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FRESNO - On Sunday, December 24^th, at 1:33pm, Northwest patrol officers from the Fresno Police Department were dispatched to Ultimate Garages, 317 W. Bedford Avenue, regarding a burglary in progress. The business owner’s video monitoring system inside the business sent an alert to her smartphone indicating someone was breaking into her business.

Once the victim received the alert, she saw a masked intruder smashing the front glass door of the business and gain entry to the business. The victim immediately notified the Fresno Police Department. Officers were close to the location as they were finishing up an unrelated call just north  of the burglary. As officers responded to the in progress crime, Eagle One, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office law enforcement helicopter, also responded to the scene.

SAN FRANCISCO -  City Attorney Dennis Herrera announced today that San Francisco, New York, and Philadelphia filed a federal lawsuit this morning against the Department of Defense for failing to fully comply with its legal obligations to report information to the national criminal background check system for gun sales. Herrera released the following statement:

"We cannot accept the level of gun violence in our country as 'just the way it is.' Twenty-six people being murdered at church can never be normal. Patriotic Americans did not fight and die on foreign battlefields for our freedom just so we could be gunned down in our schools, our theaters and our churches because it's too easy for people who shouldn't have guns to get them.

BAKERSFIELD - Ten defendants were indicted by a federal grand jury today following a multi-agency operation in Bakersfield on Tuesday, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. After a 10-month investigation that began in March 2017, more than 35 members and associates of the West Side Crips (WSC), a local criminal street gang, were arrested this week on federal and state charges including burglary, illegal gun possession, drug sales, and murder. State and federal law enforcement teams also executed more than 30 residential search warrants.

The alleged crimes presented in the federal and state cases include weapons violations, unlawful possession of a firearm, assault with a deadly weapon, robbery, money laundering, methamphetamine sales, crack cocaine sales, opiate sales, attempted murder and murder. The affidavit supporting the criminal complaint also details WSC members’ plan to shoot into a crowd of approximately 200 people, including rival gang members, at a local park in early October 2017. Their plan was thwarted by law enforcement as a result of this investigation.

ANAHIEM, CA - The Madera South Marching Band and Color Guard stepped off at the Happiest Place on Earth last Friday to march down Main Street USA. After a year of planning and fundraising the Madera South Band performed for guests and Stallion fans at Disneyland.

Three charter buses left Madera South Wednesday at 4:35pm to arrive in Anaheim six hours later. The Stallion Band was invited to participate in the Disney Performing Arts concerts which are a part of the Disney Youth Programs. These year-round programs give schools from all over the country a chance to march in the parks parades or perform on the main stages at both Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure for the park's guests. Following their performances the groups take part in a workshop backstage at Disneyland.

KERMAN - The Madera County and Fresno County Sheriff’s Offices continues to investigate a series of shootings on public roadways, which appear to be related.  Between November 27th and December 17th, there have been 10 separate reports of vehicles being struck by gunfire.  Eight occurred in Fresno County and two occurred in Madera County.  Only one case resulted in a person suffering injuries.  Detectives have not determined a motive for the shootings and are considering them to be random.

All of the shootings in Fresno County have happened in the same vicinity, on the outskirts of the city of Kerman.  Most all occurred at the beginning and end of traditional commute hours.  A common thread in all reports is the victims said they heard loud bangs as another vehicle passed them, going the opposite direction on the roadway.  They later inspect their vehicles and find bullet holes in various places.

ATLANTA, GA -  According to new estimates published, between 291,000 and 646,000 people worldwide die from seasonal influenza-related respiratory illnesses each year, higher than a previous estimate of 250,000 to 500,000 and based on a robust, multinational survey. The new estimate, from a collaborative study by CDC and global health partners, appeared last week in The Lancet. The estimate excludes deaths during pandemics.

"These findings remind us of the seriousness of flu and that flu prevention should really be a global priority," says Joe Bresee, M.D., associate director for global health in CDC's Influenza Division and a study co-author.