Public Safety · Chowchilla, CA
A KQED investigation and a U.S. Department of Justice report document an "unbroken pattern" of sexual abuse and retaliation against incarcerated women at the Central California Women's Facility in Chowchilla (Madera County), one of the largest women's prisons in the world with over 2,000 residents. On Aug. 2, 2024, correctional officers removed 159 women from a housing unit, confined them for more than four hours without food, water, or medication, and deployed pepper spray and chemical blast grenades, resulting in injuries including stroke, blindness, and seizures. Former correctional officer Gregory Rodriguez was convicted on 64 counts of sexual abuse and sentenced to 224 years; CDCR investigated 95 employees over the Aug. 2 incident and disciplined 34, firing three for excessive force and dishonesty. Warden Anissa De La Cruz was demoted and transferred following the DOJ findings, while sexual misconduct complaints at the facility rose approximately 1,800% from 2022 to 2023.
Local Business · Madera, CA
The North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians of California announced that its $725 million casino at 17770 Golden State Boulevard in Madera will open at midnight Wednesday, October 28. The 264,000-square-foot property, managed by Station Casinos, includes more than 2,400 slot machines, 40 table games, eight dining venues, and four bars, and is expected to create over 1,500 jobs. A federal legal challenge by the Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians, which operates Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino near Coarsegold, remains unresolved following an October 9 hearing; a ruling was still pending at publication. The casino will operate around the clock with a minimum gambling age of 21 and more than 4,000 parking spaces.
Community News · Madera County
Madera County Treasurer-Tax Collector Tracy Kennedy announced that approximately 63,800 secured property tax bills totaling about $298.1 million have been mailed for Fiscal Year 2026-2027. The first installment is due November 2, with payments postmarked by December 10 to avoid delinquency penalties; the second installment is due February 1, 2027, with a delinquency deadline of April 12, 2027. Property owners can pay online, by mail or in person at 200 W. 4th St., Suite 2200, Madera, CA 93637, or enroll in Easy Smart Pay for monthly installments if they lack an escrow account.
Social Events · Madera, CA
Madera County Master Gardeners will host their first annual 3 Sisters Garden Fall Festival on October 24 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 30277 Ave. 12 in Madera. The free public event features children's activities including pumpkin decorating, an owl presentation, and a scavenger hunt, along with family games such as apple fishing and corn hole. A fall plant sale will offer perennials, cool-season flowers, and vegetables propagated by master gardeners, with gardening help tables and Garden Art Crew creations also available. Madera Community College will showcase its programs on-site, and three food trucks will be present.
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Social Events · Oakhurst, CA
The third annual Oakhurst Facelift community cleanup will take place Saturday, October 24, with check-in beginning at 8 a.m. at the Oakhurst Visitor Center, 40343 Highway 41. Presented by the Yosemite Climbing Association, the event includes litter removal along the River Parkway and Lewis Creek trails, trail project work by local Rotarians, and a community park questionnaire table. Cleanup runs from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., followed by a gear giveaway at 1 p.m. and a celebration with live music at South Gate Brewing Company, 40233 Enterprise Drive, starting at 2 p.m. Partners include Emadco, Bee's Bakery Cafe, Bigfoot Bakery & Grill, the Rotary Club of Oakhurst Sierra, and Visit Yosemite | Madera County. Volunteers can register in advance or show up as walk-ups; families are welcome and no experience is required.
