As California’s traditional season for rain and snow began last fall, meteorologists and hydrologists predicted that the state would probably experience a second year of heavy precipitation. The previous winter had been a record-breaker that strained — and sometimes overwhelmed — California flood control systems. Among other things, it recreated...
As the World’s Greatest Superpower, Our Charge Is to Broker a Lasting Peace in Gaza
The images of death and destruction from Gaza are horrifying. Every picture and video we see — especially those of innocent children being killed or maimed — shakes every caring person to the core. We are not so naïve as to think there will never be a war somewhere in...
Will Visalia Lose the Rawhide? $7M Ballpark Upgrade Dispute Will Decide
A December ruling from a Tulare County judge has neither the city of Visalia nor the California League's Rawhide baseball team any closer to figuring out who has to pick up the $7 million tab to upgrade the historic Valley Strong Ballpark. And, with an April 1 deadline looming from...
Fresno Children Face Long Waits for Mental Health Care. Is Payment Reform Making It Worse?
Children in Fresno and elsewhere in California face long wait times to get mental health care. In fact, a November report from the California State Auditor's office shows that wait times for appointments sometimes reach as long as 100 days. Moreover, a lack of oversight by governing agencies obscures how...
Budget Deficit Will Test the Link Between CA School Spending and Achievement
When California’s governors and legislators write state budgets, they begin with projecting how much revenue the state is likely to receive. It’s a semi-educated guess that is often billions of dollars removed from the eventual reality, given the high level of volatility in the state’s taxation system. With a revenue number in hand, officialdom...
Literacy Advocates Promote ‘The Right to Read’ in Fresno Screenings
The inability to read isn't just an education issue for students — it's also a civil rights issue because reading is critical to success in college, career, and life. In Fresno and across California, students of color have lower reading scores on standardized testing. If certain student populations are struggling...
What Newsom’s Office Says About $100 Million Delay for Downtown Fresno Improvements
The governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) says it has a lot of love for Fresno despite wanting to delay $100 million in downtown improvement funding. The proposed state budget presented this week by Gov. Gavin Newsom said the money — part of a $250 million pledge last...
Fresno Rabbi Faces Hate Crime Charge After Fight with Palestinian Protesters
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...