SAN FRANCISCO —The American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California today sued the Madera County Board of Supervisors for violating California’s open public meetings law, the Ralph M. Brown Act, in changing immigration-related policy behind closed doors under the guise of making a personnel evaluation.The lawsuit charges that Madera County supervisors failed to give proper public notice before they adopted significant changes to the way the county’s jail interfaces with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Made without public input, the decision came in a closed, non-public session, without putting the matter on the agenda or disclosing what the board was discussing.
MADERA - Valley-wide heat waves resulting in higher mortality rates among cattle and mechanical issues at the rendering facility in Kerman have prompted several area counties to declare states of emergencies that would allow for disposal of carcasses in ways other than transporting them to the rendering facility.
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FRESNO - Sexually Violent Predator Jeffrey Snyder was ordered conditionally released from Coalinga State Hospital. After a contested hearing in March 2016, the Fresno County Superior Court found that Mr. Snyder continued to meet the criteria as a Sexually Violent Predator (SVP), but also found that he qualified for the next stage of his treatment of outpatient conditional release. 
MADERA – Madera County District Attorney, David A. Linn, announced that Pedro Montoya, of Madera, was convicted by a Madera Superior Court jury on June 29, 2017, of five counts of sexual abuse against children, along with the finding of “true” that the defendant committed the acts against multiple victims. 
