A new text message service in Fresno County aims to ensure clients represented by the public defender's office show up in court. Listen to this article: The service, called Uptrust, sends personalized text messages to public defender clients reminding them of their scheduled court hearings and other legal appointments. The...
Padilla on Census, Voter Fraud, and His Future
Secretary of State Alex Padilla is a busy man. Not only is he responsible for running a statewide election in less than 90 days, he is also leading California's census count effort. Padilla, in the middle of his second term as secretary of state, recently visited Fresno, chairing a day-long...
Many Fresno Incumbents Fail to Draw Opponents
The deadline passed Friday for candidates to file to run on the March 3, 2020, ballot. And several races featuring incumbents failed to draw even a single challenger. On the Fresno City Council, District 2's Mike Karbassi and District 6's Garry Bredefeld will stand for reelection unopposed. Karbassi won a special...
Ag Giant Wonderful Sues Fresno County Over Assemi Nut Plant
One of the world's largest pistachio growers is suing Fresno County, alleging that it violated state environmental review regulations. The suit seeks to halt a nut processing plant being built by the Assemi family in the western part of the county. Wonderful Nut Orchards LLC filed the suit Tuesday in...
Thanksgiving Food Delivery Aids Dozens of Rural Fresno Families
Volunteers delivered food to more than 70 struggling families in Fresno County's most impoverished community this week, just in time for Thanksgiving, Over three tons of fresh and non-perishable food was collected over the past several weeks for distribution in Mendota, where recent census data shows half the population lives...
Former DA Egan Is Running for Judge
Former three-term Fresno County DA Elizabeth Egan has entered the race to succeed retiring Judge Alan Simpson. Egan joins Douglas Treisman, a Fresno County senior deputy district attorney, in the competition for Simpson's spot on the Fresno County Superior Court bench. Judges serve six-year terms and are paid $213,833 annually. County elections...
Fresno's Homelessness Crisis Needs Immediate United Action
The issue of homelessness in Fresno County is not new, having been a part of our community since our foundation more than a century ago. However, an issue once seen as a blight or nuisance limited to specific pockets of our county has followed in the steps of our state...
County Tops State Average in English, Math — if Fresno Unified Isn't Counted
Nearly three-fourths of Fresno County students scored above the state average on both English language arts and mathematics standardized tests last year. In fact, the same contingent of Fresno County students tested above the state average in English language arts for the past three years. Listen to this article: But...
Down Millions, Fees on Local Construction Could Increase
Housing and commercial construction prices could increase under a plan from a government agency focused on transportation issues. Voters approved the Regional Transportation Mitigation Fee as part of the Measure C renewal in 2006. While Measure C extended a half-cent sales tax in Fresno County for another 20 years, RTMF...
Down Millions, Fees on Local Construction Could Increase
Housing and commercial construction prices could increase under a plan from a government agency focused on transportation issues. Voters approved the Regional Transportation Mitigation Fee as part of the Measure C renewal in 2006. While Measure C extended a half-cent sales tax in Fresno County for another 20 years, RTMF...