As part of the California High-Speed Rail Authority's attempt to rein in a ballooning budget, its new CEO in a townhall last week walked back promises about the size of the future Fresno station. At the Fresnoland Futures' high-speed rail forum on April 20, CalMatters editor Yousef Baig said the...
Fresno County Crew Rescues Man Who Fell Into Ponding Basin Near Coalinga
Emergency crews rescued a man early Thursday after he fell into a ponding basin near Highway 33 and Gale Avenue, just north of Coalinga, CalFire reported. Fire officials said the first engine crew on scene found the man about 60 feet down the embankment. A technical rescue team was called...
Where Valley Lawmakers Stand on Punishing Seekers of Teens for Sex
Valley lawmakers are split on whether it should be a felony to purchase a 16- or 17- year-old for sex. The state Assembly heard AB 379, which has divided Democrats. Gov. Gavin Newsom was among many Democrats to support making it a felony. But leadership insisted on making changes. The anti-sex-trafficking...
Arias Criticizes Smittcamp Over Lack of Drug, Homeless Arrests
Miguel Arias has a habit of criticizing Fresno County District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp while delivering his city council reports. He did so again at the Fresno City Council meeting on Thursday. While five city councilmembers stood with police for a proclamation of National Police Week and Peace Officers Memorial Day, Arias...
Tulare County Man Convicted of Child Molestation, Faces 16 Years in Prison
A Pixley man was convicted this week of child molestation, prosecutors announced. Justin Mills, 36, was found guilty Tuesday of six felony counts of committing lewd acts upon a child under the age of 14, the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office said. The jury also determined that some of the...
California Democrats Reject Push for Harsher Penalties for Soliciting Sex From Older Teens
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California Democrats rejected a Republican-backed effort Thursday to advance a policy to increase penalties for soliciting and buying sex from 16- and 17-year-olds, an issue that's caused friction among Democrats and prompted Gov. Gavin Newsom to weigh in. Republicans attempted to force a legislative vote on the...
Trump Turns to US Supreme Court in Bid to Strip Protected Status From Venezuelan Migrants
(Reuters) - President Donald Trump's administration asked the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday to intervene in its bid to strip temporary protected status for more than 300,000 Venezuelan migrants, a move that would clear the way for their deportation. — (Reporting by Andrew Chung in New York; Editing by Will...
Fresno’s Audra McDonald Earns 11th Tony Nomination, Eyes Record Seventh Win for ‘Gypsy’
NEW YORK — Three Broadway shows — “Buena Vista Social Club,” “Death Becomes Her,” and “Maybe Happy Ending” — each earned a leading 10 Tony Award nominations Thursday, as nominators spread out the joy and gave nods to George Clooney, Sarah Snook, and Bob Odenkirk in their debuts. Twenty-nine shows got...
US Imposes Sanctions on Mexican Fuel Theft Network It Links to CJNG Cartel
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Treasury Department on Thursday imposed sanctions on two entities and three Mexican nationals it said are involved in a drug trafficking and oil smuggling network linked to the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacion gang. U.S. authorities say CJNG is one of the two major Mexican drug...
Last Chevron-Chartered Vessel Starts to Return Oil Cargo in Venezuela, Data and Source Say
HOUSTON (Reuters) - A vessel chartered by Chevron carrying some 300,000 barrels of Venezuelan oil was set to start discharging at a Venezuelan port on Thursday, according to shipping data and a source. It would be the last tanker to return its cargo following state company PDVSA's order to return...