Despite directives from city officials banning their presence, street vendors turned out for Thursday night's ArtHop in downtown Fresno. It was difficult to tell if the vendor ban, the hot temperatures — or both — produced a smaller crowd. Suffice to say that ArtHop went on amid vendor resistance and...
Misty Her Chops 170 FUSD Goals to Two: Boosting Student Outcomes, Customer Service
Fresno Unified Interim Superintendent Misty Her has been busy this summer crafting her 100 Day Plan with goals designed to lift up students in the state’s third-largest school district. She’s been working in temporary quarters in an FUSD building at the corner of Fresno and Fulton streets while the Educational...
Fresno Wins Quarter-Billion Settlement Over Tainted Drinking Water
In the largest known settlement of its kind, the city of Fresno won $230 million from the Dow Chemical Co. and Shell Oil for contaminating wells with a chemical they hid inside of a pesticide. For decades, Dow and Shell put 1,2,3-Trichloropropane into nematocides, according to settlement terms acquired by...
Newsom Denouncing Trump’s Authoritarian Streak Is Pot Calling the Kettle Black
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has been one of the loudest Democratic politicians in denouncing former President Donald Trump as a threat to democracy. While endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign for the presidency this month, Newsom declared, "With our democracy at stake and our future on the line, no one...
Drake Bell Exposed Nickelodeon’s Sins Against Kids. He Plays His Music Friday in Fresno.
Actor and musician Drake Bell returns to Fresno at Strummer's in the Tower District on Friday. He performed an acoustic set with passion and soul here in 2018. He recently exhibited bravery by speaking out about the unspeakable behavior towards children at Nickelodeon on the documentary series "Quiet on Set"...
Fresno Needs More Nurses. Will This New Training Program Be the Answer?
A new nurse training program is opening in Fresno and is designed to help close the gap in the region's nursing corps. Samuel Merritt University, a private university based in Oakland, will operate the center in north Fresno, which has its grand opening on Thursday. The center will be home...
Bitwise Settling With Employees for $20 Million. How Much Will Each Get?
It could be a happy holiday for nearly 700 former Bitwise Industries employees. The bankrupt company preliminarily has settled a class action lawsuit for $20 million. Attorney Roger Bonakdar of Fresno estimates the settlement will mean about $15,000 for each employee, which could be paid by the end of the...
Pension Tension: Lawsuit Threatened Over City of Fresno’s Contribution Cut
Fresno's municipal pension system and City Hall are at odds over how much should be paid into the police and firefighter retirement fund. And, the dispute could wind up in the courtroom. The city wants to keep its contributions the same as last year, approximately $30.8 million. The pension board...
Industry vs. Pollution: What’s the Right Balance in South Fresno?
Business advocates fear the city's plan to outline land use for south Fresno could lead to a repeat of what happened only a few years ago in a nearby part of town. The public comment period on the South Central Specific Plan ends Wednesday, said Jennifer Clark, planning and development...
Fresno Approves Anti-Camping Law Despite Raucous Protests
In a raucous meeting that saw several disruptions, Fresno is saying no to camping in public places. By a 7-0 vote, the Fresno City Council approved an ordinance to restrict public camping and spelled out penalties during a special meeting that began Monday morning and extended to the late afternoon...