Fresno County voters are one step away from deciding on the continuation of a sales tax dedicated to transportation and road maintenance projects. One more public agency approved the $7 billion spending plan at a Wednesday morning meeting, but not before critics of the plan came in for a...
Local Tax Hike to Benefit Fresno State Would be a First, Experts Say
Just how much do Fresno County residents love Fresno State? Enough to willingly pay higher sales taxes for the next 20 years? Proponents of a proposed ballot measure, the "California State University, Fresno Facility and Academic Program Improvement Initiative Measure," are betting that there are enough Fresno State graduates,...
Party On! Fresno Takes Another Shot at Keeping Bars, Nightclubs Open Later
Local bar hoppers and nightclubbers may soon be able to party for two hours longer on Friday and Saturday nights. It's a unique opportunity being embraced by government and business. A bill working its way through the Legislature in Sacramento would extend last call to 4 a.m. on weekends and...
What’s in a Stadium Name? Backlash Over $10M Valley Children’s Deal
Valley Children’s Healthcare’s $10 million, 10-year deal for the naming rights to Fresno State’s football stadium has prompted a backlash on social media and across the community that some say will make them think twice before donating to support the children’s hospital. The deal, which was announced in August...
The 8 Local Leaders Set to Vote on How $7 Billion in Transportation Tax Funds Would Be Spent
Measure C faces another procedural step on its way to the November ballot. Voters could decide on the future of $7 billion on spending for transportation, including road maintenance and mass transit. Fresno County's current half-cent sales tax for transportation projects expires in 2027. The Fresno County Transportation Authority...
Fresno Council President Charged with Felony Over Alleged Extortion
Fresno City Council President Nelson Esparza has been charged with a felony count of attempted extortion, the Fresno County District Attorney's office announced Monday. Esparza, 31, is accused of threatening the employment of former City Attorney Douglas Sloan in April. In allegations made by fellow city councilman Garry Bredefeld...
Local Homeless Count Rises, but Leaders Say Better Days Are Coming
On a cold night on Feb. 23, nonprofits and government agencies from Fresno and Madera counties conducted a point-in-time count of homeless people. They found 2,338 people experiencing unsheltered homelessness, with 1,524 people using emergency shelters, and 336 people using transitional housing. That represents about a 16% increase in...
People Will Steal Anything in Fresno. Even a Biohazard Bin With Bloody Crime Scene Remnants
Sometime in the early morning hours Wednesday, a crime scene cleaner was left speechless after she realized a biohazard bin she had cleaned, sealed, and strapped to the back of her truck was stolen near Wishon and McKinley avenues in Fresno. "We had finished a job, and I had...
Margaret Mims Elementary? Radio Hosts Want Sheriff’s Name on Fresno School
Central Unified School District is looking for suggestions on what name should replace President James K. Polk on the district's Polk Avenue elementary school. KMJ Radio hosts on Monday afternoon proposed a local law enforcement figure: retiring Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims. The suggestion sparked backlash from the area's...
Local Artist Draws on Childhood Influences for New Mural Project
Early Wednesday morning, Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer and a team of students from North Carolina Chapel Hill unveiled a mural project at Calwa Park designed by muralist Cynthia Velazques. City officials said they hope the artwork will spark a wave of new murals to help beautify neighborhood parks. "Part...