White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett said on Monday that U.S. job gains could be lower in the coming months due to slower labor force growth and higher productivity, weighing into a debate that is also underway at the Federal Reserve and promises to shape the central bank's coming policy...
Iran Detains Prominent Opposition Figures, Expanding Crackdown on Dissent
Iranian authorities detained at least five prominent figures from the country’s reformist opposition movement in the past two days, according to state-affiliated media, as the government expands a fierce crackdown on dissent. The arrests come weeks after security forces used deadly force to crush nationwide protests, killing thousands, and amid...
Epstein Files Reveal Scope of Ghislaine Maxwell’s Role in Clinton Circle
Jeffrey Epstein’s longtime companion, Ghislaine Maxwell, played a substantial role in supporting the creation of the Clinton Global Initiative, one of President Bill Clinton’s signature post-White House endeavors, new documents released by the Justice Department show. Maxwell took part in budget discussions related to the first Clinton Global Initiative conference;...
Oil Rises More Than 1% After US Urges Caution for Vessels Near Iran
Oil prices rose about $1 per barrel on Monday after the U.S. Department of Transportation issued an advisory to U.S.-flagged vessels to stay as far as possible from Iranian territory while passing through the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman. Brent crude oil futures were up $1.08, or 1.6%,...
Three Pedestrians Injured in Madera Crosswalk Collision
Three pedestrians were hospitalized Saturday afternoon after being struck by a pickup truck while walking in a crosswalk, Madera police said. Officers responded around 2:35 p.m. to Granada Drive and Cleveland Avenue, where they found that a Ford pickup turning southbound had hit the pedestrians. All three were transported to...
Maxwell Refuses to Answer Questions in House Deposition
Ghislaine Maxwell, the longtime companion of Jeffrey Epstein who is serving a federal prison sentence on sex-trafficking charges, refused on Monday to answer questions during a deposition before the House Oversight Committee. Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., the committee’s chair, said that Maxwell, who appeared virtually from a prison in Texas,...
Rain Coming to Fresno, Snow to the Sierra. How Long Will It Last?
Get ready for the return of rain to Fresno and surrounding communities and snow in the Sierra. The National Weather Service in Hanford's forecast calls for the arrival of a storm Monday night. In addition, NWS expects snow in the mountains above 6,000 feet, with total accumulations of 4 to...
Fresno Man Pleads Guilty to $1.5 Million Tax Fraud
A Fresno man pleaded guilty Monday to filing more than 50 false federal income tax returns, claiming over $1.5 million in fraudulent refunds, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced. Marice Curry, 35, submitted the returns in 2023 for businesses by falsely claiming refundable fuel tax credits, which are intended to let...
Caleb Quick Murder Transfer Hearing for Juvenile Delayed to April
The juvenile girl accused of serving as the getaway driver in the killing of Caleb Quick appeared in court Monday as a packed courtroom of the victim’s family and friends, along with the suspect’s parents, looked on. Prosecutors said they are still waiting for an expert witness and were not...
MAGA’s Split Over Israel Extends to a Ship Attacked 58 Years Ago
On June 8, 1967, the Israeli military machine-gunned, bombed and torpedoed the USS Liberty, an American vessel floating off the Sinai Peninsula, killing 34 service members. Those facts are not in dispute. But almost everything else about the attack is driving a wedge through the MAGA movement. On one side...