\ud83e\udd35The Foundation for Fresno Unified Students has expanded its suit drive initiative to ensure year-round supply of professional attire for students preparing for interviews, internships and post-secondary opportunities. Foundation for Fresno Unified<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83d\udcaaThe Fresno City College Social Justice Institute and the Central Labor Council\u2019s Empowerment Institute are hosting a Working Class History workshop on Thursday, Jan 29 from 5:30-7:30p.m. at the college\u2019s Old Administration Building, Room 114. Dinner is provided.<\/p>\n 1. Fresno Unified investments paying off<\/p>\n It\u2019s been nearly three years since Fresno Unified narrowly avoided a teacher\u2019s strike by agreeing to a $30 million package of investments in student and family support services.<\/p>\n EdSource reports<\/a> that money has since funded nearly 30 separate initiatives, including housing assistance, additional food pantries, more tutoring and buses for students with disabilities, among others.\u00a0<\/p>\n While some of the programs remain in the early stages and district officials say it\u2019s too soon to tell how effective they have been, educators who spoke with EdSource say they see the potential ahead.<\/p>\n The district has tried to center investments around students\u2019 basic needs \u2014 guided by community input \u2014 and have built a model for district leaders and teachers to collaborate.\u00a0<\/p>\n Campus laundry rooms have been installed at every Fresno Unified middle school and at many of the district\u2019s community schools.<\/p>\n Darrin Person, the district\u2019s executive director of community schools: \u201cWe\u2019ve seen an uptick in attendance for those students that obviously are getting some of their basic needs met.\u201d<\/p>\n 2. Harness horse racing comes to the Big Fresno Fair<\/p>\n The Big Fresno Fair recently announced that harness racing will return to Fresno for the first time in more than 100 years, the Business Journal reports.<\/a><\/p>\n The deal, approved through a partnership with Watch and Wager, LLC, makes Fresno the only approved venue for live harness racing in California.<\/p>\n Harness racing features standardbred horses pulling two-wheeled carts called sulkies. Drivers guide the horses rather than riding them as jockeys.<\/p>\n Racing will primarily take place on weekends at the Brian I. Tatarian Grandstand, with final licensing approval expected at the CHRB\u2019s September 2026 meeting.<\/p>\n Christina Estrada, CEO of The Big Fresno Fair: \u201cThis represents a significant step forward for horse racing in Fresno. The return of harness racing continues our longstanding tradition of live horse racing that dates back to 1884, while also driving positive economic impact and community engagement.\u201d<\/p>\n 3. Fresno schools aren\u2019t ready for whole milk<\/p>\n Fresno County\u2019s largest school districts aren\u2019t about to go along with the new \u2014 and contested \u2014 guidelines from the federal government to return whole milk to the student cafeterias.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/FTA-strike-vote-option-one.jpg\")
Credit: Julianna Morano \/ Fresnoland<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/harness-racing.jpg\")
Pexels<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/pexels-jonathan-david-1312107-31458842-edited-scaled.jpg\")
Pexels<\/p>\n