At the December 21 Visalia City Council work session, a 5-0 vote was tallied by the council in favor of an incentive package to convince Nordstrom to locate an E-Center in Visalia’s Industrial Park. Visalia is competing with Fresno and another location out of state, possibly in Nevada. The E-Center, or fulfillment center, would service […]
In the Kings County Superior Court, the Hanford Environmental Awareness Team (HEAT) racked up another win against the city concerning the Bajun American Properties housing development. HEAT’s attorney, Richard Harriman, and HEAT member Robin Mattos were in attendance December 15 to hear Judge La Porte rule that City of Hanford was wrong when it did […]
The City of Hanford owns its municipal water delivery system. During its December 15 meeting, the Hanford city council voted 3-2 in favor of raising Hanford’s water rates over a period of four years. Mayor Justin Mendes and Councilmembers David Ayers and Russ Curry voted in favor, while Councilmembers Gary Pannett and Francisco Ramirez voted […]
After hearing from the US Department of Fish and Wildlife, Tulare County Animal Control (TCAC) and the Visalia Feral Cat Coalition, the Parks Advisory Committee (PAC) decided to support the Trap Neuter and Release (TNR) Program. The committee, which advises on all 10 Tulare County Parks, met December 8 at the Government Plaza building. Because […]
All around Tulare County, the yellow buildings of Dollar General stores have been popping up recently. And with good reason–they are profitable here. But, more importantly to the local residents, they provide a service as well as offer job opportunities, said Michael Washam, assistant director of the county’s Economic Development and Planning Resource Management Agency. […]
The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 killed a lot of small hospitals. As its name implies, the law was intended to balance the federal budget by 2002, reducing spending by $160 billion in the process. To achieve its self-imposed fiscal goal, which was forgotten after 9/11, Congress cut $119 billion in health care spending over […]
After a six-year process, the Visalia Walmart on Noble Avenue is only one step away from becoming a newsupercenter. The Visalia City Council voted December 6 to approve the final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and the Conditional Use Permit(CUP)for the Walmart expansion.According to Andrew Chamberlain, Visalia city planner, this is the longest permitting process he […]
Recent developments involving Porterville, Tulare County and California’s Office of Emergency Services have left the future of a new well drilled near city limits in question. What seemed to be a breakdown in communication had caused a sudden halt to the joint venture that could provide a permanent solution for some South Valley residents whose […]
Kings County Sheriff Dave Robinson believes building a bigger jail can lead to fewer people ending up behind bars, and the county and state are going to spend $21 million to find out if he’s right. When the US Supreme Court ruled in 2011, that intense overcrowding and a wide lack of health services in […]
The Commission on Judicial Performance has issued a decision and order removing Judge Valeriano Saucedo, of the Tulare County Superior Court, from office. The commission’s determination becomes final in 30 days, subject to discretionary review by the California Supreme Court. The commission ordered Judge Saucedo removed from office for a course of conduct toward his […]