Even if the Fresno City Council won't admit it, it is well known that taxpayers are funding Nelson Esparza's legal defense. But how much is unknown. The city is keeping the people in the dark about the bill accumulated thus far as attorney Mark Coleman and his team go about...
Fresno Council Cuts T-Mobile Lease Short Amid Spiral Garage Debate
The Spiral Garage may be old, but is it a historical landmark? Fresno City Councilman Miguel Arias floated the idea at last week's City Council meeting. The discussion came under the item to extend a lease for cell phone provider T-Mobile to use the garage for its equipment. "The city...
Time for Change or Status Quo? FUSD Trustee Candidates Weigh in on Issues
Voters in four of Fresno Unified School District's seven trustee areas will decide in the Nov. 7 election who will be at the political helm of the state's third-largest school district. The candidates include four incumbents — longtime Trustee Valerie Davis, with nearly two decades on the School Board, and...
Rikishi Is Coming to Fresno. Why He Didn’t Want to Be a Headshrinker, and the Stinkface!
Pro wrestling Hall of Famer Rikishi went from being dead for three minutes to a legendary career. Part of the Samoan wrestling dynasty — which includes Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson — Rikishi will be in Fresno on Saturday, part of the CVC card and memorabilia show. He will sign autographs...
In Seven Years, DA’s Public Integrity Unit Charged 15 with Crimes
Since its inception in 2015, the Public Integrity Unit of the Fresno County District Attorney's office has charged 15 individuals. Three of them were publicly elected officials. The most recent is possibly the most high-profile case — charging Fresno City Councilman Nelson Esparza with two counts related to allegations of...
DA Smittcamp: ‘I Will File as Many Murder Cases Against Drug Dealers as I Can’
With fentanyl killing Americans in alarming numbers, Fresno County District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp is pursuing justice for victims with an iron fist. On Tuesday, Smittcamp's office filed murder charges against Cassidy Mairie Gonzalez, 21, who allegedly sold fentanyl-laced pills that killed Jade Alexandra Dreith in January. "This is murder...
Fresno Suspect in 3 School Shooting Threat Calls Arrested
A 23-year-old Fresno man was arrested Tuesday in connection with multiple phone threats about shootings at Bullard, Edison, and Fresno high schools on Monday. Police said the suspect, Jose Luis Casteneda, attempted to conceal his identity and phone information, but detectives were able to identify him. He was taken...
Fresno’s ‘Stumpdog’ Races Into National BMX Hall of Fame
A Fresno area BMX racing legend is headed to the sport's National Hall of Fame. Randy "Stumpdog" Stumpfhauser, 45, will be inducted at the National BMX Hall of Fame and Museum in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Saturday, Oct. 29. Stumpfhauser, who was born in Fresno and raced out of Sanger,...
Hotly Contested Valley Race Draws Former VP Mike Pence to Fresno
Former vice president Mike Pence stumped for Rep. David Valadao, R-Hanford, at a fundraising event in Fresno Monday morning. Winning kitchen table issues such as the economy and public safety will return Valadao to Washington, Pence said. Valadao is being challenged by Assemblyman Rudy Salas, D-Bakersfield, in the Valley's...
Fresno State Coach Broke Window That Rained Glass on Football Fans, Officials Say
A Fresno State football coach has been placed on leave after glass from a broken window from the coach's booth landed on fans, injuring at least two. The university made the announcement Sunday morning. "Unfortunately, some fans were injured during last night’s football game as a result of glass that...