News

FRESNO -  Javier Beltran, 34, of Strathmore, California, pleaded guilty today to two counts of use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, United States Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to court documents, Beltran was a member of a conspiracy to commit a series of armed robberies of gas stations, convenience stores, and liquor stores from May 19, 2016, until July 26, 2017. The indictment alleges that Beltran and his conspirators committed at least seven armed robberies in Tulare and Kern Counties between May 2016 and January 2017. The next month, Beltran and his associates travelled to Nebraska, where they committed two more robberies. They then returned to California, where they committed three more armed robberies.

MADERA -  Civic leaders from the City of Chowchilla and the City of Madera along with the Madera County Board of Supervisors gathered for a joint Intergovernmental Coalition meeting Saturday morning.  With over 50 citizens and staff, the three government entities talked about shared goals and ongoing collaborative efforts to solve issues of common concern.

The meeting, hosted by the City of Madera at the Madera Municipal Golf Course, was steered by an independent facilitator, Bill Chiat, of Alta Mesa Group, LLC.  The joint session kicked off with reflections on the progress made over the past year. Staff provided presentations on regional transportation, homelessness, economic development, and high speed rail followed by a raw yet constructive discussion on how to tackle those issues collectively as “One Voice.” 

NEW YORK - In 2011, as the result of youth advocacy around the world, the United Nations declared October 11 as the International Day of the Girl Child. Its mission is “to help galvanize worldwide enthusiasm for goals to better girls’ lives, providing an opportunity for them to show leadership and reach their full potential.” It’s a day when activist groups come together under the same goal to highlight, discuss, and take action to advance rights and opportunities for girls everywhere.

While the existing Gender bias and offences against the females don't seem to stop, there is still a lot being done to help generate awareness against the violation of women's rights, needs and challenges faced by girls and promotion of girls' empowerment. One such campaign is The International Day of The Girl Child that is observed, every year on the 11th of October. This day dedicated to all the girls in the world, holds a lot of importance, across the globe. International Day of the Girl Child 2018: Inspiring Quotes That Make You Feel Proud to Be a Girl.

SACRAMENTO – You might say someone who bought a Mega Millions ticket in L.A. is tickled “pink.” That’s because that ticket they purchased at the Pink Elephant Liquor Store (1836 N Western Avenue) matched five of the six numbers from last night’s draw and is now more than a half-million dollars richer – $638,267 to be exact.

Because no player in California (or anywhere else in the country) matched all six winning numbers, the Mega Millions jackpot now rolls from last night’s announced $420 million to an even more spectacular $470 million (estimated) for Tuesday night’s draw! That makes it the 6^th-largest jackpot in Mega Millions game history. [The lump-sum cash option is an estimated $161.1 million.]

SAN DIEGO – California Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced the arrest of 52 individuals as part of the Campaign Against Marijuana Planting (CAMP) Program, which is the largest illegal marijuana eradication program in the nation. This year, CAMP eradicated 614,267 plants in over 254 illegal grow sites across the state. Agents also seized 110 weapons.

“This year’s results put an exclamation point behind California’s multi-agency illegal cannabis campaign, holding accountable individuals who damage our public lands and hurt our communities,” said Attorney General Becerra. “At the California Department of Justice, we will continue to work with our partners at the federal, state, and local levels through our CAMP program to vigorously enforce California’s laws against illegal cannabis activity.”

FRESNO - Jorge Javier Gracia (42, of Kerman) has been convicted of all nineteen (19) felony charges related to a Fresno County shooting spree during the months of November and December 2017, the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office has announced.

As a result of today’s convictions, Mr. Gracia faces a sentence of over two hundred (200) years to life in the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation when he is sentenced by the Honorable Judge Sanderson on November 5, 2018, in Department 53 of the Fresno County Superior Court. However, upon reaching age sixty (60) and after serving twenty-five (25) years, Mr. Gracia will be eligible for early release under the Elderly Parole Program.