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Suspected biolab in Las Vegas tied to 2023 California case, police say

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Suspected biolab in Las Vegas tied to 2023 California case, police say


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Federal and local authorities are investigating a suspected biological laboratory found inside a Las Vegas residence that they said is owned by a person connected to a 2023 illegal biolaboratory probe in Central California.

A SWAT team with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department assisted the Federal Bureau of Investigation with serving a search warrant at a residence in northeast Las Vegas on Saturday, Jan. 31, according to police. During the search, police said investigators discovered “evidence of possible biological material to include refrigerators with vials containing unknown liquids.”

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The search ended early on Monday, Feb. 2, and authorities said investigators recovered over 1,000 pieces of evidence from the residence.

“(Las Vegas police) utilized several technology platforms to safely enter and assess the location before investigators entered the home,” police said in a statement. “Some of that evidence included biological material and liquids that were meticulously collected and sent to FBI labs for testing.”

Further investigation revealed that the residence’s owner was tied to a 2023 illegal biolaboratory investigation in rural California, according to police. The owner, Jia Bei Zhu, has been in federal custody on charges related to the California investigation.

Another suspect, Ori Solomon, 55, was arrested in connection with the Las Vegas investigation and was booked into the Clark County Detention Center for disposing of and discharging hazardous waste, police said. Solomon was the property manager for the Las Vegas residence and a nearby home that was also searched, according to police.

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Laboratory-type equipment, containers with unknown substances discovered inside garage

In an update on Monday, Feb. 2, police said they received information over a week ago that laboratory equipment and potentially hazardous materials may have been stored inside a residence in northeast Las Vegas.

“As investigators looked deeper, they learned the property owner was connected to a 2023 illegal biological laboratory investigation in Reedley, California,” police said in a statement. “In that California case, investigators reportedly discovered materials possibly associated with infectious diseases, including hepatitis, COVID-19, HIV, malaria, and other potentially dangerous pathogens.”

Though it was unknown at the time whether similar materials were present at the Las Vegas residence, police said they launched a joint investigation with the FBI, local fire departments, and other state agencies.

Shortly before 6 a.m. local time on Saturday, Jan. 31, police said a SWAT team served a search warrant at the residence and removed three people who were renting rooms inside the home but were not involved in the investigation. Investigators then searched a locked garage at the home they believed contained the potentially hazardous materials.

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During the search, police said they deployed drones and a tactical robot to clear the area and conduct air sampling before personnel wearing protective equipment entered the garage.

At a news conference, Las Vegas Sheriff Kevin McMahill said investigators immediately observed numerous items, including laboratory-type equipment and containers with an unknown liquid substance, that were “consistent in appearance to the items found and described” in the 2023 California investigation.

“Initial search of the garage… identified a bio-safety hood, a bio-safety sticker, a centrifuge, multiple refrigerators, red-brown unknown liquids in gallon-sized containers and refrigerated vials with unknown liquids,” Christopher Delzotto, FBI Special Agent in Charge at the Las Vegas office, said during the news conference.

Police noted that due to the “unknown nature of the materials,” the operation required multiple controlled entries and decontamination procedures. Evidence collection continued through Sunday, Feb. 1, and the materials were later transferred to an FBI laboratory for testing.

Remediation of the residence was completed at about 2:30 a.m. local time on Monday, Feb. 2, and final site checks were conducted before the scene was cleared and confirmed safe, according to McMahill.

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2023 California biolab investigation

A monthslong investigation into a rural California warehouse uncovered an illegal laboratory filled with samples of infectious agents, medical waste, and mice bioengineered “to catch and carry the COVID-19 virus,” local authorities said in July 2023.

At the time, authorities said a Chinese medical company registered in Nevada was operating the unlicensed facility in Reedley, California, a small city southeast of Fresno, California. Health officials launched an investigation into the facility in December 2022 after a code enforcement officer noticed a garden hose attached to a building that was presumed to be vacant and had no active business license.

Further inspection revealed that the facility housed various chemicals, suspected biological materials, bodily fluids, and hundreds of lab mice, among other lab supplies, according to court documents.

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In October 2023, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California announced that Zhu, who also used various other aliases, had been arrested for manufacturing and distributing misbranded medical devices and for making false statements to the Food and Drug Administration.

From December 2020 to March 2023, prosecutors said Zhu and other co-conspirators manufactured, imported, sold, and distributed hundreds of thousands of COVID-19 test kits in the United States and China. They also manufactured and distributed test kits for HIV, pregnancy, clinical urinalysis, and other medical conditions.

Prosecutors accused Zhu and his co-conspirators of operating through the companies, Universal Meditech Incorporated (UMI) and Prestige Biotech Incorporated (PBI), which were based in Fresno and Reedley. The companies had no authorization to manufacture and distribute the test kits.

“When questioned by FDA officials, Zhu made false statements about his identity, his ownership and control of UMI and PBI, and the activities of UMI and PBI,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

Zhu was indicted in November 2023, according to prosecutors. In August 2024, prosecutors said Zhu faced additional charges of conspiracy and wire fraud.

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Prosecutors accused Zhu and a co-conspirator of misrepresenting to buyers that UMI and PBI could make up to 100,000 COVID-19 test kits per week in the United States. Zhu and his co-conspirator also lied to buyers that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the FDA approved the test kits.

Zhu and his co-conspirator made over $1.7 million through the scheme, according to prosecutors. Zhu remains in custody pending his federal trial in April.

State lawmakers call for more oversight of biolabs

The investigation into the California biolaboratory prompted three state lawmakers to introduce the “Preventing Illegal Laboratories and Protecting Public Health Act” to tighten oversight over highly pathogenic agents and high-containment laboratories. A congressional committee later linked the California biolaboratory to the Chinese Communist Party.

A report released in November 2023 by the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party accused Zhu of previously being a “top official at a PRC-state-controlled company” with ties to “military-civil fusion entities.”

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The report said the California biolaboratory had received “millions of dollars in unexplained payments from PRC banks” during its operations. The report also found that Zhu was a “wanted fugitive from Canada” and had previously stolen millions of dollars of intellectual property from U.S. companies.

Other findings from the report included confirmation that the biolaboratory had contained thousands of samples of potential pathogens, such as HIV, malaria, tuberculosis, and COVID. The report added that the biolaboratory contained nearly 1,000 genetically engineered mice that lab workers said were designed “to catch and carry the COVID-19 virus.”

Following the discovery of the potential biolaboratory in Las Vegas, Republican Rep. Kevin Kiley called on Congress to move the bill forward.

“This can’t keep happening,” Kiley said in a statement. “The federal government must do more to stop illegal labs from operating in our communities. This bipartisan bill closes loopholes that allow dangerous facilities like these to operate under the radar.”

Contributing: Saleen Martin, USA TODAY

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4.6 earthquake jolts Northern California awake, residents report shaking homes for miles

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4.6 earthquake jolts Northern California awake, residents report shaking homes for miles


4.6 earthquake jolts Northern California awake, residents report shaking homes for miles

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READY… ACCORDING TO THE MONTEREY COUNTY OF EMERGENCY SERVICES THERE’S ONLY BEEN 429 EARTHQUAKES IN OUR AREA THAT ARE ABOVE A 4.0 MAGNITUDE. BUT OFFICIALS AND EXPERTS SAY IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL THE NEXT BIG ONE. NOW TO PREPARE YOU CAN SIGN UP WITH YOUR COUNTY’S EMERGENCY SERVICES ALERTS BY GOING ON THE COUNTY WEBSITE. YOU CAN ALSO DOWNLOAD THIS APP CALLED MYSHAKE. IF A QUAKE ABOVE 4.5 MAGNITUDE HITS CALIFORNIA, YOU CAN GET AN ALERT A FEW SECONDS YOU FEEL IT IN YOUR AREA. THAT DEPENDS ON HOW CLOSE YOUR ARE TO THE EPICENTER. IT WILL REMIND YOU WHAT TO DO AND ALLOWS YOU TO SHARE AND SEE WHAT DAMAGES HAVE BEEN REPORTED NEAR YOU. NOW DOWNLOADING SOME SORT OF ALERT SYSTEM IS IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE OF US LIVING NEAR THE COAST. I SPOKE WITH SANTA CRUZ COUNTY’S OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES, AND THEY HAD FOUR REMINDERS: FIRST ONE – PREP YOUR LIVING SPACE. TRY TO AVOID PLACING BOOKSHELVES AND BIG FURNITURE NEAR ENTRY WAYS THAT COULD FALL AND BLOCK DURING AN EARTHQUAKE. SECONDLY – LIKE FOR ANY NATURAL DISASTER: HAVE A PLAN. WHEN IT COMES TO AN EARTHQUAKE, UTILITIES LIKE YOUR WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM MAY NOT WORK. THIRD – MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A GO BAG PREPPED WITH YOUR FOOD, WATER, CASH… AND THE LAST ONE: PUT ALL YOUR ESSENTIAL IDENTITY AND HEALTH DOCUMENTS IN ONE PLACE SO YOU CAN JUST GRAB IT AND GO. THE BIGGEST EARTHQUAKE TO HIT OUR NECK OF THE WOODS WAS THE LOMA PRIETA QUAKE IN 1989. THAT CLOCKE

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4.6 earthquake jolts Northern California awake, residents report shaking homes for miles

Updated: 9:36 AM CDT Apr 2, 2026

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A magnitude 4.9 earthquake struck Northern California early Thursday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, with many saying they felt their homes shake for a few seconds in a 100-mile stretch, including San Francisco. The quake hit at 1:41 a.m. PST east-southeast of Boulder Creek, the USGS said. It had a depth of 6.7 miles. Boulder Creek, which has about 5,000 people, is about 65 miles southeast of San Francisco.Some residents said they were first awakened by earthquake alerts on their phones, then felt their beds and windows shake. Some items were knocked off store shelves in Boulder Creek.The shaking was felt in other parts of the Central Coast, including Marina, where at least one resident said they felt slight shaking and were awakened by it.The National Tsunami Warning Center said there is no tsunami danger from the earthquake. No damage or injuries were immediately reported.

A magnitude 4.9 earthquake struck Northern California early Thursday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, with many saying they felt their homes shake for a few seconds in a 100-mile stretch, including San Francisco.

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The quake hit at 1:41 a.m. PST east-southeast of Boulder Creek, the USGS said. It had a depth of 6.7 miles. Boulder Creek, which has about 5,000 people, is about 65 miles southeast of San Francisco.

Some residents said they were first awakened by earthquake alerts on their phones, then felt their beds and windows shake. Some items were knocked off store shelves in Boulder Creek.

The shaking was felt in other parts of the Central Coast, including Marina, where at least one resident said they felt slight shaking and were awakened by it.

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The National Tsunami Warning Center said there is no tsunami danger from the earthquake.

No damage or injuries were immediately reported.

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April kicks off in the Sierra with chain controls on I-80

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April kicks off in the Sierra with chain controls on I-80



Just days after Northern California saw a stretch of record high temperatures, the high Sierra Nevada is once again getting snow.

Chain controls went up on Interstate 80 in the Sierra early Wednesday morning.

As of 7 a.m., controls are in effect westbound from the Donner Lake Interchange to Rainbow. On the eastbound side, chain controls are in effect from Kingvale to Truckee.

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Highway 50 is not seeing any restrictions at this time.

Other major Sierra roads seeing chain controls Wednesday include Highways 4, 49 and 88.

Wednesday also marks the day California’s Department of Water Resources will conduct its fourth snow survey of the season. As of Monday, the statewide snowpack is at about 18% of average.

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Meet the moderators; Fresno State to host bipartisan California governor candidate forum

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Meet the moderators; Fresno State to host bipartisan California governor candidate forum


Preparations are underway for a major bipartisan gubernatorial candidate forum set for Wednesday at Fresno State, where several high-profile candidates for California governor will make their case to voters.

The event is expected to spotlight issues impacting not only the Central Valley but also communities across the state, with a strong focus on affordability, agriculture, and water policy.

Confirmed candidates scheduled to appear include:

  • Xavier Becerra, attorney and former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services
  • Chad Bianco, Riverside County sheriff
  • Steve Hilton, author and Fox News contributor
  • Matt Mahan, San Jose mayor
  • Katie Porter, former U.S. representative
  • Antonio Villaraigosa, former Los Angeles mayor

The forum will be moderated by Fresno County Supervisor Buddy Mendes and former State Assemblymember Kristin Olsen, who say their goal is to ensure Central Valley concerns remain front and center.

“There are so many issues related to affordability right now, energy costs, housing costs, regulatory costs, even food prices,” Olsen said. “These are real challenges affecting families, farmers, and farm workers in the Central Valley. We want to make sure candidates clearly explain how they’ll address them if elected.”

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Moderators say they are prepared to press candidates for direct answers.

“That will be our challenge,” Olsen said. “We’ll clearly lay out expectations for candid responses, and if someone doesn’t answer the question, we’ll follow up.”

Mendes emphasized the importance of water policy, a critical issue for the region’s agricultural economy, noting that many statewide candidates may lack a full understanding of how California’s water systems operate.

“A lot of candidates don’t fully understand water movement in this state, how storage works, or the difference between surface water and groundwater,” Mendes said.

He added that keeping candidates focused may be one of the biggest challenges during the forum.

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“We might have to stop them and remind them to answer the question instead of running out the clock,” Mendes said.

Mendes, who is a registered republican, and Olsen, who has since switched from republican to no party preference, have both moderated in the past, though this marks their first time moderating a gubernatorial forum.

They stressed that their approach will be firm but nonpartisan.

“This isn’t about being partisan, it’s about answering the questions,” Mendes said.

Organizers say hosting the forum in Fresno is intentional, aiming to elevate issues specific to the San Joaquin Valley — a region they say is often overlooked in statewide political discussions.

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The forum is scheduled to run from noon to 1:30 p.m. and is sponsored by 30 agricultural associations statewide. It will be streamed live on the FOX26 YouTube page.



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