They're getting closer. A series of storms expected to bring rain and gusty wind to the Valley floor and snow to the southern Sierra is on a path to arrive late Wednesday and ramp up through Thursday. Charged-up weather increases the likelihood of fallen limbs, downed power lines and electricity...
California Regulators Approve $373M PG&E Rate Hike
SAN FRANCISCO — California regulators have approved a $373 million rate hike for Pacific Gas & Electric to pay costs related to a series of wildfires. KTVU-TV says the California Public Utilities Commission Thursday unanimously OK'd an increase that raises the average bill by $3.50 a month over 12 months. The station...
Anti-Opioid Addiction Drug Maker Charged With Fraud
RICHMOND, Va. — Federal prosecutors say the company that makes a drug meant to curb opioid addiction has been lying for years about the relative safety of its product. Prosecutors in Virginia filed fraud charges Tuesday against British-based Indivior, which makes Suboxone film strips that dissolve under the tongue and...
Gov. Newsom Criticizes PG&E’s Plan for New Board
SACRAMENTO — California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Thursday that Pacific Gas & Electric Corp. plans to remake its board of directors with hedge fund financiers and people who have little experience in utility operations and safety, and he urged the utility's leader to change course. "With this move, PG&E would...
Board Weighs New Rules After 22 Horse Deaths at Santa Anita
LOS ANGELES — The California Horse Racing Board will weigh new safety and medication rules Thursday in the wake of 22 horse deaths at Santa Anita. The board is meeting at the track northeast of Los Angeles to consider whether to ban medication and whips on racing days, among other...
One Year Later, Parkland Shooting Disrupts School Life
OKEECHOBEE, Fla. — Some students have difficulty trusting classmates outside their circle. Parents say interactions with school staff are more impersonal. Teachers worry that added security detracts from learning. The Parkland massacre a year ago upended school life across Florida. In the year since a gunman fatally shot 14 students...
All 62 Clovis Police Patrol Officers Outfitted With Body Cams
For the first time, all 62 Clovis Police Department patrol officers are outfitted with a body-worn camera. Wednesday morning, the department finished mounting the docking stations for the cameras at headquarters. "Nobody was pushing us to go to them, it is something we were progressive on internally," said Sgt. Jim Munro. "So...
‘Slow Your Pace, It’s Not a Race’ When Driving In Fog
When driving in the fog this winter, Caltrans encourages you to "Slow Your Pace, It's Not a Race." "Not only is fog dangerous to drive in, but it can turn deadly when people drive too fast," said Sharri Bender Ehlert, the district director for Caltrans."While getting to your destination on time is...
Brooks Challenges Atkins for Area 4 Central Unified Seat
After unseating incumbent George Wilson Jr. in 2014, Richard Atkins will face off with Shawn Brooks for the Area 4 seat on the Central Unified School Board in the November election. Atkins ran as part of the "Four Horsemen" slate, which swept incumbents out of the Area 1, 2, 4, and...
What Are Fresno Area Schools Doing To Keep Students Safe?
Student safety is top of mind for Fresno area school districts as they prepare for the return of students from summer break. Security cameras increasingly are on the front lines of defense in preventing mass shootings. But district leaders also are stepping up training for active shooter situations and strengthening...