Need a COVID-19 vaccine or at-home test? What you need to know in Fresno County

An updated version of the COVID-19 vaccine is available for Fresno patients through their local pharmacies and healthcare providers. The new vaccine, produced by ModernaTX Inc. and Pfizer Inc., targets the Omicron variant XBB 1.5 and its other sub-lineages: XBB 1.6 and XBB 2.3.  The FDA cited an expected uptick in the XBB variants in…

Bankrupt Madera hospital wants to sell off farmland to help settle debts

In an attempt to chip away at their millions in debt, Madera Community Hospital’s leaders are trying to sell off a 35.58-acre parcel of land for more than half a million dollars. In November 2013, the hospital’s executives rented out the land to S&K Management, which redeveloped it into an almond tree orchard. In July,…

Kaiser Permanente workers overwhelmingly approve labor strike. What it means for Fresno

The healthcare workers union representing over 1,000 employees at Kaiser Permanente Fresno locations voted overwhelmingly to approve a strike if they don’t reach an agreement with the nonprofit healthcare provider by Sept. 30. About 98% of the 60,000 Kaiser union workers across California approved a potential strike, according to a news release from Service Employees…

Fresno shuts down plans for new car wash following outcry. ‘My community came together’

The Fresno City Council denied a developer’s application to build a new car wash next to a care facility for adults with disabilities — siding with more than 50 community members and residents who filled council chambers. The council’s 6-0 vote came after a hearing Thursday in which both sides — concerned community members opposite developer Mohamad…