Seven people were killed Thursday in the crash of a Cessna 550 business jet in Statesville, North Carolina, including former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle, NASCAR said. The plane crashed at the Statesville Regional Airport in North Carolina. The North Carolina Highway Patrol said it is believed that Biffle and members...
Trump Affirms 2028 Moon Landing Goal, Cancels Space Council in Executive Order
The Trump administration enshrined the U.S. goal to put humans back on the moon by 2028 and defend space from weapon threats in a sweeping executive order on Thursday that reorganized national space policy under the President's chief science advisor. — (Reporting by Joey Roulette)
Fresno Police Arrest Delivery Driver in Organized Retail Theft Case
A long-term organized retail theft investigation that began in Fresno in August led to the arrest of a suspect and the recovery of stolen property on Thursday, police said. The investigation began after Amazon employees reported that a third-party delivery driver failed to deliver packages to customers and did not...
$8M Table Mountain Gift Will Build ‘Inclusive’ Playground at Valley Children’s
An $8 million gift from the Table Mountain Rancheria to Valley Children's Hospital will go to build a playground that children of all abilities can enjoy. The playground, to be built on the hospital's south lawn, will include adaptive equipment, sensory-friendly zones, and shaded areas to accommodate children with different...
Oil Prices Settle Slightly Higher as Market Assesses Mounting Supply Risks
Oil prices settled marginally higher on Thursday as investors assessed the likelihood of further U.S. sanctions against Russia and the supply risks posed by a blockade of Venezuelan oil tankers. Brent crude closed 14 cents, or 0.2%, higher at $59.82 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was up...
Wall Street Closes Higher Fueled by Tech Rally, Soft Inflation Data
Wall Street's main indexes closed higher on Thursday as a soft inflation report fed expectations for interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve, while chipmaker Micron's blowout forecast signaled strong AI demand. The Consumer Price Index report showed that consumer prices increased less than expected in the year to November. The...
Trump Expected to Sign $1 Trillion Annual Defense Bill
President Donald Trump on Thursday plans to sign into law a nearly $1 trillion annual defense policy bill, despite its provisions providing new aid to Ukraine and reining in his ability to dial down U.S. involvement in the defense of Europe. The fiscal 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA,...
Stephen King: What Rob Reiner Saw in Me
In this case, I prefer to trust my feelings more than my memory. The only thing I’m positive about is how I felt when I heard Rob Reiner was dead: a combination of sadness and disbelief. As for the rest … Robert Stone had it right when he said “the...
Trump Moves to Ease Cannabis Restrictions. What Does It Mean for Consumers?
President Donald Trump said he will direct the U.S. Department of Justice to reclassify cannabis as a less dangerous drug. Here’s a look at what that would mean for people shopping at dispensaries across the country. What Does Rescheduling Cannabis Actually Mean? Rescheduling cannabis from a Schedule I to a...
Trump Says ‘Getting Close to Something’ Ahead of US, Russia Talks on Ukraine
WASHINGTON, Dec 18 - President Donald Trump on Thursday said he believes talks toward ending the war in Ukraine are "getting close to something" ahead of a U.S. meeting with Russian officials this weekend. During an Oval Office event, Trump told reporters, "I hope Ukraine moves quickly." Trump envoys Steve...