The U.S. Powerball jackpot has climbed to $1.7 billion ahead of Wednesday night's drawing, putting one of the biggest lottery prizes in American history within reach — just in time for Christmas. The jackpot swelled after Monday's drawing produced no winners, allowing the payout to climb. The next drawing was...
Oil Steady on US Data, Geopolitical Tension
Oil prices were little changed on Wednesday, as investors weighed U.S. economic growth and assessed the risk of supply disruptions from Venezuela and Russia, though prices were on course for their steepest annual decline since 2020. Brent crude futures were down 23 cents, or 0.4%, at $62.15 a barrel at 11:40...
Trump’s Seizures of Oil Tankers Challenge Maritime Rules and Customs
President Donald Trump’s recent actions against tankers near Venezuela, the dramatic seizure of a vessel called Skipper and the detention of another called Centuries, appear to bend international maritime laws and customs, legal experts say. Countries have authority to seize vessels in their territorial waters. But policing international waters can...
Heavy Rain Sparks Semi Crash in Merced County
Heavy rain led to slick roads and reduced visibility in Delhi, contributing to a traffic collision involving a big rig, the California Highway Patrol reported Wednesday. The CHP said the truck’s trailer lost control after the driver braked for slowed traffic. The agency highlighted the dangers of wet conditions and...
Fresno County Authorities Ask Public for Help in Murder Investigation
Detectives with the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office are still investigating the 2023 murder of Cassandra Munoz, 33. Deputies found Munoz deceased with injuries consistent with homicide on the morning of Dec. 24, 2023, near Adams and Highland avenues, east of Fowler. Got a Tip? No arrests have been made, and...
Here’s What Is in the 20-Point Peace Plan for Ukraine
KYIV, Ukraine — President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine has unveiled a revised draft peace plan, developed with the United States, portraying it as Ukraine’s best effort to end the war with Russia. The 20 points included in the plan cover a broad range of issues, from the security guarantees Ukraine...
Federal Judge Rules California Teachers Are Allowed to ‘Out’ Transgender Students to Parents
A federal judge issued a ruling Monday that strikes down California school policies aimed at preventing schools from revealing a student’s gender identity to their parents. The class action suit, filed by California teachers and parents, hinges on whether TK-12 educators can breach a student’s confidentiality and tell parents that...
Redacted Material in Some Epstein Files Is Easily Recovered
Portions of some files released from the Justice Department’s investigation of Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender, were not properly redacted digitally, with some censored information easily revealed by copying and pasting blacked-out text into a separate file. The information from the failed redactions surfaced by The...
Candace Owens Is the Conservative Movement’s Frankenstein Monster
This past week, Charlie Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, traveled to Nashville, Tennessee, to meet with Candace Owens, a podcaster who has become the premier purveyor of conspiracy theories about her husband’s murder. If the summit was meant to persuade Owens to back off her paranoid and fantastical speculations, it failed....
Fresno County Hit-and-Run Suspect Surrenders to Authorities
A driver suspected of fleeing a hit-and-run crash in western Fresno County turned himself in after authorities sought the public’s help through social media, the California Highway Patrol said. The head-on crash occurred Tuesday at the intersection of Fowler and Davis avenues near Laton, causing major damage and moderate injuries....