Freshman Congressman Adam Gray (D-Merced), representing California’s 13th district, has received appointments to the House Agriculture and Natural Resources committees, his office said Tuesday. Gray will join Rep. Jim Costa of Fresno, a fellow Democrat, on the Agriculture Committee, giving the Valley a strong 1-2 punch of farming issues. The...
Biden Moves to Lift State Sponsor of Terrorism Designation for Cuba, Part of Deal to Free Prisoners
WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden notified Congress of his intent to lift the U.S. designation of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism, the White House announced, as part of a deal facilitated by the Catholic Church to free political prisoners on the island. Senior U.S. administration officials, who previewed...
Capital One Sued by US Watchdog Alleging Bank Cheated Customers Out of $2 Billion
NEW YORK — A U.S. watchdog is suing Capital One for allegedly misleading consumers about its offerings for high-interest savings accounts — and "cheating" customers out of more than $2 billion in lost interest payments as a result. In a complaint filed Tuesday, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau took aim...
Millions Under Extreme Fire Weather Alert as Strong Winds Lash Southern California
LOS ANGELES — Millions of people across Southern California faced frightening new wildfire warnings Tuesday and tens of thousands saw their power shut off as strong winds blew across the parched landscape around Los Angeles where two massive blazes have been burning for a week. Santa Ana winds that began...
How the CIA Director Helps the US Navigate a World of Spies, Threats and Geopolitical Turbulence
Today, the United States is navigating an increasingly unsettled world. The positions advising the president on national security are as important as ever. One such position, the director of the Central Intelligence Agency, is key to providing the president and Cabinet with timely intelligence and analysis. So, what is the...
Gov. Newsom, Mayor Bass Targeted in Wildfire Witch Hunt
When catastrophe strikes, its victims understandably want to know how and why — but their curiosity often morphs into snap judgments and witch hunts by those with ulterior motives. The horribly destructive wildfires sweeping through Los Angeles County neighborhoods have become fodder for irresponsible, fact-free finger-pointing, mostly aimed at Los Angeles...
Clovis Police Officer Injured While Responding to Suspected DUI Call
A Clovis Police officer was injured Tuesday morning in a collision while responding to a report of a possible DUI driver near Shaw and Leonard avenues, the Clovis Police Department said in a statement. The incident occurred at 11:32 a.m. as the officer was traveling eastbound on Shaw Avenue at...
A Possible TikTok Ban Is Just Days Away. A List of Other Apps Available
With a possible TikTok ban just days away, many U.S. users are looking for alternative social media platforms to help them keep up with pop culture or provide the type of entertaining videos that popularized the short-form video app. TikTok, which has been a cultural phenomenon, could be banned on...
Karen Bass Faces Growing Backlash Over Handling of LA Fires. Will She Resign?
As apocalyptic fires raged across Los Angeles for more than 24 hours, Mayor Karen Bass returned from a trip to Ghana to face a viral confrontation that may define her time in office, the Los Angeles Times reported. Upon disembarking from her flight, an Irish reporter pressed Bass with a...
Before Taking Office, LA’s Mayor Said She Would Not Go Abroad
After the first rally in her campaign for mayor of Los Angeles in 2021, Karen Bass spoke candidly about what she saw as a potential drawback to the job — a lack of world travel and involvement in global affairs. Bass was accustomed to circling the globe as a Democratic...