The Fresno Arts Council, which had been silent on the alleged embezzlement of $1.5 million in taxpayer funds under its control, says it is cooperating with Fresno police and FBI investigators. In a news release issued Friday morning, the council's board stated that "we are treating this matter with the...
Journalist Don Lemon Pleads Not Guilty in Minnesota ICE Protest Case
Former CNN anchor Don Lemon pleaded not guilty on Friday in a criminal case stemming from his coverage of a protest at a Minnesota church against President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown. Lemon entered the courthouse in St. Paul on Friday afternoon wearing a suit and jacket. On his way in,...
US Homeland Security Department Heading Into Partial Shutdown Saturday
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security was on track for a partial shutdown when its annual funding expires at midnight EST on Friday, after Republicans and Democrats failed to reach a deal on immigration enforcement reforms. While some "non-essential" workers were expected to be put on leave, the Trump administration's...
Dubai Ports Boss Resigns Amid Fallout From Epstein Files
The head of the Dubai, United Arab Emirates-based ports giant DP World resigned Friday, the company said, amid mounting scrutiny of his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, a notable business figure in the Middle East, was named this week in a trove of files...
Nepotism on the Bench: Fresno Courts and the Appearance of Impropriety
Fresno County’s judicial bench does not reflect the diversity of the community it serves. Publicly available court rosters show that the bench remains overwhelmingly European American, despite a population that is not. That disparity alone raises questions about representation. More troubling, however, is a pattern of familial relationships and insider...
Bullard Cheer Squad Earns National Medal in Debut, Eyes Future Glory
Bullard High School’s competitive cheer team capped a historic run by winning the CIF state championship and earning third place at the UCA National High School Cheerleading Championship in Florida, a milestone for a program making its national debut. Head coach Britney Audino, in her first year at Bullard, said...
American Airlines Seeks Approval to Operate US Flights to Venezuela
WASHINGTON, Feb 13 - American Airlines said Friday it was seeking approval to operate U.S. flights to Caracas and Maracaibo in Venezuela from Miami through its wholly owned regional carrier Envoy, according to a filing with the U.S. Transportation Department. Last month, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy rescinded a 2019...
A Politician in Exile, Detained by ICE, Fears Deportation to Venezuela
As anti-government protests convulsed Venezuela in 2017, a handful of local mayors opposed to the autocratic government of President Nicolás Maduro were sentenced to 15 months in prison for not squelching the demonstrations. One of them, Carlos Roberto García, the slender, boyish-looking mayor of Mérida, a city in the Andes...
Oil Prices Stable as Investors Weigh OPEC+ Supply, US Inflation Data
Oil prices held steady on Friday after data showed an overall slowdown in U.S. inflation, recovering from an earlier dip on news that OPEC+ is leaning towards a resumption in production increases. Brent crude futures gained 11 cents, or 0.16%, to $67.63 a barrel by 12:22 p.m. ET (1722 GMT)....
Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Richard James Rich
February 12, 2026 Most Wanted Person of the Day Suspect Name: Richard James Rich Suspects Date of Birth: July 3, 1974 Physical Description: White male, 5' 7, 175 lbs., Blond Hair, Green eyes Charges: Felony vandalism Warrant Number: H1908324 Synopsis of the Case: Richard James Rich is wanted on a...