■A New York judge ruled that former President Donald Trump's hush-money trial can proceed. ■The case concerns allegations that he tried to bury stories about his extramarital affairs before his election in 2016. ■Trump also is a defendant in three other criminal prosecutions. NEW YORK — Donald Trump’s hush-money trial...
Shaw Avenue Highway 99 Interchange Poised for Upgrade. How Long Will the $120M Fix Take?
■Upgrading Highway 99 interchange at Shaw Avenue could cost $120 million. ■Caltrans highway interchange projects typically take seven years, provided all funding is secured. ■City fixing Shaw Avenue potholes. High-Speed Rail adding grade separation at Shaw and Golden State Blvd. The city of Fresno requested $5 million from the federal...
How Much Did Brandau’s Campaign Spend on Super Bowl Ad?
■Supervisor Steve Brandau spends big on election Super Bowl ad. ■Is Andreas Borgeas gearing for a comeback? ■Hearings for massive new northwest Fresno Costco are set. A record-setting Super Bowl audience means record prices for ads on the big game. And, one local politician took the plunge. Fresno County Supervisor...
What to Know If You Want a Glorious Photo of Yosemite’s Firefall
■The last two weeks of February are the best time to see Yosemite's Firefall. ■The El Capitan picnic area is best place for viewing, but it fills up quickly. ■The National Park Service requires a reservation to drive into Yosemite on February weekends and the Feb. 19 holiday. What has...
Not So Fast, Kid: California Bill Would Restrict E-Bike Access for Youths
■Assemblymember Tasha Boerner, D-Encinitas, proposes a bill that would limit e-bike usage for children. ■The bill would require either a driver's license or testing and a state ID card. ■Children under 12 would not be allowed to ride an e-bike. A new bill proposed by a southern California legislator would...
Mega-Warehouse Builder Embraces Visalia, Says Fresno ‘Not as Welcoming’
■CapRock Partners' 1.2 million-square-foot building is set for late July or August opening. ■ Visalia's unemployment rate is 10.2% compared to Fresno's 8.2%. ■Builder says it doesn't look at Fresno for new construction. Five months after announcing a new mega-warehouse for the city of Visalia, the Southern California developers anticipate...
The Game, Ads, Music, Puppies: Why Millions Are Excited for Super Bowl Sunday
■40% of U.S. adults are excited for Super Bowl festivities. ■22% of adults are looking forward to Super Bowl commercials. ■14% of adults are excited for the 20th annual Puppy Bowl. Even if it’s not the game itself, millions of Americans will find something to be excited about when it...
Teachers Union Exec Reportedly Vying for Fresno Unified Superintendent Job
Multiple sources tell GV Wire that Louis Jamerson, executive director of the Fresno Teachers Association, and other teachers union leaders have been lobbying district officials and community members to support his candidacy for superintendent of Fresno Unified School District. Jamerson did not respond immediately to a voicemail Wednesday evening seeking...
Ex-Bitwise Employees Can Access 401(k)s, Says Former Company Exec
The retirement money former Bitwise employees had been stashing during their tenure with the now-defunct tech company appears to be available again. Since the company's demise, many employees feared that the company's leadership had illegally squandered their retirement investments. "The day that so many of us have waited for has...
How CA Lawmakers Keep Public in the Dark With One Legislative Trick
Over the last four decades, as California’s state budget became more complicated, governors and legislators have used “trailer bills” to sometimes pass major legislation with little or no public input. California’s state budget process was relatively straightforward, albeit often opaque, prior to 1978. Governors and legislators would estimate how much...