The Trump administration intends to terminate the United States’ financial support for Gavi, the organization that has helped purchase critical vaccines for children in developing countries, saving millions of lives over the past quarter century, and to significantly scale back support for efforts to combat malaria, one of the biggest...
Supreme Court Backs Biden’s Ghost Gun Regulation Requiring Serial Numbers, Background Checks
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld a Biden administration regulation on the nearly impossible-to-trace weapons called ghost guns, clearing the way for continued serial numbers, background checks and age verification requirements to buy them in kits online. Seven justices joined the opinion, authored by Justice Neil Gorsuch, upholding...
Trump Signs Order Requiring Proof of Citizenship to Vote
NEW YORK — President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed a sweeping executive action to overhaul elections in the U.S., including requiring documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections and demanding that all ballots be received by Election Day. The order says the U.S. has failed “to...
The Atlantic Releases Entire Signal Chat Showing Hegseth’s Attack Plans Against Houthis
WASHINGTON — The Atlantic on Wednesday released the entire Signal chat among senior national security officials, showing that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth provided the exact timings of warplane launches and when bombs would drop — before the men and women flying those attacks against Yemen's Houthis this month on behalf...
Will This $13 Million Contract Make Fresno Schools Cooler?
Fresno Unified trustees are scheduled to consider a $13 million contract with a Southern California-headquartered company to work on HVAC systems at 100 schools, including two charters. Mesa Energy Systems, Inc., also known as EMCOR Services Mesa Energy, submitted the sole proposal for the project and was one of only...
Bakersfield Hatchet-Wielding Man Gets 2 Years for Breaking Into Post Office
A Bakersfield man was sentenced on Tuesday to two years in federal prison for burglarizing a U.S. Post Office in Caliente, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced. Shawn Van Dixon, 39, received the 24-month sentence from U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez after admitting to breaking into the post office...
Deadlines for Fresno Housing Academic Scholarships Are Near
Fresno Housing has teamed up with Beyond Housing Foundation and CalViva to provide financial support to Fresno Housing program participates and African American students pursuing academic goals. Three types of scholarships cover various academic pursuits: Education Advancement Scholarship, High School Equivalency (GED) Program Support, and HAW Fifty–Six. The scholarship deadlines...
CA Bill Would Stop PG&E From Sticking Ratepayers With Ad and Lobbying Costs
A new California legislative bill would stop utility companies from passing political lobbying, advertising, and shareholder expenses onto energy consumers. Assemblymember Marc Berman (D-Menlo Park), introduced Assembly Bill 1167 on Feb. 21. The bill requires utility companies to justify rate increases. It makes "unjust" or "unreasonable" charges unlawful, according to...
Fresno County Hires Two New Department Heads
Fresno County recently split its Internal Services Department into two branches. And with that split comes two new hires. On Tuesday, supervisors approved hiring Raymond Hunter as director of general services and Michael Kerr as chief information officer and director of information technology services. Kerr, Hunter Come to Fresno From...
Track and Field to Be First Olympic Sport Requiring DNA Sex Tests for Women
Track and field will introduce mandatory DNA sex testing for athletes entering female competitions, its global leader said Tuesday, making it the first Olympic sport to add the requirement. The move comes amid an increasingly vexed debate over eligibility rules in female sports and comes less than a year after...