TRENTON, N.J. — A large number of mysterious drones have been reported flying over New Jersey and across the eastern U.S., sparking speculation and concern over where they came from and why. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and U.S. Sen. Andy Kim have both gone out on drone hunts, hoping for...
Judge Rejects Trump’s Bid to Dismiss Hush Money Conviction
NEW YORK — A judge Monday rejected President-elect Donald Trump’s bid to have his hush money conviction dismissed because of the U.S. Supreme Court's recent ruling on presidential immunity. But the case's overall future remains unclear. Manhattan Judge Juan M. Merchan's decision eliminates one potential off-ramp from the case ahead...
Israel OKs Golan Heights Settlement Expansion Amid Syria Leadership Shift
Israel's government has approved a plan to expand settlements in the occupied Golan Heights, a move that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called necessary due to a "new front" on Israel's border with Syria following the fall of the Assad regime to Islamist-led rebels, according to the BBC. Netanyahu aims to...
New California Laws Allow Cannabis Cafes, Sidewalk Drinking
Starting Jan. 1, alcohol and cannabis sales could expand in some parts of California thanks to two new laws that aim to increase central city foot traffic, which has yet to fully recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Senate Bill 969, authored by state Sen. Scott Weiner, will let local governments designate...
How Much Oil Can Trump Pump?
Donald Trump, a man not renowned for the length of his attention span, likes simple formulae. Scott Bessent has one: “3-3-3”. He wants to cut America’s federal budget deficit to 3% of GDP, lift annual economic growth to 3% and increase the country’s oil and gas output by the equivalent of...
Gov. Newsom Names Former VP Kamala Harris Aide as New Chief of Staff
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday appointed Nathan Barankin as his new Chief of Staff, tapping a veteran government leader with extensive experience in California and national politics. Barankin, 52, earned a Juris Doctor degree from McGeorge School of Law and a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of...
What Is Justice in the Bitwise Case? 5 Years or 12 Years in Prison for CEOs?
Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024, update with prison sentences for Jake Soberal and Irma Olguin Jr. at this link Original story The criminal former CEOs of Bitwise Industries believe they should serve five years in prison. Federal prosecutors say it should be at least 12 years. Irma Olguin Jr. and Jake...
Leadership Shake-Up at Fresno EOC? New Acting CEO Named
Editor's Note: Story was updated Wednesday with new information from Fresno EOC. The Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission is now headed by an "acting" chief executive officer, and the status of former CEO Emilia Reyes was unclear on Monday. Michelle Tutunjian, the agency's chief operating officer, is listed as "acting CEO"...
City of Fresno White-Collar Workers Plan to Begin Strike Tuesday
Breaking News Update on Dec. 17, 2024. Original Story Architects, engineers, accountants, and department supervisors at the city of Fresno will begin their strike Tuesday morning unless an 11th-hour offer comes, the group's union representative says. While the Fresno's Professional Employees Association is calling on all of the 400-plus workers...
Canada’s Finance Minister Resigns as Trudeau Faces Biggest Test of His Political Career
TORONTO — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau faces the biggest test of his political career after Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, long one of his most powerful and loyal ministers, announced Monday that she was resigning from the Cabinet. It was a move that stunned the country and raised questions about...