Wednesday brought a mix of consequential news across the central San Joaquin Valley, from a courtroom sentencing in a high-profile Clovis murder case to a leadership change in Tulare County government and a fresh sale attempt for a landmark downtown Fresno hotel building. Get caught up.
The Radisson Hotel building, center, on Van Ness in downtown Fresno is again listed for sale. It was listed last fall with a price of $14.9 million, then it was taken off the market. On Aug. 21 it was listed for sale again, this time for $19.5 million. CRAIG KOHLRUSS ckohlruss@fresnobee.com Here are the top stories of the day“Teen who killed Caleb Quick in Clovis sentenced. Father says ‘lies’ led to murder” — Cassandra Michael was sentenced Wednesday to seven years in Fresno County’s Secure Youth Treatment Facility for her role as getaway driver in the April 2025 killing of Caleb Quick outside a Clovis McDonald’s. Judge Brian Alvarez imposed the maximum sentence, rejecting a report that called the crime rash and impulsive and saying instead that it showed sophistication and planning. Quick’s father, Stephen Quick, told the court his son was “set up and murdered by Cassie and Byron based on lies.” Alleged shooter Byron Rangel has a tentative transfer hearing scheduled Dec. 1 to determine whether he will be tried as an adult.“Tulare County announces new Health & Human Services director” — The Tulare County Board of Supervisors voted 4-0 to appoint Natalie Bolin as the new director of the Health & Human Services Agency, following the retirement of Donna Ortiz. Bolin, currently the agency’s behavioral health director, is a licensed clinical social worker with more than 30 years of experience and has secured more than $34 million in grant funding over the past five years. Her new role starts Oct. 3 with an approved annual salary of $244,640.61, plus a monthly auto allowance of $731. Board chair Amy Shuklian said the appointment “brings experienced, steady leadership to one of our county’s most critical agencies.”“Downtown Fresno’s old Radisson hotel re-listed for sale. Price up millions in a year” — The nine-story, 197-room former Radisson building on Van Ness Avenue is back on the market for $19.5 million, more than double what the ownership group paid in March 2023 and 31% higher than the $14.9 million asking price from last fall. The Aug. 21 Loopnet listing describes a “dual-path” opportunity for redevelopment as apartments or reopening as a hotel, and comes with a completed professional renovation design package. Downtown Councilmember Miguel Arias criticized the sale attempts, saying he still doesn’t “see a marketplace for that price point.” The hotel closed in December 2022 because of fire code violations.
Original stories by Fresno Bee reporters Thaddeus Miller, Maria G. Ortiz-Briones and Erik Galicia
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