Congressman Jim Costa (D-Fresno) says the Kern County immigration sweep that resulted in 78 arrests would be the last major effort in the San Joaquin Valley. Operation Return to Sender conducted by Customs and Border Protection caused fear, protests, and speculation about the extent of immigration actions — especially in...
Veterans Are Bright Spot in Dismal National Homelessness Report. What Can We Learn?
The recent national report on homelessness had few bright spots considering the synchronized efforts and billions of dollars spent to get people off the street. The exception to rising numbers of homeless people? Veterans. The report highlighted the considerable progress in getting housing for those who have served our country....
Hamas Hostage Survivor Will Speak in Fresno on Saturday
While visiting Fresno this week, Judith Raanan did not expect to be discussing her most horrific life experience, but she agreed to extend her trip to talk about being a Hamas captive. Raanan, a victim and survivor of the Oct. 7 Hamas kidnapping, will tell her story in Fresno on...
Chaos Reigns at Fresno GOP as Two Leaders Are Voted In
Elizabeth Kolstad retained her position as chair of the Fresno County Republican Party by one vote. Or did she? The Fresno County Republican Party held a meeting Tuesday night at party headquarters to vote on leadership. Kolstad apparently won the vote for a second two-year term as chair, 15-14. However,...
No Granite Park Evictions, but Frazier Blames City for Restaurant Closure
Despite issuing stern warnings in November, Fresno has not moved to evict the nonprofit managing the Granite Park sports complex. The Central Valley Community Sports Foundation remains in charge of operations, but declining customer turnout has hurt the nonprofit. Nearby businesses in the surrounding retail and office park are also...
Bredefeld Tries to ‘Shake up Good Ol’ Boys Club’ on Day One
New Fresno County Supervisor Garry Bredefeld made clear Tuesday that if he fails to fulfill his campaign promises, it won't be for lack of trying. Bredefeld, a former Fresno City Councilmember, ran on a vow to "shake up the good old boys club" at the board. His first official statements...
Lawsuit Against Saint Agnes Says Patients Will Lose Access to Their Physicians
A lawsuit from a group of hospitalists against Saint Agnes Medical Center says an exclusive contract agreed to by the hospital will take away many patients' ability to see their current physician. Since at least 2020, Saint Agnes policy allowed physicians to see patients on an open basis, according to...
Biden’s National Monument List Gets Clearer. Not Mentioned? 1.4M Acres in Sierra Forest
With the number of days President Joe Biden has left to make decisions becoming fewer and fewer, the list of U.S. places set for national protection appears set — with no mention of a proposal to transform to 1.4 million acres in the Sierra National Forest. Presidents can declare lands...
Is Fresno’s Low-Kill Animal Shelter Policy Endangering Public Health?
When the city changed its contracted animal shelter in 2022, it also changed how it would address stray animals. Gone were the years of notably high euthanasia rates, favoring instead tracing animals back to their homes, Fresno Deputy City Manager Alma Torres told the Fresno City Council that year. Taking...
CA Leaders Could Go to Prison Over Sanctuary Cities, Trump Allies Warn
California’s southern border, long "ground zero" in the fight between federal and local officials over immigration policy, is now at the center of renewed controversy over how far local leaders can go to protect people from deportation. After San Diego County took steps earlier this month to strengthen safeguards for...