Central Valley Daily

Actor Travis Andre Ross grew up in Santa Nella, California. His rough upbringing inspired his gritty film “Central Valley.” On today’s episode, Ross explains what inspired him to write, produce, and star in the film that is now available on Amazon Prime. Plus, the latest news headlines: Merced’s high-speed rail dreams take a hit, and a Kern County school board member faces criticism related to son...

More than 500 employees are taking advantage of an early retirement incentive offered by Fresno Unified School District. On today’s episode, Superintendent Misty Her explains why the district made the offer and how the multi-million- dollar savings will benefit the district. Plus, the latest news headlines: Fresno County community groups introduce their own tax initiative to replace Measure C, and...

The Hanukkah massacre last month at Australia’s Bondi Beach may have taken place across the world, but it had a profound effect on a Bakersfield family. One of the 15 people killed was Rabbi Eli Schlanger, whose brother Shmuli Schlanger is also a rabbi - at the Chabad of Bakersfield synagogue. You may recognize his name from an episode just days before the attack. In today’s episode, we attended a...

A law in Fresno says government contracts only need city council approval if they exceed $100,000. A new investigation by our news partner, Fresnoland, shows that contractors have received multiple contracts exceeding that amount. Is this a legal loophole? Fresnoland’s investigative reporter Omar Rashad breaks down his findings. Plus, the latest news headlines: Fresno County reports its first flu-...

Sex abuse allegations at school districts in California have been rising as a result of a recent change in state law. But how school districts handle those allegations, including many in the San Joaquin Valley, shows a pattern of secrecy – including settlements that are protected from the public. Reporter Matt Hamilton discusses his latest investigation for the Los Angeles Times.

The red-and-blue logo featuring a growling, ferocious Fresno State Bulldog is easily identifiable, but the artist who created it is less well known. 94-year-old Joseph G. Garcia, who created the 1981 logo as well as numerous others, discusses his work in advance of a gallery show in downtown Fresno this weekend. Plus, the latest news headlines: what Gov. Newsom said at his last State of the State...

New year, new laws. 900 new pieces of legislation are rolling out in California for 2026. In this episode, San Francisco Chronicle reporter Sophia Bollag brings us a rundown of a handful of laws related to artificial intelligence, drug costs, and sexual assault lawsuits – as well as a reboot of the plastic bag ban. Plus, the latest news headlines: Valley health officials stick to previous childhoo...

This week, Governor Gavin Newsom will deliver his State of the State address, as well as his proposed budget. In the face of a continued multi-billion-dollar state deficit, CalMatters politics reporter Yue Stella Yue explains how the state budget could impact Californians. Plus, the latest news headlines: Federal regulators issue fines after a deadly 2024 farmworker crash; and Fresno Unified retir...

As homeowners continue to pick up the pieces from the Southern California fires that started a year ago, a new investigation shows insurance companies could be undercutting claims. Susie Nielson with the San Francisco Chronicle explains how some hidden rules are designed to benefit insurers at homeowners’ expense. Plus, the latest news headlines: Thousands of California residents need to update th...

In 2005, a national report revealed that Fresno contained some of the highest rates of concentrated poverty in the country. Now, 20 years later, we wondered: have those economic conditions changed? In today’s episode, we speak with KVPR reporter Israel Cardona Hernandez about how Fresno’s economy has evolved in the last 20 years, how the situation feels for Fresno residents, and how local organiza...

Glaciers in the Sierra Nevada have existed for thousands of years. However, recent research published in the journal "Science Advances" projects that they will disappear by the end of the century. Today, we revisit our conversation with Andy Jones, who explains the findings of the study. Jones is a doctoral candidate at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and co-author of the research.

In celebration of their 25th anniversary, Mariachi Mestizo has released a new album in 2025. The group based in Delano is composed mostly of students, though you can’t tell by listening. Today, we celebrate homegrown mariachi and revisit our conversation with band members Juan Morales and Joelynn Valencia, along with clips of their music.

In April, Senator Bernie Sanders stopped in Bakersfield for his “Fighting Oligarchy” tour, along with Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. But not all of the thousands who showed up were“feeling the Bern.” Today, we revisit our conversation with the senator and hear why he stopped in the historically conservative town.

Today, we revisit our conversation with Fresno native Jeff Atamajian. He's a film music composer, arranger, and orchestrator. Atmajian most recently helped orchestrate the music for the hit blockbuster movies "Wicked" and Wicked: For Good."

The Central California Women's Facility is one of the largest prisons housing only women. On today's episode, we revisit our tour of the facility and hear about a unique program: incarcerated people at the prison are running their own newspaper. Two members of the newspaper's team — Amber Bray and Kanoa Harris-Pendang — tell us about how the idea for the newspaper came to be, and how it inspires t...

The California High Speed Rail is a controversial project, and the federal government has slashed funding due to its lack of progress. But the CEO of the California High Speed Rail Authority, Ian Choudri, says the rail can be a point of national pride if it's given the chance to get done. Today, we revisit an August 2024 conversation that we had with Choudri about the project.

Japanese-American author Mas Masumoto has written over a dozen books. His latest takes on a different angle – and sound. In this encore episode, we revisit a conversation with Mas about the idea behind “Shadow Music” and other work it inspired.

2025 brought us so much news. In this end-of-year episode of Central Valley Daily, the news team looks back at the news that shaped the year and what to expect for the new year. Plus, the latest news headlines: What some new laws will bring in the new year, and new data shows how immigration has changed in California.

For the past year, 300 families were given $500 a month as part of a guaranteed income program in Fresno – the first in the city’s history. On today’s episode, Fresno State Professor Amber Crowell breaks down how families spent the money and what it shows about the feasibility of such programs to combat rampant poverty. Plus, the latest news headlines: A Madera casino’s future is in question; and...

NBC’s popular singing competition show “The Voice” spotlights talented singers from across the nation. And this season, the runner-up is from Fresno. On today’s episode, Ralph Edwards recounts his experience singing on national television and working with Snoop Dogg, and he tells us what’s next for his singing career. Plus, he sings a few bars of a popular Christmas song.

The state of California protects women’s reproductive rights, including the right to an abortion. So what happens when a woman needs one at a Catholic hospital that refuses to conduct abortions? On today’s episode, San Francisco Standard reporter Anya Schultz breaks down complicated maternal care at Catholic hospitals in California. Plus, the latest news headlines: Fresno leaders celebrate officia...

Professional climber Sasha DiGiulian has scaled rock faces all over the world, recently making history in Yosemite National Park. She was the first woman to free climb the Platinum Wall trail up the sheer granite face of El Capitan. On today’s episode, Sasha explains the extreme conditions she faced, and why she calls climbing a ‘global language.’ Plus, the latest news headlines: a project pilotin...

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops recently issued a special statement about their concern for immigrants in the U.S. The bishops called out the climate of fear and anxiety for many immigrants, noting they’re saddened by the vilification of immigrants. Bishop Joseph Brennan of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fresno breaks down the statement and why he voted for it. Plus, the latest news headlin...

For years, the City of Fresno has been renovating and expanding Fresno Yosemite International Airport. In the coming weeks, many of those projects will be fully in use – including a brand new terminal and new restaurants. But these projects met some turbulence earlier this year when the federal government threatened to pull funding. KVPR reporter Samantha Rangel talks to us about what happened and...

There’s a relatively unremarkable piece of land in Merced County that appears to simply be grasslands. But this area offers a glimpse into the San Joaquin Valley’s native landscape. On today’s episode, Sarah Puckett with American Rivers explains why so many environmental partners are working to restore floodplains in Great Valley Grasslands State Park.