Quote of the Week

“If it wasn’t for Fresnoland’s reporting, the full city council and the public wouldn’t have known about contracts that were signed and exceeded the contracts limit, in violation of the municipal code as confirmed by our legal counsel.”

— Councilmember Miguel Arias commenting on a string of beefed-up transparency policies he’s seeking in the wake of Fresnoland’s major investigation earlier this month

This Week in Fresnoland

Fresnoland investigation triggers City Hall policy overhaul

Fresno City Councilmember Miguel Arias plans to bring forth a new city policy that addresses several transparency and accountability loopholes exposed in a recent two-part Fresnoland investigation.

Fresnoland investigative reporter Omar S. Rashad uncovered loopholes earlier this month in a city policy that allowed at least one councilmember to award thousands of dollars in contracts to a campaign insider without ever seeking council approval or public scrutiny.

Arias’ plan directs city staffers to create an 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.

Originally, Arias said he’d support reforming the city’s transparency policy, such that all no-bid contracts, not just those worth $100,000 or less, are accessibly listed on the city’s website. Four other councilmembers also told Fresnoland that. The current draft of the policy does not require that level of transparency.

“I am confident these changes will reduce the likelihood of a recurrence of the actions identified through Fresnoland’s reporting, and addressed by the City Attorney,” Arias said.

Filling up vacant buildings in Fresno’s Tower District

How do you fill up a building that’s been vacant since the height of the Vietnam War?

Over the last year, Fresno’s city council has tried a variety of carrots and sticks to inspire absentee property owners to renovate their buildings.

And while there’s been little improvement over the last year or so, city councilmembers representing the Tower District say it’s still too soon to know whether the new approaches will work, Fresnoland’s Julianna Morano reports.

Last year, the council launched a one-year pilot program pushing vacant building owners to rehab their properties on tighter deadlines. Then, six months later, the council OK’d a second program, a sales tax rebate incentive for small businesses to move into vacant properties.

But whether carrots and sticks will be enough to breathe new life into dilapidated buildings remains to be seen and likely hinges less on policy and more on commercial demand.

“The real question is,” said Alan Mallach, a senior fellow with the Center for Community Progress, “is there demand there for all of this space?”

‘Vulnerable’

Around four dozen protesters rallied in front of ICE’s downtown Fresno office this week, speaking out against the federal agency’s aggressive tactics across the nation as the Trump administration completes its first full year back in power, Giselle Medina reported for Fresnoland.

Local protesters said they were attempting to get more Fresno residents engaged in a planned strike on Jan. 23, led in Minneapolis.

The protest comes as immigrant advocates worry about federal immigration officials escalating enforcement operations, similar to what has been deployed in Minnesota since early January. They said multiple people have been detained in Fresno and Clovis by ICE since the MLK-holiday weekend.

“Without more people, without more eyes on the scene in our community,” Roman Rain Tree, organizer with Faith in the Valley, “we are just left vulnerable.”

Much-needed doctor’s office opens in West Fresno

For the second time in the last three months, a new medical center has opened west of the 99 freeway, marking the latest effort to chip away at Fresno’s longstanding doctor shortage, Julianna Morano reported for Fresnoland on Friday.

But even with the new health center that will add four primary care providers, the city’s west side neighborhoods still remain short of recommended physician-to-resident ratios.

Community organizations like the Highway City Community Development, Inc. have tried to fill the gap. April Henry, the organization’s president, said their community needs between 30 and 40 doctors to fully meet the need.

“No matter how many sites we open and services open up,”said UHC CEO Justin Preas, “we’re just so terribly underserved here in the Valley.”

Malaga residents need to boil their tap water

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, Rob Parsons reports for Fresnoland.

Water samples tested positive for contamination on Jan. 20, but the potentially deadly bacteria was not found in the supply one day later.

“We will inform you when tests show that water is safe to drink, and you no longer need to boil your water,” authorities said in Friday’s notice. “We anticipate resolving the problem within one week or sooner.”

Malaga, a community of fewer than 700 people southeast of Fresno, has struggled with water quality issues, including contamination, for years. It was one of 13 small local districts identified in a 2020 report as a candidate to consolidate its water system with the City of Fresno.

Outside the Lines

On Fresnoland’s podcast this week, Danielle and Jordan spoke with housing policy expert Jennifer LeSar to help us better understand why it’s so difficult to build denser housing in places like Fresno, even when the demand exists for it. Fresnolandia

County residents relying on public assistance for basic needs have a new opportunity to connect with jobs. Fresnoland

Nighttime bus riders are in for major relief as the city’s bus agency, FAX, announced last week that they’re cutting wait times in half. Fresnoland

State officials are ramping up new requirements for cities and counties to meet in order to receive millions of dollars to address homelessness. CalMatters

The recent string of deadly fog-related car accidents has spiked the need for blood donations. ABC30

Fresno’s international airport saw more than 2.75 million passengers in 2025, up 3% from 2024. The Business Journal

Since the early 2000s, Fresno Unified has lost some 13,000 students, part of a yearslong trend that is now forcing California’s third-largest school district to make deep cuts. KVPR

Federal authorities seized an unidentified Clovis man, described only as “a gardener,” on Monday morning. The Fresno Bee

A lawsuit filed last month accuses Clovis Unified School District of negligence and failing to protect high school students from two sexual predators in the Clovis North High drama department more than 15 years ago. YourCentralValley

The Fresno City Attorney’s Office has never been more powerful. The Fresno Bee

A major investment — partially backed by Measure P dollars — seeks to expand access to youth sports across Fresno. ABC30

Fresno City Councilmember Miguel Arias is serving as the temporary spokesperson for Madera Community College. GV Wire

A Fresno State professor has returned to the classroom after serving a suspension in connection with comments made about the shooting of activist Charlie Kirk. KMPH

The Foundation for Fresno Unified Students has expanded its suit drive initiative to ensure a year-round supply of professional attire for students preparing for interviews, internships and post-secondary opportunities. Foundation for Fresno Unified

Adventist Health Physician Network will end its contract with Santé Community Physicians on Feb. 15, affecting health insurance coverage for patients in Fresno and Kings counties. The Business Journal

Block Beat

NORTHWEST FRESNO: Jingle Bao, featuring Chinese dumplings, soft-opened in the former Boston Market location on Bullard and Highway 41 this past weekend. YourCentralValley

MAYFAIR: This is Fresno’s pho capital. The Fresno Bee

FRESNO HIGH: The Fresno City College Social Justice Institute and the Central Labor Council’s Empowerment Institute are hosting a Working Class History workshop on Thursday, Jan. 29 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the college’s Old Administration Building, Room 114. Dinner is provided.

NORTHEAST FRESNO: Starving Artist Bistro, a popular Fresno restaurant that closed in September of 2024, is officially back in business under new management. YourCentralValley

CLOVIS: If you love the hit Netflix show “Stranger Things” and have around $300 for the night — you can stay in this fun AirBnB operated by two local filmmakers in Clovis. The Fresno Bee

ALLENSWORTH: The historic community of Allensworth celebrated the upcoming construction of a new well, along with a 500,000-gallon storage tank and an arsenic treatment system that the community’s 500 or so residents will help their town grow. SJV Water

HANFORD: Meet the new city manager. Hanford Sentinel 

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