Free Republic

CHICAGO The McClatchy Co.'s bonds slid from investment grade into relatively deep junk status as Standard & Poor's Ratings Services (S&P) downgraded the nation's third-biggest newspaper chain two steps to "BB-plus." S&P's "BB-plus" rating judges a company's debt to have "significant speculative characteristics." S&P had rated McClatchy bonds an investment grade "BBB," but last month issued a credit watch and suggested it could downgrade its bonds by one step. The deeper ratings cut followed McClatchy's announcement last week that first-quarter profits declined 67%, and that revenues were down 5% on a same-property basis. The S&P downgrade will increase McClatchy's interest...

Demonstrators waved signs and flags to express their views on the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah on Friday afternoon at Shaw and Blackstone avenues in Fresno. About 50 people gathered at 5:30 p.m. at one corner of the intersection to support Israel. About 15 people were at the other side of the street to protest Israel's military campaign in Lebanon.

"Fresno became a stop Monday night in the simmering controversy over Cindy Sheehan, the mother of an American soldier killed in Iraq who wants to speak with President Bush. Sheehan opposes the war, but a majority of people attending the Fresno event said she does not speak for them. They came to support a caravan headed for Crawford, Texas, as part of a counterdemonstration to the anti-war encampment outside the president's ranch. The event was sponsored by Move America Forward, which touts itself as a support group for American troops in Iraq."

Editorial: Jones for U.S. Senate In more than two decades of public service, Republican Bill Jones of Fresno has been a strong advocate for the San Joaquin Valley, and we think he will represent the region well if he's elected to the U.S. Senate on Nov. 2. Electing someone who understands the entire state is a crucial consideration for those of us in the Valley who have been severely under-represented by state elected officials who cater to the needs of San Francisco and Los Angeles.

You MUST see this!!! In today's Fresno Bee, a truly odious attack on Arnold Schwarzenegger. I haven't the skills to do a direct paste, but click on the link above, to see for yourself, how low the Bee (in Fresno or Sacramento) will stoop, to protect Gray-out Davis...BTW, they also printed nearly a full page of puff-piece, to show Davis as "taking responsibility, and confessing that he's "made some mistakes."God, I despise liberals..... (((shaking head in disgust)))