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McConnell: House $1.5T Infrastructure Bill 'Isn't Going Anywhere'

Before the offices of Fresno area Reps. Jim Costa and TJ Cox could issue news releases trumpeting House passage of a $1.5 trillion infrastructure bill late last week, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell declared the bill dead on arrival in his chamber.

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Most White Parents Don't Talk About Racism With Their Kids

Research has shown that conversations about race, much less racism, are rare in white homes even when the issue is highly visible. Studies also show the relatively small number of white parents who do discuss race with their children often downplay racism's significance in American society.

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Background Checks, a Metric for Gun Sales, Hit All-Time High

FBI numbers just released show that 3.9 million background checks were conducted last month, the most since the system was created. Background checks are the key barometer of gun sales in the U.S. The number of checks for June was up nearly 136% over June 2019.

Resurrection of Measure P? Ruling Gives Parks Tax New Hope

This week, a state appeals court affirmed a lower court ruling that a simple majority of votes is sufficient to approve a tax measure placed on the ballot through the petition process. The case had similarities to Fresno's parks measure, which fell short of a two-thirds threshold but still attained 53% voter approval.

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Need Help With Rent Because of COVID? Fresno Grants Available

City residents can apply for grants of up to $3,000 of funding to offset rent hardships related to the coronavirus pandemic. Officials say they are committed to spending more than $5 million to help keep individuals and families housed.

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Dan Walters: Newsom's Confusing COVID-19 Decrees

Californians are rightfully confused by the rapid, even erratic, changes of course that Gov. Gavin Newsom has steered in recent weeks after drawing praise for his early and straightforward actions in the first days of the public health crisis, the CalMatters columnist says.

Want to 'Fly Through' Medical School? Here's Your Chance.

Next month, a group of 75 future doctors will begin four years of rigorous training while attending the Valley's new medical school just east of Fresno. But this morning, the public can "fly through" the innovative 90,000 square-foot facility in Clovis.

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New COVID-19 Test Site Opening at West Fresno Regional Center

The location of Fresno County's third site was evaluated based on underserved populations, to address known disparities, and median income, so residents have access to testing regardless of socioeconomic status, officials said.

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Pandemic Knocks Out Football, Other Fall Sports at Local Colleges

The 2020 football season at Fresno City College ended before it even began, one of seven sports at the college that have been cancelled because of the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak. And Clovis Community College is not immune, either.

Face Masks Required Across California Under New State Order

The order requires people to wear masks when inside or in line for any indoor public spaces, in healthcare settings like hospitals and pharmacies, while waiting for or riding public transportation and in outdoor spaces where it's not possible to stay six feet apart from others.

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Triple-Digit Temps for Summer's Start, Father's Day

The National Weather Service in Hanford is predicting temperatures as high as 10 to 15 degrees above normal for summer's start in Fresno and other San Joaquin Valley locations. Friday is expected to hit 100, and Saturday 101 degrees, forecasters say.

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Suspect Writes Apology After Fresno PD Nabs Little League Thieves

A bit of digital sleuthing by the victim of a Little League building break-in helped police track down a couple of suspects. As they were being arrested, one wrote out an apology for the theft of the sports league's snack bar equipment and food items.

Big Fresno Fair Concerts Canceled. That's Not Enough for This City Councilman.

The Paul Paul Theater will remain quiet at the Big Fresno Fair after an announcement that all of this year's scheduled concerts have been canceled. But Fresno City Council President Miguel Arias says the fair board should pull the plug on the entire event.

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More Valley Businesses Must Shut Down Indoor Operations, Newsom Says

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday widened the list of businesses that must shut down indoor operations. Businesses affected include fitness centers, churches, personal care services, hair salons and barbershops, malls and "offices for non-critical sectors," the governor said.

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As COVID Shutdowns Expand, Will Area Schools Open Next Month?

Local school officials were huddling Monday to talk about how the latest COVID-19 closures ordered Monday by Gov. Gavin Newsom might impact back-to-school plans. Other school districts in California have made the call to keep schools closed.

Madera Student Under Investigation for 'Hateful' Social Media Post

A racist, homophobic message allegedly written by the high school student was recorded in a screenshot that was then posted on Twitter. Officials learned of the post after it was reported on the district's mobile app used for anonymously reporting bullying and hate speech.

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Black Lives Matter Co-Founder Describes Herself as 'Trained Marxist'

Patrisse Cullors said in a newly surfaced video from 2015 that she and her fellow organizers are "trained Marxists." In addition, while promoting her book "When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir" in 2018, Cullors described her introduction to and support for Marxist ideology.

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Father Junipero Serra Statue Toppled in Sacramento Protest

The statue in Capitol Park was brought down Saturday amid a protest focusing on the rights and historical struggle of indigenous people. The 18th century Roman Catholic priest founded nine of California's 21 Spanish missions. The CHP is investigating the incident as an act of vandalism.

DA Files Child Porn Charges Against Fresno Businessman

Todd Mumma, the owner of Select Business Systems, was charged Thursday with possessing child pornography, sexual exploitation of a child, and having an illegal assault weapon. If convicted on all charges, Mumma faces up to four years, eight months in state prison.

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Conservative Appointee Lasts Just 15 Hours on Immigrant Rights Committee

Michael Der Manouel Jr. - an insurance broker by day - sat in on the city's Immigrant Affairs Committee meeting this week as an appointee of councilman Garry Bredefeld, who represents northeast Fresno. Less than 15 hours later, Der Manouel changed his mind.

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No Way to Sugarcoat It, Fresno Weather Will Be 'Hot and Dusty'

The National Weather Service in Hanford isn't mincing words about the weather forecast for the next seven days. It will be "hot and dusty" with light winds and triple-digit temperatures baking Fresno and other San Joaquin Valley locations.

Can Valley Researchers Wipe Out COVID-19 on Mass Transit?

Researchers used colored smoke to simulate the movement of airborne contamination when a passenger sneezes or coughs. In about six minutes, smoke blanketed the interior of the bus. They then tested different methods for removing contagious particles.

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Fresno's Chuck E. Cheese Reopens, Hopes to Squeak Through Bankruptcy

The kid-friendly pizza restaurants will reopen their local dining rooms Friday with limited seating and other safety procedures in place. Most of the stores' electronic games will be operational, but mascot Chuck E. Cheese himself will remain in lockdown for the time being.

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Fresno Synagogue Thanks Police with 'Copcakes'

Chabad Fresno set up a canopy on Shepherd Ave. to hand out "copcakes" and water to police officers who came by. Officer Steve Jacobson even received an impromptu "Bar Mitzvah" ceremony.

Clovis Man Accused of Murdering Wife Dies in Hospice

Kenneth Ray Wright was charged with killing his 77-year old wife in 2019. Initially, her death was reported as a possible suicide. But, after speaking to Wright, homicide detectives placed him under arrest for murder. The 84-year old suspect remained in custody until his death Sunday.

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Joe Biden Picks Sen. Melissa Hurtado for Latino Leadership Committee

Biden's campaign selected 40 leaders across 18 states including five from California to serve on his presidential campaign's advisory committee. Senator Hurtado is one of only two female California leaders picked to serve on the panel, focused on Latino outreach.

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DeVos Rejects Part-Time Reopening for Schools Amid Pandemic

U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos on Tuesday assailed plans by some local districts to offer in-person instruction only a few days a week and said all schools must be "fully operational" even amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Mobile Home Inspections Need Improvement, Auditor Finds

Over the last decade, the Department of Housing and Community Development has not conducted inspections at more than half of the 3,640 parks under its watch, nor has it established procedures to monitor the parks, a state audit said.

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California Plans Early Release of 10,000 State Prisoners

The state is planning for the release of nearly 10 percent of its inmates as Gov. Gavin Newsom responds to intensifying pressure from advocates, lawmakers and federal judges to address the outbreak of COVID-19 in prisons.

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This Aviator Just Became the US Navy's First Black Female Fighter Pilot

Lt. j.g. Madeline Swegle''s historic accomplishment comes as the Navy takes a hard look at discrimination amid growing nationwide concern about racial injustice. Swegle is assigned to the Redhawks Training Squadron Kingsville in Texas.

Fresno State: Most Classes Virtual, Football up in the Air

Only about 2,200 people, including about 1,340 students, will be allowed on campus for classes and work this fall. That compares to Fresno State's fall 2019 student enrollment of 24,139. Fresno State officials say they are waiting on guidance from the state about the status of sports programs.

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Social Distancing In a Fireworks Stand? That's What Fresno County Wants

Fireworks stands can now officially open for sales in Fresno County. Sellers need to have a COVID-19 exposure control plan in place and conduct daily screening of all employees and volunteers. That's the new guidance from Fresno County public health officials.

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Democrats Want John Wayne's Name, Statue Taken Off Airport

Earlier this week, local party officials passed an emergency resolution condemning Wayne's "racist and bigoted statements" made in a 1971 interview and are calling on the Orange County Board of Supervisors to drop his name, statue and other likenesses from the international airport.

Gov. Newsom Appoints Fresno's Lee Ann Eager to Transportation Commission

Eager is a strong advocate for high-speed rail and president/CEO of the Fresno County Economic Development Corp. The commission is responsible for allocating funds for the construction of highways, passenger rail, transit, and other transportation improvements.

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Clovis Officers Cleaning up Roadway Glass Assisted by Good Samaritan

Clovis police officers didn't expect help while cleaning up broken glass in the road last week. But, they're now publicly thanking a man who stopped to help on their social media channels. The good Samaritan responded to that message with one of his own.

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Opinion: Why I (Almost) Put a BLM Bumper Sticker on My Car

I assume most Americans recognize that there has been tremendous, if slow, progress on racial equality in our country over the past few decades. Yet I am heartbroken that tragedies like what happened to George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery keep occurring, Dan Cederborg writes.

Sheriff Places 1,200 Fresno Inmates Into COVID-19 Quarantine

The inmates at Fresno County's north annex jail went into quarantine Friday after 13 COVID-19 tests came back positive. The sheriff's office says that since the onset of the pandemic, inmates have received daily screenings and efforts have been made to prevent the spread of the virus.

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Devastated by COVID, Small Businesses Thankful for $5K County Grants

Supervisors announced the first of 1,000 local business that will get relief money from a $5 million program funded by the federal CARES Act. For vending machine owner William Jurkovich, the grant is a lifeline. He said he lost 50% of his business because of the pandemic.

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Opinion: An Attempt to Steal Valley Water in the Dark of Night

With no discussion, no compromise, and no public hearings an effort is underway to insert language into the state budget that would authorize a water grab as a condition of approving the relicensing of local hydroelectric dams, Merced area Assemblymember Adam Gray writes.

Notorious Fresno Mailbox Thief Gets One Year in Federal Lockup

According to court documents, 28-year-old Justin Deger broke into mailboxes at Fresno residences and stole more than 2,000 pieces of mail. His haul over a four-month crime spree included checks and 26 credit cards. Police estimate that Deger stole mail from 500 people

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Middle East Peace? Local Dems, GOP Voice Positions on West Bank Annexation

Local congressmen are giving peace a chance between the Palestinians and Israel. But they disagree on how to forge what would be a historic reconciliation. Both local Democrats and Republicans are chiming in on the latest plan for Israel to annex land in the West Bank.

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Central Unified Trustee Seat Will Stay Vacant Until Nov. Election

Richard Atkins resigned this week in response to public outcry over his Facebook post that urged U.S. critics to "go back to your country." His trustee district - Area 4 - will not have a representative until a new board member is elected by voters in the fall.

'July Is Going to Be Very Tragic,' Says Fresno County Health Officer

The county has seen an almost 98% increase in hospitalized COVID-19 patients in the past 14 days, reporting shows, with a 33.3% increase in ICU cases. The increase in cases and hospitalizations has resulted in a state order to close bars again in an effort to stop the local spread of the virus.

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Ashley Swearengin Joins Caltrans for Virtual Town Hall on VMT Plan

Fresno's former mayor is listed as a special guest for a virtual town hall Wednesday about the controversial environmental law that critics say will significantly drive up new home prices. The event is billed as "a conversation on how this change will make California more connected and healthier for all."

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Tyler Soderstrom of Turlock Gets $3.3M A's Signing Bonus

Oakland selected the left-handed hitting catcher out of Turlock High School with the 26th pick in the first round of the Major League draft. Soderstrom's father, Steve, is a former Fresno State standout pitcher and first-round draft pick of the San Francisco Giants in 1990.

Pastors Accuse FUSD Trustee Slatic of Abusive, Racist Rant at Bagel Shop

The district said it investigated the complaints and found that Bullard area Trustee Terry Slatic "engaged in conduct that could be described as 'abusive,' 'disrespectful,' 'personal,' and 'attacking.' Slatic has denied the allegations.

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Newsom, Lawmakers Agree How to Close Budget Deficit

Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Legislature have agreed to a state spending plan that avoids billions of dollars in permanent cuts to public schools and health care programs but imposes pay cuts to state workers and other programs to cover an estimated $54.3 billion deficit.

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SF Mayor, Residents Decry Vandalism of Golden Gate Park Statues

A crowd toppled statues of Francis Scott Key, Father Junipero Serra and former President Ulysses S. Grant. San Francisco Mayor London Breed said decisions on removing statues and public art should be made as a community rather than by protesters acting on their own.

Will Downtown to River Parkway 'Protected' Bike Lane Become Reality?

A lane separating cyclists from motorists stretching nearly 13 miles from downtown Fresno to the San Joaquin River Parkway is coming into focus. Whether it becomes a reality depends on funding, getting county sign-off on one stretch of road, and the wishes of residents along the route.

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University of California System Names 1st Black President

Dr. Michael Drake, a seasoned university administrator will oversee the sprawling, 280,000-student system dealing with issues of accessibility for Blacks and other minorities, along with slashed budgets and upended campus life because of the coronavirus pandemic.

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Think a 'Mild' Case of COVID-19 Doesn't Sound So Bad? Think Again.

Conventional wisdom suggests that when a sickness is mild, it's not too much to worry about. But with COVID, one thing is becoming increasingly clear: even "mild" cases can be more complicated, dangerous and harder to shake than many first thought. In fact, some of the effects can be fatal.

'Take It Outside' Vohra Recommends to Fresno Restaurants

Fresno County Public Health officials say they expect bars and restaurants to comply with Gov. Gavin Newsom''s order to close many indoor businesses. If restaurants want to offer customer dining, it needs to be outdoors or in a patio setting, they said.

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Can California Save America From Itself?

California independence is gaining cultural currency and real-world urgency, columnist Joe Mathews says. Polling suggests one-third of Californians support the state's peaceful withdrawal from the nation. How best to manage California's independence bids in the years ahead, he asks?

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Odwalla Is No More. It Once Had Big Footprint in Dinuba.

Fans of the brand's juices and smoothies will soon have to seek out other options. Coca-Cola said it is shuttering Odwalla at the end of this month. The beverage giant purchased Odwalla in 2001 for $181 million, but a company spokesperson said smoothies aren't as popular as they used to be.

Friday Deadline to Add Picking Atkins' Successor to November Ballot

Following Tuesday's abrupt resignation of Central Unified Trustee Richard Atkins over a highly criticized Facebook post, the district is waiting for guidance on filling his seat. The deadline for allowing the public to decide on Atkins' successor in November's election is fast approaching.

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Newsom Threatens to Withhold County Funds Over COVID Compliance

The money is intended to help local governments pay for services needed because of the pandemic. But Gov. Gavin Newsom says it is contingent upon counties following emergency orders to enforce the safety measures as they gradually reopen the economy.

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FBI Nabs Clovis Walmart Assistant Manager for Credit Card Fraud

The manager allegedly obtained the identity information of people with names similar to her own and obtained credit cards in their names. On one of those credit cards, she made at least $100,000 in fraudulent purchases and cash advances.