A 19-year-old Parlier man is dead after he lost control of his car east of Parlier late Friday afternoon, the California Highway Patrol said.

The man was driving his car east on East Manning Avenue west of South Riverbend Avenue when for an unknown reason he lost control of his car around 4:45 p.m. The car swerved onto the south shoulder of the road before it hit a large cement irrigation pipe. The man died on impact and no one else was in the car, the CHP said.

No other information was immediately available.

Three arrested in marijuana violations

A 54-year-old Sultana man, an 18-year-old Orosi man and a 21-year-old Rialto man were arrested Friday afternoon on suspicion of growing marijuana for sale in Sultana, the Tulare County Sheriff's Department said.

Officers were dispatched to the 42700 block of Road 104 for a compliance check on a reported marijuana grove.

When officers arrived, several people fled into surrounding orange groves. Officers found three separate fenced enclosures with medical marijuana placards posted inside each, but the enclosures violated the number of plants allowed. A total of 1,626 plants were found, but the groves were only permitted 457 plants.

The men were arrested without incident and were booked into the Tulare County Jail. The incident is under investigation.

Fire

Blaze leaves Fresno family homeless

A house fire displaced a family of four Friday evening in central Fresno, Fresno Fire Capt. Paul Garnier said.

Firefighters were dispatched to the 2730 block of West Indianapolis Avenue around 5:30 p.m. to fight the blaze. Additional firefighting units were called in to bring the fire under control.

The Red Cross is helping the family find temporary housing.

No other information was immediately available.

Courts

Fresno man receives 17 years for assault

Fresno resident Norberto Perez Barajas, 32, was sentenced Friday to 17 years in state prison after being found guilty on three felony domestic violence-related charges, including stalking and assault with a firearm.

Barajas was found guilty March 2 after a jury trial in Fresno County Superior Court. He was arrested in late 2006, and at the time police said he was reported as a prison escapee in December 2005.

The evidence at trial established that Barajas lurked outside his ex-girlfriend's apartment and waited for her to return after working a night shift.

When she arrived in the parking lot, Barajas ran toward her and aimed what she described as a sawed-off shotgun at her face.

The victim drove away before Barajas could fire his weapon. Weeks later, he was arrested outside the victim's apartment by Fresno police.

Grand jury says prison still crowded

Pleasant Valley State Prison in Coalinga needs to continue work on reducing overcrowding, Fresno County's grand jury said in a report issued Friday.

The prison -- the only state lockup in Fresno County -- had prisoners in bunk beds in the gym and day-room areas, the grand jury said. "This could be a safety issue," the report noted in its conclusions.

California's penal code requires an annual review of public prisons in each county. The grand jury's annual review found that Pleasant Valley -- which opened in November 1994 -- housed 3,757 prisoners in a facility designed to hold 2,616.

The same report, however, noted that overcrowding conditions are being reduced by a pair of Assembly bills that are designed to reduce state-prison populations. One is Assembly Bill 109 -- now signed into law -- which shifts to counties the responsibility for incarcerating many low-risk inmates.

The report also noted the prison was "clean and well-maintained."

Health

Wellness series continues in Visalia

The Lifestyle Center, a medically based fitness facility in Visalia, will continue its year-long wellness series Thursday.

The meeting at the gym, 5105 W. Cypress Ave., will focus on exercise and stress and begins at 6 p.m.

The event will be hosted by Mylene Rucker, M.D., who runs a family practice in Visalia.

For more information, visit www.thelifestylecenter.org.

Kaweah Delta offers free diabetes series

The Kaweah Delta Health Care District will hold an ongoing series of free monthly diabetes support groups beginning this month in Visalia, Woodlake and Orosi.

The free diabetes support groups will take place from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on the following dates and locations: Visalia, the first Thursday of the month at The Lifestyle Center, 5105 W. Cypress Ave.; Woodlake, the third Thursday of the month at Valencia House, 248 N. Valencia Blvd.; Orosi, the last Thursday of the month at Sand Creek Apartments, 41020 Road 124.

For more information, call (559) 624-2416.

Education

Fresno State hosts character conference

Fresno State will hold the 28th annual Conference on Character and Education from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Friday at the Fresno Convention Center, 700 M St.

The conference is intended to provide student teachers with important concepts related to ethics in the classroom and more. Awards will be given to exemplary local schools.

The main speaker will be Michael Josephson, president of the Josephson Institute and founder of the CHARACTER COUNTS! project.

For more information, contact Jacques S. Benninga at (559) 278-0253 or jackb@csufresno.edu.

FUSD official to head Natomas Unified

A Fresno Unified administrator has been hired as the superintendent for a Sacramento-area school district.

Chris Evans, 40, will take over the top spot at Natomas Unified School District. The district's board voted Tuesday to hire Evans.

As an associate superintendent for Fresno Unified School District, Evans oversees the academic progress of middle and high school students.

Evans, who previously worked for the Elk Grove Unified School District, will begin June 1.

U.S.-Iran relations topic of panel talk

A former CIA agent, a professor and an author will discuss strained relations between the U.S. and Iran at 7 p.m. Thursday at Fresno State.

The free public event, "Targeting Iran: Sanctions and War," will be held at the Leon S. and Pete P. Peters Educational Center inside the college's Student Recreation Center at Shaw and Woodrow avenues.

The panel will include Raymond McGovern, a former CIA agent under seven presidents, Fresno State professor emeritus of economics Sasan Fayazmanesh and author Trita Parsi.

The event is sponsored by the Fresno State Middle East Studies Program, the Fresno Art Museum and others.

Parking is available in lots V (Shaw and Woodward avenues) and Z (in front of the Student Recreation Center). For free parking and for more information, contact (559) 278-3056.

Road work

Street projects will close lanes in Fresno

Multiple street maintenance projects will cause lane closures throughout Fresno beginning Tuesday, the city reported.

Lane closures will be in place on Bullard Avenue between Fig Garden Drive and Polk Avenue from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. through April 19. The project will include fixing deteriorated pavement and overlaying the road to provide improved travel.

A sewer improvement project will cause multiple lane closures on Fresno Street between Shaw and Willis avenues through April 20.

Also ...

Airborne baby arrives early at LAX

Greg Idoni, father of a baby born while his mother was heading from Africa to Fresno last month, said Friday night his son and fiancée were arriving earlier than expected at Los Angeles International Airport.

The child was born in an airplane over Africa bound for Fresno more than a week ago. Idoni was able to meet his newborn son, Ebosalume, earlier than expected Friday night.

Idoni said that his family's plane came early into New York City, so they were able to catch a flight Friday to Los Angeles.

Woodcutting season starts in Sierra forest

The firewood cutting and gathering season in the Sierra National Forest is now open.

Woodcutting permits may be purchased for a specified amount of dead and downed wood for personal use.

The permits cost $10 per cord with a two-cord minimum and are for sale at the following offices: Prather, open seven days a week, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Clovis and North Fork, open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Oakhurst and Mariposa, open Tuesday to Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

SW Fresno hosts Easter weekend party

A community festival block party will be held at New Light for New Life Church of God in southwest Fresno today through Sunday night.

The event will be at the church, 1106 W. Woodward Ave., from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days.

Food, music, gardening lessons, a basketball tournament, a farmers market and more will be offered throughout the weekend.

A family movie will be screened outside the church at 6 p.m. Sunday.