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Local news of Tulare and Kings Counties
5/9/2008
Jury selection is scheduled to begin Monday in Fresno County Superior Court for two Southern California men accused of severely injuring a Bakersfield boy in a boating accident at Shaver Lake over the Labor Day weekend in 2006. Roger Guzman of Lake Elsinore and Thomas Kirby of Los Angeles, are charged with hit and run and failure to report the accident or render aid after they allegedly ran into 11 year old Dallen McEntire who was being towed on a knee board behind a boat driven by his father. Presiding Judge Hilary Chittick will appoint a judge to try the case, replacing Judge James Oppliger, who was at Shaver Lake on the day of the accident.
3 Visalia schools were put on lockdown yesterday afternoon while police investigated a street fight on Divisadero Street. There were some reports that gunfire was heard in the area but police say those reports were false. No arrests were made. Houston, Green Acres, and Sequoia High School were affected.
The effort to restore the San Joaquin River took a big step forward. A Senate committee approved legislation to bring back the salmon run, and more water for farms. The legislation had been stalled for nearly two years, but the latest measure deals with agricultural concerns, and is a sign the legislation is back on track according to the Friant Water Users Authority. The Senate measure differs from a House version in providing the re-use of river water for farmers. Congress must now work out the differences between the measures, but supporters are optimistic the restoration of the San Joaquin River is moving forward.
Calling the Mojave Desert one of the best solar power locations in the country, a Florida based alternative energy company hopes to spend a Billion dollars building a two-thousand acre facility there. Most of the power generated is expected to go to Los Angeles. The company says hundreds will be employed to build the plant and another 60 permanent jobs will be added once the plant opens. The California Energy Commission will spend the next year reviewing the plan.
Two buses carrying middle school students from Yolo Middle School in Newman collided near the intersections of Highways 120 and 140 in Yosemite National Park this morning. Around 12 students were transported to hospitals, but none of the injuries are being called serious. Park officials say the buses were traveling through an area where construction was going on, and the first bus stopped suddenly. That's when the second bus rear-ended the first bus
Analysts say the federal Farm Bill agreed upon yesterday (Thursday) by a congressional conference committee contains a number of provisions that could help California farmers, ranchers and consumers. A California Farm Bureau spokesman says the bill would include more fruits and vegetables in nutrition programs, and enhance research, trade and conservation programs. But the Bush administration has threatened a veto, in part based on the bill's overall cost.
5/8/2008
The Tulare County Sheriffs Department hosted the annual peace officers memorial ceremony yesterday. More than 300 people attended to hear the names of officers who have been killed in the line of duty. The most recent name added was Detective Kent Haws who was killed in an Ivanhoe orange grove in December. 23 Tulare County peace officers have died in the line of duty since 1889.
Officials at Big West Refinery say losing air pollution credits could jeopardize or even scrap their $700 million expansion plans, and want to bypass county planners and go directly to the Board of Supervisors for approval. Spokesman Bill Chaddick says they want to move the project forward before those pollution credits are reduced in November, which could cost millions. Air pollution credits may be devalued by air regulators this fall to meet changing emissions levels in the valley.
The Madera County Sheriff's Department reported on Wednesday that deputies found nearly 12,000 marijuana plants in a vineyard in the southwestern part of the county. The plants were worth about $38 million. The plants were discovered west of Highway 145 after deputies received a tip. They were placed among grape vines spanning nine rows deep inside the vineyard. No arrests were made.
The nation's largest farm group says both long-term and short-term measures will be needed to address the global food situation. In a letter to Congress yesterday, the American Farm Bureau urged "thoughtful and comprehensive" responses to rising food prices. Farm Bureau said energy costs play a large role in food prices, and urged Congress to reduce U.S. reliance on foreign oil. The group also recommended investment in agricultural research and in food aid.
After months of controversy, Democrat Senator Don Perata ends his campaign to recall Republican Senator Jeff Denham. The recall is already on the June 3rd ballot and information on the recall has already been sent to voters, but now Perata claims he wants to put politics aside. Perata started the recall effort after Denham refused to vote for an unbalanced state budget.
The Lemoore City Council has voted to adopt the city’s 2030 general plan which calls for new housing developments directly under the flight path of Lemoore Naval Air Station. The Navy had lobbied against the plan saying that the Navy could be subject to lawsuits over noise pollution. The 3-2 vote followed a recommendation from the city planning commission.
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Local News of Tulare and Kings Counties
The Morning Wake Up Call, weekday mornings 5:30 - 10am, Darrin Cantrell delivers local news on air and you
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