A former Farmersville police sergeant faces felony charges for allegedly embezzling funds from programs he managed during his tenure, the Tulare County District Attorney's Office said in a news release Wednesday. Rafael “Ralph” Vasquez, 51, was charged on Monday with two counts of felony grand theft by embezzlement and two...
Rams Visit the 49ers Seeking Their First Season Sweep in the Series Since 2018
Rams Player to Watch QB Matthew Stafford was sensational against the Bills, throwing for 320 yards and two touchdowns. It was the fourth game this season where Stafford was not sacked, and the Rams have won all four with Stafford passing for 12 TDs against two INTs. San Francisco dropped...
Tied Fresno County Irrigation District Board Race Goes Into Double OT
With a single ballot outstanding, a recount of votes cast in a heated race for a Laguna Irrigation District board seat was abruptly stopped Tuesday afternoon, initially leaving the race in a tie of 101 to 101. By law, voters in the district had 24 hours to request the recount...
Southern California Water Agency Votes to Keep Funding State Tunnel Plans
LOS ANGELES — A Southern California water agency has approved key funding needed to support plans for a giant underground tunnel that would reroute a big part of the state’s water supply. The board of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, which along with local agencies provides water to...
Israeli Strikes on Gaza Kill at Least 33 Including Children, Palestinian Medics Say
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Israeli strikes pounded the Gaza Strip overnight and into Wednesday, with one attack ripping through a home where displaced people were sheltering in the isolated north. The strikes killed at least 33 people including children, Palestinian health officials said. The Israel-Hamas war has no end...
After Voters Back Fresno Unified to the Hilt, There Can Be No More Excuses
Fresno Unified School District received one of the biggest mandates I've seen in my nearly 50 years of covering local news. It's a mandate that Donald Trump would envy. Three trustees won reelection — two against challengers backed with endorsements and major funding from the teacher's union. Voters also overwhelmingly...
Former Fresno Congressman Pleads Guilty to Two Fraud Counts
At a hearing Wednesday before federal judge Barbara McAuliffe, attorneys for former U.S. Congressman TJ Cox said he and the U.S. Attorneys Office had reached a deal. Cox faced 28 counts of fraud, money laundering, and campaign contribution violations. He agreed to plead guilty to two counts. McAuliffe set Jan....
Stock Market Today: Wall Street Gets Back to Climbing
NEW YORK — U.S. stock indexes are rising Wednesday after the latest update on inflation appeared to clear the way for more help for the economy from the Federal Reserve. The S&P 500 gained 0.9% and is on track to break its first two-day losing streak in nearly a month....
Fresno Police Arrest Man with Felony Warrant and Loaded Firearm
Central Division officers responded to multiple 911 calls reporting a fight in a parking lot at Clinton Avenue and Angus Street, the Fresno Police Department said in a Wednesday statement. Officers detained two females and two males, who were involved in the altercation. During a safety pat-down search of one...
Is the Trump Administration Planning a Massive Increase in Legal Immigration?
President-elect Donald Trump has promised a mass deportation effort that will remove all undocumented immigrants from the country. However, is he planning on dramatically increasing legal immigration simultaneously? Some pundits expressed surprise when Trump told “Meet the Press” that he was open to an immigration deal with Democrats on “The...