AJ Kato
KSEE24 News
Fresno, CA, United States
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Past articles by AJ:
Outdoor events canceled as strong winds sweep through Fresno County
FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE) – High winds and bad air quality canceled events and downed trees in the Central Valley Monday. “We thought that it was a tornado because you could actually see the wind blowing stuff down the street,” Kenneth Tate said. Tate was helping out his neighbor after a tree fell on her […] → Read More
Three Rivers community shows appreciation for firefighters battling KNP Complex
TULARE COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE) – ‘Thank yous’ were around every corner lining the road up to the KNP Complex Wednesday. Highway 198 through Three Rivers was filled with signs thanking firefighters and other first responders. “We just can’t thank these guys enough. It’s tough brutal work, and essentially they’re you know, saving the town,” David […] → Read More
Fresno County Democrats celebrate Gov. Newsom’s win in California recall election
FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE) – Local Democrats in Fresno gathered as the California recall election results rolled in Tuesday night. The organizers of a watch party held in support of Governor Gavin Newsom at a downtown business said they felt confident going into the night. There were dozens of people at the watch party, some of those were Fresno City […] → Read More
Fresno police launch mandatory overtime program amid critical staffing shortage
FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE) – The Fresno Police Officers Association announced a new policy to address a critical staffing shortage Tuesday. The department implemented a mandatory overtime program. The police department has 69 vacancies. The FPOA sent a letter to members which said “patrol is drowning” and they worked with Chief Paco Balderrama to implement the […] → Read More
Madera County launches new incentive program to encourage COVID-19 vaccinations
MADERA COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE) – A new tactic to get people vaccinated in Madera County was announced Wednesday. A program was launched to give fully inoculated people access to special deals at certain businesses in town. Rocio Hernandez’s dress shop is one of more than a dozen businesses starting off the county’s newest effort to […] → Read More
Man found guilty of murdering Kerman couple during botched robbery in 2009
FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE) – A Fresno County jury found 54-year-old Leroy Johnson guilty of murder Tuesday. He is facing the death penalty for the 2009 double homicide of Gary and Sandra De Bartolo. The penalty phase is scheduled to start next week. Johnson’s defense attorney David Mugridge has poured years into the case. “He […] → Read More
‘There’s no replacing Neto’: Washington Union remembers 16-year-old killed in crash
EASTON, Calif. (KSEE) – An emotional vigil mourned the loss of a young Central Valley football player Friday. A few hundred people gathered at John Ventura Stadium at Washington Union High School to remember Ernesto “Neto” Garin. The 16-year-old was tragically killed Thursday night in a car crash at Jefferson and Walnut. Teammates said they […] → Read More
‘We’re all hurting’: Central Valley Blue Star Moms remember lives lost in Afghanistan
CLOVIS, Calif. (KSEE) – Around two dozen people gathered in Old Town Clovis Thursday to remember the lives lost in Afghanistan. The Central Valley Blue Star Moms, American Legion Post 147, and community members met for a candlelight vigil. The organizers say after they heard about the bombings in Kabul, which resulted in the deaths […] → Read More
Family of Auberry woman found dead expresses disappointment with how law enforcement handled investigation
FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE) – Family and friends of the woman found dead in Auberry over the weekend made their voices heard with a rally in downtown Fresno Monday. They held signs for 27-year-old Bessie Walker who was reported missing on the 8th. Her body was found by a search party of friends and family Saturday. […] → Read More
Fresno veteran and his former interpreter react to Taliban takeover in Afghanistan
A Fresno veteran and his former Afghan interpreter are speaking out as the situation in Kabul grows more dire with tens of thousands of people scrambling to leave the country → Read More
Football is back as local teams shake off COVID-19’s impact
FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE) – The excitement of football returned as Central Valley teams kicked off the season following the last year which was postponed and shortened by COVID-19. Arron Hernandez played, coached, and was at Lamonica Stadium to cheer on his nephew Friday night. “I’m glad to see bigger crowds. I’m glad that we don’t […] → Read More
Fresno’s Club One Casino allowed to move – with one stipulation
FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE) – Fresno’s Club One Casino got the green light to move to its new home in Granite Park on Thursday, but Fresno City Council allowed it to go ahead with a restriction in place. Councilmembers are allowing owner Kyle Kirkland just 31 of his proposed 51 tables for the first 90 days, […] → Read More
Car theft suspect shot by officers outside of Fashion Fair Mall in Fresno, police say
FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE) – Fresno police were investigating an officer-involved shooting at Fashion Fair Mall Wednesday. It happened around 11:30 a.m. The mall remained open, but a large portion of the parking lot in front of the Forever 21 was taped off. According to police, Fresno County Sheriff’s Office and California Highway Patrol HEAT (Help […] → Read More
Club One Casino wants to move to Fresno’s Granite Park: ‘We have to prove ourselves to these residents’
FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE) – After being closed for more than a year, the owner of Club One is looking to reopen in Granite Park. Kyle Kirkland and Fresno City Manager Thomas Esqueda hosted a community meeting about the potential move on Thursday. Kirkland said he is hoping his business will be welcomed into a new […] → Read More
Young local swimmers cheer on Katie Grimes’ Olympic performance
FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE) – More than a thousand young swimmers in Fresno cheered on the youngest American Olympian in Tokyo on Friday. The Sandpipers of Las Vegas rooted for one of their own poolside at Clovis North High School. The Arena Western Zone Meet paused briefly for athletes to watch 15-year-old Katie Grimes on the […] → Read More
Jenna Prandini qualifies for finals as her family cheers her on from the other side of the world
CLOVIS, Calif. (KSEE) – Jenna Prandini’s family and friends were watching as she placed third and qualified for finals Thursday. Theresa Prandini, Jenna’s mother, said the Olympics have always been her daughter’s dream. “She in kindergarten said she wanted to go to the Olympics and she didn’t know in what, she just said ‘I want […] → Read More
California urges everyone to wear masks indoors again as COVID-19 cases spike
FRESNO COUNTY, California. (KSEE) – Vaccination status will no longer play a role in whether or not Californians will be urged to mask up indoors. The state is now recommending even fully vaccinated people wear masks in public indoor settings where transmission is high or substantial. Peggy Dunklee, owner of A Book Barn in Clovis, […] → Read More
Several people displaced after fire burns two homes in Fresno
FRESNO, California. (KSEE/KGPE) – Firefighters are still at work after a three-alarm fire broke out in Fresno, ripping through two houses. The Fresno Fire Department says the fire started just before 5 p.m. at a home near Teilman and Locust. As firefighters were heading over, they learned the fire had spread to two houses and […] → Read More
COVID-19 case surge is in an area with one of the lowest vaccination rates
HANFORD, Calif. (KSEE) – Kings County has seen a huge spike in COVID-19 cases – and has one of the lowest vaccination rates in the state. Kings County Department of Health said weekly case averages had dropped to 26 in May and June, but last week they reported 112 new cases. Kings County Supervisor Joe […] → Read More
City of Fresno receives $4 million grant to combat COVID-19 related issues
FRESNO, California. (KSEE) – Fresno’s most vulnerable populations are getting some help in the form of a multi-million dollar grant. The US Department of Health and Human Services announced the award of $4 million to increase contact tracing, testing, and vaccinations. Community health workers will be going to areas with high COVID-19 case numbers and […] → Read More