The Central California Blood Center is holding a series of blood drives throughout the Valley next week. Donors must be 17 or older (16 with written parental consent) and in good health. Additional information is available at (559) 389-LIFE (5433) or at donateblood.org. Today Grace Community Church, Love Madera, 17775 Road 26, Madera, 8 a.m.-noon [...]

A fiery but flavorful peanut hot sauce, raspberry-flavored sangria and finger-shaped limes are among the more than 50 new products being showcased at this year’s Fresno Food Expo. The Expo will be held March 14 at the Fresno Convention Center and is the only food trade show focusing solely on San Joaquin Valley producers. Last [...]

A year ago, the Sierra snowpack was an anemic 20% of normal. Now it’s a whopping 146%. At this time last year, the San Joaquin Valley was gasping through a 44-day siege of federal air violations — dangerous soot and debris clogged the air. This year, the Valley only had five violations in December. California’s [...]

Sprouts Farmers Market, a grocery chain with an emphasis on natural and organic fruit and veggies, will open its first location in Fresno in mid-May. The store is taking over the the former Sports Authority on North Blackstone Avenue in the same shopping center as Bed Bath & Beyond. Sprouts is a Phoenix-based chain with [...]

Practice the skills of bike racing in a safe and friendly environment during the new Clovis Criterium Training Series, sponsored by Fresno-area bike shops and USA Cycling. Each day begins with a 90-minute skills clinic at 8:30 a.m., followed by practice criteriums with riders divided into age groups and ability levels. No results are recorded. [...]

Two rangers are writing fascinating blogs about the rugged high-country winter in Yosemite National Park — below-zero nights, blizzards, animal tracks in the snow. The rangers are a married couple, Laura and Rob Pilewski. They are at Tuolumne Meadows for the winter, a job some would consider a plum. The commute traffic clearly is no [...]