FRESNO, Calif. (KMJ) A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging two defendants in a scheme that targeted California Employment Development Department unemployment insurance benefits that were intended for Californians hit hardest by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic shutdown. Jason Vertz, 51, of Fresno, and Alana Powers, 45, an inmate at the Central California Women’s Facility…… MORE
Hanford Man Nabbed for Secret Bathroom Videos
HANFORD, CALIF. (KMJ) 59 year old Gary Canalez is behind bars, facing a long list of charges after being linked to taking illegal videos inside a restroom. Kings County Sheriffs investigators say a family member of one of the victims found a cell phone hidden behind a toilet which was set to record. The suspect…… MORE
Human Smuggling Investigated in Deadly So-Cal Crash
[vemba-video id=”d640c7e242153d53366faa6a002d6b2″]… MORE
Tourism Dropped by 35% in ’20 at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
SEQUOIA AND KINGS CANYON NATIONAL PARKS – Outdoor experiences provided refuge from the pandemic for 1.2 million visitors to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks in 2020. The number represents a 35% decrease from the previous year due to temporary park closures and restrictions implemented in response to the coronavirus pandemic and late season fires. Although…… MORE
Gov. Newsom Touts New Schools Plan
[vemba-video id=”b0bb4114f8cab6e4504bfff7d20221e”] As the recall effort against him continues to gain steam, Gov. Gavin Newsom continues to tour the Golden State to tout his new plan to reopen public schools. The Governor has recently visited mass vaccination and mobile sites in Fresno, San Luis Obispo, Camarillo, Arvin, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Hayward, Coachella, San Francisco, San…… MORE
February Ag Economy Barometer
February’s Ag Economy Barometer reading of 165 changed little compared to January when the index stood at 167. Producers continue to report strong current conditions on their farms as February’s Current Conditions Index value of 200 is near its all-time high. Continuing a trend that got underway last fall, however, the Index of Future…… MORE
15 Killed in Southern California Crash
An SUV packed with people crashed into a semi-truck in Imperial County, California, on Tuesday morning, leaving 15 dead, hospital officials said. A vehicle was traveling westbound on Norrish Road near State Route 115 when it traveled “in the direct path” of a big rig truck traveling northbound on the 115, California Highway Patrol officer…… MORE
Benito Vasquez
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office most wanted person of the week is: Benito Vasquez of Fresno. A judge has issued a bench warrant for failing to report to court related to charges of domestic violence. Deputies responded to take a report from a woman who said she had just been in an argument with her…… MORE
California Student-Athletes Sue Gov. Newsom Over Sports Ban
Five student athletes in California are suing Gov. Gavin Newsom over his ban on indoor high school sports during the pandemic. The group of athletes consists of a basketball player, a cheerleader, a wrestler, and two volleyball players, according to Fox News. One of those filing the lawsuit is Caleb Graham, a junior at Canyon High…… MORE
California’s Prop 12 Under Attack
The North American Meat Institute recently asked the Supreme Court to review an earlier ruling in a challenge of California’s Proposition 12: The Farm Animal Confinement Initiative. The Meat Institute petition specifically asks the Supreme Court to review a U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruling in a challenge by the organization.…… MORE
