Californians bet farming agave for spirits holds key to weathering drought and groundwater limits
Leo Ortega started growing spiky blue agave plants on the arid hillsides around his Southern California home because his wife liked the way they looked. A decade later, his property is now dotted with thousands of what he and others hope is a promising new crop for the state following years of punishing drought in California, Arizona and other Western states, and a push to scale back on groundwate[...]
Report: Ex-prisons boss Ryan drank tequila before standoff
Police say Ryan, who is accused of pointing a gun at two officers Jan. 6 during a three-hour standoff, slurred his words and was antagonistic to a police negotiator.