FRESNO, CA (KMJ) Despite the likelihood of a multi-million dollar lawsuit, the Fresno City Council on Thursday voted 4-3 in favor of buying the historic Tower Theater at a cost of $6.5 million. Councilmembers Arias, Esparza, Maxwell and Soria voted in favor. Members Bredefeld, Chavez and Karbassi voted against the controversial proposal. Prior to the…… MORE
Spring Storm Brings Heavy Snow, Avalanche Threat to Sierra
TRUCKEE, Calif. (AP) — Heavy snow and rain is falling across Northern California as a substantial spring storm moves through the state after a dry winter. Winter storm warnings are in effect Thursday from the Oregon border down through the southern Cascades and the northern Sierra Nevada. An avalanche warning was issued for the upper…… MORE
NEPA Changes Signal Return to Prior Regulations
American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall responds to an announcement on the final phase 1 revisions to the National Environmental Policy Act, known as NEPA. Duvall says, “AFBF is disappointed that the Biden administration has decided to reverse commonsense reforms to the National Environmental Policy Act.” AFBF says farmers and ranchers share the goal…… MORE
Judges Moves Kristin Smart Murder Trial Out of San Luis Obispo County
(KMJ) – A Central Coast judge moves the Kristin Smart murder trial nearly 150 miles after ruling last month her accused killer cannot get a fair trial in San Luis Obispo County. Wednesday, the judge announced the trial of Paul Flores will be held in Monterey County. The now-45-year-old is believed to be the last…… MORE
Crackdown on Cruising and Side Shows in Fresno Leads to Impounds and Arrest
(KMJ) — Over 100 citations were issued and dozens of vehicles impounded following a recent crackdown on cruising and side-shows in Fresno. According to police, the crackdown happened on Easter Sunday and eight side-show events were broken up throughout the city. One side-show, involved spectators who threatened officers with violence just before 11 p.m. at…… MORE
Lawmakers Tackle Shipping Concerns
A pair of House lawmakers this week introduced the SHIP IT Act, seeking to address the supply chain backlog in the freight network at U.S. ports. Introduced by Republican Representatives Michelle Fischbach of Minnesota and Byron Donalds of Florida, the legislation builds on the STOP the GRINCH Act introduced last fall. The STOP the GRINCH…… MORE
Inmates, Others, Arrested for Drug Smuggling at Merced County Jail
(KMJ) – Several arrests are made for drug smuggling at the Merced County Jail. Merced County Sheriff’s Investigators posted on social media that they have made five arrests after narcotics were recently discovered at the John Latorraca Correctional Center. During routine searches at the facility, K-9 dog “Marley alerted a deputy to narcotics associated with…… MORE
Lawmakers Support Cal Prop 12
Senate Democrats, including the Senate Ag Committee Chair, urge Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to support California’s Proposition 12 before the Supreme Court. Senators Dianne Feinstein and Alex Padilla of California, along with New Jersey’s Cory Booker and Senate Ag Chair Debbie Stabenow from Michigan, made the request in a letter to Vilsack. In 2018, California…… MORE
Trio of Arrests Made in Merced Mall Smash and Grab Robbery
(KMJ) – Three suspects are now in custody in connection to the February 8th smash-and-grab robbery inside the Merced Mall. According to investigators, 20-year-old Andrew Maravilla-Lopez, 19-year-old Maurice Sweet, and 18-year-old Michael Earle, who are all from the Bay Area, were arrested April 14th. Merced police say they were part of a group who stole…… MORE
15-Year-old Girl Stabbed to Death at Stagg High School in Stockton
UPDATE: 15-year-old student stabbed by “intruder” at Stockton school dies, district officials announced in a press conference Monday afternoon. “A trespasser entered the front of our school today and stabbed one of our students multiple times. Unfortunately, she did not make it,” said district superintendent John Ramirez Jr. Officials said the suspect is a man…… MORE
