Photo of the Catalina Mountains

Study: Warming Makes US West Megadrought Worst in Modern Age

KENSINGTON, Maryland — A two-decade-long dry spell that has parched much of the western United States is turning into one of the deepest megadroughts in the region in more than 1,200 years, a new study found. And about half of this historic drought can be b...
Photo of a firefighter covering his face

Firefighting Plane Crashes in Australia, Killing 3 Americans

SYDNEY — Three American crew members were killed Thursday when a C-130 Hercules aerial water tanker crashed while battling wildfires in southeastern Australia, officials said. “The only thing I have from the field reports are that the plane came down, it's ...

Storms Nudge Most of California Out of Dry Category

SAN FRANCISCO — Recent heavy storms across California have wiped out much of the state's abnormally dry conditions. Two months ago, the U.S. Drought Monitor categorized more 81% of the state as abnormally dr...
Photo of snow-clogged Interstate 80 near Truckee, CaliforniaRuc

‘Bomb Cyclone’ Snowstorm Closes I-80 Near Lake Tahoe

A snowstorm in the Sierra Nevada has shut down a highway in the mountains west of the Nevada-California line. The National Weather Service says the storm could be like nothing experienced in Northern California and Southern Oregon for 20 years. The Calif...
Photo of Fresno State men's basketball at Oregon

Bulldogs Lose at No. 15 Oregon in Season Opener

EUGENE, Ore. — Oregon's roster is almost completely made over from last season's Sweet 16 team. As the No. 15 Ducks' most experienced player, Payton Pritchard stepped up Tuesday night. He had 24 points w...
Photo of Colby Marshall

Mysterious Deaths of Bulls Are Roiling Oregon Ranch Country

SALEM, Ore. — The first dead bull was found in a timbered ravine in eastern Oregon. There was no indication it had been shot, attacked by predators or eaten poisonous plants. The animal’s sex organs and tongue had been removed. All the blood was gone. In...