Fresno Unified's new chief academic officer is coming from a Southern California school district that has been marked in recent months by friction among board members and critical news stories about her style of management as the superintendent. Dr. Natasha Baker, who has several decades of educational leadership experience,...
Fresno Settles With Fired City Clerk for $250,000
The city of Fresno has settled a wrongful termination claim alleging discrimination made by its longtime city clerk. Last June, the Fresno City Council fired Yvonne Spence on a 4-3 vote. Spence, who is Black, served as the clerk for nine years, from 2012 to her 2021 dismissal. Per...
How Are the Sheriff’s Candidates Faring in the Fundraising Battle?
John Zanoni and Mark Salazar are running in the June 7 election to replace retiring four-term Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims. Financial figures released last week show Zanoni, an assistant sheriff for the county, in the fundraising lead. Zanoni, who is endorsed by Mims, raised $144,500 and spent about $40,000...
Two Leading Fresno Cancer Centers Acquired by National Companies
California Cancer Associates for Research and Excellence, better known locally as cCare, has been purchased by Integrated Oncology Network. Founded in 1993, cCare provides comprehensive cancer treatment in Fresno and San Diego. The Fresno center is at 7130 N. Millbrook Ave., across Herndon Avenue from Saint Agnes Medical Center....
Cannabis Was Projected to Generate Millions in Taxes for Fresno, Which Is Yet to Get a Penny
The city of Fresno is losing millions of dollars in projected tax revenue because marijuana retail stores have yet to open. When the city council approved last year's budget, it anticipated $4.3 million in taxes from cannabis. That number is estimated at $8.7 million annually for future years, including...
Valley Could See Farmworker Exodus, Collapsed Communities as Land is Fallowed
Advocates are sounding the alarm for what they think could be the collapse of the San Joaquin Valley’s agriculture workforce. As drought continues to hammer the state and groundwater pumping restrictions take effect, farmland will need to be retired en masse. While there have been many conversations, including legislation, on...
Johanson’s Life Was the Stuff Dreams, Community, and Integrity Are Made Of
Richard Johanson died 96 years young last week. "Young" because the self-made businessman and Fresno philanthropist always focused on what was ahead. Like all of us, he would sometimes talk about the past. Who doesn't enjoy a tale or two about the good old days? But the best use...
Fleeing War in Their Homeland, Ukrainians Find Refuge with Help from Fresno Volunteers
Mykhailo Kozariuk was working as a seasonal mushroom picker in England when war broke out in Ukraine, his homeland. His mother, sister, and two nieces were still in southern Ukraine near Odesa but were preparing to flee across the border into Romania. Half a world away, Boris Nebyshinets and...
Fresno City Attorney Sloan Leaving for New Job
Fresno City Attorney Douglas Sloan is leaving, the president of the city council said Friday. Sloan, the top legal advisor for the city since March 2013 and a city employee for 16 years, is leaving for a new post in southern California. Neither the city nor Sloan has said...
Fresno City College VP Gets Nod for Top Job as President
State Center Community College District Chancellor Carole Goldsmith has made her pick for the new Fresno City College president, and he's already a familiar face at the college. Goldsmith is recommending that the Board of Trustees select Dr. Robert Pimentel, who is currently the college's vice president of educational...