Uber is taking steps to enact stricter background checks, after a New York Times investigation in December revealed that the ride-hailing giant’s policies allowed for drivers with many types of criminal convictions, including violent felonies. The company had barred drivers convicted of murder, sexual assault, kidnapping and terrorism. But in...
Chain Control in Effect on Highway 168 Near Lower Vista, CHP Says
Chain control restrictions are in place on Highway 168 in the four-lane section near Lower Vista at approximately 1,500 feet in elevation, according to the California Highway Patrol in Fresno on Thursday. Officials urged drivers heading into the mountains to ensure their vehicles are properly equipped for snowy conditions. While...
Trump Tells First Meeting of Board of Peace That $7 Billion Raised for Gaza
President Donald Trump told the first meeting of his Board of Peace on Thursday that nations had contributed $7 billion to a Gaza reconstruction fund that aims to rebuild the enclave once Hamas disarms, an objective that is far from becoming a reality. The disarmament of Hamas militants and accompanying...
Oil Prices Rise 2% to Six-Month High on Concern Over Potential US-Iran Conflict
Oil prices rose about 2% on Thursday to their highest in six months, as traders worried about tensions between the U.S. and Iran, which stepped up military activity in the oil-producing Middle East. Brent futures were up $1.23, or 1.8%, to $71.58 a barrel at 1551 GMT. U.S. West Texas...
Bernie Sanders Warns of ‘Billionaire Class’ as California Wealth Tax Fight Intensifies
This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders delivered a fiery warning to what he called the “billionaire class” at a rally Wednesday in Los Angeles in support of a tax initiative that would target California’s wealthiest residents. “The billionaire class no...
Trump Presses Iran to Make ‘Meaningful’ Deal, Appears to Set 10-Day Deadline
President Donald Trump warned Iran on Thursday that it must reach a deal over its nuclear program or "bad things" will happen, and appeared to set a 10-day deadline before the U.S. might take action. Amid a massive U.S. military buildup in the Middle East that has fueled fears of...
Fresno Police to Hold Saturday DUI Checkpoint
The Fresno Police Department will conduct a driving under the influence checkpoint on Saturday from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. at an undisclosed location. Officials said checkpoint locations are selected based on data showing incidents of impaired driving-related crashes. The primary purpose of the operation is to promote public safety...
US Imports Grew in 2025, as Trump’s Tariffs Reshuffled Global Trade
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...