Good morning! It’s Tuesday, May 5. This is Rob.
Some rain? Fresno temperatures begin creeping up today with highs in the 70s and another chance of rain. But we’ll be flirting with triple-digit heat by the weekend! NOAA
Local ICE update: The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office will conduct its annual Truth Act forum at 9:30 a.m. May 19 at the Hall of Records. Fresno County
Go Big! Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live is coming to the Fresno Fairgrounds for the first time ever with an outdoor show. More information here
1. Judge confirms Fresnoland reporting exposing legal violations at City Hall
More than two years after a Fresnoland investigation exposed illegal budget activity at Fresno City Hall, a Superior Court judge on Monday sided against the city, concluding the City Council violated California’s Ralph M. Brown Act.
The Fresnoland probe of August 2023 led by investigative reporter and assistant editor Omar S. Rashad revealed years of closed-door, behind-the-scenes meetings where elected leaders routinely hashed out multi-million-dollar spending plans well away from the public’s prying eyes.
Despite the overwhelming evidence — which included internal warnings from the city’s Brown Act compliance officer — elected city leaders, many of whom are currently campaigning for higher office, spent taxpayer dollars to defend a process in court that they had already abandoned after Fresnoland’s reporting.
City leaders have not commented on the court’s ruling and it wasn’t immediately clear whether City Hall planned to appeal the verdict to continue defending a defunct process.
2. Costco relocation debate returns
The Fresno Planning Commission will take another look at a contentious Costco relocation plan that many local residents have fought to resist.
The latest application returns to City Hall in downtown Fresno on Wednesday night.
Last year, a Fresno judge blocked the company’s effort to relocate, citing a flawed environmental review.
Without a valid climate plan in place, the city cannot approve major developments like the Costco relocation.
3. Good news for raisins
Local raisin production is expected to reach its highest level in years, exceeding 200,000 tons, the Business Journal reports.
That’s great news for an industry that has been hit hard by rising costs and increased competition.
“The industry has also found an unlikely ally in updated federal nutritional guidelines, which now emphasize natural, high-fiber, low-added-sugar foods,” the Journal writes.
“These guidelines have just made it clearer that California raisins meet the definition of healthy foods,” said Steve Loftus, president and COO of Sun-Maid.
Today’s newsletter was edited by Fresnoland’s Omar S. Rashad.
