Restaurant expansions and shutdowns, a college athletics scandal, a teen murder sentencing and a Fresno homicide investigation defined August news in the central valley. These are the stories that resonated most with Fresno Bee subscribers during the month — a snapshot of what readers clicked on, saved and shared as summer wound down across Fresno and Clovis.
Here are The Fresno Bee’s top stories from August to catch you up 
A 27-acre commercial development featuring stores, restaurants, a hotel, car wash and an entertainment venue is planned for the corner of Veterans Boulevard and Riverside Drive. Bethany Clough bclough@fresnobee.com Heirloom confirms second Fresno-area restaurant location. Here’s when and where Heirloom will open a second location in Clovis near Herndon and Fowler avenues in a yet-to-be-built stand-alone building, owners Brandon Smittcamp, Rema Koligian, Kevin Koligian and chef Justin Shannon confirmed. Construction is expected to start in four or five months, with an opening targeted for late 2027 or early 2028. The counter-service, farm-driven menu will match the Fresno original, plus a patio and walk-up window.Chefs quitting, pay problems at upscale Fresno restaurant Bulle. What happened? Five months after opening, upscale Fresno restaurant Bulle is facing three unpaid wage claims filed with California’s Labor Commissioner’s Office in April, July and August. At least seven workers, including executive chef Max McCarthy, have left after bouncing checks and delayed paychecks. Owner Tom Miller acknowledged cash-flow challenges tied to a lengthy opening process and said all employees have since been paid.Fallout from Tahoe brawl between Fresno-area school officials? Here’s what we know State Center Community College District is staying quiet about potential fallout after a video surfaced May 31 of athletics directors Derrick Johnson of Fresno City College and Jesse White of Madera Community College brawling on a Lake Tahoe beach. SCCCD advertised for an interim associate dean of athletics at Fresno City with an Aug. 24 start date, and both men disappeared from their department websites after Aug. 10.Here’s where convicted killer of Caleb Quick will do her time. Clovis dad criticizes Cassandra Michael, convicted of murder with a gun enhancement in the April 23, 2025 killing of Caleb Quick, will serve her sentence at the Fresno County Juvenile Justice Center, facing four to seven years in custody or until age 25. Stephen Quick, the victim’s father, criticized a state law allowing up to 180 days to be trimmed from her sentence every six months if she meets requirements.Even more closures. Restaurants, food markets shutting down in Fresno, Clovis Another wave of Fresno and Clovis food business closures hit this summer, including Great Wall Chinese Cuisine, Toshiko Ramen and Sushi Bar’s downtown location, The Bakery by Indulge Right, Sierra Nut House’s Old Town Clovis store, Bingo Market, Vampire Penguin and Roll-Em-Up Taquitos. Great Wall, open since 2008 and known for its chow mein and orange chicken, served its final day Monday, Aug. 10, 2026.Update: Family ID’s woman found dead at Fresno home. Police continue to investigate Fresno police continued investigating a homicide at a home in the 5700 block of East Grove Avenue after detectives arrived Wednesday, Aug. 5. Family identified the victim as 29-year-old Alison Riley, also known as Tatyana, a mother of seven who went missing at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 4, while visiting her two youngest children. No suspect has been named.Massive shopping/entertainment zone planned for Fresno corner — but no Topgolf? Fresno-based Bottom Line Group is planning a 27-acre mixed-use development at Veterans Boulevard and Riverside Drive with stores, restaurants, a grocery store, brewery, hotel, convention space, gas station, car wash and family entertainment center. CEO Jay Virk said the project is in pre-planning stages, with actual construction at least three years away. Two years of talks with Topgolf did not pan out.
Original stories by Bethany Clough, Nick Fenley, Thaddeus Miller, Amber Hair and Anthony Galaviz
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This story was originally published August 29, 2026 at 6:27 PM.