House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield has won his party’s nomination for speaker, fending off a challenge from conservative challenger Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona in a 188-31 vote, CNN reported Tuesday. Multiple sources in the room revealed the secret ballot count to CNN. McCarthy only needed a simple...
Fresno Trustee Seeks to Dismiss Bullard Coach’s Defamation Suit
Fresno Unified School District and Trustee Keshia Thomas are seeking dismissal of a defamation lawsuit filed by Bullard High football coach Don Arax, arguing that Thomas' statements that Arax used racist language is protected speech under the First Amendment. Thomas told GV Wire that Arax had used the n-word when...
Fresno Supervisors Deny Violating Law at News Conference Slamming PG&E
The Fresno County Board of Supervisors on Friday issued a statement denying that supervisors violated the Brown Act when they attended a news conference to discuss community concerns about Pacific Gas & Electric. The Fresno County Democratic Party filed a complaint based on comments made by Mayor Jerry Dyer at...
Judge Rules Council President’s Extortion Case Will Continue
A judge ruled that the attempted extortion case against Fresno City Council President Nelson Esparza will move forward. Esparza, charged in July, is accused of threatening then-City Attorney Douglas Sloan's job if he did not work for the "majority" of the council, believed to be the liberal bloc of four...
Bessinger Returns to Clovis Council, Joined by Local GOP Leader, Former Top Cop
Public safety was top of mind for Clovis voters, and they chose three like-minded candidates for City Council. Drew Bessinger won his third election, earning his second full term. He is a retired Clovis police captain and retired last year as chief of the Fresno Yosemite airport police. He garnered...
Wittrup Ousts Incumbent Slatic in Fresno Schools Race. Islas Clings to Razor-Thin Lead.
Retired school psychologist Susan Wittrup easily unseated Bullard area incumbent Terry Slatic in the most closely watched Fresno Unified School Board election on Tuesday night. Wittrup, who threw her hat in the ring early and built a huge campaign treasury, dominated Slatic — a one-term board member — and challengers...
Unusual Council Coalition Seeks Alternative to War with PG&E
Less than a week after a discussion, but no resolution, members of the Fresno City Council met with Pacific Gas and Electric on Monday. More meetings are scheduled for later this week. The main complaint from Mayor Jerry Dyer, other councilmembers, and the development community: delays in electrifying housing and...
Bullard Student Walkout Possible as Cellphone Ban Starts Midweek
Bullard High School's new policy restricting student access to their smart phones during the school day will start Wednesday, the school announced in messages to families, social media posts, and on the school's website. The controversial ban, which school officials say is designed to improve student academic performance by reducing...
Dyer, Council Team up to Start Easing Fresno Housing Crunch
There's good news for veterans and others caught in Fresno's housing crunch. On Thursday, the Fresno City Council unanimously approved three of Mayor Jerry Dyer's housing proposals — including a revised voucher incentive program the mayor says will help up to 400 families or individuals put a roof over their...
‘Yellow Flags’ in Fresno Drive $100M Warehouse Development to Visalia
What does Visalia have over Fresno when it comes to attracting industrial warehouses? "There's too much yellow flags up right now," Freddie Molina, executive officer for YS Buildings said. "I don't want to buy a piece of land and then have to sit on it. We want to buy it,...