WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump's administration is directing that all federal diversity, equity and inclusion staff be put on paid leave, and that agencies develop plans to lay them off, according to a memo Tuesday from the Office of Personnel Management. The memo follows an executive order Trump signed on...
Baseball’s Newest Hall of Famers: Suzuki, Sabathia, Wagner
NEW YORK — Ichiro Suzuki became the first Japanese player chosen for baseball’s Hall of Fame, falling one vote shy of unanimous when he was elected Tuesday along with CC Sabathia and Billy Wagner. Suzuki received 393 of 394 votes from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. Sabathia was on 342...
‘Once in a Lifetime’ Snow Hits Parts of the US South
A winter storm sweeping through the U.S. South on Tuesday was dumping snow at levels millions of residents haven't seen before. Moisture from the Gulf of Mexico was combining with a low-pressure system and chilly air to drop significant amounts of snow in some spots. That included 10.5 inches near Lafayette, Louisiana...
Trump Temporarily Halts Leasing and Permitting for Wind Energy Projects
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Monday temporarily halting offshore wind lease sales in federal waters and pausing the issuance of approvals, permits and loans for both onshore and offshore wind projects. The interior secretary will review wind leasing and permitting practices for federal waters and lands. The assessment...
Fresno Man Who Dealt Deadly Fentanyl Pill Gets 80-Month Prison Term
In the summer of 2020, Christian Gonzalez dealt 10 fentanyl pills to someone who then passed one of the pills to another person, resulting in a fatal overdose. On Tuesday, the 25-year-old Fresno resident received a sentence of six years and eight months in prison for distributing fentanyl, Acting U.S....
What’s Next for EVs as Trump Moves to Revoke Biden-Era Incentives?
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump signed an executive order promising to eliminate what he incorrectly labels “the electric vehicle mandate” imposed under former President Joe Biden. His order on Monday is consistent with pledges Trump made on the campaign trail to end what he calls a “preposterous” focus on EVs by...
US Throws out Policies Limiting Arrests of Migrants at Sensitive Locations like Schools, Churches
WASHINGTON — Officers enforcing immigration laws will now be able to arrest migrants at sensitive locations like schools and churches after the Trump administration threw out policies limiting where those arrests could happen. The move reverses guidance that for over a decade has restricted two key federal immigration agencies —...
Visalia Police Find Man Shot Near Shopping Center. Tips Sought.
Authorities are investigating after a man was found shot near a shopping center in Visalia on Tuesday afternoon, the Visalia Police Department said in a statement. Police responded shortly after 1:15 p.m. to reports of a man down in the parking lot east of the WinCo shopping center. The victim...
Convicted Jan. 6 Rioter Benjamin Martin Still Going to Prison
A Madera County man convicted of Jan. 6 Capitol riot crimes and gun-related offenses in a second trial, is headed to prison. Benjamin Martin, 46, is scheduled to self-surrender in Fresno on Wednesday to federal prison officials, the Department of Justice tells GV Wire. The federal Bureau of Prisons will...
Is Lawsuit on Planned Reedley Job Center a ‘Shakedown’?
A nonprofit with a history of environmental lawsuits in the Central Valley sued the city of Reedley and the landowner for a plan to develop ag land into industrial use. Just outside Reedley city limits, farmer Keven Lai wants to develop 42.5 acres of land, said Rodney Horton, community development...