A Los Angeles city councilmember dissed Fresno at a recent news conference, unable to reconcile that Fresno got Shakira over Los Angeles — even though that was untrue. At least Shakira's hips did not lie. Fresno County Supervisor Luis Chavez had to set things straight with LA councilmember Ysabel Jurado....
Trump Administration Sues Oregon, Secretary of State Over Voter Data
The U.S. Department of Justice sued Oregon on Sept. 16, claiming the state violated federal law by not providing requested data, including voter rolls containing personal information. Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read is also named in the suit. "The United States Department of Justice is suing me for doing...
Ted Cruz, a Powerful Republican, Condemns Government Threats Against US Broadcasters
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, the Republican who leads oversight of the Federal Communications Commission, joined Democrats on Friday in criticizing FCC Chair Brendan Carr's recent threats against Disney and local broadcasters for airing "Jimmy Kimmel Live." The conservative senator from Texas, one of the most powerful Republicans in...
Trump Administration Strikes Deal to Regain Control of Washington Union Station
The Trump administration said late Friday it has struck a deal to restore federal control of Washington Union Station in the nation's capital. Last month, the U.S. Department announced it planned to reclaim management of Washington's Union Station, one of the country's biggest rail hubs, in President Donald Trump's latest...
Will Measure C Renewal Be for 30 Years? Committee Makes Recommendation.
A committee crafting the next version of a Fresno County transportation sales tax is recommending a 30-year Measure C renewal. The half-cent sales tax expires in June 2027. It needs to be renewed next year for local funds and matching state and federal funds to remain available. The Measure C...
US Vaccine Advisers Abandon Broad Recommendation for COVID Shots
ATLANTA — A panel of U.S. vaccine advisers named by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Friday abandoned years of broad support for the COVID-19 shot and recommended that the vaccines be made available for all ages based on shared clinical decision-making with a physician. Vaccines recommended by the...
Israeli Minister Calls Gaza a ‘Real Estate Bonanza,’ Igniting Global Backlash
Israel’s far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich described Gaza as a potential “real estate bonanza” and said he is discussing dividing the territory with the U.S., drawing international condemnation, the BBC reported. Speaking in Tel Aviv, Smotrich said, “We’ve done the demolition phase… Now we need to build,” referring to the...
Are CA Tax Loopholes and Rebates Good Business or Questionable Kickbacks?
This commentary was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. When Gov. Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders were negotiating a final state budget last June, they reduced some health and welfare programs to help close a multi-billion-dollar gap between income and outgo. Nevertheless, they agreed to more than...
Leader of Fresno Area Catalytic Converter Theft Ring Sentenced to 10 Years
A 72-year-old man who led a multi-million-dollar catalytic converter theft operation in the Fresno area was sentenced Thursday to 10 years in federal prison. George Thomas, formerly of Fresno and Clovis, was convicted of selling thousands of stolen catalytic converters and engaging in financial transactions to conceal the proceeds, U.S....
Trump Administration Plans $6.4 Billion in Weapons Sales to Israel, Sources Say
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is seeking congressional approval to sell Israel $6.4 billion in support equipment and weapons including attack helicopters and troop carriers, people familiar with the matter said on Friday. Israel's military said it had expanded operations in Gaza City on Friday and bombarded Hamas infrastructure, while...