It was a week in which a couple of laws were put to the test, Fresno State felt the ill effects of a flailing economy and Fresno's police chief decided retirement wasn't for him.

The city of Fresno decided to revamp its concealed gun law, making it easier for citizens to get permits. Fresno County, however, decided not to loosen its medical marijuana laws.

Fresno State students will pay more for their education, while at the same time possibly losing the school's College of Science and Mathematics.

And Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer will get a hefty raise for deciding to "unretire."

Here are the top stories of the past week, along with selected comments posted by readers at fresnobee.com.

Dyer unretires

What happened: Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer did an about-face on his almost 5-month-old retirement announcement, saying he won't step down after all as the city's top cop.

What it means: Instead of retiring after the city finds a successor, Dyer will stay on at least two more years. After he signs a two-year contract, his annual pay will raise by $10,000 – to $179,000. He can earn an additional $20,000 bonus annually for a positive job review, bringing his total potential compensation to almost $200,000 per year.

What readers said:

"Good for him. Chief Dyer should never leave but if he does maybe we could convince Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio to be our next police chief. He'd straighten Fresno out."

– JDouglas5

"How can the city lay people off and than give him a raise?"

– timothy1

"I'm glad he's staying but I'm not supportive of any pay raise given the cities financial situation. If he can get his raise through other than public funds then I'm ok with it, but not at the taxpayers expense."

– crashboat

Handgun law

What happened: The Fresno City Council voted 5-2 to rescind 16-year-old city requirements that citizens show "good cause" for carrying a concealed handgun – such as owning a business that handles a lot of cash or being the subject of a documented threat.

What it means: The new rules allow any citizens who are concerned with their safety to get permits as long as they are over 21 years old, are residents of the city and have no criminal record. The rules mirror policies that have been in place for years at the Fresno County Sheriff's Office.

What readers said:

"yikes ... scary. all the crazy gun nuts are gonna have guns now and shoot at anything that moves because they think its cool."

– Jack Rodwell

"The Fresno P.D. will be safer with honest armed citizens able to defend themselves. Only tyrants and criminals fear honest armed citizens ...

– VISALIAMAN

"yes, this is great news. now if they'd only loosen up on medical marijuana ...

– djh79

Pot laws

What happened: The Fresno County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 to reject recommendations by an advisory group to loosen the county's strict medical marijuana regulations.

What it means: The law that bans medical marijuana dispensaries and prohibits people from growing marijuana anywhere but in industrial areas remains intact.

What readers said:

"we can't afford to build prisons in every community in California and keep putting people in jail who smoke pot, it's silly and the government has gone too far ..."

– salamero

"The issue is the thousands of others without such pain and illness who are going to shady doctors and getting recommendations that are totally suspect, and people who are the operators of for-profit dispensaries who are only looking to pad their own wallets and are hiding behind the few legit patients they have."