President Trump signed a proclamation on Friday recognizing Black History Month, despite widespread speculation and social media rumors suggesting he planned to cancel it, reported KEPR. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt represented his commitment to the observance, emphasizing that Trump was staying true to tradition. In his statement, Trump...
Fresno Man With a Silver Tongue Pleads Guilty to $4.2M Fraud
A Fresno man with a previous fraud conviction pleaded guilty Monday in federal court to stealing $4.2 million from investors, lenders, and the federal government. Royce Newcomb, 62, entered guilty pleas to wire fraud and money laundering charges for a long-running fraud scheme involving his tech start-up, Acting U.S. Attorney...
Bitwise Collapse Spawns New Fraud Case Against Fresno Man
A federal grand injury indicted a Fresno man for allegedly defrauding investors via $20 million in hard money loans to the failed tech startup Bitwise Industries. The grand jury charged David Hardcastle, 61, with six counts involving conspiracy to commit wire fraud and substantive wire fraud. Acting U.S. Attorney Michele...
How Trump’s Pledge to Punish South Africa Reflects Musk’s Criticism of His Homeland
CAPE TOWN, South Africa — U.S. President Donald Trump said he will cut all funding to South Africa over what he called a human rights violation, a move that reflects Elon Musk's repeated and false claims over the years that authorities in his country of birth are anti-white and even...
A Presidency That’s Off the Rails. It Took Only Two Weeks.
Bret Stephens: Hi, Gail. Who’s worse: Tulsi Gabbard, Robert F. Kennedy Jr,. or Kash Patel? Gail Collins: Gee, Bret, good question. Easy to imagine RFK Jr. screwing up the vaccination system and sending throngs of people to the hospital, if not worse. But I have to go for Kash Patel — just...
Trump Administration’s Data Deletions Set off ‘a Mad Scramble,’ Researcher Says
NEW YORK — Researchers are in what one described as “a mad scramble” to sort out what public data the Trump administration has deleted from government websites and electronic publications. Late last week, federal agencies took down scores of government webpages as staffers hurried to comply with President Donald Trump’s...
Trump Orders Creation of US Sovereign Wealth Fund, Says It Could Own Part of TikTok
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Monday signed an executive order directing the U.S. to take steps to start developing a government-owned investment fund that he said could be used to profit off of TikTok if he's successful at finding it an American buyer. Trump signed an order on his...
Central California Psychedelic Summit Returns to Tower Theatre in Fresno
The Central California Psychedelic Summit will return to the Tower Theatre on Feb. 15-16, bringing together professionals, experts, and community members for two days of education and dialogue on psychedelics' role in mental health and personal growth. Hosted by Advanced Behavioral Concepts, this year’s summit will expand on the success...
Fresno EOC Energy Assistance Staffers Get Layoff Notices
Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission staffers who help low-income Fresno County residents apply for utility assistance programs received layoff letters on Friday. It was unclear Monday whether the agency, which was created nearly 60 years ago as an anti-poverty nonprofit, will be able to continue provide the assistance service. A staffer...
Disgraced Former Congressman TJ Cox Pleads Guilty to Fraud
Terrence John "TJ" Cox, a former Democratic congressman from Fresno, pleaded guilty Monday to one count of wire fraud and one count of wire fraud affecting a financial institution, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith said. Cox is scheduled for sentencing on June 2. According to court documents, Cox perpetrated fraud...