Hundreds of protesters supporting Palestine gathered Tuesday night in north Fresno. Carrying flags and chanting slogans, the demonstrators called for an end to latest Israel-Palestine fighting in the Gaza strip. The event was organized by Reza Nekumanesh, executive director of the Islamic Culture Center of Fresno, along with the Fresno...
Islamic Group Wants Hate Crime Probe. Fresno PD Unsure.
A leading Islamic-rights group is calling for a hate crime investigation after a Fresno man was arrested for allegedly pepper-spraying three pro-Palestinian protesters. But police say they are unsure if it was a hate crime. Police arrested Brian Turner, 62 of Fresno, for the alleged incident while driving on westbound...
What Tower Theatre Owner Says About City Wanting Inside
The city of Fresno is asking a judge to let it into the Tower Theatre. Although not said explicitly, a court filing indicates the city may want to take the theater by eminent domain. Meanwhile, a California appeal court will let a lower court decide a lingering issue in the...
Fresno Man Cops Plea in Interstate Marijuana Ring
A third member of an interstate marijuana shipping ring pleaded guilty on Monday morning in Fresno federal court. In a plea deal, Elias Zambrano Jr., 41, of Fresno, admitted to his involvement in the operation, according to a news release from acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert. He entered guilty...
Costco Wants Herndon Ave Change for NW Fresno Move
Costco wants to move its warehouse in northwest Fresno three miles away to vacant land along Herndon Avenue. The warehouse retailer also wants major changes to the expressway. In documents filed with the city, Costco asks for a change of Herndon from an expressway to a less-restricting super-arterial roadway. That...
After Chauvin Guilty Verdict, Jackson Says There’s More Work Ahead
Hours after the guilty verdict of former police officer Derek Chauvin in Minneapolis, about 70 people gathered at Fresno City Hall to breathe a collective sigh of relief. But the focus quickly shifted forward as several speakers said that the work of police reform is only beginning. "This last year...
Fresno Leaders Call for Justice, Peace With Chauvin Verdict
Hours before the news broke that Derek Chauvin was found guilty in the death of George Floyd, a group of Fresno pastors and city leaders encouraged a peaceful response from the community. Chauvin was convicted on three criminal counts of second degree murder, third degree murder, and second degree manslaughter...
What is a Proud Boy? Fresno Chapter Leader Gives His Take.
They've been called a hate group. White supremacists. Outside agitators. The Fresno community's frustration with the Proud Boys boiled over last week at the Tower Theatre protests. City Hall officials held a news conference to denounce the group. The local leader of the Proud Boys pushes back against those assessments,...
Central Valley Holocaust Survivor Shares His Story
(Editor's Note: This article was originally published on April 9, 2018.) This Thursday, the world recognizes Yom Hashoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day. For Ephraim Hadjis of Madera, it is a time of horror he will never forget. Hadjis was born in Greece. He thinks it was 1943, making him 75 years...
The Fresno Punch That Cost the Macho Man $6,000
It should have been just another night for wrestling Hall of Famer Randy "Macho Man" Savage when he stepped into the ring at Fresno's Selland Arena 35 years ago. Known for his intensity, The Macho Man was headed down the aisle to defend his Intercontinental Heavyweight championship on April 30,...