With the filing deadline three days away, 28 candidates (including 8 incumbents) have qualified for local school board races being decided in November's general election. Among the contests drawing interest is a rare open seat on the Clovis Unified School District board. Area 3 incumbent Jim Van Volkinburg, a dentist...
New Center Hopes to Lift Neglected Neighborhood
For people in Highway City, the sounds of gunshots and sirens going off in the middle of the night aren't out of the ordinary. Kids joining gangs and getting into other types of trouble are also not unusual occurrences. Across from older homes in this section of Fresno, a canal...
America's Top Homeless Expert Says Fresno Is on Right Track
When it comes to homeless people, we all have our stories and our thoughts on what to do. Our recommendations on how to make things better typically reflect our personal experiences and mindset. Often our proposals do little to reduce homelessness, and sometimes they make things worse. That is where...
Brown Denies Parole for Weidert, Who Buried Fresno Man Alive
SACRAMENTO — Gov. Jerry Brown has again blocked parole for the killer of a developmentally disabled Fresno man who was buried alive. Brown said Friday that 55-year-old David Weidert remains too dangerous to be released. He overruled the recommendation by a state parole panel for the second time in three...
How To Stay Cool in Fresno's Record-Busting Triple-Digit Heat
Fresno has set a very uncomfortable record. Friday saw the city's temperature reach triple digits for the 22nd-straight day, eclipsing the previous mark of 21 days at or over 100 degrees first set in 2005, according to the National Weather Service in Hanford. In addition, the weather experts say that Fresno...
'Turban Man' Is Latest Slur as Sikh Politicians Near & Far Fight Prejudice
New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal is on a mission to serve as a voice for minorities and fight federal legislation that negatively impacts U.S. immigrants. Along the way, he's encountering the same prejudices other Sikhs face. For example, on Wednesday, two talk-radio hosts in his home state repeatedly referred...
What To Do With $171 Million? Dam Backers May Turn It Down.
The good news is, a state board officially approved $171 million for Temperance Flat Reservoir. But, get this: The lead agency for the project isn’t sure if it wants the money. Have you ever heard of government, or anyone else, turning down $171 million? It could happen. That's because project...
NFL Star J.J. Watt’s Generous Heart Stretches to Fresno
Students at Fresno’s Tehipite Middle School have a special reason to cheer Houston Texans’ star defensive end J.J. Watt this coming football season. The J.J. Watt Foundation donated nearly $20,000 to the school in southeast Fresno for new uniforms, protective gear and other essential equipment for six of its sports...
Fresno's No. 1 Food? It's Tacos. No Ifs, Ands or Buts.
A common theme emerged when talking with the operators of the 30-plus taco trucks at Chukchansi Park: They are uber passionate about what they do. Nearly 10,000 fans showed up for the food, taco-eating contest, and yes, an 8-7 victory by the Grizzlies — oops, I mean Tacos — over...
Cox in Fresno: Champions Water, Backs Gas Tax Repeal
John Cox blames regulations for hurting California’s efforts to build homes and roads, and store water. During a stop in the Fresno area Wednesday (July 18), the Republican gubernatorial candidate promised that things would change if he is elected in November. Cox, not unexpectedly, also criticized his opponent, Lt. Gov....