CAIRO — Egypt sent a high-level delegation to Israel on Friday with the hope of brokering a cease-fire agreement with Hamas in Gaza, two officials said. At the same time, it warned that a possible Israeli offensive focused on Gaza's city of Rafah — on the border with Egypt —...
Antony Blinken Meets With China’s President Xi as US, China Spar Over Bilateral and Global Issues
BEIJING — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Friday with Chinese President Xi Jinping and senior Chinese officials, stressing the importance of “responsibly managing” the differences between the United States and China as the two sides butted heads over a number of contentious bilateral, regional and global issues. Talks...
Key Questions About CA Budget Deficit Unanswered as Deadlines Loom
The must-follow website this month among California’s politicians, bureaucrats, and interest group lobbyists is the “California Personal Income Tax Daily Revenue Tracker” that’s updated daily by the state controller’s office. Last week was the deadline for filing personal income tax returns, and income taxes are by far the most important...
Is This Your Next BFF? Meet Girlfriend, a Professionally Trained Adventure Dog!
Meet Girlfriend, a spirited year-old shepherd mix bursting with intelligence and athleticism. Her journey began in an empty field, where she survived alongside feral cats, relying on occasional food from a nearby restaurant. It took weeks to earn her trust, marked by the sound of a familiar whistle that coaxed...
Tennessee Lawmakers Pass Bill Criminalizing Adults Assisting Minors in Gender-Affirming Care
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee's GOP-controlled Statehouse on Thursday gave their final approval to legislation criminalizing adults who help minors receive gender-affirming care without parental consent, clearing the way for the first-in-the-nation proposal to be sent to Gov. Bill Lee's desk for his signature. The bill mirrors almost the same language...
Wittrup: Vote to Table Bullard Fence Contract Was ‘Retaliatory’
Fresno Unified Board President Susan Wittrup is accusing the four Fresno Unified trustees who voted to delay consideration of a new security fence at Bullard High School of "shameful" retaliation after she publicly called for the district to widen its search for a new superintendent. Wittrup told GV Wire on...
Did Arias ‘Weaponize’ City Attorney’s Office by Requesting Documents from Smittcamp?
A Fresno city councilmember wants to know how deeply Fresno County District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp involved her office in the effort to revise Proposition 47. City Councilmember Miguel Arias, through City Attorney Andrew Janz, sent Smittcamp's office a letter requesting information about Smittcamp and her staff's participation in gathering signatures...
Google Parent Reports Another Quarter of Robust Growth, Rolls Out First-Ever Quarterly Dividend
Google’s corporate parent Alphabet Inc. on Thursday released a quarterly report showing it’s still reaping double-digit revenue gains from its digital advertising empire while sowing potentially lucrative new ground in artificial intelligence. The results for the first three months of the year provided the latest evidence that Google has regained...
$15 a Pack for Cigarettes? It’s Happening in This US City.
MINNEAPOLIS — Smokers in Minneapolis will pay some of the highest cigarette prices in the country after the City Council voted unanimously Thursday to impose a minimum retail price of $15 per pack to promote public health. The ordinance not only sets a floor price. It prevents smokers and retailers...
USC Scraps Graduation Ceremony Amid Concerns Over Potential Disruptions from Protests
The University of Southern California canceled its main stage graduation ceremony Thursday as college officials across the U.S. worried that ongoing campus protests against the Israel-Hamas war could disrupt May commencement ceremonies. Police Activity During Protests Some universities called in police to break up the demonstrations, resulting in ugly scuffles and dozens...