There's a new buzz in the air in Clovis, and it's not bees pollinating trees. Clovis police are using drones as part of their law-enforcement strategy. Under a 90-day pilot program, drones will act the way police helicopters do, says Lt. Jim Munro. "It will allow our officers to keep...
Los Angeles Study Suggests Virus Much More Widespread
LOS ANGELES — An estimated 320,000 adults in Los Angeles County may have been infected with coronavirus, according to preliminary results of a study that suggests the illness is far more widespread than current testing shows and the death rate is much lower. The study conducted April 10-11 by the...
Mass Layoff List Gives Clearer View of COVID-19 Job Losses in Fresno
More than 20 large companies in Fresno County have reported laying off over 2,200 local employees after COVID-19 restrictions were put in place in mid-March. The local job losses are helping to fuel record-setting unemployment claims across California. More than 2.7 million jobless claims were filed across the state over...
'Monster' Fresno Fabricator of Theme Park Attractions Adapts to COVID Times
Adversity breeds creation. Or, in this case, the creators turn to creating something new. Monster City Studios in Fresno usually takes orders from Disney Parks, zoos, and museums. But, after having to idle half of his staff, James Powell wasn't going to sit idly by as a victim of the...
Doctors: Execution Drugs Could Help COVID-19 Patients
HOUSTON — Secrecy surrounding executions could hinder efforts by a group of medical professionals who are asking the nation’s death penalty states for medications used in lethal injections so that they can go to coronavirus patients who are on ventilators, according to a death penalty expert and a doctor who's...
California Protesters Push to Reopen; Newsom Urges Caution
SACRAMENTO — Hundreds of protesters lobbying to ease Gov. Gavin Newsom's tight stay-at-home orders rallied around the California Capitol on Monday, even as Newsom continued to urge restraint, saying the worst thing state leaders could do is “make a decision that's based on politics and frustration." He outlined his approval...
Countries and US States Move to Reopen Amid Health Warnings
COPENHAGEN — Spain will begin allowing children out of their homes for brief periods next Monday. Denmark announced plans to reopen Tivoli Gardens, the Copenhagen amusement park that inspired Walt Disney. And Australia said doctors can resume non-urgent surgery next week. Countries across Europe and beyond — joined in the...
Georgia to Reopen Some Businesses as Early as Friday
ATLANTA — Georgia's governor announced plans Monday to restart the state's economy before the end of the week, saying many businesses that closed to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus could reopen as early as Friday. The governor in neighboring Tennessee planned to let businesses in most of his state begin reopening...
Will Clovis Unified Schools Reopen May 4? Trustees Will Decide Wednesday
The Clovis Unified school board will vote Wednesday on whether to reopen schools on May 4 or extend the closures, possibly through the end of the school year. The recommendation from Superintendent Eimear O'Farrell will be released at the board meeting, which starts at 6:30 p.m. and will be held...
Gov’t Relief Loans to Restaurant Chains Draw Complaints
Some big restaurant chains have obtained loans from the government under a small-business relief program, leading business groups to call for changes to the program before Congress provides it with new funding. The Paycheck Protection Program exhausted its $350 billion in funding last week and many small businesses were unable...