U.S. imports grew and the trade deficit remained historically large last year, data released Thursday showed, as steep tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump scrambled trade but did not halt it. High tariffs and unpredictable policy drove huge swings in trade last year. Companies stockpiled products before tariffs went into...
California School Systems Face Red Ink Despite Boosts in Ed Spending
This commentary was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. Educating California’s nearly 6 million public school students is the state budget’s second largest expenditure, and one that has increased sharply during Gavin Newsom’s governorship. The 2026-27 budget that Newsom proposed last month would spend $88.7 billion on...
What We Know About the Victims of the California Avalanche
Multiple victims in the Sierra Nevada avalanche had ties to the Sugar Bowl Academy, a private, ski-focused school located several miles from where at least eight people died, the program said Wednesday night. Officials with the school in Norden, California, said they were not releasing the names or details of...
Wall Street Stalls as Tech Stocks Slide After Recent Gains
Wall Street's main indexes fell on Thursday, following a three-day winning streak for the S&P 500, as heavyweight technology stocks slipped, while Walmart shares gained after the retail giant's fourth quarter results. The retailer's new CEO, John Furner, kicked off his tenure with a conservative fiscal 2027 forecast as well...
Madera Police Arrest 20-Year-Old After Suspicious Activity Reported Through App
Officers with the Madera Police Department arrested a 20-year-old man early Thursday after responding to a report of a suspicious person posted on the RING application. Police said officers checked the area of Fairview Avenue and West Third Street after a post described a man riding a bicycle and checking...
King Charles’ Brother Andrew Arrested Over Misconduct Relating to Epstein
King Charles' younger brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was on Thursday arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office over allegations he sent confidential government documents to Jeffrey Epstein. Mountbatten-Windsor, who turned 66 on Thursday, was arrested and questioned by detectives from Thames Valley Police. Earlier this month, the police force said it was...
Trump Says US Needs to Make Meaningful Deal With Iran, Cites Good Talks
President Donald Trump said on Thursday that the United States had to make a meaningful deal with Iran, citing good talks with the Middle Eastern country. "Good talks are being had. It's proven to be, over the years, not easy to make a meaningful deal with Iran. We have to...
Trump to Preside Over First Meeting of Board of Peace With Many Gaza Questions Unresolved
President Donald Trump will preside over the first meeting of his Board of Peace on Thursday with unresolved questions on the future of Gaza hanging over an event expected to include representatives from more than 45 nations. The disarmament of Hamas militants and accompanying withdrawal of Israeli troops, the size...
US Military Moves Into Place for Possible Strikes in Iran
The rapid buildup of U.S. forces in the Middle East has progressed to the point that President Donald Trump has the option to take military action against Iran as soon as this weekend, administration and Pentagon officials said, leaving the White House with high stakes choices about pursuing diplomacy or...
Russia’s Lavrov Warns against Any New US Strike on Iran
Feb 18 - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, in an interview made public on Wednesday, said that any new U.S. strike on Iran would have serious consequences and called for restraint to find a solution to enable Iran to pursue a peaceful nuclear programme. Lavrov's interview with Saudi Arabia's Al-Arabiya...