Residents are gearing up for the beloved Big Fresno Fair, which has a new look atop its governing board. At the top of the board are Gary Chahil, president; Frank Flores, vice president; and Jerry Pacheco, secretary/treasurer. Chahil succeeds Terry Gonsalves as president. “I am profoundly appreciative of the trust...
AI ‘Friend’ for Public School Students Falls Flat
An AI platform named Ed was supposed to be an “educational friend” to half a million students in Los Angeles public schools. In typed chats, Ed would direct students toward academic and mental health resources, or tell parents whether their children had attended class that day, and provide their latest...
Is a ‘Friend-Apist’ What We Really Want From Therapy?
(THE CONVERSATION) When I read the recent New York Times article "Therapy Is Good. These Therapists Are Bad," I couldn't help but think of the Apple TV+ series "Shrinking." The article details the troubling prevalence of ethical and legal boundary violations by therapists: riding an exercise bike during appointments, bringing...
Yemen’s Houthi Rebels Report US Strikes in the Capital and a Coastal City
CAIRO — Yemen's Houthi rebels said Saturday that the U.S. military launched a series of airstrikes on the capital, Sanaa, and the Houthi-held coastal city of Hodeida, less than two days after a U.S. strike wrecked a Red Sea port and killed more than 70 people. The Houthis' media office...
Progressive Icon and Ex-US Rep. Barbara Lee Wins Race for Mayor of Oakland
SAN FRANCISCO — Progressive icon and former U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee declared victory Saturday as the new mayor of troubled Oakland, a San Francisco Bay Area city reeling from economic stagnation, crime and homelessness. Lee issued a statement Saturday as mayor-elect, saying that her chief opponent, Loren Taylor, had called...
Humanoid Robots Run a Chinese Half-Marathon Alongside Human Competitors
BEIJING — In one small step for robot-kind — thousands of them, really — humanoid robots ran alongside actual humans in a half-marathon in the Chinese capital on Saturday. The bipedal robots of various makes and sizes navigated the 21.1-kilometer (13.1-mile) course supported by teams of human navigators, operators, and...
Bakersfield Push to Restore Kern River Seeks to Revitalize City
To improve Bakersfield’s image and quality of life, a group of residents is working to restore water to the city’s long‑dry Kern River, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Led by the nonprofit Bring Back the Kern, the project would return a flowing river to the heart of California’s ninth‑largest city. Long‑time resident Bill Cooper...
Anti-Trump Protesters Turn Out to Rallies Across Country
NEW YORK — Opponents of President Donald Trump's administration took to the streets of communities large and small across the U.S. on Saturday, decrying what they see as threats to the nation's democratic ideals. The disparate events ranged from a march through midtown Manhattan and a rally in front of...
Universal Studios Fan Fest 2025 to Feature Immersive D&D Attraction and More
Universal Studios Hollywood is gearing up to launch an exciting new attraction inspired by the popular role-playing game DUNGEONS & DRAGONS. According to TravelPulse, the theme park unveiled a sneak peek of the upcoming "DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: Secrets of Waterdeep" experience, set to debut during Universal Fan Fest Nights starting...
Thousands Gather in London for Trans Rights Following UK Ruling Over Definition of Woman
LONDON — Thousands of trans rights protesters gathered in central London on Saturday, days after the U.K.'s Supreme Court ruled that a woman is someone born biologically female and that transgender women are excluded from that legal definition. With unease growing over what the ruling means for the rights of...