Washington and Moscow are aiming to reach a deal to halt the war in Ukraine that would lock in Russia's occupation of territory seized during its military invasion, Bloomberg News reported on Friday. U.S. and Russian officials are working towards an agreement on territories for a planned summit meeting between...
Visalia Roadwork to Close Giddings Street Through December
A section of Giddings Street in downtown Visalia will close Monday, Aug. 11, as work begins on the Mill Creek Culvert Replacement Project, city officials announced. The closure will affect south Giddings Street between Mineral King Avenue and Main Street. Detour routes will be posted, and access to nearby properties...
Measure C Consultant Out. Fresno’s Political ‘Jungle’ Tough to Navigate: Mendes
With the Fresno Council of Governments set to present a spending plan by September and billions of dollars at stake for local roads, the group is searching for a new Measure C consultant. Consultant Kendall Flint of Oakland-based DKS Associates will no longer spearhead the research and data collection for...
Judge Arlan Harrell Elevated to Appeal Court
Judge Arlan Harrell is receiving a promotion. Gov. Gavin Newsom has appointed Harrell as an associate justice to the 5th District Court of Appeal. He replaces retiring Justice Charles Poochigian on the appellate bench. "I'm very excited and looking forward to the new challenge," Harrell said. Harrell, 63, has served...
Trump Signs Memo Requiring Universities Disclose Admissions Data on Race
President Donald Trump on Thursday signed a memorandum that requires universities to collect admissions data to prove they are not engaged in efforts to shape their student bodies along racial lines, according to the White House. But the largest higher education policy and lobbying organization in the U.S. said the...
Fresno Teachers Demand Board Members Hear Nikki Henry Settlement
The Fresno Teachers Association on Thursday called on Fresno Unified to publicly address the $162,000 settlement with former communications chief Nikki Henry at the board's Wednesday, Aug. 13 meeting. In a letter to the district, the teachers' union said the public has a right to know how taxpayer dollars are...
Ford Delays Electric Pickup, Van to 2028 as It Chases Smaller, Affordable Options
Ford Motor is delaying the launch of two next-generation electric vehicles as it shifts its focus to smaller and more affordable models, the company said on Thursday. The automaker said it recently informed suppliers that a full-size electric pickup, scheduled for production at its BlueOval City assembly plant in Tennessee,...
SE Fresno Sports Complex Gets a Name. Is It Bold or Blah?
When Brandon Vang's future Fresno City Council colleagues delayed naming a new sports park in March, they wanted the yet-to-be-elected District 5 councilmember to decide. Vang won the March 18 special election, and on Thursday revealed the name of the new southeast Fresno sports complex — the Southeast Fresno Sports...
Trump Asks US Supreme Court to Lift Limits on Immigration Raids
President Donald Trump's administration on Thursday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to lift a lower court order that barred U.S. government agents from making immigration-related arrests in Los Angeles based on tactics that critics have called racial profiling. In an emergency filing, the Justice Department asked the high court to...
Fresno County Democrats Condemn Israeli Military Action in Gaza as Genocide
The Fresno County Democratic Party has passed a resolution calling for an end to the "genocide" in Gaza, saying its member can no longer ignore the level of death and destruction. While acknowledging and mourning the Israeli lives lost in the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack, the party believes Israel’s...