A bonsai (miniature tree) exhibit is fast becoming one of Fresno’s don’t-miss destinations. Visitors come from all over: local families on an afternoon outing, travelers who’d discovered the Clark Bonsai Collection on smartphone apps like Tripadvisor or Yelp, enthusiasts of Japanese arts, would-be bonsai hobbyists, and folks just curious to...
Fresno Unified Trustees Expand Superintendent Search to Include External Candidates
With a plan yet to be developed, Fresno Unified trustees decided Wednesday to do both an internal and external search for Superintendent Bob Nelson's replacement. "The board is considering options for the superintendent search process and for purposes of transparency, the board will proceed with an external search for qualified...
Trustees Owe a Nationwide Superintendent Search to Fresno’s Children
The following is an open letter to the Fresno Unified School Board: We stand with those advocating for a nationwide search for the next superintendent of the Fresno Unified School District. The most crucial decision school board members make is the hiring of a superintendent. Thus it is imperative that...
Pistachio Growers Banking on World Famous Chef to Grow Their Markets
When the world got its first chance to buy California's record 2023 pistachio crop in October of that year, Charlotte Avila, senior director of sales and marketing at Touchstone Pistachios flew to Europe to be on hand for her company's biggest market. The Fresno-based company had salespeople on that continent,...
Appeal Court Rules Fong Can Stay on CA-20 Congressional Ballot
Assemblymember Vince Fong can remain on November's congressional ballot in the race for Kevin McCarthy's old Central Valley seat. In a 3-0 decision released Tuesday morning, the Sacramento-based California Third District Court of Appeal rejected an attempt by Secretary of State Shirley Weber to keep Fong out of the race....
Is City ‘Low-Balling’ Fresno Businesses on Land Buys for Blackstone-McKinley Underpass?
The city of Fresno is negotiating with businesses and residents around Blackstone and McKinley avenues to figure out the purchase prices for land to build a much-anticipated traffic underpass there. Some property owners say they are getting low-balled while other businesses say city rules have zoned them out of one...
The View for Fresno Eclipse Chasers in Texas? ‘Awesome’ to ‘Good Consolation Prize’
INGRAM, Texas —For four minutes Monday, the sky darkened into an early nighttime as the moon’s shadow swept over campers who had gathered from around the western U.S. and even as far as Germany for the chance to see the total eclipse of the sun. But, as anybody who works...
California Community Colleges Losing Millions to Pell Grant Scammers
They’re called “Pell runners” — after enrolling at a community college they apply for a federal Pell grant, collect as much as $7,400, then vanish. Since fall 2021, California’s community colleges have given more than $5 million to Pell runners, according to monthly reports they sent to the California Community...
Recruiter Withdraws From ‘Compromised’ FUSD Superintendent Search
The recruiting firm tasked by Fresno Unified to find the district's new superintendent told board members it would not handle the next steps of the search, calling the process "compromised." Leadership Associates' decision to exit was welcomed by School Board President Susan Wittrup, who said the district needs a search...
Fresno Greenlights SW Fresno Starbucks After Developer Agrees to Changes
The Fresno City Council approved the necessary permits, allowing for a Starbucks in southwest Fresno. The developers agreed to build only one drive-thru instead of two, a source of the holdup. Councilmember Miguel Arias balked at approval at the March 18 meeting, citing traffic and pedestrian concerns. "You can't come...