Raisin City
Raisin City, CA · Events
The Fresno Bee
You can cut down your own Christmas tree in CA for $20. Where to go near Fresno
Imagine hiking into a lush forest as the birds flit through the lofty evergreens. As you enter a sunny clearing, you spot your ideal Christmas tree: a perfectly formed fir. You can cut down your own holiday tree at a dozen national forests across California, including a couple near Fresno. According to federal government officials, controlled tree-cutting is allowed during the holidays to reduce overgrowth and fire risks. “For every tree that is found, cut and carried home as a holiday fixture, you’re also contributing to the overall forest health,” officials said on Recreation.gov. “Christmas tree permits are a unique opportunity to help thin densely populated stands of small-diameter trees — the perfect size for a Christmas tree.” It’s best to plan ahead, since permits go fast. Here’s what to know: Where can I cut down a Christmas tree in California? In California, a total of 12 national forests offer seasonal tree permits just in time for the holiday season. You can discover which forests offer tree permits by going to Recreation.gov and checking out the interactive map. You can also search by the forest name, location or state. Here’s where to go within a two-hour drive of Fresno: Sequoia
hoodline.com
Downtown Fresno's New $30M Courtyard Hotel Opens After 28-Year Wait
A five-story, 144-room hotel opens its doors to guests Tuesday on a downtown Fresno corner that sat empty for a generation. The Courtyard by Marriott Fresno Downtown rises at the corner of M and Inyo streets, right next to the Fresno Convention Center, finally filling a gap that city leaders had been trying to patch since at least the late 1990s.
The Fresno Bee
Some incumbents struggling in latest Fresno County school board election update
Another election results update is in, and in the Fresno school board trustee races many incumbents are struggling. The tight race to represent Fresno Unified School District’s Area 3, Sunnyside, is heating up with incumbent Valerie Davis falling behind Riley Talford. Talford presently has 50.72% of the expected vote, while Davis has 48.73% — a difference of about 160 votes. Similarly, McLane region incumbent Veva Islas is still trailing behind Karen Steed, who has 36.54% of the expected vote. Islas is at 33.13%, while Mirna Garcia has 29.86%. As for the election to represent the district’s Edison region, Miguel Arias is still maintaining a sizable lead — over 1,200 more votes that the runner-up — in the crowded race. In Central Unified, incumbent Josh Sellers is trailing behind John Nale by just 80 votes in the Area 1 race. However, another incumbent — Harman Singh — has nearly 49% of the vote to continue leading Area 3, putting him ahead of challengers Erica Gonzalez Piedra and Lavera Smith. The remaining Central Unified races for areas 4 and 7 do not have any incumbents in the running, though Carmen Flores and Diljot Singh are leading their races with 53.02% and 57.46%
sjvsun.com
Naindeep Singh’s breaks open District 1 race
Central Unified Trustee Naindeep Singh has taken a large lead in the race for Fresno City Council District 1. Along with Singh’s move, the latest election update from the Fresno County Registrar of Voters Tuesday afternoon also saw Asm. Joaquin Arambula (D–Fresno) and Ariana Martinez Lott maintain their leads in their respective races.
midvalleytimes.com
Fowler weighs in on the future of local parks
FOWLER – As the city prepares to throw its hat in the ring for a chance at state funding, residents have taken the opportunity to share their two cents. On Nov. 10, Community and Economic Development Director Matthew Flood joined the Fowler Recreation Commission to give a presentation on an upcoming Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Program grant application. In his presentation, Flood shared that staff have been hosting a handful of meetings for community members to weigh in on what they’d like to see from their local parks, and provided an opportunity for the commissioners themselves to give some additional input.
The Fresno Bee
City attorney cleared over confirmation of candidate's DUI to media; questions remain
The investigations that the Fresno city attorney and a councilmember called for against each other over the handling of a candidate’s DUI charge were closed by city council in closed session last week without explanation. A short, joint statement from the Fresno City Council said City Attorney Andrew Janz did not violate any policies when he confirmed to media that council candidate Naindeep Singh had been arrested on suspicion of DUI a week before the Nov. 3 election, and that the matter was now closed. The unusual, unsigned, two-sentence statement on council letterhead was released on Monday, but it did not include how or when the council reached that conclusion. Kevin Little — an attorney representing Singh — told The Bee that his client still believes a thorough and unbiased investigation should be conducted into why he was arrested and then information of the arrest disclosed. At a press conference last week, Singh and Little called for Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office to get involved. “We are interested in facts, not bare conclusions,” Little said. “We have submitted exhaustive requests for public records and hope that those requests result in the disclosure of the requested information, since apparently now the
KMJ
Fresno City Council Votes to Bar ICE from Staging Operations on City Property
FRESNO, CA (KMJ/KFSN) – Fresno city council voted 6 to 1 Thursday to bar ice from staging their operations on city property. Residents showed up to support the measure to prohibit ICE agents from staging operations at city-owned parks, parking lots or buildings unless the federal agency has a valid judicial warrant or court order.
The Fresno Bee
Sunsets, craft cocktails, shareable plates: Check out Fresno's hidden rooftop bar
Quail State has a deck that can see miles of downtown Fresno. Someone walking on Fulton Street could be forgiven for missing the bar’s entrance. Quail State is an upscale cocktail bar and lounge on the second floor of the historic Pacific Southwest Building . There’s a board out front of the building that lets people know they need to go inside, and from there it’s a quick ride in the rich wood-paneled elevator to the building’s second floor, where the bar and its deck are located. Mandip Singh and Amritpaul Singh (no relation) bought Quail State in 2023, but it was first founded by Josh and Hayley Islas-Wolf in 2021. When Mandip and Amritpaul took the bar over, they decided they wanted to create more of a community aspect and added a food menu, as well as almost-daily events focused on art and socializing. “It’s not a club vibe,” Mandip said. “It’s for all age groups.” People can either get shareables or a full meal, depending on what they’re in the mood for, with options including pizza, pasta, salads and wings (Quail State makes their own lemon pepper sauce in-house), but one particular appetizer came highly recommended from bartender
FOX Sports
Duckett leads UC Riverside against Fresno State after 22-point showing
UC Riverside Highlanders (3-0) at Fresno State Bulldogs (2-1) BOTTOM LINE: UC Riverside visits Fresno State after Tony Duckett scored 22 points in UC Riverside's 80-75 victory against the San Jose State Spartans. Fresno State went 13-19 overall with a 10-8 record at home during the 2025-26 season. The Bulldogs...
The Fresno Bee
Top stories: New Fresno hotel. Tulare sheriff allegations. Underdog judge candidate surges
Tuesday brought major developments across the central San Joaquin Valley, from serious allegations against a sitting Tulare County sheriff to a shifting race for a Fresno County judicial seat. The Fresno Bee covered the news shaping local communities, courts, campaigns and public safety. Here are the top stories of the day from our newsroom. Here are the top stories of the day Downtown Fresno hotel opens after decades of delays After decades of stalled proposals, Fresno’s downtown hotel is opening Tuesday. The five-story Courtyard by Marriott Fresno Downtown has 144 rooms, suites, a bistro, pool, fitness center and nearly 5,500 square feet of meeting space. Axis Hotel Group’s $30 million-plus project occupies a once-empty lot near the convention center; construction delays and redesigns pushed its opening beyond schedule by several years. Tulare County sheriff who ran for Congress accused of sexually abusing 2 girls, one age 11 Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux faces a complaint filed with the California Department of Justice accusing him of sexually abusing two minor girls in the 1980s and assaulting an adult woman in 2018. The complaint alleges that accusations against Boudreaux were reported to Tulare County Child Welfare Services as far back as 1991,
The Fresno Bee
State Center College District picks new chancellor. She worked under embattled predecessor
The State Center Community College District has officially selected a new leader: an internal candidate who formerly worked alongside the former, controversy-embroiled chancellor. During Tuesday night’s board meeting, trustees unanimously decided that deputy chancellor Christine Holt-McDonald will assume the role of chancellor. The district entered into a two-and-a-half-year employment agreement with Holt-McDonald, who will earn an annual salary of $365,000. “I’m very honored and very humbled, to be the next chancellor of State Center Community College District,” Holt-McDonald said during the meeting. Holt-McDonald joined the district in 2025 and previously served as the chancellor of a university in Arkansas. She worked closely alongside Carole Goldsmith, who served as the chancellor from November 2021 to September 2026. In November 2025, 250 members of the district’s faculty union unanimously issued a vote of no confidence in Goldsmith’s leadership. Hours ahead of this vote, Goldsmith announced that she’d retire in September 2026 and said the union actions had nothing to do with the decision. Ahead of trustees’ decision, Keith Ford, president of the State Center Federation of Teachers, said there are some concerns surrounding the prospect of an internal candidate leading the district. “We would be looking immediately for her to break with
sjvsun.com
Fuentes concedes city council race to Singh
Rob Fuentes has conceded the election for Fresno City Council District 1 to Naindeep Singh. Fuentes made the decision after Singh took a significant lead after the latest vote update. Driving the news: Tuesday’s vote update from Fresno County pushed Singh up by roughly 6.5 points and nearly 1,000 votes....
simpsonredhawks.com
Benjamin Vega Sanchez doubles down as Bill Musick Champion
FRESNO, Calif. - Benjamin Vega Sanchez stretched his undefeated record to 8-0 after winning the Bill Musick Open Wrestling Tournament for the second consecutive year. Vega Sanchez dominated the 285 lb weight class for the second week in a row after an impressive tournament last week at the Simpson duals.
The Fresno Bee
Bee's Best: Who is The Fresno Bee Player of the Week for playoff openers
Vote for the Fresno-area players for the week of Nov. 6, in the playoff openers. Numerous players are selected for the poll following standout performances in big games. Voting for the poll begins now and ends at 11:59 p.m. Sunday. To vote again, simply refresh the page. Coaches may nominate a player for next week’s poll by emailing agalaviz@fresnobee.com . Please note: The Bee discourages all voting irregularities and any form of harassment. All voters are expected to demonstrate good sportsmanship. If inappropriate behavior occurs, please report it to the platform where it appears. The Bee expects good sportsmanship and fair play from everyone who participates. The poll is intended to allow readers to vote for their favorite player in good fun. If any voting irregularities are suspected, the player involved will be disqualified. Please keep the voting fair and sportsmanlike. Thank you.
therampageonline.com
Men’s Soccer Undefeated Through 14 Conference Games
Fresno City men’s soccer tied 1-1 against College of Sequoias (COS) on Nov. 10 remaining undefeated in conference games with 10 wins and one draw. The Central Valley Conference is made up of junior colleges in central California who are affiliated with California Community College Athletic Association (3C2A). Momentum...