ST PETERSBURG, Russia - President Vladimir Putin on Thursday refused to discuss the possibility that Israel and the United States would kill Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and said the Iranian people were consolidating around the leadership in Tehran. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has openly speculated that Israel's...
A Little Coffee With Your Whiskey? Downtown Fresno Gets New Craft Cocktail Lounge
Downtown Fresno will get a new craft cocktail lounge Friday with a focus on espresso-flavored drinks. The name? Neat & Noir. It only took owner Eric Santos 45 days to buy the former Saint Joaquin and get the space ready for its grand opening this weekend. Santos said the Neat...
‘Any Illegal Immigrants?’ Trump Quizzes Workers at the White House
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump was halfway through an answer on his shifting deportation policy when a thought apparently occurred to him: Maybe the men standing behind him were immigrants living in the U.S. illegally? The president had asked the members of a work crew putting up a new flagpole...
What Is Juneteenth and When Did It Become a US Federal Holiday?
Juneteenth, a day that marks the emancipation of enslaved Black Americans, is always observed on June 19 each year. It became a U.S. federal holiday in 2021, following the signing of a bill by former President Joe Biden. Long a regional holiday in the South, Juneteenth rose in prominence across...
US B-2 Bombers, Bunker-Busters and Alternatives
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Air Force's B-2 Spirit stealth bomber represents one of America's most advanced strategic weapons platforms, capable of entering sophisticated air defenses and delivering precision strikes against hardened targets such as Iran's buried network of nuclear research facilities. The U.S. military is ready to carry out any...
US Social Security, Medicare to Run Short of Funds in 2033, Trustees Say
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Social Security and Medicare programs for older people will both run short of funds to pay full benefits in 2033, three years sooner than last year's estimate for the Medicare Hospital Insurance Fund, their annual trustees' reports showed on Wednesday. The reports, released by the U.S....
Buss Family to Sell Lakers, Report Says
NEW YORK - The Buss family is entering an agreement to sell a majority stake in the Los Angeles Lakers, ESPN reported on Wednesday, marking the end of an era for one of the NBA's most influential families. Mark Walter, the CEO and chairman of holding company TWG Global, is set to take the majority ownership under...
Trump Administration Resuming Student Visa Appointments, Official Says
WASHINGTON — The United States is directing its diplomatic missions abroad to resume student visa applications, but is requiring applicants to make their social media profiles public for vetting purposes, a senior State Department official said on Wednesday. On May 27, the Trump administration ordered its missions abroad to stop...
Teen Girl Accused as Getaway Driver in Caleb Quick Murder Appears in Court
The 16-year-old girl accused of being the getaway driver in the murder of Caleb Quick appeared in juvenile court on Wednesday. She faces a murder charge, with an enhancement alleging she was a co-participant in a crime involving a firearm. Both her parents and stepfather were present in court, along...
Tiogaland Brings Disney Food to Fresno on Friday Evening
Disneyphiles are known to head to the theme parks for the food. On Friday, the Disney food heads to Fresno. Tioga-Sequoia Brewing Company is hosting "Tiogaland," featuring food vendors grilling up Disney favorites. The event takes place 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. at 745 Fulton St. Admission is free. "It's...