The campaigns of School Board candidates for Fresno-area districts are raising tens of thousands of dollars, either in direct cash contributions or through "nonmonetary" donations for activities like canvassing or handing out flyers. Unions are playing a big role in building the campaign treasuries of Pablo Villagrana, who is running...
No Prison Time for Fresno County Water Thief Who Took Plea Deal
A water manager of a public agency, who pleaded guilty to stealing as much as $3.5 million of taxpayers' water, won't serve time in prison. At Fresno federal court on Monday, Judge Jennifer Thurston sentenced Dennis Falaschi to five years' probation and six months of home detention. He also was...
Israel Launches Small Ground Raids Against Hezbollah as Fight in Lebanon Intensifies
BEIRUT — The Israeli military launched small ground raids against Hezbollah and sealed off communities along its northern border on Monday as Israeli artillery pounded southern Lebanon and signals grew that more forces could soon be sent across the border to fight the Iran-backed militants. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller...
More US Towns Lean on Government Aid, Sparking Budget Worries
Americans are increasingly reliant on government aid, according to a recent Wall Street Journal article. The Economic Innovation Group found that in 2022, over half of U.S. counties derived at least 25% of their income from federal and state safety-net programs, up from fewer than 1% in 1970. This dramatic...
Newsom Signs New Law Backing Tribes in High-Stakes Gambling Fight
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill on Saturday that would allow California's casino-owning tribes to sue their business competitors, concluding one of the most expensive political fights of the legislative session. With Newsom's signature on Senate Bill 549, tribes now have the ability to ask a judge to decide their...
Dikembe Mutombo, Hall of Fame Player and Tireless Advocate, Dies at 58 From Brain Cancer
Dikembe Mutombo, a Basketball Hall of Famer who was one of the best defensive players in NBA history and a longtime global ambassador for the game, died Monday from brain cancer, the league announced. He was 58. His family revealed two years ago that he was undergoing treatment in Atlanta...
Giants Hire Buster Posey as President of Baseball Operations, Fire Farhan Zaidi
SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco Giants have hired former catcher Buster Posey as president of baseball operations and fired Farhan Zaidi. Chairman Greg Johnson made the announcement Monday after the Giants finished 80-82 in manager Bob Melvin's first season — with one more victory than in 2023. San Francisco...
Man Is Sentenced to 35 Years for Shooting 2 Jewish Men as They Left Los Angeles Synagogues
LOS ANGELES — A California man was sentenced Monday to 35 years in prison for shooting and wounding two Jewish men as they left synagogues in Los Angeles last year, federal prosecutors said. Jaime Tran, 30, pleaded guilty in June to two counts of hate crimes with intent to kill...
Global Tensions Mount Ahead of VP Debate, Highlighting Uncertainty in US Foreign Policy
It has been a tumultuous week on the global stage, particularly as Israel’s northern border with Lebanon escalates towards a potential ground invasion amid ongoing tensions reports Lindsay Newman of GZERO. This backdrop sets the stage for the only vice presidential debate of the election season, where questions arise about...
The Big Fresno Fair Could Kick Off With Record-Breaking Heat
If there's a soundtrack for Fresno's weather, it might be the Beach Boys' "Endless Summer." The National Weather Service in Hanford says Fresno could set all-time heat records in the next few days, with highs climbing back into the triple-digits starting Tuesday. You can thank — or blame — a...