Farmers in the heart of California’s agricultural belt – Kings County – sense something is awry with their water supplies. In this intensively farmed, perennially dry county, water is leaving at a concerning rate. “We’ve all seen it,” said walnut farmer Steve Walker. “We haven’t sat down and put dye...
Feds in Valley Crack Down on Fentanyl as US Overdose Deaths Eclipse 103,000
After the CDC said that a record 103,300 Americans died of drug overdoses in one year, the rise of illicit fentanyl was on full display at the federal courthouse in Fresno on Thursday. U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced the indictments of two men in two separate cases involving fentanyl....
Westlands, Other Valley Groundwater Plans Come up Short: State
Four groundwater plans in the Central Valley — including those for Westlands Water District, Chowchilla Water District, and the Merced and Eastern San Joaquin subbasins — don’t show how they will protect water quality, keep drinking water wells from going dry, or stop already sinking land from sinking further, according...
Inflation Stresses Valley Food Bank. Can You Help Feed the Hungry?
A combination of food and labor shortages, coupled with inflationary prices, has increased food insecurity in the Central Valley. The Central California Food Bank provides free meals to thousands of individuals and families every single month across Fresno, Madera, Tulare, Kings, and Kern counties. However, because of the pandemic, food...
$1 Trillion Bill Brings Billions to the Valley. What Are the Projects?
Two Fresno area Democrats who attended the signing of President Joe Biden's $1 billion infrastructure bill into law on Monday say the package will improve the lives of Valley residents and strengthen the local economy. "Today marks a new beginning for our nation. This transformative bill secures millions for San Joaquin Valley water systems, roads, ports, broadband, public transit,...
Embattled Fresno County Social Services Director Leaving
The embattled director of Fresno County social services will resign his position effective Dec. 10 to take a new job in Los Angeles County. Delfino Neira came under fire when social workers revealed that foster children were living in unsanitary conditions at Department of Social Services offices. In a Friday...
Man Who Went to Space With Shatner Dies in Plane Crash
HAMPTON TOWNSHIP, N.J. — A man who traveled to space with William Shatner last month was killed along with another person when the small plane they were in crashed in a wooded area of northern New Jersey, according to state police. Glen M. de Vries, 49, of New York City,...
Fresno State Ready to Forget Boise, Prepare for Lobos
Everyone inside the Duncan Athletic Building knew last week's loss to Boise State was ugly. "Those guys are absolutely crushed. They're embarrassed and really hurt," said offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb on how the team felt. Head coach Kalen DeBoer agreed. "There is no one more disappointed than these guys. They're...
Stars, Stripes, and Thanks. Veterans Day Parade Returns in Fresno
As thousands lined the streets of downtown Fresno, it was as if the Veterans Day Parade had never skipped a beat. The pandemic forced last year's version to be online only. On Thursday, the marching bands played patriotic music. Politicians gave grand speeches thanking those who served. And, young and...
Feds Block Billions of Public Transit Money for California
SACRAMENTO — The federal government says California is ineligible for about $12 billion in public transit funding because of a long-running dispute over changes to the state's public pension law that the Biden administration recently determined are improper. Federal law says state and local agencies must protect the interests of...