Trump signs $1.4-trillion spending package, averting a holiday shutdown
WASHINGTON — President Trump signed two behemoth spending packages totaling $1.4 trillion on Friday night, preventing another year-end government shutdown with an hour and a half to spare. The existing stopgap funding law was set to expire at midnight Eastern time. Unlike the 35-day shutdown that ended in January, another lapse would have affected every federal…
Jane Lynch calls out Elizabeth Warren on behalf of 'billionaires in wine caves'
Jane Lynch has a message for Elizabeth Warren: “Class warfare is ugly.” The actress took to Twitter on Friday afternoon to stand up for the rights of “billionaires in wine caves,” responding to criticism the Massachusetts senator made against South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg during Thursday’s Democratic debate. “Billionaires in wine caves have as…
Buttigieg backers defend California 'wine cave' fundraiser
RUTHERFORD, Calif. — The California winemakers who hosted a dinner at a “wine cave” for Democratic presidential hopeful Pete Buttigieg are defending the fundraising event. Buttigieg’s political rivals used the fundraiser to criticize the mayor of South Bend, Ind., for soliciting campaign contributions from wealthy donors at Thursday’s Democratic presidential debate. Craig and Kathryn Hall,…
Junior Johnson, 'The Last American Hero,' dies at 88
Robert Glenn “Junior” Johnson, the moonshine runner turned NASCAR driver described as “The Last American Hero” by author Tom Wolfe in a 1965 article for Esquire, died Friday. He was 88. NASCAR announced the death of Johnson, the winner of 50 races as a driver and 132 as an owner. He was a member of…
La Habra's Clark Phillips III puts the capper on impressive Utah class
Utah and USC were battling to stay out of last place in the Pac-12 Conference recruiting rankings when the college football early signing period opened Wednesday morning. One team closed strongly and shot up the rankings, while the other sputtered at the December checkpoint. The Trojans briefly moved ahead of Utah with the signing of…
College football: Kent State beats Utah State in Frisco Bowl; Buffalo tops Charlotte in Bahamas Bowl
Dustin Crum passed for 289 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 147 yards and the clinching score in Frisco, Texas, to help Kent State beat Utah State 51-41 on Friday night in the Frisco Bowl for the Golden Flashes’ first bowl victory. Kent State (7-6) closed with four straight wins to finish with a…
Authorities arrest suspect in 1987 San Diego County shooting that killed 2 and wounded 2
RAMONA, Calif. — Authorities have extradited a 59-year-old man who they say fled to Mexico after killing two members of a family and wounding two other men in a shooting at a 4-year-old’s birthday party more than 32 years ago, San Diego County sheriff’s officials said Friday. Jose Angel Solorio, 27 at the time of the…
Jody Maroni's Sausage Kingdom bows out with a Venice Beach goodbye, after 40 years
So here’s the thing about life: You think you’re going to make all these choices. And sure, you make some. But some also get made for you. You say, I’m going to be this and I’m not going to be that. And then the lines blur and you end up a mix of this and…
Newsletter: Essential California Week in Review: A year in homelessness
Good morning, and welcome to the Essential California newsletter. It is Saturday, Dec. 21. Newsletter Get our Essential California newsletter Thank you to those of you who have already written in to tell us about how this year’s California headlines have affected your lives. If you haven’t already, we’d love tohear about your experiences for…
3.9 quake shakes near Ridgecrest, Calif.
A magnitude 3.9 earthquake was reported Saturday morning at 12:24 a.m. Pacific time nine miles from Ridgecrest, Calif., according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The earthquake occurred 27 miles from California City, Calif., 55 miles from Barstow, Calif., 63 miles from Rosamond, Calif. and 64 miles from Tehachapi, Calif.. In the past 10 days, there…