Good morning! It’s Thursday, Oct. 16. This is Rob.
😶🌫️Dense fog is expected early this morning in parts of Fresno County, but clear skies and temperatures in the upper 60 are expected in the afternoon. NOAA
👮ICE arrests are up almost 60% in the Central Valley compared to last year. The Fresno Bee
💸Is Fresno’s economy growing? KVPR
🌮Tower District vendors could face new restrictions. ABC30
1. Will the neighborhoods west of the 99 finally get a plan?
After seven years of patience, residents say they’re eager for the council to pass the new plan for the communities west of the 99 freeway, Fresnoland’s Julianna Morano reports.
Known as the West Area Neighborhoods Specific Plan, the land use roadmap lays the groundwork for future development that residents say is better suited to the community’s needs.
But the question is whether it will gain the council’s support at a hearing today.
Julianna spoke with two of the councilmembers who represent the bulk of the plan area ahead of the meeting, one of whom pledged support for the plan while the other said there are still questions he needs answered.
Read more of their and residents’ thoughts on the plan in Julianna’s story, and stay tuned for updates out of today’s council meeting.
2. Fresno cultures come together for Día de los Muertos
This year, Arte Américas invites the Fresno community to experience Día de los Muertos in a bold, new way.
Fresnoland’s Gisselle Medina reports that this year marks the first time participants from a variety of cultural backgrounds are contributing to the museum’s annual ofrenda programming, joining in the Mexican tradition of honoring loved ones who have passed away.
At the heart of this year’s theme, “Figuras Monumentales” (Monumental Figures), is a dazzling outdoor exhibition inspired by the national traveling show “Alebrijes & Nahuales: Fantastic Animals from Mexico.”
The installation anchors Arte Américas’ broader Día de los Muertos offerings, which include 11 ofrendas—10 by local artists and collectives, plus one community altar where visitors can leave photos, drawings, and notes for their loved ones.
3. Valley students rethink college amid ICE raids
As the federal government continues to target Latino-looking people amid a national anti-immigration crackdown, many Fresno-area students are rethinking their college plans, the Merced Focus reports this week.
Last year, nearly a third of all 19 million high-education students in the United States were first or second-generation and undocumented students and the numbers are even higher in California, where nearly 20% of students fall under one of those designations.
And undocumented students can’t receive federal financial aid, further compounded the already daunting challenges facing first generation college students.
Montse, a recent Edison High graduate: “I started thinking about what would happen to my family if they were stopped by agents. My parents don’t speak a lot of English and my sister has a lot of needs.”
