NEW YORK — Michelle Trachtenberg, a former child star who appeared in the 1996 “Harriet the Spy” hit movie and went on to co-star in two buzzy millennial-era TV shows — “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Gossip Girl” — has died. She was 39. Police responded to a 911 call...
7 Takeaways From a Deep Dive Into California’s Homeless Shelters
All across California, temporary homeless shelters have become the foundation of taxpayer-funded efforts to get people off the street. Our new investigation found that shelters have instead become housing purgatory. They're often a mess — dangerous, chaotic and ultimately ineffective at finding people lasting housing. Shelters are usually off-limits to...
Ellis Wins Assembly Special Election for Kern-Tulare Seat
After nearly eight months without representation, voters in Assembly District 32 voted to send Bakersfield-area businessman Stan Ellis to Sacramento. Ellis, R-Bakersfield, garnered 64% of the votes in Tuesday's special election among four candidates, avoiding a runoff. Vince Fong vacated the seat in June 2024 when he won a special...
Army Corps General Grilled About Trump’s Tulare County Water Dump
Even as Kaweah and Success lakes returned to normal operations, with some releases sent into local rivers last week after recent storms, the United States Army Corps of Engineers was being grilled in Washington, D.C. about whether the earlier water dump in January adhered to established practice and “common sense.” “I’m going...
Madera County Crash Claims Woman’s Life, CHP Says
A 39-year-old Chowchilla woman was killed early Tuesday after failing to stop at a posted stop sign and colliding with another vehicle in rural Madera County, authorities said. The crash happened around 4:56 a.m. at the intersection of Avenue 25 and Road 9, according to the California Highway Patrol. Investigators...
The Department of Education Threatens to Pull the Plug on Colleges
Opinion by Sonja B. Starr on Feb. 26, 2025 THE GOVERNMENT OFFERS AN IMPLAUSIBLE INTERPRETATION OF THE LAW. The Department of Education issued a threatening letter this month addressed to all educational institutions that receive federal funds. The letter offers an extreme and implausible interpretation of the law governing diversity, equity and...
Washington Post Opinion Editor Exits as Bezos Steers Pages in New Direction
The Washington Post’s opinion editor, David Shipley, is exiting as the newspaper’s owner, Jeff Bezos, said the section’s focus would narrow to defend “personal liberties and free markets.” “I am of America and for America, and proud to be so,” Bezos said. “Our country did not get here by being...
Kings County Reckless Motorcycle Rider Arrested After Air Support Tracks Him
A 21-year-old man was arrested Tuesday after leading Kings County sheriff’s deputies on a high-speed chase through farm fields and orchards, the Kings County Sheriff's Office said in a statement. The Kings County Sheriff’s Office-Air Support Unit, "Air 2," spotted an off-road motorcycle recklessly traveling on surface streets in Armona....
Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Gregory Edward Washington Jr.
Feb 26, 2025 Most Wanted Person of the Day Suspect Name: Gregory Edward Washington Jr. Suspects Date of Birth: March 18, 1992 Physical Description: Black Male, 5’ 9, 160 lbs., Black Hair, Brown Eyes. Charges: Carrying a loaded firearm in public Warrant Number: F22905411 Synopsis of the Case: Gregory Edward...
Diana Taurasi of the Phoenix Mercury Retires After 20 WNBA Seasons
PHOENIX — Diana Taurasi is retiring after 20 seasons, ending one of the greatest careers in women's basketball history. The WNBA's career scoring leader and a three-time league champion, Taurasi announced her retirement on Tuesday in an interview with Time magazine. The Phoenix Mercury — the only WNBA team she...