A study from Westlands Water District lays out the difference on the local economy between when farmers have water and when they don't. The district's third economic impact report, which was released Wednesday, compares 2022 , a year following scant rainfall and a 0% water allocation — later marginally increased...
Instacart to Pay $60 Million to Settle FTC Claims It Deceived Shoppers
Instacart has agreed to pay $60 million to settle the U.S. Federal Trade Commission's allegations that the online grocery delivery platform deceived consumers about its Instacart+ membership and free delivery offers, according to court documents filed in San Francisco on Thursday. Instacart's offer of "free delivery" for first orders was...
The Kennedy Center Is Adding ‘Trump’ to Its Name, White House Says
The board of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, which President Donald Trump filled with allies during a broad takeover earlier this year, has decided to rename the institution the Trump-Kennedy Center, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said on Thursday. "I have just been informed that the...
Pope Leo Replaces New York’s Cardinal Dolan in Shake-up of US Church
Pope Leo replaced Cardinal Timothy Dolan as leader of the Catholic Church in New York, the Vatican announced on Thursday, sidelining a prominent U.S. Church figure in a major shake-up of the country's Catholic leadership. Leo, the first U.S. pope, appointed a relatively unknown cleric from Illinois, Bishop Ronald Hicks,...
Fresno Mother, 2-Year-Old Daughter Identified in Fatal Crash
A 2-year-old child and a 28-year-old woman were killed in a two-vehicle crash Wednesday morning at the intersection of Jefferson and Walnut avenues in Fresno County, the California Highway Patrol said. The Fresno County Sheriff-Coroner’s Office identified them as Samantha Kellogg, 28, and Elena Kellogg, 2, both of Fresno. The...
SpaceX Loses Contact With Starlink Satellite After Mishap
SpaceX's Starlink said one of its satellites experienced an anomaly in space on Wednesday that created a "small number" of debris and cut off communications with the spacecraft at 418 km (259.73 miles) in altitude, a rare kinetic accident in orbit for the satellite internet giant. "The satellite is largely...
Fresno Opens New Terminal as Major Milestone in $150 Million Airport Expansion
The biggest step in Fresno Yosemite International Airport's $150 million airport expansion project opened Wednesday with a new two-gate terminal. The city held a celebration before travelers departed on flights to Guadalajara, Mexico. “We are building an airport worthy of the community it serves, investing in infrastructure that strengthens our...
Fresno’s ‘Twilight Zone’ of Endless Fog Is Finally Clearing
For three weeks, David Mas Masumoto, a peach farmer in California’s San Joaquin Valley, has worked under a dense fog that has blocked nearly all sunshine. It has been good for the fruit trees, which benefit from the cool, clammy weather, Masumoto said, “but it can get depressing for humans.”...
US Inflation Slowed to 2.7% in November as Shutdown Distorts Data
U.S. inflation eased in November in what economists said likely reflected distortions caused by the government shutdown, creating an uncertain picture for the Federal Reserve as it simultaneously contends with rising unemployment. The latest consumer price index, released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on Thursday, rose 2.7% from the...
US House Panel Votes to Pay Air Traffic Controllers During Future Government Shutdowns
A U.S. House of Representatives committee on Thursday voted unanimously to approve legislation aiming to prevent aviation disruptions during government shutdowns by ensuring air traffic controllers and other key workers are paid. The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee also approved a separate bill that would require the Federal Aviation Administration...