President Joe Biden is taking steps to restore national forests that have been devastated by wildfires, drought and blight, using an Earth Day visit to Seattle to sign an executive order protecting some of the nation’s largest and oldest trees. Old-growth trees are key buffers against climate change and provide crucial carbon sinks that...
California Lawmakers Move to Reduce Home Water Use
Mired in an extreme drought, California lawmakers on Thursday took the first step toward lowering the standard for how much water people use in their homes — a move that won't be enforced on individual customers but could lead to higher rates even as consumption declines. California's current standard...
Listen to Audio of Kevin McCarthy Saying He’d Urge Trump to Resign
WASHINGTON — House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield told fellow GOP lawmakers shortly after the Jan. 6 Capitol riot that he would urge then-President Donald Trump to resign, according to audio posted by The New York Times and aired on Rachel Maddow’s MSNBC show. Listen: McCarthy Says He Will Urge Trump to...
Fresno State’s Million Dollar Cavinder Twins Transfer to Miami
CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Haley and Hanna Cavinder are about to expose 4 million fans to Miami women’s basketball. The Cavinder sisters — identical 5-foot-6 twin guards who combined to average 34.2 points per game in their three seasons at Fresno State and built an enormous social media following...
Many Say Biden not Tough Enough on Russia, New Poll Reveals
WASHINGTON — Many people in the U.S. still question whether President Joe Biden is showing enough strength in response to Russia’s war against Ukraine, even as most approve of the steps Biden is already taking and few want U.S. troops to get involved in the conflict. A poll by The...
Bakersfield Police Kill Man Who Shot at Officer During Chase
Bakersfield police shot and killed a man they said pulled a gun and shot at an officer during a foot chase. Two officers tried to stop Chevrolet Tahoe at 12:20 a.m. but the car took off, a police statement said. A brief chase ended when the SUV struck a...
Biden Announces Heavy Artillery, Other Weapons for Ukraine
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden on Thursday announced an additional $800 million in military aid to help Ukraine fight back in its strong but increasingly difficult battle against the Russian invasion, and he warned that Congress will need to approve even more assistance if the U.S. is to keep...
California Fire Victims Lobbyist Is out Amid Sex Scandal
A lobbyist hired to secure a state loan to help tens of thousands of victims of devastating California wildfires is leaving his job amid a sexual harassment scandal, it was announced Wednesday. Patrick McCallum and the PG&E Fire Victim Trust “have agreed to part ways, effective immediately, in light...
Blasts Across Afghanistan Kill at Least 10, Injure Dozens
A series of explosions across Afghanistan on Thursday killed at least 10 people and wounded scores more, according to police and hospital officials. No one immediately took responsibility for the deadly explosions, but they mostly targeted the country’s minority Shiite Muslims and had all the hallmarks of a deadly...
Kristin Smart Murder Trial Will Be Moved to Monterey County
A judge on Wednesday moved the Kristin Smart murder trial nearly 150 miles after ruling last month that her accused killer couldn't get a fair trial in San Luis Obispo County. Superior Court Judge Craig Ban Rooyen announced that Paul Flores will be tried in Monterey County. Van Rooyen...