This commentary was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. When California became a state in 1850, it had fewer than 100,000 residents and 27 sparsely populated counties. Several were larger in land area than some states. However, its population was exploding with Gold Rush immigrants and almost...
US Stocks Shake in Twitchy Trading as Bonds Show More Stress Following Tariff Escalations
NEW YORK — The U.S. stock market is shaking through twitchy trading Wednesday after most other markets tumbled as President Donald Trump’s trade war keeps escalating. The S&P 500 was 0.3% higher in morning trading after quivering sharply at the start of trading. The index at the center of many...
EU Imposes New Tariffs on $23 Billion in US Goods in Retaliation
BRUSSELS — European Union member states have voted to approve retaliatory tariffs on $23 billion in goods in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s 25% tariffs on imported steel and aluminum. The tariffs will go into effect in stages, with some on April 15 and others on May 15 and...
Iran’s President Opens Door to US Investment, Reaffirms Nuclear Peace Stance
TEHRAN, Iran — Iran's president again pledged Wednesday that his nation is “not after a nuclear bomb” ahead of talks between Tehran and the United States, going as far as dangling the prospect of direct American investment in the Islamic Republic if the countries can reach a deal. The comments...
It’s the First US Nuclear Plant to Use AI. Where Does Diablo Canyon Go From Here?
This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. Diablo Canyon, California’s sole remaining nuclear power plant, has been left for dead on more than a few occasions over the last decade or so, and is currently slated to begin a lengthy decommissioning process in 2029. Despite...
‘World-Class Nightlife’: CA Lawmakers Try Again to Extend Last Call to 4 AM
This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. Enjoy closing down a California bar at 2 a.m.? Hold my beer, say a pair of San Francisco Democrats. Assemblymember Matt Haney and Sen. Scott Wiener are bringing back a measure to allow some restaurants and bars in...
Fresno County Passes Ordinance to Punish Copper Wire Thieves
The Fresno County Board of Supervisors has passed an ordinance to make it easier for law enforcement to arrest copper wire thieves. Individuals possessing or transporting 10 pounds or more of stripped copper wire, without appropriate licenses, will be subject to arrest and fines. Law enforcement and political officials are...
Fresno Native Denise Whisenhunt Returns Home to Lead City College
After a rigorous recruitment process, a Fresno native, Denise Whisenhunt, J.D., returns home as Fresno Community College’s new president. The State Center Community College District announced Whisenhunt’s appointment Tuesday morning following a nationwide search. Whisenhunt is taking over for Robert Pimentel who resigned last August, after two years as president,...
Smittcamp Warns Fresno Supervisors About New Copper Theft Law. Bredefeld Wants to Take a Risk
This story was updated to include clarification from Fresno County District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp. After a warning from Fresno County District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp about the constitutionality of a new ordinance, county supervisors approved a law making it illegal for a person to have more than 10 pounds of stripped...
Border Patrol Said It Targeted Known Criminals in Kern County. But It Had No Record on 77 of 78 Arrestees
This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. It was quiet on the border. A Border Patrol agent named James Lee was parked in the shade next to a 30-foot fence in Calexico. The windows of his SUV were rolled up, the engine making that noise...