Sacramento

Reedley landscaper partially paralyzed after tragic fall

A Reedley landscaper may never be able to walk again after falling from a tree last month. Tuesday, December 3, 2024 2:51AM A Valley family is navigating a new normal after their father and husband was partially paralyzed in a work accident. REEDLEY, Calif. (KFSN) — A Valley family is navigating a new normal after their father and husband was partially paralyzed in a work accident. Oscar Rios has been landscaping for many years, but had a bad fall last month in Reedley. “Unfortunately he fell from a palm tree,” his wife, Karen Medrano explained. “He fell straight on his back and he suffered severe cervical fractures.” He was airlifted to Community Regional Medical Center where he continues to recover – despite difficult odds. “The prognosis of him walking again is very low. His mobility is so limited right now,” Medrano said. Medrano finding the silver lining in a tragic situation. A photo of Oscar Rios at work. “The fact that he can move his arm just a little bit. Things like that. It does give us hope,” Medrano said. “He’s been conscious the entire

Sacramento

Historic building goes up in flames in Merced

MERCED, Calif. (KFSN) — A fierce fire destroyed a nearly 130-year-old building in downtown Merced on Monday morning. The fire broke out around 6:30 am at the former Merced County library building on 22nd near M Street. “Tragic ending for a majestic building,” said Merced County Sheriff Vern Warnke. A photo from 1897 when the building served as the county’s first high school. (Merced County Historical Society) The Merced County Historical Society says the structure was originally the county’s first high school, which was built in 1897. Sarah Lim, the director of the Merced County Courthouse Museum, says by 1920, students outgrew the school. “After that it was renovated and remodeled into a county library, and it was used from 1920 to 1975,” said Lim. Since then she said the desolate building sat vacant, but was still filled with memories. “It’s one of the oldest buildings in the city of Merced, and its listed in the national registry of historic places,” added Lim. Through the day and into the evening, crews fought the flames and tried to protect nearby buildings. Despite the damage to the

Sacramento

Cyber Monday: How to protect your wallet

Tuesday, December 3, 2024 2:39AM Stores in Old Town Clovis had a little lull on Monday after a bustling weekend. CLOVIS, Calif. (KFSN) — Stores in Old Town Clovis had a little lull on Monday after a bustling weekend. “There’s something for everyone at all different ages and I try to do that,” said Tanya Demanty, who owns Bauble and Thread in Old Town Clovis on Pollasky Avenue. She’s noticed a slight increase in sales compared to last year and said she’s grateful to the people who shop small. “If you wanna have the experience and just kind of stroll around and enjoy the community and all of the different entrepreneurs that have started their businesses, supporting them is a great idea,” said Demanty. But big retailers are also relying on a busy holiday shopping season. This video shows an Amazon fulfillment center in full swing on Cyber Monday. “We actually spend most of the year preparing for the holiday season. But as you can see behind me this is one of our busiest shopping days of the year, but it’s actually business as normal

Los Angeles

GOP insiders sought Hegseth’s removal as leader of veterans’ group in 2016

New misconduct claims against Trump pick Hegseth New misconduct claims against Trump pick Pete Hegseth 02:54 Monterey, California — The battle over President-elect Trump’s pick for Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, may become a test of loyalty for Republican stalwarts — some of whom stood at the center of a bid 10 years ago to remove Hegseth as the head of a veterans’ charity over allegations of financial mismanagement, repeated intoxication and sexual misconduct. One of those who led the effort to oust Hegseth as head of the Concerned Veterans of America in 2016 was Jessie Jane Duff, a Marine veteran who served as one of President-elect Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign executive directors, according to multiple Republican insiders familiar with the events, all of whom spoke on the condition they not be named over fear of reprisals from those within the party. Duff sought Hegseth’s removal from leadership roles in the veterans’ group, CBS News has learned.  While she worked at Concerned Veterans for America as a senior military adviser, Duff allegedly complained about Hegseth’s frequent public intoxication, poor leadership and the toxic work climate

Los Angeles

Renewed fighting threatens fragile Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire

Renewed fighting threatens fragile Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire – CBS News Watch CBS News Despite the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah, the back-and-forth violence doesn’t appear to be going away. Both sides say the other is violating the deal. Matthew Levitt, a Middle East policy expert with the Washington Institute, joins CBS News with analysis. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On

Los Angeles

These are the worst cities for package theft in 2024

(NewsNation) — With nearly $1 billion in losses last year, New York City is the worst metro for package theft in the United States, according to a recent report. The annual study by SafeWise estimates that 120.5 million packages were snatched off American porches in 2023, resulting in a total loss of nearly $16 billion. In dollar terms, New York City was hit the hardest by porch pirates, with $945M in losses last year. Philadelphia ($450M) and Chicago ($262M) were next on the list. Washington, D.C. ($232M), and Houston ($207M) rounded out the top five in SafeWise’s annual ranking. But cities with the highest financial losses weren’t necessarily those with the most package theft incidents. Of the top ten worst cities for package theft, Cleveland had the most thefts per capita — nearly 1,400 per 1,000 households. That suggests thieves struck the same houses multiple times. Third expensive package reported intercepted in Southern California this month Other repeat hot spots included Beckley, West Virginia (2,391 incidents per 1,000 households); Hot Springs, Arkansas (2,107 per 1,000); and Goldsboro, North Carolina (1,880 per 1,000), according to Safewise.

Los Angeles

Holiday boat parades to light up Central Coast

Holiday boat parades are set to light up the Central Coast in the coming days, with events taking place in Morro Bay and at the Ventura Harbor. In Morro Bay, the Lighted Boat Parade will take place Saturday from 6:30 to 8 p.m., weather permitting. Fishing, leisure and yachting vessels will sail along the bay adorned with holiday lights. Viewing areas include the Embarcadero from Tidelands Park to Morro Rock, with parking and walking encouraged to avoid congestion. Visit morrobay.org for more information. At the Ventura Harbor, the annual Parade of Lights will take place the following weekend on Dec. 13-14. Promotional image for the Ventura Harbor Parade of Lights & Fireworks, taking place Dec. 13-14, 2024. (Ventura Harbor Village) The annual event will have a Candy Land theme, featuring boats decorated with candy-inspired designs. The parade will take place on Friday and Saturday at 6:30 p.m., with fireworks scheduled to take place at 8 p.m. Viewing spots include the Harbor Village promenade and other areas along the harbor. Additional entertainment includes carnival rides, artificial snowfall and bubble shows by SB Bubble Guy. Details are

Los Angeles

Hawaiian Gardens man sentenced for distributing fentanyl that led to teen’s fatal overdose

A Los Angeles County man was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison on Monday for selling “purported black tar heroin that, in fact, was fentanyl,” ultimately leading to an 18-year-old’s fatal overdose, officials say. According to the Department of Justice, Gregory Hevener, 47, of Hawaiian Gardens was found guilty in June of one count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death and one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin. The DOJ says the investigation found that the 18-year-old, whose name was not released, responded to an ad placed by Hevener on the website OfferUp in November 2020.  The Long Beach-based listing advertised a message saying: “BLACK TAR ROOFING MATERIALS!!” – which the DOJ says is coded language for black tar heroin. “OfferUp records revealed Hevener operated or had access to several accounts on the platform, in which he advertised and distributed drugs, including heroin and fentanyl,” the DOJ stated in a release. The 18-year-old bought what he believed to be heroin from Hevener during a meet-up in Hawaiian Gardens. However, officials say Hevener instead gave the teen what was a black, tar-like

Bay Area

Man feared to have gone overboard on cruise ship’s return to San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO – A passenger on the Ruby Princess is believed to have gone overboard ahead of the cruise ship’s arrival Monday in San Francisco, according to officials. In a statement, Princess Cruises said the 72-year-old man was not found following several searches of the vessel. Closed-circuit television footage was also reviewed. “Having ruled out other possibilities, this is being treated as a man overboard,” the statement read. “We extend our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the guest who was traveling alone.” Princess Cruises did not immediately return a message seeking additional details about the incident, including where the passenger was believed to have gone overboard. Around 3 p.m. Monday, the U.S. Coast Guard air station in Sacramento dispatched a C-27 aircrew to help scour the waters roughly 45 miles off of Monterey. The air station in San Francisco joined the search effort about an hour later. The Ruby Princess arrived in San Francisco around 6:50 a.m. Monday following a five-day trip to Ensenada. It was set to depart at 5 p.m. for a 16-day voyage to the Hawaiian Islands. Check back

Bay Area

Five-bedroom home sells for $2.6 million in Danville

Bay Area Home Report 303 Culet Drive – Google Street View The spacious property located in the 300 block of Culet Drive in Danville was sold on Oct. 18, 2024. The $2,600,000 purchase price works out to $723 per square foot. The house, built in 1999, has an interior space of 3,596 square feet. This two-story house offers a spacious layout with five bedrooms and four bathrooms. Additionally, the house features an attached two-car garage, providing ample room for vehicles and storage needs. The property encompasses a generous 0.3-acre of land. These nearby houses have also recently changed hands: A 2,241-square-foot home on the 200 block of Viewpoint Drive in Danville sold in August 2023, for $1,850,000, a price per square foot of $826. The home has 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. In March 2023, a 2,402-square-foot home on Jasmine Way in Danville sold for $1,920,000, a price per square foot of $799. The home has 5 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. On Benjamin Lane, Danville, in August 2023, a 2,876-square-foot home was sold for $2,430,000, a price per square foot of $845. The home has

Bay Area

Sharks forward will be on Sweden’s 4 Nations roster, per report

San Jose Sharks winger William Eklund will be among the 13 forwards chosen for Sweden’s entry into the 4 Nations Face-Off, according to a published report Monday in that country. Eklund has been asked to join Sweden’s national team and has accepted the offer, per Expressen, a Swedish national newspaper. The 4 Nations Face-Off, which takes place in February, features teams from the United States, Canada, Finland and Sweden. The official 23-player rosters for Sweden and Finland will be unveiled on Wednesday at 11 a.m. (PST) on ESPN and the NHL Network. Rosters for the American and Canadian teams will be announced on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. (PST) on TNT. Each country’s roster — which includes three goalies, seven defensemen, and 13 forwards — had to be submitted by Monday. This would be Eklund’s first time playing on Sweden’s men’s national team. A Stockholm native, the 22-year-old Eklund confirmed to Bay Area News Group recently that he had discussions with Team Sweden coach Sam Hallam, who has been behind the bench for Tre Kronor for the last two World Championships. After Sunday’s NHL games, Eklund

Bay Area

Oakland man tried to give up ‘un-handleable’ dogs prior to fatal mauling, animal control officer testifies

OAKLAND — The owner of three dogs that mauled a man to death in September had previously tried to give the 100-pound canines away because they were “a problem” and “un-handleable,” an Oakland animal control officer testified Monday. Brendan Burke, 58, even allegedly considered having the dogs euthanized in the months before they fatally mauled Burke’s childhood friend, Robert Holguin, in his driveway on Sept. 1. The details were revealed at a key evidentiary hearing Monday, during which an Alameda County judge ordered Burke to stand trial on a single felony charge of failing to control animals killing a human. Burke has pleaded not guilty, and he remains free on his own recognizance. On Monday, new details emerged about concerns that Burke appeared to harbor about the three dogs — each of them half-Cane Corso, half-Napoleon Mastiff — in the months prior to the attack. Burke told a city animal control officer after the mauling that he had repeatedly tried to give the dogs to Rocket Dog Rescue, a Bay Area nonprofit organization that seeks to save abandoned and homeless pets from being euthanized in

Sacramento

Draymond Green likely to miss big matchup against Denver

DENVER — Draymond Green is officially listed as questionable, but Steve Kerr considers him doubtful to play on Tuesday night against the Nuggets, priming the defensive ace to miss his first game of the season. Green, 34, is dealing with tightness in his left calf. His likely absence against the Nuggets, in the Warriors’ final NBA Cup group stage game, will stunt the team’s pending rotation changes and complicate their game plan against MVP favorite Nikola Jokic. “He’s been amazing every day, engaged at practice, working with Rick (Celebrini) in the training room, the weight room,” head coach Steve Kerr said Monday at the Warriors’ practice at Ball Arena. “He’s got himself in really good shape…Doubtful tomorrow, we’ll see how he holds up. This is what it’s going to be with our team at this point in Draymond and Steph (Curry’s) respective careers. Got to try to keep their minutes down the best we can, try to keep them healthy by being proactive. If they’re dealing with nagging injuries, like Steph’s knees last week and like Draymond’s calf now, we’ve got to manage it all.”

Inland Empire

Rose Bowl Stadium unveils major upgrades ahead of 2028 Olympics

The iconic Rose Bowl stadium in Pasadena is gearing up for a major transformation to enhance guest experience, including upgraded seating and the installation of one of the nation’s largest videoboards, officials announced Monday, Dec. 2. Dubbed the Lasting Legacy Campaign, the $80 million revitalization effort includes eight projects designed to modernize the 102-year-old venue, preserve its infrastructure for future generations and continue driving economic growth in the region, according to the Rose Bowl Operating Company, which oversees the city-owned stadium. The funding for the campaign is led by privately-raised funds cultivated by the Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation, the Operating Company’s supporting nonprofit, along with contributions from the stadium’s partners and vendors, officials said. The improvements, scheduled for completion by the 2028 Olympics Games and beyond, will be carried out in two phases. Phase 1 is estimated to cost $30-35 million and aims to be completed in 2026. Planned projects include a full refurbishment of the stadium’s historic Rose Bowl marquee sign; an overhaul of the seating bowl sound system (its first since the 1990s);  the addition of safe standing sections for Bruin students on

Los Angeles

Nathan Hochman Set to Take Office as L.A. County District Attorney

Nathan Hochman, who campaigned on a “hard middle approach” to battling crime and scored a resounding victory over reform-minded incumbent George Gascón in last month’s election, is set to take the oath of office Tuesday as L.A. County’s 44th district attorney. The 61-year-old former federal prosecutor — who ran as an independent after seeking the state attorney general’s office as a Republican in 2022 — will be sworn in at noon in a ceremony outside the Hall of Justice, with former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger administering the oath. Hochman will carry what amounts to a mandate from L.A. County voters to get tougher on crime — with the latest numbers giving him more than 1.9 million votes, or just under 60%, compared to Gascón’s 1.3 million votes. Gascón conceded defeat on Nov. 6, one day after Election Day. Gascón was swept into office four years ago with a progressive platform — but he became a target of critics, including Hochman, who accused him of being soft on crime. Gascón defended his record while in office, denying allegations that his policies led to an increase in crime

Los Angeles

Father Arrested in Fatal Shooting of 9-Year-Old Autistic Son in Compton

A Compton man was in custody Monday for allegedly killing his 9-year-old autistic son outside the boy’s grandfather’s home over the weekend. Nicholas Jones, 32, was booked on suspicion of murder and child abuse resulting in death in the killing on Saturday of Princeton Jones, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner. He was being held on $2 million bail, the sheriff’s department reported. No other details were immediately released regarding the circumstances of the shooting or what led to Jones’ arrest. Deputies were sent to the 15000 block of South Haskins Avenue about 7:30 p.m. Saturday “regarding a gunshot victim call,” according to a sheriff’s department statement. “Upon arrival, deputies located a … male juvenile in the backyard of the residence suffering from a gunshot wound to his body,” sheriff’s officials said. “The juvenile was pronounced dead at the scene. Through investigation, Detectives identified the juvenile’s biological father, 32-year-old Nicholas Jones, of Compton, as a suspect.” Jones was arrested on Sunday, the sheriff’s department reported. “This investigation is on-going and there is no additional

Sacramento

12/2: The Daily Report

Lindsey Reiser reports on President Biden’s pardon of his son Hunter, the latest controversy surrounding President-Elect Trump’s incoming administration, and what’s next for Hezbollah amid the developing Middle East conflict.

Los Angeles

Police search for suspects in hit-and-run that left elderly cyclist seriously injured

Ventura police are searching for two women involved in a hit-and-run that left a 71-year-old cyclist critically injured Sunday evening. It happened around 5:25 p.m. near Foothill Road and La Fonda Drive when the elderly man was discovered lying in the roadway after losing control of his bicycle due to an object in the street. Witnesses reported seeing a white sedan, possibly a Lexus, strike the downed cyclist. The car’s occupants, described as a white woman driver in her 70s and a white woman passenger in her early 20s, briefly exited the vehicle to check on the man before fleeing without offering help. The cyclist remains in critical but stable condition, officials said. Police are urging anyone with information to contact the Ventura Police Department Traffic Division at 805-339-4437.

Los Angeles

Man arrested for Rialto street racing that killed a teen

Police arrested a 24-year-old man for vehicular manslaughter after he allegedly engaged in illegal street racing that killed a teen in San Bernardino County, officials announced Monday. Investigators found that the suspect, Jose Perez-Villafuerte of Fontana, was driving a gray Ford Mustang when he approached a white Ford Mustang that was stopped at the intersection of Cactus and San Bernardino avenues. According to initial findings, both Mustangs engaged in an illegal street race southbound on Cactus Avenue. While both cars raced at what police described only as “a high rate of speed,” the 19-year-old driver of the white Mustang, Marcques Mena of Rialto, lost control of his car and crashed into a tree. The Rialto Police Department says officers responded to a report of a single-vehicle crash around 10:35 p.m. Sunday in the 1400 block of South Cactus Ave. Fire crews arrived soon after and found Mena suffering from life-threatening injuries, and paramedics pronounced Mena deceased at 10:45 p.m. According to officials, two other passengers in the Mustang sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were transported to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center. Rialto Police say officers located Perez-Villafuerte

Los Angeles

To laugh and to hold: Eddie Murphy’s son and Martin Lawrence’s daughter are engaged

Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence will soon be more than just comedy contemporaries: They’re going to be in-laws. Eric Murphy (son of “The Nutty Professor” star Murphy) and Jasmin Lawrence (daughter of “Bad Boys” comic Lawrence) are headed to the altar, they announced Saturday. “God truly blessed us with a love that feels like destiny,” they captioned an Instagram video of their engagement. “We couldn’t be more excited for this next chapter,” they added. In the video, Eric walks Jasmin into a room adorned with elegant candelabra, flower petals spread across the floor, bouquets of roses and a large red heart framed on a wall. Eric, wearing a black suit, gets down on one knee and pops the question. Then he and Jasmin, in a black body-hugging dress, pose for photos. Jasmin, 28, and Eric, 35, shared their engagement more than three years after they made their romance Instagram official in June 2021. At the time, Eric said he was “head over heels in LOVE” with his now-fiancée. A month later, Jasmin celebrated her partner’s birthday on Instagram, writing “I’m so incredibly blessed to know