Failing water systems throughout the southern San Joaquin Valley will get a $15 million boost thanks to the efforts of state Sen. Melissa Hurtado, a Sanger Democrat. “Access to clean drinking water is one of the main reasons why I chose to run for office,” Hurtado said in a news...
Fresno Celebrates Juneteenth in Style on Saturday
A holiday that is spreading across the U.S. and beyond, Juneteenth is considered the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States. More than 150 cities will have Juneteenth festivities this year, including Fresno. Up to 10,000 people are expected to take part from noon to...
How AOC Became Part of Fresno Council Debate on Fire Fees
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has nothing to do with Fresno fire impact fees. The New York congresswoman certainly doesn't know anything about them. That didn’t prevent her name being evoked in a city council debate about it. The Fresno Fire Department says an increase in impact fees on new homes is needed to...
Westerlund Resigns as Fresno Economic Development Director
Larry Westerlund is now Fresno’s former economic development director. City Hall confirmed that Westerlund, who first took the job in 2014 under then-Mayor Ashley Swearengin, resigned May 31. “The time seemed to be right. I’m glad to go back to the private sector and glad about the opportunities there,” Westerlund...
Who's Next to Take on Nunes? 3 Democrats Enter the Ring.
Three Democrats have lined up to take the next shot at Republican Congressman Devin Nunes in 2020. It's an interesting trio. One runs a Fresno auto repair shop. Another bounced in and out of a Fresno City Council race before deciding to throw in for California's District 22 seat. The...
Stick the Bullard Blackface Story on Your Kid's Door
There really isn’t an excuse for donning blackface and dropping N-bombs anymore. We’ve established clearly as a culture that we no longer accept that as valid humor. The day after 9/11, Joan Rivers invited a friend to dinner at “Windows on the Ground.” If I had told that joke I...
Why Fresno? Buttigieg Says It Reminds Him of Home.
Mayor Pete Buttigieg delivered a progressive presidential agenda at two campaign stops in Fresno and to a national cable television audience Monday. At a morning meet-and-greet at Tuolumne Hall, Buttigieg spoke to a receptive audience and took questions. He hit the progressive high notes — health care for all, the...
Police Chief to Mayor. Lessons from Those Who Made the Leap.
A police chief being elected as mayor of their city is not unprecedented — but doesn’t happen often. Recent examples include San Diego and Tampa, Fla., where retired chiefs survived crowded primaries before going forward to win their respective run-off. Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer, who is scheduled to retire...
Fresnan Uses ‘Clash of Clans’ to Lure Victim, Gets 14 Years in Prison
Emilio Morales, 29, of Fresno, was sentenced Friday to 14 years in federal prison for using the internet to coerce a minor into producing child pornography, the Department of Justice said. By Morales' own admission, he met the 11-year-old victim while playing the popular online game “Clash of Clans.” In...
‘Kai the Hitchhiker’ Gets 57 Years for Beating Man to Death
ELIZABETH, N.J. — A man who gained internet fame as "Kai the Hatchet-Wielding Hitchhiker" has been sentenced to 57 years in prison for the beating death of a New Jersey man. Caleb McGillvary will have to serve at least 85% of his sentence under terms imposed Thursday. The Alberta, Canada,...