This commentary was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. When Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled a revised state budget last week, he irritated — and perhaps alienated — major interest groups allied with his Democratic Party. </> They flooded reporters' email inboxes with critical reaction statements demanding that...
Fresno Unified Delegation Takes Field Trip to Bus Depot
Less than a month after approving a $17 million-a-year bus contract, a delegation from Fresno Unified got a first-hand look at what they bought. Fresno Unified trustees approved a five-year contract with Zūm Services Inc. on April 30. Zūm will provide special education transportation through the contract. Current drivers will...
Trump Selects Concept for $175B ‘Golden Dome’ Missile Defense System
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has announced the concept he wants for his future Golden Dome missile defense program — a multilayered, $175 billion system that for the first time will put U.S. weapons in space. Speaking Tuesday from the Oval Office, Trump said he expects the system will be “fully operational before...
US Expected to Declare Biden Fuel Economy Rules Exceeded Legal Authority
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Transportation Department is expected to declare that fuel economy rules issued under then President Joe Biden exceeded the government's legal authority by including electric vehicles in setting the rules, automaker officials said Monday. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the department's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration...
George Wendt, Who Played a Beloved Barfly on ‘Cheers,’ Dies at 76
NEW YORK — George Wendt, an actor with an Everyman charm who played the affable, beer-loving barfly Norm on the hit 1980s TV comedy “Cheers” and later crafted a stage career that took him to Broadway in “Art,” “Hairspray” and “Elf,” has died. He was 76. Wendt's family said he...
Fresno Supervisors Go After Catalytic Converter Thieves With New Ordinance
A new Fresno County ordinance allows law enforcement to arrest anyone caught with an unattached catalytic converter. Even though catalytic converter thefts have dropped significantly since highs in 2023, insurers still reported more than 2,000 claims in California for the first half of 2024, according to a January article from...
Musk, Republican Party’s Biggest Donor, Says He Will Cut Political Spending
DOHA/WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Elon Musk, who spent nearly $300 million to back Donald Trump's presidential campaign and other Republicans last year, said on Tuesday he will cut his political spending substantially, the latest public signal that he is shifting his attention back to his business empire amid growing investor concerns. Musk...
Fresno Smoke Shops Sue City Hall, Want to Block New Rules
A trade group representing Fresno smoke shop owners filed a lawsuit Monday, asking a federal judge to block regulations imposed by the city council. The California Smoke Shops Association said the city's restriction of only seven smoke shops in each of the seven council districts — 49 total — would...
Why California’s Biggest Local Effort to Fight Homelessness Is Starting All Over Again
This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. For three decades, the city and county of Los Angeles managed California's biggest homelessness crisis together. They had equal say in big funding decisions, and worked in tandem to coordinate housing programs through a joint city-county agency called...
US Health Authorities to Set Targets for Lowering Drug Prices
(Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said on Tuesday it would set drug prices pegged to the lowest level paid by other high-income countries following an executive order from President Donald Trump last week aimed at lowering the prices of branded medicines for U.S. consumers. HHS...