Fresno is facing a staffing shortage as Delta variant cases rise in the Central Valley. Medical staffing in the Central Valley has always been a “chronic” problem, according to Dr. Rais Vohra, interim health officer for Fresno County’s Department of Public Health. But he says staffing shortages are a major...
Fresno Unified Wasn’t Ready to Test Kids for COVID-19 so They Could Stay in School
Cheri Perry's third-grade daughter was eager to return to Malloch Elementary for in-person classes after last year's pandemic-caused school closures. But on Monday, the first full day of classes for Fresno Unified students, Perry got a phone call from the school saying her daughter had to stay home for 10...
Valley Schools Scramble After State Hands Down New Vaccine, Testing Mandate
Valley school districts scrambled Wednesday to determine how best to implement the new state public health order announced by Gov. Gavin Newsom that will require staff in public and private schools across California to either provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination or undergo testing at least once weekly. Newsom's announcement comes...
District: Student Mask Opt-Out by Clovis Parents Now Not an Option
Parents whose kids are attending Clovis Unified schools will now need a note from a licensed medical professional to have a face mask exemption, district spokeswoman Kelly Avants told reporters Monday afternoon. The School Board voted July 30 to allow parents to "self-attest" that their children have a medical or...
Fresno ‘Ghost Golf’ Drives Case Against Newsom in Court
A Fresno mini-golf attraction is front and center in a continuing legal battle that claims Gov. Gavin Newsom overstepped his authority by issuing COVID emergency orders that shut down many businesses and limited occupancy in others. On Thursday, attorneys working on behalf of the owner of Ghost Golf argued their...
Fresno Business Tees Off Against Newsom Again in Court
A Fresno mini-golf attraction is front and center in a continuing legal battle that claims Gov. Gavin Newsom overstepped his authority by issuing COVID emergency orders that shut down many businesses and limited occupancy in others. On Thursday, attorneys working on behalf of the owner of Ghost Golf argued their...
Dyer Says Fresno Workers Must Vax or Get Tested Weekly for COVID
Fresno city employees will have to either be vaccinated or submit to weekly testing, Mayor Jerry Dyer announced on Wednesday. "We're not here today to question why people do not get vaccinated. We're not here to vilify those people, whether they're employees or other," Dyer said at a City Hall...
Mask Opt Out OK’d for Kids in Clovis Schools
The Clovis Unified School Board voted Thursday night to let parents decide whether their kids should wear face masks while they are inside schools. Parents will need to file an exemption form by Aug. 6 with the district, self-attesting that their child has a medical or mental health issue, a...
Clovis Unified Considers Letting Parents Decide About Their Kids’ Mask Use in School
Will face masks be required for students and staff when Clovis Unified schools reopen on Aug. 16? Trustees say parents ought to be able to make that choice for their kids, and staffers make the choice for themselves. A revised school guidance from the California Department of Public Health may...
After COVID Took Their Mom, Local Siblings Discuss Vaccination Decision
During the first week of July, Andiee Hodges noticed that her 69-year-old mother Gloria "Mims" Garcia was beginning to complain about allergies. Hodges thought nothing of it, considering wildfire smoke was fouling the air around their home near Table Mountain Casino. Heavy Coughing, Body Aches A few days after that,...