Alan Autry

This farm capital of California, a sprawling city of 420,000 residents surrounded by miles of shimmering vineyards and fruit fields, would seem a safe distance from Hollywood. But earnest townsfolk will tell you that this is where Mike Connors, TV's Mannix, grew up as Krikor Ohanian--in the same corner of Armenian Town that nurtured a baby named Cher. Then there's the giant actor known as Jaws, whose mouth of metal once menaced James Bond. He hawks used cars here.

He's an ex-actor with a down-home drawl who spouts sayings about meat on the chicken and hay in the barn and cowardly politicians running like scalded dogs. He's a born-again Christian who once got Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to pray with him for a proposition expanding after-school programs. He's the son of migrant workers, a former quarterback for the Green Bay Packers, a Republican, and a conservative.

Not content to let Katrina evacuees trickle into Fresno on their own, the city's mayor plans to extend a personal invitation when he touches down at shelters in Louisiana and Mississippi on a visit this week. The mission is a matter of morality, said a spokesman for Mayor Alan Autry, who is best known outside Fresno as the actor who portrayed good-ol'-boy lawman Bubba Skinner on TV's "In the Heat of the Night."

Two big-city mayors went to Sacramento last week, looking for much the same thing. One went home jubilant; the other defeated, angry. What happened was an illustration of the zero-sum maneuvering that often plays out at the end of a legislative session, when reputations are at stake and complex public policy rises and falls on impermanent coalitions of harried politicians.

Reviving a campaign issue he raised more than a year ago, Mayor Alan Autry says the time has come for local school board members to be appointed by him rather than elected. The mayor's idea has touched off strong opposition all the way to Sacramento. Gov. Gray Davis said that he likes the mayor but that politicians who feel strongly about school issues should consider running for school boards themselves. The California School Boards Assn.

Two big-city mayors went to Sacramento last week, looking for much the same thing. One went home jubilant; the other defeated, angry. What happened was an illustration of the zero-sum maneuvering that often plays out at the end of a legislative session, when reputations are at stake and complex public policy rises and falls on impermanent coalitions of harried politicians.

He's an ex-actor with a down-home drawl who spouts sayings about meat on the chicken and hay in the barn and cowardly politicians running like scalded dogs. He's a born-again Christian who once got Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to pray with him for a proposition expanding after-school programs. He's the son of migrant workers, a former quarterback for the Green Bay Packers, a Republican, and a conservative.

Passing out monogrammed cigars, introducing career politicians to his celebrity friends, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has turned a raft of elected officials from both parties into star-struck accomplices in moving his agenda.

Mayor Alan Autry says he will not seek reelection, and will endorse a close friend and advisor to succeed him. "Sometimes you just have to move over," Autry said Wednesday, adding that while he had been the "right jockey for the right horse," it was now time for someone else to take a turn. Autry pointed out who he thought that person should be: H. Spees, chief executive of the faith-based One by One Leadership group.

Police Chief Ed Winchester announced plans to retire in September or October after seven years on the job. Winchester, 53, said the events of 2000 represent the low point of his time as chief, but he denied being pushed out of office. The year dawned with explosives being stolen from a remote police bunker. Teenagers admitted to the crime. Then officials discovered that an assault rifle, 11 pounds of cocaine and more than $200,000 was missing from department property rooms.

Not content to let Katrina evacuees trickle into Fresno on their own, the city's mayor plans to extend a personal invitation when he touches down at shelters in Louisiana and Mississippi on a visit this week. The mission is a matter of morality, said a spokesman for Mayor Alan Autry, who is best known outside Fresno as the actor who portrayed good-ol'-boy lawman Bubba Skinner on TV's "In the Heat of the Night."

Passing out monogrammed cigars, introducing career politicians to his celebrity friends, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has turned a raft of elected officials from both parties into star-struck accomplices in moving his agenda.

Mayor Alan Autry says he will not seek reelection, and will endorse a close friend and advisor to succeed him. "Sometimes you just have to move over," Autry said Wednesday, adding that while he had been the "right jockey for the right horse," it was now time for someone else to take a turn. Autry pointed out who he thought that person should be: H. Spees, chief executive of the faith-based One by One Leadership group.

Reviving a campaign issue he raised more than a year ago, Mayor Alan Autry says the time has come for local school board members to be appointed by him rather than elected. The mayor's idea has touched off strong opposition all the way to Sacramento. Gov. Gray Davis said that he likes the mayor but that politicians who feel strongly about school issues should consider running for school boards themselves. The California School Boards Assn.

This farm capital of California, a sprawling city of 420,000 residents surrounded by miles of shimmering vineyards and fruit fields, would seem a safe distance from Hollywood. But earnest townsfolk will tell you that this is where Mike Connors, TV's Mannix, grew up as Krikor Ohanian--in the same corner of Armenian Town that nurtured a baby named Cher. Then there's the giant actor known as Jaws, whose mouth of metal once menaced James Bond. He hawks used cars here.

Mayor Alan Autry said he wants to suspend a city committee that monitors discrimination and hate crimes after its chairwoman labeled a local organization a "hate group." Autry was reacting to a news release Human Relations Commission Chairwoman Debbie Reyes issued Friday stating that "a rally is being organized by a hate group called 'The Free Republic.' " It was stamped with the city of Fresno's seal.

The police union says it will fight Mayor Alan Autry's plan to hire an independent auditor to investigate officer-related shootings and complaints from the public. "The proposal is being perceived by our membership as one more person looking over an officer's shoulder," said Sgt. Mike Oliver of the Fresno Police Officers Assn. "The fact is we do a terrific job of policing ourselves."