Good morning! It’s Wednesday, April 8. This is Rob.
Looming rain storms: Another day of clear skies and 80-degree highs. Rain expected this weekend. NOAA
No charges: Fresno DA won’t prosecute a man Clovis police accused of aiding student truancy during recent anti-ICE protests. The Fresno Bee
Rally around My Guy! One of Fresno’s most colorful sandwich chefs is recovering in the hospital after a health emergency. KMPH
Baseball is back! The Fresno Grizzlies threw out the first pitch of their milestone 25th season inside Chukchansi Park. ABC30
Food drive: About 40,000 pounds of food will be delivered to the Catholic Charities Diocese of Fresno and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to distribute in nine communities in the central San Joaquin Valley. YourCentralValley
Above the fold: Clovis gets a new newspaper. KMPH
1. Fresno County supervisors order child-abuse case audit
An outside auditor will take a look at Fresno County’s Department of Social Services, investigating multiple public claims from social workers and other insiders who say children have been routinely placed in dangerous situations that department leaders have refused to address.
The audit, approved Tuesday by the Fresno County Board of Supervisors, comes about six weeks after a well-known department whistleblower raised the issue at the county Hall of Records, Pablo Orihuela reports for Fresnoland.
DSS Director Sanja Bugay told the board that the “workload for our social workers has really increased when it comes to the amount of work per case.”
Supervisor Garry Bredefeld: “My goal in this audit is not to ascribe blame to anyone, but define what changes are needed and make them …We must be committed to having accountability and having positive outcomes for these children. Our children deserve this, and we’re going to make sure they get it.”
2. The Sheriff Office’s new $25 million office
The county supervisors on Tuesday also launched plans to purchase new office space for the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office downtown.
The county is looking at two neighboring properties on 650 O St. and 705 P St., co-owned by prominent developer and political donor Darius Assemi.
Supervisor Nathan Magsig recused himself from the vote, and referenced California’s Levine Act, the state law that requires public officials to abstain from voting on issues involving political donors.
Veronica Stumpf, a local commercial real estate broker, told Fresnoland’s Pablo Orihuela that the county’s purchase price of $25 million for the two properties could be considered above average, but “not automatically unreasonable,” especially since purchases of this size “are pretty limited” in Fresno.
3. Some good news!
Look, there hasn’t exactly been a ton of good news recently so when a Fresno sheriff’s detective rescues half a dozen starving orphan kittens, you should check out the photos.
It’s good for you.
In a brief media statement late Tuesday, sheriff’s spokesperson Tony Botti said a detective was working at the Selma substation when he heard something unusual.
“The ceiling appeared to be meowing.”
The deputy eventually located five “extremely hungry” kittens in an attic crawl space that he coaxed out and, a short time later, a sixth kitten that was stuck farther back in the ceiling.
Deputies said the kittens’ mother was deceased but the kittens have landed safely with the Fresno Humane Animal Services where they will receive care until they’re ready for adoption.
If you are interested in adopting, contact FHAS at 559-600-7387 or visit 1510 W. Dan Ronquillo Drive, Fresno.
Today’s newsletter was edited by Danielle Bergstrom.
