Fresno - CalMatters

Immigrant rights activists participate in a protest in Los Angeles on July 1, 2019. Photo by Ronen Tivony/Sipa via AP Images

California Divide

California’s new benefits for undocumented immigrants are not enough, workers say

by Melissa Montalvo April 5, 2022April 5, 2022

California’s undocumented immigrants risked themselves working during pandemic. Lawmakers want to pay them unemployment benefits.

Farmworker Inocencio Cortez joins the rally in downtown Fresno on Cesar Chavez Day to help urge Gov. Gavin Newsom to sign the Ag Labor Voting Choice Act, providing more choices in how farm workers can vote in their union elections. March 31, 2022. Photo by John Walker/The Fresno Bee

California Divide

California farmworkers march to ask Newsom to sign voting bill

by Melissa Montalvo April 1, 2022April 1, 2022

Nearly obscured from Freeway 99 traffic, a homeless encampment on private property, of nearly 50 people, borders residential homes, at California Avenue and Monterey Street, July, 22, 2021.

California Divide

‘Progress’ but ‘no cause for celebration’: How Fresno is tackling homelessness in 2022

by Melissa Montalvo January 24, 2022January 24, 2022

A man living on the streets displays what he claims to be the synthetic drug fentanyl in the Tenderloin section of San Francisco on Feb. 27, 2020. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Overdose epidemic plagues California: Fentanyl is driving uptick in deaths

by Emily Hoeven December 3, 2021December 3, 2021

Farmworkers work at the Heringer Estates Family Vineyards and Winery in Clarksburg on March 24, 2020. AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli

California Divide

Thousands of farmworkers will get pay raises thanks to a lawsuit

by Melissa Montalvo December 2, 2021December 2, 2021

Rents and home prices have jumped in Fresno during the pandemic, creating another hot spot for the California housing crisis.

Why is Fresno one of the nation’s hottest housing markets?

by Manuela Tobias September 28, 2021September 27, 2021

Arien Pauls, who for years was a victim of human trafficking, looks out her window of her home in Fresno on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2017. Pauls now helps other victims of human trafficking. Photo by Craig Kohlruss, Fresno Bee

California Divide

Trafficking victims struggle to find jobs. Will this bill help?

by Melissa Montalvo September 17, 2021September 19, 2021

Amber R. Crowell, assistant professor at Fresno State, left, joins other community leaders including Congressman Jim Costa, right, at a press conference at Lighthouse for Children, Thursday July 8, 2021, calling on Congress to turn the $300 monthly Child Tax Credit into a permanent benefit. Over 600,000 children will benefit from the Child Tax Credit in Fresno County. Photo by John Walker, The Fresno Bee

CalMatters en Español

¿Recibirá su familia pagos mensuales de impuestos por hijos de $ 300? Lo que necesitas saber

by Melissa Montalvo and Neil Chase July 14, 2021July 14, 2021

Amber R. Crowell, assistant professor at Fresno State, left, joins other community leaders including Congressman Jim Costa, right, at a press conference at Lighthouse for Children, Thursday July 8, 2021, calling on Congress to turn the $300 monthly Child Tax Credit into a permanent benefit. Over 600,000 children will benefit from the Child Tax Credit in Fresno County. Photo by John Walker, The Fresno Bee

California Divide

Will your family get $300 monthly child tax payments? What you need to know

by Melissa Montalvo July 12, 2021July 14, 2021

river

More seats on river conservancy board could turn the tide on access

by Guest Commentary July 7, 2021July 4, 2021