Merced Sun-Star (Saturday)
Suit: Expanded Highway 99 would be choked with truck traffic
A controversial plan by Caltrans to expand Highway 99 in south Fresno could get quashed if opponents prevail in a lawsuit set to be heard in court on Friday. Caltrans announced the expansion in February 2023, which has been met with strong opposition,...
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Demolished pillar at Palm and Simpson no longer a mystery
When an alleged drunken driver took out an iconic landmark in the Fresno High neighborhood, many wondered why the 10-foot-tall stone and brick pillar was built in the first place. The pillar at Palm and Simpson avenues has stood in the historic...
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Radio Park to stay closed during work on $10.6M upgrade
Park, located next to the Fresno Art Museum, will be closed to the public until its $10.6 million renovation project is complete. An illustrative site plan for the park, known for its large radio tower visible from First Street, shows it will be...
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Controversy brews over Verizon’s plan for 80-foot cell tower
The Tower District is a community is known for rallying against projects it feels might undermine the vibe of the neighborhood. In the late 1990s, it got no less than Starbucks to rethink how and where it would open in Fresno. At one point, a...
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Fresno mall unveils major changes
Fresno’s busiest mall is making some big changes. Fashion Fair on Shaw Avenue has already started a renovation that will change its look with new seating, flooring and more. But when it comes to the mall, Fresnans always have some of the same...
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Remembering four young lives taken in Stockton party shooting
Three were children. Amari Peterson, the oldest, was 14. Maya Lupian was 8, two weeks shy of her 9th birthday. Journey Rose Reotutar Guerrero too was 8, “a curious and gentle soul,” her mother remembered. The fourth victim, Susano Archuleta, was 21, a...
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Cambria Christmas Market is back for the holidays
The six-acre top of a forested hillside near downtown Cambria is all dressed up for the season again, because as of Friday, the festive annual Christmas Market will be back in town. It’s the 14th year for the Cambria Pines Lodge’s interpretation of...
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High-Speed Rail delays cost some as agency pushes to Gilroy
The family that owns the El Bajio Market in downtown Merced says it invested more than $1 million in a new location with plans to help pay for the move using buyout money from the California High-Speed Rail Authority. But now the agency has pitched...
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Demand spikes at Fresno-area food banks as SNAP stalls
she was in grade school, 19-year-old Citali Arredondo and her family have made weekly visits to their local food bank in the small west Fresno County town of San Joaquin. The family, which does not receive CalFresh assistance, has long turned the food...
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Did water well dispute lead to fish deaths in Madera County?
In a gated community in east Chowchilla, a legal battle over water has turned ugly between a homeowners’ association and the Water Resource Council that oversees the neighborhood’s lakes. So ugly, that each side is blaming the other for causing the...
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Madera County now ‘Second Amendment Sanctuary’
Madera County supervisors voted to declare the county a “Second Amendment Sanctustrong ary,” approving a resolution as an expression of opposition to new state gun laws. The resolution, approved on a 4-0 vote Tuesday by the Republican-majority board,...
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ICE arrests in Fresno area surge amid Trump crackdown
ICE arrests in California’s Central Valley have risen by 58% in the first seven months of the Trump administration compared to the same time period last year. The Fresno Bee analyzed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement data obtained via a Freedom...
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Yosemite-area resort with 104 cabins to open in early 2026
A long-anticipated mountain resort under construction just 15 miles from Yosemite National Park’s South Gate is slated to open in early 2026. The resort, called Outbound Yosemite, will offer 104 cabins and 14 lodge-style rooms on 17 acres off Highway...
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Merced courthouse museum celebrates 150 years of stories
A pillar of justice in Merced County for more than 70 years, the Merced County Courthouse Museum’s 150th anniversary ceremony will celebrate the building’s history, the community and the completion of restoration to the historic buildings...
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Madera hospital delivers first baby in years since closure
Thirty minutes. That’s how long it might have taken Rebeca Cervantes to travel from her Madera home to St. Agnes Medical Center in Fresno, where she expected to give birth to her first daughter. But Cervantes was 8 centimeters dilated early the...
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Fancher Creek closer to opening as stores start hiring
Stores at the long-awaited Fancher Creek shopping center in southeast Fresno are one step closer to opening as they start hiring employees. None of the major retailers or restaurants have released specific opening dates, but both Target and Sprouts...
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Central Valley Sikh truckers report spike in harassment
Central San Joaquin Valley’s Punjabi Sikh trucking community is reporting increased threats and other safety concerns since a deadly Florida crash became a central talking point in a charged national debate around immigration. Some of that attention...
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Fig fanatic brings exotic fruit flavors to customers
Brian Melton of Fresno is an admitted fig fanatic. He eats them everyday and can easily name more than 100 different varieties that he’s devoured. Melton’s fascination with figs began as a hobby about 15 years ago while working at a wholesale nursery....
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Distinctive new structure in Clovis is getting noticed
From an aerial view, the large and unique structure being built across from the Target shopping center in Clovis seems to resemble a mini stadium. At street level, it might look more like a car dealership. The site does, after all, neighbor a Honda...
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Clovis opens $600M school campus
Next week, 1,100 Clovis students in seventh through ninth grade will begin their school year at the brand-new Terry P. Bradley Educational Center, the most expensive school campus built in the Cenmiles tral Valley with a price tag of more than $600...
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Shakira delivers for Fresno’s first stadium concert
Shakira had one job in the final performance on the North American leg of her Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran tour Thursday night. Live up to the hype. The global superstar announced Fresno as late-addition to what was already a record-breaking tour;...
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Fresno was intended to be a stop, but it became a home
Journalism is more than a job, or even a career. Over time it becomes your identity. A big part of how people see you, and how you see yourself. I remember in 2019 walking into the Clovis Big-Dry Creek Museum looking for historical information about a...
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Caltrans continues to retrofit vulnerable bridges in Merced County
Work continues on the Bear Creek bridges near the intersection of West 16th Street and State Route 59 in Merced, as part of a larger multi-million dollar California Department of Transportation project to retroparts fit bridges in Merced County deemed...
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New sports bar La Tia Juana aims to keep fans local
A new sports bar in downtown Merced is looking to become a go-to destination for sports fans, offering classic bar food, specialty cocktails and a welcoming environment. La Tia Juana, located at 425 W. Main Street, will officially open to the public...
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Thriving literary communities help Fresno shine
Former Poet Laureate Philip Levine taught at Fresno State University for over 30 years, and one of his poems, “What Work Is,” inspired an event at a local literary festival last year. Four nonfiction writers shared reflections on that poem at ViSTA...
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Shakira’s concert at Valley Children’s Stadium is a first
It all happened relatively quickly. It took about two weeks, give or take, for Fresno State to secure and announce an Aug. 7 concert date with Shakira. The global pop-star is slated to perform at Valley Children’s Stadium. The concert was a late...
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Why does Riverstone’s Madera development sit empty?
Apartments above shops, a hotel and a main plaza with space for entertainment. All of that and more are in the conceptual plans for Riverwalk, the 1 million-squarefoot mixed-use space being developed as part of the master-planned Riverstone community...
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‘A living wall’: DACA mural highlights immigrant resilience
Delma Gorostieta is a lawyer, not a muralist. But she’s up on a ladder, helping smooth out a large swatch of canvas as it is glued to a wall on the side of building facing Highway 180 in downtown Fresno. Painted on the canvas, in black, gray and...
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Lawmakers call handcuffing of Padilla ‘shameful’
California politicians reacted to the forcible removal of Sen. Alex Padilla at the Department of Homeland Security’s press conference in Los Angeles on Thursday. Secretary Kristi Noem held the conference to address the ongoing immigration response in...
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Losing $4B could delay high-speed rail construction
The California high-speed rail project expected to boost the Central Valley’s economy faced a major blow this week after President Donald Trump’s administration announced plans to pull back $4 billion of its federal money. What would that mean for the...
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‘Absolute jewel’ could become a destination, experts say
To those who know about it, the San Joaquin River is Fresno’s greatest natural feature. In the springtime, burrowing owls nestle into its bluffs, songbirds float around its floodplains, and hawks soar overhead. East of Highway 41, hiking trails...
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Fresno Yosemite Airport plans major expansion projects
There are big plans for the future of Fresno Yosemite International Airport. Some projects already are in the works and others still in the planning stages. It’s all part of the FATForward program — a multi-year expansion plan to update the airport...
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James Beard nominee Matt Horn brings barbecue to Fresno
One of California’s most well-known barbecue pitmasters — and a Fresno native — is officially bringing his restaurant to his hometown this summer. Matt Horn is the founder of Horn Barbecue in Oakland, Lafayette and Elk Grove, along with the Kowbird...
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Historic Merced County Courthouse rededicated after 150 years
For 150 years, the Merced County Courthouse has stood as a symbol of the residents of Merced. On Monday, its significance was recognized during a rededication ceremony. “The Merced County Courthouse Museum is more than just a building, it’s a symbol...
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After 75 years, what’s next for Central Fish in Chinatown?
The anchor of Fresno’s Chinatown, Central Fish Co. has thrived for 75 years by building a loyal customer base and selling products sold nowhere else in the region. Owner Morgan Doizaki has run the family-owned store — which is also a fish wholesaler...
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Fresno airport unveils construction milestone
Fresno Yosemite International Airport celebrated a major construction “milestone” on Wednesday, unslated veiling an expanded security checkpoint and new artwork. According to the airport, the additions represent the “first new expansion phase”...
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Was Fresno unprepared for its no-camping prosecution?
The Fresno City Attorney’s Office last week lost its first case against a homeless man set for prosecution under a tightened no-camping ordinance that has netted hundreds of arrests since last year. In a case that spanned six months from arrest to the...
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Fresno’s first anti-camping case dismissed by judge
A trial judge threw out a case against a homeless man who was set to be the first prosecuted under the city of Fresno’s strict anti-camping law. Fresno County Judge Brian Alvarez ruled Thursday that the Fresno City Attorney’s Office violated Wickey...
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Fresno demolishes historic Chinatown building for housing
By the time excavators started ripping apart one of Fresno’s most culturally significant landmarks, the Bow On Tong Association joss house had already succumbed to the combined ravages of neglect, vandalism and fire. Any chance to preserve and restore...
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Clovis sales tax set to increase 1% on April 1
1% tax increase is on its way to shoppers in Clovis next week, helping to preserve the “Clovis way of life.” Effective April 1, the sales tax rate will rise to 8.975% and apply to all purchases made in the city, meaning a consumer should expect to pay...
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Merced Kids Discovery Station has hosted 88,000 since debut
The Kids Discovery Station appears to have found a foothold in Merced since opening in 2021, welcoming 88,000 visitors. The nonprofit children’s museum, located at 350 West Yosemite Ave., is looking to build off its success by adding an outdoor...
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Clovis Unified dress code targets female students, data shows
Kiny Holapatiphone and her friend were walking across the Buchanan High School campus on a crisp fall afternoon when they were stopped by a male administrator who noticed her sweater. The Buchanan High senior wore the sweater often to school for the...
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Threats of ICE raids sweep through Fresno flea markets
It was only 9 in the morning, and Librado Maya could tell already that it would be a slow day for his flea market business. Other than the Latin music from a nearby loudspeaker, there was little to no bustle at the usually popular Cherry Avenue...
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Sequoia Legacy Tree gets farewell ceremony in Visalia
The past few years had been particularly rough for Visalia’s Sequoia Legacy Tree. A pattern of heavy winters and dry summers left the nearly 90-year-old tree susceptible to a particular type of fungus. Caretakers gave treatments to halt the infection,...
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Fresno police using AI to write reports
For almost a year, the Fresno Police Department has been deploying artificial intelligence to write many of their tens of thousands of police reports. Fresno is believed to be one of the first and largest U.S. cities to deploy what’s known as...
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Fresno selects Casto as first female police chief
The city of Fresno named its new top law enforcement leader on Thursday in interim Chief Mindy Casto, making her the 24th police chief and the city’s first woman to hold the top cop job. Casto, 49, has served the interim role in Fresno since June,...
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Millerton Lake eagle tours: A glimpse into the winter habitat
Mike Smith stands at the bow of a metal tour boat as it cuts across Millerton Lake. It’s a clear Sunday morning. The blue skies show white wisps of clouds as a cold chill moves off the water and the sun shimmers off rippling waves. Smith studies the...
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Patch of land east of Fresno is gateway to the galaxy
Keith Quattrocchi’s first foray into astronomy was as a child looking at the stars over Sonoma County through a telescope that was a gift from his dad. It was just a small thing, this telescope, but he put it to good use. “I was out every night with...
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Trump visiting NC, Calif. with disaster aid an open question
President Donald Trump on Friday began his first trip since returning to the White House to storm-ravaged North Carolina and California, which is facing some of the most deadly and destructive blazes in the state’s history. The trip came as the...
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Living as DACA recipient: A journey of fear and resilience
Weeks before Matias Bernal migrated to the United States from Mexico City in 2002, he and his younger sister were held at gunpoint by three strangers who ambushed them on their way to school. The would-be abductors forced the siblings to get inside...
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New Atwater police chief settles into job
Richard McEachin started Dec. 19 as Atwater’s new police chief, taking on the role of leading the biggest department of his 20-year career in law enforcement. The 54-year old sworn officer explained he couldn’t pass up the opportunity to work closer...
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Snowpack measurements show promising start
first snowpack measurement of 2025 on Thursday showed promising figures for the water year, complemented by high storage levels in some of the state’s most critical reservoirs. However, uneven snow distribution across the Sierra Nevada highlighted...
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Raw milk leader McAfee in line for FDA advisor role
As Mark McAfee — the maverick leader of California’s largest raw milk dairy — works on getting his Fresno County dairy out of bird flu quarantine, his name has surfaced as a possible advisor for the Food and Drug Administration on shaping raw milk...
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Three local Merced spots to try for authentic tamales
Tamales, the traditional Latin American dish, becomes more popular during the cold winter months, particularly during the holidays. The dish itself is simple: a corn dough, with a filling, that is wrapped in corn husks or banana leaves and then...
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Merced zoo to receive major upgrades, expanded bear habitat
Windfall and Missy have lived at the Applegate Park Zoo in Merced for more than 15 years. Although the two bears appear to be comfortable in their 1,000 square feet habitat, zoo officials would like them to have even more. “We want our girls to...
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Historic Merced building demolished after fire
A historic 19th century building has been reduced to rubble, after a fire tore through the structure in Merced earlier this week. Merced County’s first building constructed as a high school, built in 1897 and designed by Louis Starwood Stone in the...
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Teenager breaks record as youngest to pass Calif. bar exam
Sophia Park doesn’t think much about her age, even as reminders stack up all around her. Earlier this month, the Office of the District Attorney in Tulare County announced that the teenage law clerk had become the youngest person to pass California’s...
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Condemned California inmates wait decades for lawyers
Charles E. Case was sentenced to death by a Sacramento County jury nearly 30 years ago and immediately became eligible for an attorney skilled at state-level habeas corpus appeals, a key part of the process to determine whether capital punishment...
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Historic Laura Fountain restored in Merced’s Applegate Park
After falling into disrepair, water is once again flowing through Merced’s historic Laura Fountain in Applegate Park. The marble fountain was built in 1888 by Merced Founder Charles Henry Huffman and named for his third wife Laura Kirkland Huffman....
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Do California Latinos care about historic anti-immigrant law?
In the summer of 1993, Heidy Sarabia and her family left Mexico City in search of the American Dream. By the next year, that dream was nearly shattered as the family settled in Sacramento. The family arrived in California when residents, struggling...
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Migratory birds make trip to Merced County wildlife refuges
More than 1 million ducks and geese will be spending their winter throughout areas such as the Merced County wildlife refuges and surrounding state wildlife areas as they escape the northern winter climates. The San Luis National Wildlife Refuge and...
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Merced home screams Halloween with decorations, displays
Halloween has always been Miguel Avila’s favorite holiday. As a kid, the Merced resident always loved dressing up in costumes and going trick-ortreating. Candy was always the big motivation. Now Avila, 28, loves to see the reactions of the kids that...
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Maria’s Taco Shop: A staple in Merced for more than 30 years
Maria’s Taco Shop has served up local favorites for the Merced community for more than 30 years. Enrique Valencia, 67, who co-owns the restaurant with his wife, opened the establishment in September 1992. Valencia has lived in Merced since moving to...
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Trump aides sought enhanced security for campaign events
Former President Donald Trump’s campaign has requested a series of additional security measures, including military assets, in conversations with the White House and the Secret Service because of continuing threats to his safety, according to four...
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Merced school district, board respond to grand jury report
Merced school officials met the deadline to respond to a scathing grand jury report that concluded the district had “lost respect and trust from some of those they serve” by not adhering to open meetings rules and conducting some business improperly...
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