What was supposed to be a news conference about a major gang takedown turned into an impromptu, tension-filled policy debate between the top law enforcement leaders of Fresno County and the state. The only thing that California Attorney General Rob Bonta, Fresno County District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp, and Fresno County...
Can New Star Zohran Mamdani Help Guide the Democratic Party Out of the Darkness?
The national Democratic establishment on Tuesday night struggled to absorb the startling ascent of a democratic socialist in New York City who embraced a progressive economic agenda and diverged from the party’s dominant position on the Middle East. As elections go, Tuesday’s party primary for mayor was a thunderbolt: New...
Stephen Miller Expands Power in Second Trump Term, Defies Legal Limits
Stephen Miller wanted to keep the planes in the air—and that is where they stayed, The Wall Street Journal reported. When a federal judge in March ordered the Trump administration to return deported migrants to El Salvador, senior officials scrambled during a Saturday call. Some feared defying the court. But...
Dying Honey Bees Threaten CA Economy. Can Central Valley Lawmakers Save Them?
This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. Honey bees across the country are under attack from tiny, eight-legged parasitic mites. These mites burrow between the segments of the bees’ adult bodies or invade their larvae and infect them with viruses — deforming their wings and...
Fresno Now Has a Professional Shakespeare Co. Thanks to Measure P Sales Tax
It may have been King Richard's summer of discontent, but it wasn't for the Chanticleer Shakespeare Co. Fresno's first professional Shakespearean theater company wrapped up its first production last weekend, but for those who missed it, artistic director Blake Ellis says they'll only increase the "wow factor" for the next...
Fresno Area’s Newest College Grads Boast Nearly $24 Billion in Earning Power
Thousands of students are graduating from local universities and transitioning into the work world, bringing fresh faces and ideas — and immense career earning power. Fresno County is home to Fresno State, Fresno Pacific, and California Health Sciences University. Additionally, University of California, Merced is just an hour away. The...
Florida Congresswoman to Revive Bipartisan Immigration Bill. Valley Leaders Join the Push
A Republican congressmember's revival of a 2023 bipartisan immigration reform bill has the support of Manuel Cunha, whose new group, Immigration Reform for Frontline Workers Alliance, calls for changes to the system. The bill would expand border security and provide pathways to citizenship for immigrants who have been in the...
Whatever Happened to the New Northwest Fresno Costco?
A grassroots group says the city botched an environmental report when it approved a proposed Costco in northwest Fresno. The group had its day in court on Wednesday. The expansive West Herndon Avenue lot where the mega-retailer wants to relocate its West Shaw Avenue store is empty. Not only has...
Physician Warns Fresno County Supervisors About Jail’s Medical Provider, Private Equity Co.
A physician at the Fresno County Jail appeared before Fresno County supervisors last week, revealing how private-equity management company Wellpath makes decisions on inmates' care. Despite being run by a physician-owned company on paper — California Forensic Medical Group — inmate medical equipment, referrals, and diagnostic tests are evaluated for...
Newsom Gave Political Rival a $380K Job. See the Special Interests Who Paid for It
This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. At the request of Gov. Gavin Newsom, a nonprofit paid former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa more than $380,000 to advise the governor for about 10 months on how to overhaul California’s approach to major infrastructure projects. Touting his new infrastructure...