After eight years of serving customers pulled pork sandwiches and BBQ, the High Sierra Grill and Bar at the southwest corner of Bullard and West avenues is closed permanently. Owner Manny Perales met GV Wire℠ in front of the shuttered restaurant Wednesday morning. He's upset about how the pandemic has been...
27 New COVID-19 Deaths in Fresno County, Officials Warn Against Labor Day Gatherings
Fresno County reported 27 new deaths related to COVID-19 since Friday. Dr. Rais Vohra, Interim Fresno County Health Officer says it's a sobering reality of where we are in the pandemic. Vohra says many of these recent deaths are people that have been hospitalized for several weeks. Others had underlying...
Walters: Legislature Leaves Much Undone
When the Legislature reconvened in January, the stage was seemingly set for a year of sweeping action on California’s most vexing political issues, such as a chronic housing shortage, homelessness and an embarrassingly high poverty rate. Democrats enjoyed overwhelming majorities in both legislative houses, the Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom, was...
Fresno Unified Parents Plan Rally to Protest Closed Schools: ‘We Should Have A Choice’
Fresno Unified parents are planning to rally Thursday afternoon to protest what they say is the district's failure to fight for their right to choose whether their kids are in class or on distance learning. Bullard area parent Catherine Peters, who is helping to organize the event, said Tuesday that...
District Offers Veteran Central Unified Staff an Early Retirement Deal
Hundreds of Central Unified School District employees recently learned they are eligible for an early retirement incentive paying 80% of their final year's salary over a five-year period. To qualify, the employees must be age 55 or older, have worked for the district for at least five years, and agree...
Hair Salons & Barbershops Reopen in Fresno, Major Chain Shifts Hours
Hair finally hit the indoor floor again Monday in Fresno County hair salons and barbershops. It was a sight not seen since mid-July due to the industry's COVID-19 pandemic shutdown. Phones rang, check-in apps went into overdrive, and sidewalk signs let passing drivers know that shops were open for business....
Walters: Do Crises Help or Hurt Tax Hikes?
Does the trauma enveloping California this year — pandemic, recession, heat waves, blackouts and disastrous wildfires — make voters more or less likely to vote for tax increases? Sponsors of a $12 billion a year hike in taxes on warehouses, office buildings, factories and other commercial property hope it’s more....
These Fresno County Schools May Be The First to Open for Students
Two small Sierra schools seeking to reopen for classes on campus might get their wish as early as next week, Fresno County interim health officer Dr. Rais Vohra said Friday. Big Creek Elementary and Hume Lake Charter School officials are asking to be excused from the July state mandate that...
400 Mask-Wearers Will Get $100 Gift Card in Five Valley Counties
This is a story of what will happen if you're "caught" wearing a face mask. The Central Valley Community Foundation is randomly seeking out 400 people in Fresno, Madera, Tulare, Kings, and Merced counties to receive a $100 Visa gift card. It's part of a $50,000 campaign to encourage mask...
Salons & Barbershops Reopening After Mayor Brand Texts Newsom
Hair salons and barbershops, along with their customers, finally got good news Friday after months of waiting: They can reopen Monday. Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that hair salons and barbershops across California can resume indoor operations — with modifications. However, nail salons will have to wait. The state also introduced...