WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, a centrist Democrat who was elected to the Senate in 1992 in the 'Year of the Woman' and broke gender barriers throughout her long career in local and national politics, has died. She was 90. Three people familiar with the situation confirmed her death to The Associated Press on Friday. Feinstein, the oldest sitting U.S. senator, was a passionate advocate for liberal priorities important to her state — including environmental protection, reproductive rights and gun control — but was also known as a pragmatic lawmaker who reached out to Republicans and sought middle ground.

https://gvwire.com/2023/09/29/sen-dianne-feinstein-of-california-dies-at-age-90

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In response to California's escalating housing crisis, some residents are turning to an unconventional solution: living in compact sleeping pods. These pods, measuring a snug 3.5 feet wide and 4 feet tall, are just large enough to accommodate a twin mattress. Despite their small size, they come equipped with modern amenities such as charging stations, LED lights, and individual climate control systems. While the monthly cost of these pods ranges from $500 to $900, they offer a more affordable alternative to traditional housing options.

https://gvwire.com/2023/09/28/tiny-sleeping-pods-californias-answer-to-the-housing-crisis/

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WASHINGTON — House Republicans launched a formal impeachment hearing Thursday against President Joe Biden, saying they intend to 'provide accountability' as they  make their case  to the public, their colleagues and skeptics in the Senate. The Opening Hearing The chairmen of the Oversight, Judiciary, and Ways and Means committees used the  opening hearing  of their impeachment inquiry to review the constitutional and legal questions involved. They are trying to show what they say are links to Biden's son Hunter's overseas businesses, though key witnesses said they do not yet see hard evidence of impeachable offenses.

https://gvwire.com/2023/09/28/house-republicans-make-their-case-for-president-biden-impeachment-inquiry-at-first-hearing/

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Local fast food operators say a new $20 an hour minimum wage could drastically affect business, including the closure of stores. 'Surely, lower performing stores will need to make a business decision as to the viability of continuing or not,' said Ali Nekumanesh, executive vice president of Del Delicious. However, a local labor leader says the fast food industry is painting a false narrative about the impacts of a higher minimum wage. 'I think it's pretty common for industry leaders to criticize efforts to bring people out of poverty in their particular industries as job killers,' said Dillon Savory, executive director of the Central Labor Council representing the Fresno region.

https://gvwire.com/2023/09/26/local-operators-say-californias-20-fast-food-minimum-wage-could-bring-restaurant-closures/

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SACRAMENTO — California will double the taxes on guns and ammunition and use the money to pay for more security at public schools and various violence prevention programs under a new law Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Tuesday. The federal government already taxes the sale of guns and ammunition at either 10% or 11%, depending on the type of gun. The law Newsom signed adds another 11% tax on top of that — making it the only state with its own tax on guns and ammunition, according to the gun control advocacy group Brady.

https://gvwire.com/2023/09/26/newsom-signs-laws-on-concealed-weapons-11-tax-hikes-on-guns-and-ammo/

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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's proposed judicial reforms have sparked widespread protests in Israel and raised concerns among Palestinians. The reforms, which aim to limit the powers of the Supreme Court, have been met with opposition from Israelis who fear the erosion of democracy and human rights. Palestinians, on the other hand, worry that a weakened Supreme Court could lead to an expansion of Jewish settlements in the West Bank and a potential annexation of the territory. The proposed overhaul has been described as a 'judicial coup' by Sawsan Zaher, a Palestinian human rights lawyer.

https://gvwire.com/2023/09/25/netanyahus-judicial-reforms-spark-protests-and-fears-of-west-bank-annexation/

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FORESTHILL — A 19-year-old was rescued after a stunt went wrong and left him dangling by a rope from California's tallest bridge, authorities said. Deputies responding to the Foresthill Bridge northeast of Sacramento determined the teen and his 17-year-old friend had been shooting video of him swinging from the steel span, the Placer County Sheriff's Office said. 'The 19 year-old became stuck, hanging approximately 30 feet from the underside of the catwalk when his equipment failed. His friend called 911 after they determined he was stuck and needed assistance,' the sheriff's office said in a  statement .

https://gvwire.com/2023/09/22/teen-rescued-after-stunt-leaves-him-dangling-from-californias-tallest-bridge/

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The Energy Department has announced a $325 million investment in new battery types that can help turn solar and wind energy into 24-hour power. The funds will be distributed among 15 projects in 17 states and the Red Lake Nation, a Native American tribe based in Minnesota. Batteries are increasingly being used to store surplus renewable energy so that it can be used later, during times when there is no sunlight or wind. The department says the projects will protect more communities from blackouts and make energy more reliable and affordable.

https://gvwire.com/2023/09/22/energy-department-announces-325m-for-batteries-that-can-store-clean-electricity-longer/

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NEW DELHI — Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh independence advocate whose killing two months ago is at the center of a widening breach between India and Canada, was called a human rights activist by Sikh organizations and a criminal by India's government. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Monday that his government was investigating 'credible allegations' that Indian government agents were linked to the June 18 slaying, when Nijjar was gunned down outside a Sikh cultural center in Surrey, British Columbia.

https://gvwire.com/2023/09/22/who-was-hardeep-singh-nijjar-the-sikh-activist-whose-killing-has-divided-canada-and-india/

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SACRAMENTO — The Legislature voted Thursday to give Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom's administration permission to buy massive amounts of electricity, a move aimed at avoiding blackouts by shoring up the state's power supply while jumpstarting the West Coast's fledgling offshore wind industry. And the money would come from a surcharge imposed on ns' electricity […] The post first appeared on GV Wire - Explore. Explain. Expose .

https://gvwire.com/2023/09/15/ca-will-tap-ratepayers-to-jumpstart-offshore-wind-industry/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=ca-will-tap-ratepayers-to-jumpstart-offshore-wind-industry

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Standup comic and movie funnyman Adam Sandler will bring his off-beat brand of adult humor to Fresno's Save Mart Center on Oct. 20, his tour management announced Wednesday. Tickets for the Fresno stop of the 'I Missed You Tour' start at $39.50 and top out at $169.50. They go on sale at noon on Friday. […] The post How to Score Tickets for Adam Sandler's Fresno Stop first appeared on GV Wire - Explore. Explain. Expose .

https://gvwire.com/2023/09/14/how-to-score-tickets-for-adam-sandlers-upcoming-fresno-stop/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=how-to-score-tickets-for-adam-sandlers-upcoming-fresno-stop

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SACRAMENTO — Legislative workers at the California Capitol are close to forming their first labor union after state lawmakers approved a bill Wednesday that allows them to organize. The Democrats in charge of California's Legislature have historically been friendly with labor unions. This year alone, lawmakers are poised to increase the minimum wage for fast food workers and health care employees while also making striking workers eligible for unemployment benefits. But despite California lawmakers' pro-union stance, the people who work for them have never been allowed to form a union.

https://gvwire.com/2023/09/14/california-lawmakers-vote-to-let-legislative-employees-join-a-labor-union/

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MOSCOW — Russia's Foreign Ministry on Thursday declared two U.S. diplomats 'persona non grata' and ordered them to leave the country within seven days as they were allegedly involved in 'illegal activity.' The ministry charged in a statement that the first secretary at the U.S. Embassy in Russia, Jeffrey Sillin, and the second secretary, David Bernstein, 'kept in touch' with a former employee of the U.S. Consulate in Vladivostok who was arrested earlier this year. The ex-employee was accused of collecting information for U.

https://gvwire.com/2023/09/14/russia-expels-2-us-diplomats-accusing-them-of-illegal-activity/

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MORENO VALLEY — A Southern California school district has agreed to pay $27 million to settle a lawsuit by the family of an eighth grade boy who died after being assaulted by two other students at a middle school four years ago. The settlement with the Moreno Valley Unified School District was announced Wednesday by lawyers for relatives of 13-year-old Diego Stolz, who was sucker-punched at Landmark Middle School in September 2019. One of the teens struck the teenager in the head from behind and he fell, hitting his head against a pillar.

https://gvwire.com/2023/09/14/california-school-district-pays-27m-to-settle-suit-over-death-of-teen-recorded-on-video/

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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Customers filed in and out of Mark Abramson's gun shop on the outskirts of Albuquerque as outrage grew over the governor's order to suspend the right to carry firearms to address what she said is an epidemic of gun violence. Abramson agreed that a debate is long overdue on how to tackle irresponsible, unjustified shootings such as the ones in Albuquerque that led to the deaths of an 11-year-old and a teen. 'But to ban the largest city and the most populous county in the state simply because bad people engaged in bad behavior seems overkill,' said Abramson, who is also a lawyer.

https://gvwire.com/2023/09/12/protests-erupt-after-nm-governor-suspends-right-to-carry-guns-in-public/

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Fresno State News At a young age, Ali Fakhrudin Dadawalla was inspired to study the complexities of the human brain after meeting a family friend who had a condition he wasn't familiar with. Responding to an inquiry from the young Dadawalla about his condition, the man said, 'Ali, have you ever heard of Parkinson's disease? I'm dying and there aren't any treatments for me right now.' Dadawalla entered Fresno State as a member of the Smittcamp Family Honors College, wanting to study neuroscience.

https://gvwire.com/2023/09/12/fresno-state-neuroscience-student-receives-csu-trustees-award/

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Los Angeles has seen over 40,000 eviction notices sent to tenants since the start of this year. Surprisingly, many of these were issued to residents of upscale apartment buildings in downtown LA, Hollywood, and Woodland Hills. The data, collected by the city for the first time, provides insight into the eviction process which often begins with a three-day notice to pay overdue rent or vacate the premises. Research suggests that large property management companies often automate their eviction processes, leading to higher eviction rates.

https://gvwire.com/2023/09/09/la-eviction-notices-exceed-40000-many-to-residents-of-upscale-apartments/

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Responding to the announcement that the state DOJ was investigating Saturday's killing of a suspect by Fresno police, Chief Paco Balderrama said Monday evening that two guns 'were found in or near the decedent's vehicle, and freshly spent casings were found inside his car.' 'I am confident that DOJ's thorough investigation will reveal all specific actions leading up to the shooting. Additionally, there is body-worn video which is being reviewed by DOJ, and cannot be released at this time.' — Fresno Police Chief Paco Balderrama Balderrama's comments came in a statement to GV Wire.

https://gvwire.com/2023/03/07/two-guns-found-in-or-near-dead-suspects-vehicle-balderrama/

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For far too long, our Valley has struggled with disparities in health and access to healthcare, employment, wealth, basic technology, and education. We have experienced rising racial tensions while simultaneously aligned with rising racial consciousness.  These challenges have been exacerbated by the impact of the pandemic and political divisiveness.  And all these challenges stand a greater chance at resolution with an educated citizenry.  State Center Community College District (SCCCD) is central to that resolution.

https://gvwire.com/2023/04/02/local-community-colleges-reflect-legacy-of-educational-innovation/

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Gadflies – people obsessed with righting some perceived wrong and pester politicians and journalists to take up their causes – are a constant feature of politics. One of the state's more persistent gadflies these days is Thomas Carter, an accountant in Sherman Oaks who sends out almost daily barrages of emails about truancy in public schools, demanding that authorities recognize and address what he regards as a crisis. 'From what school will come the next ignored student to commit crimes, including a mass gun shooting, or be an ignored child abused at a school or in a home, or to become homeless, if a dropout?' is a typical heading on one of Carter's lengthy emails.

https://gvwire.com/2023/04/09/school-truancy-crisis-creating-dire-consequences-for-california/

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A 23-year-old used a rifle to kill four people — including a close friend of the governor — Monday at the Louisville bank where he was an employee, authorities said. The shooting, the 15th  mass killing in the country this year, comes just two weeks after a former student killed three children and three adults at a Christian elementary school in Nashville, Tennessee, about 160 miles to the south. That state's governor and his wife  also had friends killed  in that shooting. Police in Louisville arrived as gunshots were still being fired inside Old National Bank and exchanged fire with the shooter, who died, Louisville Metro Police Department Deputy Chief Paul Humphrey said at a news conference.

https://gvwire.com/2023/04/10/bank-employee-kills-4-in-louisville-bank-shooting-police-say/

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Amid widespread concerns about public safety in San Francisco, Whole Foods closed its flagship downtown market on Monday with no word on when it might reopen. The closure follows the shocking murder of tech executive Bob Lee in downtown San Francisco last week. 'To ensure the safety of our Team Members, we have made the difficult decision to close the Trinity store for the time being,' a Whole Foods Market spokesperson said in a written statement to USA Today . 'All Team Members will be transferred to one of our nearby locations.

https://gvwire.com/2023/04/11/sf-flagship-whole-foods-market-closes-as-doom-loop-rolls-on/

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When  Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed  a  2023-24 budget  in January, he acknowledged that the revenue estimates made six months earlier were way too optimistic and that the state had evolved from a nearly $100 billion surplus to a $22.5 billion deficit. Never mind. Nine months into the current fiscal year, it's evident that revenue, principally from personal income taxes,  will fall well short  of that downward revision. The deficit could hit $30 billion as he and legislative leaders begin to focus on a final version for adoption in June.

https://gvwire.com/2023/04/16/will-newsom-tap-rainy-day-fund-to-backfill-growing-budget-deficit/

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WASHINGTON — The House passed a sweeping defense bill  Friday that provides an expected 5.2% pay raise for service members but strays from traditional military policy with Republicans add-ons blocking abortion coverage, diversity initiatives at the Pentagon and transgender care that deeply divided the chamber. 'Our national security should never be politicized for culture wars and partisan games.' — Rep. Jim Costa (D-Fresno) Democrats voted against the package, which had sailed out of the House Armed Services Committee on an almost unanimous vote weeks ago before being loaded with the GOP priorities during a heated late-night floor debate this week.

https://gvwire.com/2023/07/14/house-gop-passes-defense-bill-limiting-abortion-access-halting-diversity-efforts/

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Once this current blast of triple-digit temps accompanied by elevated humidity ends on Thursday or Friday, get ready for perfect summer weather in Fresno through the end of August. Forecasting the weather more than a couple of days ahead is always a roll of the dice. But The Channel forecast through Aug. 29  calls […] The post It's Hot and Sticky Now, but What's Ahead for Fresno ? first appeared on GV Wire - Explore. Explain. Expose .

https://gvwire.com/2023/08/15/its-hot-and-sticky-now-but-whats-ahead-for-fresno-weather/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=its-hot-and-sticky-now-but-whats-ahead-for-fresno-weather

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The ongoing legal battle over the estate of Senator Dianne Feinstein's late husband, Richard Blum, has put the spotlight on Feinstein's only daughter, Katherine. The former San Francisco Superior Court judge alleges that her stepfather's trustees were improperly appointed and are conspiring to increase the inheritance of her stepsisters at her expense. Katherine Feinstein, who […] The post Family Feud: Feinstein's Daughter Battles Stepsisters Over $1 Billion Inheritance first appeared on GV Wire - Explore.

https://gvwire.com/2023/08/31/family-feud-feinsteins-daughter-battles-stepsisters-over-1-billion-inheritance/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=family-feud-feinsteins-daughter-battles-stepsisters-over-1-billion-inheritance

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A bipartisan congressional group from Nevada and California asked the Biden administration Monday to fast-track federal funds for a private company to build a high-speed rail line between Las Vegas and the Los Angeles area. All six of Nevada's elected federal lawmakers and four House members from California said in a letter to U.S. Secretary Pete Buttigieg that they're on board with a proposal from a private company, Brightline West, to spend more than $10 billion to lay tracks for trains that would whisk passengers generally along the traffic-clogged Interstate 15 corridor.

https://gvwire.com/2023/04/24/high-speed-train-from-vegas-to-california-gets-bipartisan-backing/

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The old Buena Vista Lake bed in Kern County will remain mostly dry and continue being farmed by the J.G. Boswell Company despite the coming, epic snow melt. But unlike in Kings County where Boswell has been  taking heat for continuing to farm parts of the old Tulare Lake bed while others have been flooded out, there likely won't be much controversy over Buena Vista. Lois Henry That's because back in 1964 the famed Miller & Lux company paid big money to keep a vast slice of Buena Vista Lake bed dry in perpetuity.

https://gvwire.com/2023/04/21/longtime-pact-keeps-j-g-boswell-land-dry-in-kern-countys-buena-vista-lake-bed/

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The nation's largest public four-year university is presently incapable of affording itself. Mikhail Zinshteyn CalMatters A 70-page report nearly a year in the making by leaders of the California State University details the massive gulf between the money the system currently generates from tuition and receives in state support and the actual costs of educating its nearly 500,000 students and employing 60,000 workers. All told, CSU's revenues account for only 86% of the system's overall costs — a gap of nearly $1.

https://gvwire.com/2023/05/26/new-report-csus-have-1-5-billion-funding-gap-tuition-hikes-suggested/

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With Memorial Day weekend coming up, Tulare County officials said Thursday that there won't be public access to Balch Park and the Mountain Home State Demonstration Forest. There are locked gates on Bear Creek and Balch Park roads due to unsafe conditions created by heavy snowfall and rain this winter and spring. 'The closure applies to motor vehicles as well as pedestrians, cyclists, and the public in general,' the county said in a news release. 'The closure will remain in effect for an undetermined period while crews assess damages and create a schedule for repairs.

https://gvwire.com/2023/05/26/bear-creek-and-balch-park-roads-in-tulare-county-closed-for-repairs/

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