President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order aiming to cut federal funding for NPR and PBS, accusing the news outlets of producing biased coverage and “left-wing propaganda.” Trump instructed the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which funds public broadcasters in the United States, to end federal funding for NPR...
Israeli Forces to Demolish More Than 100 Homes in Israeli-Occupied West Bank
JERUSALEM — Israeli forces were preparing on Friday to carry out home demolitions across two northern urban refugee camps in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, according to the governor of one of the camps and Israeli military documents shared with The Associated Press by the United Nations. Abdallah Kamil, the governor...
Visalia Driver Arrested After Running Stop Sign Causing Fatal Crash
A 26-year-old man was arrested Thursday evening after running a stop sign and causing a three-vehicle crash that left one woman dead, police said. The Visalia Police Department said officers responded around 5 p.m. to the intersection of Burke Street and Kaweah Avenue, where Omar Chavarria was driving eastbound on...
Fed Outlook in Focus as US Stocks Rally Picks up Steam
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Federal Reserve meeting in the coming week is set to test the U.S. stock market's sharp rebound, with investors hoping the central bank is poised to resume lowering interest rates in the months ahead. During the rally, stocks have erased the slump set off by...
Earthquake Strikes off Chile’s Southern Coast, Sparking Tsunami Threat
(Reuters) - A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Drake Passage between Cape Horn and Antarctica at a depth of just 10 km (6 miles) on Friday, the United States Geological Survey said. Chile's SENAPRED disaster agency said a coastal area of Magallanes region in the southern tip of the country should...
As Trump Moves to Tax Small Parcels, Some Retailers Give up on US
LONDON (Reuters) -With the end of a U.S. tariff exemption for small parcels on Friday, some retailers have stopped selling to customers in the United States while others are seeking temporary workarounds in the hope the tariff rate may be reduced. The removal of "de minimis" - duty-free treatment of...
High-Speed Rail CEO Won’t Commit to Size of Fresno Station. What’s in the Future for Rail?
As part of the California High-Speed Rail Authority's attempt to rein in a ballooning budget, its new CEO in a townhall last week walked back promises about the size of the future Fresno station. At the Fresnoland Futures' high-speed rail forum on April 20, CalMatters editor Yousef Baig said the...
Fresno County Crew Rescues Man Who Fell Into Ponding Basin Near Coalinga
Emergency crews rescued a man early Thursday after he fell into a ponding basin near Highway 33 and Gale Avenue, just north of Coalinga, CalFire reported. Fire officials said the first engine crew on scene found the man about 60 feet down the embankment. A technical rescue team was called...
Where Valley Lawmakers Stand on Punishing Seekers of Teens for Sex
Valley lawmakers are split on whether it should be a felony to purchase a 16- or 17- year-old for sex. The state Assembly heard AB 379, which has divided Democrats. Gov. Gavin Newsom was among many Democrats to support making it a felony. But leadership insisted on making changes. The anti-sex-trafficking...
Arias Criticizes Smittcamp Over Lack of Drug, Homeless Arrests
Miguel Arias has a habit of criticizing Fresno County District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp while delivering his city council reports. He did so again at the Fresno City Council meeting on Thursday. While five city councilmembers stood with police for a proclamation of National Police Week and Peace Officers Memorial Day, Arias...