The five-day strike by Fresno County Superior Court clerks and court reporters ended Tuesday. SEIU Local 521, which represents about 275 employees at the courthouse, announced early Tuesday evening that it had reached a tentative agreement with the court. “Our members were at the forefront of these negotiations, backed by an...
Battle to Curb 'Epidemic' Teen E-Cigarette Use Ramps Up
Although rates for smoking traditional cigarettes are at an all-time low, there is a new player in town and it's taking over the market: electronic cigarettes. First introduced in 2003 in China, electronic cigarettes are becoming so popular with teens that U.S. health officials call the problem an "epidemic." And,...
Former Parlier Unified Superintendent Arrested for Embezzlement
After a nearly two-year investigation, the Fresno County District Attorney's Office charged a former Parlier Unified School District superintendent with felony embezzlement and misappropriation of public funds. The DA's office said in a news release Friday morning that Gerardo G. Alvarez stole from the school district's "Sunshine Club" account. If convicted,...
Costa Reverses Course, Joins Cox in Voting for Pelosi as Speaker
The Valley delegation split along party lines when it came to voting for Nancy Pelosi as House speaker. Pelosi, already the first woman to hold the gavel, became the first ex-speaker in more than a half-century to retake it. She received 220 votes. Republican Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield received 192...
Great Futures Start at Boys & Girls Clubs of Fresno County
"Great Future's Start Here" is the slogan Boys & Girls Clubs of America uses to inspire youth to work hard to achieve their dreams and overcome challenges. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Fresno County promote that message at each of its 19 clubs, which are located in at-risk and...
Her Reading Heart Inspires Students Across Fresno
Danay Ferguson founded Reading Heart when she was just 8 years old, making her the youngest registered entrepreneur in Fresno County history, according to the nonprofit's website. "It first started out with my love of reading," Danay said, "and I wanted to share that with everybody else." The avid reader is...
Enthusiasm Bump Not Reflected in Early California Voting
SACRAMENTO — The enthusiasm both parties say exists in the electorate hasn't yet translated into early voting in California, where the percentage of people who have voted so far is similar to this time four years ago. Voters who are Republican, white and older are sending in their ballots early at...
Everyone Gets Their Kicks at School's Special Olympics Event
Whenever Julian Lorenzo is on the soccer field, he aims to achieve one of two goals. "Be a winner and to do my best," said Lorenzo, a 7th-grade special education student at Rio Vista Middle School. Lorenzo did both at the school's second annual Special Olympics Soccer event. Special Olympics...
Will Supervisors Give OK to New Animal Shelter West of 99?
Fresno Humane Animal Services wants to build a new $6 million shelter and animal hospital. It has the land. It has preliminary approvals. It is fundraising to build a first-rate operation. But some residents are against the four-acre facility, which is proposed on Grantland Avenue, between Parkway Drive, Tenaya Avenue,...
Bikes Propel Young Readers to Summer Success
When Johnny Yang found out he could earn a new bike if he became one of the top readers at the Pinedale Boys & Girls Club, he immersed himself in books. Carissa Molina, the club's program assistant, said Yang, a first-grade student at Pinedale Elementary School, had a great work ethic. "When he found...