West
California Republicans warn Newsom his oil refining ‘phase-out’ endangers military readiness
EXCLUSIVE: Nearly half of California’s Republican congressional delegation sent a letter Tuesday warning Gov. Gavin Newsom’s stringent fossil fuel policies endanger national security in part due to the Golden State’s military prominence.
The letter, led by Rep. David Valadao of the San Joaquin Valley, expressed “grave concerns” that Newsom’s “deliberate… hamstring[ing]” of oil refining hurts not only California taxpayers but the U.S. military.
Valadao said the state has more than two dozen active military installations that rely on fossil fuels like petroleum and oil, and that without California at a fuller refining capacity, those installations must rely on foreign sources.
“[S]hould your administration continue down this path of shortsighted energy management, we can expect the state’s military installations – as well as other first lines of defense – to be entirely dependent upon foreign fuels by the midcentury,” the letter reads.
LAWMAKERS WARN EPA’S CLEAN POWER PLAN 2.0 COULD HAVE CATASTROPHIC IMPACT ON ELECTRIC GRID
California Gov. Gavin Newsom was recently ripped by critics for describing California as a “national model” for combatting homelessness. (California Governor Gavin Newsom YouTube channel)
The letter — also signed by Reps. Ken Calvert, Young Kim, Jay Obernolte and John Duarte — said California now hosts only nine remaining oil refineries and cited a 2021 Newsom memo seeking to “phase-out oil extraction.”
That memo denoted a 2045 deadline to halt all production, with the letter noting there is no contingency policy in place if residents continue their daily usage of 1.8 million barrels.
“When we depend on foreign oil, we are all too vulnerable to global supply disruptions and price spikes, which significantly impacts our economy and our ability to maintain a strong military presence,” the letter warned.
“By increasing our domestic energy production and reducing our reliance on foreign oil, we can protect ourselves against these risks and ensure that we have a stable and reliable energy source.”
EPA SUED OVER ‘CAPRICIOUS’ BIG-RIG EMISSIONS STANDARDS
Rep. David Valadao, R-Calif. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)
The missive acknowledged Newsom’s quest to shift the state to green-sourced electrical power, but added a balance must be struck until such infrastructure is tested and available.
It also warned of potential catastrophe for both the military and civilian populations in California, as photographs of signage depicting gas prices there topping $6 and $7 per gallon have gone viral in recent years.
“Your call to prematurely end the fossil fuel industry in our state not only has serious consequences for the military infrastructure in California, but it is a potential catastrophe for the future lack of affordability and availability of transportation fuels,” the letter read, as photographs of $6 per gallon California gas prices often make national headlines.
An aerial view of the California State Capitol in Sacramento. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
The letter went on to demand Newsom provide related information to lawmakers by Sept. 1, including whether and what strategies are in place to ensure energy sourcing to military installations remains operational.
The lawmakers also requested Newsom answer for the 55,000 fossil fuel industry jobs that could be displaced, as well as how to help Californians deal with expected price spikes and reliance on foreign oil sources.
In response to the letter, Newsom spokesperson Alex Stack criticized Republicans for doing “anything for their Big Oil donors.” “They should do their own research first,” he said.
“California gas prices are the lowest in three years and our new price gouging accountability measures will help save money at the pump. At the same time, the Department of Defense has elevated climate change as a national security priority and outlined the strategic need for clean energy – both of which California is leading on and providing the innovations that our military partners will utilize for our country’s national security.”
There are 40 Democrats and 12 Republicans in Congress representing California.
Read the full article from Here
West
UC Davis professor who posted violent threats against ‘Zionists’ keeps job after discipline
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
A UC Davis professor who drew widespread backlash after posting that “Zionist journalists” and their children should fear for their lives was suspended without pay for one academic quarter and remains employed by the university.
Jemma DeCristo, an assistant professor in the American Studies program who identifies as transgender, was the subject of an internal investigation following a social media post shared days after Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel. The university’s investigative report, completed in June 2024, was released publicly last week in response to a public-records request, as first reported by The Chronicle of Higher Education.
On Oct. 10, 2023, DeCristo posted on X: “One group of ppl we have easy access to in the US is all these Zionist journalists who spread propaganda & misinformation… they have houses w addresses, kids in school… they can fear their bosses, but they should fear us more.” The post included emojis depicting a knife, an axe and drops of blood.
The post went viral a week later after being amplified by conservative commentators, such as the late Turning Point USA founder, Charlie Kirk, who called the professor’s post a threat of terrorism.
Charlie Kirk called attention to Jemma DeCristo’s post in October 2023. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA ORDERED TO REINSTATE LAW STUDENT WHO WAS EXPELLED AFTER ANTI-JEWISH COMMENTS
According to the investigative report authored by UC Davis School of Law Dean Kevin R. Johnson and the outside law firm London & Stout, DeCristo told investigators the post was intended as satire and not a literal call to violence.
DeCristo claimed the language was intended to be “a sarcastic response to distressing geopolitical events,” and the message was not intended to be taken seriously.
The professor refused to issue a clarification or apology, according to the report, telling investigators, “it would just fuel the right-wing media that was harassing her.”
UC Davis concluded in their report that while the professor did not intend the post to be a literal threat, its language “injured members of the Jewish community,” caused fear for children’s safety, and triggered “a ripple effect of anxiety and increased burden on campus.” The report concluded the professor violated the faculty code of conduct regarding the university’s ethical principles and recommended discipline.
Memorial Union from a Distance at the University of California-Davis campus in Davis, California, taken on July 21, 2025. (istock)
TEXAS A&M COMMITTEE FINDS PROFESSOR’S FIRING OVER TRANSGENDER-RELATED LESSON UNJUSTIFIED
The investigation also documented “significant disruption” to university operations, including receiving hundreds of e-mails with demands that DeCristo be fired, complaints from students and staff over safety concerns and donations being jeopardized. At least one major donor threatened to withhold six-figure gifts unless DeCristo was terminated, according to the report.
A faculty panel in June 2025 recommended DeCristo be censured, but Chancellor Gary S. May decided that suspension was warranted as well.
UC Davis confirmed to Fox News Digital that DeCristo was suspended for the fall academic quarter and did not receive pay from Oct. 1, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2025. DeCristo is not currently teaching but remains employed by the university.
“The chancellor suspended the faculty member without pay for one academic quarter and placed a Letter of Censure in the faculty member’s personnel file,” a statement from the university read. “The letter will remain in the faculty member’s personnel file for the duration of the faculty member’s employment with UC.”
Kerr Hall, UC Davis, Davis, California. Taken April 8, 2015. (Joseph DeSantis/Getty Images)
PROFESSOR SLAMMED FOR ‘DESPICABLE BEHAVIOR’ WITH CONTROVERSIAL REPOSTS ON CHARLIE KIRK
In the letter of censure, May wrote that both investigators and the hearing panel found a failure to recognize the “deep pain and significant disruption” caused to the university community and a failure to offer clarification or apology that could have mitigated the impact.
“Particularly where students were among those who suffered as a result of your actions,” May wrote, “your glaring lack of insight into the harm you caused is in direct conflict with your obligation to protect and preserve conditions hospitable to student learning.”
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
DeCristo did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Fox News’ David Rutz contributed to this report.
Read the full article from Here
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Bay Ferry fleet brings back live music after 25 years
SF Bay Ferry brings back live music after 25 years
the theme was tides and tunes on the San Francisco Bay Ferry on Friday night. The Richmond line commuters were serenaded with a free concert. It’s an experience other riders may not have to wait too long to enjoy.
SAN FRANCISCO – East Bay ferry commuters on Friday got some very special surprises during their evening commutes on one San Francisco Bay Ferry line. Soon, other commuters on other lines may get the same treatment.
Sweet, soothing music
Beyond the beautiful views and cocktails, folks who took the ferry between San Francisco and Richmond on Friday evening got an extra treat; something they haven’t done in more than two decades: live music.
Lolah, a San Jose solo artist and band member, sang songs for fans and Friday commuters to their surprise and delight. “I think it’s very entertaining after a long day at work, and it makes the ferry really enjoyable compared to BART,” said commuter John Schmidt.
Jess Jenkins read about it online. “It’s a little bit out of my way. Yeah, but I was excited to try and check out the live music on the ferry. I think making public transit attractive to use is like, yeah, great for everybody,” said Jenkins. “Fantastic. I mean this is the most beautiful city in the world, sunset, a little music. What more could you want in the world?” said passenger Josh Bamberger.
Commuter and artist Marco Sorenson sketched Lolah. “It’s great. This was a real surprise tonight, fascinating; on the boat anyway, so this adds a little extra,” said Sorenson.
The singer loves her art and audiences. It’s an opportunity for musicians like me because we want to go out there and share your work, your art. So you feed on the energy from the audience and the audience feeds from the energy from you,” said Lolah who books her gigs through Lolahentertainment.com.
Bay ferries had music before
Twenty-five years ago, before the dot-com crash, it was a spontaneous twice-a-month Friday event. “It was just a group of enthusiastic ferry riders from Oakland that put it all together. So, it gathered a following. People would come, get on the boat and just never get off the boat, just continuously two round trips, and we were grateful for it,” said three-year SF Bay Ferry Captain Tim Patrick.
Ultimately, it interfered with the evening commute. “And then we kind of put a stop to it because it became too successful,” said Caprain Patrick.
This time, SF Bay Ferry itself is sponsoring even to bolster ridership at commute time as well as on weekends. “We’re definitely kind of testing the waters, experimenting with what we’re able to do in a venue such as the ferries; beautiful and scenic,” said SF Bay Ferry spokesperson Teo Saragi.
What’s next:
On Friday, January 16, entertainment will be provided by a DJ between the city and Vallejo.
The Friday after, Lolah returns. “We’re also in the process of brainstorming potential trivia nights or comedy nights,” said spokesperson Saragi.
What was successful 25 years ago, could become successful again on a much bigger ferry system with a lot more lines, because people love live music, they love the ferries; throw in a cocktail and call it a party.
Denver, CO
Broncos offensive line is the engine that drives offense
I’ve been covering the Denver Broncos for his entire career and I remember writing up some pretty harsh criticism of his play early on — especially in regards to holding penalties. I recall at one point he was committing holding penalties at a record-breaking rate. He was so far above the rest of the field that he’d break charts if anyone tried to chart it. The best part of that saga is that he never let the outside noise (from me and many others) get to him. He worked on his craft and he got better. And then got even better to the point where it is pretty clear that he is one of the best left tackles in all of football. He is going to go down as one of the best tackles in franchise history too when its all said and done. It’s a great comeback story.
All that said, he wasn’t the only one of the Broncos players on that offensive line to make an impact with guard Quinn Meinerz also being named a PFF All-Pro player. The whole offensive line has been dominant in nearly every category and is the main engine that has driven the offenses successes this season.
4) Denver Broncos
Team OLi Grade: 83.0
Best-Ranked OL: Garett Bolles, 89.0 (7th overall, 3rd position)
Worst-Ranked OL: Alex Palczewski, 63.5 (159th overall, 61st position)
And one more to complete the picture comes from Sharp Football Analysis who has the Broncos ranked fifth-overall in their NFL Offensive Line Stats:
There is so much evidence that shows the trenches on both side of the ball is what has brought the success of the 2025 Broncos. It’s an area that Sean Payton has said in the past is always an area of focus. He knows you don’t win consistently if your team is being dominated in the trenches.
-
Detroit, MI7 days ago2 hospitalized after shooting on Lodge Freeway in Detroit
-
Technology4 days agoPower bank feature creep is out of control
-
Dallas, TX5 days agoDefensive coordinator candidates who could improve Cowboys’ brutal secondary in 2026
-
Iowa4 days agoPat McAfee praises Audi Crooks, plays hype song for Iowa State star
-
Dallas, TX2 days agoAnti-ICE protest outside Dallas City Hall follows deadly shooting in Minneapolis
-
Health6 days agoViral New Year reset routine is helping people adopt healthier habits
-
Delaware1 day agoMERR responds to dead humpback whale washed up near Bethany Beach
-
Nebraska3 days agoOregon State LB transfer Dexter Foster commits to Nebraska