SACRAMENTO — Gov. Gavin Newsom is planning a one-day visit to Israel this week to meet people affected by that country's war with Hamas, stopping over en route to China where he will discuss policies to curb global warming. The Democratic governor is set to arrive Friday in Israel with...
Jim Jordan Makes Plea to GOP Colleagues to Elect Him House Speaker Ahead of a Third Vote
WASHINGTON — Rep. Jim Jordan made an impassioned push to become House speaker ahead of a Friday vote even as his Republican colleagues were explicitly warning the hard-edged ally of Donald Trump that no more threats or promises can win over their support. The House is scheduled to convene for Jordan's...
Most in the US See Mexico as a Partner Despite Border Problems, an AP-NORC/Pearson Poll Shows
MIAMI — Most people in the U.S. see Mexico as an essential partner to stop drug trafficking and illegal border crossings, even as they express mixed views of Mexico’s government, according to a new poll. Poll Results The poll from the Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts...
Fewer Californians Are Moving to Texas, But More Are Going to Florida and Arizona
ORLANDO, Fla. — The number of former Californians who became Texans dropped slightly last year, but some of that slack was picked up by Arizona and Florida, which saw their tallies of ex-Californians grow, according to new state-to-state migration figures released Thursday. Migration Trends The flow of Californians to Texas...
Biden Says Support for Israel and Ukraine Is ‘Vital’ for US Security, Will Ask Congress for Billions
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden declared it is “vital for America's national security” for Israel and Ukraine to succeed in their wars, making the case Thursday night for deepening U.S. involvement in two unpredictable foreign conflicts as he prepared to ask for billions of dollars in military assistance for both...
Civic Group Launches $4M Campaign to Boost Embattled SF Ahead of Global Trade Summit
SAN FRANCISCO — A $4 million marketing campaign touting San Francisco's resilience, innovation and moxie launches Thursday as the embattled city prepares to host a high-profile global economic summit next month that could boost its image or pile on to its woes. The Campaign Business leaders behind the privately funded...
Fed Chair Powell: Slower Economic Growth May Be Needed to Conquer Stubbornly High Inflation
WASHINGTON — Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said Thursday that inflation remains too high and that bringing it down to the Fed's target level will likely require a slower-growing economy and job market. Powell noted that inflation has cooled significantly from a year ago. But he cautioned that the economy...
The Average Long-Term US Mortgage Rate Surges to 7.63%, Holding at Highest Level Since 2000
LOS ANGELES — The cost of financing a home surged again this week with the average long-term U.S. mortgage rate at its highest level since December 2000. The average rate on the benchmark 30-year home loan rose to 7.63% from 7.57% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. A...
More Than 300 Are Arrested in a Capitol Hill Protest Urging a Cease-Fire in the Israel-Hamas War
WASHINGTON — More than 300 people were arrested for illegally demonstrating and three people were charged with assaulting police after protesters descended on Capitol Hill to call for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas. Hundreds of demonstrators from Jewish advocacy groups, including Jewish Voice for Peace and If Not Now,...
Rite Aid Lays Out Plan to Close 154 Stores. Are Valley Locations on the List?
Rite Aid plans to close about 7% of its stores initially, as the drugstore chain makes its way through its Chapter 11 bankruptcy process. Store Closure Details The company submitted a list of 154 stores in a court filing. Most of the chain’s stores are on the East and West...