Gov. Jerry Brown’s plan for sweeping public pension reform would hit the pocketbooks of employees who hope to collect a pension check and paycheck at the same time. It’s a common practice statewide — especially in law enforcement — and the central San Joaquin Valley is no exception. Visalia Police Chief Colleen Mestas, for example, [...]

Ephiram and Sara Bosse want to see downtown Fresno revitalized. So when they started talking about opening a coffee shop a year ago, it was only natural to find a location downtown. “We really have a heart for wanting to see downtown be revitalized and for people to come down and feel comfortable here,” Ephiram [...]

Ronnie Salmon was like just about every other youngster on Christmas morning in the central San Joaquin Valley — surrounded by presents and people who care deeply for her, an ear-to-ear smile on her face. But there was one big difference. Ronnie wasn’t at home. She was sitting on a bed at Children’s Hospital Central [...]

The public is responding to the plight of 30 neglected and malnourished horses found at two farms in Fresno County over the past week, contributing more than $2,000 in donations to provide feed and care for the animals. But officials at the Central California Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said they remain [...]

At least two people from the Valley will be riding floats in the 123rd annual Rose Parade in Pasadena on Jan. 2. Lance Walheim of Exeter will be waving from the Bayer Advanced “Garden of Imagination” float, and Max Zapata of Clovis will be doing the same from the Donate Life “One More Day” float. [...]

Achievements Donald Martin, employed by Clovis Unified School District, successfully completed the certified arborist examination administered through the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) and the local chapter of the ISA. Allison Schroeder-Mankey of Fresno received her Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree with academic honors at the commencement ceremony for the fall quarter 2011 graduating class [...]