WASHINGTON — U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is appearing before the Senate Finance Committee on Thursday and is expected to face tough questions after his ousting of the new Centers of Disease Control and Prevention director. The hearing, which the committee had set before CDC Director Susan Monarez's...
US Labor Market Shows Strains as Jobless Claims Rise, Private Payrolls Growth Slows
WASHINGTON — The number of Americans filing new applications for jobless benefits increased more than expected last week, while hiring by private employers slowed in August, offering further evidence that labor market conditions were softening. The reports on Thursday came on the heels of government data on Wednesday showing there...
Kern County Authorities Seize 862 Pounds of Meth, Arrest 3 Mexican Nationals
Authorities dismantled a large methamphetamine conversion lab in a rural area of North Edwards this week, seizing more than 860 pounds of the drug and arresting three suspects, the Kern County Sheriff’s Office said. Deputies, along with the Kern County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force and several partner...
American Eagle Expects Sales Boost in Fall Season From Sweeney, Kelce Ad Campaigns
American Eagle Outfitters forecast third-quarter comparable sales above expectations on Wednesday, signaling a demand boost in the fall season from its Sydney Sweeney and Travis Kelce partnerships. Its shares surged 25% after the bell as the company hailed the controversial "Great Jeans" campaign with actress Sydney Sweeney, which included a...
Fresno County Wildfire Near Coalinga More Than Doubles to 12,000 Acres, New Evacuations Ordered
A wildfire in Fresno County has consumed more than 12,092 acres near Jacalitos Creek Road near Coalinga and remains fully uncontained, officials said Wednesday afternoon. On Wednesday morning, CalFire reported the fire reached 5,000 acres. The Salt 14-2 Fire, which started on Tuesday, is burning in a remote area with...
Madera County Authorities Arrest Two. One Apprehended by K9
A Madera County man was apprehended by a sheriff’s K9 after allegedly assaulting a truck owner with a shovel during a stolen vehicle incident, authorities said. Deputies responded Wednesday morning to reports of a stolen Freightliner and an assault near Avenue 9 and Road 30. The truck, reported stolen on...
Courts Keep Striking Down CA Laws Infringing on Free Speech, Gun Rights
This commentary was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. Gov. Gavin Newsom and his fellow Democrats in the Legislature incessantly denounce President Donald Trump for trampling on civil rights in his lust for power. Their current drive to sanction a gerrymander of California’s 52 congressional districts to...
Reedley Student Arrested for Threat Against Immanuel High School
Reedley police arrested a 13-year-old ninth-grade female student Wednesday after a potential threat was made against Immanuel High School. The threat, which included a recent photo of the school posted on social media, prompted detectives to work with school administrators to identify the student, the Reedley Police Department said. Authorities...
Kennedy Picks Seven New Members for US CDC Vaccine Panel, Document Shows
U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has chosen seven new members for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's panel of vaccine experts, an internal CDC document showed on Wednesday. The Department of Health and Human Services has directed the CDC to name the seven...
John Deere Bets on California Ag With Purchase of Kingsburg’s GUSS Automation
In August, ag equipment giant John Deere announced the acquisition of Kingsburg-based GUSS Automation, three years after beginning a partnership between the two companies, according to a news release. GUSS roared onto the scene in 2018 with its autonomous sprayers built for California's high-value crops. A few years later, the...