K9 Protection Dogs in Fresno, CA

A mother and father refused to properly feed their 10-month-old son, nearly killing him and leaving him quadriplegic, California prosecutors say.

Now, the Lindsay couple have each been “convicted of one felony count of child abuse and endangerment and one felony enhancement of causing great bodily injury to a child under the age of 5 years old,” the Orange County District Attorney’s Office said in a July 2 news release.

McClatchy News is not identifying the parents to protect the identity of the child.

McClatchy News could not immediately reach the parents, who represented themselves in court, for comment July 2.

As “followers of naturopathy,” the 38-year-old father and 45-year-old mother believe “the body can heal itself,” prosecutors said.

Weeks after their son was born, the couple “began putting the infant in high-temperature saunas and ice baths,” according to prosecutors.

The parents believed baby formula and breast milk were toxic and refused to feed them to their baby, prosecutors said.

Instead, investigators later learned the couple only fed the baby “soy-based baby formula, fruits, and vegetables,” as they were “vegan mucus-free fruitarians,” prosecutors said.

While on a road trip to Orange County, the parents walked into a Newport Beach emergency room on Aug. 1, 2020, “carrying their limp, unresponsive 10-month-old son,” prosecutors said.

“The baby was gray in color, emaciated, and catatonic,” according to prosecutors.

When doctors examined the boy, they found he “had extremely low blood sugar levels and suffered from hypoxia and constant seizures,” prosecutors said.

The baby was transferred to a children’s hospital, where its medical director of suspected child abuse and neglect determined the child’s low blood sugar levels were the result of him not being properly fed, prosecutors said.

This led to him becoming hypoxic, a condition where there is insufficient oxygen in the body’s tissues, prosecutors said.

Investigators soon learned that the parents had the child follow a vegan mucus-free fruitarian diet, like themselves, prosecutors said.

During the child’s monthlong stay at the hospital, the father refused to let staff give the boy “life-saving treatments,” telling them “he believed that starvation would lead to healing,” according to prosecutors.

The child’s paternal grandmother started contacting the Tulare County Department of Child Welfare Services in October 2019, worried about her grandson’s well-being, prosecutors said.

“Over the next several months,” she called the department 14 more times, saying her grandson “was still suffering,” prosecutors said.

The county “agreed to pay out $32 million to settle a lawsuit that accused public employees of being negligent in responding to reports of the abuse of an infant that resulted in brain damage,” an attorney said, the Fresno Bee reported in January 2023.

The settlement agreement with the child’s grandmother came from a voluntary mediation, a county spokesperson said in an emailed statement to McClatchy News on July 2.

“The County is sorry for what (the child) has experienced,” the spokesperson said. “It is a senseless tragedy that will affect (him) for the remainder of his life and he will remain in our thoughts.”

The settlement will be used toward the child’s “necessary lifelong health and wellness care,” the spokesperson said.

“The County of Tulare acted and settled in the best interests of everyone involved,” the spokesperson said.

The boy, now 5 years old, is quadriplegic and “continues to suffer from his injuries,” prosecutors said.

“He is blind and unable to walk, talk, or eat on his own,” according to prosecutors.

His severe malnutrition left him with permanent neurological damage, prosecutors said.

“This innocent child suffered from almost the first breath he took because of his parents’ beliefs that starvation would cure him,” Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said in the release. “Instead of curing him, they robbed him of his sight, his ability to take his first steps, to say his first words, and his chance to see the world through the eyes of a child who is seeing everything for the first time. Tragically, he will never get to experience any of those milestones because his parents starved him nearly to death instead of giving him the nourishment he so desperately needed.”

The child’s paternal grandmother now has custody of him, prosecutors said.

The parents, who are being held without bail, are scheduled to appear in court July 25 and each face a maximum 12-year prison sentence, prosecutors said.

Bogged down by 153 claims of clergy sex abuse, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fresno announced Tuesday it voluntarily filed a petition for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

The financial reorganization process comes more than a year after the diocese declared its initial intent to seek relief in U.S. bankruptcy court.

Fresno church officials said the action will help them avoid insolvency, while victims of abuse and their attorneys excoriated the church for what they describe as delay tactics to help the diocese evade justice.

Church officials are scheduled at Eastern District Court in Fresno on Monday for their next hearing in front of Judge René Lastreto II.

“I am clear-sighted that this path is the only path that will allow us to handle claims of sexual abuse with fair, equitable compassion while simultaneously ensuring the continuation of ministry within our Diocese,” Bishop Joseph V. Brennan wrote in a letter to parishioners. “Our Church must address the suffering that victims of clergy sexual abuse endure.”

Although the church has not conceded responsibility on all 153 claims, Brennan said a fund will be established by the court for distribution to survivors.

Jeff Anderson, whose law firm has represented clergy abuse victims in 11 of California’s 12 dioceses, including the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, said the proceedings help the diocese and bishop avoid accountability.

“By forcing survivors into bankruptcy court, they are once again denying responsibility,” Anderson wrote in a statement. “But we will stand with survivors and fight for the full measure of truth, justice, and healing they deserve.”

In May 2024, the church acknowledged more than 150 sexual abuse claims made against it since Assembly Bill 218 was enacted in January 2020.

AB 218 opened a three-year window for some civil sexual assault claims that previously timed out due to the statute of limitations.

The deadline to file a claim closed Dec. 31, 2022, under the legislation.

Attorney Jennifer Stein said all 50 of the firm’s clients filed lawsuits directly because of AB 218, with one filing in 2019 in anticipation of the Assembly bill’s passage.

She said most victims were children forever “scarred” by the trauma that stemmed from clergy abuse.

“That’s trauma that stays with you throughout your professional and academic career, in interpersonal relationships and marriages,” she said. “Each and every single survivor has a story to tell as a result of their abuse and that isn’t highlighted enough.”

Stein said that bankruptcy robs victims of the spotlight and converts court proceedings into a focus on property and corporate structure that could span several years.

“As compared to state court litigation, bankruptcy is about the church’s ability to pay,” she said.

Fresno’s diocese includes more than 1 million Catholics among 87 parishes and 21 schools from Fresno, Kern, Kings, Inyo, Madera, Mariposa, Merced and Tulare counties.

The diocese released a list of 63 clergy and lay people accused in 2021, including ordained priests as early as 1906. Though most were local, some clergy hailed from Guatemala, France, Ireland, Mexico and the Philippines.

On Monday, attorney Rick Simons filed a motion in court calling for an investigation into Fresno’s bankruptcy announcement. He said he believes the more than year-long lag since May 2024 was fraudulently used to delay several dozen cases. Simons manages a legal proceeding called Northern California Clergy Cases, in which nearly 1,800 individual lawsuits have been filed against seven Catholic dioceses, including Fresno.

Simons told The Times the advantages for the church include survivors dying out, getting tired and quitting or greatly reducing their expectations.

He also noted that the church could have used this time to rearrange money and property to make sure certain funds or accounts are not part of the debtor’s estate. The declared intent for bankruptcy also “stops jury trials and discovery from going forward while cases are waiting for bankruptcy,” according to Simons.

The church declined to comment on the accusation.

Church officials have said that they do not expect an impact to diocese-run elementary and high schools along with catholic charities and other area affiliates.

Though diocese officials have said they also do not expect an impact at Catholic cemeteries, those properties have been listed in the Chapter 11 filing.

The diocese acknowledged that the value of Diocesan assets available to resolve claims, including any available insurance coverage, may not be sufficient to cover the claims and could leave the diocese insolvent.

The diocese also verified that it was not receiving any financial help from the Vatican.

Experts say it's unknown exactly how high prices will go under this regulation.

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Pain at the pump.

"Everything costs more in California," Fresno resident Max Emberton said.

The annual automatic state gasoline excise tax is set to impact gas prices on Tuesday by 1.6 cents.

Drivers in northeast Fresno say they're disappointed to see prices rise.

"I do get frustrated when I feel like the gas prices are artificially inflated. They're not reflective of what the oil market is," Clovis resident Sherry Baxter said.

The annual state tax is paid by California drivers to fix roadways across the state.

In addition to the annual state gas tax, the California Air Resource Board plans to roll out rules under its Low Carbon Fuel Standard.

The guideline requires a cut to carbon emissions, which will impact driver's pockets.

Experts say it's unknown exactly how high prices will go under this regulation.

Matt McClain from GasBuddy says it's the guidelines and taxes that make gas notoriously expensive for California drivers.

"This creates a higher price point in California than really most any other state in the United States," he said. "And the reason behind that is pretty much the regulatory aspects of things that are taking place."

As drivers brace for the rise in gas prices, local business owners are upset with everything seemingly going up in price.

"This is the wrong time to raise the gas for businesses and consumers," Scott Miller says.

Scott Miller from the Fresno Chamber of Commerce says in some cases, higher gas prices will translate to higher costs for shoppers.

"For some businesses, it'll be less profit. For some businesses, they'll be passing the cost of the increase on to their customer. Either way, this is not something that we as California is really need right now," he said.

GasBuddy is predicting a slight decrease in gas prices for California this week but those layers of guidelines and the annual tax will limit relief.

Opinion articles provide independent perspectives on key community issues, separate from our newsroom reporting.

As the CEO of a residential solar and home efficiency company operating in California, Arizona and Texas, I’ve had a front-row seat to how smart energy policy can directly benefit American families — lowering bills, creating jobs and giving homeowners more control over their energy future.

But the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” — a bill recently passed by the U.S. House of Representatives — could change that. If signed into law, it would eliminate the federal Investment Tax Credit for residential solar by the end of this year — a move that could make solar harder to afford and slow down progress on clean energy nationwide.

Between 2014 and 2024, average U.S. electricity prices climbed more than 32%, leaving many families with steadily rising utility bills. In contrast, solar installations over the same period have delivered real relief and measurable environmental benefits. U.S. solar projects help avoid over 125 million metric tons of carbon dioxide annually — the equivalent of removing more than 28 million cars from the roads.

We know this policy works because we see its impact every day. My business helps hardworking families transition to solar and other energy-efficient upgrades. Our customers aren’t early adopters chasing trends, they are everyday Americans looking for long-term savings and energy stability.

Removing the Investment Tax Credit would make those upgrades harder to access at a time when they are needed most.

We are fortunate because our business is prepared: We’ve planned for potential policy shifts like this one. But for many smaller companies and the communities they serve, this change could be devastating.

This isn’t just about the solar industry. It’s about the future of American energy — who controls it, who benefits from it and how quickly we can transition to cleaner, more affordable systems. Whether or not this bill becomes law, homeowners deserve clarity, not confusion. They deserve a policy that prioritizes their long-term savings and security.

If you’re considering solar, now is the time to understand your options. And if, like us, you believe in expanding access to renewable energy, I encourage you to learn more and raise your voice.

This isn’t just about one company or one credit, it’s about keeping progress within reach for the families who need it most.

Reality Check is a Fresno Bee series holding those in power to account and shining a light on their decisions. Have a tip? Email [email protected].

It has more people than Miami and a larger land area than Tampa, Florida.

Just how big is Fresno? And what makes Central Valley city one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in California?

The Fresno Bee looked at data from the U.S. Census Bureau and other sources to see how Fresno compares to other California cities.

Here is what we found out:

Fresno had an estimated population of 550,105 people as of July 1, 2024, according to Census data.

That’s an increase of 1.5% from April 2020, when Fresno had an estimated 542,235 residents, the Census Bureau reported.

The Fresno metro area saw a population boost of about 2% over the same period, Census data show, growing from 1,166,047 residents in 2020 to 1,189,557 in 2024.

Between 2023 and 2024, the Fresno metro area’s population grew by about half a percentage point, The Sacramento Bee previously reported.

In comparison, Miami had an estimated population of 487,014 people in 2024, and Atlanta had a estimated population of 520,070 residents, according to Census data.

According to World Population Review, Fresno ranked among the 35 most populated cities in the nation in 2025.

According to California Demographics, Fresno ranked among the top five largest cities in California in terms of population.

Los Angeles had an estimated population of 3.8 million residents as of July 2024, according to the Census Bureau.

San Diego had approximately 1.4 million residents, Census data show, and an estimated 977,368 people were living in San Jose.

According to Census data, San Francisco had a total of 827,526 residents in July 2024.

In terms of population size, Fresno outpaced Sacramento, which had 535,798 residents, the Census Bureau said.

The city of Fresno spanned a total of 115.18 square miles of land area in 2020, the most recent data available, according to the Census Bureau.

That’s roughly one square mile more than Tampa, Florida, and five square miles larger than Orlando.

Fresno County was the sixth largest county in California in terms of land area with 5,958.6 square miles, the Census Bureau said.

According to the Census Bureau, Los Angeles was one of the biggest cities in California in terms of land area, covering a total of 469.49 square miles in 2020.

San Diego spanned a total of 325.88 square miles, Census data show, while California City covered 203.61 square miles and San Jose covered 178.26 square miles.

In terms of land area, the city of Fresno was significantly larger than its neighbors in the Central Valley.

The city of Sacramento covered 98.61 square miles in 2029, and the city of Modesto spanned 43.05 square miles.

According to experts, factors that attract people to Fresno include its top-tier schools, quality health care and relatively low cost of living.

Fresno ranked No. 6 on a list of the Most Affordable Places to Live in California in 2025, according to Extra Space Storage, a Salt Lake City-based storage company.

As of Monday, June 16, the average Fresno home was valued at $392,447, an increase of less than 1% from the previous year, according to real estate website Zillow.

That’s more than $579,000 less than the median value of a home in Los Angeles — $970,969 — and about $716,000 less than the median home value in San Francisco, $1,295,237, Zillow said.

In addition, Fresno neighbors one of the highest rated cities in the region: Clovis.

The city of Clovis took the top spot on Niche’s list of Best Places to Live in the Fresno Area in 2024, and was named one of the 50 Safest and Most Affordable U.S. Cities to Live by personal finance website GoBankingRates.

Clovis also ranked among the Top 100 Best Places to Live in the US in 2025, according to Livability.com, an online resource aimed at helping small and mid-size cities, states and regions attract and retain residents and businesses.

This story was originally published June 18, 2025 at 5:00 AM.