Tyson Pogue is the interim Madera County sheriff after Jay Varney exited the top spot mid-term to become the county's chief administrative officer. And now Pogue, the former undersheriff, is confronting new challenges as protests rage across the country following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. "We're embarrassed. We're disgusted,...
Some Violence, but California Protests Mostly Peaceful
LOS ANGELES — National Guard reinforced police in the San Francisco Bay Area city of Vallejo after a second night of violence. That was among scattered incidents that stood in contrast to largely peaceful California protests over the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Fifty members of the Guard...
National Guard Patrols Torn California Streets Amid Unrest
SACRAMENTO — More than 2,400 California National Guard soldiers toting military assault rifles are on the streets and authorities say that has allowed police officers to crack down on the rampant vandalism and thievery that scarred the first several days of demonstrations. While the vast majority of protesters are peaceful,...
Esper Opposes Using Insurrection Act for Law Enforcement
WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Wednesday he opposes use of the Insurrection Act, which would allow President Donald Trump to use active-duty military forces for law enforcement duties in containing street protests. Speaking to reporters at the Pentagon, Esper said active-duty troops in a law enforcement role should...
US Cities Gird for More Violence as Trump Decries 'Lowlifes'
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Tuesday turned up the pressure on governors to quell the violence set off by the death of George Floyd, demanding New York call up the National Guard to stop the “lowlifes and losers.” As more demonstrations began taking shape around the country during the...
Minnesota Files Civil Rights Charge vs Police in Floyd Death
MINNEAPOLIS — The state of Minnesota filed a human rights complaint Tuesday against the Minneapolis Police Department in the death of George Floyd who died after an officer pressed his knee into Floyd’s neck for minutes, even after he stopped moving. Gov. Tim Walz and the Minnesota Department of Human...
SW Fresno Pastor Reflects on George Floyd Killing, Says Jerry Dyer Needs to ‘Switch Hats’
Pastor Paul Lawrence Binion II delivers a unique, calming, and reassuring gospel when he speaks. "God has a sense of humor," Binion said during a Tuesday morning interview via Zoom. "He brings me to Fresno and then he puts in my life all these white people who really love me."...
River Park Stores Brace for Riot, Hoax or Not
Sierra Glass Co. was placing boards at the Nordstrom Rack at the Villagio Shopping Center — the first stop on a busy Tuesday. "They've been blowing us up," David Turner said of the calls his company received. He said he had four jobs in total for the day. After social...
FUSD Superintendent: ‘a Time to Acknowledge That Pain and Hurt’
Fresno Unified Superintendent Bob Nelson said Tuesday that he joins with the rest of the community in mourning the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police, a death that has sparked protests both peaceful and violent across the country. Nelson said Floyd's killing has caused pain and...
California Schools Chief Calls for New Plan on Racism, Bias
SAN FRANCISCO — California’s education chief said Monday he plans to lead an effort focusing on racism in public schools during emotional remarks about George Floyd, whose killing has left him struggling to answer his own children who asked, “Why did this happen?” “Now is the time to address racism...