Some may call me a Fresnan boomerang, but let’s be real: Fresno feels more like a black hole, relentlessly pulling back those who dare to leave and ensnaring anyone who once called it home. I’ve worked in Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, Virginia, New York, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Iowa, Nevada, Ohio,...
Valley Lawmakers Get Newsom’s Signature on Green Energy, School Safety, Farmworker Bills
Assemblymembers Esmeralda Soria, Devon Mathis, and Joaquin Arambula, along with Sen. Anna Caballero, are celebrating legislative wins with Gov. Gavin Newsom's signature on bills they authored. Ranging from school safety to green energy to farmworker housing and human trafficking, the bills represent different efforts from Central Valley lawmakers. Newsom has...
A Rent Control Proposition Is Back on the Ballot. Is Third Time the Charm?
A proposal to expand local governments' authority to enact rent control on residential properties is gaining momentum in California. While similar propositions faced defeats in past elections — losing by 19 points in 2018 and 20 points in 2020 — Proposition 33 shows signs of potential success, according to a...
Fresno Fighting Lawsuits from Pensioners, Planning Commissioner
The impasse between public safety pensioners and the city of Fresno has reached lawsuit level. Following through on a July letter to the city, the group that runs the pension system for the city of Fresno police and firefighters filed a lawsuit earlier this month. The pension system says the...
Fresno’s Middle Class Has Long Lacked Mental Health Care. Will New Biden Rule Fix That?
In Fresno, people with Medi-Cal insurance often have far more mental health resources than those with private insurance, says Matthew Tatum, CEO of Sierra Meadows Behavioral Health. One of the reasons Tatum started Fresno-based Sierra Meadows Behavioral Health was a lack of available options for mental health care in Fresno....
Brandau and Bredefeld Talk Issues While Launching Attacks at Rotary Forum
Two candidates for Fresno County Supervisor met at a forum Monday afternoon. While Steve Brandau and Garry Bredefeld talked about the issues, they also attacked each other. Hosted by the Fresno Rotary, the candidates took questions from club members in a forum moderated by KMJ radio's Christina Musson. "I'm not...
Fresno Jury Sides With Former Police Chief. How Much Was He Awarded?
A Fresno County jury concluded on Monday that the city of Parlier was wrong when it fired its police chief. Jose Garza served as Parlier police chief from 2017 until his firing in 2021. He said the city council let him go after he refused to call off an investigation...
Double Joy Video: Fresno Zoo Welcomes Two Adorable Baby Elephants
So, imagine waking up one morning thinking it’s just another day at the office, only to find out you’ve got not one but two new little bundles of joy in your backyard. That’s exactly what happened at Fresno Chaffee Zoo, where they didn’t just get one newborn elephant but two...
Fresno Sheriff’s Office Enlists Community’s Help to Prevent School Shootings
The Fresno County Sheriff's Office is ramping up efforts to promote the Targeted Violence Prevention Task Force in response to the recent Apalachee High School shooting in Georgia and other local high school threats. The task force, established in August 2023, operates through an online tool called the Targeted Violence...
Ten Years After Losing My Son, I’m Ready to Bare My Soul About Suicide Prevention
September marks Suicide Prevention Month, a time when organizations and communities rally to bring attention to an issue that often lurks in the shadows. For many, it’s a time to promote awareness, share resources, and encourage open dialogue. But for some of us, this month carries a weight that words...