Modesto News

CHANGE AGENT – Five years ago, I wrote about former Ceres police officer George Piro, who became an FBI agent and had just appeared on "60 Minutes" to detail the seven months he'd spent picking Saddam Hussein's brain before the deposed Iraqi dictator was executed.

A judge on Monday fined a defense attorney $500 for failing to attend a sentencing hearing for his client, who faces up to 80 years to life in prison for his role in a deadly Modesto home-invasion robbery.

The 35-year-old Modesto man who was shot in the driveway of his southeast Modesto home Friday died in the hospital the following day.

David Zimmer entered his plea Monday in a Santa Clara County courtroom in the slaying of his estranged wife, Cathy Zimmer.

According to a statement from his daughter, Pam Tillis, the 81-year-old singer required a "routine heart procedure," but is expected to make a full recovery.

The San Gabriel Valley Tribune reports that Artis Willie Knox, who starred in the Animal Planet program "Beverly Hills Groomer," is expected to get more than five years in prison when he's sentenced next month.

The Morning News of Florence reports an attorney has filed four lawsuits involving residents' treatment at Laurel Gardens Senior Living Community.

Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) March 09--PATTERSON -- The Patterson Joint Unified School District will hold a community forum tonight at Apricot Valley School to gather public comment on where schools should spend their money.

Transit ridership has now fully recovered from a dip caused by the Great Recession.

The short version: It represented a clash between school/government officials who sought to stop students from promoting and raising funds for political causes on the campus by declaring rules prohibiting such activities would be strictly enforced.

He was 70. Belgium's prime minister made the announcement Sunday, and media said Mortier died after a protracted battle with pancreatic cancer.

According to studio estimates Sunday, the "300" sequel opened well below the $70.9 debut of Zac Snyder's 2007 original.

The Anaheim fire department says firefighters and medics responded to a call shortly before 11 p.m. PST Saturday after the stage gave way at Servite High School.

Rosie Meriwether walks the runway in a tea dress during the Modesto Gospel Mission's Tea and Fashion Show at the SOS Club in Modesto on Saturday March 8, 2014.

The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reports Robert Roediger-Geauque was arrested Thursday in Santa Barbara and booked for investigation of second-degree murder.

From the left, Jessica Dang, David Freitas, and Emma Silva, 5, participate in a hands only CPR training at the Red Cross Save a Life Saturday event at Vintage Faire Mall in Modesto on Saturday March 8, 2014.

Officer Gordon Shyy says the 28-year-old officer and his partner drove to the Mission District Saturday to check out a vandalism call.

The incident on Interstate 5 in Los Angeles was reported to the California Highway Patrol at 4:20 a.m. Saturday.

But there are simmering problems as well, including in the Senate, where one lawmaker was recently convicted of voter fraud and another faces federal bribery charges.

A 99 passenger Embraer E190 jet readies to take off from the tarmac at the Modesto City/County airport Sunday afternoon in a direct flight to Laughlin Nevada where passengers from Modesto and San Francisco will enjoy a 5 day 4 night stay at a Harrah's Casino as part of a package vacation starting at $249 per person.