WASHINGTON — A federal judge on Friday temporarily blocked the Trump administration from placing 2,200 employees of the U.S. Agency for International Development on paid leave. U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols, who was nominated by President Donald Trump, sided with two federal employee associations in agreeing to a pause in...
Alaska Legislature Asks Trump to Retain Denali’s Name
JUNEAU, Alaska — The Alaska Legislature passed a resolution Friday urging President Donald Trump to reverse course and retain the name of North America’s tallest peak as Denali rather than change it to Mount McKinley. Trump, on his first day in office, signed an executive order calling for the name...
Driver Facing DUI, Drug, and Gun Charges After Pursuit in Visalia
A driver on probation was arrested after a pursuit that began on Highway 198 and ended in Visalia, CHP said on Friday. Officers from the Visalia Area California Highway Patrol attempted to stop the vehicle before the driver fled, leading to a chase through the city. The driver was arrested...
Flu Season in the US Is the Most Intense It’s Been in at Least 15 Years
NEW YORK — The U.S. winter virus season is in full force, and by one measure is the most intense in 15 years. One indicator of flu activity is the percentage of doctor’s office visits driven by flu-like symptoms. Last week, that number was clearly higher than the peak of...
Visalia Woman Sentenced to 5 Years for High-Speed Chase That Injured Officer
A Visalia woman was sentenced Friday to five years in state prison for a 2022 high-speed chase in Tulare that left a police officer seriously injured, the Tulare County District Attorney's Office said in a statement. Lacey Gonzalez, 38, received the sentence after pleading no contest to multiple felony charges,...
More Active Duty Troops Will Head to US-Mexico Border, Bringing the Total to 3,600
WASHINGTON — The Pentagon will deploy roughly 1,500 more active duty soldiers to the southern border to support President Donald Trump’s expanding crackdown on immigration, a U.S. official said Friday. That would eventually bring the total to about 3,600 active duty troops at the border. The order has been approved,...
Police Search for Missing Fresno Man Last Seen in Bay Area
Authorities are searching for a missing Fresno man last seen in San Mateo County, the Fresno Police Department said in a statement. Hussein Ali, 65, was last spotted around 11 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 17, in Millbrae. His vehicle, a black 2023 Kia Sorento with California license plate 9HBZ620, was...
Martin, Pardoned for Jan. 6, Sent to Lompoc Prison on Gun Charge Conviction
Federal authorities transferred Benjamin Martin to a prison early Friday morning in Lompoc to start serving 38 months for gun-related charges. Martin, the Madera County man convicted on Jan. 6-related offenses, was also convicted of a gun offense in a different trial. "We can confirm Benjamin Martin is in the...
Spring Training Preview: Dodgers Are Favored to Be MLB’s First Repeat Champion
Miguel Rojas gladly gave up his No. 11 to Roki Sasaki and went back to 72, his jersey as a Los Angeles Dodgers rookie in 2014. “I'm not asking for anything. I have everything that I want in life,” the 35-year-old infielder said. "All I ask for him is trying...
With Immigrant Backgrounds, Vang, Leon Barraza Seek Fresno Council Seat
Jose Leon Barraza and Brandon Vang have similar stories, emanating from opposite sides of the world. Both immigrated to America, seeking a better life. Both came to the country speaking no English, but learned, believed in education and succeeded. Both want to be the next city councilmember representing southeast Fresno....