THE HAGUE, Netherlands — The top United Nations court ordered Israel on Friday to immediately halt its military offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah — but stopped short of ordering a cease-fire for the enclave. While Israel is unlikely to comply with the order, it will ratchet up the...
Fresno Man Charged with Throwing Meth into Mendota Prison Yard
A federal grand jury has indicted Garrett Scott Wheelen, 33, of Fresno, on one count of possessing methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced Thursday. Court documents state that on May 1, Wheelen arrived at the Federal Correctional Institution Mendota wearing a facemask, baseball cap, and hoodie to disguise himself....
Porchfest Victims Use Fresno Council Meeting to Demand That DA File Hate Crime Charges
The victims of the Porchfest attack want the district attorney to pursue hate crime charges against their alleged assailant. Zahra Al, Lana and Mel (the latter two did not want to provide their last names) and about 20 community supporters attended Thursday's Fresno City Council meeting. Several spoke during public...
CA Home Prices Near $1 Million Average. What do Central Valley Homes Cost?
Even in the face of high interest rates, buyers are still going after homes and statewide prices have reached record numbers. In April, the state median home price passed $900,000 for the first time, growing 5.8% from the previous month and 11.4% from the year before, according to the California...
American Airlines Retreats After Blaming a 9-Year-Old for Not Seeing a Hidden Camera in a Lavatory
FORT WORTH, Texas — American Airlines has distanced itself from a court filing in which the carrier said a 9-year-old girl should have noticed there was a camera taped to the seat of an airplane lavatory. A former flight attendant is accused of luring girls to use the lavatory after...
Explorers Find What They Believe Is World War II Ace Richard Bong’s Downed Plane in South Pacific
MADISON, Wis. — Searchers announced Thursday they've discovered what they believe is the wreckage of World War II ace Richard Bong's plane in the South Pacific. The Richard I. Bong Veterans Historical Center in Superior, Wisconsin, and the nonprofit World War II historical preservation group Pacific Wrecks announced in March...
Giants Rally From a Big Deficit Again and Spoil a Solid Start by Paul Skenes in 7-6 Win Over Pirates
PITTSBURGH — Matt Chapman homered for the third straight game, this one a three-run drive during an eighth-inning rally, and the San Francisco Giants spoiled a solid start by Pittsburgh Pirates rookie Paul Skenes to surge to a 7-6 win on Thursday. Chapman went deep off Hunter Stratton (1-1), and...
This Sweet Tradition Is Sure to Bring Out the Crowds at Fresno State’s Farm Market
If the streets around the Gibson Farm Market on Chestnut Avenue next to Fresno State look more crowded than usual Friday morning, there's a good reason: It's corn time! Now a summer tradition for many across the Valley as well as fans who flock here from out of state, Fresno...
Long-Term Mortgage Rates Ease for Third Straight Week, Dipping to Just Below 7%
LOS ANGELES — The average rate on a 30-year mortgage dipped this week to just below 7% for the first time since mid April, a modest boost for home shoppers navigating a housing market dampened by rising prices and relatively few available properties. The rate fell to 6.94% from 7.02%...
General Sherman Passes Health Check but World’s Largest Trees Face Growing Climate Threats
SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK — High in the evergreen canopy of General Sherman, the world’s largest tree, researchers searched for evidence of an emerging threat to giant sequoias: bark beetles. They descended the towering 2,200-year-old tree with good news on Tuesday. “The General Sherman tree is doing fine right now,” said...