BLAINE, Minn. — Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz says former state House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband were shot and killed in a politically motivated assassination, and a second lawmaker and his wife were shot and wounded. Authorities were actively searching for a suspect hours after the targeted killings. "We...
The Latest: Israel Threatens More Attacks on Iran After Tehran Retaliates With Missile Strikes
Israel warned of more attacks on Iran on Saturday after Tehran fired waves of missiles and drones that killed three people and wounded dozens in Israel. Iran was retaliating for a series of blistering Israeli attacks on its nuclear and military facilities on Friday. Israel said hundreds of airstrikes over...
The Best Songs of 2025, So Far
Each week, pop critics for The New York Times weigh in on the week's most notable new songs. After six months of listening, here's what they have on repeat. (Note: It's not a ranking, it's a playlist.) Bad Bunny, 'Baile Inolvidable' Heartache and heritage mingle in "Baile Inolvidable" ("Unforgettable Dance")...
A Starter Pack for Aspiring Wine Lovers
Here's a little secret about wine — it's great fun. It's delicious, too. You would never know this to hear people talk about wine. Too often, it is buried under a mass of nonsense that has nothing to do with the pleasure and joy it offers. It's discussed with painstaking...
Does Merced County Need an Independent Commission to Draw Board of Supervisors Districts?
A bill authored by Assemblymember Esmeralda Soria would create an independent redistricting commission for Merced County – but the Board of Supervisors opposes it, saying it's an unnecessary, unfunded state mandate. Assembly Bill 1441 would create an independent, 11-member commission that would choose the maps for county supervisor districts beginning...
Israel Had the Courage to Do What Needed to Be Done
It may be months or years before we'll know the full results of Israel's attack on Iranian nuclear and military targets, which began early Friday morning and could last for days or weeks. But critics of the strike — and already they are vocal — might at least ask themselves...
Fresno Arts Council Debuts Gallery on Fulton for July ArtHop
The Fresno Arts Council is introducing Gallery on Fulton, an expansive outdoor venue that will premiere during ArtHop on Thursday, July 3, 2025. The new space will transform eight blocks of Fulton Street between Inyo and Calaveras Streets into an open-air marketplace for artists, makers, and performers from 5 to...
Vacant Fresno Restaurant Heavily Damaged in Early Morning Fire
An early morning fire caused significant damage to a vacant restaurant building in Fresno, the Fresno Fire Department reported. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Fresno Fire Department (@fresnofiredepartment) Fire crews were called to the 3800 block of North Blackstone Avenue around 1:40 a.m. after...
Visalia Police Make Arrest in Deadly Hit-and-Run
Police have arrested a man in connection with a fatal hit-and-run that happened on Wednesday in Visalia. Officers responded around 4 a.m. to a report of a man lying in the roadway near Noble Avenue and Vista Street. The man was found unresponsive and taken to Kaweah Health, where he...
Madera County Inmate Arrested After Chase and Crash With Kids in Car
A man serving time for domestic violence who failed to return from a court-approved day-pass was arrested after crashing during a police pursuit in Madera County, authorities said. Michael Sanchez, 30, had been granted a temporary release from custody by a visiting judge from Fresno to attend his grandmother’s funeral...