Fresno and Clovis issued orders Tuesday afternoon to close dine-in portions of restaurants in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. One day after the Fresno City Council ratified Mayor Lee Brand's State of Emergency order, the city — through city manager Wilma Quan — will limit restaurants to drive-through, delivery, and...
Emergency Grants City Broad Powers Including Ban of Liquor, Gun Sales
In a public emergency such as the COVID-19 pandemic, state and local laws give great latitude to leaders to do what they must to protect citizens. For example, the city of Fresno could legally end the sale of beer and liquor, gasoline, and firearms. The Fresno City Council didn't talk...
Is Newsom Striking Right Balance in Coronavirus Response?
As the coronavirus spreads through California, the restrictions placed on the state's 40 million residents have varied by county and community, the result of Gov. Gavin Newsom's early decision to largely allow local governments to set their own rules. After initially setting statewide guidance to keep crowds under 250 people,...
Clovis Unified Plans Breakfast Deliveries By Bus During COVID-19
Clovis Unified School District will use school buses to bring breakfast to youngsters in some neighborhoods starting Wednesday. That's in addition to the grab-and-go meals that will be provided to any student ages 1 through 18 at all the district's high schools and the following schools: Clark and Kastner intermediate...
Fresno Unified Superintendent: We're Feeding Kids And Their Kin During School Closures
Fresno Unified Superintendent Bob Nelson said Monday that kids will not go hungry during the school closures that have been caused by the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic — and neither will their families. Nelson told reporters that the district will do everything possible to continue providing nutrition to Fresno Unified's 74,000...
Fresno Approves Emergency Declaration in City; Will Enforce Bar Closures.
The city of Fresno has declared a state of emergency in response to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. Measures include the closure of bars in the city and prohibiting gatherings and events of 50 or more people. The Fresno City Council voted on the emergency measure in a special meeting Monday...
6 Bay Area Counties Order Residents to Shelter-in-Place
Officials in six San Francisco Bay Area counties issued a shelter-in-place mandate Monday affecting nearly 7 million people, including the city of San Francisco itself. The order says residents must stay inside and venture out only for necessities for three weeks starting Tuesday in a desperate attempt by officials to...
School Health Clinics Still Open During Coronavirus-Caused School Closures
Fresno Unified's school-based health clinics are remaining open to provide medical care to kids while schools are closed because of COVID-19 coronavirus. At this point, schools in Fresno and Clovis unified school districts will remain closed until April 14. Central Unified's will remain closed until April 20. Today was the...
Price Gouging Ordinance on Tap for Emergency Fresno Council Meeting Today
The Fresno City Council has a tentative emergency meeting today at 1:30 p.m. to discuss the COVID-19 pandemic. According to a news release from Council President Miguel Arias, the council will discuss declaring a state of emergency and an anti-price gouging ordiance. As of time of publication, no agenda has...
Century-Old TB Vaccine Tested for Use vs. COVID-19
Multiple countries think so highly of a vaccine developed in the 1920s, they're now using it in trials to test how effective it might be against COVID-19.  The drug is called Bacille Calmette-Guerin. The World Health Organization says BCG has at least one clear effective use. When used in countries where...