Local News

Bankrupt Toys"R"Us to Wind Down U.S. Business

WAYNE, N.J. - Toys"R"Us, Inc. today announced that it has filed a motion seeking Bankruptcy Court approval to begin the process of conducting an orderly wind-down of its U.S. business and liquidation of inventory in all 735 of the Company's U.S. stores, including stores in Puerto Rico. Toys"R"Us will provide more details about the plans for the liquidation of its U.S. stores and going out of business sales in the near term.

Toys"R"Us also announced that it is pursuing a going concern reorganization and a sale process for its Canadian and international operations in Asia and Central Europe, including Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The Company's international operations in Australia, France, Poland, Portugal and Spain are considering their options in light of this announcement, including potential sale processes in their respective markets. The Company's stores in all these international markets are currently open and serving customers.

Chowchilla Police Make an Arrest in the Murder of a 2-Year Old Child

CHOWCHILLA - On Monday, March 12, 2018, at approximately 9:52 pm, the Chowchilla Police Department was contacted by the Madera Police Department regarding the investigation of a possible drowning that may have occurred in the City of Chowchilla earlier in the evening.

Investigators from the Chowchilla Police Department and Madera County Sheriff’s Office worked through the night and determined that the child did not drown as reported, the child was the victim of abuse. The child sustained major injuries which led investigators to believe that the child was a victim of a homicide and not an accidental drowning.

Madera South Students Don't Walk Out but Walk Up for Parkdale Shooting Victims

MADERA - At 10am this morning around 150 students from Madera South High School didn't walk out in protest but walked up to the free speech stage and stood up for the 17 students and teachers that lost their lives in February in a mass shooting at a high school in Parkland, Fla.

Walk Up Not Out proponents say students should try harder to reach out with friendliness and compassion to their more solitary peers. By moving out of their comfort zones and helping their peers feel more welcome, the theory goes, students could potentially head off angry impulses or an outbreak of violence.

Clovis Man Pleads Guilty to Running $24M Ponzi Scheme

FRESNO - Seth Adam Depiano, 36, of Clovis, pleaded guilty today to mail fraud, wire fraud and money laundering in connection with a real estate investment Ponzi scheme, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. According to court documents, Depiano operated a Ponzi scheme that lured real estate investors to give money to Depiano and the businesses he controlled, including The Rental Group, US Funding and Home Services LLC, and Draymond Homes.

Depiano fraudulently promised investors that he would use their money to purchase residential properties and either manage the properties for rental income or arrange for them to be renovated and resold. In many cases, Depiano promoted the properties to investors with documents that falsely represented high occupancy rates. Depiano oftentimes had no authority to purchase or sell the properties and misled investors with fraudulent documents misrepresenting the properties’ ownership. Some of the properties Depiano marketed to investors did not even exist.

Madera DA Hoping California Attorney General Will Initiate Operation Rezone II with Madera County BOS & CAO

MADERA - Madera County District Attorney, David A. Linn, announced today that the California Attorney General’s office will take charge of all matters concerning his criminal investigation of members of the Madera County Board of Supervisors. This action is due to the potential conflict of interest between Linn and the supervisors, and future litigation between the two parties.

Linn previously announced that he was conducting a criminal investigation against all members of the Board of Supervisors for unethical and illegal conduct in trading favors with developers for political contributions, entering into highly questionable contracts with county vendors, and the inappropriate spending of county funds.