Reid Stone

Reedley

Contributing Reporter at The San Joaquin Valley Sun

Featured in: Favicon

sjvsun.com Favicon

newsbreak.com Favicon

ourcommunitynow.com Favicon

boomingencore.com Favicon

rethinking65.com

Articles

Homeland Security cancels $2.7 million in grants to Harvard

1 week ago | sjvsun.com | Reid Stone

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has cancelled over $2.7 million in grants to Harvard University due to tensions between the school and the Trump administration. The big picture: The cancellation involved two grants worth more than $2.7 million from the Department of Homeland Security, with Noem citing concerns about Harvard’s foreign student visa holders engaging in illegal and violent activities.
OpenAI adds Dolores Huerta to temporary board

1 week ago | sjvsun.com | Reid Stone

Dolores Huerta has been named to a temporary advisory board for OpenAI as the artificial intelligence company transitions from a nonprofit to a for-profit business. Huerta, 95, is one of four people to be named to the board. The big picture: The advisory board, operating within a 90-day timeline, is tasked with providing recommendations for OpenAI’s philanthropic endeavors, although their advice will not be legally binding.
California’s commercial salmon fishing season closed for third year

1 week ago | sjvsun.com | Reid Stone

The 2025 commercial salmon fishing season in California will be closed for a third consecutive year due to declining salmon numbers, with sportfishing also restricted to only a few days in response to the dwindling fish population.
California closes $2.8 billion Medi-Cal funding gap

1 week ago | sjvsun.com | Reid Stone

Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed legislation to close a $2.8 billion budget gap in Medicaid services. This funding will ensure coverage for 15 million people, including illegal immigrants, through June. Driving the news: The budget gap arose after the state expanded coverage to low-income adults, regardless of immigration status. California underestimated the number of people who would enroll in the program, leading to a $2.7 billion excess cost.
Menendez brothers resentencing hearing to go forward

1 week ago | sjvsun.com | Reid Stone

A judge last week denied a request from the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office to withdraw a motion that supported re-sentencing Erik and Lyle Menendez. The Menendez brothers are serving life without parole for the 1989 shotgun murder of their parents. The backstory: Former DA George Gascón requested re-sentencing for the brothers based on new evidence of alleged sexual abuse by their father. This would change their sentence to 50 years to life.
Senate confirms Huckabee as Israel ambassador

2 weeks ago | sjvsun.com | Reid Stone

The Senate confirmed former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee as the Trump administration’s ambassador to Israel following a 53-46 vote, shortly after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to the White House. Driving the news: An earlier meeting between Netanyahu and President Trump left the Israeli Prime Minister without major policy victories, unlike his previous successful visit.
Supreme Court gives Trump green light to enforce Alien Enemies Act

2 weeks ago | sjvsun.com | Reid Stone

The Supreme Court handed President Donald Trump a significant victory on Monday by allowing him to enforce the Alien Enemies Act. This decision authorizes immigration officials to rely on a broad wartime authority to swiftly deport alleged gang members. The big picture: The unsigned decision, considered one of the most closely monitored emergency appeals, permits Trump to invoke the 1798 law while ongoing litigation surrounding its usage continues in lower courts.
New bill would keep bars open until 4 a.m.

2 weeks ago | sjvsun.com | Reid Stone

California lawmakers are poised to consider a bill that proposes the establishment of “Hospitality Zones” in which bars and restaurants can extend their last call for alcohol service until 4 a.m. on Fridays, Saturday, and state holidays as a strategy to breathe new life into the state’s nightlife scene. The big picture: Asm. Matt Haney (D-San Francisco) unveiled Assembly Bill 342 on Monday, allowing cities to designate these zones to cater to night owls and increase post-pandemic recovery efforts.
Newsom tries to separate California from trade wars

2 weeks ago | sjvsun.com | Reid Stone

California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the state’s resistance against President Donald Trump’s tariffs, vowing to form alliances with nations considering retaliatory actions against the U.S. and advocating for the exemption of California-made products from such measures.
U.S. adds over a quarter million jobs

2 weeks ago | sjvsun.com | Reid Stone

In March, U.S. employers added an unexpected 228,000 jobs, indicating a robust labor market despite President Trump engaging in controversial trade wars. The big picture: Although the unemployment rate slightly rose to 4.2%, the strong job growth surpassed economists’ expectations of 130,000 new jobs, with February’s figures at 117,000. Revisions by the Labor Department trimmed 48,000 jobs from the payrolls of January and February.