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open.spotify.com/show/6LrywarU2fOznJEz An ex-Fresno Arts Council employee is under investigation in $1.5 million embezzlement case, city sources say
The Fresno Police Department is investigating a report alleging that $1.5 million was reportedly embezzled by a now-former employee of the Fresno Arts Council, according to three…

An ex-Fresno Arts Council employee is under investigation in $1.5 million embezzlement case, city sources say
The Fresno Police Department is investigating a report alleging that $1.5 million was reportedly embezzled by a now-former employee of the Fresno Arts Council, according to three high-ranking city sources. The matter was reported to local authorities this week. On Friday, Fresno City Manager Georgeanne White sent a letter to the Fresno Arts Council, officially terminating the city’s contract with the nonprofit organization, which has been tasked with administering public Measure P grants.
SEIU Local 2015 rallies outside of Fresno nursing home as statewide contract talks come to a close
Service Employees International Union Local 2015, a statewide union representing dozens of nursing home workers in Fresno and thousands across California, rallied to finalize a new contract outside…

SEIU Local 2015 rallies outside of Fresno nursing home as statewide contract talks come to a close
Service Employees International Union Local 2015, a statewide union representing dozens of nursing home workers in Fresno and thousands across California, rallied to finalize a new contract outside Keystone Post Acute in Fresno on Thursday. A group of about a dozen organizers, participants and elected officials who made an appearance at Fresno’s rally described the demonstration as an effort to bring Bayshire LLC — the Southern California-based health care company that supports the local facility — back to the table to finalize non-economic aspects of the new contract.
Fresno High unveils new auxiliary gym in time for senior’s final basketball season
Fresno High senior Kai Alfa will play out his final varsity season with a shiny, new homecourt advantage. Fresno High School held a ribbon-cutting on Thursday for its new 15,500 square-foot gymnasium. It includes…

Fresno High unveils new auxiliary gym in time for senior’s final basketball season
Fresno High senior Kai Alfa will play out his final varsity season with a shiny, new homecourt advantage. Fresno High School held a ribbon-cutting on Thursday for its new 15,500 square-foot gymnasium. It includes team rooms, restrooms, a snack bar and eight new tennis courts next to the new facility. It was constructed by Davis Moreno Construction, Inc. Funded through Measure M, a bond measure passed in 2020, the $13 million project broke ground two years ago.
It’s been 16 months since Fresno outlawed camping to encourage drug treatment. It’s not going great
Responding to overwhelming criticism in the fall of 2024 that their new anti-encampment law would criminalize the homeless, Fresno leaders called a news conference to introduce a “creative solution”…

It’s been 16 months since Fresno outlawed camping to encourage drug treatment. It’s not going great
Responding to overwhelming criticism in the fall of 2024 that their new anti-encampment law would criminalize the homeless, Fresno leaders called a news conference to introduce a “creative solution” that they said would create a streamlined system to prevent the criminalization of the local homeless population. They called it the “Treatment First Program.” City leaders pledged to Fresno’s unhoused population, virtually the only demographic targeted by the anti-camping ordinance, a way out of their criminal camping arrests if they committed themselves to drug or alcohol treatment provided by a trio of local faith-based service providers.
Fresno education company Parsec hosts third annual summit focused on improving student outcomes
Parsec Education held its annual summit that brings local educators and school leaders together to discuss student success and outcomes. Wednesday’s summit featured keynote panels and breakout sessions…

Fresno education company Parsec hosts third annual summit focused on improving student outcomes
Parsec Education held its annual summit that brings local educators and school leaders together to discuss student success and outcomes. Wednesday’s summit featured keynote panels and breakout sessions for educators to talk about student mental health, leadership behavior skills and leveraging data to improve student performance. “We want to make sure that, especially in our own backyard, that we're supporting our local districts with the best analytics tools,” said founder Eugene Park.
Behind the Reporting: Join Fresnoland on Thursday, Feb. 12 to talk dark money, dark elections
Fresnoland’s investigations over the past year have looked into the growing influence of dark money and the ways city policies and public dollars have been used to influence public opinion. As we enter an…

Behind the Reporting: Join Fresnoland on Thursday, Feb. 12 to talk dark money, dark elections
Fresnoland’s investigations over the past year have looked into the growing influence of dark money and the ways city policies and public dollars have been used to influence public opinion. As we enter an important election season for local races, how should we think about corruption-proofing our ethics in local government? Omar S. Rashad, Fresnoland's investigative reporter and assistant editor, will moderate this panel discussion with Fresno City Councilmember…
Is Fresno County’s new law targeting sex offender housing unconstitutional?
Three registered Fresno sex offenders are suing the county government over a new law prohibiting more than half a dozen registrants from living together in a single-family home. The lawsuit brought by the Sacramento-based…

Is Fresno County’s new law targeting sex offender housing unconstitutional?
Three registered Fresno sex offenders are suing the county government over a new law prohibiting more than half a dozen registrants from living together in a single-family home. The lawsuit brought by the Sacramento-based advocacy group the Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws, Inc. on behalf of the three anonymously named plaintiffs was filed Jan. 26 in Fresno County Superior Court.
How Fresno passed reforms after a city contracts scandal, and why some leaders had objections
The City of Fresno is on track to be more transparent with the public than ever before regarding the dozens of contracts worth $100,000 or less that officials hand out each year. Additionally, city…

How Fresno passed reforms after a city contracts scandal, and why some leaders had objections
The City of Fresno is on track to be more transparent with the public than ever before regarding the dozens of contracts worth $100,000 or less that officials hand out each year. Additionally, city leaders officially closed a “loophole” in city contracting laws when the Fresno City Council unanimously approved a set of reforms brought forward by Councilmember Miguel Arias at the Jan.
Why the Fresno mayor says this LA investor will revolutionize the local housing market
The City of Fresno took part in a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday for a new affordable housing community full of three-bedroom rental homes, while also rolling out the red carpet for a new developer in the…

Why the Fresno mayor says this LA investor will revolutionize the local housing market
The City of Fresno took part in a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday for a new affordable housing community full of three-bedroom rental homes, while also rolling out the red carpet for a new developer in the region. The Blythe Village is made up of 67 three-bedroom, two-bathroom modular homes located in west Fresno on 3572 N Blythe Ave., built by…
Students walk out Hoover High, protesting immigration authorities
Students at Hoover High School in northeast Fresno plan to walk out of class this morning as another day of local protests gets underway amid growing anger over the Trump Administration’s anti-immigrant crackdown and recent killings…

Students walk out Hoover High, protesting immigration authorities
Students at Hoover High School in northeast Fresno plan to walk out of class this morning as another day of local protests gets underway amid growing anger over the Trump Administration’s anti-immigrant crackdown and recent killings of American citizens at the hands of federal agents. Fresno Unified officials on Monday released a brief statement acknowledging the student walkout over what FUSD described as “in protest of federal immigration policies and actions.”
Fresno protesters say it’s ‘life or death’ as local demonstrations echo national shutdown against ICE
Local demonstrations on Friday were part of a coordinated national shutdown, calling on people across the country to step away from work, shopping and school for the day in a collective act of…

Fresno protesters say it’s ‘life or death’ as local demonstrations echo national shutdown against ICE
Local demonstrations on Friday were part of a coordinated national shutdown, calling on people across the country to step away from work, shopping and school for the day in a collective act of protest.
What barriers do Southeast Asian business owners face in Fresno County? A new study aims to answer
As the CEO of a federally-certified mission lender in the Central Valley, Access Plus Capital CEO Tate Hill spends his days working to connect entrepreneurs from underrepresented backgrounds to loans…

What barriers do Southeast Asian business owners face in Fresno County? A new study aims to answer
As the CEO of a federally-certified mission lender in the Central Valley, Access Plus Capital CEO Tate Hill spends his days working to connect entrepreneurs from underrepresented backgrounds to loans and other assistance programs. But until 2023, federal guidelines left Asian communities off the list that lenders like Hill’s organization were allowed to target with much-needed support in Fresno County…
Fresnolandia Podcast: Tom Steyer in Fresno: Housing, Energy, and Affordability
In this episode of Fresnolandia, hosts Danielle Bergstrom and Jordan Mattox sit down with investor, philanthropist, environmental advocate, and California gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer for a conversation about what…
Fresnolandia Podcast: Tom Steyer in Fresno: Housing, Energy, and Affordability
In this episode of Fresnolandia, hosts Danielle Bergstrom and Jordan Mattox sit down with investor, philanthropist, environmental advocate, and California gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer for a conversation about what the state’s biggest policy challenges mean specifically for Fresno and the Central Valley. Steyer shares his perspective on the growing “abundance” discourse and why California must refocus on actually building things in the physical world—from housing and infrastructure to clean energy systems.
Fresno police union leader sued for firing subordinate who rejected sexual advances
The former business manager of the Fresno police union filed a lawsuit against her former employer, alleging wrongful termination and sexual harassment by the union’s top leader. The lawsuit, filed Jan. 22 in…

Fresno police union leader sued for firing subordinate who rejected sexual advances
The former business manager of the Fresno police union filed a lawsuit against her former employer, alleging wrongful termination and sexual harassment by the union’s top leader. The lawsuit, filed Jan. 22 in Fresno County Superior Court, alleges that police union President Jeff La Blue made repeated, unwanted sexual advances at the union’s former business manager Anna Pine. Pine was terminated in August last year, which the lawsuit claims was in retaliation to Pine rejecting La Blue’s advances on at least two occasions.
City Council closes spending ‘loophole’ exposed by Fresnoland, but there’s still more work to do
The Fresno City Council unanimously approved a proposal from Councilmember Miguel Arias reforming the city's public transparency on contracts, and also closing what he had referred to as a “loophole”…

City Council closes spending ‘loophole’ exposed by Fresnoland, but there’s still more work to do
The Fresno City Council unanimously approved a proposal from Councilmember Miguel Arias reforming the city's public transparency on contracts, and also closing what he had referred to as a “loophole” in the city's contracting laws. After heated debate on the dais Thursday, Arias amended his item to require the Fresno City Clerk's Office — instead of the City Manager's Office — to produce an all-in-one searchable database on the city’s website, listing everything from contracts…
Thousands of Fresno-area truck drivers in limbo amid legal fights with California and the Trump Administration
A December lawsuit filed by the Sikh Coalition and others on behalf of the Jakara Movement and five anonymous immigrant drivers challenges the DMV’s planned cancellation of nearly 20,000…

Thousands of Fresno-area truck drivers in limbo amid legal fights with California and the Trump Administration
A December lawsuit filed by the Sikh Coalition and others on behalf of the Jakara Movement and five anonymous immigrant drivers challenges the DMV’s planned cancellation of nearly 20,000 commercial driver’s licenses.
Fresno County supervisor challenges local coalition’s efforts toward a new county transportation sales tax
The possibility that Fresno County voters will have to choose between rival transportation tax measures this November could be one step closer to reality. At a Fresno County Board of…

Fresno County supervisor challenges local coalition’s efforts toward a new county transportation sales tax
The possibility that Fresno County voters will have to choose between rival transportation tax measures this November could be one step closer to reality. At a Fresno County Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, the board’s chair, Garry Bredefeld, instructed county staff to complete a legal and fiscal analysis of placing a countywide general sales tax on the November ballot — a tax he says could be used for “actually repairing and fixing roads, other capital projects, public safety” and other needs.
Fresno County prepares to count its unhoused residents
The Fresno-Madera region launches its Point In Time Count on Tuesday night — a routine federally required process that sees the country take stock of its local homeless population on a given night in January. Tuesday night’s count will be the…

Fresno County prepares to count its unhoused residents
The Fresno-Madera region launches its Point In Time Count on Tuesday night — a routine federally required process that sees the country take stock of its local homeless population on a given night in January. Tuesday night’s count will be the first managed by Fresno’s County Administrative Office. It will also be the first to transition away from a visual, hand-count method of previous years in favor of a survey-based approach.
Fresno Unified pushes back to retiree criticisms, calling claims ‘baseless’
In response to a letter on behalf of 6,200 retirees impacted by a recent health coverage disruption, Fresno Unified has said its claims are baseless, emphasizing that no retirees have lost health insurance coverage. On…

Fresno Unified pushes back to retiree criticisms, calling claims ‘baseless’
In response to a letter on behalf of 6,200 retirees impacted by a recent health coverage disruption, Fresno Unified has said its claims are baseless, emphasizing that no retirees have lost health insurance coverage. On Jan. 22, a letter of complaint drafted by local attorney Kevin Little on behalf of the affected retirees was filed to the Fresno Unified School District and its board.
City officials ‘consolidate’ Fresno’s long-range city planning division, stoking criticism
Fresno officials recently shuffled a key urban planning team, drawing sharp criticism from a longtime planner. On Jan. 15, city planners were informed via email that the long-range division of the city’s…

City officials ‘consolidate’ Fresno’s long-range city planning division, stoking criticism
Fresno officials recently shuffled a key urban planning team, drawing sharp criticism from a longtime planner. On Jan. 15, city planners were informed via email that the long-range division of the city’s planning department would be consolidated into the current planning division, senior planner Casey Lauderdale shared with Fresnoland in an interview. “This really came out of the blue,” Lauderdale said.
Fresno bracing for massive cuts to child care programs
The Trump Administration effort to freeze billions in federal child care funding could cost Fresno County millions, and leave hundreds of infants, children, and families with even fewer options in a community where finding reliable childcare…

Fresno bracing for massive cuts to child care programs
The Trump Administration effort to freeze billions in federal child care funding could cost Fresno County millions, and leave hundreds of infants, children, and families with even fewer options in a community where finding reliable childcare has never been easy. As the White House battles with the courts over the order, Fresno-area child care specialists are bracing for impact. Ofelia Gonzalez, who serves as Deputy Director at Central Valley Children’s Services Network, said that a continuation of the funding freeze would exacerbate an already high demand for child care.
Fresno welcomes new medical center west of freeway 99, though physician shortage remains
The opening of a new United Health Centers medical facility on Shields and Brawley avenues marks the latest desperately-needed step toward addressing West Fresno’s health care desert. But even with the new…

Fresno welcomes new medical center west of freeway 99, though physician shortage remains
The opening of a new United Health Centers medical facility on Shields and Brawley avenues marks the latest desperately-needed step toward addressing West Fresno’s health care desert. But even with the new health center that will add four primary care providers once fully staffed, the city’s communities west of the 99 freeway still fall short of standard physician-to-resident ratios.
Malaga residents receive boil-water notice after E.coli detection
Malaga-area residents received warnings early Friday from water district officials urging them to boil their tap water until further notice after E. coli bacteria was detected in the water system. According to the notice posted…

Malaga residents receive boil-water notice after E.coli detection
Malaga-area residents received warnings early Friday from water district officials urging them to boil their tap water until further notice after E. coli bacteria was detected in the water system. According to the notice posted Friday and reviewed by Fresnoland, water samples tested positive for contamination on Jan. 20, but the potentially deadly bacteria was not found in the supply one day later.
Fresno leader proposes transparency reforms after city contracts scandal
City Councilmember Miguel Arias is bringing forward a new city policy that addresses a number of transparency and accountability gaps uncovered by a Jan. 7 Fresnoland investigation. Arias’ proposal directs the city’s…

Fresno leader proposes transparency reforms after city contracts scandal
City Councilmember Miguel Arias is bringing forward a new city policy that addresses a number of transparency and accountability gaps uncovered by a Jan. 7 Fresnoland investigation. Arias’ proposal directs the city’s administration to create an all-in-one online transparency page on the City of Fresno’s website, where all contracts worth $100,000 or less would be listed, along with their amounts.
Inside the effort to fix the Tower District’s vacant building problems
In a neighborhood like Fresno’s Tower District, where some storefronts have stood vacant since the Nixon administration, local lawmakers are seeking out new ways to tackle the blight. But are their tactics working? Some say…

Inside the effort to fix the Tower District’s vacant building problems
In a neighborhood like Fresno’s Tower District, where some storefronts have stood vacant since the Nixon administration, local lawmakers are seeking out new ways to tackle the blight. But are their tactics working? Some say it’s too soon to tell. Last June, Councilmembers Annalisa Perea and Miguel Arias brought forth a new one-year pilot program that slapped the owners of vacant commercial buildings in Tower with stricter deadlines for rehabilitating their empty storefronts.
Fresno holds protest against Trump to mark one year of presidency, amid concerns of more immigration enforcement
“One struggle, one fight, all unite for immigrant rights!” “Money for jobs and education, not for war and deportation!” These chants rang out Tuesday evening as more than 50 people…

Fresno holds protest against Trump to mark one year of presidency, amid concerns of more immigration enforcement
“One struggle, one fight, all unite for immigrant rights!” “Money for jobs and education, not for war and deportation!” These chants rang out Tuesday evening as more than 50 people gathered outside of the Immigration and Customs (ICE) office in downtown Fresno. The protest, Stop ICE Terror, was one of many across the country marking one year since President Donald Trump began his second term in office.
Fresnolandia Podcast: Unraveling Fresno’s housing density problem
On this week's Fresnolandia podcast, Jordan and Danielle speak with Jennifer LeSar, ounder and CEO of LeSar Development Consultants, a housing consulting firm based in San Diego, where she and her team advise state and local…

Fresnolandia Podcast: Unraveling Fresno’s housing density problem
On this week's Fresnolandia podcast, Jordan and Danielle speak with Jennifer LeSar, ounder and CEO of LeSar Development Consultants, a housing consulting firm based in San Diego, where she and her team advise state and local governments on how to create more resilient communities – and solving our housing crisis. They talk about Fresno's unique housing challenges, if deregulation would help, and go into the weeds on housing finance, the cost of capital, and whether Fresno has the right types of developers to build denser and more affordable housing.
Fresno councilmember reverses claim of large-scale immigration raids coming to Central Valley
Fresno City Councilmember Miguel Arias shared during Thursday’s city council meeting that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has publicly posted about large-scale ICE raids coming to Fresno and…

Fresno councilmember reverses claim of large-scale immigration raids coming to Central Valley
Fresno City Councilmember Miguel Arias shared during Thursday’s city council meeting that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has publicly posted about large-scale ICE raids coming to Fresno and Bakersfield.
Fresno Unified gives retirees another health care option amid dispute with Community Health hospitals
After a week of mounting demand resulting in an extension of healthcare access from Community Health System, Fresno Unified leaders on Thursday announced an additional option plan for retirees.…

Fresno Unified gives retirees another health care option amid dispute with Community Health hospitals
After a week of mounting demand resulting in an extension of healthcare access from Community Health System, Fresno Unified leaders on Thursday announced an additional option plan for retirees. The move comes a day after a sudden announcement from FUSD Superintendent Misty Her during Wednesday’s board meeting, where Her said Community agreed to an extension for retirees to access care through Feb.
Fresno leader went against legal advice in handing out political consultant contracts, attorney says
Fresno City Attorney Andrew Janz on Thursday directly contradicted statements from Luis Chavez about the former councilmember’s contracts with political consultant Alex Tavlian’s company. “The City…

Fresno leader went against legal advice in handing out political consultant contracts, attorney says
Fresno City Attorney Andrew Janz on Thursday directly contradicted statements from Luis Chavez about the former councilmember’s contracts with political consultant Alex Tavlian’s company. “The City Attorney's Office properly advised former Councilmember Luis Chavez in January of 2023 that any future agreements with LGSC for the same services prior was required to go to the city council for authorization under Fresno Municipal Code,” Janz said from the council dais at City Hall.
Fresno City Council votes on leadership in first meeting of the year
The Fresno City Council re-elected Councilmember Mike Karbassi for a second term with the president’s gavel on Thursday during the first meeting of 2026, the last year that most of these politicians serve their term in their…

Fresno City Council votes on leadership in first meeting of the year
The Fresno City Council re-elected Councilmember Mike Karbassi for a second term with the president’s gavel on Thursday during the first meeting of 2026, the last year that most of these politicians serve their term in their respective districts. Central Fresno Councilmember Nelson Esparza was also elected as vice president. The vote comes after an ordinance passed in 2024 amending city code to allow for re-elections, as opposed to a procedural rotation as seen at the…
‘We’re in a divisive world.’ Fresno always proudly celebrates MLK, but even locally, unity remains a dream
While Dr. King celebrations are taking place nationwide, this year’s events unfold amid federal actions under President Donald Trump targeting diversity, equity and inclusion.

‘We’re in a divisive world.’ Fresno always proudly celebrates MLK, but even locally, unity remains a dream
While Dr. King celebrations are taking place nationwide, this year’s events unfold amid federal actions under President Donald Trump targeting diversity, equity and inclusion.
Temporary deal restores some health care access to Fresno Unified retirees
Fresno Unified Superintendent Misty Her says Community Health System agreed to temporarily restore office visits and prescription refill services to about 1,500 FUSD retirees on Medicare— who abruptly lost health care…

Temporary deal restores some health care access to Fresno Unified retirees
Fresno Unified Superintendent Misty Her says Community Health System agreed to temporarily restore office visits and prescription refill services to about 1,500 FUSD retirees on Medicare— who abruptly lost health care access on New Year’s Day amid stalled contract talks between the hospital system and an insurance company. Her gave the news to the FUSD school board during Wednesday night’s regular meeting.
Fresno, Clovis and west county mayors lock arms in new path for Measure C renewal
The years-long effort to find consensus on fixing Fresno County’s roads has taken a new turn. A diverse coalition of mayors, city councilmembers and advocates from Fresno, Clovis and the county’s west side gathered…

Fresno, Clovis and west county mayors lock arms in new path for Measure C renewal
The years-long effort to find consensus on fixing Fresno County’s roads has taken a new turn. A diverse coalition of mayors, city councilmembers and advocates from Fresno, Clovis and the county’s west side gathered Wednesday morning along a fractured road behind Bulldog Stadium to announce their intentions to collect thousands of signatures from residents over the coming months to qualify a renewal of the county’s transportation sales tax, Measure C, for the November ballot.
Fresno prepares to count unhoused residents amid shelter closures and anti-camping laws
Final preparations are underway for the Fresno-Madera region to conduct their Point in Time Count later this month — a process that aims to give local cities and counties a snapshot estimate of the headcount…

Fresno prepares to count unhoused residents amid shelter closures and anti-camping laws
Final preparations are underway for the Fresno-Madera region to conduct their Point in Time Count later this month — a process that aims to give local cities and counties a snapshot estimate of the headcount of unhoused residents in their community. Commonly known as a PIT Count, the federally mandated process sees droves of volunteers conduct a physical headcount of unhoused residents.
Conservative Fresno County leaders condemn violence against ICE, call on local leaders to support law enforcement
A group of conservative Fresno County leaders held a news conference on Tuesday morning calling on local leaders across the country to condemn “attacks” on Immigrations and Customs…

Conservative Fresno County leaders condemn violence against ICE, call on local leaders to support law enforcement
A group of conservative Fresno County leaders held a news conference on Tuesday morning calling on local leaders across the country to condemn “attacks” on Immigrations and Customs Enforcement. The news conference was hosted by Garry Bredefeld, chair of the Fresno County Board Of Supervisors, and included fellow supervisors Buddy Mendes and Nathan Magsig, Clovis city councilmembers Diane Pearce and Drew Bessinger, and a representative from the office of Assemblymember David Tangipa.
Are ‘the stars aligned’ for a pro soccer stadium in downtown Fresno?
Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer announced Tuesday that the city has entered an exclusivity agreement with the United Soccer League, taking what officials called a major step toward bringing professional men's and women's soccer teams and…

Are ‘the stars aligned’ for a pro soccer stadium in downtown Fresno?
Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer announced Tuesday that the city has entered an exclusivity agreement with the United Soccer League, taking what officials called a major step toward bringing professional men's and women's soccer teams and a dedicated stadium to downtown Fresno. The agreement, which began Nov. 1, gives both parties a year to conduct due diligence on site selection, funding models, and ownership groups.
Fresnolandia Podcast: Unpacking the Fresno city contract investigation
On this week's Fresnolandia podcast, Jordan and Danielle talk with Fresnoland investigative reporter and assistant editor Omar S. Rashad about his two-part investigation into Fresno city officials approvals of under-$100,000…

Fresnolandia Podcast: Unpacking the Fresno city contract investigation
On this week's Fresnolandia podcast, Jordan and Danielle talk with Fresnoland investigative reporter and assistant editor Omar S. Rashad about his two-part investigation into Fresno city officials approvals of under-$100,000 contracts -- that don't get public review -- and how many were given to a political consultant during the 2024 election. They go into the findings of the investigations, the purpose of these types of contracts, what solutions could solve some of the challenges raised, and the reaction to the story.
‘I jumped out of my soul.’ Meet the music visionary behind Fresno’s popular Jazz Tuezdayz movement
Johnny Quiroz’s love for Jazz started only three years ago with a record. Miles Davis’ album, Bitches Brew, early-1970s, spiritual, chaotic, unlike anything Quiroz had ever heard before. “I like to…

‘I jumped out of my soul.’ Meet the music visionary behind Fresno’s popular Jazz Tuezdayz movement
Johnny Quiroz’s love for Jazz started only three years ago with a record. Miles Davis’ album, Bitches Brew, early-1970s, spiritual, chaotic, unlike anything Quiroz had ever heard before. “I like to believe I’m a spiritual being, having a human experience,” Quiroz, 47, said. “And that album really fit into my thinking. It hit me hard. I realized jazz isn’t just a sound, it’s like all genres, it’s a way of life.” …
Angry Fresno school leaders say Community Hospital is using retirees as ‘bargaining chips’
Fresno Unified School District leaders on Monday called on Community Health System to allow retired district employees access to its services, saying that Community has refused care to retirees amid…

Angry Fresno school leaders say Community Hospital is using retirees as ‘bargaining chips’
Fresno Unified School District leaders on Monday called on Community Health System to allow retired district employees access to its services, saying that Community has refused care to retirees amid unresolved negotiations. Specifically, one of the district’s insurance providers, Aetna, was not able to resolve negotiations with Community on their own by a Dec. 31 deadline. That day, Community’s facilities were rendered out-of-network for about…
Fresno leader breaks his silence on old city contracts. Here are 5 things he said
After months of not speaking with Fresnoland about city contracts, former city councilmember and Fresno County Supervisor Luis Chavez broke his silence. After Fresnoland published its two-part investigation on Jan.…

Fresno leader breaks his silence on old city contracts. Here are 5 things he said
After months of not speaking with Fresnoland about city contracts, former city councilmember and Fresno County Supervisor Luis Chavez broke his silence. After Fresnoland published its two-part investigation on Jan. 7 into city leaders’ use of a policy “loophole” to hand out dozens of contracts worth $100,000 or less, Chavez spoke to Fresnoland over the phone about how and why he handed out city contracts to political consultant Alex Tavlian’s company.
‘They’re trying to make us afraid.’ Fresno draws large crowd gather at River Park to protest ICE’s aggressive tactics
More than 500 people gathered Sunday morning at Fresno’s River Park Shopping Center to protest Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in response to the fatal shooting of Renee…

‘They’re trying to make us afraid.’ Fresno draws large crowd gather at River Park to protest ICE’s aggressive tactics
More than 500 people gathered Sunday morning at Fresno’s River Park Shopping Center to protest Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in response to the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis earlier this week. Protesters crossing the street during the "ICE Out for Good" demonstration. Gisselle Medina | Fresnoland “People need to know that this is seriously not OK,” Mia said, who asked that her last name be withheld out of fear of retaliation.
‘How did you miss it?’ Fresno judge grills Caltrans over Highway 99 interchange expansion near juvenile facility
A court hearing that could have a decisive impact on Valley air quality was heard Friday afternoon at the downtown Fresno County courthouse. Fresno Superior Court Judge Geoffrey Wilson…

‘How did you miss it?’ Fresno judge grills Caltrans over Highway 99 interchange expansion near juvenile facility
A court hearing that could have a decisive impact on Valley air quality was heard Friday afternoon at the downtown Fresno County courthouse. Fresno Superior Court Judge Geoffrey Wilson heard arguments for and against the approval of a new set of Caltrans interchanges at North and American Avenues in South Fresno along Highway 99 which top scientists say will have health impacts “
Fresno joins national ICE protests following fatal shooting of Minneapolis woman
Fresno was among a handful of cities across the country on Thursday that protested against President Donald Trump’s administration, and Immigrations and Customs Enforcement following the agency's fatal shooting of a…

Fresno joins national ICE protests following fatal shooting of Minneapolis woman
Fresno was among a handful of cities across the country on Thursday that protested against President Donald Trump’s administration, and Immigrations and Customs Enforcement following the agency's fatal shooting of a woman in Minneapolis earlier this week. Fresno’s protest was organized by a coalition of leftist organizations, among them the United States Party for Socialism and Liberation’s Central Valley chapter, who, undeterred by the sub-50-degree weather, amassed about 200 protesters from across the state for a candle light vigil in front of the ICE offices downtown.
Fresno councilmember to tackle transparency, oversight issues exposed by Fresnoland investigation
Less than a day after a two-part Fresnoland investigation into under-the-radar city contracts and expenses, Councilmember Brandon Vang announced city reforms he’d champion moving forward. In a…

Fresno councilmember to tackle transparency, oversight issues exposed by Fresnoland investigation
Less than a day after a two-part Fresnoland investigation into under-the-radar city contracts and expenses, Councilmember Brandon Vang announced city reforms he’d champion moving forward. In a Thursday statement, Vang said there’s a critical need to strengthen the city’s policies on contracting and “pass-through costs” — which is the main focus of the second half of Fresnoland’s investigation published Wednesday. …
Former Fresno councilmember used $30K in taxpayer funds for Facebook ads during election year
This is Part 2 of Under-the-radar contracts. No oversight. Part 1 of Fresnoland's investigation is available here. Just 11 days after the Fresno City Council doubled the city’s contracts approval…

Former Fresno councilmember used $30K in taxpayer funds for Facebook ads during election year
This is Part 2 of Under-the-radar contracts. No oversight. Part 1 of Fresnoland's investigation is available here. Just 11 days after the Fresno City Council doubled the city’s contracts approval threshold to $100,000, former Councilmember Luis Chavez inked a new contract with Alex Tavlian’s consulting company worth that exact amount. It was July 2024 — just four months away from the November election that year.
Following Fresnoland investigation, councilmembers pledge to increase spending transparency
Just three hours after a Fresnoland investigation revealed numerous examples of hundreds of thousands of dollars of under-the-radar public spending, two Fresno city councilmembers pledged to beef up…

Following Fresnoland investigation, councilmembers pledge to increase spending transparency
Just three hours after a Fresnoland investigation revealed numerous examples of hundreds of thousands of dollars of under-the-radar public spending, two Fresno city councilmembers pledged to beef up oversight of the city’s smaller-dollar contracts. At a six-minute Wednesday news conference at Fresno City Hall, councilmembers Brandon Vang and Nick Richardson said they’d lead the effort to reform the city’s transparency on public spending and contracts.
Did Fresno city leaders find a contracts ‘loophole’ to avoid oversight?
In June 2024, Fresno City Hall was in the middle of a busy budget process — on top of being embroiled in a police chief scandal. The same day the Fresno City Council approved a then-record $2 billion budget, councilmembers…

Did Fresno city leaders find a contracts ‘loophole’ to avoid oversight?
In June 2024, Fresno City Hall was in the middle of a busy budget process — on top of being embroiled in a police chief scandal. The same day the Fresno City Council approved a then-record $2 billion budget, councilmembers also quietly passed a major policy change without any public discussion. Then-Councilmember Luis Chavez — along with Miguel Arias and Nelson Esparza — …
Why it just got harder for sex offenders to live in Fresno County
The Fresno County Board Of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved a new law limiting the number of sex offenders that can live in a single-family home, following complaints from Old Fig Garden residents. The law caps the number…

Why it just got harder for sex offenders to live in Fresno County
The Fresno County Board Of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved a new law limiting the number of sex offenders that can live in a single-family home, following complaints from Old Fig Garden residents. The law caps the number of sexual offenders to six per home, matching regulations set by the state, with property owners facing fines totaling over $50,000 for successive violations, a six-month jail sentence and potential litigation from the county.
Hundreds of retired Fresno teachers lose access to regular care at Community Medical Centers
Roughly 1,500 retirees on Medicaid who receive medical coverage from Fresno Unified have lost access to Community Medical Centers following unresolved negotiations. In the last board meeting of 2025, the…

Hundreds of retired Fresno teachers lose access to regular care at Community Medical Centers
Roughly 1,500 retirees on Medicaid who receive medical coverage from Fresno Unified have lost access to Community Medical Centers following unresolved negotiations. In the last board meeting of 2025, the Fresno Unified Board of Education approved a contract with insurance company Aetna to maintain healthcare coverage for around 6,200 retirees and dependents. However, at the time of the board meeting, contract negotiations between Aetna and Community were still ongoing despite a deadline of Dec.