James Dobson, a formidable force in America's social conservative movement and promoter of an anti-abortion and "pro-family" agenda, died on Thursday at age 89. Dobson had an audience of millions through his Focus on the Family group, radio show and books. No cause was given for his death, according to...
California Supreme Court Paves the Way for Democrats’ Redistricting Plan
The California Senate on Thursday was set to act on newly drawn political maps aimed at giving Democrats five more seats in Congress, countering a partisan advantage President Donald Trump hopes to gain from a Republican redistricting plan in Texas. California Democrats, led by Governor Gavin Newsom, are pushing to...
US Existing Home Sales Tick up Unexpectedly in July
Sales of previously owned U.S. homes ticked unexpectedly higher in July, but the pace of sales remains sluggish amid affordability issues for buyers thanks to high house prices and interest rates on mortgages. Home sales rose 2.0% last month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.01 million units from...
Wall Street Stocks Fall, Traders Focus on Fed
PARIS — European stock markets fell on Thursday and Wall Street opened lower, as traders avoided making big moves and waited for the Federal Reserve's three-day annual Jackson Hole symposium. Jackson Hole starts on Thursday and focus will be on Fed Chair Jerome Powell's speech on Friday, which could move...
Top Dem on Oversight Committee Demands Trump Administration Account for Wildland Firefighter Vacancies
This story was originally published by ProPublica. Sign up for The Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox. The top Democrat on a House committee is demanding that Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins account for discrepancies between her public statements about wildland firefighter staffing and a...
California’s Finances Face a Perfect Storm. It Could Eventually Lead to Another Tax Hike
This commentary was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. A perfect storm of economic, fiscal and political trends is battering California’s already deficit-ridden state budget, leading public employee unions and other interest groups dependent on money from Sacramento to explore hefty tax increases. The budget has what...
International Rapper Derrick ‘Aesop’ McElroy Who Called Fresno Home Dies at 51
When he wasn't touring Asia, Europe, or across the U.S., Derrick "Aesop" McElroy was busy making a name for himself and for the city he called home — Fresno. McElroy — known for his time with hip-hop supergroup Living Legends under the name Aesop, Black Aesop, and the Black Wolf...
Trump Administration to Vet Immigration Applications for ‘Anti-Americanism’
President Donald Trump's administration has said it will assess applicants for U.S. work, study and immigration visas for "anti-Americanism" and count any such finding against them, sparking concern about implications for free speech. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services said in a "policy alert" dated Tuesday that it gave immigration...
Texas Republicans Approve Trump-Backed Congressional Map to Protect Party’s Majority
Texas legislators on Wednesday passed a new state congressional map drawn at the behest of President Donald Trump to flip five Democratic-held U.S. House seats in next year's midterm elections, after dozens of Democratic lawmakers ended a two-week walkout that had temporarily blocked passage. Republican legislators, who have dominated Texas...
Fresno County Authorities Seek Suspect in Casino Assault
Detectives with the Fresno County Sheriff’s Violent Criminal Apprehension Team are searching for a 27-year-old man wanted on multiple arrest warrants for assault, burglary and drug possession. Robert Rios of Auberry is accused of punching, choking and dragging a woman during a domestic disturbance at Mono Wind Casino on June...