Joey Chestnut can scarf down 74 hotdogs in 10 minutes. I’m thinking of doing something more practical. Today is July 11, 7-11. And the store with the same name, 7-Eleven, is giving away free Slurpees. It is the convenience-store chain's 91st birthday. The small-sized slush drink will be available at the...
Bid To Toughen California Crime Laws Set For 2020 Ballot
SACRAMENTO — A bid to toughen criminal penalties has qualified for California's 2020 ballot, after delays pushed it past the deadline for voters to consider it this November. It would roll back criminal justice reforms implemented through voter-backed Proposition 47 in 2014 and Proposition 57 in 2016. The California Secretary...
Crews Get Upper Hand on Destructive Wildfires in West
LOS ANGELES — Firefighters continued to build containment around several destructive wildfires burning in California, though one stubborn blaze in the northern part of the state grew significantly and crossed the border into Oregon. The blaze on the California-Oregon state line known as the Klamathon Fire grew to 55 square...
Wildfires Burn California at Both Ends of the State
A wildfire raging through drought-stricken timber and brush near California's border with Oregon killed one person and destroyed multiple structures as it burns largely out of control, authorities said Friday. No other details were released about the death blamed on the fire that threatened 300 homes near Hornbook, a town...
Carr for Kids: Superstar QB Helps Open Clovis Clinic
Derek Carr paid another visit to a place of great importance in his life — Valley Children’s Hospital. After lifting the spirits of children at the Madera County facility, he helped with a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new pediatric clinic in Clovis on Friday. Carr told the familiar story to Central...
Fresno Mosquitoes Carry Deadly Viruses. How To Protect Yourself.
The Fresno Bee reported Friday that the first positive case of West Nile virus in Fresno County for this year was confirmed by health officials. County health officials said the infected individual, who was older than 65, was not hospitalized but had body aches, shortness of breath, headache and fatigue....
Judge Upholds California Sanctuary Laws
A U.S. judge on Thursday rejected a request by the Trump administration to block two California laws that protect immigrants in the country illegally, but put key parts of a third sanctuary law on hold. Judge John Mendez refused to block a law requiring the state to review detention facilities...
Jim Patterson Opposes De Leon's 100% Carbon-Free Energy Bill
SACRAMENTO — California lawmakers on Tuesday revived a long-stalled proposal to set a goal of generating 100 percent of the state's energy from carbon-free sources. With other controversial and high-stakes energy legislation also moving forward, California lawmakers face an array of decisions with vast implications for the Western energy grid,...
Is Anti-Parks Tax Ad Evoking Randa Jarrar Fair? Listen and Decide.
A conservative activist is fighting a tax plan to benefit Fresno parks. And he's raising the specter of controversial Fresno State English professor Randa Jarrar in a bid for success. Tal Cloud of Common Sense Information, a 527 political organization, released an audio advertisement Monday denouncing the Fresno for Parks plan,...
Who Runs California? Special Interests Flex Muscles Again.
SACRAMENTO — As the deadline approached last week for measures to qualify for California's November ballot, wealthy special interests pushed lawmakers to cut deals to avoid costly ballot measure campaigns in the latest display of money's power over policymaking. In a single day, beverage companies, a wealthy real estate developer...