Board members attend the final full board meeting for the Fresno State Foundation Tuesday afternoon, June 30, 2026 in Fresno.
ERIC PAUL ZAMORA
ezamora@fresnobee.com
Wednesday brought a busy news day across the central San Joaquin Valley, from governance upheaval at Fresno State’s philanthropic arm to a Clovis restaurant’s dramatic reinvention. Fresno’s mayor floated a bid for a third term, while a long-awaited Title IX review at Fresno State delivered its verdict.
Here are Wednesday’s top stories 
Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer, at a July 27, 2026, news conference at Fresno City Hall, said he would run for a third term in 2028 if voters allow. David Taub The Fresno Bee After shakeup, Fresno State Foundation hit by resignations. ‘I have overstayed my welcome’: Three board members — Eric Hanson, Carol Chandler and George Soares — resigned in the days following a June 30 board meeting that ushered in governance changes including term limits. The Fresno State Foundation, which manages $315 million in university endowments and post-award grants, is remediating 46 weaknesses identified in a CSU chancellor’s office review released in January. Long-time chairperson Vinci Ricchiuti also termed out after 32 years, including a decade as chair.A Clovis restaurant tried to be like Sweet Tomatoes. Months later, it’s pivoting: Dosan Social Eatery on Shaw Avenue spent four months trying to fill the Sweet Tomatoes void with a $25 buffet and meat-carving stations before closing in February to reinvent itself. Owner Ranjit Dosanjh ripped out the 25-foot salad bar and reopened with an upscale à la carte menu featuring a 14-ounce rib-eye, a French dip sandwich and specialty cocktails. Diner reviews on Google and Yelp have been primarily positive since the switch.Fresno State athletics Title IX gender-equity review is done. Is school in compliance?: A comprehensive review conducted by Tulane sports law director Gabe Feldman found the athletics department generally in Title IX compliance on participation opportunities, benefits and treatment of student-athletes. The review stemmed from a lawsuit settlement with former women’s lacrosse players whose program was cut in 2021; Fresno State agreed to pay $900,000 in attorneys fees and $25,000 for the review. It flagged facility issues at the North Gym that disproportionately affect female athletes and gave the school until the end of the 2027-28 academic year to implement a gender equity plan.Fresno mayor wants third term. Experts say idea is OK, but timeline ‘self-serving’: Council President Nelson Esparza introduced a resolution Monday to let mayors and councilmembers serve three consecutive terms — 12 years total — instead of the current two. Mayor Jerry Dyer, a co-sponsor, said he would seek a third term if voters approve the measure in November. Political scientists said the timing looked “self-serving” and should have been vetted publicly months before Thursday’s council vote to place it on the Nov. 3 ballot.
Original stories by Robert Kuwada, Bethany Clough and Melissa Montalvo
This report was produced with the assistance of a proprietary tool powered by artificial intelligence based on our own originally reported, written and published content. Before publishing, journalists reviewed this content in compliance with McClatchy Media’s AI policy.
This story was originally published July 30, 2026 at 6:29 AM.
CORRECTION: The headline was changed to remove a potentially confusing direct quote.
Corrected Jul 30, 2026