President Donald Trump's cabinet followed through Thursday on a promise made earlier this month to audit California's high-speed rail project. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy directed the Federal Railroad Administration to review the feasibility of the California High-Speed Rail and $4 billion previously allocated for the project. Duffy questioned cost...
Trump Team Plans Deep Cuts at Office That Funds Recovery From Big Disasters
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration plans to all but eliminate the office that oversees America’s recovery from the largest disasters, raising questions about how the United States will rebuild from hurricanes, wildfires and other calamities made worse by climate change. The Office of Community Planning and Development, part of the...
Two Arrested in Visalia Homicide Investigation Identified
Authorities have arrested two suspects in connection with a fatal shooting that occurred over the weekend, the Visalia Police Department said Thursday. The arrests follow a shooting early Sunday near the intersection of Court and Main streets, where officers found Adolfo Martinez, 54, suffering from a gunshot wound. He was...
DOGE Cuts 9/11 Survivors’ Fund, and Republicans Join Democrats in Rebuke
In a rare pushback against President Donald Trump, a coalition of congressional Republicans from the New York area rebuked the president for cuts to a federal program that administers aid to emergency workers and others suffering from toxins related to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. In a letter...
LA Wildfires Intensify Political Jousting Over Home Insurance Premiums
The timing could not have been better — or worse. The horrendously destructive and deadly Los Angeles wildfires erupted in January just as Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara's historic and very controversial overhaul of how insurers calculate premiums was taking effect. On one hand, the disaster drove home the insurance industry's...
Bucks’ Portis Suspended 25 Games for Unintentional Drug Violation
The NBA has suspended Milwaukee forward Bobby Portis Jr. for 25 games without pay because he tested positive for the painkiller Tramadol, a violation of the league's anti-drug program. Portis cannot play again until April 8 — the 79th game of Milwaukee's 82-game regular-season schedule — at the earliest. His...
California Lawmakers Scramble Again to Fix ‘Lemon’ Vehicle Law
For more than half a century, California's "lemon" law was considered one of the best in the nation at giving consumers the legal right to demand car companies fix or replace defective vehicles still under warranty. Now, California lawmakers are scrambling to repair recent changes they made to the law...
Verlander Eyes 300 Wins at 42, Joins Giants for 20th MLB Season
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Three-time American League Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander turned 42 years old on Thursday, and is still hopeful of reaching 300 wins in his big league career. The right-hander is at 262 career wins, the most among active pitchers, while preparing for his 20th big league...
Robot Umpires Are Getting Their First MLB Test During Spring Training
TAMPA, Fla. — A computerized system that calls balls and strikes is being tested during Major League Baseball spring training exhibition games starting Thursday after four years of experiments in the minor leagues. Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred is an advocate of the Automated Ball-Strike System, which potentially as early as...
Merced Council Members Offer Cash Reward for Stolen Zoo Sign
Amid the search for an ornate display sign stolen from Applegate Zoo, two members of the Merced City Council say they're offering a cash reward for its return. At the conclusion of Monday's City Council meeting, Councilmember Mike Harris said he's offering $250 for the return of the sign. Councilmember...