Good news is on the way for Fresno bike riders. Mayor Jerry Dyer announced Monday morning that the city will build protected bike lanes on four busy Fresno streets. Construction will begin in the coming weeks. The project will cost $1.5 million — not including the engineering design, the mayor's...
New Wave of Budget Demands Add Pressure to California’s ‘Big Squeeze’
One could call it the “big squeeze.” It’s the ever-increasing conflict between the state government’s current and projected tax revenues, which are drifting downwards, and the demands for billions of additional dollars for vital services, such as health care, homelessness and mass transit. In January, when Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled his initial budget for...
GV Wire Honored As California’s Best Mid-Sized Digital News Site
GV Wire captured one of the California News Publishers Association's most prestigious awards on Friday, winning for General Excellence among mid-sized digital news sites. "GV Wire delivers a lively and frequently updated mix of news framed for local readers, drawing on its own staff-produced local journalism ((including video, podcast, and...
Fresno Schools May Lose Social Workers Over Teachers Union Complaint
Students at some Fresno Unified high schools could have fewer social workers on hand next year to help them with their social and emotional problems after the teachers union raised an objection because the workers were hired by contract and not directly by the district. The issue arose during the...
Measure E Redux: Neglected Facilities, $1.4 Billion Wish List, Higher Sales Tax
Details are rolling out on the second effort to pass a county-wide sales tax that would raise $1.4 billion for new facilities and deferred maintenance at Fresno State. In 2022, proponents told voters that Measure E would help pay for new facilities at Fresno State, devoting two-thirds of the income...
Garbage Rate Hikes Proposed in Dyer’s $1.85 Billion City Budget
Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer proposed an increase in garbage collection rates as part of his $1.85 billion 2024 budget on Thursday morning. However, he declined to estimate how big the potential increase might be. Residents currently pay $25.37 monthly for garbage pickup (gray bin), as well as $3.87 for green...
Measure C Transportation Tax Likely to Punt to 2026 Ballot
A study into the public’s reaction to Measure C offers insight into the direction Fresno County could want to go to renew the transportation tax. And the window to get it on the November 2024 ballot appears to be closing fast. Younger Population and Democrats Voted in Favor of Measure...
Two-Decade Battle Over Employee Lawsuits Heads for California Ballot
On Oct. 7, 2003, California voters decided to recall their governor, Gray Davis, less than a year after giving him a second term, and replace him with action movie star Arnold Schwarzenegger. Five days later, in one of his last acts as governor, Davis signed Senate Bill 796, the Private Attorneys General...
Valley Lawmakers Take Up Battle for Potent Firefighting Technology
Proposed bipartisan legislation from two Valley congressmen would jump-start the effort to bring a wildfire-fighting technology used in other parts of the world to the United States. It's the very technology that a Fresno company has sold to other countries and the U.S. Air Force for years. Under the bipartisan...
Fresno’s ‘Economic Ambassador’ Lee Ann Eager Announces Retirement
One of Fresno’s biggest boosters is stepping down from her role at the Fresno County Economic Development Corp. Lee Ann Eager — often described by colleagues as "Fresno’s economic ambassador to the world" — told GV Wire Monday that she is retiring as president/CEO of the public/private nonprofit. Aug. 4...