The smoke from the wildfires that burned through Los Angeles in January smelled like plastic and was so thick that it hid the ocean. Firefighters who responded developed instant migraines, coughed up black goo and dropped to their knees, vomiting and dizzy. Seven months later, some are still jolted awake...
Zelenskiy Arrives at White House for High-Stakes Trump Meeting
President Donald Trump said on Monday that the United States would "help out" Europe in providing security for Ukraine as part of any deal to end Russia's war in Ukraine, as he and President Volodymyr Zelenskiy began a hastily arranged White House meeting to discuss a path to peace. Speaking...
Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada, Alleged Mexican Drug Lord, Set to Plead Guilty
Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, the accused co-founder of Mexico's Sinaloa cartel, is expected to plead guilty to U.S. drug trafficking charges, court records showed on Monday. Zambada, who is in his 70s, is scheduled to appear in federal court in Brooklyn on August 25 for a change of plea hearing...
Hamas Accepts Proposed Deal for Ceasefire With Israel and Hostage Release, Egyptian Source Says
Hamas has agreed to a 60-day ceasefire proposal with Israel that includes the release of half the hostages held in Gaza and Israel's release of some Palestinian prisoners, an Egyptian official source said on Monday. Senior Hamas official Basem Naim confirmed the group's approval of the proposal, writing on Facebook:...
Texas Democratic Lawmakers End Walkout, Setting Stage for Vote on Redrawn Map
Democratic lawmakers in Texas returned to the state on Monday, ending a two-week walkout that broke quorum and temporarily blocked Republican efforts to redraw congressional maps at the behest of U.S. President Donald Trump. Texas House of Representatives Minority Leader Gene Wu, chairperson of the Texas House Democratic Caucus, said...
Costa Bill Could Mean Grant Money to More Rural Towns Facing Water Disasters
As more San Joaquin Valley towns face wells going dry and other water crises, a new bipartisan legislative bill would make many more communities eligible for federal funds to build water infrastructure. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Emergency Community Water Assistance Grant provides money to fix small community water supplies...
Gavin Newsom Warms to Big Oil in Climate Reversal
This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. The oil industry is having an I-told-you-so moment in California. For decades, the state has raced to end its reliance on fossil fuels and prioritize clean energy. Its relationship with oil companies became particularly contentious in the past...
Madera County Authorities Arrest Two During Oakhurst Law Enforcement Operation
Authorities arrested two people Saturday during a coordinated operation by the Madera County Special Enforcement Team in Oakhurst. The operation, conducted on the 39000 block of Sierra Way, was part of an ongoing investigation aimed at ensuring public safety and securing evidence, the Madera County Sheriff's Office said. Craig Isherwood,...
Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Koby Dupree Foster
August 18, 2025 Most Wanted Person of the Day Suspect Name: Koby Dupree Foster Suspects Date of Birth: April 14, 1999 Physical Description: Black Male, 6’ 4, 190 lbs., Black Hair, Brown Eyes. Charges: Assault with a deadly weapon Warrant Number: F22900545 Synopsis of the Case: Koby Dupree Foster is...
Israelis Stage Nationwide Protests to Demand End to Gaza War and Release of Hostages
TEL AVIV/JERUSALEM — Thousands of Israelis took part in a nationwide strike on Sunday in support of families of hostages held in Gaza, calling on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reach an agreement with Hamas to end the war and release the remaining captives. Demonstrators waved Israeli flags and carried photos of hostages as whistles, horns, and drums echoed at rallies across the country, while...