WASHINGTON — A federal judge on Friday barred Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes from entering Washington, D.C., without the court's approval after President Donald Trump commuted the far-right extremist group leader's 18-year prison sentence for orchestrating an attack on the U.S. Capitol four years ago. U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta...
AG Bonta Sues Tulare Over Cold Storage Project. Are State Minimums Not Enough?
Tulare's new citywide plan allows cold storage facilities within industrial-zoned parts of town. But California Attorney General Rob Bonta says the city should require costly environmental reviews or mitigation measures otherwise emissions from refrigerated diesel trucks could harm the Matheny community. What's more, Bonta's lawsuit comes as the state last...
Reality TV Couple Sues Los Angeles After Losing Home in Fires
LOS ANGELES — Reality TV couple Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt are suing the city of Los Angeles after losing their Pacific Palisades home in the wildfires that have torn through Southern California in recent weeks. The couple, who rose to stardom on "The Hills," a spin-off of "Laguna Beach,"...
Stock Market Today: Wall Street Hangs Near Its Record as It Heads for a 2nd Straight Winning Week
NEW YORK — U.S. stocks are hanging near their all-time high on Friday as they head for the close of a second straight winning week. The S&P 500 was virtually flat in midday trading, a day after setting a record. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 48 points, or...
Trump Targets California Water Policy, Voter ID as He Prepares to Tour LA Fire Damage
As President Donald Trump prepares to tour wildfire damage in California, he's zeroing in on one of his frequent targets for criticism: State water policy. Since the fires broke out Jan. 7, Trump has used social media and interviews to accuse the state of sending too much water to the...
Fresno County Traffic Stop on I-5 Leads to $163K Fentanyl Bust
A California Highway Patrol K-9 unit discovered approximately six pounds of fentanyl during a traffic stop on the I-5 near Nees Avenue on Jan. 17, authorities said in a statement. The seizure, valued at $163,000, could have resulted in over 1.3 million fatal doses, authorities said. Uriel Hurtado Mercado, 35,...
Critically Acclaimed Film ‘Between Borders’ Premieres in Fresno
The film "Between Borders," which is based on a true story about an oppressed Armenian family in the final days of the Soviet Union, will have a red carpet premiere at 3 p.m. Saturday in Fresno at Riverpark Regal Edwards. Elizabeth Tabish — best known for her portrayal of Mary...
Trump’s Cabinet Picks Are Set for Senate Hearings. Here’s the Schedule
WASHINGTON — The nominations process for President Donald Trump's appointees is picking up pace, with some confirmed by the Senate and hearings scheduled for more of his Cabinet picks. Many nominees have met with senators individually. Now they are appearing before the committees overseeing the agencies that Trump, a Republican, wants them...
Ontario Leader Will Call Election to Fight Trump’s Threatened Tariffs
TORONTO — The leader of Canada's most populous province of Ontario said Friday he will be calling an election next week because he needs a mandate to fight U.S. President Donald Trump's threatened tariffs. Conservative Premier Doug Ford said he will call an early election next Wednesday. As premier he...
Instagram and Facebook Blocked and Hid Abortion Pill Providers’ Posts
Instagram and Facebook have recently blurred, blocked or removed posts from two abortion pill providers. Instagram also suspended the accounts of several abortion pill providers and hid the providers from appearing in search and recommendations. The actions ramped up in the past two weeks, and were especially noticeable in the...