Alex Milan Tracy for Underscore
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The dozens of independent, nonprofit and nonpartisan news organizations that make up the Rural News Network are developing the broadest news alliance reporting on rural America. These newsrooms are pursuing coverage that provides a more complete picture of what it means to live and work in these communities.
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LATEST NEWS FROM THE NETWORK
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English learners in the Valley had a big year. Here’s what to expect for 2026
January 02, 2026
From shuffling leadership in multiple local districts, rising test scores in the classroom and looming federal policy shifts, 2025 marked a year full of change for multilingual learners.
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‘We are all targets.’ What happens to children whose parents are detained by ICE in Fresno County?
December 05, 2025
The first five years of life are critical: About 90% of a child’s brain develops during this period, and early trauma—like separation from a parent—can shift a child’s brain from learning to survival mode.
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Fresno County is increasing transparency to approve proposed $5.3 billion budget, after blowback
September 09, 2025
Fresno County residents can expect more transparency in this year’s county budget hearing process, after years of criticism over its truncated budget process.
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President Trump slashed the Department of Education. What does it mean for the Valley’s multilingual learners?
May 06, 2025
The president recommends cutting hundreds of millions of dollars from programs that aid English learners and migrant students.
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‘I’m devastated.’ Trump administration guts millions from health programs in Fresno County
March 28, 2025
Across Fresno County, a nascent network of about 120 community health workers for rural communities, farmworkers, and some of Fresno’s poorest neighborhoods took direct hits.
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After years of political clashes, is this Central Valley community finally on a path to clean water?
March 10, 2025
Efforts to bring clean water to East Orosi have progressed slowly in recent years, leaving residents living off bottled water deliveries.
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Central Valley farm groups question recent immigration raids. ‘The fear was always there’
January 16, 2025
“It feels like they’re just stopping everybody that looks a certain way and are basically playing by a playbook that is very outdated.” – Daniel Larios, the United Farmworkers Foundation.
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California farmers depleted groundwater in this county. Now a state crackdown could rein them in
April 16, 2024
Kings County agencies and growers may face probation and millions of dollars in fines — which could be the first step toward the state wresting control of groundwater.
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Is groundwater trading the future of California water?
September 25, 2023
With risks to small farmers, new groundwater markets could make almond, pistachios investments more secure through drought.
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Central Valley communities of color lack flood control. Would representation on water boards help?
September 14, 2023
In the aftermath of the damage to small, low-income Central Valley towns like Allensworth and Planada, community leaders are reiterating a call to diversify water boards to give marginalized groups more power.
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California pays San Joaquin Valley farmers millions to keep water in the ground
July 27, 2023
The program requires all participating landowners to fallow their crops for a year.
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‘Not a luxury.’ Fresno County residents call for major investments in broadband internet access
July 19, 2023
Residents say poor internet connectivity hampers students and local businesses.
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Frustrated rent control advocates say Fresno leaders aren’t listening, but the fight isn’t over
June 28, 2023
Supporters say Fresno needs a public panel to protect renters, but city leaders say such policies lead to higher prices and slums.
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In Tulare County, officials test new approach to environmental justice
June 16, 2023
Local planning, often a reason communities of color face worse pollution, is changing in California after a 2016 law. A new study offers lessons learned for planners nationwide.
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Worker who drowned at Fresno-area poultry plant remembered as ‘a great human being’
May 24, 2023
Cal/OSHA is investigating Jesus Salazar’s death at Pitman Family Farms in Sanger earlier this month.
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