In concurrent court hearings happening at the county and federal courthouses in downtown Fresno, five of the seven suspects accused of the Nov. 17 shooting that left four dead, 10 wounded and rocked Fresno and the nation, entered pleas of not guilty. Listen to this article: Adding to details GV...
Death Penalty Possible for Six Arrested in Hmong Murders
UPDATE After 44 days, and 5,000 hours of investigative work, Fresno Police say they have solved a quadruple homicide that gripped the city and the nation. At a New Year's Eve news conference, Fresno Police Chief Andrew Hall announced the arrest of six suspects in the Nov. 17 homicides. The...
Resumed Federal Executions Raise Death Penalty's 2020 Stakes
WASHINGTON — The question to Michael Dukakis, the Democratic presidential candidate in 1988, was brutally personal. "If Kitty Dukakis were raped and murdered, would you favor an irrevocable death penalty for the killer?" Bernard Shaw, a CNN anchor, asked, referring to the Massachusetts governor's wife. Dukakis said he wouldn't favor...
DA Smittcamp: Newsom Death Penalty Moratorium Is a Disgrace
Fresno County District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp joined three other California district attorneys to author an op-ed for CNN. In the piece, they state their strong opposition to Gov. Gavin Newsom's death penalty moratorium, saying it "is disheartening to victims and their families who have waited years for justice." There are...
Death Penalty Sought in 'Golden State Killer' Case
SACRAMENTO — California prosecutors announced Wednesday they will seek the death penalty if they convict the man suspected of being the notorious "Golden State Killer" who eluded capture for decades. The move comes less than a month after Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a moratorium on executing any of the 737...
California Editorial Roundup: Police Transparency, Rent Control, Death Penalty
Santa Cruz Sentinel (March 19) on police being able to build trust by backing transparency reforms: Recent stories published in this newspaper have uncovered cases of police misconduct that resulted in officers losing their jobs. These reports were part of an effort undertaken by many California newspapers, including this one,...
Newsom Puts Moratorium on California Executions
SACRAMENTO — The 737 inmates on California's largest-in-the-nation death row are getting a reprieve from Gov. Gavin Newsom, who plans to sign an executive order Wednesday placing a moratorium on executions. Newsom also is withdrawing the lethal injection regulations that death penalty opponents already have tied up in courts and...
How Will Newsom Lead California? He Explains.
In this 6-minute preview of his plans for California, Gov-elect Gavin Newsom explains why he's a risk-taker and how he plans to fix what ails the state. In the video interview above, Newsom talks about how he will lead California. He covers healthcare, his relationship with President Donald Trump, climate...
Face-Off for Governor: Gavin Newsom vs. John Cox
Republican John Cox and Democrat Gavin Newsom, the candidates for California governor, begin by talking to CALmatters' reporters and editors about how they'd run the Golden State differently from the current officeholder, Gov. Jerry Brown. Other Covered Topics The two also discuss at these timestamps: — Improving schools (1:20) —...