WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs took a toll on trade in August, as imports of goods and services dropped 5.1%, to $340.4 billion, after taxes on exports from roughly 90 countries went into effect Aug. 7, newly released data from the Commerce Department showed Wednesday. The data, which...
Israeli Military Steps up Strikes in South Lebanon, Says Targeting Hezbollah
BEIRUT — The Israeli military stepped up airstrikes in south Lebanon on Wednesday, killing at least one person as it pressed a campaign of near-daily attacks which it says is designed to block a military revival by Iran-backed Hezbollah in the border area. Israel has accused Hezbollah of trying to...
City, County Split on How to Deal With Kratom in Fresno
Both city and county of Fresno elected officials this week are taking on an unregulated herbal supplement called kratom that can be used as a recreational drug. And while county supervisors allowed some uses in their ban after hearing from kratom users about the natural leaf's health benefits, the Fresno...
Cristiano Ronaldo Attends White House Meeting Between Trump and Saudi Crown Prince
Portugal's soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo on Tuesday attended a White House meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Trump is hosting the Saudi de facto ruler as the latter seeks to rehabilitate his global image after the 2018 killing of U.S.-based journalist Jamal...
Fresno County Authorities Rescue Four Stranded at Shaver Lake
Four people were rescued Sunday after getting stuck in the snow at Brewer Lake OHV Trailhead in Shaver Lake, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday afternoon. Sheriff’s dispatchers received an emergency call from the group in a small SUV reporting low food supplies. A patrol deputy attempted to reach...
US To Send 250 Border Agents to Louisiana, Mississippi Next Month, AP Reports
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is planning to deploy about 250 federal border agents to Louisiana and Mississippi aiming to arrest around 5,000 people in the two states, the Associated Press reported on Tuesday, citing documents and three people familiar. The operation, which is being called "Swamp Sweep," is...
US Congress Passes Measure To Force Release of Epstein Files, Sending It to Trump
The Republican-controlled U.S. Congress voted almost unanimously on Tuesday to force the release of Justice Department files on the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, an outcome President Donald Trump had fought for months before ending his opposition. Two days after Trump's abrupt about-face, the House of Representatives passed the...
Madera Police Investigate Train Incident, Railroad Crossings Closed
Madera police are investigating an incident involving a train that has closed all railroad crossings north of Ninth Street, the department said Tuesday. Police said the closures are expected to last for some time, and an update will be provided when the crossings reopen. Authorities did not give any details...
Fresno Completes Safety, Paving Upgrades on Blackstone Avenue
The city of Fresno has finished a major rehabilitation and safety project along Blackstone Avenue from Minarets to Nees avenues, bringing the roadway up to modern standards for the first time in nearly 30 years, the city said in a statement. “This stretch of Blackstone hadn’t been touched in nearly...
Fresno Police Arrest Shooting Suspect After SWAT Standoff
A man was arrested Friday after a two-week investigation into an October shooting that left a 29-year-old man injured, police said. According to the Fresno Police Department, officers were called just after 12:30 a.m. on Oct. 29 to the area of Fruit and Ashlan avenues after reports of gunfire. A...