A former librarian for the city of Porterville is facing felony charges after police say she stole thousands of dollars from an elderly woman she had agreed to help with financial tasks, the Porterville Police Department said in a statement. Vikki Ann Cervantes, 50, was charged this month with felony...
As Fresno Files First Case, Maxwell Vows to Protect Wage Theft Unit
Tyler Maxwell believes in Fresno's wage theft unit — even with City Hall facing budget challenges. "I will fight for it as hard as I would anything else that I've championed over the last five years I've been in office," said Maxwell, a city councilmember. At a news conference Monday,...
Fowler Felon Jailed After Officers Find Assault Rifle, Drugs in Home Search
A felon was arrested Monday after police found weapons, drugs and stolen property during a search of a Fowler home, the Fowler Police Department said in a statement. Fowler Police officers and the Fresno County Sheriff’s MAGEC team executed an evidentiary search warrant at a residence. During the search, officers...
Young People Drive Fresno to CA’s Top Job Growth: Wells Fargo Study
California suffered the biggest job losses in the U.S. for the first part of the year, a new study from Wells Fargo shows. High interest rates impacted debt-heavy sectors, causing employers to shed jobs at a rate of more than 18,000 a month in the first quarter. Fresno, however, managed...
Judge Rejects Claim That Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Was Treated Differently Because of His Race
NEW YORK — Sean “Diddy” Combs was not treated differently because of his race by prosecutors who brought racketeering and sex trafficking charges against him, a judge ruled Friday as he rejected a request to dismiss some charges three days before opening statements in the hip-hop mogul's trial. Judge Arun...
Rapper Tory Lanez Attacked at a California Prison as He Serves Time for Megan Thee Stallion Shooting
LOS ANGELES — Rapper Tory Lanez was hospitalized after an attack Monday at a California prison where he's serving a 10-year sentence for shooting hip-hop star Megan Thee Stallion in the feet, authorities said. Lanez, whose legal name is Daystar Peterson, was attacked at a housing unit at the California...
Grapevine Fire Forces Full Closure of Southbound I-5
Update on May 12, 2025, at 4:13 p.m. The California Highway Patrol said that the far left lane of north and southbound I-5 near Grapevine Road will be closed for an unknown amount of time. Authorities said that emergency and fire crews are still working on the scene. "As you...
Fresno’s New Economic Development Leader Has Boomtown Expertise
Fresno's new economic development director is someone who played a role in the emergence of two Idaho boomtowns. City manager Georgeanne White announced the selection of Cliff Long as Fresno's economic development director on Friday. Long comes from Nampa, Idaho, a fast-growing city whose economy boasts strong agriculture, food processing,...
KMJ’s Ray Appleton Is Off the Air as He Deals With ‘Rare Condition’
KMJ Radio host Ray Appleton has been out of action since April 29 with health issues. He will be gone a while longer. "I have a rare condition called CVID. What that means is I have no immune system. I have no protections from disease and sickness, and this is...
Bakersfield Man Pleads Guilty to Aiming Laser at Sheriff’s Helicopter
A Bakersfield man pleaded guilty Monday to aiming a laser pointer at a Kern County Sheriff’s Office helicopter, federal prosecutors said. Brett Curtis Hair, 23, admitted to striking the aircraft with a green laser beam on Sept. 11, 2024, as the helicopter conducted a routine patrol shortly after midnight, according...