Police arrested a Fresno rabbi and former candidate for state Senate last week on a felony hate crime charge after a scuffle with Palestinian protesters at a freeway overpass. Amnon Shor, leader of the Bet Shalom Messianic Congregation, allegedly got into a fight on Friday, Jan. 5, at Shaw Avenue...
Newsom Wants to Hold Back $100 Million From Fresno for Downtown Improvements
Gov. Gavin Newsom plans to delay $100 million of a $250 million pledge in infrastructure funding for downtown Fresno to whittle away at a multi-billion budget deficit. Newsom introduced his budget outlook on Wednesday, citing a shortfall of $38 billion. The independent Legislative Analyst's Office previously projected a $68 billion...
The Size of California’s Budget Deficit Is in Dispute. Who’s Right?
There’s an old adage that one must first acknowledge a problem exists before it can be addressed. It bears repeating because of a huge disagreement over the size of California’s state budget deficit. In December, the Legislature’s independent budget analyst said the state faces a $68 billion deficit, mostly due...
Is Controversial Highway 99 Ramp Revamp for Safety, Business, or Both?
The Fresno City Council in December voted to accept the environmental study for major renovations to the onramps and offramps at North Avenue and Highway 99. One councilmember worries that in doing so, the action would rope the city into an ongoing legal battle involving community groups that claim the...
From ‘Train to Nowhere’ to Fresno’s Dream: What High-Speed Rail Means for the Central Valley
Morgan Doizaki reflects often on the stories his mother used to share about how Japan built the world’s first bullet train, the Shinkansen, in the early 1960s. The country between Tokyo and Osaka was “probably one of the worst pieces of land you could choose,” Doizaki remembers her telling him....
California Bill Would Ban Tackle Football for Youths Under 12
A Sacramento assemblymember is trying to prevent children under 12 from playing organized tackle football. Kevin McCarty, D-Sacramento, introduced AB 734 last year, but it will not get its first committee hearing until Wednesday. Concussion research, and the 2015 movie "Concussion," about head trauma in the NFL, inspired the bill....
Youth Baseball, Human Trafficking Nonprofit Will Benefit from New Fresno Pot Shops
A cannabis company is opening two dispensaries in Fresno this month on opposite sides of town. Culture Cannabis Club had a soft opening for its first location at 314 E. Bullard Ave. on Friday. The company will open its second location at 2590 S. Maple Ave., suite 103, on Thursday....
Newsom Sets Special Election Date for McCarthy’s Short-Term Successor
Voters will elect their next representative for the vacant 20th Congressional District on March 19. Rep. Kevin McCarthy resigned from Congress on Dec. 31, causing the vacancy. He also declined to run for re-election. The move prompted the need for a special election, which will be only two weeks after...
California’s Vital Logistics Industry Is Under Political Attack
During the last half-century, logistics — receiving, storing, and transporting goods — became a dominant segment of Southern California’s economy. As Asia — particularly China — evolved into a manufacturing colossus, the twin ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach saw an eruption of ship traffic, and the region’s interior...
Planning Commission Rejects Appeal by Arias, Approves Starbucks’ Location in SW Fresno
The Fresno Planning Commission approved permits for a first-of-its-kind Starbucks for southwest Fresno after councilmember Miguel Arias said the drive-thru was a danger to nearby school children. The Fresno Planning Commission Wednesday rejected the appeal in a 6-0 vote Wednesday night. There are only 50 "community store" Starbucks in the...