Trying to beat a potential blackout of the downtown area, the Fresno City Council held a lightning-fast meeting to approve a nearly $13 million spending plan for pandemic relief on Monday afternoon. The city will contract with several community-based organizations to help with food distribution, contact tracing, and testing. The...
Large Crowds at SJ River Park Led to COVID Outbreak, Supervisor Says
Over 1,000 people crowded into Skaggs Bridge Park on the San Joaquin River last weekend led to a cluster of COVID-19 cases, Fresno County Supervisor Brian Pacheco said this week. "There was a person there — I'm sure there were multiple people there — that had the virus," Pacheco said....
Fresno County Passes 200 COVID-19 Deaths, Kraft Foods Employees Test Positive
Fresno County passed an ominous mark Friday with the announcement that 203 people have died of COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic. Sixty-five of those deaths have come in August, which matches the total for all of July. With the addition of 467 positive tests since Tuesday, the county...
COVID-19 Closures Costing Fresno Economy Millions. How Do We Get Off State Watch List?
While essential businesses in Fresno County continue to operate during the COVID-19 pandemic, those affected by statewide closures or the county's placement on the state's watch list are fighting for survival. Some have lost the battle and permanently closed their doors. The precise loss to the Fresno economy is incalculable...
Fresno County Voters Switching to Democratic Party
More voters in Fresno County are choosing a preference — the Democratic Party. The Secretary of State released the newest registration figures for registrations through July. According to those numbers, voters are switching from no party preference to Democrat. Overall registrants are up less than 1% since February, but up...
Got Questions About Voting? We Are Here to Help: Brandi Orth
Nothing will stop democracy in America, not even a global COVID-19 pandemic! Every eligible United States citizen will have the opportunity to vote in the Nov. 3, 2020, Presidential Election. First, voters should verify their voter registration at https://voterstatus.sos.ca.gov/ or www.votefresnocounty.com. Voters should be sure their current residential address or...
Election Challenge: Safe, Accurate Voting in Pandemic Era
Despite skeptics in high places — President Donald Trump, for example — of mailing a ballot to every active registered voter in California, local election officials are answering with their own message: All votes will be accurately counted, and rigorous safeguards are in place to prevent election fraud. In fact,...
New Website Allows Voters to Track Their Ballot, Registration
Concerned about whether your mailed-in ballot makes it to the county clerk? There's a website for that. Through the state's Where's My Ballot? website, a voter can receive an email, phone call, or text updating the status of a ballot. “Shoppers are already used to receiving updates on their online...
State’s COVID Team Heads to Madera, Will Provide Fresno County Action Plan
After two solid days of meetings and tours, the state's COVID-19 support team is leaving Fresno County. But, that doesn't mean the county is in the clear. The team next travels to Madera County to assist COVID-19 efforts there before returning to Sacramento. Fresno County leaders expect to receive an...
Campaign Contribution Limit Set for Fresno County Races at $30K
The days of unlimited campaign contributions for candidates running for Fresno County offices are over. Now, the limit is $30,000 per election cycle (primary and general election), as approved by the Fresno County Board of Supervisors, 5-0, at Tuesday's meeting. The limits not only apply to individual contributors but to...