An explosion of childhood autism and a shrinking state budget could be setting up the central San Joaquin Valley for health-care crisis when those children grow up.The reason: If young autism patients don’t get the help they need, they’ll just need more help — and costlier help — later in life.

Clovis police arrested three people Tuesday morning on suspicion of drug sales and of child endangerment at a house where there was drug paraphernalia, exposed wiring, black mold, sagging ceilings and an infestation of cockroaches and mice.Three children ages 9, 16 and 17 living in the house at Bullard and Stanford avenues were turned over to Fresno County Child Protective Services.

The Clovis City Council approved a $161 million budget Monday night that includes fewer police and fire employees and cuts in services for seniors, the disabled and youths beginning in July.

A Clovis man was sentenced Tuesday to four years in prison in connection with a traffic crash from which he ran away, leaving three children inside the SUV.

A run on hotels, elastic bandages, gasoline and carbohydrate-rich pasta last weekend filled the coffers of local merchants with millions of dollars.That bounty was thanks to the thousands of people who trekked to Clovis’ Buchanan High School on Friday and Saturday for the state high school track meet.

It was the year of the West Side in Central Section baseball, and five players from championship teams from that area — Edison and Washington — will be represented in the City/County All-Star baseball game Sunday at 6 p.m. at Chukchansi Park.