West
California Democratic candidate uses wrong photo for Rep Jasmine Crockett’s congressional endorsement
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A campaign website for a California Democratic congressional candidate mistakenly promoted an endorsement from U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett using a photo of a different Black woman instead of the Texas Democrat.
The website for Esther Kim Varet removed the image Thursday afternoon after Fox News Digital inquired about the error.
“Racist. Arrogant. Totally out of touch. Good thing @estherkimvaret’s hate-filled, bigoted self isn’t getting anywhere near Congress,” Christian Martinez, national Hispanic press secretary for the National Republican Congressional Committee, wrote on X.
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Varet, owner of Various Small Fires, a chain of art galleries in Los Angeles, Dallas and Seoul, is running to unseat Rep. Young Kim, a Republican representing California’s 40th Congressional District, which includes portions of Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
Varet, the child of Korean immigrants, called Kim, who was born in South Korea, an “ESL puppet” in a social media post criticizing the Trump administration’s immigration policies.
The campaign website for California Democratic candidate Esther Kim Varet had the wrong image of Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, while touting her endorsement. (Getty Images)
“My story is not unique. It’s the story of so many Korean Americans and immigrants across the country who are proud Americans and are making our communities better every day. I’m proud of my accent and will keep using my voice to protect the American dream for future generations,” Kim previously told Fox News Digital.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Varet’s campaign and to Crockett’s office.
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The campaign website for Esther Kim Varet had the wrong image for Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, while touting her endorsement. (estherkimvaretc.com)
In August, the NRCC called Varet “unhinged” after she criticized Kim’s English-speaking skills. She also allegedly targeted Martinez personally, telling him to “prove that you’re a REAL Latino,” the group said.
Kim is also facing a Republican primary challenge from Rep. Ken Calvert, and the two will compete for the reconfigured district.
The district lines were changed after voters approved a statewide redistricting measure in November aimed at creating additional Democratic-leaning congressional seats.
Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, a member of the House Judiciary Committee, arrives on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., Dec. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
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The move came in response to a new map in Texas designed to establish several more Republican-leaning districts.
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California
GOP California governor candidates to face off at Clovis forum ahead of primary
With California’s June 2nd primary election nearing, Republican candidates for governor, Steve Hilton and Sheriff Chad Bianco, are set to appear at a forum in Clovis.
The Fresno County & City Republican Women Federated is hosting its “Celebrating 250 Years of America Dinner” and a gubernatorial forum on Friday, May 22nd, at The Regency Event Center, 1600 Willow Ave., in Clovis.
The forum will be moderated by State Senator Shannon Grove.
The discussion is expected to focus on major issues facing Californians, with questions presented via video by a panel of state and local figures, including Fresno County District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp on public safety and crime; former Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims on border control and citizenship; William Bourdeau of Bourdeau Farms LLC on water rights and agricultural issues; California state Assemblymember David Tangipa on taxation and fiscal responsibility; Jonathan Keller of the California Family Council on parental rights and education; and Matthew Dildine, CEO of Fresno Mission, on homelessness and mental health.
Clovis Mayor Pro Tem Diane Pearce and Fresno County Supervisor Nathan Magsig are listed as masters of ceremonies.
Doors are scheduled to open at 4:30 p.m., followed by a social hour at 5 p.m. Dinner and the program are set for 6 p.m.
Attire is listed as cocktail or business formal. Organizers said a portion of the proceeds will benefit the Veterans Home of California – Fresno.
GOP California governor candidates to face off at Clovis forum ahead of primary (Courtesy: Fresno County & City Republican Women Federated)
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“This forum comes at a pivotal moment for our state,” FCCRWF event organizers said. “Bringing the top Republican gubernatorial candidates to Clovis allows Valley families, farmers, and business owners to get real answers on the issues that affect their daily lives, from water infrastructure to public safety and the skyrocketing cost of living.”
Individual tickets are $150, with discounts offered to FCCRWF members.
Table sponsorships are available at the $1,500, $2,500 and $5,000 levels.
Tickets and sponsorships are available online at FresnoRepublicanWomen.org.
Colorado
Coworking firm Industrious takes former WeWork space in Denver
Industrious, a national coworking brand, is opening a new location in LoHi.
The company has snapped up 25,000 square feet at The Lab building at 2420 17th St., just off Platte Street. Industrious has an existing LoHi location just up the road at 2128 W. 32nd Ave.
“They are going to draw from different populations. … No doubt they’re close to each other, but [this is a] different product type, just in terms of build-out,” said Peri Demestihas, an Industrious executive.
Demestihas said the current LoHi location has been full for two years, which indicates demand for more space. That existing spot is more for established businesses with a greater emphasis on private offices. The new location will be geared more toward smaller companies and the solo entrepreneur.
In total, there will be 379 dedicated “office seats” and 18 “access seats,” which can be used by anyone.
Industrious has a conservative mindset when it comes to growth, Demestihas said. The company also operates in Upper Downtown and by I-25 and Colorado Blvd.
“These are the submarkets we like and if we can find the right building and we can get the right structure, … without those things, we’re not going to go to those submarkets. It’s got to suit our members.”
The new location off Platte Street will open in July. The build-out won’t be too intensive. The space was last occupied by WeWork, a coworking business that shuttered there in 2023 and filed for bankruptcy later that year.
Industrious isn’t signing a traditional lease for the space. Instead, it opts to do a revenue sharing agreement with the landlord. The business was acquired by CBRE in 2025 for $400 million.
Demestihas acknowledged the other competition in the area, like Switchyards, which recently opened a neighborhood work club near Industrious’ existing LoHi location.
“It’s serving a different customer base that’s looking for a different thing, which is great, and it shows you that there’s demand across the entire segment,” he said.
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Hawaii
Man killed while changing tire after crash in South Kohala
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Hawaiʻi Island police are investigating a traffic collision that claimed the life of a 59-year-old Waimea man on Sunday afternoon.
At 1:22 p.m., South Kohala patrol officers responded to the collision and determined that a black 2008 BMW sedan was traveling eastbound on Kawaihae Road when it veered onto the south shoulder and collided with a parked, unoccupied gold 2004 Toyota Camry sedan that was facing east on the shoulder.
Police identified the victim as 59-year-old Sione Tilini of Waimea.
At the time of the collision, three individuals were outside the Toyota Camry on the passenger side of the vehicle, changing a front passenger-side tire.
Tilini is believed to have been positioned between and partially underneath the passenger-side wheels of the Toyota when the collision occurred. The impact caused the Toyota to fall onto him.
Tilini was transported to Queen’s North Hawaiʻi Community Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead at 2:47 p.m.
Two additional individuals, a 19-year-old man and an 11-year-old boy, sustained minor injuries after being struck when the parked vehicle was pushed forward during the collision.
Both were transported to Queen’s North Hawaiʻi Community Hospital for treatment and later released.
The driver and sole occupant of the BMW, a 22-year-old Waimea man, was transported to Queen’s North Hawaiʻi Community Hospital and remains in critical condition.
The BMW driver was arrested on suspicion of negligent homicide, negligent injury, driving without a license, no motor vehicle insurance, and operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant.
The Hawaiʻi Police Department’s Area II Traffic Enforcement Unit has initiated a negligent homicide investigation.
Police ask anyone who witnessed the collision or has information relevant to the investigation to contact Officer Dayson Taniguchi at dayson.taniguchi@hawaiipolice.gov or at (808) 326-4646, ext. 229.
This was the fourth traffic fatality within five days and the ninth traffic fatality on Hawaiʻi Island in 2026, compared with 12 at the same time last year.
Copyright 2026 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
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