More than five years ago, Fresno voters told the city they wanted 10% of local marijuana taxes set aside for the public good. However, implementing some aspects of Measure A has yet to happen. Passed overwhelmingly in 2018 with 71% of the vote, Measure A stipulated that cannabis tax funds...
Valley Children’s Paying for 24-Hour Security at CEO’s Home
Out of a perceived possible threat following comments from local lawmakers, Valley Children's Hospital is paying for 24-hour security for its CEO. Valley Children's confirmed to GV Wire that CEO Todd Suntrapak is receiving security paid for by the hospital at his local home. Valley Children's communications director Zara Arboleda...
Valley Children’s Investments Draws Scrutiny, Local Leaders Call for State Inquiry
Questions about Valley Children's high level of executive compensation have spurred Fresno City Councilmembers Garry Bredefeld and Miguel Arias to call for an inquiry from the California Attorney General's Office. "We write to you today to share our deep concern and dismay at revelations surrounding Valley Children's Hospital and its...
Fresno Unified’s Self-Protection Racket Is Hurting Our Kids
Are we so conditioned to accept apathy in Fresno Unified that we are willing to walk by the very decisions that perpetuate the cycle of crime and poverty in our community? Do we tune in to afternoon radio talk shows that rail against FUSD for entertainment alone? Or, are we...
Corrupt Process? Bullard, Edison Parents Blast Handling of Superintendent Search
Parents who attended so-called "listening sessions" ahead of Fresno Unified's superintendent search say a consultant didn't note their desire for a leader from outside the district and, in some cases, steered the conversation toward hiring an internal candidate. This revelation comes with the superintendent's search mired in controversy after a...
RFK Jr. Picks VP, but Still Isn’t on California Ballot
Presidential hopeful Robert F. Kennedy Jr. chose Oakland to announce his vice presidential pick on Tuesday, so it wasn’t too much of a shocker that his pick was Nicole Shanahan, a Bay Area tech attorney and philanthropist. Like Kennedy, she’s a “disillusioned Democrat” (party leaders have “lost their way”) who has never held...
Trump Media Group CEO Nunes Headlines Fresno GOP Event
Devin Nunes returns to Fresno as the keynote speaker for the Fresno GOP's Lincoln Reagan Dinner on Wednesday, April 17. Nunes represented the Fresno and Visalia areas in Congress from 20o3 until he quit in early 2022 to work for Trump Media & Technology Group. He is the group's CEO....
Mad Duck Sets Mid-April Opening for Big Brewpub at Copper River
A popular brewpub hatching across Fresno and Clovis over the past 14 years will debut its northeast location in mid-April. Alex Costa, co-owner of Mad Duck Brewing Co., said the newest restaurant at Maple and Copper avenues will open Monday, April 15. This marks the fourth location for the brand...
While Valley Children’s Executives Earn Millions, Community Benefits Lag
As news comes out about Valley Children's Hospital's high rate of executive pay, an examination of public records reveals the hospital's community benefit fund lags other children's hospitals. The IRS and hospitals have an understanding. In 2020, an estimated $28 billion in taxes were exempted from nonprofit hospitals, according to...
Fresno’s Hatfields & McCoys: City Sues County Over General Plan
The latest chapter of angst between the city and county of Fresno will play out in a local courthouse. Thursday, the Fresno City Council announced it is suing Fresno County over the latter's general plan. Fresno City Attorney Andrew Janz told Politics 101 that the city "was forced to file...