News

FRESNO - On Tuesday, 35 year old inmate Emillio Mancia assaulted two Fresno County Correctional Officers with a small, jail-issued shaving razor. The officers were attempting to move Mancia out of a video visitation room when he attacked the two male officers, slashingthem several times in their faces.

Two additional male correctional officers responded to help subdue Mancia. While doing so, one of the officers injured his hand and the other hurt his knee. Mancia was ultimately detained and taken back to his cell. All of the officers received medical treatment for their injuries. They were sent home and are in good spirits. In fact, they've stated they are eager to return to work. 

FRESNO - Efren Alvarez (53, of Fresno) has been convicted of human labor trafficking and extortion in one of California’s first farm labor trafficking cases, the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office has announced.

Today, Mr. Alvarez was convicted by a Fresno County jury of one (1) felony count of Human Trafficking and three (3) felony counts of Extortion in order to maintain the victims’ labor in March of 2016. In committing his crimes, the defendant utilized a complex scheme whereby he obtained the victims’ visas, passports, and permits as collateral for a loan, and then threatened to harm and report each to immigration authorities if they did not continue to work for him. The victims’ ultimately sought help from the United Farm Workers, who then reached out to law enforcement.

MADERA - Earlier Thursday evening Madera Police officers were dispatched to a report of a stabbing near Almond Avenue and Pear Street in the area of Road 28.  When officers arrived, they found that three women had been stabbed and the suspect was a family member.

Because of the nature of their wounds first responders believed the victims would not survive transportation to a Fresno hospital, ambulances were diverted to Madera Community Hospital.  While in transport, two of the victims died from their wounds. The third victim is in stable condition.

SANTA CLARA  -  As home prices rise across the U.S., choosing to rent has become increasingly popular. New analysis by realtor.com® reveals the monthly costs of buying a home have risen by 14 percent over the past year. This is more than three times the 4 percent increase in monthly rental costs. Additionally, this analysis found that the number of places where it is cheaper to buy has significantly declined in the past year.

"Even setting aside big upfront expenses like a down payment, rising month-by-month costs are likely keeping many people from purchasing," said Danielle Hale, chief economist at realtor.com^®. "Today only 41 percent of people live in a county where the median income family can afford to buy a home at the median list price, and affordability declined significantly over the past year. Since home ownership has historically been an important source of household wealth creation, it could be problematic if this trend continues for too long. Still, even in places where renting is currently more affordable, rising home prices provide wealth building opportunity for home buyers."