Lunchtime at Fort Miller Middle School in Fresno comes with a sense of urgency these days as dozens of students rush through their meals, eager to throw on jerseys and head outside to play basketball on the blacktop. Three months in, the lunch sports program, with coaching from High Performance Academy,...
Kaiser Permanente to Pay $556 Million in Medicare Advantage Fraud Settlement
In the largest Medicare Advantage fraud settlement to date, Kaiser Permanente has agreed to pay $556 million to settle Justice Department allegations that it billed the government for medical conditions patients didn’t have. The settlement, announced Jan. 14, resolves whistleblower lawsuits that accused the giant health insurer of mounting a...
Kerman Mayor Objects to ICE Language in Law Enforcement Proclamation
Maria Pacheco is a self-admitted critic of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services officers. She has attended several rallies supporting immigrant rights and criticizing ICE tactics. So it came as a surprise to the Kerman mayor when she read a proclamation at the Jan. 14 Kerman City Council meeting honoring her...
Confusion Shrouds Annalisa Perea’s Abstention in Fresno Council Leadership Vote
When Annalisa Perea did not cast a vote for Fresno City Council leadership, it confused those counting the tally. After City Councilmember Tyler Maxwell nominated Mike Karbassi to serve again as president, and Nelson Esparza as vice president, no one opposed the motion. What could have been a contentious leadership...
Immigrant Rights Groups, Local Officials Slam Fresno Supervisors’ ICE Stance
Community advocates gathered Friday outside the Fresno County Board of Supervisors building downtown to denounce recent comments by county leaders supporting Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Advocates accused the supervisors of downplaying the fear and harm immigration raids have inflicted on families across the Central Valley. “It is finally showing the...
Fresno Demonstrators March Downtown After Protest Outside ICE Facility
Members of the Party for Socialism and Liberation protested outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in downtown Fresno Thursday evening before marching through the streets. The protest began at 8 p.m. outside the ICE office, where demonstrators gathered for speeches criticizing immigration enforcement and U.S. government policies. After...
Measure C Dead. What’s Next for Fresno County Transportation?
Measure C is dead. At least in its current form. The Fresno Council of Governments Policy Board held a special meeting Wednesday night to move the potentially $7 billion tax renewal effort forward, preparing it for the March ballot. The measure expires June 30, 2027, meaning it needs voter approval...
Thousands of Fresno Unified Retirees Cut Off From Health Care
A dispute between Community Health System and Fresno Unified’s health insurance provider, Aetna, has caused thousands of district retirees to be cut off from care. “Here I am about 2 1/2 years later and instead of lying in a bed paralyzed on my left side and unable to communicate, I'm healthy,...
Fresno Activists Speak Out Against US Intervention in Venezuela at Protest
Protesters gathered Wednesday in front of the Robert E. Coyle Federal Courthouse in downtown Fresno to oppose U.S. military involvement in Venezuela, condemn the Trump administration’s foreign policy, and warn of broader regional consequences. The demonstration was organized by Raza Against War, a Fresno-based community activism group, and featured speakers...
Fresno, Madera, Tulare, Kings Supervisors Select Board Chairs. What Challenges Do They Face?
The new year comes with new Central San Joaquin Valley county supervisors helming their respective governing bodies. In Fresno County, supervisors selected Garry Bredefeld as chair, replacing outgoing supervisor Buddy Mendes. Taking over as vice chair is Luis Chavez after Brian Pacheco declined the seat. Both Pacheco and Mendes announced...