Fresno County workers went on strike for three days to protest pay cuts, Fresno's top car thief got probation, and The Bee reported on the impacts of Spain's high-speed rail on urban and rural areas.

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

County walkout

What happened: As many as 2,000 Fresno County workers walked off the job for three days in a dispute over pay cuts for thousands of county employees.

What it means: Employees and management remain at odds over contract negotiations. But the strike, which ended Wednesday, had a definite impact on county residents -- particularly those with the greatest needs, leaving an untold number of people shut out of contact with welfare workers, family counselors and health-care providers.

What readers said: "Strike was an epic failure! Wait till those folks see their check wither three days no pay. These folks were led by people who were only emotionally driven, you employees were used as pawns to make a statement of 'power'."

-- mrivanko

"the workers were pushed to this. The County Supervisors need to better at managing the budget and increasing revenue sources. They don't need to keep putting in the back of the workers who have taken years of cuts."

-- gannieca

"In a region with such high unemployemnt, I am amazed that employed folks take the luxury of walking off the job. Solution: Lay them off and next time hire grateful people that are willing to work."

-- d4rav

"I, too, work as a government employee (in a school). The amount I pay for health care has gone up... I took a 6.5% pay cut a year ago. And you know what? I am very happy I have a job, and even if there was a strike I would report to work because my job is to serve students. Period."

-- scodavis

No prison for city's top car thief

What happened: Robert Frederick Wollert, dubbed Fresno's top auto thief last year by police, won't serve a day in prison for his crime spree -- thanks to a new state policy that sends non-violent convicts to local jails instead of state prisons.

What it means: If Wollert had been sentenced before the new state policy went into effect last October, he almost certainly would have been sent to state prison for nine years. But Wollert's convictions in six criminal cases no longer qualify for prison under Gov. Jerry Brown's realignment plan. So the judge gave Wollert probation -- and one more chance to turn his life around.

What readers said: "A system where there is no punishment for car theft. I wonder how long it will be before they don't lock up car-jackers?! I'm willing to pay $5 more a year in taxes earmarked to fund the increase in jail capacity to keep these guys locked up."

-- buckaroo

"The County should just buy this guy a car, since the Countys broke and cant afford to jail them. Then he would have a car and wouldnt steal one. Or maybe just give him money since its cheaper then jail. Then all are happy."

-- mattlionel

The train in Spain

What happened: Bee reporter Tim Sheehan looked at the urban and rural impacts of high-speed rail in Spain: The Spanish government went to great lengths -- and great expense -- to minimize effects on farms by skirting farmland wherever possible and building frequent overpasses and underpasses. In larger cities such as Madrid, Seville, Valencia, Cordova and Barcelona, stations for high-speed trains were placed in already-developed central-city commercial districts.

What it means: High-speed rail in Spain may be a boon to passengers but not for cities and towns along the route. The prospects for economic gains by cities are murky at best, and at worst might actually bleed commerce from smaller cities along the routes.

What readers said: "We are out of money, this is not going to be profitable, it's too expensive both to maintain and run. No. It should not be built."

-- Pupioso

"When a conventional train hits a big rig in the fog you usually end up with a dead trucker. When an ultra light HSR commuter train hits a big rig in the fog you will likely have alot of injured or dead passengers. Contrary to the claims of many proponents only a few crossings in some urban areas will be elevated. Super fast+super light+super quiet+fog+cross traffic=trouble."

-- dare2care