The U.S. Surface Transportation Board on Friday sent back Union Pacific’s proposed $85 billion merger with Norfolk Southern for revision, saying it lacked required information, as part of a review in which the U.S. transport regulator will define what enhanced competition means under tougher merger rules adopted in 2001. The...
Immigrant Rights Groups, Local Officials Slam Fresno Supervisors’ ICE Stance
Community advocates gathered Friday outside the Fresno County Board of Supervisors building downtown to denounce recent comments by county leaders supporting Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Advocates accused the supervisors of downplaying the fear and harm immigration raids have inflicted on families across the Central Valley. “It is finally showing the...
Trump Appoints Allies to Review His Ballroom Plans
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has appointed four new members to the Commission of Fine Arts, the independent agency set to review his plans for a large new White House ballroom. Among the appointees is the architect who provided the initial designs for the ballroom. Trump has selected Mary Anne...
Northbound Highway 41 Blocked in Fresno County After Big Rig Overturns
Northbound Highway 41 is blocked at Excelsior Avenue in Fresno County due to an overturned big rig near Mt. Whitney Avenue, Caltrans said in a statement. Motorists should expect delays, with an estimated time of reopening of 5 p.m. — Connect with Anthony W. Haddad on social media. Got a tip? Send...
New Owner Reopens North Fresno Restaurant and Music Hub Starving Artists
The north Fresno music-centered restaurant that closed after building a cult following has reopened, with a grand opening planned soon. Tony Gomez reopened Starving Artists Bistro at 9447 N. Fort Washington Road with a soft opening Tuesday, he told GV Wire. The reopening, even lacking liquor and alcohol and with...
Virginia Democrats Pave Way for New Map That Could Net Them Four House Seats
Virginia's Democratic-controlled Senate on Friday approved a constitutional amendment that, if approved by voters, would permit lawmakers to redraw the state's congressional lines, potentially netting Democrats up to four U.S. House of Representatives seats. The state's move is the latest volley in a nationwide battle over redistricting between Republicans and...
White House Seeks Emergency Power Auction for Largest US Electric Grid
The White House on Friday urged the largest U.S. electric grid to conduct an emergency power auction to protect against rolling blackouts as energy demand from data centers grows faster than the country can build new generation plants. The Trump administration initiative calls on PJM Interconnection, which serves 67 million...
California AG Sends Letter Demanding xAI Stop Producing Deepfake Content
California Attorney General Robert Bonta on Friday sent a cease and desist letter to xAI demanding the company stop the creation and distribution of AI-generated non-consensual sexualized imagery by its Grok AI chatbot. The letter demands "immediate action to stop the creation and distribution of deepfake, nonconsensual, intimate images and...
US Says Canada Will Regret Decision to Allow Chinese EVs Into Their Market
Trump administration officials said on Friday that Canada would regret its decision to allow China to import up to 49,000 Chinese EVs, and that those cars would not be allowed to enter the United States. "I think they'll look back at this decision and surely regret it to bring Chinese...
Visalia Residents Urged to Avoid Area After Police Activity, School Lockdown Lifted
A Visalia school was briefly placed on lockdown Friday morning following a nearby police incident, the Visalia Police Department said in a statement. Just after 10 a.m., Visalia Police officers were called to the 1400 block of South Central Street for a disturbance involving a woman reported to be holding...