Incompatible pumping allocations being considered by two groundwater agencies in north Kings County have prompted a blizzard of responses, and even some accusations, from farmers and multiple entities. The South Fork Kings Groundwater Sustainability Agency and Mid-Kings River GSA each had draft pumping allocation policies out for public comment. The...
America’s Doctors Are Rich, Miserable, and Sick of Paperwork
Look around a physicians’ car park in Dallas, Texas, and the rewards from years slogging away in training are evident. “It looks like a German-car dealership,” says Scott Yates, a doctor, from behind the wheel of his BMW. He reels off all the luxury-car brands he can see. Yet he...
With Fed independence in Crosshairs, Will Supreme Court Back Trump Again?
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court's conservative justices appear ready to endorse President Donald Trump's power to fire a regulatory agency official despite job protections given by Congress. But they have signaled reluctance to give him similar authority over the Federal Reserve in a major case set to be argued...
Second Hmong Council Member Appointed in Merced. Where Does He Stand on District 2 Issues?
The Merced City Council appointed Yang Pao Thao to the District 2 council seat left vacant by Ronnie De Anda’s resignation in October. The appointment of a qualified southwest Merced representative on Dec. 2 follows the council’s decision to move forward without a special district election. In a 5-1 vote, council members...
House Republicans Release Health Plan That Would Allow Subsidies to End
WASHINGTON — House Republicans plan to hold votes next week on a narrow health care bill that would allow expanded Affordable Care Act subsidies to expire as scheduled at the end of the month while making several changes aimed at holding down costs. They released the measure late Friday afternoon,...
Some Newsom Detractors Make Up Stuff, Though There’s Fodder for Legitimate Criticism
This commentary was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. As Gavin Newsom ramps up his almost certain campaign for president, and polls put him in contention for the Democratic Party’s nomination in 2028, he has become a favorite target of right-leaning commentators on network television and in...
Apple TV Down for Thousands of Users, Downdetector Shows
Apple TV and Apply TV+ experienced a possible outage Friday, with thousands of users reporting issues, according to Downdetector.com. More than 6,000 users had reported problems with Apple TV as of 4:58 p.m. PT, according to Downdetector, which tracks outages by collecting status reports from multiple sources. Most users reporting...
Clovis Unified Keeps ‘Chieftain’ Mascot After Mono Indian Tribe Gives ‘OK’
Clark Intermediate School will retain its long-time mascot, "the Chieftain," after the school district worked with the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians to get the depiction approved. California law requires all public schools from using Native American mascots unless it gets approval from a local, federally recognized tribe, according...
Governor Candidate Eric Swalwell Will Hold Fresno Town Hall
Democratic Congressman Eric Swalwell, a 2026 candidate for governor, will host his second town hall of the campaign on Monday, Dec. 15, in Fresno. Swalwell, 45, is well known in Democratic circles for his talk-show appearances on national and cable networks. He also has a national profile as one of...
Court Rejects Planned Parenthood’s Challenge to Trump-Backed Law Ending Medicaid Funding
A federal appeals court ruled on Friday that a provision of U.S. President Donald Trump's signature tax and domestic policy bill that deprives Planned Parenthood and local affiliates that perform abortions of Medicaid funding is not an unconstitutional punishment. The Boston-based 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a preliminary...