Good morning! Today is Wednesday, January 21. Danielle, here.
😶🌫️Another day, another dense fog alert: It should lift by noon, but don’t expect the sun to come out. High of 59. NWS
🅾️Blood needed: The recent string of deadly fog-related car accidents has spiked the need for blood donations. ABC30
🛬FAT hits another traffic record: Fresno’s international airport saw more than 2.75 million passengers in 2025, up 3% from 2024. Fresno Business Journal
1. Fresno marks one year of Trump with another protest
About 50 protesters gathered in front of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office in downtown Fresno late Tuesday as part of a nationwide effort to protest President Donald Trump’s first year of his second term in office, reported Gisselle Medina for Fresnoland.
Local protesters said they were attempting to get more Fresno residents engaged in a planned strike on Jan. 23, led in Minneapolis.
The protest comes as immigrant advocates worry about federal immigration officials escalating enforcement operations, similar to what has been deployed in Minnesota since early January. They said two people were detained in Fresno and Clovis by ICE over the MLK weekend.
Organizers are encouraging more residents to attend legal observer trainings. The next one is scheduled for Jan. 27.
Romain Rain Tree, organizer with Faith in the Valley: “Without more people, without more eyes on the scene in our community, we are just left vulnerable.”
2. County leaders announce new job training initiative
County residents relying on public assistance for basic needs have a new opportunity to connect with jobs.
Fresno County leaders announced $5 million in state funds to expand job training and subsidized employment opportunities for about 750 residents who participate in CalWorks over the next five years, via a press release.
They say the program, called New Employment Opportunities, is already successful and has placed over 2,700 residents in local jobs.
Interested residents are encouraged to visit ready2hire.org or call the Fresno County Economic Development Corporation at 559-476-2500.
3. FAX doubles down on night service
Nighttime bus riders are in for major relief as the city’s bus agency, FAX, announced last week that they’re cutting wait times in half, from an hour to 30 minutes for evening service.
They also announced an expansion to the city’s major retail centers, with Night Route 38 going into River Park Shopping Center and for Route 22 to reach Fancher Creek Shopping Center.
The improvements to service come as ridership continues to creep near pre-pandemic levels, with over 10 million riders last year.
Mayor Jerry Dyer has continued to double-down on the importance of FAX in ongoing conversations about the renewal of the county’s transportation tax, as the cost of car ownership remains out-of-reach for many.
Mayor Dyer: “By reducing wait times and expanding service to key destinations, we’re making it easier for riders to get where they need to go—whether for work, school, shopping, or entertainment.”
This newsletter was edited by Rob Parsons
