Central Valley Daily

Batter up! Baseball season is here for several Central Valley minor league teams – including the Visalia Rawhide. Their home stadium, Valley Strong Ballpark, is one of the oldest in the minor league and has been around since 1946 — when it used to have a wooden grandstand. To learn about what fans can expect this season – including some recent stadium upgrades – we sat down with Griffin Epstein, t...

The city of Arvin in Kern County has gone nearly seven months with a vacant council seat. Filling it has been the subject of debate and has kept the city from moving forward with regular business. However, the decision on how to fill the seat could also face legal consequences. Today, we speak with Arvin’s mayor to hear how officials are trying to fix this delay and what it means for her city. Plu...

Officials in Merced County say there are no plans to change how its libraries are operated. They are dispelling concerns by residents who organized in recent weeks around rumors that the libraries were being privatized. Today, we talk with reporter Rachel Livinal, who unpacks this story and tells us where the concerns stem from. Plus, the latest news headlines: Why a Fresno State professor is faci...

What do the arts have in common with parks, recreation and neighborhood safety? In Fresno, they’re all funded by the sales tax known as Measure P - and the city is now accepting new applications for its second round of Measure P arts funding. The measure awards grants to local artists and organizations. But it’s been mired in issues since its inception. Independent journalist Doug Hoagland joined...

Only two landfills in California are designated to handle hazardous waste – think batteries, propane tanks, and contaminated soil – and they’re both in the San Joaquin Valley. However, a new state proposal would allow more hazardous waste to be stored in municipal landfills. To capture multiple viewpoints on how the changes work and who would benefit, we spoke with Katie Butler, Director of the Ca...

California has launched a new system that lets you know when pesticides are being applied near you. For environmental advocates and people living near heavy pesticide use areas, this marks a milestone in their advocacy. Today, we speak with a community leader about how the program works and what it means for places like the Central Valley. Plus, the latest news headlines: The new funding challenge...

It's a common struggle – being a working parent – and it's all too familiar for NPR's Mary Louise Kelly, who regularly flies around the world for her job hosting All Things Considered. She also has two sons, and she explored the difficulties of balancing parenthood with journalism in her 2023 book, "It. Goes. So. Fast." She joins us today to discuss the book and her thoughts on journalism in today...

The California Victim Compensation Board – a state agency that offers funding for crime victims and their families – is ailing. A recent report from our news partner CalMatters found the agency is facing a backlog of claims and recently requested an additional $4 million from the state to keep up. Today we speak with University of San Francisco professor Gena Castro Rodriguez about these struggles...

Affordable housing is becoming increasingly hard to find, even in the San Joaquin Valley. But housing stock might be changing – particularly in Clovis. A year after a settlement in a lawsuit related to a lack of affordable housing in the city, advocates for people experiencing homelessness are optimistic that more housing options are on the way. Fresnoland reporter Pablo Orihuela shares the latest...

Changes to water protection policy across the country are being debated under President Trump’s second term in the White House. Today, we talk with an environmental advocate on what he’s observing, especially around landmark laws like the Clean Water Act. Plus, the latest news headlines: A progressive House Democrat brings Medicaid message to Bakersfield, and the federal government sues a Valley f...

A riveting orchestral piece that explores human emotion and scientific discovery is debuting in Fresno this weekend. Today, we talk with the Director of Orchestras at Fresno State, Thomas Lownehiem, who tells us more about the meaning of “Uranium 235,” a piece written just after the atomic bombings in Japan. Plus, the latest news headlines: United States Postal Service workers in Kern County prote...

Journalists at the San Francisco Chronicle newspaper investigated for-profit psychiatric hospitals in California and found the facilities have alarming rates of mismanagement. Those findings come as the state has tried to invest more in mental healthcare. Today, we speak with Cynthia Dizikes and Joaquin Palomino, the journalists behind the investigation, about their findings and what is being done...

Over 80 smoke shops are currently operating in the city of Fresno. A recent proposal to decrease that number went up before the Fresno City Council – but failed. Today we speak with Miguel Arias, a council member and the leading voice on regulating the shops. He tells us why he thinks this is a problem. Plus, the latest news headlines: Madera Community Hospital’s opening day, and a state senate se...

The Central California Women’s Facility is one of the largest prisons housing only women. On today’s episode, we go inside the facility to hear about a unique program: the incarcerated people at the prison are running their own newspaper. We’ll hear how the idea for a news operation came to be, and how it inspires those who take part in it. Plus, the latest news headlines: Madera Community Hospita...

Measles cases have now appeared in multiple U.S. states. Just last week, a case was confirmed in Fresno County. It was the first case of measles in two years for the region. So, how concerned should we be about emerging cases? In today’s episode, we speak with KFF Health News reporter Amy Maxmen to hear where we stand now. Plus, the latest news headlines: Homeowner insurance rates for some in Cali...

President Donald Trump announced cuts to the Department of Education this week as part of a bigger promise to dismantle it. The department manages federal student loans. And the administration has already taken steps to change repayment and forgiveness options. On today’s show, we hear from one student loan borrower who is affected by the ongoing changes to student debt management, and he asks: wh...

President Donald Trump’s executive orders have reached directly into the lives of regular Americans. His second term in the White House has been marked by getting rid of diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. The transgender community, in particular, has felt the direct results of these actions. Today we speak with a Central Valley reporter about what trans people in this region are saying abou...

For decades, student-athletes at colleges saw very little compensation for their work outside of the classroom. But that’s changing. In today’s episode, we talk with CalMatters reporter Adam Echelman about how new athletic rules in California are helping student-athletes get more credit – and compensation – for their performance on the field. Plus, the latest news headlines: A case of measles is c...

The American Civil Liberties Union and a private law firm are challenging the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Border Patrol after an immigration raid was launched in Kern County in January. Attorneys accuse the immigration agencies of violating people’s rights during their operations. In today’s episode, we’ll hear what the ACLU is seeking in court. Plus, the latest news headlines: A...

The city of Fresno, California's fifth-largest city, is facing a $20 million deficit. In the coming months, the mayor and city council are expected to announce their plans to tackle the budget shortfall. Today, we speak with Fresnoland government accountability reporter Omar S. Rashad. He lays out what is causing the deficit and the potential solutions to fix it, including possible new taxes on re...

Republicans in Congress are zeroing in on Medicaid as they look to make big cuts to bring the federal budget in light with President Trump’s agenda. But the idea is not going over well with voters – including those in Republican districts. Today on the show, we get a sense of the role Medicaid plays on the ground. For that, we speak with Fresno area health researcher Tania Pacheco-Werner. Plus, th...

The weather terms “El Niño” and “La Niña” have long been indicators of how wet a year is likely to be. El Niño years are typically predicted to be super wet years, while La Niña years are considered dry. But new research suggests those forecasts aren’t always accurate. We speak with UC San Diego oceanographer Rosa Luna-Niño about why – and what she suggests we look at instead. Plus, the latest new...

Spring is weeks away, and it’s time for crops like almond farms to bloom. A key part of that process is bees, but they’re dying in large numbers. Today, we speak with San Francisco Chronicle reporter Maliya Ellis about this concerning phenomenon to hear what’s behind it and what it could mean for the Central Valley. Plus, the latest news headlines: DOGE cuts are hitting the Valley, and the Sierra...

National parks across the United States were already understaffed. But in recent weeks, the Trump administration's efforts to reduce the size of the federal government have led to even more uncertainty. So, what does that mean for the parks ahead of the busiest times of the year? Today, we talk with Bloomberg journalist Laura Bliss about how the layoffs are affecting the park service. Plus, the la...

The 2025 Oscars are now behind us. And many of us witnessed our favorite movies take home awards for costume, design and picture. But another important part of films is the music. On today’s show, we speak with Fresno native Jeff Atamajian about what it means to be a film music orchestrator. Atmajian had a role in orchestrating music for the latest hit movie “Wicked.” Plus, the latest news headlin...