Fresno City Council President Miguel Arias will not face charges for a May 12 altercation with protesters led by conservative activist Ben Bergquam at Arias' downtown condominium. The incident, captured on several videos and posted to the internet, found several people at Arias's doorstep protesting the city's shelter-in-place orders. The...
Police Aren’t Defunded as Fresno Approves $1.3 Billion Budget
The Fresno City Council adopted a budget on Tuesday, continuing last year's $1.3 billion spending plan for another three months. "For an elected official, this is the year from hell, but we've all done a remarkable job and all the pressure of working together," Fresno Mayor Lee Brand said. The...
After Arias Family COVID Diagnosis, City Staff Getting Tested
COVID-19 testing is now available to City Hall staff after Fresno City Council President Miguel Arias announced that he is going into quarantine because his 8-year old son contracted COVID-19. Arias presided over the city council meeting last Thursday, held in-person at council chambers. It was the first time the...
Thinking of Running for School Board? Filing Period Opens July 13
Election season is about to resume in Fresno County. While the Fresno City Council and mayoral races were decided in the March primary, there will be key school district races to vote on. Also in Politics 101: Candidates who have filed to run. Fresno Police Commission meets again. Fresno City...
Who Is Lining up to Run for Fresno, Clovis, Central School Boards?
Election season is about to resume in Fresno County. While the Fresno City Council and mayoral races were decided in the March primary, there will be key school district races to vote on. Also in Politics 101: Candidates who have filed to run. Fresno Police Commission meets again. Fresno City...
Advance Peace Is Approved, but Arias and Hall Remain at Odds
Even though the Fresno City Council approved funding for Advance Peace, perhaps council president Miguel Arias and police chief Andrew Hall didn't get the message Thursday. They continued their public sniping at each other during the debate. Also in Politics 101: Arias, Hall snipe at each other over police metrics....
Gun Ban Remains in Place at Fresno City Hall
Update, 6/25/2020: Councilman Mike Karbassi pulled his motion to allow elected officials to carry concealed weapons at City Hall. "It was simple. It seems that I didn’t have the votes. I hope my colleagues will reconsider in the future rather than spend $250,000 of taxpayer funds during a recession on...
Fresno Approves Permanent Ban on Carotid Restraint Use by Police
The Fresno City Council voted to outlaw the carotid restraint hold by police at its Thursday meeting. It was one of several significant items on the council's meeting agenda: Also in Politics 101: City Council approves carotid restraint ban. Hold would still be allowed under certain circumstances. Could there be a...
Fresno Considers Permanent Ban on Carotid Restraint Use by Police
The Fresno City Council will consider immediately outlawing the carotid restraint hold by police at its Thursday meeting. It's one of several significant items on the council's meeting agenda: Also in Politics 101: City Council considers carotid restraint ban. Hold would still be allowed under certain circumstances. Could there be a...
Mayor Brand’s Team Apologizes to Council About Federal Fire Grant
At the end of Fresno Fire Chief Kerri Doni's presentation to the city council on Monday, council president Miguel Arias apologized. What was the apology for? The arguing that ensured after the council learned Fresno Mayor Lee Brand's administration never filed for an important federal grant. The grant would have...