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...
Will You Have to Pay Thousands Extra to Buy a Home? Realtor Commissions Are Changing
The homebuying world is still trying to figure out how the market will work after Aug. 17. That day, the settlement between the National Association of Realtors and the U.S. Department of Justice will come into effect, changing how homebuyers' agents get paid. That change has Realtors and brokerages scrambling...
New Fresno Police Officer Mandeep Kaur Motivated to Break Barriers
The young and the brave joined the ranks of the Fresno Police Department at a ceremony on Friday morning. They are sons and daughters, husbands and wives, fathers and mothers. Several of the 20 new officers — 17 recruits and three lateral transfers — were born in raised in the...