House Democrats voted Tuesday to select Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minn.) as their top member on the Agriculture Committee, favoring the junior legislator over veteran Rep. Jim Costa (D-Fresno), The Hill reported. The vote, conducted behind closed doors by secret ballot in the Capitol’s basement, resulted in a tally of 121...
Israel OKs Golan Heights Settlement Expansion Amid Syria Leadership Shift
Israel's government has approved a plan to expand settlements in the occupied Golan Heights, a move that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called necessary due to a "new front" on Israel's border with Syria following the fall of the Assad regime to Islamist-led rebels, according to the BBC. Netanyahu aims to...
Israeli Strikes Kill 35 in Gaza, Including 12 Aid Truck Guards
At least 35 Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes in Gaza, including 12 guards protecting humanitarian aid trucks, according to local medics and the Hamas-run Civil Defence, the BBC reported on Thursday. Seven guards died in Rafah, where aid lorries were being shielded from violent armed thefts, identified as a...
High-Speed Rail Authority Breaks Ground on Fresno Four-Lane Grade Separation
The California High-Speed Rail Authority, joined by local and state leaders, celebrated the groundbreaking of the McKinley Avenue and Golden State Boulevard Grade Separation in Fresno. The project, located between Highway 99 and West Avenue, will transform the area with a four-lane roadway spanning 402 feet long and more than...
Palm Springs Police Chief Defends Parade Decision After Cop’s Motorcycle Crash Injures 12
Palm Springs Police Chief Andy Mills defended the decision to continue the city’s Festival of Lights Parade after a police motorcycle crashed into a crowd, injuring 11 spectators and the cop, The Palm Springs Post reported. The incident occurred Saturday night near the Hyatt Palm Springs as the parade began....
Yosemite’s Iconic and Chaotic Bracebridge Dinner Returns After 5-Year Hiatus
Yosemite National Park’s longest-running Christmas tradition, the Bracebridge Dinner, is back after a five-year break, SFGATE reports. Held at the Ahwahnee Hotel, the multi-course, Tudor-style holiday feast has been a blend of pageantry, theater, and musical performance since its inception in 1927. The dinner features actors in elaborate costumes, including...
$197M Winning Lottery Ticket Bought in L.A. Must Be Postmarked Today or Forfeited
A $197 million Mega Millions jackpot remains unclaimed in California, with the deadline for redemption rapidly approaching. The winning ticket, purchased at a Chevron gas station in Encino, Los Angeles, on December 8, 2023, is set to expire this Saturday. "We have no way of knowing who has the second...
Raising Resilient Kids: 10 Powerful Phrases for Mental Strength
Psychotherapist Amy Morin emphasizes that raising mentally strong children goes beyond telling them to "toughen up." Instead, it's about equipping them with skills to tackle challenges, manage emotions, and believe in themselves. In her book "13 Things Mentally Strong Parents Don't Do," Morin outlines 10 simple yet powerful phrases parents...
Amnesty International Accuses Israel of Genocide in Gaza War
Amnesty International has accused Israel of committing genocide during its war in Gaza, marking the first time a major human rights organization has made such an allegation in an ongoing conflict, reported The Guardian. In a 296-page report, Amnesty detailed violations under the Genocide Convention, including killing, causing harm, and...
MSNBC Hits Two-Decade Ratings Low Amid Trump Victory and Network Turmoil
MSNBC suffered one of its worst days in two decades last week, grappling with declining viewership following President-elect Donald Trump’s victory over Vice President Kamala Harris, reported Fox News. On Nov. 26, the network recorded its lowest-rated non-holiday weekday in the advertiser-coveted 25-54 age demographic since July 19, 2004, with...