Quote of the Week
“Fresno has this way of just making you stay despite you not planning on it. It’s a sticky place.”
—Rumi Coffee shop owner Hamed Alghazali, talking to Fresnoland Food’s Vince Mancini about why he continues to stay in the region.
You asked, we answered. We officially have a merch store! We’re launching with Fresnoland shirts but we’ll have more exciting items coming soon. We’ve partnered with Raygun Custom for printing and order fulfillment, so order communications will come from their team. All merch store proceeds support Fresnoland’s hyperlocal reporting. ⚡️
This Week in Fresnoland
No data centers in Fresno?
Fresno Councilmember Nick Richardson plans to ask the rest of the City Council to support his proposal for a citywide ban on artificial intelligence data centers.
Richardson’s proposed resolution, scheduled for discussion Thursday, would be the first steps toward stripping power from the city planning director.
The ban would run 10 years, then become permanent unless a future council votes to change it.
“I have never thought that having one here in the valley is a good idea, primarily based on hard access to water,” Richardson told Fresnoland on Friday. “The last thing we need is a business disproportionately taking more than it’s contributing to the community.”
Richardson said wants to remove unilateral power from the planning department specifically regarding data centers.
“There is a portion in there [in the city’s planning codebook] that says at the planning director’s discretion, the planning director can decide to allow a use that is not otherwise used.”
Read the full Fresnoland story here.
Is Monday the day Fresno voters finally get some answers?
A Fresno Superior Court judge grilled attorneys Friday on both sides of the fight over the future of Fresno County’s transportation system.
Judge Jonathan Skiles questioned state arguments over the need for a special Fresno County-only law that the state argues supersedes the county’s authority to place the transportation measure on the ballot in 2028 as opposed to November.
But Skiles, a Schwarzenegger appointee, appeared skeptical of Fresno County’s use of a 30-day study to essentially delay the ballot measure.
The judge said he planned to issue a ruling Monday and acknowledged that an appeal in the case guaranteed regardless of the outcome.
In July, a narrow conservative majority of Fresno County supervisors voted for further study on the so-called “Better Roads, Safer Streets” transportation tax measure.
The additional 30-day study — that few people wanted and even fewer people actually read — was widely viewed as nothing more than a delay tactic that would effectively prevent the measure from making it on the November ballot.
Two moderate liberal Fresno-area lawmakers countered the supervisors move a few days later by rewriting and then quickly jamming through a brand new state law — just for Fresno County — essentially ordering the supervisors to place the measure on the November ballot.
The supervisors did not back down. They ordered the measure placed on the ballot but not until 2028.
Read the full Fresnoland story here.
More Bulle employees speak out
The first six months of Fresno’s latest fine-dining experience has been rocky.
Since Fresnoland’s Vince Mancini broke the news last week that the city’s newest high-profile restaurant cut ties with its founding chef while also bouncing paychecks, tensions at Fresno’s fledgling fine-dining restaurant have grown increasingly personal in public.
Now more employees are speaking out, disputing co-owner Tom Miller’s claims and characterizations of the restaurant’s financial health and ability to regularly pay employees on time.
“I can tell you that from myself alone and even other employees that have reached out to me, it was probably double that,” said Christian Billman, a former sous chef at Bulle.
Miller did not respond to a list of detailed questions regarding the emerging claims, though earlier this week, in an interview with The Fresno Bee, Miller described at least some of his now-former employees as “losers.”
Ex-employees also describe issues with vendors, declining standards and clashes with management.
“We had negative reviews about it early on,” Billman said, “about kids being turned away because of the dress code.”
Read the full Fresnoland story here.
Tripped up?
As part of Fresno Unified’s budget cuts, funding for field trips for TK-6 students was eliminated for the 2026-27 school year, leaving it to schools and families to figure out how to fund trips many students look forward to.
The roughly $2.2 million field trip cut helped address the district’s then $55 million projected budget deficit.
Mayfair sixth-graders typically take their camping trip late in October.
Mayfair Elementary School Principal Faviola Perez estimated that she would need to raise roughly $50,000 to cover the costs of the trip for her sixth graders within two months and said Mayfair does not have extra funds for field trips.
“I know for a fact that I cannot fund sixth grade camp, and because we were told so late, I need some time to plan; do I start working with my fifth graders for next year? This is going to be the first year, and these parents are not happy, but I don’t think that most of my parents can pay $300 a kid.”
Read the full Fresnoland story here.
The missing piece?
Earlier this year, Fresno City Hall took over administration of the annual Measure P competitive grants in the wake of the recent Fresno Arts Council embezzlement scandal.
But few in the city’s art community trust City Hall to have the expertise to properly oversee the program and Fresno remains the largest California city without a specific, dedicated staff qualified to oversee art grant funding.
“The idea is that there’s personnel — senior personnel — at the city level who have a really deep understanding of the arts and cultural ecology of Fresno,” said Amy Kitchener, who leads the Alliance for California Traditional Arts. “That’s the missing piece here.”
“But can something that sounds good on paper actually make a difference?” Fresnoland’s Julianna Morano writes. “Or rebuild trust after the Fresno Arts Council’s $1.82 million embezzlement scandal shattered an already strained relationship between the local arts community and the bureaucratic systems determining who among them gets taxpayer funding?”
Read the full Fresnoland story here.
Outside the Lines
Off track: Fresno Unified students missed their latest early literacy goals, falling off pace by more than 5% compared to a year prior. Fresnoland
Tiny homes lawsuit: Just weeks after the Fresno City Council voted to sue the Poverello House in connection with a botched tiny homes construction project, the Fresno-based nonprofit has filed a lawsuit against the project’s contractor, seeking to recover money they say they paid for work that was never completed. Fresnoland
Pesticides and schools? A Fresno-area parent group spoke out Wednesday, calling on the district to ban the use of around 50 additional pesticides and chemicals that farmers are allowed to use around rural schools. Fresnoland
Bye-bye, farmland? 38 acres of farmland just outside Fowler could become 180 single-family homes. The Business Journal
House fight: “California’s 22nd Congressional District, which now stretches from Bakersfield up to parts of western Fresno County, was newly redrawn to improve Democrats’ chances, but it remains among the nation’s most competitive this cycle and could determine control of the U.S. House. It’s long been held by Republican Rep. David Valadao.” KVPR
Fresno’s comedy boom: The city hasn’t had a dedicated venue for comedy since 1997, but right now the local comedy business “seems booming.” The Fresno Bee
Regenerative agriculture: Because of its natural heat and drought resistance, some valley farmers are working with regional schools like UC Merced to cultivate agave amid increasing water restrictions. KVPR
‘We want it’: Fresno teachers union launches petition to bring back $2 million file trip funding at Fresno Unified schools. GV Wire
Best Hospitals list: Saint Agnes was named Fresno’s top hospital and No. 41 in California by U.S. News. The Business Journal
Good idea or nanny state? “The new Fresno Commission on Family Affordability and Childcare Access had an efficient, if not lonely, inaugural meeting.” The Fresno Bee
Ranked: These are the 68 oldest family-owned businesses in the Central Valley. The Business Journal
State Center: After nearly two years of tense contract talks, the State Center Community College District faculty voted overwhelmingly in favor of authorizing a worker strike. GV Wire
Not on your ballot: Serving some 700 farms across more than 1,000 square miles of western Fresno and Kings Counties, the powerful Westlands Water District is also on the verge of becoming the home of that nation’s largest solar installation, but, general voters in Fresno County aren’t allowed to participate in the election of the board. SJV Water
Trust the numbers? Fresno appears to have led the way across the state in reducing homelessness — at least on paper, but are the numbers trustworthy? CalMatters
Deputy charged: Fresno County sheriff’s Deputy Alejandro Gabriel Apodaca, 31, of Lemoore, is accused of committing sexual offenses against one woman and falsely imprisoning a second woman. He was arrested in May. The Fresno Bee
Brown Act lawsuit: A Sanger Unified trustee sues the district for violating California’s government transparency laws. GV Wire
Dark Sky Fest: The 13th annual Dark Sky Festival will be returning to the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks and, for the first time, to Three Rivers beginning Sept. 11. YourCentralValley
Security concerns: In the wake of what he described as escalating attacks against criminal prosecutors, Fresno City Attorney Andrew Janz on Monday called for changes allowing prosecutors to carry guns into courthouses, KMPH reports.
Good news for food banks: The full three‑year, $1.2 million project further strengthens food distribution across 19 rural communities in Fresno, Madera, and Tulare Counties. Central California Food Bank
“Something tiki coming soon”? Rum, bamboo and kitschy carved gods are finally coming back to Fresno. The Business Journal
Fresno book launches: The fall 2026 Fresno Poets’ Association reading series includes book launches for a U.S. poet laureate and a Philip Levine Prize winner, readings by three Fresno State alumni with new books, and a tribute, the late poet Larry Levis. Fresno State
Block Beat
Northeast: Rumi Coffee takes Fresno’s Yemeni coffee scene to the next level. Fresnoland
Hoover: The Pinoy Street Food weekend series is coming to Fresno at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 29 at 6048 N. First St. Fresno. “Get ready for a day filled with the Filipino street food favorites you know and love, plus good food, good vibes, and plenty of reasons to gather with your pamilya and barkada.” Pinoy Street Food
Downtown: Baseball takes on a new light at Chukchansi Park on Saturday Aug. 28 and Sunday, Aug. 29. “Fans can watch the Chili Peppers and Glow Mojis take the field under black light in a jaw-dropping spectacle that’s part baseball, part neon-fueled party, and 100% unforgettable. Neon uniforms, UV-reactive baseballs, and electrifying entertainment are all things fans can expect at the event in 2026.” Chukchansi Park
River Park: The Fresno Record Swap takes place on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026, from noon to 5 p.m. at BarrelHouse Brewing Fresno, at 145 E Paseo Del Centro. BarrelHouse
Central Fresno: Based on one of Roald Dahl’s most poignantly quirky stories, Roald Dahl’s James and the Giant Peach Jr. is a brand new take on this “masterpeach” of a tale. Featuring a wickedly tuneful score and a witty and charming book.” California Arts Academy
McLane: From 11 a.m. to noon each Saturday for a hands-on, brains-on activity designed to spark curiosity in kids of all ages. “Watch as your kids experiment, create, and explore the world of science, whether they’re mixing colors, making dino footprints, or crafting glowing skies inspired by the northern lights.” Fresno Discovery Center
Big Fresno Fair: The Big Fresno Fair and Central California Blood Center have joined forces for the “Pint for a Pass” Blood Drive, between Aug. 25 and Oct. 18, all blood donors will receive a “Buy One, Get One Free” admission voucher redeemable for the 2026 Big Fresno Fair. YourCentralValley
Roeding Park: Young giraffe passes away at Fresno Chaffee Zoo. YourCentralValley
Tower District: “Fresno Police Chief Mindy Casto in an interview said the department has beefed up its presence in the Tower District in the past two years.” The Fresno Bee
This week’s newsletter was written by Rob Parsons and edited by Danielle Bergstrom.
