California's small businesses — employers to more than half the state's workforce — are staring down what some owners, experts, and advocates say could be immense negative consequences from President Donald Trump's slew of executive orders. Trump's embattled federal funding freeze and anti-diversity push have seeded uncertainty about the economy,...
‘Poet Warrior’ Joy Harjo Is Wednesday’s Speaker at Town Hall
Joy Harjo, the 23rd Poet Laureate of the United States, will share her poetry, story-telling, and tales of personal activism with a San Joaquin Valley Town Hall audience on Wednesday morning. The title of her talk is "Beyond Words: A Poetic Resonance" As a member of the Muscogee Nation, Harjo's ...
College Student Stuns NBA Star, Wins $100K in 3-Point Contest
SAN FRANCISCO — Jaren Barajas shoots on his backyard hoop maybe once a month these days. He's a busy 18-year-old college student now, so basketball has taken a backburner to academics. On Sunday night with the world watching, Barajas somehow beat Milwaukee Bucks star Damian Lillard in a 3-point shooting...
Aryan Brotherhood Members Convicted of Murder, Racketeering in Federal Trial
Three members of the Aryan Brotherhood prison gang were convicted of racketeering and murder following a four-week federal trial in Fresno, the Department of Justice announced on Tuesday. Francis Clement, 58, was convicted of conspiracy and five counts of murder in aid of racketeering for the killings of Allan Roshanski,...
KMJ’s Iconic ‘Voice of Fresno,’ Al Smith, Dies at Age 86
The man behind one of the Central Valley's most recognizable voices died Saturday. Al Smith, the former general manager of KMJ and longtime president of the Fresno Chamber of Commerce, was 86, according to KMJ Now. Born in New Orleans, Smith rose to prominence in the Fresno area through a...
Trump to Sign Executive Orders as Joint Interview with Musk Airs
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — President Donald Trump on Tuesday was set to sign new executive orders from his Florida home while his first joint TV interview with adviser Elon Musk airs in prime time. Trump's Florida home will also be the setting for an awards program by a conservative...
Death of South Korean Actor at 24 Sparks Discussion About Social Media
SEOUL, South Korea — South Korean actor Kim Sae-ron's death this week has triggered an outpouring of grief and calls for changes to the way the country's celebrities are treated in the public arena and on social media, which critics say can foster a culture of harassment. The 24-year-old, who...
Timeline of a Cultlike Group Tied to the Killing of a Border Patrol Agent
Here's a look at the timeline of events in a series of killings that culminated in a Jan. 20 highways shootout that killed a Border Patrol officer in Vermont. It is based on Associated Press interviews and a review of police reports, court records and online postings: Early Beginnings and...
‘Life-threatening Cold’ Hits Parts of US Following Deadly Weekend Flooding
BISMARCK, N.D. — Harsh cold descended on the nation's midsection Monday as a polar vortex gripped the Rockies and Northern Plains on the heels of weekend storms that pummeled the Eastern U.S. with floods, killing at least 14 people. The National Weather Service warned of "life-threatening cold" as wind chills...
Blink-182 Bassist’s $6M Banksy Painting Heads to Auction for Charity
LONDON — A painting by street artist Banksy with an environmental message and an estimate of up to 5 million pounds ($6.3 million) is going up for auction, with some of the proceeds helping victims of the Los Angeles wildfires. Sotheby's auction house said Tuesday that "Crude Oil (Vettriano)" is...