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As Temperatures Rise, Splash Parks Are Dry. City Works on Fix.

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Kids hoping to cool off Sunday at several Fresno splash parks got the hot shoulder.
The water wasn’t working at Inspiration Park in west Fresno.

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David Taub
Politics 101
Youngsters and their parents fared no better at Figarden Loop Park or Todd Beamer Park. Meanwhile, temperatures peaked in the low 90s.
The city said an electrical issue was the likely cause of the problems. They hope to have the water back on Monday.
The splash park at Vinland Park in central Fresno was working Sunday. But people there say the water shut off at 5 p.m. The water parks are supposed to operate until 6 p.m.

Private Bookstore Plan Returns at SCCCD

The State Center Community College District Board will be asked again to allow a third-party company to run its bookstore and send layoff notices to 14 full-time equivalent and 19 seasonal employees.
Last month, the board deadlocked 3-3 to turn over operation of the bookstore to Follett Higher Education Group. The Illinois-based company already runs the bookstores at Fresno State and Fresno Pacific University.
The difference Tuesday is Trustee Richard Caglia. He was absent last month when the vote occurred.
He told Politics 101 he hasn’t made a decision on how he would vote.
The district hasn’t released financial documents indicating how much Follett would pay the district. In its deal with Fresno State that went into effect in April, Follett pays an 8.5% commission for the first $9 million in sales, then 10.5% after that. The minimum payment to Fresno State is $625,000 for the first two years of the five-year deal.
Follett also agreed to spend $550,000 to improve the Campus Pointe location.
One other difference in the Fresno State and SCCCD deals is that employees at the Kennel Bookstore remain school employees. The contract calls for Follett to repay the university employment expenses.

Arballo Out Again

Phil Arballo

Phil Arballo announced on Twitter he is dropping his Fresno City Council campaign, for both the August special election and the regular March 2020 vote.
This is the second time Arballo announced he is exiting the election to replace Steve Brandau, who left the city council for the Fresno County Board of Supervisors in April.


Arballo’s name still will appear on the ballot, Fresno County Clerk Brandi Orth said, because election materials are already being printed.
Those who remain active for the Aug. 13 special election are Lawrence Garcia, Jared Gordon, George Herman, Mike Karbassi and Oscar Sandoval.

‘California Report’ Moves

Valley Public Radio (FM 89.3) is changing the time for “The California Report.” The nine-minute segment covering issues up and down the state, produced by San Francisco’s KQED, is heard at 6:50 a.m., with a rebroadcast at 7:50 a.m.
Starting Monday, the 6:50 a.m. broadcast remains, but the second airing moves — now an updated version, airing at 8:50 a.m.
A segment of the “Marketplace Morning Report” will air in the 7:50 a.m. timeslot.

Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email