Good morning! It’s Thursday, Oct. 2. This is Rob.
😎 More sunshine and pleasant temperatures in Fresno today, but the National Weather Service expects rain showers to move in overnight
🍖 Fresno County hosted its State of the County Luncheon this week. It drew a crowd. KSEE
🏇 Here’s what’s replacing horse racing at this year’s Big Fresno Fair. The Fresno Bee
🐯 The Fresno Chaffee Zoo’s Kingdom of Asia exhibit recently won a big award. KMPH
🏗️ Construction is underway for the long-awaited “endless river” attraction. The Business Journal
💰 The application window has opened for high school and college students to apply for the FAFSA or DREAM Act. The deadline is in March. EdSource
1. Know Your Rights
Immigrants rights advocates rallied outside a federal courthouse in Fresno on Wednesday, criticizing the federal government’s ongoing anti-immigrant crackdown and to draw attention to the fundamental rights they say are being routinely violated by immigration authorities.
Fresnoland’s Omar S. Rashad was on hand at the rally in front of Robert E. Coyle federal courthouse downtown.
The groups said recent arrests at courthouses in Fresno and Madera have raised alarms among local immigrant communities.
Speaking with reporters on Wednesday, Lourdes Medina, an organizer with Services, Immigrant Rights and Education Network, noted that anyone can contact the volunteer-run Valley Watch Network to report the presence of immigration authorities.
Immigrant rights organizer Lourdes Medina: “Our human rights, our constitutional rights and our community rights are being violated by anti-immigrant sentiments, fear-mongering and abuse of power at the hands of the federal government through the Department of Homeland Security and ICE.”
2. Pedestrian deaths spike in Fresno — again
At least eight pedestrians have been killed over the past month, KSEE reports, and city police are urging drivers to be more cautious.
A total of 20 people have been killed by vehicles in Fresno so far in 2025. A total of 26 pedestrians were killed the year prior, KSEE notes.
Pedestrian safety issues have plagued the city for more than a decade at least, particularly along Blackstone and Shaw Avenues. Earlier this year, Fresnoland’s Diego Vargas reported that Fresno landed on a list of the 10 most dangerous cities in the nation for pedestrians, coming in at No. 7.
Fresno Police Officer John Belli: “Especially at night. Be more observant. Stay off their cell phones, and again, with pedestrians, wear bright clothing. Be careful when entering the road and follow all the signals and signs appropriately.”
3. ‘Partially open’ amid shutdown
Yosemite National Park remains “partially open” amid the federal government shutdown, with the Sierra News reporting that the park’s concessionaire has confirmed their services and scheduled activities will remain open.
That includes The Ahwahnee Hotel, Yosemite Valley Lodge, Curry Village and Housekeeping Camp, which will remain open during this time.
But the shutdown means many standard visitor services won’t be available at Yosemite or Kings Canyon & Sequoia National Parks. The Fresno Bee reports that trash won’t be removed, websites and social media information will only be updated in an emergency, and road and trail conditions will not be updated, among other effects.
Yosemite-area communities and residents are bracing for the financial strain that could come with another extended government shutdown, the first since 2019. The Bee reports that national park gateway communities could lose millions of dollars in tourism revenue to an extended shutdown.
This newsletter was edited by Fresnoland’s Julianna Morano.
