Fire Risk Still High In the Sierra

Because of the prolonged drought conditions, the Sierra National Forest is reminding all residents that fire danger remains above average across the Central Sierras and the chance of large or damaging fires exists. Recent wetting rains provided only temporary relief from the danger of wildfire. With the return of dry weather and increasing temperatures dangerous…MORE

Dems Reintroduce Package of Anti-Tobacco Bills

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Democratic lawmakers in California reintroduced a package of tobacco regulation bills on Thursday after the same proposals stalled in the Legislature earlier this month. They want the six bills to be considered as part of the Legislature’s special session on health care financing when lawmakers return from a summer break in…MORE

Santa Barbara Oil Spill Cleanup Nearly Complete

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (AP) — Nearly two months after an oil pipeline break fouled beaches near Santa Barbara, California, the costly cleanup is about finished, officials said Thursday. About 300 workers remained on the job, mostly focused on an area near the site where oil flowed into the ocean through a storm drain culvert. The…MORE

Calif. Bars ‘Consent Defense’ in Child Sex Abuse Cases

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California defendants accused of sexually abusing children will no longer be able to use a consent defense in civil cases. Gov. Jerry Brown announced Thursday he signed legislation introduced after Los Angeles Unified School District avoided liability for a teacher having sex with a 14-year-old girl. The teacher was sentenced to…MORE

Special Olympics Torch Arrives In Fresno

The Final Leg team with the Special Olympics 2015 World Games brought the “Flame of Hope” torch through Fresno arriving at City Hall before continuing on to Visalia. It was a spectacle to be seen as patrol cars lined up, a firetruck ladder bridged the street and a huge crowd gathered along the curb outside…MORE

Calif. Water Board Issues First Cease-and-Desist Order

Aaron Abeytia Aaron Abeytia anchors afternoon newscasts on News/Talk 580 & 105.9 KMJ. Read More…         Listen to the report as aired on News/Talk 580 AM & 105.9 FM KMJ FRESNO, Calif. (KMJ) — The California Water Resources Control Board has issued a cease-and-desist order to the West Side Irrigation District in Tracy. The…MORE

Teens Accused of Arson at Hanford Medical Center

Two Hanford teens have been arrested for allegedly setting a fire at a Valley medical center. Hanford police say surveillance cameras caught the 13 and 16-year olds set a small fire in the intensive care unit of Adventist Medical Center in Hanford. This happened just after Nine o’clock Tuesday night. Fire crews contained the blaze…MORE

VIDEO: Two Suspects Sought After Orange Cove Burglary

FRESNO (KMJ) — Two Hispanic men are being sought by Fresno County Sheriff’s Office after they were seen on security footage breaking into a home in Orange Cove. Deputies were called Sunday afternoon to the address close to the intersection of Manning Avenue and Hill Valley Road. The homeowner found his gate damaged, his front…MORE

Valley Assemblyman Takes Aim at Truck Emissions

Assemblymember Henry T. Perea’s (D-Fresno) Assembly Bill (AB) 857 passed the Senate Environmental Quality with bipartisan support Wednesday. AB 857 would expand incentives to support deployment of clean and low carbon heavy-duty vehicles involved in goods movement, which can provide an immediate and cost-effective solution to reduce emissions to improve air quality and public health.…MORE

Selleck Settles Water Dispute for $21K

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (AP) — A Southern California water district voted Wednesday night to accept Tom Selleck’s offer of more than $21,000 to settle a lawsuit accusing the “Magnum, P.I.” star of taking water he wasn’t entitled to for his 60-acre ranch. The vote, taken during a closed session, was 3-0 with two members of…MORE