Breathing in smoke from wildfires may significantly increase the spread of COVID-19, researchers say. The warning, from a new study of links between smoke-caused air pollution and SARS-CoV-2 infections, comes as firefighters battle 80 large wildfires in the western United States. The largest — 300 miles south of Portland, Ore. — covers over 500 square…… MORE
Gov. Newsom Signs Bill to Fight Organized Retail Theft
LONG BEACH – Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday signed legislation into law with a goal of stopping “ORT” (Organized retail theft) that has seen a rampant rise recently in California. AB 331 by Assemblymember Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer, Sr. (D-Los Angeles), extends the sunset date of the crime of organized retail theft, as well as the…… MORE
Mobile Robots for Row Crops
Corteva Agriscience is working to take agricultural robotics to new heights using a Spot robot from Boston Dynamics. The company is among the first in agriculture to use this platform to ‘walk’ between rows of corn, sunflowers and other crops. The robot has potential applications in field testing of both new seed and crop…… MORE
Fresno Unified School Board Member Carol Mills Passes Away From ALS
(KMJ) – Fresno Unified School Board member Terry Slatic confirms to KMJ that fellow FUSD School Board Member Carol Mills died just after midnight Wednesday at a Valley Hospital. Mills said she had overcome a speech impediment and pursued a law degree then became an attorney. She received a B.A. in Political Science from…… MORE
Missing Hiker Found Dead Inside Yosemite National Park
(Photo courtesy: Yosemite National Park) (KMJ) – The search for a Nevada hiker missing in Yosemite National Park ends after his body is found by search teams. The National Park Service says the body of 61-year-old Fred Zalokar of Reno was recovered Tuesday near the summit of Mount Clark. Officials say he set out on…… MORE
Evacuations Ordered After Wildfire Ignites in Kern County
(Photo courtesy: Kern County Fire) (KMJ) – Evacuation orders are issued for parts of Kern County after a wild fire sparks Tuesday afternoon south of the community of Havilah. The Peak Fire was first reported just before Noon north of Walker Basin Road. In the hours that followed, the Kern County Fire Department issued an evacuation…… MORE
Coroner’s Office Identifies Fresno Woman Killed in Collision on Highway 41
FRESNO, CA (KMJ) – The Fresno County Coroner’s Office identified a Fresno woman who was killed when her car was rear-ended on Highway 41 on Monday as 42-year-old Brandi Urena. The California Highway Patrol received a call of a four vehicle accident around noon on Monday. Officers said the collision took place as Urena…… MORE
Dalton Bradley
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office most wanted person of the week is: Dalton Bradley of Auberry. A judge has issued a bench warrant for failing to report to court on charges of domestic violence, assault and vandalism. The incident began as a woman got into an argument with her boyfriend, Dalton Bradley. As she tried…… MORE
Kingsburg City Councilmember Charged by Fresno DA
FRESNO, CA (KMJ) — The Fresno County District Attorney’s Office has filed charges against Kingsburg City Councilmember Jewel Hurtado after being accused of DUI. The Fresno DA says Hurtado was driving a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol level of .08 percent or higher, driving under the influence of alcohol, and speeding. The DA’s…… MORE
PG&E Equipment May Have Started The Dixie Fire
PULGA, CA — Documents filed with the California Public Utilities Commission indicate that PG&E equipment may have started the Dixie Fire in the Feather River Canyon. The fire has burned 30,074 acres and is 15% contained. PG&E filed the documents Monday. In the documents, PG&E reports the Cresta Dam off of Highway 70 in…… MORE
