A 22-year-old Bakersfield man was arrested Friday for allegedly aiming a laser pointer at a Kern County Sheriff’s Office helicopter, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced. The incident occurred on Sept. 11, 2024, when Brett Curtis Hair reportedly targeted the aircraft, known as Air One. Laser exposure can impair vision...
Fresno Police Seek Suspects in Shoe Theft at WSS Store
Fresno police are looking for two individuals who allegedly stole several boxes of shoes from the WSS store located on East Cesar Chavez Boulevard on Feb. 20. The suspects, a male and female, entered the store, grabbed the merchandise, and left without paying, the Fresno Police Department said in a...
Trump Admin Cancels $400M in Grants and Contracts With Columbia University
NEW YORK — The Trump administration said Friday that it's pulling $400 million from Columbia University, canceling grants and contracts because of what the government describes as the Ivy League school's failure to squelch antisemitism on campus. The notice came five days after federal agencies announced they were considering orders...
Fresno Sikh Temple Wins Approval for 75-Foot Flagpole
A southeast Fresno Sikh temple will be able to fly its flag on a 75-foot flagpole after all. The Fresno Planning Commission on Wednesday unanimously approved a variance allowing Gurdwara Nanaksar Sahib to fly the Nishan Sahib, a triangular flag representing the Sikh faith, overturning an earlier rejection by the...
Gene Hackman Died of Heart Disease, Wife Died of Hantavirus, Authorities Say
SANTA FE, N.M. — Authorities revealed Friday that actor Gene Hackman died of heart disease and showed severe signs of Alzheimer's disease a full week after his wife died of hantavirus in their home. Authorities initially ruled out foul play after the bodies were discovered Feb 26. Immediate tests for...
Which US Companies Are Pulling Back on Diversity Initiatives?
A growing number of prominent companies have scaled back or set aside the diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives that much of corporate America endorsed following the protests that accompanied the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd, a Black man, in 2020. The changes have come in response to a campaign...
California’s Demographic Landscape: Who’s Coming and Going?
California's demographic landscape is evolving, marked by a deceleration in population growth primarily due to residents relocating to other states, according to recent Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) analysis. Despite this trend, recent data indicates a slight reduction in outward migration and a resurgence of young college graduates moving...
Newsom Condemned by Fresno County Democrats Over Transgender Remarks
The Fresno County Democratic Party accused Gov. Gavin Newson of abandoning party values for remarks he made about transgender athletes in a recent podcast interview with conservative commentator Charlie Kirk. In the 75-minute discussion on his podcast "This Is Gavin Newsom" on Wednesday, Newsom expressed concerns about fairness in youth...
Fresno Sex Offender Arrested for Possessing Child Sexual Abuse Material
Detectives with the Central California Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force arrested a registered sex offender Friday on suspicion of possessing child sexual abuse material, authorities said. Bradford Morrison, 34, was taken into custody at a home near Gettysburg and Palm avenues in Fresno after investigators discovered explicit sexual images...
Mexican Cartel Leader’s Son Sentenced to Life for Role in Major Drug Trafficking Plot
WASHINGTON — The son of a Mexican drug cartel boss has been sentenced to life in prison for his own leadership role in one of the country’s largest and most violent narcotics trafficking organizations. Rubén Oseguera, known as El Menchito, is the son of fugitive Jalisco New Generation cartel boss...