A tornado touched down near Davis as weekend thunderstorms swept through parts of Northern California, dropping rain and dime-sized hail. Cellphone video posted online showed a towering vortex spinning Saturday evening near Davis. National Weather Service forecaster Emily Heller told the San Francisco Chronicle that there was no damage. Just north of Davis yesterday....
Farms, the Environment, and the Future of Water
In the middle of July, I was surprised to find myself trudging through a couple feet of snow while hiking south of Lake Tahoe. It was a striking contrast to the long walks I took on the dry lakebed of Folsom Reservoir near my home during the historic drought just...
Marijuana Seized From Building Co-Owned by Ex-Congressman Denham
Turlock police have seized nearly 4,000 illegal marijuana plants inside a building co-owned by former U.S. Rep. Jeff Denham. The Modesto Bee says police raided the industrial building Wednesday, arresting five people and seizing guns, pot, and other drugs. Denham belongs to the limited liability corporation that owns the building, according to...
Fresno State Is Again Among Nation's Best Universities
The accolades continue for Fresno State, which has many missions, not the least of which is to graduate first-generation college students. Washington Monthly ranked Fresno State No. 24 in the nation among out of 395 public and private colleges on its latest list of top national universities. And, two weeks ago,...
Bringing High-Speed Rail to California, One Building Block at a Time
California has long been the leader in innovation, bold action and tackling projects that others wouldn’t dream of. The state highway system, BART, and the Golden Gate Bridge stand out as prime examples of challenging projects that were seen through, and today benefit millions. The vision for high-speed rail is...
Special Exhibit Reveals the Valley's Rich Latino Heritage
A popular exhibition tracing the rich history of the Central Valley's Latino community will continue through the summer. Arte Americas in downtown Fresno has extended the run of "Caminos" through Aug. 31. The historical exhibit includes first-person narratives, photographs, posters, maps, and other visuals documenting the Latino experience in the...
High-Speed Rail Cost Jumps to $20.4B for Central Valley Segment
SACRAMENTO — The state's reworked plan for high-speed rail now estimates a $20.4 billion price tag to complete 171 miles of track from Merced to Bakersfield by 2028, nearly a decade later than the initial estimate for a much longer Los Angeles-to-San Francisco line. Rail officials issued an update to...
Harris Farms' Enormous Valley Cattle-Raising Operation to Be Sold
COALINGA — Harris Ranch Beef Holding Co., California's largest cattle-raising operation, is being sold. The company's 800-acre Central Valley feedlot, which can hold up to 250,000 cattle, and its slaughterhouse and processing facilities are being sold to Hanford-based Central Valley Meat Co. but will operate independently under the combined ownership...
California Sells Another $600M in Bonds for High-Speed Rail
SACRAMENTO — California sold $600 million in bonds Tuesday to help pay for building high-speed rail even as lawmakers and Gov. Gavin Newsom acknowledge challenges to completing the project. The bond money is a key source of funding for the troubled rail system, which has been beset by cost overruns...
Sen. Hurtado's First Bill Aims to Help Asthma Sufferers
Low-income Central Valley residents suffering from asthma may gain access to resources to help manage the chronic lung disease. Newly elected state Sen. Melissa Hurtado (D-Sanger) has introduced her first piece of legislation in Senate Bill 207, which aims to expand asthma prevention services to low-income families. The legislation is significant....