NEW YORK — Two people detained at the Rikers Island jail complex in New York have died in the past week, the first deaths under Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who faces a 2027 deadline to close the troubled facility. On Wednesday a 39-year-old man was found at George R. Vierno Center...
White House Says No Change in Cuba Policy After Russian Tanker Waiver
The White House said on Monday it has not changed U.S. policy toward Cuba, even as it allowed a sanctioned Russian tanker to deliver fuel to the island for humanitarian reasons, saying such decisions would be handled on a case-by-case basis. "This is not a policy change. There has not...
Senate Convenes, but GOP Makes No Move to Pass House Bill to Reopen DHS
WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans bypassed an opportunity Monday to try to force a quick end to the shutdown at the Department of Homeland Security, leaving the closure in place while lawmakers remained on a two-week recess with no resolution in sight. Despite urging from House GOP leaders, Senate Republicans did...
Israel Passes Death Penalty Law for Palestinians Convicted of Lethal Attacks
Israel's parliament passed a law on Monday making the death penalty a default sentence for Palestinians convicted in military courts of deadly attacks, fulfilling a pledge by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right allies. The legislation has drawn international criticism of Israel, which is already under scrutiny for increasing violence by...
White House Ballroom Project to Include ‘Massive’ Military Complex
The U.S. military is upgrading White House facilities for the new East Wing, the administration said on Monday, after President Donald Trump said the ballroom would be built atop a “massive” fortified complex. "The military is making some upgrades to their facilities here at the White House, and I'm not...
Will Khristian Martin Be Fresno State’s Starting Quarterback?
Is Khristian Martin Fresno State's starting quarterback? The Maryland transfer appears to be the favorite to take over the starting signal-caller job as the Bulldogs prep for their first Pac-12 season in spring practice. Offensive coordinator Josh Davis praised Martin. "Athletically, his arm strength stands out, as does the physical...
Mexican National Sentenced to 19 Years for Drug Trafficking in Fresno County
Gilberto Arteaga, 43, of Michoacan, Mexico, who is living in the United States without documentation, was sentenced Monday to 19 years and five months in federal prison for his role in a fentanyl and methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced. Court documents show that between October 2022 and...
California Shouldn’t Bail Out Beleaguered Foster Family Agencies
This commentary was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. California’s private foster care agencies are running back to Sacramento, demanding another taxpayer bailout to cover rising insurance costs. Cal Matters reported recently that the state’s foster family agencies want another $30 million, on top of the $31.5...
Texas Student Fires on Teacher, Dies in High School Shooting
A teacher was shot by a 15-year-old student Monday morning at Hill Country College Preparatory High School in Texas, the Comal County Sheriff’s Office said. The teacher was taken to a San Antonio hospital, and authorities have not released an update on her condition. The student involved died at the...
Three UN Peacekeepers Killed in Lebanon as Israeli Strikes Pummel South
Three United Nations peacekeepers from Indonesia were killed in two separate incidents in southern Lebanon after a bloody weekend in which Lebanese journalists and medics were killed in Israeli strikes. Two peacekeepers were killed on Monday after an explosion from an unknown origin destroyed their vehicle near Bani Hayyan in...