Del Rey
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The Fresno Bee
Former nonprofit executive in Fresno convicted of an elaborate insurance fraud
Sonny Mehrtash, a former nonprofit executive in Fresno, has been sentenced to one year probation and 240 hours of community service for trying to defraud an insurance company of nearly $100,000. Mehrtash, who used to run several fundraising groups including Community Connection and RXfundraising, was convicted of one misdemeanor charge of making a false statement in support of an insurance claim. The fraud conviction stems from a 2024 two-car crash in which Mehrtash was not at fault but was injured. Court records show Mehrtash alleged that he received a burn on his left arm, lacerations to his legs, a bump on his head, post-traumatic stress disorder and a loss of consciousness. Mehrtash also submitted medical reports to Nationwide, the other driver’s insurance company, claiming he had a traumatic brain injury and “postconcussion syndrome.” Mehrtash alleged in his claim that his injuries caused him to be off work and that he was owed compensation. To substantiate his claim, Mehtrash provided medical reports from a doctor, who an insurance company investigator later determined was Mehrtash’s best friend and the registered owner of the BMW 530i vehicle Mehrtash was driving when he crashed. In the investigator’s report that is part of the court
yieldpro.com
Northmarq Arranges $6M Sale of Alamos Gardens Apartments in Clovis California
Northmarq’s Fresno Investment Sales team of Robin Kane and Brendan Kane facilitated the $6.65 million sale of Alamos Gardens, a 59-unit garden-style apartment community at 2205 Peach Ave. in Clovis, California. Northmarq represented the seller, a Southern California family office. The buyer was MegaNova LP. “Alamos Gardens attracted a...
The Fresno Bee
You can cut down your own Christmas tree in CA for $20. Where to go near Fresno
Imagine hiking into a lush forest as the birds flit through the lofty evergreens. As you enter a sunny clearing, you spot your ideal Christmas tree: a perfectly formed fir. You can cut down your own holiday tree at a dozen national forests across California, including a couple near Fresno. According to federal government officials, controlled tree-cutting is allowed during the holidays to reduce overgrowth and fire risks. “For every tree that is found, cut and carried home as a holiday fixture, you’re also contributing to the overall forest health,” officials said on Recreation.gov. “Christmas tree permits are a unique opportunity to help thin densely populated stands of small-diameter trees — the perfect size for a Christmas tree.” It’s best to plan ahead, since permits go fast. Here’s what to know: Where can I cut down a Christmas tree in California? In California, a total of 12 national forests offer seasonal tree permits just in time for the holiday season. You can discover which forests offer tree permits by going to Recreation.gov and checking out the interactive map. You can also search by the forest name, location or state. Here’s where to go within a two-hour drive of Fresno: Sequoia
KMPH.com
Garage fire possibly caused by leaf pile next to air vent
FRESNO, Calif. (FOX26) — A fire at a home in northeast Fresno left a garage completely destroyed and a family of three without a home on Tuesday morning. A fire at a home in southeast Fresno left a garage completely destroyed on Tuesday morning. (FOX26) The Fresno Fire Department...
The Fresno Bee
Top stories: New Fresno hotel. Tulare sheriff allegations. Underdog judge candidate surges
Tuesday brought major developments across the central San Joaquin Valley, from serious allegations against a sitting Tulare County sheriff to a shifting race for a Fresno County judicial seat. The Fresno Bee covered the news shaping local communities, courts, campaigns and public safety. Here are the top stories of the day from our newsroom. Here are the top stories of the day Downtown Fresno hotel opens after decades of delays After decades of stalled proposals, Fresno’s downtown hotel is opening Tuesday. The five-story Courtyard by Marriott Fresno Downtown has 144 rooms, suites, a bistro, pool, fitness center and nearly 5,500 square feet of meeting space. Axis Hotel Group’s $30 million-plus project occupies a once-empty lot near the convention center; construction delays and redesigns pushed its opening beyond schedule by several years. Tulare County sheriff who ran for Congress accused of sexually abusing 2 girls, one age 11 Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux faces a complaint filed with the California Department of Justice accusing him of sexually abusing two minor girls in the 1980s and assaulting an adult woman in 2018. The complaint alleges that accusations against Boudreaux were reported to Tulare County Child Welfare Services as far back as 1991,
Madera Tribune
Toros can’t keep up with Orosi in Div. V playoffs
After heading into halftime trailing by four, the Orosi Cardinals outscored the Matilda Torres Toros 28-19 the rest of the way for a 46-33 victory in the first round of the Central Section Div. V playoffs. The 14th-seeded Toros were outscored by the third-seeded Cardinals 38-13 in the second and...
Hanford Sentinel
yourcentralvalley.com
Thomas Rhett to headline Fresno’s Boots in the Park this spring
FRESNO, Calif. ( ) – Boots in the Park in Fresno just dropped its spring 2027 lineup. On April 17, Grammy-nominated musician Thomas Rhett will be taking the stage at Woodward Park with Jordan Davis, Corey Kent, Ashley Cook, Joe Peters, and returning DJ Lewiss Luxx. While you listen,...
YourCentralValley.com
‘Problem’; Fresno State students launch parking campaign
FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – A group of Fresno state students want to change the way parking works on campus with a new campaign called Park the Problem. Ana Marquez launched the initiative at the beginning of the semester and says their cause has already gathered around 300 signatures of support from other students. She lives […]
KMPH.com
Water main break displaces Southeast Fresno family as city promises reimbursements
FRESNO, Calif. (FOX26) — Families in Southeast Fresno are facing an uncertain future after a city water main break flooded homes, forced residents to evacuate and left some properties unlivable. The City of Fresno says it will help cover certain expenses for displaced residents, including temporary housing and property...
The Fresno Bee
Fresno-area junior college faculty hold symbolic funeral as contract talks drag on
State Center Community College District faculty members recently held a mock funeral to mourn the death of their contract as the union enters its second year of negotiations. Members of the State Center Federation of Teachers gathered outside the district headquarters — donning black outfits and surrounding a symbolic casket — on Tuesday afternoon. Some wore suits and formal attire while others showed up in costumes. One demonstrator had a sign that read, “Our contract is dead and does not R.I.P.” When the SCCCD board of trustees meeting began, attendees carried the coffin — with the expired contract stapled inside — into the building. “Today, we’re having a symbolic, mock funeral to really kind of relay the absurdity of us being out of contract,” Fresno City College English professor Monique Quintana said. “We just want what we deserve.” SCFT president Keith Ford said ceremonial funerals are one way for labor organizers to make their frustrations heard. He said their contract expired in June 2025, though negotiations have been underway since Nov. 2024. “After making all of our points as civilly and sometimes as humorously as possible, we thought it’s time to really lay on the gravitas and say, ‘No, this
The Fresno Bee
City attorney cleared over confirmation of candidate's DUI to media; questions remain
The investigations that the Fresno city attorney and a councilmember called for against each other over the handling of a candidate’s DUI charge were closed by city council in closed session last week without explanation. A short, joint statement from the Fresno City Council said City Attorney Andrew Janz did not violate any policies when he confirmed to media that council candidate Naindeep Singh had been arrested on suspicion of DUI a week before the Nov. 3 election, and that the matter was now closed. The unusual, unsigned, two-sentence statement on council letterhead was released on Monday, but it did not include how or when the council reached that conclusion. Kevin Little — an attorney representing Singh — told The Bee that his client still believes a thorough and unbiased investigation should be conducted into why he was arrested and then information of the arrest disclosed. At a press conference last week, Singh and Little called for Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office to get involved. “We are interested in facts, not bare conclusions,” Little said. “We have submitted exhaustive requests for public records and hope that those requests result in the disclosure of the requested information, since apparently now the
The Fresno Bee
Store closings, bankruptcy. What to know about The Children's Place in Fresno area
The future is looking bleak for The Children’s Place stores in and around Fresno. Workers at the Fashion Fair mall store say it’s shutting down and giant “store closing” signs hang from the ceiling, though the company has not officially confirmed it is closing. The future of locations at Visalia Mall and Hanford Mall is unclear. Both locations are holding liquidation sales. The New Jersey-based company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy Sunday. The kids clothing retailer is attempting to survive the bankruptcy, looking for a new owner to buy it before the end of the year. Announcements of store closures are coming, according to an email from a company spokesperson. The message said: “At this time, all of our stores and e-commerce sites remain open and continue to serve customers. With that said, The Children’s Place has determined that it will be necessary to close certain stores during this process. As such, we are conducting an ongoing evaluation of our operational footprint and will communicate confirmed decisions as they are made.” The mall retailer’s revenue fell 18.9% in its most recent financial quarter compared to the same time last year. The Children’s Place took on “huge” levels of debt, some