Sheriff’s deputies arrest man in connection with North County burglaries

LODI — Adam Meredith is in custody after San Joaquin County Sheriff ’s detectives arrested him Tuesday on suspicion of being involved in multiple North County crimes.

Detectives received information Tuesday that the suspect they were seeking relating to multiple investigations was in Acampo, according to the San Joaquin County Sheriff ’s Office. They arrived at a diner along Highway 99 near Jahant Road at 4:30 p.m. and saw the suspect, Meredith, who tried to run away on foot, according to the Sheriff ’s Office. Detectives caught him, and he was taken into custody.

According to the Sheriff ’s Office, Meredith arrived at the diner in a vehicle that was reported stolen from a residence on Acampo Road. Meredith admitted his involvement in several North County crimes, deputies said. He was arrested and booked on suspicion of three counts of possession of a stolen vehicle, two counts of burglary, four counts of possession of stolen property and one count of evading a peace officer, deputies said. — Christina Cornejo

Carlos Villapudua named CEO of S.J. County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

STOCKTON — The San Joaquin County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce has appointed Carlos Villapudua as the nonprofit business membership organization’s CEO.

Previously, Carlos Villapudua was elected to the position of County Supervisor for District 1 in 2009 and served for eight years. Before serving on the board, he worked as legislative assistant to former Supervisor Steve Gutierrez.

His background includes director positions with the San Joaquin County Human Services Agency and the Welfare-to-Work CalWORKs program. He also has worked with groups such as the Coalition of the Mexican-American Organizations, the Lions Club and the League for United Latin American Citizens.

Villapudua was born in Stockton and graduated from Franklin High School, later earning a bachelor’s degree in social work from California State University, Sacramento. He begins his new role as SJHCC CEO on Jan. 17. — Christina Cornejo

Bills require presidential candidates to release tax returns

HONOLULU — Lawmakers in Hawaii and several other states want to prevent presidential candidates from appearing on their states’ ballots unless the candidates release their tax returns.

They’re responding to President-elect Donald Trump’s decision to not release his tax returns during the presidential campaign, breaking decades of precedent.

The Hawaii bill would require candidates to release five years of federal and state tax returns to qualify for the ballot, state Rep. Chris Lee said Wednesday. Similar proposals are circulating in California, Massachusetts, New Mexico and the District of Columbia.

“It’s a reasonable step since every modern president has released their tax returns and put their assets into a blind trust to make sure the only interest they have is the interest of our country and its people,” Lee said. “I think we’re in a very dangerous climate in which that could change.”

Lee consulted with lawyers who assured him it’s legal, and if the bill passes it will undergo a thorough review from the state attorney general, he said.

Lee is still working out details on the Hawaii bill, but he plans to include a way to make the tax returns public. In the Massachusetts bill, that state’s Secretary of State would be required to make the tax returns public within a month of each vote.

“If even one or two states take action, it changes the game,” Lee said.

Trump has interests in 500 companies in about 20 countries, according to a disclosure document released in May.

California state Sens. Scott Wiener and Mike McGuire are planning to introduce similar legislation, saying financial information should be made available to voters to build critical public trust.

A District of Columbia lawmaker plans to introduce a similar bill.

The District’s three electoral votes have gone to the Democratic candidate in every election since city residents were granted the right to vote for president in 1961.

Nationwide, about twothirds of registered voters said it’s somewhat or very important for presidential candidates to release their tax returns, according to an Associated Press-GfK poll in September. — Associated Press