Great powers have fought for centuries for influence in the territory known today as Syria, each seeing a prize in its strategic position, stretching from the Mediterranean Sea to the Euphrates River and beyond. That struggle continues today. In Syria’s 13-year civil war, Iran, Russia and the Lebanese militant group...
Trump Says He Would Let ‘Dreamers’ Stay. But He Once Tried to Gut the Program.
WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump has said he would look for ways to spare immigrants who were brought to the country illegally as children, known as Dreamers, from deportation. But during Trump’s first presidency, he tried to wipe out the program protecting them. He failed only because the Supreme Court...
Visalia Gang Members Sentenced to Life for 2019 Murder
Two 21-year-old gang members were sentenced to life in prison on Dec. 4 for the 2019 murder of a man in Visalia, the Tulare County District Attorney's Office announced on Monday. Kyle Carranza and Elias De La Hoz were convicted of first-degree murder with special gang allegations in Tulare County...
Jay-Z Says Lawsuit Accusing Him of Raping a Child Is Part of an Extortion Ploy
NEW YORK — Jay-Z says a rape allegation made against him is part of an extortion attempt. A woman who previously sued Sean "Diddy" Combs, alleging she was raped at an awards show after-party in 2000 when she was 13, amended the lawsuit Sunday to include a new allegation that...
Central Faces Edison of Huntington Beach for D1-A State Football Title
The Central High School football team will face off against Edison of Huntington Beach on Saturday, Dec. 14, for the Division 1-A CIF State championship at Saddleback College. It'll be the Grizzlies' second state championship game in five seasons. Grizzlies' Impressive Season and Program Success Central is 12-2 ranked No....
Santa Ana Winds Return Means Increased Fire Risk, Possible Power Shut-Offs for Californians
LOS ANGELES — Southern California's notorious Santa Ana winds were predicted to return Monday night and utilities said they are prepared to cut power to hundreds of thousands of customers in areas where strong gusts could damage electrical equipment and spark wildfires. The National Weather Service issued a red flag...
Bad Air Over the Valley Isn’t Just the Tule Fog. How to Protect Your Health.
The same high-pressure system that's been parked for days over the Valley trapping the tule fog and making our days dismally gray is also trapping a lot of teeny particles that are causing problems — especially for those of us who are prone to bronchitis or asthma. And it doesn't...
Fresno Mother Shot and Killed by Her Toddler. Boyfriend Arrested.
A tragic shooting claimed the life of a 22-year-old Fresno mother on Friday evening, leaving her family and community reeling. The Fresno Police Department said in a statement on Monday afternoon that at 5:38 p.m. Friday officers responded to a shooting report at the Butterfly Grove Apartments at the intersection...
Passenger Who Tried to Force Mexican Plane to Fly to US Said He Was Under Threat by Criminals
MEXICO CITY — A passenger on a domestic flight in Mexico who tried to divert an aircraft to the United States by force said that he was under threat by criminals who had kidnapped one of his relatives, authorities said. Mexico's Public Safety Department said late Sunday the man had...
Growers to Decide Almond Board’s Future While Banking on ‘Coach Prime’
As they've done for decades, almond growers are voting on whether to continue to fund the Almond Board of California. The vote comes after years of collapsing prices caused by oversupply — from excessive plantings and backlogs caused by shipping chokeholds following the pandemic. Experts now see prices stabilizing as...