One in three Americans approve of the U.S. military strike on Venezuela that toppled the country's president and 72% worry the U.S. will become too involved in the South American country, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll that concluded on Monday. The two-day poll showed 65% of Republicans back the military operation...
Who Is Delcy Rodríguez?
Delcy Rodríguez, a leftist and political confidant to captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, has suddenly become the country’s interim leader. She is in a delicate situation, pitted between the Trump administration in Washington, which says it expects Rodríguez’s cooperation, and a Venezuelan public that deeply distrusts American influence. She was...
Maduro Tells US Judge He Was ‘Kidnapped’
Nicolás Maduro, the ousted Venezuelan president, and his wife pleaded not guilty Monday to federal charges including drug trafficking and other crimes, two days after they were captured in a U.S. military raid in Caracas, the Venezuelan capital. Maduro, his hair streaked with gray, identified himself to the judge as...
New California Laws That Will Impact the Valley in 2026
Now that 2025 is in the rearview mirror, several important new laws take effect this year that will have key impacts on San Joaquin Valley residents. The Merced FOCUS, with help from CalMatters Digital Democracy and EdSource, has compiled a list that includes some of the top new laws that will impact Valley...
Kern County Deputies Arrest Two in Train Burglary
Deputies from the Kern County Sheriff’s Office arrested two men Wednesday after they were found inside a storage container on a train in Keene. Ricardo Rodriguez, 47, and Juan Diaz, 41, initially barricaded themselves inside the container and refused to surrender, according to the sheriff’s office. Deputies from the Mojave,...
Switzerland Freezes Assets Linked to Venezuela’s Maduro After US Arrest
Switzerland has frozen assets held in the country by Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro and associates, the Swiss government said on Monday, following his arrest by U.S. forces in Caracas and transfer to the United States. A spokesperson for the Swiss Foreign Ministry said the order affects 37 people. The spokesperson said...
Josiah Freeman Granted Another Season, Returns as Fresno State’s Top Receiver
The Bulldogs' top wide receiver is staying for one more year. On Sunday, Fresno State announced the NCAA had granted Josiah Freeman an extension. "One more time, Red Wave!!!" Freeman wrote on X. One more time RedWave!!! pic.twitter.com/tUxU6Bh4yE — Josiah Freeman 🧘🏾♂️ (@josiahfreeman12) January 4, 2026 Freeman had his best...
Meet Fresno Leaders, Innovators, Champions, and Volunteers Making a Difference
As Fresno and the Central Valley continue to wrestle with challenges ranging from housing and health care to education, food insecurity, and environmental change, a group of local leaders is quietly shaping a different future. GV Wire’s 2025 Difference Makers spotlight individuals and organizations whose work is redefining what service,...
President Nicolas Maduro Pleaded Not Guilty on Monday to Charges of Narco-Terrorism
Toppled Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro pleaded not guilty on Monday to charges of narco-terrorism after President Donald Trump's stunning capture of him rattled world leaders and left officials in Caracas scrambling to respond. Maduro, 63, pleaded not guilty in New York federal court to four criminal counts that include narco-terrorism,...
Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Chanel Cecelia Candevan
January 5, 2026 Most Wanted Person of the Day Suspect Name: Chanel Cecelia Candevan Suspects Date of Birth: August 5, 1990 Physical Description: White Female, 5’ 6, 165 lbs., Brown Hair, Hazel Eyes. Charges: Residential burglary Warrant Number: F25904048 Synopsis of the Case: Chanel Cecelia Candevan is wanted on a...