Former three-term Fresno County DA Elizabeth Egan has entered the race to succeed retiring Judge Alan Simpson. Egan joins Douglas Treisman, a Fresno County senior deputy district attorney, in the competition for Simpson's spot on the Fresno County Superior Court bench. Judges serve six-year terms and are paid $213,833 annually. County elections...
Republican Wins, Joins Spouse as California Lawmaker
SACRAMENTO — A Northern California Republican is set to join her husband in the state Legislature, with her Democratic opponent in Tuesday's special election conceding but promising a rematch next year. Megan Dahle had 58% of Tuesday's special election vote to 42% for Democrat Elizabeth Betancourt. Dahle is scheduled to...
California Justices Skeptical of Requiring Trump Tax Returns
SACRAMENTO — California Supreme Court justices seemed skeptical Wednesday of a state law requiring President Donald Trump to disclose his tax returns if he wants to be a candidate in the state's primary election next year. The justices wondered in a rapid-fire hour of questioning if the nation's first such...
Elections in 4 States Offer Tests of 2020 Voter Enthusiasm
Gubernatorial and legislative elections in four states Tuesday will test voter enthusiasm and party organization amid impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump and a fevered Democratic presidential primary scramble. Results in Kentucky, Mississippi, New Jersey and Virginia won't necessarily predict whether Trump will be reelected or which party will control...
AP Exclusive: Middleman Helped Saudi Give to Obama Inaugural
When President Barack Obama was reelected in 2012, a Saudi tycoon and his business associate sent hundreds of thousands of dollars to the U.S. to help pay for the inaugural celebration and get a picture with the president, according to court documents and an analysis of campaign finance records by...
UK's Johnson Seeks Dec 12 Election to Break Brexit Impasse
LONDON — Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Thursday that the only way to break Britain's Brexit impasse is a general election, and he will ask Parliament to approve a national poll for Dec. 12. Johnson said he would ask lawmakers to vote Monday on a motion calling for an early...
Retiree Checks to Rise Modestly Amid Push to Expand Benefits
WASHINGTON — Millions of retirees will get a modest 1.6% cost-of-living increase from Social Security in 2020, an uptick with potential political consequences in an election year when Democrats are pushing more generous inflation protection. The increase amounts to $24 a month for the average retired worker, according to estimates released Thursday...
Get Ready for Fresno County's New Voting System in 2020
The Voters Choice Act is an exciting new model for elections administration. California Senate Bill 450 was passed by the Legislature and signed by the governor in 2016, which authorizes counties to send every voter a mail ballot and provide ballot drop-off locations and Vote Centers throughout the county. In...
Whistleblower: White House Tried to 'Lock Down' Call Details
WASHINGTON — The whistleblower complaint at the center of Congress' impeachment inquiry alleges that President Donald Trump abused the power of his office to "solicit interference from a foreign country" in next year's U.S. election. The White House then tried to "lock down" the information to cover it up, the...
Rivals Jockey Over Forming Next Israeli Government
JERUSALEM — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu invited his political rival Benny Gantz to join a unity government with him and his religious allies on Thursday, an offer that was greeted coolly amid continued deadlock following this week's election. The deadlock has already raised speculation about a possible third election in...