The Takeaway: -Former Bitwise co-CEOs Jake Soberal and Irma Olguin Jr. pleaded not guilty to fraud charges in Fresno’s federal courthouse Thursday. -United States Attorney Phillip Talbert said that the two are facing fraud charges valued at up to $100 million. -Soberal and Olguin Jr. were released on several conditions,...
Bitwise Gets $80M Investment Boost, Will Expand to Chicago
Fresno-based Bitwise Industries is expanding again, thanks to an $80 million investment led by the Kapor Center and Motley Fool and assisted by Goldman Sachs Asset Management's Growth Equity business and Citibank. The investment will support Bitwise's move to the South Side of Chicago, a traditionally underserved and underfinanced part...
Peer Teaching Links Health Care and Construction Students at Clovis High
The green-shirted construction students in Jay Eichmann's career technical education classroom at Clovis High School listened intently as turquoise-jacketed instructors taught them how to treat burns, bandage impalements and broken bones, and deal with other injuries that can occur on a job site. They may even have been listening more...
Pandemic Losses Force Fresno Bee Out of Bitwise Building
Seven months after announcing its move into Bitwise's historic downtown building with great fanfare, The Fresno Bee is vacating the premises. The Bee's publisher, Tim Ritchey, announced the decision Friday. He cited the impact of the coronavirus on the newspaper's finances as a reason for the exit. "For now, this change...
Bitwise’s PodUp Helps Families Share Online Schooling, Childcare
When schools abruptly closed last spring to stem the initial spread of the coronavirus, Michelle Skoor and Skoor's wife were faced with the same challenges as other parents of preschool and school-aged children — how to care for their kids and keep them engaged and learning with online school, while...
Costa Yanks Request to Let Someone Else Cast House Votes for Him
A day after filing a statement with the Clerk of the House of Representatives, Congressman Jim Costa (D-Fresno) revoked his request to allow a colleague to vote in his place Thursday. Using the standard form letter that more than 70 of his Democratic colleagues used, Costa wrote, "I am unable to...
Three Fresno Legal Pros Voted on Controversial Zero Dollar Bail
The decision to release hundreds of prisoners from Fresno County jail as a COVID-19 measure came from the state Judicial Council. The group, comprised of state judges, lawmakers, and attorneys, has three Fresno members — appellate court judge Brad Hill, Fresno County Judge Jonathan Conklin and attorney Rachel Hill (no...
Onward! Bitwise Expands COVID Resource Website Nationwide
Far exceeding its goals in helping those affected by the COVID-19 fallout, a Fresno technology company plans to roll out its assistance website nationwide. Bitwise Industries hoped to help 10,000 people economically impacted by the pandemic during the first month of launching its OnwardCA website. Within two weeks, the site...
College Students Keep Riding Buses For Free. District Seeks Long-Term Funds.
Fresno-area community college students will be able to ride city buses for free at least through the fall 2020 semester after State Center Community College District trustees voted unanimously Tuesday to continue funding the program with parking revenues. In the meantime, district officials will keep looking for long-term solutions, which...
Fresno Dem Leaders Divided on Presidential Endorsements
All the polling shows Joe Biden leading a close race to decide the Democratic Party's 2020 presidential nominee. And, here in the Valley, a sampling of local elected Democratic leaders indicates they are just as split as the nation's voters. For example, state Sen. Melissa Hurtado (D-Sanger) is bundled up...