Merced Sun-Star
Two dead in helicopter crash while battling Yosemite’s Dome Fire
Two pilots with Fly Precision were killed Sunday afternoon when their helicopter crashed while battling the Dome Fire inside Yosemite National Park. The pilots’ identities had not been released. The Federal Aviation Administration said a Eurocopter...
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Dad’s Cookies launches bakery, espresso bar on Fulton Street
After more than a year of work, Dad’s Cookies is almost ready to welcome people through its new doors in the Brewery District as part of a new renovation. The downtown storefront at 760 Fulton Street, Ste. 101, is near Chukchansi Park and across from...
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After lengthy absence, McConnell returns to Senate
Sen. Mitch McConnell returned to the Senate floor Monday, voting for the first time in nearly three months after an extended absence following an injury from a fall earlier this summer. “My recovery has been a long and often frustrating process, and...
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9/11
Three New York City firefighters raise an American flag at Ground Zero, site of the World Trade Center, on Sept. 11, 2001. On Sept. 11, 2001, a series of terror attacks in New York, Washington D.C., and Pennsylvania carved scars across our nation that...
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Flight instructor, family killed in small-plane crash
Four people are now confirmed dead following a plan crash that burned five acres of land along the San Joaquin River on Saturday. First responders were called to the scene just before 2 p.m. and found the fixed-wing, single-engine aircraft near the...
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Downtown Fresno’s old Radisson hotel re-listed for sale
Downtown Fresno’s old Radisson hotel building is up for sale again, this time with millions added to the price tag it carried less than one year ago. An Aug. 21 listing on the commercial real estate site Loopnet shows the building’s ownership group...
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From circus performers to Comic-Con winners, Fresnans’ Transformer triumphs
It takes about 30 minutes for Maksym Dokiienko to transform (pun intended) into Optimus Prime. He starts in a long-sleeved black jumpsuit and steps up into a pair of giant boots that adds a foot or more to his 6foot gymnast’s frame. To his arms and...
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A classic Mexican ice cream shop closed in Fresno. Are bike lanes to blame?
For years, there was a little paleta place on Belmont Avenue in Fresno with a big reputation. La Reina de Michoacan sold paletas and helados — the Mexican popsicles and ice cream on a stick — along with scoops and drinks near Broadway Street. It...
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Fresno attorney cites safety in new firearm policy
Fresno City Attorney Andrew Janz said Monday he is authorizing his prosecutors and investigators who hold a valid concealed weapon license to carry a firearm to better protect themselves against potential attackers. Janz announced the new rule just...
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ICE deportations of California Asians rise over 1,000%
Immigration arrests of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in California increased more than tenfold in the first year of President Donald Trump’s second term, according to a new analysis by the USC Equity Research Institute. The analysis found that...
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Facing call to resign, Thomas apologizes for racial slur accusation
Facing calls to resign, Fresno Unified trustee Keshia Thomas issued a formal apology Monday to the man she accused of using a racial slur against her son and who later filed a lawsuit against her. Don Arax, a former football coach and educator at...
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Fresno State opens first new student housing in 50 years
In a rare occurrence, there’s no waitlist for student housing at Fresno State this year, and it’s no accident. The university opened a new on-campus housing option for the first time in over 50 years this fall semester. The first batch of students to...
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Restrooms closed during Fashion Fair mall renovations
A crappy situation is brewing at Fashion Fair Mall. The two primary restroom areas at Fashion Fair are closed while undergoing renovations. And construction is not expected to be completed until late September or October. So for at least the next...
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Fresno downtown apartment project to break ground soon
Right outside Chukchansi Park’s outfield in downtown Fresno sits an empty cityowned lot that has promised a major apartment project for more than a decade. The developers planning to build The Park at South Stadium apartments there have a city-set...
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DxE uses drones to document alleged animal abuse
a searing Thursday morning in July, two men wearing Wrangler shirts and caps jumped in a white Ford truck and drove to an almond orchard near Ceres. Both licensed drone pilots, they took out the aircraft and initiated its takeoff, flying it about...
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Fresno restores historic downtown sculpture after years of decay
Since 1973, two colorful abstract figures have knelt in an embrace in a reflecting pool outside B.F. Sisk courthouse at Mariposa Mall in downtown Fresno. After years of decay and vandalism, the work of public art has undergone an extensive restoration...
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Castle Air Museum in Atwater begins major pavilion project
Castle Air Museum in Atwater has been preserving military aircraft for more than 45 years, but the Central Valley’s heat, rain, dust and wind have taken their toll on the historic planes. To combat that, the air museum is planning a major project to...
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A look at what’s under construction at Fresno’s Fancher Creek
People are buzzing about the new building going up at Fancher Creek. What is it? A bank. And while that may not be the most exciting news for new places to eat, drink or shop, there is a new Chipotle that just started construction directly behind...
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Fresno revisits SEDA plan amid public opposition
Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer’s administration is gearing up to bring a controversial plan to expand the city’s southeast side back into circulation after months of revision. The Fresno City Planning Commission will hold a public hearing to consider...
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New traffic signals cut collisions at infamous intersection
When Fresno Councilmember Nick Richardson first met Dan Wells at town meeting, the politician politely and respectfully told his constituent that he hoped to put him out of business. Wells laughed — as both understood exactly what Richardson meant by...
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JD Homes Rentals responds to officials amid legal battle
JD Home Rentals, a large landlord company that’s suing the City of Fresno over various fines, says it’s not backing down despite officials’ moves to strengthen code enforcement with new inspection rules and penalties. In a statement to The Fresno Bee,...
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Valley Golf Center closure announced, future uncertain
The popular golf course just north of the River Park shopping area along Highway 41 is set to close at the end of the month. Valley Golf Center, once known as River Park Golf Center, will be shutting down its operation July 29. And though Valley...
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Downtown Fresno hotel set to open in August after delays
Downtown Fresno is getting its first grand hotel in decades. Axis Hotel Group is preparing to open the Courtyard by Marriott Fresno Downtown at the corner of M and Inyo streets by August. “It’s an elevated experience. This is a more upscale lodging...
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Major railroad crossing rebuild underway in Fresno
The city has been acquiring and demolishing property surrounding the railroad crossing near Fresno City College over the past few years to make way for a major project that will route the streets underneath the railroad tracks. The last businesses at...
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Clovis Unified plans new elementary school by 2032
Clovis Unified plans to issue a bond in 2028 that would pay for the construction of new school facilities to accommodate the growing student population, including construction of a 37th elementary school at a location yet to be selected. The school...
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Major sports complex coming to north Fresno neighborhood
a long-fallow corner lot in north Fresno, a construction site has popped up that will eventually become a new sports complex for Clovis Community College athletics and possibly community use. For years, the corner held one of the few undeveloped large...
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Major roadwork begins on Highway 41 in Madera County
Construction has begun on a major project that will widen and improve Highway 41 in Madera County — a corridor with a growing population and a major route for millions of Yosemite National Park visitors each year. At a cost of $130 million, the...
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Fresno’s election chief explains sluggish ballot count
One week after the June 2 election, Fresno County has an estimated 31,350 ballots left to count. Several close local races are waiting for more votes to determine winners. The trickle of results is a source of frustration for some voters and...
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Where Fresno area races stand after Election Night
After Election Night concluded on Tuesday, approximately 70,900 votes remain to be counted countywide. Fresno County Clerk/Registrar of Voters James Kus said the next update will be Thursday afternoon. He plans to certify the election by June...
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Fresno families push for justice after Reedley killings
After more than two years since a quadruple homicide in Reedley rocked the Fresno County community, a mother continues to wait to see if the teen accused of the violence will be tried as an adult. Susan Grote said she has tried to be patient even as...
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Year-round fishing now open in Yosemite Valley, Hetch Hetchy
Yosemite National Park seems to be on a run of expanding access to the scope of its recreational opportunities. That now includes fishing. The National Park Service announced Tuesday a yearround fishing schedule in the Yosemite Valley and Hetch Hetchy...
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Visitors face long waits and full lots at Yosemite
Even before Memorial Day Weekend marked the beginning of Yosemite National Park’s high season, many visitors experienced hours-long wait times at entrance gates that led to jam-packed parking lots before mid-morning. Known for its soaring views and...
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Restoration begins for demolished pillar in Fresno High
Restoration of a historic landmark that stood in the Fresno High neighborhood for over 100 years before it was demolished by a drunken driver has begun. City crews will use as much of the original salvaged material as possible to rebuild the 12-foot...
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Merced fire burns 200 acres amid dry conditions
A wind event sweeping across the Central Valley raised wildfire concerns and created hazardous conditions over the weekend, though officials reported no major damage or widespread outages. Meteorologist Alex Cooke said a low-pressure system moving...
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Mayor Dyer expects smooth passage of Fresno budget
Fresno city officials say that despite a “challenging” budget year, they expect to pass a record-breaking $2.55 billion budget with relatively little “tension.” That’s in part because Mayor Jerry Dyer has planned with councilmembers individually to...
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Vacant downtown Fresno bank building up for sale at $2.6M
one of downtown Fresno’s more recognizable buildings is for sale. Located near the heart of downtown Fresno, the old BMO Bank building at the corner of Van Ness Avenue and Fresno Street is listed at an asking price of $2.6 million. BMO (Bank of...
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Pet store owner accuses landlord of bullying over AC
The owner of a pet store in the River Park shopping center is accusing his landlord, Lance Kashian & Company, of “bullying” tactics after his latest complaints about the long-faulty air conditioning in the building he leases. Neal Stuckey, owner of...
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Organizers to plow federal grant into small farm incubator
In the scheme of things, half a million dollars may not seem like a lot of money to some, but to the small farmers and community gardeners toiling under the sun of a 7-acre patch in southwest Fresno, it means hope and resilience. Recently, the...
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Community honors sacrifice of Tulare deputy killed in ambush
More than 1,500 people including law enforcement, community members, and family and friends remembered Tulare County Sheriff’s Office deputy Randy Hoppert at a memorial service Tuesday for his service and sacrifice. Hoppert was shot and killed in the...
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Fresno State bans motorized scooters, bikes on campus
State is set to change the way its students and faculty move around campus. That means an end to motorized bikes and mopeds, skateboards and scooters. In an all-campus email last week, Vice President for Administration and Chief Financial Officer...
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Chef fears street closure may shutter Libelula
Chef Ian Cookson and his family have overcome multiple business struggles since their 2019 launch of Libelula, the popular downtown eatery near Fresno and Broadway streets. They had to navigate the disruptions of the COVID pandemic a year after...
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Ex-Fresno Arts Council manager pleads guilty to $1.8M fraud
former operations manager for the Fresno Arts Council, who is accused of stealing $1.8 million from the organization, pleaded guilty Monday in federal court to one count of wire fraud. The 46-year-old Suliana Caldwell made her first court appearance...
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Tribe vows to continue Madera casino construction
The North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians of California says it will continue construction of its massive casino off Highway 99 in Madera County even as a state supreme court ruling has cast further uncertainty over the casino’s opening. The Supreme...
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Man who killed CA deputy had a history of financial problems
The man who shot and killed a Tulare County deputy in an eviction standoff Thursday had no criminal record, though declared bankruptcy multiples times, according to public records. David Eric Morales, 59, shot and killed Tulare County Sheriff’s Deputy...
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Luxury apartments near Fresno shopping centers almost complete
A 63-unit luxury apartment complex under construction in north Fresno — between two of the area’s main retail attractions — could be completed and ready for renters in a few months. The Hubert at Audubon Court apartments, going up just east of the...
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Gubernatorial candidates talk affordability to Fresno voters
Some of the candidates hoping to become California’s next governor made opening statements in Spanish this week during their visit to the central San Joaquin Valley, which is one of the youngest and most Latino areas of the state. Some highlighted...
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CA governor hopefuls pitch to Central Valley ag community
Six candidates vying to succeed Gavin Newsom as California governor made their pitch to Central Valley voters at a candidate forum Wednesday at Fresno State. During the hour-and-a-half long forum, the four Democrats and two Republicans were asked...
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Appeal of racism verdict curbed city’s risk of losing insurance
The city of Fresno would be on the hook for about $5 million if leaders chose not to appeal a recent $15.4 million discrimination verdict, but the city would also be at risk of losing its insurance coverage, the city manager confirmed on...
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LA actor returned home to Fresno to start Shakespeare company
Blake Ellis left Fresno in the 2000s, it wasn’t that he wanted to, necessarily. But he was an actor looking for professional work. Opportunity was scarce. Unsurprisingly, he ended up in Los Angeles, where he landed some film and TV work (including a...
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In deadly LaGuardia crash, call to ‘Stop!’ came too late
“Stop, Truck 1, stop!” The desperate call from an air traffic controller late Sunday night came seconds before the first fatal collision at LaGuardia Airport in exactly 34 years. The call came too late. Two pilots were killed and dozens were...
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Fresno Unified, groups cancel Chávez celebrations after claims
An event in Fresno to honor Cesar Chavez has been cancelled after the emergence of “troubling allegations” against the late labor leader. The San Antonio ExpressNews reported Tuesday morning that Chavez allegedly engaged in inappropriate sexual...
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Mini roundabouts popping up in Fresno aim to curb speeding
There’s an odd bit of roadway on Wishon Avenue as one enters the Old Fig Garden neighborhood in Fresno. It’s a circle of low concrete and brickwork marked by a redand-white yield sign that leads drivers around, rather than through, the...
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Cesar Chavez Boulevard underpass reopens in downtown Fresno
more than four years of work, Cesar Chavez Boulevard reopened to traffic Tuesday as a high-speed rail underpass connecting the southern ends of downtown Fresno and Chinatown. Work on the underpass, which allows drivers and pedestrians to travel under...
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Fresno has ‘unique opportunity’ to boost transit with light rail
Depending on what a study finds feasible for Fresno, and what future local elected officials decide, it’s possible a light rail system could one day connect downtown to various parts of the Fresno-Clovis metropolitan area. There could be a line from...
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Fresno business being ‘forced out’ for Radio Park project
The city of Fresno is working to acquire the Quick Mart at Clinton Avenue and First Street through eminent domain as part of its $10.6 million project to redesign Radio Park. The city filed an eminent domain complaint last month, arguing that taking...
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‘Another tight year’: Fresno mayor warns of budget cuts
The city of Fresno is facing a $23.3 million budget deficit that has city departments preparing for cuts. “It’s going to be another tight year — there’s no question,” Mayor Jerry Dyer said in a Feb. 9 interview. “We’re going to see sales tax is...
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Iconic Tower District ballet dance studio for sale
A classic Tower District building that has served as a hub for the city’s performing arts community is for sale. The Severance building at 1401 N. Wishon, home to a California Arts Academy dance studio, was put on the market about two weeks ago. And...
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Mayor Jerry Dyer reveals plans for the rest of his tenure
Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer has several ambitious goals for the remainder of his second term. The Fresno Bee recently sat down with the mayor for a 40-minute interview to discuss his accomplishments and challenges as mayor. From local issues such as the...
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Delayed San Joaquin River access project to start this fall
Construction on a longstalled, $13 million project that would make recreation along the San Joaquin River more accessible to cars and foot traffic is scheduled to begin later this year, Fresno officials said Tuesday. The river, a public space, is...
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Mobile Museum of Tolerance visits schools to combat hate
In a time of divisiveness and increasing hate, a mobile museum that makes stops throughout California strives to encourage tolerance of people of all ages and backgrounds. That message of positivity came to Fresno on Friday, with the Mobile Museum of...
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Dual Language Academy closing frustrates Merced Co. parents
Merced County’s Dual Language Academy will close at the end of this school year and families with children in the program have been frustrated over a lack of clarity about their options for next year. While there are other dual language immersion...
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Century-old piece of railroad history returns to the Sierra
The narrow-gauge locomotive was once the prevalent working machine of the logging industry; designed for the rigors of work, particularly the maneuvering of steep grades and tight curves of the mountainous terrain. In its heyday, there were thousands...
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Church plans parking lot on green space in Tower District
A Catholic parish in Fresno wants to convert a grass parcel in Fresno’s Tower District neighborhood into a 69-car parking lot. Currently, the Shrine of St. Therese Church on Wishon and Floradora avenues has a 16angled parking stalls on the southwest...
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Merced community gathers to voice opposition to ICE
More than 150 people gathered in Merced’s Courthouse Park for a protest against Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Friday afternoon. Merced College students, retired educators, and families were among the crowd that lined both sides of M street...
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Homan says crackdown could ease with more access to jails
Tom Homan, President Donald Trump’s border czar, said Thursday that the immigration crackdown in Minnesota could wind down if federal agents gained broader access to state jails, amid public outrage over the administration’s policies. “The withdrawal...
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Future Fresno soccer stadium could anchor entertainment district
leaders appeared set a few weeks ago on a downtown or Chinatown location for a future stadium when they announced a deal with the United Soccer League to bring a new professional team to Fresno. It could look for space along the future California...
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Fresno airport breaks passenger record for fifth year in a row
For the fifth year in a row, Fresno Yosemite International Airport has broken its own record for passengers flying in and out of the airport. In 2025, the region’s airport served more than 2.7 million travelers, a 2.97% increase over the total in...
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Highway 99 in Fresno has a history of fog-related pileups
The Tule fog has a long history of putting the San Joaquin Valley under conditions ripe for catastrophe, a situation made deadly over Fresno’s history when drivers haven’t taken precautions on Highway 99. The Fresno Bee archives list deadly pileup...
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Coroner identifies Fresno man killed in Highway 99 pileup
A 61-year-old Fresno man has been identified as the sole fatality in a massive pile-up that prompted a mass-casualty/ trauma response along Highway 99 on Sunday. Gustavo Villanueva Vargas was struck and killed in a chain reaction of crashes caused by...
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Minn. officials kept out of ICE shooting investigation
A top state law enforcement official said Thursday that federal agencies were denying Minnesota investigators access to evidence from a fatal shooting by an immigration enforcement officer the day before, preventing them from participating in the...
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County homeowners spend 6 figures to become Clovis residents
A group of Fresno County homeowners set to become Clovis residents will pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to connect to the city’s municipal services amid depleting groundwater resources. Quail Run, a 41-acre neighborhood with 18 homes located at...
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Construction at major intersection creates maze of detours
Construction work at the perennially busy intersection of Shaw Avenue and Golden State Boulevard near Highway 99 has created multiple detours to build a new overpass for the California High-Speed Rail project. The overpass being built along Shaw...
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Sensory gym for special needs children coming to Clovis
For Christopher Reyes, a sensory gym coming to Clovis means more than indoor zip sliding, mountain climbing and other fun for children with special needs. It means those children will have a place without judgment, and where their parents don’t...
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New owners of Bekins building plan ‘modern-day man cave’
Drinks, music, space for cars and car lovers. That’s the vibe that local developer Reza Assemi and his business partner, Jaime Gonzalez, are shooting for in their redevelopment plans for Fresno’s historic Bekins building, known for its Peelz Citrus...
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