WASHINGTON — Nearly 42 million people are set to lose food aid due to the second-longest U.S. government shutdown, as Democrats and Republicans in Congress continue to blame each other for a weeks-long legislative stalemate. Neither party was showing signs of changing its position days before funding for the Supplemental...
Jamaica’s Strongest-Ever Storm, Hurricane Melissa, Turns to Cuba
KINGSTON — Hurricane Melissa churned toward Cuba's second-largest city with the force of a powerful Category 4 storm on Tuesday, hours after making landfall in neighboring Jamaica as the strongest-ever cyclone on record to hit that Caribbean island nation. Melissa roared ashore near Jamaica's southwestern town of New Hope, packing...
Majority of Californians Back Prop. 50. Poll Shows Record Interest
A new Public Policy Institute of California survey finds that a majority of likely voters support Proposition 50, a November ballot measure that would temporarily change how the state draws congressional district maps — and that interest in the outcome is at record levels. According to the survey released at...
California Wants to Overhaul High School Learning. CART in Clovis Leads the Way
This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. At CART High near Fresno, there is no gum stuck to the floor. The saffron-yellow walls are unmarred by graffiti. Toting laptops, students file calmly down spacious, light-filled hallways to classes like biotechnology and digital marketing. There’s no...
Americans Plan to Spend $1,007 on Holiday Gifts, Gallup Finds
U.S. consumers plan to spend an average of $1,007 on holiday gifts this year, according to Gallup’s latest poll. This amount roughly matches last year’s record-high expectations and signals continued strength in seasonal spending. Gallup’s Oct. 1-16 survey shows that 86% of Americans intend to buy gifts this season, while...
Daylight Saving Time Bill Stalls Again in US Senate
The U.S. Senate briefly took up a long-stalled effort on Tuesday to make daylight saving time permanent and end the twice-yearly practice of switching clocks, but again failed to reach consensus. Senator Rick Scott, a Republican, and other senators went to the floor to push for passage of the bill...
Two Cities Marathon Returns With Scenic Fresno-Clovis Course. Which Roads Will Be Closed?
The Two Cities Marathon & Half, now celebrating its 17th year, will return to the Fresno-Clovis area on Sunday offering runners a scenic route through the heart of California’s Central Valley. Presented by CalViva Health, the event features multiple race distances — including a full marathon, half marathon, 10K, 5K,...
Karbassi and Kus Fire Opening Blasts in 2026 Fresno County Clerk Race
With one week to go before a special election to determine California's congressional maps — Proposition 50 — a candidate wanting to oversee Fresno County elections is criticizing the man he hopes to replace. And the incumbent is firing back. Mike Karbassi, the current Fresno city council president, said Tuesday...
Beyond Trade War, China’s Xi Looks to Press Trump on Taiwan
TAIPEI, Taiwan — When China’s leader, Xi Jinping, sits down with President Donald Trump to address their worsening trade tensions, he will also be pursuing another, longer goal: persuading the American president to soften U.S. support for Taiwan. Trump has said that he wants to focus on trade when he...
Senator Schumer Sees US Shutdown Stretching Into November
WASHINGTON — Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said on Tuesday the 28-day U.S. government shutdown could stretch into November, when millions face soaring health insurance costs from expiring Affordable Care Act tax credits — raising pressure on lawmakers to resolve the impasse as enrollment begins. With hundreds of thousands of...