WASHINGTON — The bitter blame game over the handling of the investigation into disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein erupted in public on Friday between Attorney General Pam Bondi and the senior leadership of the FBI, particularly the bureau’s deputy director, Dan Bongino. Bondi and her allies believe that Bongino, who parlayed...
One California Worker Dead, Hundreds Arrested After Cannabis Farm Raid
WASHINGTON - A California farmworker died on Friday from injuries sustained a day earlier when U.S. immigration agents raided a cannabis operation and arrested hundreds of workers, according to a farmworker advocacy group. Dozens of migrant-rights activists faced off with federal agents in rural Southern California on Thursday. It was...
Musk’s xAI Seeks up to $200 Billion Valuation in Next Fundraising, FT Reports
Elon Musk's xAI is preparing to raise more money from investors in a deal that could value the artificial-intelligence company as high as $200 billion, the Financial Times reported on Friday, citing people close to the talks. — (Reporting by Juby Babu in Mexico City; Editing by Pooja Desai)
Divided US Appeals Court Rejects Plea Deal for Accused September 11 Attacks Mastermind
A U.S. appeals court on Friday refused to allow Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the accused mastermind of the September 11, 2001, attacks, and two of his co-defendants to plead guilty under agreements that would have spared them the death penalty. The ruling by a 2-1 panel of the U.S. Court of...
Skydance in Early Talks to Acquire The Free Press, NYT Reports
Skydance Media CEO David Ellison has held preliminary talks to acquire The Free Press, an online news outlet, the New York Times reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter. The news comes as Skydance is seeking to close its $8.4 billion merger with Paramount Global, which is awaiting...
Madera Hospital in Full Swing With New Permanent CEO
Now that operations at Madera Community Hospital are into full swing, the medical center has found a new CEO. The hospital board earlier this month named Sony Sidhu to lead the hospital, according to a news release from American Advanced Management. Sidhu comes to Madera by way of Modesto's Central...
Trump’s Copper Tariffs Pile More Metal Misery on US Auto Industry
LONDON/DETROIT - President Donald Trump's threat of a 50% tariff on copper imports is raising alarm in the U.S. auto sector, as it could make it even harder for carmakers and suppliers to absorb border taxes and rising costs, executives and industry experts say. The duties on their own may...
‘There Are No Red Lines Anymore’ Says UN Palestinian Rights Expert on US Sanctions
GENEVA (Reuters) -The top U.N. expert on Palestinian rights said on Friday that the U.S. decision to place her under sanctions could have a "chilling effect" on people who engage with her and restrict her movements, but that she planned to continue her work. On Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of State...
Kraft Heinz Is Planning a Breakup, WSJ Reports
Packaged food maker Kraft Heinz is preparing to break itself up, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter. The company is looking to spin off a large chunk of its grocery business, including many Kraft products, into a new entity that could be valued...
Which Fresno State Faculty Projects Are CSU’s AI Challenge Winners?
Three Fresno State projects are among 63 faculty-led projects that were named winners of California State University's first-ever Artificial Intelligence Innovations Challenge. The wins are more than just honor and glory — the CSU Chancellor is coughing up $3 million to fund the winning proposals. CSU's goal is to be...