A deficit budget covering the next two fiscal years will see the city of Visalia outspending its income by more than $3 million. The plan–which spends $72.9 million in fiscal year 2020-21 with a $1.48 million deficit and $73.9 million in FY 21-22 with a $1.55 million deficit–received unanimous support from the Visalia City Council […]
Plans for a compact subdivision in south Visalia will move forward after the Visalia City Council voted 3-2 to overturn a previous decision by the city’s Planning Commission that stopped the development. Housing in Commercial Zone By overruling the commission, the council agreed to allow San Joaquin Valley Homes to divide 4.8 acres skirting […]
A letter to California’s governor from Assemblyman Devon Mathis (R-Visalia) appears to have been partially plagiarized from a letter written by his opponent two months earlier. The letter from Mathis’ office to Gov. Gavin Newsom–dated May 1 and regarding Senate Bill 743–appears to have been copied verbatim from a letter written by Drew Phelps. Phelps […]
Visalia Unified School District (VUSD) leaders are not sure when the city’s schools will reopen, and a continuation of distance learning remains a distinct possibility. Waiting for Guidance With schools on a state-issued order to close their doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Tamara Ravalin says district administrators around the state are waiting for […]
Third update: Visalia Chief of Police Jason Salazar has released a statement in video form addressing the incident involving a counterprotester striking two demonstrators with his vehicle. Police are in contact with all parties involved and details of the interaction are included below. Second update: The Visalia Police Department have issued a statement regarding the […]
Tulare’s hospital has new leadership with a checkered past. In a surprising move, Randy Dodd, Tulare Adventist’s president, resigned his position effective May 15. Despite the apparently amicable parting of the ways, rumors that reached the Tulare Local Health Care District’s (TLHCD) Board of Directors hinted Dodd had been fired. Adventist Health Central Valley Network […]
Citizens of Tulare are finally getting a look at the details of a pair of altercations between one of their city councilmen and a high-ranking officer of the Tulare Police Department. Hostile Work Environment Following a pair of hostile interactions between Councilman Carlton Jones and TPD Lt. Jarod Boatman during city council meetings on […]
The Visalia City Council–after encouraging Visalians to begin the process of “reopening” the local economy–voted to hold a special meeting this week to discuss how the city can help citizens affected by income loss due to COVID-19. Call for Caution “I would encourage small businesses to open up, but use common sense,” said Councilman […]
In a 3-2 vote, the Tulare City Council approved the final wording for its recreational cannabis sales ordinance. The final draft–approved April 7 as a “pass-to-print” measure that will still require a final OK at the next council meeting–will allow up to five recreational cannabis sales points in the city and cap the city’s portion […]
The Visalia Unified School District (VUSD) Board of Trustees has halted plans to build a fifth high school in the wake of the failure of Prop. 13 on the March ballot. “The board has decided that we are not moving ahead with the high school at this time and that we need to do more […]