(FOX26) — In a heartwarming celebration of dedication and longevity Madera County Sheriff's Correctional Lieutenant Valerie Seaborn marked her 50th birthday by recreating an iconic photo from 25 years ago taken in the same room and with Seaborn donning the same uniform highlights her quarter-century of service with the Madera County Sheriff's Office "We are so grateful she has shared her last 25 birthdays with us The department invites everyone to join in sending Seaborn well-deserved birthday and congratulatory wishes (FOX26) — Madera County Sheriff Tyson Pogue announced on Friday that a retired sheriff passed away on Thursday "It is with profound respect and a heavy heart that I share the passing of Retired Madera County Sheriff Edward Bryant Bates at the age of 99," Sheriff Pogue wrote Ed Bates exhibited a commitment to service early in life he joined the Merchant Marines during World War II and later served in Naval Intelligence His law enforcement career began in Stanislaus County where he became a respected investigator and polygraph expert Bates was elected Sheriff of Madera County a position he held for three terms," he wrote "His steadfast commitment to justice and his community left an indelible mark on Madera County," the sheriff said he was a devoted husband to Freda June Ball his partner in life and service for 57 years." "He will be remembered not only for his professional accomplishments but also for his profound impact on the lives of those he served," he said "His passing is a significant loss to those who loved him "As the current Sheriff of Madera County I am honored to have known Ed Bates and to have witnessed the lasting impact of his service His life serves as a beacon for all in law enforcement reminding us of the profound difference one dedicated individual can make," said Sheriff Pogue SearchCoyotes walk off KnightsTyler Takeda2 hours ago1 min readBenny Munoz/The Madera Tribune Madera’s Brilynn Santiago slides in to score the game-winning run in Tuesday’s walk-off victory over Bullard The County/Metro Athletic Conference softball match-up between the Madera Coyotes and the Bullard Knights turned into an old-fashioned softball pitcher’s dual Madera’s Viviana Nombrano tossed a three-hitter to pick up the win She allowed three hits and held the Knights to a run Bullard’s Amyah Fabian held the Coyotes to just three hits before faltering in the seventh inning while the Coyotes walked off a 2-1 victory Tuesday at Zimmerman Field Kylie Powell’s fielder’s choice grounder scored Brilynn Santiago from third for the game-winning run with one out in the seventh rewritten or redistributed without prior written approval from the publisher SearchToros come back on StallionsTyler Takeda1 hour ago1 min readWendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune Torres’ Jose Velasquez throws a pitch in Tuesday’s comeback win over Madera South and got the comeback started with a two-run double Tuesday’s cross-town rivalry baseball game was a tale of two halves between the Madera South Stallions and the Matilda Torres Toros The Stallions looked to be cruising after jumping out to a 6-0 lead through the first three innings Tuesday evening at Eddie Chapa Field the Toros put up three innings of crooked numbers to score eight unanswered runs for an 8-6 victory A rigorous academic program that balances STEM with the arts and humanities Learn more about cutting-edge research that supports the Air Force and our global society Take a peek into the life of a United States Air Force Academy cadet With a focus on innovation and adaptation to the changing world of warfare we’re setting higher expectations for what it means to serve There’s no limit to what you will achieve here We deliver the future leaders of modern warfare – The Madera Cyber Innovation Center officially opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony April 25 at the U.S 48,000-square foot facility will better support cadets to more efficiently focus on their training for military conflicts identify cyber warfare threats and learn cutting-edge technologies “The DoD is moving toward a future-fight, near-peer conflict footing,” said Cadet 1st Class Enrique Oti, a Computer Science and Cyber Science major “Early exposure for cadets to cutting-edge research techniques and procedures prepares us for a potential future war The new Madera Cyber Innovation Center provides the space and technology for that exposure.” The Madera Cyber Innovation Center reflects the Academy’s commitment to providing world-class facilities for cadets. It houses the Department of Computer and Cyber Sciences, AF CyberWorx and the Institute for Future Conflict. In 14 unique laboratories and classrooms cadets will learn cyber through hands-on opportunities and traditional instruction Since core computer and cyber sciences courses will be taught in the facility cadets from all academic disciplines will experience the center Among the center’s key features is the sensitive compartmented information facility where cadets will have access to real-world training each four times larger than previously available Computer and Cyber Sciences department head Lt James Maher said the Madera Cyber Innovation Center will bring academia industry and military cyber operators together to educate and train future Air Force and Space Force warrior-leaders “The Madera Cyber Innovation Center is a game-changer for our current and incoming cadets,” Maher said “This facility will increase the productivity and output of cadet research specifically in cyber security and artificial intelligence The secure facility downstairs allows us to provide our warrior-leaders with real-world cyber training with the ability to connect with the rest of the Air Force and Space Force for cyber learning and competition.” Alumni donations and military construction funds financed the $60-million project Foundation donations funded half of the $60 million cost for the Madera project The couple toured the center with cadets and Department of Computer and Cyber Sciences faculty the day before the ceremony there is a rapidly developed countermeasure,” Madera said “There are two drivers behind our interest in funding this facility This building has been prepared to serve as a resource for phenomenal preparation for our cadets and our active-duty Air Force and Space Force.” a Computer Science major who will attend pilot training at Sheppard Air Force Base considers the Madera Center a facility that could attract prospective cadets “If I were an incoming fourth-degree cadet interested in computer science Madera would be especially awesome because it was specifically designed for cadets,” Petzold said dedicated space made for cadets to focus on what they want to learn and further their academic interests and excellence I believe it will bring a wider cyber technology to the Air Force.” See photos of the Madera Cyber Innovation Center ribbon-cutting ceremony. © 2025 United States Air Force Academy (FOX26) — The North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians of California announced Thursday that it had closed on a new nearly $725 million finance agreement provided through a real estate investment trust based in New York City will be used to develop the new North Fork Mono Casino and Resort project near Madera “We appreciate the vision and hard work of the financing team to make this deal a reality,” said Elaine Bethel Fink the casino and resort will feature about 2,400 slot machines a parking structure and outdoor parking for RV and oversized vehicles “We appreciate everything Station and the lenders have contributed to our two decade-long dream of bringing jobs and economic development to our Tribe and community” “Today our dream is closer than ever with the financing in place” luxury brands converge to create an upper-echelon shopping experience that is The Shops at Crystals The Shops at Crystals is a must-visit when in Las Vegas even just to view its sheer beauty and curated collection of retailers—and to go along with the experience each with a design and menu to match the chic vibes of the destination 725.255.9030. tocamadera.com Downright trendy describes this Mexican steakhouse and paired with reimagined traditional dishes it’s the perfect balance of cool ambience and delicious food Dishes here are meant to be shared family-style glazed with an addictive sweet soy and miso Crispy wonton tacos filled with tuna or A5 wagyu are always popular and the taqueria portion of the menu serves up classic tacos filled with fish Not to be missed at Toca Madera are specially priced Toca Tuesday tacos from 9 p.m to close and brunch Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m The brunch menu has so many delectable options We suggest ordering the tres leches French toast tempeh bacon and the ceviche blanco from the raw bar Finish off any meal with the visually stunning Dama de los Muertos a chocolate-covered skull filled with peanut butter mousse set on raspberry coulis which puts a nice spin on the classic Mexican cake The fire dancers and DJ put the Toca Madera experience into overdrive 702.803.1100. the bazaar.com For a substantial and hearty meal with land and sea in the spotlight courtesy of Spain’s Lázaro Rosa-Violán Studio known for its beautiful designs for hotels restaurants and high-end residencies around the world The space brings in the earth and ocean elements to create an almost seaside European escape enjoy chef Andrés’ seafood with a concentration on Spanish-inspired spices ora king salmon over wood fire and more celebrate the sea while meat eaters can celebrate flavors through Akaushi wagyu in skirt steak miso-glazed secreto Iberico and pollo al ajillo Vegetarians can delight in the Unleash the Garden section of the menu where creativity abounds with vegetable dishes 702.798.7115. mastrosrestaurants.com The sheer size and design of the 80-foot-tall Tree House wooden structure that makes up this longtime favorite of locals and tourist alike is stunning but marry it with inspired seafood and it’s a dining destination of distinction Other distinctive experiences at Mastro’s include a must-order signature three-tiered seafood tower and the specially made sushi rolls that have garnered a following with crispy garlic bigeye tuna maguro lime roll and A5 wagyu beef roll as the standouts Australian wagyu and Japanese A5 wagyu shine next to the seafood selection that includes Norwegian cold water salmon swordfish au poivre and herb-roasted branzino Don’t miss the classic New England clam chowder and divinely creamy lobster bisque making for a full meal for any vegetarians in the group and the signature warm butter cake is the perfect ending to any Mastro’s meal 702.803.1100. the bazaar.com Indulge in chef José Andrés’ little slice of sweet and savory heaven that is saturated in beautiful textiles and furnishings giving the perfect platform for equally beautiful small bites sips and dishes (the sweets on display are sure to whet the appetite) settle in from some shopping to enjoy high-end Spanish-inspired coffees and pair them with a strawberry ganache croissant a caramelized puff pastry dipped in chocolate various hand-cut slices of pig and other goodies like puntillitas fritas don’t pass up that sweets display for even more tasty desserts Click here for your free subscription to the weekly digital edition of Las Vegas Magazine In addition to the latest edition emailed to every week money-saving offers from some of the most exciting attractions And Las Vegas Magazine is full of informative content such as restaurants to visit The Paris Las Vegas restaurant offers brunch all week long From Mother’s and Father’s Day to graduations there’s a perfect location for every occasion The trendy Resorts World Las Vegas restaurant brings together many Asian cuisines in a fun .. The North Fork Mono Casino & Resort will include 2,400 slot machines The North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians announced this week a new $725 million financing partner for construction of a casino and resort in Madera Ground was broken in September 2024 at the 305-acre site. The total North Fork Mono Casino & Resort footprint will be about 260,000 square feet. A topping-out ceremony for construction was hosted by general contractor W.E. O’Neill Construction this past March The casino is expected to open by summer 2026 The North Fork Rancheria Economic Development Authority owned by the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians entered into the $725 million loan agreement with VICI Properties a New York-based real estate investment trust (REIT) that specializes in casino and entertainment properties VICI Properties, Inc. will provide up to $510 million of the $725 million delayed draw term loan facility, the company announced in its first-quarter earnings report on April 30 of which VICI Properties has committed up to $125 million so far Loan A has a five-year term and Loan B a six-year term North Fork’s development and operating partner in the venture is Las Vegas-based Station Casinos The VICI Properties portfolio boasts more than 50 casinos including Caesars Palace MGM Grand and the Venetian Resort in Las Vegas This transaction represents VICI’s second loan investment on tribal land and Red Rock Resorts’ first partnership with a REIT “We value both of these partnerships and take pride in our ability to build deep relationships with dynamic growth-minded operators that will help to contribute to our long-term growth goals and objectives,” VICI Properties CEO Edward Pitoniak said in the earnings report In 2021, VICI Properties entered a lease agreement with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians for the Caesars Southern Indiana casino property Upon completion, North Fork Mono Casino & Resort is expected to feature around 2,400 slot machines The architect is Las Vegas casino design firm JIVE Architecture The North Fork Rancheria Economic Development Authority issued a statement about the financing arrangement “Red Rocks Resorts and its affiliate Station Casino have been constant dedicated partners of the tribe for over 20 years” “This financing package expands and enhances that partnership further.” Small Business Administration (SBA) is streamlining the national The North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians announced this week the parent company of Fresno-based United Security BLOG: Bill advances that would undermine PAGA reform Reform of the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) was one BLOG: Should breaking news alter your investment strategy? please create a FREE account OR login here SKIP THE POP-UPS — Subscribe Today & Save $20 Stay informed with The Business Journal—your go-to source for local business news and insights Already a member? CLICK HERE to login Unlock unlimited access to TheBusinessJournal.com and start receiving exclusive business news and insights today 2025MadTown Robotics Team 1323 claimed the title at the 2025 international competition in Houston.FRESNO (KFSN) -- A Madera Unified robotics team won its third World Championship on Saturday MadTown Robotics Team 1323 claimed the title at the 2025 international competition in Houston The team has students from Matilda Torres High School This world title further solidifies the team's status as a global force in STEM education and youth innovation 14vs3Queens Flyer for Mariposa Fire Fair (Click to Enlarge) Flyer for Eastern Madera Fire Fair (Click to Enlarge) You must be logged in to post a comment The North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians of California has finalized a financing deal worth nearly $725 million paving the way for the long-anticipated development of a tribal casino resort near Madera was executed between the North Fork Rancheria Economic Development Authority (NFR EDAB) and a syndicate of lenders led by New York-based real estate investment trust VICI Properties “We appreciate the vision and hard work of the financing team to make this deal a reality,” said Elaine Bethel-Fink “We are proud and delighted to be on the same team.” The funds will support the construction of the North Fork Mono Casino & Resort a large-scale gaming and hospitality venue that will be developed and managed by affiliates of Red Rock Resorts The Las Vegas-based firm and its subsidiary Station Casinos have been involved with the tribe in this endeavor for over two decades dedicated partners of the tribe for over 20 years,” said Tribal Chairman Fred Beihn “We appreciate everything Station and the lenders have contributed to our two decade-long dream of bringing jobs and economic development to our tribe and community,” said Tribal Treasurer Maryann McGovran “Today our dream is closer than ever with the financing in place,” added Tribal Secretary Christina McDonald Plans for the resort include 2,400 slot machines multiple dining options including two full-service restaurants and a food hall and outdoor accommodations for RVs and oversized vehicles In March the North Fork Rancheria announced the topping out of the final steel beam on the structure’s external frame held on the tribe’s federal trust land along California State Highway 99 just north of the City of Madera as well as North Fork Rancheria tribal leaders and staff by Brianda Lemus-Ceballos MADERA, Calif. (FOX26) — A tragic shooting at a Walgreens in Madera Monday night has left a father dead with authorities searching for answers about the motive behind the attack Police say 30-year-old Narciso Gallardo Fernandez drove more than an hour from Pixley to Madera on Monday night before opening fire inside the Walgreens on Cleveland Avenue Surveillance footage captured Fernandez shooting at a security camera inside the store Authorities have yet to determine a clear motive for the shooting though Madera Police Chief Giachino Chiaramonte noted that Fernandez had strong issues against pharmacies in general "We're having difficulties because some of the statements show that he had anger towards pharmacies in general not specific Walgreens," Chief Chiaramonte said The store remained closed on Tuesday as the community grappled with the tragedy and the lingering question: why here Police say Fernandez had no known ties to Madera and no previous interactions with local law enforcement He has no prior contacts with the sheriff's department or PD here," Chief Chiaramonte confirmed Authorities responded to reports of gunfire just after 9:30 p.m "He did communicate to some of the female victims that were out front and said 'This isn’t about you,' and stormed off to his car to where officers found him reloading his handgun," Chief Chiaramonte explained officers found 34-year-old Erick Velazquez dead Other employees had taken shelter during the attack "You could say only one life was lost but we have numerous people touched trying to understand the why He’s got two children—one’s an infant—and they’re trying to understand the why," Chief Chiaramonte said Fernandez had previously attended UC Merced but investigators say that detail has not provided any insight into his motives Madera police are now urging anyone who knows Fernandez to come forward with information that could help explain why he targeted the Madera Walgreens Fernandez has been booked into the Madera County Jail on homicide charges A GoFundMe fundraiser has been set up to help the Velazquez family Click here to contribute the Madera County District Attorney's Office filed a criminal complaint of murder against Fernandez When Madera Community Hospital abruptly closed its doors in early 2023 its ripple effects spread much farther than the immediate city and county that relied on its services The 103-bed hospital, which faced significant financial pressures for several years, will reopen on Tuesday, March 18 under the management of Modesto-based American Advanced Management Inc. And when it does it will provide at least a small measure of relief for a medical-care landscape in the Fresno-Madera area that continues to face more patients than there are available beds “Even though Madera Community is a smaller hospital, just the small impact of that closure on other hospitals is significant because the other hospitals are already completely over capacity almost every day,” said Dan Lynch, who heads the Central California Emergency Medical Services Agency for Fresno and has really identified even as a larger issue is that we just don’t have enough beds in the Valley,” Lynch added The closure of the Madera hospital’s emergency department on Dec the January 2023 shutdown of the entire hospital and its subsequent bankruptcy left Madera County with only one functioning hospital – Valley Children’s Hospital a pediatric facility that’s closer to Fresno than it is to the city of Madera patients in Madera and the surrounding rural area needed to make longer drives – or take longer ambulance rides – to hospitals in Fresno “There was an obvious challenge in the delay of just getting quick so I think the community probably felt that the fastest,” Steve Stark Madera Community’s chief executive officer “I think the community really saw what it felt like to lose a hospital,” he added I think it’s hard for anybody to imagine what it means to not have a hospital Madera Community’s reopening Tuesday represents an incremental addition to the region’s available hospital beds That doesn’t count Valley Children’s Hospital’s 358 licensed beds which Stark said has stepped up to help serve adults in need nearly all of the three dozen hospitals with emergency rooms across the region are clustered in communities along the Highway 99 corridor There is a paucity of hospitals – only two – on the vast western side of the Valley Lynch said Saint Agnes Medical Center in north Fresno and Community Regional Medical Center in downtown Fresno picked up much of the slack from Madera Community’s closure said that the initial fallout from Madera Community’s closure was the sudden realization by residents that “the hospital isn’t there unconscious – the ambulance picks you up and takes you to the nearest hospital,” Paul said sometimes the best level of care was in Fresno anyway For the abundance of patients whose conditions were less urgent but still require hospital care the lack of easy access to a local hospital with an emergency room meant they sometimes put off needed care “There are people who didn’t have to go to the emergency room … Sometimes they show up in a hospital or an urgent care with their primary care doctors much sicker than they would have been if they could have gone to the ER.” The effect of Madera Community’s closure wasn’t so much an avalanche of new patients flowing into emergency rooms at Saint Agnes or Community Regional because a significant number of Madera patients were already coming to Fresno hospitals even before the closure some because the hospital may not have been an in-network provider for their insurance coverage about half of the Madera-area patients being transported by ambulance were already being taken to Fresno hospitals “A lot of people don’t understand that was already the case,” Lynch said it wasn’t that all ambulances went to Fresno … It was that all of the remaining ambulances went to Fresno Even an incremental increase in patients from Madera was a strain because Fresno hospitals were still dealing with COVID-19 patients as the pandemic began to wane Other impacts of the Madera hospital closure which Lynch expects to ease when it reopens are in less-obvious circumstances: psychiatric holds for mentally unstable patients that pose a danger to themselves or others and treatment for inmates from the Madera County Jail as well as a pair of state prisons about 15 miles to the north in Chowchilla “When the sheriff’s office would place someone in custody they would usually have to get a medical clearance of that patient which was always done at Madera Community,” Lynch said Saint Agnes is brought into the light now of clearing these jail prisoners because they don’t do that” for Fresno County jail inmates As for patients coming from Valley State Prison or the Central California Women’s Facility Madera Community had eight of its medical-surgical beds in a locked unit for the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation these prisoners are going to Community Regional Medical Center and they’ve got enough to deal with,” Lynch said Fresno County was able to engineer a deal with the state to divert the prison inmates to Mercy Medical Center in Merced and this is the flak that comes out from everything that gets hit with it,” Lynch said It was quite the deal to protect the hospitals that were already under siege because Saint Agnes and Community Regional are the two busiest (emergency departments) in our area They were both extremely busy at that time (when Madera closed) Stark also mentioned the importance of getting Madera Community’s 22-bay emergency department back online “The ERs right now in the surrounding hospitals are kind of overwhelmed,” he said you still have the same amount of patients that need care.” How Madera fits into the Valley’s health-access puzzle whose 27th Assembly District includes parts of Madera said she believes Madera Community Hospital illustrates the financial issues faced by small rural hospitals across the state “Madera’s closure is only a little glimpse of the challenges that exist in providing health care in rural parts of California and I would say in rural parts of America,” where patients in government programs such as Medicaid and Medicare outnumber those with private insurance “A rural hospital is very different from a hospital in an urban community that has a better payer mix and that’s a real challenge in the Valley where we have a lot of poverty.” Madera Community’s closure woes were the first major issue confronting Soria when she took office in December 2022 “This hospital not only provided care for Madera County but also surrounding rural areas outside of Madera where it was the closest “And I knew it was going to take a Herculean effort to reopen it.” Soria and one of her state Senate counterparts, Sen. Anna Caballero, D-Merced, co-sponsored legislation creating the Distressed Hospital Loan Program Madera Community Hospital was approved in April 2024 to receive the single largest allocation a $57 million interest-free loan to help it reopen among almost $300 million in loans to 16 financially distressed hospitals statewide. “We wanted to prevent another Madera Community Hospital situation,” Soria said of the loan program Madera Community needed a green light from the state Department of Public Health State officials commenced their required survey of the hospital on Feb 10 for a comprehensive review of its readiness to open Stark said American Advanced Management has spent between $8 million and $10 million to remodel and modernize the hospital “This whole building definitely got a lot older sitting empty for two years than it normally would,” Stark said “I don’t think there was a pipe in this building that According to the hospital’s reopening website dietary services and intensive-care unit on Feb Sterile processing was approved the following day and the 22-bed emergency department was cleared on Feb State reviewers also surveyed the hospital’s therapy laboratory and risk-management departments and provided information to Madera Community’s leadership on areas requiring additional attention Stark said he received the latest report from the state on Feb 27 detailing issues that the hospital needed to address before reopening the hospital was fine-tuning its procedures reopened Madera Community will resume offering its medical-surgical intensive care and emergency units and laboratory Stark said Madera Community will also bring in new services for which doctors and patients now have to go to Fresno to receive: interventional radiology podiatry and a cardiac catheterization lab unit is also being designed to be housed in the hospital rather than off-site we are trying to maximize all of the things that our area physicians have to send patients out of town to do,” Stark said “We’re working with them to find out what are some of the problem points.” The secured unit for state prison inmates will also be expanded from the eight beds it had before the closure to 12 when it eventually reopens “We are working with the federal and the state prison systems to design the security mechanisms required for that,” Stark said it’s secure,” and it’s segregated from areas where non-inmates will receive care Madera Community will become one of a growing number of hospitals in the state that no longer provide maternity care Stark said the reimbursement rates paid by Medi-Cal – California’s incarnation of the federal Medicaid insurance program for low-income residents – fall well short of covering the cost for hospitals to provide labor and delivery care and a huge contributing factor was obstetrics and labor and delivery,” he said “And I think if we tried to replicate that the same way with the same payer source we would ultimately find ourselves in the same situation.” That will leave Madera County among eight California counties – and the only county in the San Joaquin Valley – where expectant mothers have low or no access to maternity care at hospitals, according to a 2024 report by the March of Dimes on “maternity care deserts” in the United States The Public Policy Institute of California reported earlier this year that while the nationwide average travel time to the nearest hospital maternity services was about 15 minutes But hospital closures and reductions in maternity care have increased the travel times based on data from the state Health and Human Services Agency noted that Madera County is the only San Joaquin Valley county in which the average travel time for maternity care is more than 30 minutes Despite the lack of a labor-and-delivery unit Madera Community is aiming to provide more comprehensive services than it did before the closure “My sense of what they’re trying to accomplish here is really just to have a broad array of the whole spectrum of services,” Paul if you’re sick or you need surgery or a (heart catheterization) or an MRI That unity of services will be a key component of trying to win back patients who have been going someplace else for surgery specialist visits and other hospital services “Some people are now tied in with Fresno and they’ll probably stay tied in there,” Paul said with a cardiology clinic and things like that ‘I can take care of you right here as opposed to sending you to Fresno.’” The large percentage of low-income residents in Madera County and throughout the San Joaquin Valley amplifies the concerns over potential shortfalls between how much Medi-Cal pays providers for care and what it costs to provide that care “The reimbursements under those models don’t keep up with the expenses at the same rate,” Stark said you’ll see margins for hospitals that are disproportionately affected by government-source payment to continue to have smaller and smaller margins And that’s exactly what happened here” at Madera Community just under 41% of California residents were enrolled in Medi-Cal as of May 2024 And there is growing uncertainty about what potential cuts the Trump administration might make to the Medicaid low-income insurance program and what that could mean to Madera Community and other hospitals in the Central Valley Data from the National Academy for State Health Policy showed that in the 2022 fiscal year – the last full 12-month period before Madera Community closed and filed for bankruptcy – the hospital experienced a net financial loss of more than $11.5 million But losses attributed to insufficient Medicaid reimbursements added up to a whopping $39 million while Medicare represented an additional loss of $5.3 million Among more than 30 hospitals with emergency rooms throughout the Valley only three – Community Regional Medical Center Saint Agnes Medical Center in Fresno and Clovis Community Medical Center – experienced larger dollar losses from Medicaid care for low-income patients And each of those hospitals is much larger and saw many more patients than Madera Community Stark said what happened to Madera Community should be “a wake-up call for our elected officials” and state and federal agencies because hospitals are going to continue to struggle and close and you’ll see programs like OB and labor/delivery continue to shutter,” he said the way that (Medicaid and Medicare) are currently reimbursed,” Stark said “but I’m hopeful that Madera has given insight into those financial challenges.” 2025Madera Community Hospital is looking to hire staff for multiple departments as it inches closer to finally reopening.MADERA (KFSN) -- Madera Community Hospital is looking to hire staff for multiple departments as it inches closer to finally reopening The hospital launched an employment website that includes information on pay ranges and sign-on bonuses the hospital is working to correct findings as part of a state-required survey conducted by the Department of Public Health the department will host an exit meeting to discuss their findings and determine a reopening date Saint Jude has a limited number of tickets left Tickets are 100$1-800-543-5887 until 5 p.m Calif (FOX26) — If you drive through Avenue 10 1/2 to Avenue 15 in Madera County you know a thing or two about traffic jams it is backed up," said Kristen McIntyre of Madera another Madera resident said it's seemingly unavoidable [RELATED] A section of SB 99 will be closed Saturday "You're always going to get into that in that traffic, that line of traffic whether you're going north or south," said Driscoll. "Every day. Every day. When we're coming back at 5 PM, " said Madera County resident Taygon Damos. And county leaders aren't spared either. “It can take 5 maybe 10 minutes sometimes to get through that if you're heading northbound. The southbound, it's similar," said Madera County District 1 Supervisor Jordan Wamhoff. Wamhoff says big changes are coming soon to both northbound and southbound lanes of the 41 from Avenue 10 1/2 to Avenue 15. “It's a $180 million project. It's been in the works for a long time," said Wamhoff. Wamhoff says the project will transform the highway into a 4-lane to ease the daily congestion. He says every day roughly 76,000 vehicles travel on Highway 41. He says half of that traffic turns onto Avenue 12 into Madera Ranchos. “So, there is a lot of traffic volume, but a lot of that traffic dies off at Avenue 12. So, we are cognizant of that and we want to make sure that those improvements are done in accordance with the traffic volume that we see," said Wamhoff. Construction is expected to start in 2026 and drivers say it can't start soon enough. "I think it's about time. Good. It's awesome. We need it. We definitely need it, " said Driscoll. "I'm really excited that there's going to be a four-lane. That will be great, " said McIntyre. “I get it and it is frustrating, but we are working diligently, extremely hard to make sure that this 41 expansion project is on time on budget and making sure that we can get it done for our folks," said Wamhoff. Saint Jude is only 150 ticket sales away of reaching their goal. Tickets are 100$1-800-543-5887 until 5 p.m. today California high-speed rail construction sparks homeowner outrage in Madera Countyby Rich Rodriguez — Residents in a Madera County neighborhood are expressing frustration over a high-speed rail construction project that has dramatically altered their community's landscape part of the California High-Speed Rail project leaving homeowners like Dalia Pena grappling with the changes "I don't know why they thought it was ever okay for them to build so close to our home knowing what comes with the construction," said Pena who lives on the 26,000 block of Wayside Way a resident of 24 years living across the street from Pena voiced concerns about the impact on property values and privacy "I'm worried about the value of my home Probably more than anything just the noise Our fear is you have no privacy in your backyard cause of the height that it is," Whalen said cited noise and dust as her primary complaints "My daughter actually started getting asthma after the construction got started They're not able to go in the backyard which is something hard to explain to a child why they can't go to the backyard," Gomez said a 636-foot-long and 68-foot-wide structure is designed to allow vehicle traffic to pass over the Burlington Northern Santa Fe and future high-speed rail lines Despite homeowner claims of inadequate warning the High-Speed Rail Authority stated that community meetings were held at Berenda School in December 2023 Pena described the disruption caused by the construction "When they were drilling the entire house would shake It was so loud I couldn't hold a conversation on the phone." The High-Speed Rail Authority said it is working closely with Pena to address her concerns and mitigate short-term impacts Surveyors recently confirmed that the structure is seven feet from Pena's property line Whalen expressed skepticism about potential resolutions "My fear if this gets really out of control they come and buy you out If that devalues the price of my home I lose money I don't believe that is fair," Whalen said The High-Speed Rail Authority clarified that there is no chance of a buyout as it has already purchased 2,272 of the 2,290 parcels needed for the 119-mile construction stretch The authority stated it can only legally purchase what is necessary for the project We're not going to get market value if we sell the home because who's gonna want to move into this," Pena added The Road 26 grade separation is expected to be completed by this fall according to the High-Speed Rail Authority for homeowners in this Madera County neighborhood the view looking west has permanently changed High Speed Rail says its goal is to have the Road 26 grade separation finished by this fall Your access to this service has been limited If you think you have been blocked in error contact the owner of this site for assistance If you are a WordPress user with administrative privileges on this site please enter your email address in the box below and click "Send" You will then receive an email that helps you regain access Wordfence is a security plugin installed on over 5 million WordPress sites The owner of this site is using Wordfence to manage access to their site You can also read the documentation to learn about Wordfence's blocking tools or visit wordfence.com to learn more about Wordfence Click here to learn more: Documentation 6 May 2025 0:07:20 GMT.Your computer's time: document.write(new Date().toUTCString()); An official website of the United States government — A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment today against Jesus Valdez Castaneda charging them with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl Acting United States Attorney Michele Beckwith announced.  the defendants conspired with other individuals to distribute and possess with intent to distribute over 400 grams of fentanyl The men arranged to sell 150,000 fentanyl pills in a strip mall parking lot in Madera on Feb Castaneda and Soto Mares arrived first and met with a co-conspirator who had agreed to buy the pills Fierro and two other co-conspirators arrived with the pills in a second car.  the men went into a nearby Panda Express restaurant to order food Nearby officers then converged on the men and arrested them Officers seized 150,000 pills and two firearms This case is the product of an investigation by the High Impact Investigation Team (HIIT) which is composed of personnel from the California Department of Justice California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation All defendants were detained and are in custody awaiting trial each defendant faces a minimum statutory penalty of 10 years and maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a $10 million fine for the drug charge Fierro faces an additional minimum statutory penalty of five years for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines which take into account a number of variables The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt Thurston to 22 and a half years in prison and for two counts of conspiracy.. pleaded guilty today to possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl was sentenced today to six years and eight months in prison for conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl Email USAO-EDCA Multilingual Resources-->Have a question about Government Services (FOX26) — Detectives seized 80 pounds of methamphetamine during a vehicle search in Madera County on Thursday They arrested 41-year-old Juan Salgado and 39-year-old Fernando Rascon They were booked into the Madera County Jail on multiple felony charges and conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine The operation was part of a joint investigation by the Madera County Narcotic Enforcement Team (MADNET) which includes detectives from the Madera County Sheriff’s Office and the Madera County District Attorney’s Office along with the California Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Fresno County High Impact Investigation Team (HIIT) [RELATED]Stolen mail, copper wire found during Madera Co traffic stop The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California will pursue federal prosecution of Salgado and all our allied agencies worked as one team to disrupt a major narcotics trafficking effort taking 80 pounds of meth off our streets and taking two suspects in custody," said Madera County Sheriff Tyson Pogue we are sending a strong message that crime cannot stand up to the power of good law enforcement work we’ve taken dangerous drugs off our streets and protected the people of Madera County I thank our DOJ Special Agents and law enforcement partners for the hours of work they have put into this case and for their work to make California safer." (FOX26) — Two juveniles were arrested overnight after police caught them trying to run from the scene of an attempted car burglary in Madera Madera police officers responded to the call of a vehicle burglary in progress near Chablis and Merlot Avenues [RELATED] Teen arrested with loaded handgun during gang raid in Madera A concerned citizen who reported the incident assisted the officers in locating the suspects The juveniles were found in possession of burglary tools and stolen property They were arrested and booked into Juvenile Hall on multiple charges Authorities expressed gratitude to the citizen who played a crucial role in resolving several theft-related crimes in the area 6 May 2025 0:07:35 GMT.Your computer's time: document.write(new Date().toUTCString()); – Nearly a year after Madera Community Hospital was purchased—and more than two years after it originally shuttered—hospital leaders say it could be open as early as next month the only general acute care facility in all of Madera County has remained shuttered since its abrupt closure in late 2022 Leaders declared bankruptcy a few months later After a drawn out bankruptcy process, a federal judge last February paved the way for an outside company, American Advanced Management (AAM), to purchase the hospital and eventually reopen it The company owns 13 other facilities in five states including Coalinga Regional Medical Center in Fresno County Madera Community Hospital’s newly appointed CEO Steve Stark—who has led three other hospitals owned by AAM—told KVPR the final hurdle before reopening is an inspection by the California Department of Public Health that’s scheduled for early February “They really make sure that we're ready to safely and responsibly take care of our community,” Stark said then we could open roughly the 15th or 16th of February.” Reopening has already been delayed many times When AAM first bought the hospital, company representatives estimated they could reopen the facility as soon as last summer is that the hospital building was in worse condition than the company had anticipated “What we found was that a lot of things didn't work…gaskets and oil and grease had aged and settled And so we just ran into a lot of plant issues,” he said Hiring has also been a challenge for the hundreds of positions necessary to run a hospital Hurricane Helene damaged a North Carolina factory and led to a nationwide shortage of IV fluid “I can't really point to anything that we could have done any differently Passersby may have noticed that the hospital has received a facelift with a new coat of paint Stark said leaders have also filled around 500 positions Services offered by this newest iteration of the hospital won’t be identical to what was offered before Leaders plan to debut a cardiac catheterization lab which will offer some procedures to diagnose and treat heart conditions as well as other new specialties including interventional radiology and podiatric surgery Stark said labor and delivery are not out of the question in Madera due to low government payments to the hospital for the majority of its patients on Medi-Cal and Medicare the return of maternity services would rely on the success of other more profitable departments—like the cardiac catheterization lab “It creates a new financial revenue stream for the hospital,” Stark said “We’re willing to bring back [obstetrics] and labor and delivery but we can’t do it at a six-million-dollar-a-year loss.” Executive Director of the Madera Coalition for Community Justice said she heard similar reports directly from residents is that there is a large number of community members who just skip out on medical services,” Lomeli said Lomeli said community members underwent a grieving period after the hospital closed “There was a period in time where we just didn't know what was going to happen,” she said Madera County residents are excited to have their hospital back—even without labor and delivery which she said she hopes will eventually return Lomeli said she also hopes its new operators maintain a positive relationship with the community and keep resident’s needs in center focus “I anticipate that…that is something that we are going to see once the hospital is open.” Madera County and the Madera Rescue Mission celebrated the unlocking Monday of a new community of tiny homes for unhoused families The Madera County Board of Supervisors held a ribbon cutting for the new triage center at the Madera Rescue Mission includes six tiny homes — 576 square-foot units with two bedrooms The units are available to individuals and families experiencing homeless upon eligibility The project broke ground in December 2023 with nearly all of the funding coming from federal programs Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Community Development Block Grant funds administered by the California Department of Housing and Community Development and local American Rescue Plan Act funds Central Valley construction companies and local schools are partnering to Madera County and the Madera Rescue Mission celebrated the unlocking Heavy police presence on North Maroa and E Fedora Avenue — Gypsie Sandoval of Madera is back home and recovering after spending several days in the hospital following a brutal stabbing The attack was carried out by Tiffany Gutierrez someone who she says she considered a good friend and co-worker Gypsie was discharged from Community Regional Medical Center She told FOX26 New that she wants to thank the community for all the love and support she has received throughout it all She couldn't say it enough that she wanted to spread light and positivity despite enduring such trauma Even in a hospital bed after back-to-back surgeries following trauma to her; brain and thighs...you'll find her in good spirits a friend of Gypsie who was at the hospital with her Gypsie had been airlifted to the hospital following the stabbing that took place inside a cafe shop in Madera Gypsie and everyone around her are still shocked what took place that day inviting her into her workplace and around her family Gypsie says she met Tiffany less than a year ago and had let her work in her beauty salon as she was finishing up school She said she knew Tiffany suffered from mental health which she did not disclose in detail but wanted to help her get on the right track Loved ones of Gypsie say they picked up on the red flags We asked Gypsie in light of what happened if she would take back the moment she met Tiffany if she could God put me in her life for a reason and you know that's one thing I won't ever deny is when you have a calling and God told you to that Motz says she is teaching others around her a thing or two about forgiveness Kiara stepped up to help Gypsie and her 4-year-old daughter by creating a GoFundMe fundraiser to support them She says it's going to be a long road to recovery She shares she was absolutely heartbroken to learn that Gypsie has nerve damage to her hands but she took what she loves to do," said Motz If you would like to donate to the fundraiser, you can click the link here to be redirected to the page Gutierrez was booked into Madera County Jail She is currently being charged with attempted murder 6 May 2025 0:07:47 GMT.Your computer's time: document.write(new Date().toUTCString()); officials sayInvestigators say a man in his 60s was taking a test flight in his aircraft when the engine stalled shortly after takeoff An investigation is underway after a plane crashed in an almond orchard in Madera.MADERA (KFSN) -- An investigation is underway after a plane crashed in an almond orchard in Madera Madera police say officers were called out at about 4:30 pm Sunday to the area north of Avenue 16 and Road 23 Investigators say a man in his 60s was taking a test flight in his aircraft when the engine stalled shortly after takeoff The pilot crash landed into the orchard and walked away with only some scrapes Two Valley counties are taking action to help identify vulnerable people experiencing homelessness.FRESNO (KFSN) -- Two Valley counties are taking action to help identify vulnerable people experiencing homelessness volunteers with the Fresno-Madera Continuum of Care are launching a three-day event to count the number of unhoused families and individuals living on the streets The annual Street and Shelter Point-in-Time Count will kick off at 5 pm The information will determine how many people are unhoused in Fresno and Madera right now Volunteers will be out day and night counting through Thursday Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers were in Madera County this week looking for specific people with arrest warrants The Madera County Sheriff's spokesperson released this statement to KMPH: “We can confirm that plainclothes ICE agents have conducted small-scale overt operations at the Madera County Courthouse within the past two weeks with warrants for the arrest of specific people Specifics surrounding ICE operations and procedures should be directed to their respective agency for clarification.” by Stephen Hawkins, Brianda Lemus-Ceballos and members of the community gathered Thursday night to remember Erick Velazquez the man who was shot and killed while he was working at Walgreens in Madera The senseless killing happened Monday night at the Walgreens on Cleveland Avenue Dozens of candles and flowers filled the front table at Walgreens that was set up for Velazquez Close friends say they will always remember him as a kind-hearted person and just the memories that we'd built but we were all carpooled together to college And it was just something that we'd never thought would happen Bearing a close friend was something that just doesn't feel real." said Daniel Navarro [RELATED]Gunman with possible pharmacy grudge kills employee at Madera Walgreens drove more than an hour from Pixley to Madera before opening fire inside the pharmacy Surveillance footage captured Fernandez shooting at a security camera inside the store before he was taken into custody in the parking lot not specifically Walgreens," Chief Chiaramonte said Fernandez was booked into the Madera County Jail on homicide charges Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer is now suing a Selma-based farming company over a deadly crash that killed seven farmworkers in February of 2024 The lawsuit – filed last week in federal court-- claims Lion Farms violated the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection act when it failed to provide safe transportation for its migrant and seasonal workers and did not provide the required information to its migrant agricultural workers It says a supervisor at Lion Farms had arranged transportation for eight workers from their homes in Kerman to a farm owned by Lion Farms in Madera County the morning of February 23 The workers had paid approximately $13 daily for transportation It says the supervisor directed another field worker to drive the workers in a 2001 GMC Safari -- even though he knew the driver did not have a valid driver’s license As Fox26 reported at the time the California Highway Patrol said a truck hit the van carrying the workers head-on The driver of the van and seven of the passenger were killed in the crash The CHP said six of the eight people in the van were not wearing seatbelts “The vehicle did not have the minimum liability insurance coverage,” the lawsuit says the investigation was launched shortly after the crash The bodies of all of the victims killed in the crash were sent to Mexico for burial, with the help of several fundraisers organized by volunteers The government also accuses Lion Farms of violating the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act by failing to pay wages when due and continues to employ migrant agricultural workers without properly compensating them—and did not include required information including the employees’ addresses and the company’s identification number on wage statements Fox26 news reached out to Lion Farms for comment The lawsuit was filed days after Chavez-DeRemer – a Hanford native- was sworn-in to join the Trump Administration.