Porterville News Now

22/06/2024

Porterville's unemployment rate is 13.7%, according to May data released by the state Friday.

It says Porterville has a labor force of roughly 27,200 people, and that about 3,700 of them didn't have a job.

Every Central Valley county now has an employment rate below 10%, according to the latest data released by the California Employment Development Department.

The May 2024 preliminary statistics, made public today (June 21, 2024), show every county in our area has fallen by at least 1% from the April 2024 revised figures.

• Fresno County: 8.5% (April) to 7.2% (May).

• Kern County: 9.5% to 8.3%.

• Kings County: 9.2% to 7.4%.

• Madera County: 8.4% to 6.8%.

• Merced County: 10.6% to 8.7%.

• Tulare County: 10.9% to 9.3%.

The statewide seasonally-unadjusted unemployment rate also fell, going from 4.9% in April to 4.5% in May.

HIGHEST UNEMPLOYMENT RATES IN THE STATE

The San Joaquin Valley has some of the highest unemployment rates in the state.

The highest, however, is in Imperial County -- 15.4%. That county, which is at the California-Arizona-Mexico border, often tops the list due to various factors.

"The unemployment rate in Imperial County is always higher than
the Southern California average because Imperial County has
(1) a larger share of seasonal agricultural workers, greater daily
movement of California and Mexicali residents traversing the
border, and (3) a lower share of workers with college degrees," according to a 2023 economic forecast by Caltrans.

SMALL AMOUNT OF DATA

One might think the state agency tasked with calculating important employment data -- in a state with 39 million people (the highest in the USA) -- would calculate its data using information from tens of thousands of people.

But, in fact, just 5,100 households are used to figure out the unemployment rates.

The May 2024 EDD news release contained this notation: "The unemployment rate comes from a separate federal survey of 5,100 California households."

The most recent U.S. Census Bureau data shows 13,550,586 total households in California.

That means the survey relies on just 3.7% of households.

FUTURE DATA RELEASE

The EDD plans to release the next set of employment data on July 19, 2024.

01/06/2023

Porterville Police say they've arrested & booked a 34-year-old man for attempted murder. They also say he had a "ghost gun" at the time of his arrest & now have it as evidence.

Porterville P.D. says Joshua Schwenn was arrested for not just one, but two shootings this past Sunday (May 28, 2023).

Police say one shooting happened at 11:33 A.M., and the other happened about 12 hours later at 11:24 P.M.

Investigators say the morning shooting was a drive-by in the area of Highway 65 and North Grand Avenue, and that no one was hurt. However, a vehicle with someone in it was shot in the process.

The nighttime shooting happened near Putnam and Villa. Police say the male victim who was being shot-at "sustained a bullet graze to the rear of his head."

THE ARREST

Police say their investigation ended up taking them to a section of Main Street near Porterville College, where they arrested Schwenn. That was around 11:00 A.M. Tuesday morning (May 30).

Police say Schwenn, who is a convicted felon, "was found to be in possession of an un-serialized firearm loaded with (12) live rounds and was found to be under the influence of a controlled substance."

A gun without a serial number is commonly referred to as a "ghost gun" because they are meant to be untraceable.

Police say Schwenn was booked on 8 different charges, and that he's currently unable to bail out.

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16/03/2023

ARMED ROBBERY: Sheriff's investigators hope you can help them track down 4 robbers who got away with a bunch of beer, some ci******es, and cold hard cash.

https://www.facebook.com/StewawelNewsCentralCalifornia/posts/pfbid02YmpTNLtDCZYzfoekkR1wWogKypzY2YUGRmjFPrSHYqte36nBSguXBG8oLy4U8g5Kl

BEER & CIGS: The Tulare County Sheriff's Office says 4 men robbed a market in Terra Bella, getting away with beer, ci******es, and money.

The sheriff's office says it happened at the C & F Market on Road 236, between Avenues 92 and 93, around 8:20 P.M.

It says two of the guy had guns, which they pulled out and demanded money. It's unclear how much money was taken. However, the sheriff's office says several cases of beer were taken.

If you know who pulled off this robbery, call the Tulare County Sheriff's Office at 559-733-6218. To report anonymously, you can email [email protected].

16/03/2023

BREAKING: A new evacuation order is now in effect in Tulare County, just west of the city of Porterville.

Deputy sheriffs are going around the area, notifying an estimated 100 people who live in that area.

The evacuation order is bordered by Avenue 152 on the north side; Avenue 144 on the south; the Friant Kern Canal on the west; and Westwood Street and the Tule River on the east.

15/03/2023

BREAKING NEWS: People who live and work directly downstream of Lake Success are being woken up and told to evacuate right now.

The Tulare County Sheriff's Office says Sheriff Mike Boudreaux issued an 'Evacuation Order' after water began running over the spillway at the Richard L. Schafer Dam.

It says deputy sheriffs are going door-to-door, letting people know about the order.

The sheriff's office says area affected includes the area you see in red on the map: "[T]he area from Schafer Dam, west on Avenue 146, to Road 284, south on Road 284 to the south side of the Tule River, from the south side of the Tule River to the Schafer Dam, and north along Schafer Dam to Avenue 146. The Order would not include Highway 190, or the residents and businesses along Highway 190 from Road 284 to the Schafer Dam."

Source:
https://www.facebook.com/TulareSheriff/posts/pfbid02RvQKubmF2LYnGazvF43SYWnQ8Hgng7h5TpKktzejqGuP67yMyCyKwttkqiTmMd88l

24/09/2022

The Porterville Police Department says a 16-year-old boy has been arrested for the recent killing of a 68-year-old man, and has been booked for murder.

Police say the teen was arrested Friday evening, around 7:30.

Investigators believe the boy -- who is not being named -- killed Michael Haddox this past Wednesday (September 21st).

Police say Mr. Haddox was found "unresponsive" along Olive Avenue between 4th & Plano, had a wound to his abdomen, and was taken to a hospital where he died.

Following yesterday's arrest, police say they also served two search warrants -- one at a home on East Date Avenue (in the general area near B & C Streets), and another on West Mulberry Avenue (near Howland).

Police say they have video surveillance of the suspect, and add that they collected even more evidence during Friday's searches.

Police say the teenager is currently being held without bail at the Tulare County Juvenile Custodial Facility.

Police have not said what prompted the violence.

07/07/2022

Porterville is one of 16 communities across the state being recommended for a federal grant.

The California Department of Parks and Recreation -- which calls itself 'California State Parks' -- said in a news release this morning that it's recommending the Fourth Street Community Park project get $367,500.

CSP says the money would be used "to construct a splash pad, challenge course, mini pitch soccer arena, pump track, and ADA accessible playground, each recreational feature with dedicated shade structures," as well as "construct outdoor exercise stations, kickball wall, picnic shelter, parking lot, and landscaping and lighting throughout the park."

Other Valley communities up for grants include Dinuba, Hanford, Parlier, and Oildale.

You can read about those park projects at "Dinuba News Now", "Hanford News Now", and "Parlier News Now":

Facebook.com/DinubaNewsNow
Facebook.com/HanfordNewsNow
Facebook.com/ParlierNewsNow

01/07/2022

30/06/2022

A man who previously lived in Porterville has just been named as the person who killed a 10-year-old girl in 1994, according to the Tulare County sheriff.

19/06/2022

BREAKING NEWS: The Tulare County Sheriff's Office is confirming that multiple agencies are investigating a plane crash that happened around 2:55 P.M. today, south of Porterville -- in the area of Highway 65 and Avenue 120. The sheriff's office also released two photos of the area, which indicate the crash also started a fire.

17/06/2022

CAUGHT ON CAMERA: A gang of armed robbers is captured on surveillance video taking over a store in Ducor, part of what authorities believe was a crime spree that included a carjacking and two other armed robberies.

The Tulare County Sheriff's Office says the Ducor robbery happened at the Handy Mart early Wednesday morning. WATCH the full surveillance video here: www.stewawel.com/r/1655444593

It says the other incidents included armed robberies in both Porterville and Delano, as well as a woman who was carjacked.

Two people have been arrested. The sheriff's office says they're both 16-year-olds from Porterville with "extensive and violent criminal histories". The other two people have yet to be caught.

SHARE this video with anyone who you think may be able to recognize the robbers.

If you know who anyone in this video is, you're urged to call the sheriff's office at 559-733-6218. If texting is easier, you can text info to 559-725-4194. You can also send an e-mail to: [email protected].

15/06/2022

A Porterville man has died in a tree-cutting accident in Fresno County. The Fresno County Sheriff-Coroner's Office identified the man as 54-year-old Justin Nuckols. The accident happened in Dunlap on Saturday, June 11, 2022.
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Full transparency: This post was edited on June 15, 2022, to remove some previously released information. Both the family and sheriff's office requested its removal. Questions/comments/concerns: [email protected]

14/06/2022

Porterville is known for its great American patriotism -- so as you get dressed for the day, consider red, white, or blue clothing or accessories in honor of Flag Day, which is today. It is celebrated every June 14th.

And if you're free at 9:00 a.m., there's a free Flag Day-related event you can attend in Tulare. The Tulare Chamber of Commerce will be unveiling newly restored/updated items at the Tulare County Vietnam War Memorial. That'll be at 9:00 A.M. at Tex Drive and K Street, on the southwest side of the Tulare airport.

Learn more about the history of Flag Day in this Stewawel News video: www.stewawel.com/r/1655210345