Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said on Wednesday he will stay on as central bank leader if his successor is not confirmed by May, when his current chair term ends. “If my successor is not confirmed by the end of my term as chair, I would serve as chair pro-tem”...
Leader of Ecuador’s Los Lobos Crime Group Arrested in Mexico City
A leader of Ecuador’s Los Lobos crime group was arrested at Mexico City’s international airport, authorities said on Wednesday, in what regional officials called a significant blow to criminal networks spanning Mexico, Colombia and Ecuador. Ecuador's Interior Minister John Reimberg identified the man as Angel Esteban Aguilar, who is wanted...
Luigi Mangione’s Lawyers Seek to Postpone His Federal Murder Trial
Lawyers for Luigi Mangione asked a federal judge Wednesday to push his murder trial back until early next year, arguing that they cannot prepare for a separate state trial at the same time. Mangione is set to go on trial in June in state court in New York City in...
Stocks Hold Declines After Fed Keeps Rates Unchanged
Global stocks fell on Wednesday, holding declines after the Federal Reserve kept interest rates unchanged, while a rise in crude prices and an earlier reading on U.S. inflation kept equities under pressure. The U.S. central bank's summary of economic projections (SEP) showed the Fed's benchmark overnight interest rate would fall...
Fed Leaves Rates Unchanged, Sticks With Single Cut in 2026 Despite Higher Inflation
The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady on Wednesday and projected higher inflation, steady unemployment and only a single reduction in borrowing costs this year as officials took stock of economic risks from the U.S. and Israeli war with Iran. New projections from U.S. central bank policymakers showed the Fed's...
Kings County Highway 41 Blocked by Multi-Vehicle Collision
A multi-vehicle crash has closed Highway 41 at Laurel Avenue on Wednesday, Caltrans said. Motorists are advised to expect delays and plan alternate routes. No details on injuries were immediately available. — Connect with Anthony W. Haddad on social media. Got a tip? Send an email.
Dubai Billionaire Criticizes Trump Over Iran Conflict
Emirati billionaire Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor criticized President Donald Trump in a public post for escalating conflict with Iran, questioning the decision’s basis and potential consequences for Gulf nations, Washington Post reported. Al Habtoor, whose net worth Forbes estimates at $2.3 billion, said the first to suffer from U.S. strikes...
Iran’s Government Appears Intact, if Degraded, US Spy Chief Says
Iran's government has been degraded since the war began on February 28, but it appears to be intact and Tehran and its proxies remain capable of attacking U.S. and allies' interests in the Middle East, U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said on Wednesday. "The regime in Iran appears...
US Poised to Waive Summer Gasoline Regulations to Ease Prices, Sources Say
The Trump administration is expected to announce soon that it will temporarily lift federal smog-cutting restrictions on summer-blend gasoline to curb rising energy prices stemming from the Iran conflict, according to three sources familiar with the matter. The move would make standard gasoline cheaper by not forcing refiners and retailers...
Fresno Councilmember Wants Cesar Chavez Name Removed from Boulevard
Fresno City Councilman Miguel Arias said Wednesday he plans to propose returning Cesar Chavez Boulevard to its original name. The announcement follows social media posts by Dolores Huerta, former United Farm Workers vice president, stating that labor leader Cesar Chavez raped her. Arias said Huerta’s account, which he called “heartbreaking,”...