JERUSALEM — Israel's Cabinet approved a deal early Saturday for a ceasefire in Gaza that would release dozens of hostages held there and pause the 15-month war with Hamas, bringing the sides a step closer to ending their deadliest and most destructive fighting ever. The government announced the approval after...
Attorneys Say Utility May Have Destroyed Evidence of What Caused Deadly LA-Area Fire
LOS ANGELES — Attorneys for a woman who is among thousands who lost their homes in the Eaton Fire outside Los Angeles say Southern California Edison crews working to repair and restore power in the area may have destroyed evidence that could help determine what sparked the wildfire. The fire...
Prized Japanese Pitcher Roki Sasaki Says He’ll Sign With Dodgers
LOS ANGELES — Prized Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki says in an Instagram post he intends to sign with the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers. A 23-year-old right-hander whose fastball tops 100 mph, Sasaki will join fellow Japanese stars Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto in a move many baseball executives long expected. The San...
Valley Congressmen and GOP Leaders Will Attend Trump Inauguration
Update, 1/17/25: Since this story first published, Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer and members of his entourage said they will no longer attend the inauguration because of the venue change. Originally scheduled to take place outside the U.S. Capitol, President–elect Donald Trump moved the ceremony indoors to the rotunda because of...
Walmart Breaks into Luxury Resale Market, Will Offer Chanel, Fendi, Prada, Other Brands
Walmart is making a bold move into the luxury market by partnering with resale platform Rebag to offer high-end pre-owned items on its online marketplace. Starting from January 16, shoppers have had access to over 27,000 luxury products from brands such as Chanel, Fendi, Prada, and Louis Vuitton. This strategic...
Voices for Justice: Diverse Figures Unite in Support of Palestine
Global figures outside the Arab world are increasingly voicing their support for Palestine — even as Israel contemplates a draft agreement that would cease fighting in Gaza and return dozens of hostages held by Hamas militants. Should Israel agree to the deal, the prime minister’s office has said the ceasefire could...
Israel’s Full Cabinet Meets on Gaza Ceasefire Deal After Security Cabinet Recommends Approval
JERUSALEM — Israel's full Cabinet was meeting Friday evening on a Gaza ceasefire deal after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed an agreement had been reached that would pause the 15-month war with Hamas and release dozens of hostages. The security Cabinet recommended the deal's approval earlier in the day, and...
Merced County Leads California in Bird Flu Cases, Ranks Third Nationally
As the bird flu outbreak continues to wreak havoc on Central Valley egg, poultry and dairy producers — not to mention grocery prices and concerns over human health — Merced sits in the epicenter of the crisis in California and across the country. Merced County in the central San Joaquin...
Serial Felon Gets 15 Years for Tulare County Catalytic Converter Thefts
Sean Michael Pelton will pay a heavy price for his catalytic converter theft spree in Visalia in 2020 and 2021. The 53-year-old Sacramento man was sentenced to 15 years in prison and ordered to pay $133,000 restitution on Thursday in Tulare County Superior Court. Pelton was convicted of the thefts...
Senate Advances Migrant Detention Bill That Could Be Trump’s First Law to Sign
WASHINGTON — The Senate is heading toward a final vote on legislation that would give states the power to challenge federal immigration policies and require federal authorities to detain migrants accused of theft and violent crimes, setting a new tone on immigration as Donald Trump enters the White House. Newly...