The Fresno GOP chairperson who faced an intra-party squabble is declaring victory as the group's rightful leader. Liz Kolstad apparently won re-election as the local Republican Party leader in January, only to be challenged by a renegade group claiming election irregularities. Now, the state party has weighed in, backing Kolstad....
Voletta Wallace, Notorious B.I.G.’s Mother and Keeper of His Legacy, Dies at 78
NEW YORK — Voletta Wallace, the dedicated mother of the late great rapper The Notorious B.I.G., died Friday morning at 78. Monroe County Coroner Thomas Yanac confirmed her death Friday to The Associated Press, saying she died at her home in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, after a stint on hospice care. She...
Measles Outbreaks Surge in Texas and New Mexico: What You Need to Know
The measles outbreak in rural West Texas has grown to 90 cases across seven counties, the state health department posted online Friday, and 16 people are hospitalized. In neighboring eastern New Mexico, the measles case count is up to nine, though state public health officials said Thursday there's still no...
Fresno Police to Conduct Weekend DUI Checkpoint
The Fresno Police Department will conduct a DUI checkpoint on Feb. 22 from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. at an undisclosed location, they said in a statement. Checkpoint locations are determined based on data highlighting areas with high rates of impaired driving crashes. The department said the primary goal is...
Fed Judge Dismisses State Center Profs’ DEI Lawsuit
Self-proclaimed academic opponents of DEI say they scored a semi-victory recently even though a federal judge dismissed their lawsuit challenging rules they say would have required them to teach and endorse anti-racism and diversity, equity, and inclusion principles. The lawsuit was brought in August 2023 by FIRE, formerly known as...
Should Fossil Fuel Companies Be Forced to Pay for Los Angeles Wildfire Losses?
As wildfires swept through Los Angeles County last month, the New York Times published a commentary by former insurance commissioner Dave Jones, who suggested that oil companies should pay for the disaster's immense losses of human life and property, not insurance companies. "Major oil and gas companies have known for...
Yankees End 49-Year Beard Ban Imposed by Owner George Steinbrenner
TAMPA, Fla. — The New York Yankees dropped their ban on beards Friday, 49 years after it was imposed by owner George Steinbrenner, in a move aimed to improve player recruitment as the team tries to win its first World Series title since 2009. Current owner Hal Steinbrenner, son of...
High Mortgage Rates, Prices Dampen January Home Sales
LOS ANGELES — Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes fell in January as rising mortgage rates and prices put off many would-be homebuyers despite a wider selection of properties on the market. Sales fell 4.9% last month from December to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.08 million units, the...
Muslim Community Unites for Ramadan After Wildfire Destroys Mosque
PASADENA — All that remains of Masjid Al-Taqwa is a sign that bears its name. The mosque in Altadena, which served a tight-knit Muslim community for 42 years, burned to the ground in one of the Los Angeles area's deadliest fires in January — leaving the congregation heartbroken and without...
Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Ryan Andrew Kitchener
Update on March 11, 2025 The Fresno County Sheriff's Office said that Andrew Kitchener was arrested by their office on Monday. Original Story Feb 21, 2025 Most Wanted Person of the Day Suspect Name: Ryan Andrew Kitchener Suspects Date of Birth: November 10, 1993 Physical Description: White Male, 6’ 2,...