WASHINGTON — The sudden death of Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Calif., cast a pall over the first day of the new session of Congress on Tuesday, when House Republicans mourned their colleague and also watched their tiny majority dwindle to the bare minimum of 218 votes. The passing of LaMalfa, 65,...
Maduro Is Gone, but Repression in Venezuela Has Intensified
Government officials led a large crowd of Venezuelans through Caracas, the capital, on Tuesday, marching to demand the release of Nicolás Maduro, the nation’s ousted president. At the same time, the government was on the hunt for anyone celebrating his capture by the United States. Over the past several days,...
Trump Administration Advises More Protein, Less Sugar in New Dietary Guidelines
The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced a new slate of dietary guidelines that recommends Americans eat more protein and less sugar than previously advised and that consumers avoid highly processed foods to achieve a healthy diet. The guidelines are the latest product of the Trump administration's...
Trump Administration Ditches Advice to Limit Alcohol to 1-2 Drinks per Day
President Donald Trump's administration released new nutrition guidelines on Wednesday that abandon long-standing U.S. recommendations that Americans restrict alcohol consumption to two beverages a day for men and one for women in favor of simply advising that they consume less to be healthier. The change is part of the new...
Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Elijah Alexander Cruz
January 7, 2026 Most Wanted Person of the Day Suspect Name: Elijah Alexander Cruz Suspects Date of Birth: July 17, 2007 Physical Description: Hispanic Male, 5’ 8, 163 lbs., Brown Hair, Brown Eyes. Charges: Assault with a deadly weapon Warrant Number: F25907897 Synopsis of the Case: Elijah Alexander Cruz is...
US to Control Venezuela Oil Sales ‘Indefinitely,’ Energy Secretary Says
Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Wednesday that the United States intended to maintain significant control over Venezuela’s oil industry, including by overseeing the sale of the country’s production “indefinitely.” “Going forward we will sell the production that comes out of Venezuela into the marketplace,” Wright said at a Goldman Sachs...
Will This Be the Year California Makes Kindergarten Mandatory?
By Carolyn Jones, CalMatters This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. The past few years, California has been all about the ABCs, 1-2-3s and the wheels on the bus, investing more than $5 billion in early childhood education. But kindergarten, a staple of elementary schools...
California’s Urgent Issues Loom over Newsom Campaign and His Would-Be Successors
This commentary was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. Political California cranked up for the New Year on Monday. The Legislature reconvened after a 114-day recess, Gov. Gavin Newsom renewed his nascent campaign for president and the dozen or so men and women who covet his job...
Could Mysterious California News Site Influence 2026 Elections?
This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. Earlier this year, as the political battle over Congressional redistricting brought California into the national spotlight, Facebook users were shown a curious series of ads. The ads, from a straightforward-looking news site called the California Courier, often felt...
Fresno County Authorities Seek Relatives of Man Who Died in Riverdale
The Fresno County Sheriff-Coroner’s Office is asking for the public’s help locating relatives of a 63-year-old man who died last month in Riverdale. Officials said Jorge Figueroa passed away Dec. 2, 2025. He is possibly originally from Guadalajara, Mexico. The Coroner’s Office said staff have searched numerous personal records but...