California Dolphin

Imagine paying outrageous amounts of interest to a greedy finance company and loving every minute of it. Or how about making off-the-record, back-alley deals with a loan shark so you can skip all the credit checks and paperwork? Impossible? Not if that loan shark is you. You’ll be borrowing from yourself, making payments to yourself and collecting high rates of interest — all from you and for you. The original idea of the credit union was to get the little person out of the clutches of the big money institutions. Credit unions are still a good idea! But even credit unions have their limits and standards when it comes to qualifying for personal loans. Being your own lender simplifies even the credit union strategy to just one person — you. And when you’re wearing the loan officer hat, dealing with you, the borrower, both the lending and repayment benefit only you. What a deal! So, how does it work? First, open a special savings account at a credit union or an online bank like Ally.com, or my favorite, SmartyPig.com. Don’t get this confused with your

RED BLUFF —  A man was arrested Wednesday night for allegedly starting a fire near the Antelope Veterinary Clinic on fire. The Red Bluff Police Department said its officers were notified of a suspicious person prowling at the Antelope Veterinary Clinic, 85 Belle Mill Road, at around 10:21 p.m. Officers responded and, upon their arrival, observed Anthony Torres,36, lighting a delivery container on fire. Officers arrested Torres and extinguished a small fire burning in the container. Police say Torres is on active California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation Parole for a previous conviction of arson. Police allege that Torres, being caught in the act, admitted to the arson and was transported to the Tehama County Jail. According to law enforcement, the officers contacted Torres’ parole agent, who placed a parole hold on Torres. The Red Bluff Police Department thanked the community members who reported Torres’s suspicious actions. Law enforcement said no animals were injured during this incident. The investigation is ongoing, and no further information will be released at this time.

Lipman Emanuel (“Lip”) Pike was baseball’s first Jewish superstar and arguably the game’s first professional player. “The Big Book of Jewish Baseball” wrote that in 1866 Pike agreed to accept $20 per week to play third base for the Philadelphia Athletics. Before he turned professional, Pike debuted with the Brooklyn Athletics in 1865, one of the 12 teams in two leagues he played for until 1887. Ostensibly, the players were amateurs but many, including Pike, took money under the table. Whether or not Pike was the first professional is debatable but there’s no argument he had an impact on the game as a slugger. Pike was also the first Jewish manager, having piloted the Troy Haymakers, the Hartford Dark Blues, and the Cincinnati Reds. The son of a Jewish haberdasher of Dutch origin, Pike was born in New York City on May 25, 1845. He was one of five children in the family, which moved to Brooklyn when he was very young, and appeared in his first recorded game just one week after his bar mitzvah. In the dead ball era, power is relative, since batted

Rana Robillard came very close this year to losing her life’s savings and her dream home, when she wired nearly $400,000 to an internet scammer. Robillard, ironically, is an experienced veteran of the Bay Area technology industry, but when she received what she thought was a request for her down payment on a home in Orinda, she sent the money, only to learn that she had been tricked. “That’s when I went into a full panic,” Robillard, 55, told CNBC, the cable channel devoted to financial matters, which chronicled her terrifying experience. Robillard was not alone in being victimized. The real estate industry has fully embraced online transactions, thus eliminating the hassle of having buyers, sellers, real estate agents, mortgage lenders and title company employees shuffle through dozens of paper documents that must be signed or initialed to complete transactions. It’s made the process of buying and selling houses much more convenient, but it’s also given scammers an opening for fraud that has cost home buyers many millions of dollars. The request for down payment that Robillard received was virtually identical to the many email messages she

In the chaotic final days of the legislative session, lawmakers jammed through major changes to California’s “Lemon Law” that protects consumers from defective cars even as members complained that the complex legislation was rushed too quickly. Gov. Gavin Newsom nonetheless signed the measure into law earlier this week, saying it was important to address a rising number of lemon law cases clogging the state’s court system. But he did so reluctantly, only after lawmakers agreed to reconsider the legislation next year and make the reforms voluntary for automakers. “This bill has drawn substantive opposition from several consumer groups and the majority of automakers, who were not party to the negotiations,” Newsom wrote in a statement to legislators. “While AB 1755 aims to speed resolution of lemon law claims and reduce litigation, many automakers … have expressed serious concerns.” The last-minute bill and the governor’s demand for changes could create confusion for consumers and automakers while leaving some uncertainty about how much impact it will have on court workloads. The bill adds new timetables and rules for consumers seeking reimbursement or a replacement for a defective

Former President Barack Obama’s first campaign event will take place Oct. 10 in the Pittsburgh area.

Friday, October 4, 2024 6:20AM A McLane High School teacher is Thursday night after being hit while trying to stop a classroom fight. FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — A McLane High School teacher is recovering Thursday night after being hit while trying to stop a classroom fight. The Fresno Unified School District says an adult met up with three students on campus during lunch. The adult is related to one of those students. Officials say the group then went into a classroom and tried to fight a fourth student. A teacher was hit while trying to intervene. Fresno police are investigating and those involved are facing disciplinary action. Copyright © 2024 KFSN-TV. All Rights Reserved.

Friday, October 4, 2024 6:20AM Fresno County students enjoyed a unique learning opportunity at the Big Fresno Fair on Thursday. FRESNO, Calif. — Fresno County students enjoyed a unique learning opportunity at the Big Fresno Fair on Thursday. From petting animals to checking out cool waterfalls or learning local history, thousands of Central Valley students enjoyed exploring as part of the Big Fresno Fair’s Education Program. “It’s fun to see their expressions when they see something that took place in 1920,” said Elaine Gallo, an Education Day volunteer. Taylor Collins, the special event and program coordinator for the fair, says it gives local kids unique opportunities to learn something new about their community. “The Fresno Fair is kind of a hidden gem, especially this museum. When I see kids coming out here and learning about the history of Fresno and current events of ag, it’s really special to us,” said Collins. The program takes place on Thursdays and Fridays during the two-week fair. Collins says it takes numerous teachers, volunteers and chaperones, like Ashley Dehart, to guide and keep students safe. “I used to be

Friday, October 4, 2024 6:17AM An apartment fire in central Fresno left two children, a firefighter, and an adult injured on Thursday night. FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — An apartment fire in central Fresno left two children, a firefighter, and an adult injured on Thursday night. The fire started around 7:30 pm at the Los Flores Apartment near First Street and Shields Avenue. When the first firefighters arrived, they burst into an apartment to rescue a 5-year-old girl. The Fresno Fire Department originally described the girl as a toddler, but has since clarified her age. “Anytime there’s reports somebody’s trapped inside a structure fire the number one priority is life safety,” said Josh Sellers with the Fresno Fire Department. “So, we’re going to try to aggressively get inside and get that person or people out.” The girl, her mother, and a 7-year-old were all taken to the hospital, where the 5-year-old remains in critical condition. The firefighter believed to have saved the girl was also treated and released from the hospital for burns. Firefighters say the fire started on the second story, displacing 10 people and

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — The U.S. Surgeon General is warning people about the dangers of loneliness. He says that one in two adults feels isolated and that it’s a national epidemic affecting people from all backgrounds. Francis Torres Garcia is originally from Tijuana. She moved to Clovis from Chicago several years ago, and before that, she lived in San Diego. Making the adjustment to the Central Valley from big-city life was challenging. The feeling of loneliness quickly sunk in. “You have to really be working on that and be aware of that,” said Francis. “Look for the tools. Find the tools that will not get you into that hole.” Francis used Meet Up to expand her social circle in each city she moved to. According to Meet Up’s website, its mission is to help people foster connections. Francis uses it to teach yoga and find others who share her interests. “It’s just something that connects you with yourself and people and the love,” said Francis. “That’s why I choose yoga every time.” Bumble for Friends is another social media app designed to make new friendships.

Friday, October 4, 2024 2:02AM A ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Northstar Courts apartment complex in Hanford marked the beginning of a new life for its residents on Thursday. HANFORD, Calif. (KFSN) — A ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Northstar Courts apartment complex in Hanford marked the beginning of a new life for its residents on Thursday. The site on 11th avenue and Northstar Way has 71 units. All but one are set aside for locals making 60% less than the area’s median income. Upholdings and Self-Help Enterprises co-developed the space. “We believe that housing is a human right regardless of your financial status or your race. You deserve to have a place to live and an address to your name,” says Sarah Ritten, Project Manager at Upholdings. The $24M dollar project was made possible by grants. The complex has solar panels, a laundry room, a playground and electric vehicle charging stations. The project took about six years total and wrapped up construction last month. For its residents, like Sylvia Moreno, having a place to call home is life-changing. “I feel excited and I feel blessed. I