California Central Valley News

Fresno Bee

Who's afraid of the big, bad vandals?

Recent thefts and damage at Rotary Storyland and Playland in Roeding Park are discouraging, but the crimes won't dampen efforts to make the 45-year-old Fresno amusement parks "a world-class attraction," said Barry Falke, executive director.
15 May 2008 at 1:19am

Pappas forced to file Ch. 7

Creditors have forced local media mogul Harry J. Pappas into a personal bankruptcy filing -- an unusual move that threatens his effort to save Visalia-based Pappas Telecasting Companies from financial disaster.
15 May 2008 at 1:19am

Taking a chance on Calif. lottery

SACRAMENTO -- Gov. Schwarzenegger on Wednesday proposed to close the state's $15.2 billion budget gap by borrowing against the state lottery and making major cuts to health and social service programs.
15 May 2008 at 1:24am

Clovis bars twins from graduating

Clovis Unified has said it will bar twins Alyssa and Amanda Reta from participating in graduation ceremonies at Buchanan High School because they have not earned a diploma -- but a state official says the district is wrong.
15 May 2008 at 1:14am

FUSD trustees approve fee boost for developers

Developers will pay higher fees to the Fresno Unified School District for all new homes and commercial projects built within the district's boundaries, trustees said Wednesday.
15 May 2008 at 1:14am

Airline to pull out of Visalia

Air Midwest is ending passenger air service from Visalia and Merced to Las Vegas on May 31, folding its wings more than a year after the company said it wanted out of its federal contract to serve the Valley markets.
15 May 2008 at 1:19am

Ibis eggs may have been plowed under

A wheat harvester in Tulare County may have destroyed the eggs of hundreds of large wading birds known as white-faced ibises, say federal authorities who began investigating the allegation last week.
15 May 2008 at 1:19am

Thumbs up for medical school

MERCED -- The University of California at Merced received a unanimous thumbs up Wednesday from the University of California's Board of Regents to continue ongoing plans to establish a medical school.
15 May 2008 at 1:14am

Fresno's Met finds new director

The Fresno Metropolitan Museum apparently has found a new executive director to succeed Kathleen Monaghan.
15 May 2008 at 1:14am

Mini-storage matriarch helped launch empire

Josephine P. Ridenour worked for decades in Fresno and prospered with her husband, Derrel, by addressing Valley people's ever-mounting problem: where to store stuff.
15 May 2008 at 1:35am

Lodi News

Local cheerleaders making the leap from high school to collegiate cheer programs

High School Cheerleaders Michele Taormina, Gianna Langone and Tiara Temple all know the stereotypes associated with their chosen sport ? skinny, blonde bombshells with more friends than they know what to do with and not a thought in their head.
15 May 2008 at 7:48am

Delta College president withdraws name from job search

San Joaquin Delta College President Raul Rodriguez has withdrawn his name as a candidate for the chancellor position at Riverside Community College District even after being offered the job.
15 May 2008 at 7:39am

Two Democrats seek 10th Assembly seat

In an Assembly district traditionally represented by Republicans, two Democrats are trying to buck the mold this year.
15 May 2008 at 2:10am

City Council debates trimming already-lean budget for 2008-09

Lodi city leaders slogged through another round of budget review Wednesday night, debating what to trim for the lean-looking 2008-09 fiscal year.
15 May 2008 at 7:39am

Undercover detective averts likely robbery on his way to work

An undercover Lodi police officer likely prevented an armed robbery on his way to work Wednesday morning when he happened to see a man with a gun.
15 May 2008 at 2:10am

Regional Roundup

Teams of Lodi officers conducted probation searches throughout the city Wednesday, arresting a number of people and also finding a stolen truck that was being dismantled.
15 May 2008 at 2:10am

Local educators protest district, state cuts

More than 65 teachers, parents and community members protested budget cuts at the state and district level at the corner of Kettleman Lane and Hutchins Street on Wednesday afternoon.
15 May 2008 at 2:10am

Sacramento Bee

Arden Arcade cityhood proponents face LAFCO deadline to pay up

A proposed "drop-dead deadline" now hovers over efforts to turn 13 square miles of the Arden Arcade area into a city.
by rcoronado@sacbee.com (Ramon Coronado)
15 May 2008 at 2:00am


Community council gets new leader

As the makeup and continued existence of community councils in the unincorporated areas of Sacramento County remain uncertain, a new chairwoman for the Carmichael-Old Foothill Farms Community Council has been elected.
Jan Bass Otto
by rcoronado@sacbee.com (Ramon Coronado)
15 May 2008 at 2:00am

State AG's e-bingo mandate worries charitable parlors

Last week's raid by the state attorney general's office on bingo parlors in the Sacramento region, including one hall in the Arden Arcade area, spotlights what is expected to be a growing problem.
by rcoronado@sacbee.com (Ramon Coronado)
15 May 2008 at 2:00am

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