DETROIT — Traffic deaths in the U.S. fell for the third consecutive year in 2019, the government's road safety agency reported. The downward trend is continuing into this year with people driving fewer miles due to the pandemic, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Thursday. The agency says deaths...
Powerful Storm Pounds Southern California With Rain, Snow
LOS ANGELES — A powerful winter storm brought a deluge of rain and snow to Southern California, triggering tornado warnings and bringing post-Christmas travel to a halt on major routes early Thursday. Snow shut down vital Interstate 5 in Tejon Pass through the mountains north of Los Angeles and stopped...
Opponents Force New Animal Shelter to a Different Spot
Plans for a new animal shelter in a northwest Fresno neighborhood appear over. However, the shelter currently cramped at the former county morgue now is slated to move to a much larger location just a half-mile away. And, says Brenda Mitchell, board president of Fresno Humane Animal Services, construction is expected...
NW Fresno Traffic is a Horror Show. How Would Council Candidates Fix It?
In northwest Fresno, "traffic" is a dirty word. Decades of piecemeal planning and years of rapid growth have spawned long lines of vehicles on major avenues during rush hour. There's a release valve planned for the plugged-up traffic surrounding Shaw and Herndon avenues, but it's been on the drafting board...
Time for Yosemite and Humanity to Take a Break?
The road to Mariposa Grove in Yosemite National Park is closed to cars, and the shuttle bus wasn’t running. Would the Three Stooges—my sons, ages 10, 8 and 5—agree to a 2 ½ mile uphill hike to see Yosemite’s signature sequoias? This month I made my first trip to Yosemite...
Trump Eases up on Border Shutdown Threat
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump eased up Tuesday on his threats to shut the southern border this week as officials across his administration explored half-measures that might satisfy the president's urge for action, like stopping only foot traffic at certain crossings. Facing a surge of Central American migrants trying to...
Tens of Thousands Converge on California’s ‘Poppy Apocalypse’
LAKE ELSINORE — Like Dorothy in the "Wizard of Oz," the Southern California city of Lake Elsinore is being overwhelmed by the power of the poppies. About 150,000 people over the weekend flocked to see this year's rain-fed flaming orange patches of poppies lighting up the hillsides near the city...
Don’t Leave California’s Climate Goals Stuck in Traffic
Remember the last time you were stuck in traffic, and you were late for something really important? Well, that’s where California’s climate goals are without the completion of our high-speed rail project designed to alleviate California’s traffic congestion and the resulting air quality effects. Having built most of California’s utility-scale...
Elon Musk to Unveil Underground Tunnel, Transport Cars
LOS ANGELES — Tech entrepreneur Elon Musk is set to unveil an underground transportation tunnel on Tuesday that could move people faster than subways. Musk also plans to show off the autonomous cars that will carry people through the test tunnel, which runs about 2 miles under the streets of...
Supervisors Delay Vote on Proposed Animal Shelter West of Highway 99
The Fresno County Board of Supervisors has delayed for six weeks a vote on a proposed $6 million animal shelter/clinic west of Highway 99. Supervisor Nathan Magsig made a motion to delay a vote on a rezone request by the facility's proponents at Tuesday's meeting. Supervisor Brian Pacheco, who represents the...