In the News
On the evening of May 18th, the Los Banos Soroptimists held a very special evening to honor local women of all ages for their distinction. The group was also honored to have in attendance representatives from the offices of Congressman Jim Costa, Senator Anthony Canella, Assembly Adam Gray, as well as County Supervisor Jerry O'Banion, and Mayor Mike Villalta. The Soroptimists work with, and award those women within our community who have shown achievement in many areas, as well as unselfish time in service to others in many ways.
The Korean War had been raging for two years when Riverdale native Bill Robinett spent his first night in a trench in Korea. He was 22 and scared.
"It was very scary, of course, especially the first week and first night," says Robinett, now 85 and living in Fresno. "We were in our trench and they (North Koreans) were in their trench about a quarter-mile away and it was a case of who could shoot the most at each other.
Bill Robinett of Fresno is a Korean War veteran who will be traveling to Washington, D.C. with the Central Valley Honor Flight.
At only seven years old, Brandon Colwell knows the importance of honoring his grandfather and great-grandfather.
"These people were fighting and because of the Civil War," Brandon said.
His grandfather Don Colwell says they attend the Memorial Day ceremony at Memorial Gardens every year, and they sit next to a veteran's grave that's very special, his father's.\
"It's the closest we can get to him on earth, and he's just very special," Colwell said.
Hundreds gathered Monday to honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.
Though Memorial Day commemorates the men and women who have died in U.S. military service, chaplain Capt. Kenneth Cain stressed to a crowd here Sunday the importance of remembering and honoring all veterans who have died.
"Not all who sleep here died in combat or were even in a combat arena," he told the roughly 600 people who attended a Memorial Day service at San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery.
Thanks to Rep. Jim Costa ("Building on UC Merced's success is good for the Valley," May 26) for highlighting UC Merced and why we should support the school's 2020 Project. As a member of the UC Merced Board of Trustees, I have seen the significant economic boost UC Merced has brought to our community, creating thousands of construction jobs, nearly adding 800 permanent jobs on campus, with UC benefits and wages.
New York Mills truck driver Bill Brady feels like he's making a difference through his work with the not-for-profit group Truckers Against Trafficking.
Brady, who drives for Lodestar and grew up in Wadena, has been working with the organization for roughly three years. Truckers Against Trafficking is a not-for-profit group that works to educate, raise awareness and combat trafficking in the trucking and travel plaza industries.
The House on Friday passed a big energy and water spending bill that showcases the continuing federal discord over how to handle California's drought.
The $35 billion bill includes money for the California status quo, ranging from Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta restoration to operations of the sprawling Central Valley Project. It also includes drought-related language, with directives to speed completion of water storage project studies.
Today U.S. Sens. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) and Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.) reintroduced S. 1111, the Public Power Risk Management Act, bipartisan legislation that would clarify provisions of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act in order to provide permanent relief to public power utilities and keep energy affordable for Americans.
Parlier government leaders returned from Washington, D.C. on April 16 after delivering a message to the White House: The California drought affects every resident in the state.
Mayor Alma Beltran, Mayor Pro Tem Raul Villanueva and City Manager Israel Lara joined Fresno Council of Governments (COG) members in asking federal legislators for support on regional priorities – especially water policy focused on drought relief. The event, called "One Voice," lasted five days and included more than 20 Valley representatives.
Again this April 24th the Armenian National Committee of America Central California with the support of the City of Fresno raised both the United States and Armenian flags in front of City Hall to commemorate the Armenian Genocide. This year, prompted by the Centennial, a march was organized that lead hundreds of demonstrators from the Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic church, a distance of approximately 1.5 miles, to Fresno City Hall.
REEDLEY – A federal budget allocation has put Reedley College $2 million closer to being able to build a center where business, technology and agriculture can intersect through innovation.
Tariffs are a dirty word for many people in agriculture. As the American Farm Bureau Federation has pointed out, trade disruptions have created additional hardships for farmers who entered 2025 already dealing with crippling inflation and declining farm prices.
CENTRAL VALLEY, Calif. (KFSN) -- The first State of the Union address of President Trump's second term promised affordability going forward.
The president hopes to change Americans' minds about his economic agenda.
WASHINGTON, DC. (KSEE/KGPE) – In what was the longest State of the Union address in modern history, President Donald Trump began by focusing on immigration.
“When I last spoke in this chamber 12 months ago, I had just inherited a nation in crisis, with a stagnant economy, inflation at record levels, a wide-open border,” Trump said.
FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – The Supreme Court ruled that President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs are illegal in a 6-3 vote.
“Today’s a good day for the rule of law. Today is a good day for affordability, something that Americans and Californians have been screaming for,” California Attorney General Rob Bonta said.