Omar S. Rashad عمر
reporter covering local gov, health and law enforcement in fresno // very sleepy // omarsrashad.carrd.co
- Perfectly put by @femmfeministe.bsky.social and @mayaschenwar.bsky.social: prismreports.org/2025/11/19/p...
- Here's my latest from yesterday evening, about a federal judge temporarily blocking the Trump administration from taking federal funding away from local governments, including the City of Fresno and Sacramento County. For @fresnoland.bsky.social: fresnoland.org/2025/08/26/f...
- I got my hands on an unredacted copy of the latest political disclosure filing from Fresno Future Forward, a newly formed PAC that spent thousands on disparaging mailers during a March city council special election. My latest for @fresnoland.bsky.social below: fresnoland.org/2025/08/07/f...
- Turns out the PAC was funded by a company with the same business address as three companies run by Alex Tavlian, a well-known Fresno-area political consultant who is also the treasurer of the Fresno Future Forward PAC.
- Reposted by Omar S. Rashad عمر‘The very essence of dark money:’ Could Fresno voters be misled again? Experts think so It took a month after an election to find out who was behind disparaging and misleading mailers designed to sway southeast Fresno voters. Leading up to the March 18 special election for southeast Fresno’s…
- Many long nights over the last couple months were spent working on this: I looked into misleading mailers, dark money and an Orange County company called FrontPoint Partners, LLC attempting to influence Fresno's elections. My latest for @fresnoland.bsky.social: fresnoland.org/2025/07/21/d...
- Reposted by Omar S. Rashad عمرTwo Fresno homeless shelters will close by end of year, sparking uncertainty across the city Jason Throop has been homeless for over a year now. The Fresno native said he waited for about four months to get a spot at the Journey Home homeless shelter on Parkway Drive before finally landing a spot…
- Reposted by Omar S. Rashad عمرtwenty-nine (29!!!) nyt stories were cited to support the state in the u.s. v skrmetti decision (h/t @assignedmedia.org for reporting for @objectivejournos.bsky.social) to further limit access to trans healthcare. just horrid horrid stuff objectivejournalism.org/2025/06/new-...
- Reposted by Omar S. Rashad عمر[This post could not be retrieved]
- Reposted by Omar S. Rashad عمر[This post could not be retrieved]
- I just want to tell you guys, bc the nyt won't, that kurtas CAN have collars... talk about cultural competency!
- Trump is expected to sign the new congressional spending bill tomorrow, part of which cuts Medicaid funding. Here's a deep dive I wrote a few months ago exploring how that could drastically impact California's Central Valley: fresnoland.org/2025/03/11/m...
- There are only seven counties in California with a majority of residents enrolled in Medicaid. FIVE of them are in California's San Joaquin Valley. This is easily one of the most concerning data visualizations I've made in my career so far.
- Anyone else notice that in this photo, the CBP agent on the right appears to be wearing a keffiyeh?? www.latimes.com/california/s...
- Most of my childhood was spent in Hawthorne, south of Los Angeles. I used to order pupusas at the restaurant, go to the bank, do groceries near 120th and Hawthorne. Hard to come up with words after learning a couple was separated by ICE right there. www.latimes.com/california/s...
- Just on Sunday in downtown Fresno, I witnessed what appeared to be plainclothes federal authorities in masks and sunglasses taking two men into the back of a Ford Explorer outside an ICE contractor's office. This is creating a lot of chaos for community members. fresnoland.org/2025/06/15/i...
- Just want to note that you don't need a personal connection to these communities to get a sense of the real impact ICE presence is having on people's daily lives. The simple mention of potential ICE presence made a popular market in Fresno County empty last weekend. fresnoland.org/2025/06/14/c...
- Reposted by Omar S. Rashad عمرSome of y’all noticed I’ve been uncharacteristically offline. This is why, and I remain on leave for a few weeks to handle a PTSD relapse. CJR was dogged in its pursuit of my story. Because of what I do and who I am, I felt that I had to answer their questions honestly. www.cjr.org/feature-2/we...
- Reposted by Omar S. Rashad عمرManagers need to realize it is NEVER worth it to keep an abuser or a predator. It chases away more talent than you know. There is nobody so valuable that you have to put up with this kind of behavior and anyone who hid it who had power to stop it should be absolutely ashamed of themselves.
- Some of y’all noticed I’ve been uncharacteristically offline. This is why, and I remain on leave for a few weeks to handle a PTSD relapse. CJR was dogged in its pursuit of my story. Because of what I do and who I am, I felt that I had to answer their questions honestly. www.cjr.org/feature-2/we...
- The FPPC is investigating dark money PAC Fresno Future Forward for “potential violations of the campaign disclosure provisions of the Political Reform Act.” in @fresnoland.bsky.social: fresnoland.org/2025/05/13/f...
- Mayor Jerry Dyer on pursuing a mega-development in southeast Fresno:
- Reposted by Omar S. Rashad عمرThe Central Valley has the highest number of Medi-Cal enrollees. In Merced, 52% of county residents receive benefits. Why Fresno County could hurt more from Medicaid cuts than most of the country by @omarsrashad.bsky.social fresnoland.org/2025/03/11/m...
- Reposted by Omar S. Rashad عمرReally enjoyed speaking with Elizabeth Arakelian at @kvprnews.bsky.social about @meganmunce.bsky.social's and my investigation into the algorithms driving widespread underinsurance among California wildfire survivors. Listen here: www.kvpr.org/podcast/cent...
- Now that Bluesky is back up: The Fresno City Council moved forward with a policy to crack down on smoke shops. Fresno has over 144 smoke shops. This policy aims to reduce that number to a max of 49. Breaking story below: fresnoland.org/2025/04/24/s...
- If four Fresno councilmembers approve a proposal to regulate smoke shops, dozens of them will have to either close down or change the nature of their business by 2026. Here's my preview on what's at stake this Thursday for @fresnoland.bsky.social: fresnoland.org/2025/04/22/s...
- In case you missed it, the Fresno City Attorney found out his own office subpoenaed my colleague after reading Fresnoland's own reporting. www.fresnobee.com/news/local/a...
- The city subpoenaed my colleague as part of its attempt to prosecute an unhoused 77 year old man for allegedly violating Fresno's anti-camping law. Read more in @fresnoland.bsky.social: fresnoland.org/2025/04/10/t...
- "The California DMV routinely allows dangerous drivers with horrifying histories to continue to operate on our roadways. Too often they go on to kill. Many keep driving even after they kill. Some go on to kill again." calmatters.org/investigatio...
- Reposted by Omar S. Rashad عمرRoughly 200 million people live within the zone where U.S. Border Patrol claims the right to warrantless search. "We're going to go where that threat is and where we can do the most damage to the bad people and bad things that we possibly can." -Bovino @evidentmedia.org youtu.be/m93xbICwsSM?...
- a version of this tweet goes viral every five minutes on twitter like god forbid I have taste
- NEW: Two funding sources are being used to keep afloat Fresno's program that combats illegal evictions in the city. Here's the latest on Fresno's Eviction Protection Program, for @fresnoland.bsky.social: fresnoland.org/2025/03/13/e...
- Reposted by Omar S. Rashad عمر[This post could not be retrieved]
- NEW: Valley Children's Hospital has paused its annual Kids Day fundraiser one year after financial controversies. The fundraiser was questioned after the nonprofit's sky-high executive compensation and billion-dollar investment portfolio became public knowledge. fresnoland.org/2025/03/12/k...
- Here's the investigation that revealed not only the billion-dollar investment portfolio, but also that Valley Children's Hospital donated about $73 million to its associated medical group and claimed it as a community benefit in tax filings. fresnoland.org/2024/05/08/v...
- Did you know Fresno County has the third highest Medi-Cal enrollment in all of California? 1 in every 2 residents here is enrolled in Medi-Cal. That's why Fresno and the most of the San Joaquin Valley could hurt more from Medicaid cuts. For @fresnoland.bsky.social: fresnoland.org/2025/03/11/m...
- Only 7 CA counties have a majority of residents enrolled in Medi-Cal. 5 of them are in the San Joaquin Valley, which demonstrates how much health care infrastructure in the Central Valley depends on Medi-Cal reimbursements.
- Many thanks to @kvprnews.bsky.social for having me on the Central Valley Daily podcast to talk about how Fresno's $20 million budget deficit has a lot to do with how city officials used temp pandemic relief funds to expand police and fire. More below: www.kvpr.org/podcast/cent...
- City officials are also considering whether to put a tax on the ballot in 2026 to sustain those police and fire expansions. Here's my full story last month for @fresnoland.bsky.social: fresnoland.org/2025/02/21/p...
- Reposted by Omar S. Rashad عمرFederal judge just temporarily blocked removal of Mahmoud from the US www.documentcloud.org/documents/25...
- Reposted by Omar S. Rashad عمر@omarsrashad.bsky.social in @fresnoland.bsky.social: Fresno Sheriff wants more cooperation with ICE. Advocates say that would erode trust fresnoland.org/2025/03/04/s...
- Fresno's Eviction Protection Program may be up in the air, as the $1.5 million allocated for the program is close to running out, per City Attorney Andrew Janz. He said the program needs $500K to stay afloat until June. Much more below in @fresnoland.bsky.social: fresnoland.org/2025/02/13/e...
- A surprise announcement today: Interim police Chief Mindy Casto was appointed to the role permanently, following a four-month search for the Fresno Police Department's next leader. for @fresnoland.bsky.social: fresnoland.org/2025/02/13/n...
- Reposted by Omar S. Rashad عمرLocal law enforcement confirmed they haven’t substantiated claims or obtained evidence that unhoused people are being dropped off in Fresno. @omarsrashad.bsky.social @fresnoland.bsky.social fresnoland.org/2025/02/10/m...
- On Friday, 11 Weird Al lookalikes assembled in downtown Fresno, and the crowd chose one certain victor: a guy with long curly hair wearing a flowery vacation shirt and his grandma's accordion. Writing this @fresnoland story gave me so much joy!!
- This guy looks more like Weird Al Yankovic than anyone else in Fresno fresnoland.org/2025/01/27/w...
- Reposted by Omar S. Rashad عمرThis guy looks more like Weird Al Yankovic than anyone else in Fresno 😭 The reporting we all need by @omarsrashad.bsky.social. fresnoland.org/2025/01/27/w...
- On Friday, we published a breakdown of how Fresno County and the City of Fresno used about $370 million in ARPA funds. One highlight: elected officials used more than a third of federal relief funds on government costs, including salaries, overtime, facilities and equipment.
- The city and county of Fresno got millions in free COVID money. Here’s how they spent it fresnoland.org/2025/01/03/a...
- no one: adobe: one arm, one leg if you wanna keep the PDF software 😀
- just checked, this is more than a flight from LA to NY?? why is adobe pricing like this??
- Reposted by Omar S. Rashad عمرThe city and county of Fresno got millions in free COVID money. Here’s how they spent it fresnoland.org/2025/01/03/a...
- Reposted by Omar S. Rashad عمرThe city and county of Fresno got millions in free COVID money. Here’s how they spent it @omarsrashad.bsky.social @fresnoland.bsky.social fresnoland.org/2025/01/03/a...
- Reposted by Omar S. Rashad عمرHey, everyone! I run a small, nonprofit newsroom called Fresnoland, and here's why you should support us on Giving Tuesday. First, 73% of our ~$850k budget goes right back into paying and supporting eight journalists, not profits for a hedge fund. fresnoland.org/donate/
- not drake filing a second lawsuit, this time alleging defamation 😭 this is so embarrassing www.billboard.com/pro/drake-se...
- i love how the "chill guy" tiktoks are just another version of "very mindful, very demure" and honestly the online evolution of these silly little phrases is really so much fun and wholesome!!
- like I saw this today... there's some generational talent online y'all
- Reposted by Omar S. Rashad عمرLook forward to @niemanlab.org predictions this year. Just remembered I wrote this (depressing, but I think relevant) prediction in 2020. www.niemanlab.org/2020/12/anot...
- Fresno's top law enforcement leaders told me they don't enforce federal immigration laws, and that won't change under the incoming Trump presidency. my latest + a quick thread on some key details: fresnoland.org/2024/11/21/i...
- ICE can still make arrests on its own without cooperation from local police. Its agents pay close attention to public records, including jail booking logs and court documents, to identify undocumented people they want to take into their custody.
- Additionally, there are exceptions in California's 2018 sanctuary state law that prohibits local law enforcement from cooperating with ICE, specifically in the case of undocumented people convicted of felonies and some misdemeanors.
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View full threadHowever, that doesn't stop ICE from arresting people inside the lobby of Fresno County jails and outside county facilities. The Fresno County Sheriff's Office does not track those arrests, Zanoni told me. Much more below: fresnoland.org/2024/11/21/i...
- After getting shut down in a House vote last week, the controversial bill that would allow the federal government to shut down any nonprofit it deems as supporters of terrorism could come back. The bill is in committee today: rules.house.gov/bill/118/hr-...
