Georgia Governor Brian Kemp on Friday suspended the state's gas tax amid rising fuel prices as the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran enters its third week. The move - the first such relief offered by a U.S. state since the war started on February 28 - suspends Georgia's tax of 33.3...
Kern County Authorities Arrest 7 in Warrant Sweep, Seize 100 Pounds of Stolen Copper Wire
A warrant sweep in western Kern County led to multiple arrests and the seizure of stolen industrial materials, authorities said. On Wednesday, deputies from the Kern County Sheriff’s Office Taft Substation and detectives with the Rural Crimes Investigation Unit, assisted by the Kern County Probation Department, conducted an operation in...
Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Diamond Deonn Reeds
March 20, 2026 Most Wanted Person of the Day Suspect Name: Diamond Deonn Reeds Suspects Date of Birth: February 5, 1999 Physical Description: Black Male, 5’ 8, 215 lbs., Black Hair, Brown Eyes. Charges: Battery resulting in serious bodily injuries Warrant Number: F25905618 Synopsis of the Case: Diamond Deonn Reeds...
Iraq Declares Force Majeure on Foreign-Operated Oilfields Over Hormuz Disruption, Sources Say
Iraq has declared force majeure on all oilfields developed by foreign oil companies after military operations in the region disrupted navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, halting most of the country's crude exports, three energy officials with direct knowledge of the decision said. Navigation through the Strait of Hormuz —...
Oil Jumps to Highest Settlement Since July 2022 as More Mideast Supply Disrupted
Oil prices jumped on Friday and settled at their highest in nearly four years, as Iraq declared force majeure on all oilfields developed by foreign oil firms and the Iran war escalated with the U.S. set to deploy thousands of additional Marines and sailors to the Middle East. Brent futures...
Fresno Voters Will See Dueling Transportation Tax Petitions. What’s the Difference?
With two proposals to fund road repair in Fresno County cleared to begin collecting signatures, voters will soon see petitions to put the competing half-cent sales tax measures on the November ballot. In a presentation before the Fresno County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, former Fresno County Transportation Authority executive...
US Sending Marines and Amphibious Assault Ship to Middle East, Officials Say
The U.S. military is deploying thousands of Marines to the Middle East, officials told Reuters on Friday, as President Donald Trump accused NATO allies of cowardice over their reluctance to send forces to help open the Strait of Hormuz. The narrow waterway, the conduit for around a fifth of global...
BTS Concert in South Korea to Herald Stream of Live Events, Netflix Says
U.S. streaming platform Netflix anticipates more opportunities for live events in South Korea, a company official said on Friday, as it prepares for its biggest livestream this year, a highly anticipated BTS comeback concert in Seoul. The one-hour event, to be streamed live to 190 countries in the company's first...
US Strike Against Alleged Drug Smugglers in Eastern Pacific Kills Two, Coast Guard Says
U.S. forces launched a strike against a boat allegedly involved in drug smuggling in the eastern Pacific, the U.S. military said on Friday, killing two people. The Coast Guard said it was notified by U.S. Southern Command on Thursday that three people were reported in distress in Pacific waters. They...
Kern County Man Sentenced for Using Drone to Smuggle Meth Into State Prison
A Kern County man was sentenced to 12 years and seven months in federal prison for flying a drone over a state prison to deliver methamphetamine, authorities said. Jorge Narvaez, 28, of Delano, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kirk E. Sherriff for possession with intent to distribute a controlled...