Social distancing didn't stop commemorations of the 105th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in the Valley. There were no crowds of people, but crowds of video messages instead. Video Messages and Tributes "We may not be able to stand together in memorial, but we can stand together in spirit," said...
Merced, Fresno Airports Reap Nearly $30M in COVID Grants
Federal CARES Act funding totaling more than $30 million is headed to eight Valley airports to help ease COVID-19 business impacts and prevent job losses. The office of Rep. Jim Costa (D-Fresno) announced the grants Friday. Merced Regional Airport and Fresno Yosemite International Airport will receive a combined $29.82 million....
Will House Caucus Deliver on COVID-19 Support for Farmworkers?
Rep. Jim Costa of Fresno and Rep. Salud Carbajal of Santa Barbara are overseeing a charge to bring protection and financial help to farmworkers during the coronavirus pandemic. The congressmen wrote a letter signed by everyone in the 38-member Congressional Hispanic Caucus. On Wednesday, the letter was sent to Democratic and...
Did KMPH Mistreat Soria? She Says Yes. Station Says No.
After criticizing Rep. Jim Costa for no-showing at several candidate forums, 16th District challenger Esmeralda Soria missed a live televised debate Tuesday night. Held at the Fox KMPH 26 studio (and simulcast on KMJ radio), Costa, fellow Democrat Kim Williams, and Republican Kevin Cookingham answered questions for an hour. Soria,...
Costa Slams Soria in TV Ad. Fact-Checking the Claims.
With his latest TV campaign ad, Congressman Jim Costa came out swinging against political rival Esmeralda Soria. Costa accused her of crying poverty while giving herself a pay raise as a member of the Fresno City Council. And, he took shots at her relationship with fiancé and business developer Terance...
Nunes, Costa Have Big Fundraising Edges. Cox vs. Valadao Is Tight.
Incumbents in two of the three congressional races in the central San Joaquin Valley have substantial fundraising advantages. The third race, meanwhile, is a virtual tie. Congressional campaign fundraising figures are in for 2019 from the Federal Election Commission. Jim Costa (D-Fresno) and Devin Nunes (R-Tulare) are up big in...
Why Did These Three Democrats Oppose Gavin's Law?
Gavin's Law, the proposed legislation to enhance penalties for hit-and-run drivers, passed the Assembly floor on Monday, 66-3. Who are the three who voted against AB 582 authored by Assemblyman Jim Patteson (R-Fresno) and named for Gavin Gladding, the Clovis Unified educator killed by a hit-and-run driver who may have...
Dyer Has Big Edge on Janz in Fundraising, Media Spending
Jerry Dyer raised more money on Jan. 21 for his mayoral campaign than opponent Andrew Janz did for the first 18 days of the month. That is one takeaway from the latest round of financial disclosures for citywide races. Listen to this article: For the first 18 days of the...
We're Going to Get a Public Medical School, Costa Vows
Congressman Jim Costa says there finally is enough political will and money to open a long-needed publicly owned medical school in the San Joaquin Valley. Last week, Costa (D-Fresno) introduced the "Expanding Medical Education Act of 2020" in Congress. The goal is to leverage federal, state and private dollars to...
Gov. Newsom Targets Fresno Needs With Big Bucks in Budget
Gov. Gavin Newsom's proposed $222 billion budget for 2020-21 includes tens of millions of dollars to improve efforts to boost economic development and medical education efforts in Fresno and the Valley — investments that local officials said Friday are highly welcome and will be put to good use. Listen to...