WASHINGTON — As U.S. officials engage with the rebel group now in control of Syria, they are mindful of a painful episode in recent U.S. foreign policy whose consequences continue to unfold: the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. Three U.S. diplomats met last week in Damascus, Syria’s capital, with leaders of...
Ukraine Slows Firing of Missiles Into Russia as Trump Prepares to Take Office
KYIV, Ukraine — With much fanfare, Ukraine was granted permission to fire Western long-range missiles at Russian military targets more than a month ago. But after initially firing a flurry of them, Ukraine has already slowed their use. Ukraine is running out of missiles. It also might be running out...
Migrants and End of COVID Restrictions Fuel Jump in US Homelessness
WASHINGTON — Homelessness soared to the highest level on record this year, driven by forces that included a surge in migrants seeking asylum, a national housing crisis and the end of pandemic-era measures to protect the needy, the federal government reported Friday. The number of people experiencing homelessness topped 770,000,...
Tesla Investors Are Still Bullish. Can Elon Musk Deliver?
Tesla’s sales of electric cars have stalled. But Wall Street investors don’t seem to be worried. The company’s share price has risen 90% since early November as investors have taken an optimistic view of the company’s progress in autonomous driving and bet that its CEO, Elon Musk, will use his...
Visalia Police Investigate Armed Robbery at Spa Involving Four Masked Men
Police are investigating an armed robbery at the Wellness Garden Spa on South Mooney Boulevard on Thursday night, the Visalia Police Department said in a Friday statement. According to authorities, officers responded to the scene shortly after 9 p.m. The victim reported that around 8:30 p.m., four masked men entered...
Surging Rams Host Cardinals in Rematch of Rare Blowout Loss for McVay
INGLEWOOD — When the Los Angeles Rams host the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday night, one team will be steaming toward a division title, while the other will be playing out a disappointing non-playoff season. If you had only watched these NFC West rivals' first meeting in Week 2, you would...
Tulare County Drive-By Shooting Leaves One Injured
A person was injured in a drive-by shooting early Friday in Pixley, the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office said. Deputies responded around 7 a.m. to reports of gunfire on the 800 block of Market Street. Investigators learned that a gunman in a new model silver or gray Toyota sedan fired two...
Chargers Focus on Avoiding a Letdown in Matchup with Patriots
FOXBOROUGH — If Los Angeles Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh has given any thought to the possibility of clinching a playoff berth in his first season with the team with a win at New England on Saturday, he isn't letting it show. "Just attacking, that's our mindset. Win the next game,"...
Lions Head Into NFC Title Game Rematch vs. 49ers Seeking Top Seed
SANTA CLARA — Dan Campbell stood at the podium after Detroit blew a 17-point lead to San Francisco in last season's NFC title game and talked about how that might have been the Lions' only shot at reaching the Super Bowl. The coach knew how difficult it would be to...
Gavin Newsom Faces National Spotlight: 2024 Year in Review
As President Joe Biden's re-election campaign imploded this summer, Gov. Gavin Newsom was at the center of the furor. He became arguably the most prominent and forceful surrogate for Biden through the chaos that followed the president's debate debacle in June, championing Biden in interviews and on the campaign trail...