The California Department of Education released state assessment results Thursday — showing statewide improvements — alongside updates on what is considered “meeting expectations.” Before Thursday's change, the state considered level 3, standard met, and level 4, standard exceeded, as meeting expectations on the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium student tests. The...
Fresno Unified Allowed Registered Sex Offender to Coach at High School, Claim Alleges
Fresno Unified School District allowed a registered sex offender to become a volunteer sports coach and failed to investigate complaints made by student-athletes about the coach's inappropriate conduct while he was coaching at Fresno High School, according to a recent claim. The coach, Dusty William Lewis, was convicted of rape...
What’s Behind the Doors at a North Fresno Social Club Promising Michelin-Level Food?
Over the decades, Fresno has grown enough wealth to support a Michelin-star restaurant, says Gilbert Quesada, director of operations for the PM Lounge. "This is generations of wealth. Their family businesses are now companies and corporations," Quesada said. Instead of Fresno's top earners turning to places such as Las Vegas,...
West Nile Virus Claims a Third Life in the San Joaquin Valley
West Nile virus, a disease that is typically transmitted to people by mosquitos that have fed on blood from infected birds, has so far killed four California residents in 2025, including three in the San Joaquin Valley. In the Valley, West Nile deaths have been confirmed in Tulare, Fresno and...
Fresno State Survives Nevada Rally to Extend Winning Streak to Five
The momentum swung Fresno State’s way at just the right time. Taking advantage of four Nevada first-half turnovers, the Bulldogs built a 20-3 lead. They needed every point, holding off a furious Nevada comeback for a 20-17 football win Saturday night at Valley Children’s Stadium in front of 40,005 fans....
Release Denied for Fresno Pismo’s Manager in ICE Detention
When Psalm Behpoor was told he was getting his 90-day review at the ICE holding facility in Bakersfield, he thought his release was going to be a "slam dunk," and he'd be able to return to his wife and 3-year-old child. "I thought you know, slam dunk. If I'm going...
Figuring Out How Many Homes CA Needs Is More Art Than Science
This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. Imagine you’ve finally taken your car to the mechanic to investigate that mysterious warning light that’s been flashing on your dashboard for the past week and a half. The mechanic informs you that your car's brake fluid is...
Does Another Education Bond Stand a Chance With Voters? CA Colleges Hope So
This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. Aging buildings, failing infrastructure, earthquake safety issues, and a severe lack of campus housing are straining California’s public higher education systems. As they face high-cost fixes, lawmakers have introduced a bond bill that ambitiously intends to fund both...
Clovis Unified Teachers Face Choice Between CTA-Backed or Independent Union
Teachers in the Clovis Unified School District are within reach of becoming unionized — the closest they’ve been in decades. Now, they have a choice of two suitors. Despite many attempts, the district is California’s largest school system without a teachers union. A key difference this time: Last year, the...
Hear the Political Rants of Madera College Instructor on Leave for Charlie Kirk Comments
The instructor fired by College of the Sequoias and suspended by State Center Community College District for comments about his desire to see Charlie Kirk's family dead appears to have a history of making vitriolic statements at the expense of regular coursework. A Madera Community College student taking Shaynon Scheidt's...