This story has been updated with a comment from Interim City Manager Willard Epps. Comments by Tulare Mayor Carlton Jones have spread like wildfire after he claimed that agriculture “strips the natural resources and contaminates our ground water and air” and “causes asthma and valley fever, cancer and kills bees.” His comment’s got agricultural leaders […]
After 21 years, the Enchanted Playhouse Theater Company is leaving the Main Street Theater, and not by choice, as City Hall is in talks to sell the downtown landmark. City Bowing Out Earlier this year, the city quietly began taking bids on the 400-plus-seat former cinema, with the minimum bid starting at $450,000. Many of […]
In what seemed a foregone conclusion to those opposed, the Visalia City Council unanimously approved a plan to construct a gas station at the southeast corner of Caldwell Avenue and West Street. There is no appeal option to the Council’s decision. Last-Minute Re-work At the eleventh hour, Chandi Group USA–which had seen its plans for […]
It’s now revealed that on two separate occasions a campaign donor of Tulare County District Attorney (TCDA) was investigated for committing perjury by the State Licensing Bureau and Attorney General. Lying on California state forms for a professional license is a felony. In the first investigation in 2013, conducted by the California State Attorney General’s […]
Developers behind a plan to build an ARCO AM/PM in southeast Visalia are making a third attempt at approval after the Planning Commission shot down the project in a split decision last month. Appeal to City Council The Visalia City Council will act as final arbiter in the matter when Chandi Group USA appeals the […]
In an attempt to justify his argument for contracting Tulare’s city attorney last June, Mayor Carlton Jones shared a schedule of legal fees for the city from 2007 through 2016 during the May 1 City Council meeting. He argued that in during that period, the city had paid out millions to more than 20 firms; […]
Matt Darby, a candidate for Tulare County District Attorney (TCDA) and his supporters claim Tim Ward, the incumbent, engages in “pay to play politics.” Ward’s supporters claim Darby is playing just that – politics. Voters will have their say June 5. Darby has highlighted three cases where Ward allegedly used his position as District Attorney […]
Some federal funds meant to lighten the burden of taxpayers in the Tulare Local Healthcare District weren’t used for that purpose, Tulare County District Attorney Tim Ward told the public Wednesday night. Ward also updated the district’s board, and public, on his office’s investigation into Healthcare Conglomerate Associates (HCCA). The district was qualified to issue […]
Dr. Benny Benzeevi’s home was recently searched as part of an ongoing investigation into Healthcare Conglomerate Associates and its management of the Tulare Local Healthcare District, officials have confirmed. A search warrant was served on April 4 at 3:50pm by the Tulare County District Attorney’s office and an agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. […]
The names in this article have been changed to protect the victims. The first week of November 2017 Frasier decided to come out to his family. He had been sexually abused as a child from the age of eight to 10 years old, and the #MeToo movement gave him the strength to name his abuser. […]