Nearly two months after an explosion sent flaming debris raining down on the Turks and Caicos, SpaceX launched another mammoth Starship rocket on Thursday, but lost contact minutes into the test flight as the spacecraft came tumbling down. The 403-foot (123-meter) rocket blasted off from Texas a little before sunset....
Judge Orders Trump Admin to Pay Nearly $2 Billion in USAID and State Dept. Debts
WASHINGTON — A federal judge on Thursday gave the Trump administration until Monday to pay nearly $2 billion owed to partners of the U.S. Agency for International Development and the State Department, thawing the administration's six-week funding freeze on all foreign assistance. U.S. District Judge Amir Ali ruled in favor...
Madera Stabbing Leaves One Hospitalized, Suspect Arrested
A 22-year-old man was arrested Wednesday following a stabbing near 11th and C streets in Madera, the Madera Police Department said in a statement. At about 12:20 p.m., police responded to a report of an assault involving a knife. A 41-year-old male victim was found with multiple stab wounds and...
Fresno Police Recover Stolen Property, Including Original Disneyland Figurines
Detectives from the Special Investigations Bureau, Major Narcotics Unit, and Southwest District Safety Team conducted a drug sales operation on Thursday, Feb. 27, in the area of Fruit and Belmont avenues, the Fresno Police Department announced in a statement. During the search, authorities found numerous firearms, narcotics, and stolen property....
Walgreens Agrees to Be Acquired by Private Equity Firm for Almost $10 Billion
NEW YORK — Walgreens Boots Alliance says it has agreed to be acquired by the private equity firm Sycamore Partners as the struggling retailer looks to turn itself around after years of losing money. Walgreens said Thursday that Sycamore will pay $11.45 per share, giving the deal an equity value...
State Center Starts Down the Road of Requiring Union Labor for Projects
Building new projects for local community colleges may now require a union labor deal. The State Center Community College District board voted 4-3 on Tuesday at its board meeting at Reedley College to engage in negotiations for a Project Labor Agreement — a deal between the district and unions on...
Canada’s Tariffs to Remain Despite Trump Postponing Tariffs on Many Imports From Canada
TORONTO — Canada’s initial retaliatory tariffs against the U.S. will remain in place despite President Donald Trump postponing 25% tariffs on many imports from Canada for a month, two senior Canadian government officials said. Trump said Thursday that he has postponed 25% tariffs on many goods from Canada and Mexico...
Community Health Shakeup Eliminates 285 Nursing Positions, Creates 350 More
In a notice to state and local officials, Fresno's biggest hospital system said it would eliminate 285 positions of clinical supervising nurses at three network locations. Community Health System would then create 350 other positions in bedside nursing and clinical leadership in its network. A letter acquired by GV Wire...
National Boycott Over DEI Rollbacks Puts Target Under Fire During Lent
NEW YORK — A 40-day boycott of Target that calls for supporters to give up shopping at the company's stores during the Lenten period kicked off this week, to protest the discount retailer's decision to end some of its diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. The Rev. Jamal Bryant, senior pastor...
California’s List of Failed Tech Projects Just Added an Agency
This commentary was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. While twiddling his thumbs in the powerless office of lieutenant governor 12 years ago, Gavin Newsom wrote a book titled "Citizenville," touting information technology to improve governance. California would seem to be the perfect place for governmental technology...