Category: Sacramento

MERCED, Calif. (KFSN) — After years of closures and construction, shoppers will soon see new developments at the Merced Mall. From the demolition of the Sears building that has sat vacant for nearly a decade to construction crews making progress, the commercial epicenter of the city will soon be unrecognizable. The 94-thousand square foot Sears store is transforming into a vibrant outdoor shopping area with well-known names including Burlington Coat Factory, Ulta, Petco, Five Below, Carter’s, and Bath and Body Works. Crews have been hard at work since December. The job is estimated to cost about 20 million dollars. Locals say the upgrades are long overdue for the mall, which has been a fixture in the city for 50 years. “I would come here often with my parents and my siblings, and we would take Easter photos and Christmas photos and all the good things. It would be great to kind of see it a little more lively than what it was before,” said one resident named Lupe. Renovations originally started for the other side of the mall back in 2017, but the project was

By JJ Zavala Friday, March 28, 2025 9:50PM Upright Citizens Brigade’s first trans/gender nonconforming/non-binary improv troupe takes the stage on the second Sunday of each month. HOLLYWOOD, LOS ANGELES — We are commemorating Trans Day of Visibility by introducing you to an extraordinary improv sketch group. They take the stage on the second Sunday of each month at the Upright Citizens Brigade in Hollywood, California. “QT’s Presents… JOY!” is the first all-transgender/gender nonconforming/non-binary improv team at the theater. “We’re the first all-gender non conforming team, and the show is called ‘Joy,’ but it it brings such joy to see people seek us out because they want to see themselves on stage,” stated Lyndsey Frank, a member of the troupe. “Representation is so important.” “Being loud and trans and in public and living your truth is like, it’s a radical decision to choose self and to choose expression and to choose joy over conformity or even safety,” added Laser Webber, a producer for the group. “And I think it’s something that a lot of people could learn from, not just our community, but it certainly makes

NEW ORLEANS — Steph Curry returned for what head coach Steve Kerr has called the biggest game of the Warriors’ season. Curry, 37, missed the prior two games — losses in Atlanta and Miami — with a pelvic contusion. He suffered the injury last week against the Toronto Raptors. The reason Golden State’s game was so significant is because the Warriors have strung together a few lackluster performances and have slipped from sixth to seventh place in the Western Conference. Because they’ve lost or underperformed against teams who have substantially less talent than them — even in games without Curry — they have no margin for error. in the home stretch of the season. The Pelicans certainly qualify. New Orleans (20-53) was without Zion Williamson, CJ McCollum, Dejounte Murray, Trey Murphy and Herb Jones. The Warriors have learned their lesson the hard way, this year and in seasons past: No matter who’s out there, you can’t overlook NBA players. “You prepare your own team,” Kerr said pregame. “You don’t worry about the other team. Our guys know how often this happens, where guys are out on

Sources tell CBS News the Signal chat involving senior Trump administration officials included sensitive intelligence Israel provided to the U.S.

UAW president Shawn Fain said Trump’s order to end collective bargaining for swath of federal workers would cost 700,000 people their union contracts.

Major law firm reaches deal with Trump administration, will fund causes in line with Trump priorities; California teen makes history by becoming the youngest person to pass the bar exam.

By WYATTE GRANTHAM-PHILIPS, AP Business Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Even if you’re not in the market for a new car, U.S. President Donald Trump’s 25% tariffs on auto imports could make owning one more expensive. The new taxes, which are set to begin April 3 and expand in the following weeks, are estimated to raise the average cost of a car imported from another country by thousands of dollars. But repairs for vehicles that currently use foreign-made parts are also expected to get pricier — and, as a result, hike insurance costs farther down the road. While the White House says these tariffs will foster domestic manufacturing and raise $100 billion in revenue annually, economists stress that straining the auto industry’s global supply chain brings significant disruptions. Dealerships and car repair shops will likely have little choice but to raise prices — leading drivers across the country to pay more for everyday maintenance. Here’s what you need to know. How will tariffs affect my next car repair? It depends on what you need fixed and where you go in to get your car serviced. But

By Sally French, NerdWallet A European getaway doesn’t have to come with sky-high airfare. With many budget and legacy airlines offering expanded transatlantic route schedules, competition on pricing is intense. For frugal travelers, that means both more options for flights — and more opportunities for deals. According to data provided to NerdWallet by Dollar Flight Club, an airfare deals website, certain routes offer consistently low fares. That makes cities like Reykjavík, Iceland; Lisbon, Portugal; and Barcelona, Spain, some of the most affordable European destinations to fly to from the U.S. The cheapest average routes between the U.S. and Europe in 2025 Using airfare data from the 10 largest U.S. airports based on number of passengers, Dollar Flight Club identified 14 routes where average fares were less than $1,000 round trip. Those 14 routes (sorted by average fare) are: Average fares were based on an analysis of 50,000 fares pulled on Jan. 27, 2025 for trips from January through September 2025. The data included fares from a mix of legacy and budget carriers. Fares will vary depending on your specific airport or travel date. But in

By CORA LEWIS, Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — If you know or suspect you can’t pay the taxes you owe this tax season, you should still file a return with that information or file for an extension. That’s the top piece of advice that tax professionals want you to know. “The IRS wants to work with you,” said Tom O’Saben, director of tax content and government relations at the National Association of Tax Professionals. “But if you’re asking the IRS for some help, they have to know something about you. So the first thing is to have that return filed. The number one takeaway is that owing money is not a reason not to file.” If you don’t file a return or ask for an extension, then interest and penalties begin to accrue immediately. Those costs are largely avoidable if you share the information about your circumstances with the IRS in a timely way. Filing a return without paying taxes owed in full is preferable to not filing. Related Articles From repairs to insurance, Trump’s auto tariffs could make owning a car more expensive

By MICHAEL KUNZELMAN WASHINGTON (AP) — An appeals court ruled Friday that President Donald Trump can fire two board members of independent agencies handling labor issues from their respective posts in the federal government. Related Articles Hegseth tells Philippines the Trump administration will ramp up deterrence against China threat The fate of addiction treatment hangs in the balance with Kennedy’s HHS overhaul Fewer Americans now see Canada as a close US ally as Trump strains a longtime partnership Noted economist honored by Trump warns his 25% tariffs could add $4,711 to the cost of a vehicle Trump asks Supreme Court for permission to resume deporting Venezuelan migrants under wartime law A divided three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit agreed to lift orders blocking the Trump administration from removing Merit Systems Protection Board member Cathy Harris and National Labor Relations Board member Gwynne Wilcox. On March 4, U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras ruled that Trump illegally tried to fire Harris. Two days later, U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell ruled that Trump did not have the authority to remove

CINCINNATI — Logan Webb was eight-years-old when Justin Verlander made his major-league debut on July 4, 2005. He doesn’t remember much about his life at the time, only that he was on summer vacation. An A’s fan growing up, Webb dreaded watching Verlander torment his childhood team during the playoffs. “I didn’t like him for a couple days,” Webb said with a smile. Now teammates, that disdain has long faded. Come Saturday, Webb will get to sit back and enjoy Verlander’s first start as a Giant, the beginning of the latest chapter in a Hall of Fame career. “I’m very excited to see him,” said Webb, who made his fourth straight Opening Day start in Thursday’s 6-4 win over the Reds at Great American Ballpark. “I’ll probably stay away from him on Saturday. I’ve heard from him that he’s pretty serious on the days he pitches. “(I’m) excited to see him do his thing as just a baseball fan — not just his teammate, as a baseball fan, I’m excited to watch Justin Verlander throw.” Verlander, 42, is at a far different point in his

President Trump fired Gwynne Wilcox from the National Labor Relations Board and Cathy Harris from the Merit Systems Protection Board.

President Trump confirms call with Canadian Prime Minister Carney following tariff announcement; Communities hit by Hurricane Helene now facing fires.

BANGKOK — A powerful earthquake rocked Myanmar and neighboring Thailand on Friday, destroying buildings, a bridge and a dam. At least 144 people were killed in Myanmar, where photos and video from two hard-hit cities showed extensive damage. At least eight died in the Thai capital, where a high-rise under construction collapsed. The 7.7 magnitude quake, with an epicenter near Mandalay, Myanmar ‘s second largest city, struck at midday and was followed by a strong 6.4 magnitude aftershock. The full extent of death, injury and destruction was not immediately clear – particularly in Myanmar, one of the world’s poorest countries. It is embroiled in a civil war and information is tightly controlled. The head of Myanmar’s military government said in the televised speech on Friday evening that at least 144 people were killed and 730 others were injured. “The death toll and injuries are expected to rise,” Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing said. Photos from the capital of Naypyidaw showed multiple buildings used to house civil servants destroyed by the quake, and rescue crews pulling victims from the rubble. Myanmar’s government said blood was in

Friday, March 28, 2025 5:19PM Stream Central California’s News and Original Shows 24/7 LOS BANOS, Calif. (KFSN) — Two suspects in a home invasion have been arrested after being injured in a shootout with a Los Banos homeowner. Los Banos Police say officers responded to a shooting at a home on Edward Street near San Luis Street just after 2 a.m. Friday. When officers arrived, they were told “several armed suspects” had forcibly entered the residence, confronting the homeowner. Investigators say the homeowner confronted the suspects with a legally owned firearm, leading to an exchange of gunfire. The homeowner shot two of the suspects in the exchange, who fled through a window. Officers say the uninjured suspects drove away from the scene in a car. The two suspects who were shot were later located, arrested and taken to a Modesto hospital for their injuries. Officers say both are expected to survive. Police did not specify how many suspects in total were involved in the home invasion. The investigation is ongoing. Copyright © 2025 KFSN-TV. All Rights Reserved. Top Stories

By Aaron Katersky Friday, March 28, 2025 4:32PM Chanteé Lans has the latest details on the court case. NEW YORK — The suspect in the Gilgo Beach serial killings divorce was settled as his attorneys spent another day in court debating over DNA evidence. Lawyers for Rex Heuermann were in court to ask a Suffolk County judge to disqualify some of the DNA evidence collected by prosecutors. Only one witness, a scientist, was expected to take the stand. She was called up by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office. SEE ALSO | Case against accused Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann ‘heading toward the trial phase’: DA The scientist’s testimony was to give insight into the efficiency of the technique used for the DNA evidence in question. The new technique is whole-genome sequencing of the DNA within a hair. Scientists take all the fragments of DNA and assemble them into the human genome. Traditional DNA sequencing looks at 15 to 24 points of comparison. Whole genome sequencing looks at 100,000 or more points. The methodology yields only one possible donor. READ MORE | Gilgo Beach

Friday, March 28, 2025 4:13PM After a four-year closure, Crystal Cave in Sequoia National Park is finally opening to visitors again. SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK (KFSN) — After a four-year closure, Crystal Cave in Sequoia National Park is finally opening to visitors again. Tickets for guided tours of the underground marble cave go on sale Monday, March 31, at 10 a.m. Crystal Cave offers a captivating glimpse into a world of stunning stalactites, stalagmites and intricate formations. The 50-minute guided tours give visitors an immersive experience, exploring the cave’s unique geology, history, and ecology. Tours begin May 23 and run through September 7. You can purchase tickets here, but be fast, they usually sell out quickly. Copyright © 2025 KFSN-TV. All Rights Reserved.

Washington, D.C.’s famous cherry blossoms reached the 2025 peak bloom on March 28. Here’s where to see them.

President Trump invoked the wartime Aliens Enemies Act to deport alleged Venezuelan gang members earlier this month.

Supporters of Palestinian causes with ties to American universities have been detained in the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigrants. President Donald Trump and other officials have accused protesters and others of being “pro-Hamas,” referring to the Palestinian militant group that attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Many protesters have said they were speaking out against Israel’s actions in the war against Hamas in Gaza. More than half a dozen people are known to have been taken into custody or deported by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials in recent weeks. Rumeysa Ozturk Federal officers detained 30-year-old Turkish student Rumeysa Ozturk on Tuesday as she walked along a street in suburban Boston. A senior Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said without providing evidence that an investigation found Ozturk, a doctoral student at Tufts University, “engaged in activities in support of Hamas,” a U.S.-designated terrorist group. Friends and colleagues of Ozturk said her only known activism was co-authoring an op-ed in a student newspaper that called on Tufts University to engage with student demands to cut ties with Israel. Ozturk has been taken to an ICE detention

By JOSH BOAK, Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Noted economist Arthur Laffer warns in a new analysis that President Donald Trump’s 25% tariffs on auto imports could add $4,711 to the cost of a vehicle and says the proposed taxes could weaken the ability of U.S. automakers to compete with their foreign counterparts. In the 21-page analysis obtained by The Associated Press, Laffer, whom Trump awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2019 for his contributions to economics, says the auto industry would be in a better position if the Republican president preserved the supply chain rules with Canada and Mexico from his own 2019 USMCA trade pact. The White House has temporarily exempted auto and parts imports under the USMCA from the tariffs starting on April 3 so that the Trump administration can put together a process for taxing non-U.S. content in vehicles and parts that fall under the agreement. “Without this exemption, the proposed tariff risks causing irreparable damage to the industry, contradicting the administration’s goals of strengthening U.S. manufacturing and economic stability,” Laffer writes in the analysis. “A 25% tariff would not