A bill to save LGBTQ lives introduced by Assemblyman Dr. Joaquin Arambula (D-Fresno) is headed to the California Senate. The bill initiates a pilot project that trains coroners and medical examiners in six counties to identify and collect data on a person's sexual orientation or gender identity in cases of violent...
County Health ‘Vehemently’ Denies Wrongdoing in Foster Farms COVID Inspection
Fresno County health officials are disputing charges that they tipped off a large poultry processing plant about a surprise inspection following outbreaks of COVID-19 at the site. Members of the California Latino Legislative Caucus believe Fresno County Department of Public Health employees alerted Foster Farms ahead of a Cal/OSHA health...
State’s VMT Law Driving Builders Away, Making Homes More Expensive, Say Valley Lawmakers
State Senator Anna Caballero, D-Salinas, says the state should not be scaring away homebuilders but she is worried a new state law is doing just that. "The last thing we need right now is to reduce the number of communities that we're building. We're 2.5 million housing units behind," said Caballero....
‘It’s Just Not Enough’ Says Senator Caballero About 5% Water Allocation to SJV Farmers
Agricultural water service contractors south of the Delta were allocated 5% of their contract supply by the Bureau of Reclamation. Central Valley lawmakers think the state needs to do better. "It's not enough. It's just not enough," says state Senator Anna Caballero, D-Salinas. "We know we need more." The Westlands Water District...
Assemblyman Appoints His Mother to Fresno Agency Board. Is it Nepotism?
Amy Arambula has been appointed to a seat on the board of a large Fresno agency that controls $131 million of mostly public money. The appointment to the 24-member board of the Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission was made by her son, Fresno Assemblyman Joaquin Arambula. According to Fresno EOC's by-laws, public...
Large Crowds at SJ River Park Led to COVID Outbreak, Supervisor Says
Over 1,000 people crowded into Skaggs Bridge Park on the San Joaquin River last weekend led to a cluster of COVID-19 cases, Fresno County Supervisor Brian Pacheco said this week. "There was a person there — I'm sure there were multiple people there — that had the virus," Pacheco said....
Arambula Uses Facebook Live Town Hall to Battle Fresno County Supervisors
A battle of approaches is playing out in Fresno County over how COVID-19 money is used. And, the fight is being waged in hallways of public buildings and through mainstream and social media while lives hang in the balance at crowded hospitals and ICU units. On one side, the Fresno...
Arambula Gives His Side of Showdown, Magsig Says It Was a ‘Setup’
A San Joaquin Valley insurance meeting is an unlikely place for a heated showdown between an Assemblymember and a county supervisor, but that's what happened Friday. Assembly Member Joaquin Arambula says he is concerned about a "lack of urgency" by the Fresno County Board of Supervisors on handling the pandemic....
In Confrontation, Fresno Supervisor Tells Assemblyman: ‘Go Back to Sacramento’
Fresno County Supervisor Nathan Magsig stood toe to toe with Assembly member Joaquin Arambula Friday and didn't mince words. The topic was COVID-19 — including Arambula's concerns over the county's plans for spending pandemic funds and what he considers a lack of transparency. "Go back to Sacramento," Magsig said. "Empower...
Fresno Community Leaders Share Tips on Defeating COVID
Fresno Mayor Lee Brand, fire chief Kerri Donis, Assemblyman Dr. Joaquin Arambula, and other leaders provide tips on staying safe during the COVID-19 outbreak in a new community service announcement. All of the participants were sheltering in place and utilized teleconferencing to shoot the video. Pastor DJ Criner and Fresno...