Free Republic

MODESTO -- A 41-year-old Enochs High School teacher in Modesto has resigned and moved in with an 18-year-old student. The reaction has been largely shock, disapproval and betrayal. The teen's mother has waged a very public campaign on Facebook since last week, when her daughter moved out of the family's home and into a Modesto apartment with the man. He has left his wife and children, one of whom is a junior at Enochs. Modesto police are investigating whether there was inappropriate contact before the girl turned 18 in the fall. And school district and teachers union officials worry that...

Embed this VideoxEmailFacebookDiggTwitterRedditDelicious Link Share Modesto school board candidate Mylinda Mason fires up controversy after taking a stand on SB 48, which requires schools to include historical contributions of homosexuals in the curriculum. Read more: http://www.kcra.com/video/29699254/detail.html#ixzz1d3GyPbHb

"It's a a sign of the times" says one person..More than 8K show up and wait in line for hours for 4K vouchers that puts them on a waiting list, then they have to go through the approval process (Video and photo from news10)

WASHINGTON — The mother of murdered intern Chandra Levy is asking a judge's permission to attend the trial of the accused killer. In a new legal filing, Modesto resident Susan Levy states she wants the opportunity to be in the courtroom "for the entire trial," set to start Oct. 4. She requires permission to watch because she could also be called to testify. "I'm a mother," Susan Levy explained in a telephone interview Friday. "As hard as it's going to be, it's something a mother has to do."

SNIPPET: "It was discovered, according to police, that McFarland allegedly cashed stolen saving bonds at the same bank five days earlier. McFarland, a wanted parolee, was booked at the San Joaquin County Jail on charges including burglary, forgery, possession and use of fake identification cards, possession of stolen property, and an outstanding Santa Clara County warrant and parole violation."

A Modesto police officer had to pull his gun to keep a hostile crowd at bay early Sunday. The officer sustained minor injuries in the southwest Modesto incident, said police spokesman Sgt. Brian Findlen. Police are not releasing the officer's name. The officer's dog was assaulted but not seriously injured, Findlen said. Police arrested several suspects in connection with the incident. A loaded assault rifle was found later at the scene of the struggle, which unfolded about 2 a.m.

The Modesto Bee is moving forward with plans to print the newspaper at The Sacramento Bee. In an update to employees, Publisher and President Margaret Randazzo said that based on an analysis of printing The Modesto Bee in Sacramento, "it is clear that this move makes both financial and operational sense." "This regional synergy with our sister McClatchy paper allows us to combine resources and streamline processes, resulting in significant cost savings and the avoidance of future capital expenses," Randazzo said in her memo Friday. "This is consistent with combining operations across the entire industry," including at other McClatchy papers....

Modesto is known as the bible belt of California. It has deep conservative roots in farmland and a vocal Evangelical community. But increasingly, some less familiar notes are echoing through California's Central Valley, CBS News correspondent John Blackstone reports. Like many other places, Modesto is becoming more religiously diverse. But unlike any other place, religion is a required course in high school here. "We can't preach, but we can teach," teacher Yvonne Taylor said. Using "Teach Don't Preach" as her motto, Taylor guides the world religions course at Johansen High. "And now we're going to be looking at Judaism, Christianity,...

<p>Imagine living in a city with the country's highest rate for violent crime and the second-highest unemployment rate. As an added kicker you need more Superfund dollars allocated to your city to clean up contaminated toxic waste sites than just about any other metro.</p>

The National "Fight for Victory Tour" Modesto Event Modesto, CA - Sept. 4, 2007 - 7:00AM Join Move America Forward and a coalition of other pro-troop groups as we promote the national "Fight for Victory Tour" (a patriotic pro-troop caravan that crosses the nation) for our fourth Pro-Troop Rally. The "Fight for Victory Tour" continues on Tuesday September 4th with this 7:00 AM rally in Modesto then crosses the nation before concluding with "The Gathering of Eagles" and a giant pro-troop rally in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, September 15th. The rally takes place at the Modesto at Marriot Courtyard,...

MODESTO, California: An Amtrak passenger train collided with a compact sports utility vehicle Tuesday, killing all six people inside the car. None of the 70 passengers or crew members aboard the Oakland-bound train was injured, Amtrak spokeswoman Vernae Graham said. Shortly after 2 p.m., the driver of a Chevrolet Tracker stopped on the tracks before the railroad crossing arms came down, said Steve Mayotte, chief of the Stanislaus Consolidated Fire Protection District. She attempted to back up and then drive forward to escape the approaching train, he said. "When the driver attempted to back up, she hit the railroad arm...

Modesto, California (AHN) - A big rig tanker crashed on near State Route 99 south of Ceres this morning, releasing hazardous fumes and forcing evacuations. The California Highway Patrol and emergency crews were called to the scene just before noon. The tanker careened off of the highway into the backyard of a house, with the cab barely missing the back of the home. There are reports it is difficult to breathe in the area because of fumes emanating from the tanker, which was carrying formic acid. Formic acid is a combustible product derived from alternative fuels combined with acid. It...

Rock 'n' roll may never die, but Modesto's active rock station has bitten the dust. New Rock 96.7 FM, a Clear Channel station, switched to the Spanish-language format "La Preciosa" early Tuesday. It now broadcasts a Spanish variety format,

Sharon Rocha and her exhusband are pressing forward with a wrongful death lawsuit against Scott Peterson, and on Monday a Stanislaus County Superior Court judge said the case will go to trial next spring. Their daughter's husband is on death row, Scott and Laci Peterson's Covena Avenue home in Modesto has been sold, and money from an insurance policy on Laci Peterson will go to Sharon Rocha. But the grieving parents don't want to leave any stone unturned. "We just want to make sure there's a very substantial judgment in there — that Mr. Peterson never sees any green from...

Margarito Origel has finished serving time in prison for his role in the beating death of Megan Mendez, a preschooler who authorities found buried in his south Modesto back yard four years ago. Now Origel wants to stay in the United States. But he is not a citizen, and, as a convicted felon, he is subject to deportation to his native Mexico.

Dr Gregory Jackson (Doctor-Lawyer) went to the judge Monday, complained they wanted to rush to a verdict and not look at the evidence. That was the cause of the mysterious "open mind" speech to the jury from the judge. He returned to the judge on Wednesday, claimed the jury wanted to reach a judgement to please the community, claimed they were into book deals and felt they wouldn't be as marketable and other jurors had threatened him and asked to be relieved because he felt he could be coerced into choosing guilty and could no longer be part of the...

Lisa and Albert Darmousseh of Turlock may have a little piece of Mars in their backyard. At least they hope so. Lisa Darmousseh was watching the Olympics Monday just before midnight when she heard a thud in her backyard. She went out to investigate but didn't see anything. The next afternoon, she noticed divots in the backyard and what looked like several mushrooms or dog droppings. Her husband tried to pick one up with a paper towel and said it still felt hot. "When we saw it at 5:30 or so, the smoke was still coming out of this one,"...

Christian Author & Political Activist to Share His Abortion Survivor Story and Discuss the Terri Schiavo Case Chris Hansen from Modesto will be the Guest Speaker at Central Valley Right to Life (CVRTL) meeting this Thursday, June 24, 7 p.m., at Carrows Restaurant meeting room, Blackstone near Ashlan, 4280 N. Blackstone Ave. in Fresno. Chris will be sharing his personal abortion survivor story. When Chris’ mother was pregnant with him, Chris’ father tried his best to force her to have an abortion. Chris says, "My blindness doesn’t slow me down much and through Christian love I have been able...

In recognition of our fallen Military comrades, The Modesto Support Our Troops Committee invites you to join us at the corner of Sisk and Standiford for a Candlelight Vigil honoring these heroes. Assembly time will be May 29th from 6:30 to 7:30 with an honors ceremony beginning at 7:45. This event will end at 9:30. We hope you can attend this event. For further information, please contact Larry Anderson at 209/ 545-8724.