The Fresno Commission on Police Reform held a marathon five-hour meeting, hearing updates from its four subcommittees and proposed changes, as well as news that a community survey is underway. The commission's request for more time to complete its work was granted by Fresno City Council President Miguel Arias. The...
Granville Home of Hope Charities Receive $274K to Fight COVID-19
Granville Homes' 15th annual Home of Hope distributed $274,400 in early proceeds Friday to this year's nonprofit beneficiaries so they can provide immediate support to those affected by COVID-19. The 10 beneficiaries are Angels of Grace, Art of Life Cancer Foundation, Breaking the Chains, CASA of Fresno and Madera Counties,...
Fresno EOC, Tulare County DA Get Federal Anti-Human Trafficking Grants
The U.S. Department of Justice has awarded nearly $1.4 million in grants to agencies in Fresno and Tulare County to battle human trafficking and provide services to trafficking victims, the agency announced Tuesday. Listen to this article: DOJ is awarding more than $100 million in grants through the Office for...
A Cry of the Heart From Local Human Trafficking Survivor
By FresnoStateNews.com Growing up in the Central Valley, Debra Rush wanted the same things many other young girls do: a boyfriend, good friends and tons of fun. She never anticipated that those simple desires would take a turn for the worst when she was kidnapped and forced into human trafficking as...
PINC Goes Big in Support of Breaking the Chains
The 50 young professional women of PINC continue to raise their game on behalf of Greater Fresno. On Tuesday, the group presented a $150,000 check to Breaking the Chains, a nonprofit dedicated to combatting human trafficking and helping survivors. "This opportunity is a game-changer for our community," said Debra Rush,...
Brand's New Initiative Would Take Out the Trash
Mayor Lee Brand wants to take out the trash. Speaking Wednesday to nearly 900 people at his State of the City address at the convention center, Brand announced an initiative he called Keep Fresno Beautiful. As the name implies, the goal is to pick up trash in and around the...
Kaiser Employees Lift Up Human Trafficking Victims
A bottle of shampoo. A tube of toothpaste. These are simple things that many folks take for granted. But they are much appreciated by human trafficking victims on the road to recovery and a fresh start in life. As part of the hospital's "No More" campaign, employees of Kaiser Permanente...
With Congress on Board, It's Not Business as Usual for Fresno Pimps & Their Allies
From the streets and courtrooms of Fresno to the halls of Congress and the White House, human traffickers are being sent a loud message. Americans are fed up with them preying on vulnerable young women and boys and shattering their lives. Following the overwhelming passage of the Fight Online Sex Trafficking...
Ride Along With Fresno PD As They Take Down a Pimp
The Fresno Police Department, under Police Chief Jerry Dyer, is teaming with District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp to crack down on human trafficking and educate the public that prostitution is not a victimless crime. In addition, local nonprofits such as Breaking the Chains are providing victims — many of whom are...
Ride Along With Fresno PD As They Take Down a Pimp
The Fresno Police Department, under Police Chief Jerry Dyer, is teaming with District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp to crack down on human trafficking and educate the public that prostitution is not a victimless crime. In addition, local nonprofits such as Breaking the Chains are providing victims — many of whom are...