Is it the ultimate in government bureaucracy? The Fresno Measure P Parks Commission will decided whether to spend $7,000 to hire a consultant to hire a consultant. The contract is to consult with the Fresno Arts Council to hire an arts facilitator to advise on the Cultural Arts Plan of...
Costa, Feinstein Introduce Bill to Restore Valley Canals. No Money for Dams.
Rep. Jim Costa and U.S. Sen. Diane Feinstein introduced the bipartisan Canal Conveyance Capacity Restoration Act on Thursday, a bill to authorize more than $653 million to restore the capacity of three San Joaquin Valley canals. Restoring these canals would improve California’s drought resilience and help farmers comply with limits on...
House Passes Pathways to Citizenship For Dreamers & Farmworkers, Heads to Senate
Democratic bills opening a gateway to citizenship for over 3 million young “Dreamers” and immigrant farm worker passed the House of Representatives Thursday, but Republican opposition means any legislation on the issue faces a steep climb before it can reach President Joe Biden's desk. Joined by nine Republicans, Democrats passed...
Costa Says Violence Against Women Act Renewal Will Aid Local Safety Efforts
With a nod to Women’s History Month, the Democratic-led House passed two measures Wednesday, one designed to protect women from domestic violence, the other to remove the deadline for states to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment. The reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act passed 244-172 with 29 Republicans joining...
Newsom Says He’s ‘Struggling’ to Get a FEMA Mass Vaccination Site in the Central Valley
The behind the scenes lobbying effort to get a FEMA mass vaccination site in the Central Valley hasn't garnered fruit, at least not yet. California quickly received two of the federally supported sites in Oakland and Los Angeles last month. Gov. Gavin Newsom, visiting a vaccination site in Earlimart this...
Skyrocketing Lumber Prices Could Add $24K to Home Buys. Costa Fires off Letter to Pres. Biden
Shortages of lumber have nearly tripled the price of lumber since mid-April 2020, according to the National Association of Home Builders. The association estimates the price of a new single-family home will increase by more than $24,000 as a result. CNBC reports softwood lumber prices are now about 112% higher...
High-Speed Rail Construction Delayed by a Year. CEO Says He Needs Another $1 Billion.
California is again pushing back the deadline and raising the cost for its high-speed rail project, this time asking the Biden administration for a one-year extension on completing a section of track in the Central Valley. Brian Kelly, the project's chief executive officer, detailed changes to the project in a...
Newsom Says Big Vaccination Site Coming to Valley, Costa Thinks It Could Be at Save Mart
California is in line to get yet-another federally supported mass vaccination site, and Gov. Gavin Newsom said Monday this one is coming to the Central Valley. Rep. Jim Costa already has a spot for it — he says the large parking lot at the Save Mart Center at Fresno State...
See Congressman Jim Costa’s Photos Before and After the U.S. Capitol Riot From His Vantage Point
An Associated Press photo of Congressman Jim Costa (D-Fresno) hunkering down with his colleagues in the House gallery last week gave the public a front and center view of the harrowing first moments of the siege of the U.S. Capitol. Now, Costa has shared some of the photos he took...
Parnell: West Fresno Automotive Training Center Will Be ‘Biggest West of the Mississippi River’
Educators and politicians gathered Wednesday morning in a courtyard at the Fresno City College Old Administration Building to celebrate the award of a $66 million contract to build a new campus in west Fresno. They also celebrated the refinancing of bond measure dollars that will save $1.2 million. The refinancing...