unhoused Californians has continued to increase to more than 181,000 in the latest federal census. It’s...