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...
Fresno’s Literacy Instruction ‘Anemic;’ Changing That Would Boost Fresno, State and Nation
Fresno Unified School District needs to move past its longtime "anemic" reading instruction so students can be successful in education, School Board President Susan Wittrup said Monday night at Fresno High. Wittrup was speaking to a small audience of administrators, teachers, and community members who had gathered at the high...
Bitwise Judgment Comes Down: SEC Ruling Bans Soberal from Work with Securities
A federal judge has issued a judgment in the Security and Exchange Commission's case against Bitwise's co-CEO Jake Soberal, banning him from leading a company that issues securities. In the Feb.1 settlement, Soberal — among other orders — waives the right to any defense, said Fresno attorney Roger Bonakdar. Bonakdar...
RIP, James Hallowell: He Loved His Community as Much as He Loved Selling Chevys
James Hallowell — whose passion for selling Chevrolets was equaled by his love for Fresno State, the San Joaquin River Parkway, and the arts — died peacefully surrounded by his family at home on Jan. 31 at the age of 90. Mr. Hallowell took many of the fruits of his...
Is Yet Another Hike Coming to Your PG&E Bill This Spring?
Customers of Pacific Gas & Electric could be facing yet another bill increase — possibly as early as this spring. On Thursday, the California Public Utilities Commission issued a proposed decision that would allow PG&E to start collecting $516 million in revenues for what the utility spent on wildfire safety...
Another Delay for $120M Fresno Industrial Park. When Will Council Vote on It?
The Fresno City Council last week delayed a vote on a $120 million industrial park for a second time — this time because of a public records request. The most recent delay for Scannell Properties' proposed development at Marks Avenue near Highway 180 comes after labor groups requested records from...
Can Trump Be on the Ballot? It’s the Supreme Court’s Biggest Election Test Since Bush v. Gore
WASHINGTON — A case with the potential to disrupt Donald Trump's drive to return to the White House is putting the Supreme Court uncomfortably at the center of the 2024 presidential campaign. In arguments Thursday, the justices will, for the first time, wrestle with a constitutional provision that was adopted...
Migrant Journey: From Venezuela to Texas to Denver to Fresno
A Denver government official explained how Venezuelan migrants made their U.S. journey from El Paso, Texas, to Denver, Colorado, to Fresno in the past week. "We didn't charter a bus and send it to Fresno or anything like that, but if they do ask to go to Fresno, we will...
Campaign Money: Who Raised What So Far for Congress, Local Elections
The latest campaign financial figures revealed that incumbents almost always have the fundraising advantage. That is especially true for candidates running for Congress. In an expected contested race, Rep. David Valadao, R-Hanford, led all metrics tracked by GV Wire — amount raised for the quarter, total raised, and cash on...
With California’s ‘Biggest Storm of the Season’ Hitting This Weekend, Stay Home and Hunker Down
The first atmospheric river storm that hit this week foreshadowed a bigger storm that's taking aim on California, with the potential for 24 to 36 hours of nonstop rain in coastal areas and blizzards piling up snow in the Sierra. The second and larger storm — termed an "atmospheric river"...