WASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve cut its key interest rate Wednesday by a quarter-point — its third cut this year — but also signaled that it expects to reduce rates more slowly next year than it previously envisioned, largely because of still-elevated inflation. The Fed's 19 policymakers projected that they...
New York Man Finds Mastodon Jaw While Gardening in His Backyard
SCOTCHTOWN, N.Y. — Scholars are hailing the discovery of a fossilized mastodon jaw discovered by a man who spotted two giant teeth while gardening at his upstate New York home this year. The mastodon jaw and some other bone fragments were found in late September in a backyard near Scotchtown,...
The ‘Murder Hornet’ Has Been Eradicated From US, Officials Say
SEATTLE — The hunt for the “murder hornet” in the northwest corner of Washington state began like a criminal investigation, with bee carcasses creating a crime scene and the public being asked to send tips about the potential culprit’s whereabouts. Search grids were created. Traps were set. Soon, state entomologists...
Gov. Newsom Declares State of Emergency Over Bird Flu Outbreak
Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a State of Emergency to strengthen California’s response to Avian Influenza A or Bird Flu, following its detection in dairy cows on Southern California farms, the his office said Wednesday. The virus, first identified in U.S. cattle earlier this year in Texas and Kansas, has spread...
Herndon Avenue Walmart Gas Station Coming in January
That construction on Herndon Avenue between Palm and Ingram avenues will end soon. A gas station owned by Walmart is expected to open by the end of January 2025. At the south end of the Walmart parking lot, the gas station will have 16 pumps and diesel, according to a...
Troubled California Teens Gain Protections Under Law Championed by Paris Hilton
Beginning Jan. 1, hundreds of state-licensed residential treatment centers for children and youth up to age 21 operating in California must comply with a new law that brings greater transparency — particularly when they use restraints and seclusion rooms. After restraining a youth, or putting them in a seclusion room,...
Fresno Man Gets 50 Years to Life in Prison for Murder and Attempted Murder
Tywain Demetrius Robinson, 26, of Fresno, was sentenced Wednesday to 50 years to life in prison for the murder of Isaac Jackson, 24, and the attempted murder of Terrell Williams, 30, both also from Fresno, the Fresno County District Attorney's Office said in a statement. The sentence, handed down by...
Iran’s Rial Hits a Record Low, Battered by Regional Tensions and an Energy Crisis
TEHRAN, Iran — The Iranian rial on Wednesday fell to its lowest level in history, losing more than 10% of value since Donald Trump won the U.S. presidential election in November and signaling new challenges for Tehran as it remains locked in the wars raging in the Middle East. The...
US Repatriates 3 Guantanamo Bay Detainees, Including One Held 17 Years Without Charge
WASHINGTON — The U.S. has transferred two Malaysian detainees at the Guantanamo Bay U.S. military prison to their home country, after they pleaded guilty to charges related to deadly 2002 bombings in Bali and agreed to testify against the alleged ringleader of that and other attacks, the Pentagon said Wednesday....
Madera Man Sentenced to Life for Kidnapping With the Purpose of Rape
Updated on January 16, 2025 at 11:39 a.m. The Madera County District Attorney's Office reported that Otis McKinzy was sentence to life in prison with a minimum of 239 years for the kidnapping with the purpose of rape on Wednesday. McKinzy also had prior sexual assault convictions. Original Story A...