Fresno News

Aaron Blair, the new chief executive of the Downtown Fresno Partnership, is pictured in front of one of the many sculptures on the west end of the Fulton Mall on July 24, 2014.

"It's a scary thing to do at 82 years old, to sign a five-year lease," says Janna Mayne, owner of Janna's Needle Art, located at 1085 E. Herndon Ave. in Fresno.

Can the current drought make us smarter? Many are feeling the pain of a dwindling supply of water: Farmlands sit idle, jobs are lost, cities are forced to make conservation efforts and politicians grope for solutions.

Competitor Jonathan Kehler of Modesto tries to complete a rope swing jump on one of the obstacles at the Central California Ninja Warrior Training Course two-day Summer Invite competition in Clovis Saturday, July 27, 2014.

Faith in Community -- made up of about 20 faith groups that do humanitarian work in Fresno -- will open an office in south-central Fresno, just north of Highway 180.

Gov. Jerry Brown has been steadfastly consistent in his speeches: California's future and economic prosperity depends on educating and training its diverse young population to compete in a technology-based world economy.

Fresno police officers intercepted a man carrying what looked like a high-powered assault rifle Friday evening on the Tuolumne street overpass near Highway 99. Sgt.

Melissa Carleton's eyes open and her gaze meets Lande's, but only for seconds before she drifts back to sleep.

Tou Moua, a water conservation representative for the city of Fresno, leaves a home where he left a notice for use of sprinklers during a prohibited time of day, flooding gutters and causing flooding to a neighbor's property Wednesday, July 9, 2014 in Fresno, Calif.

Melissa Carleton, in a minimally conscious state since March, is tended to by husband Brian Lande, and her parents, as well as taking care of two-month-old son, West.

George Hostetter, a Fresno Bee reporter since 1987, knows Fresno and the trappings of its government from the top of his hat to the tip of his shoes, which he wears out with round trips between the office and City Hall.

The drive will begin at 3 p.m. at HCK Restaurant and Bar, 1144 E. Champlain Drive, suite 108 in Fresno.

Thumbs up to the Jack A. Harris Memorial Scholarship Fund, which awarded 69 scholarships, totaling more than $100,000, to local students to continue their higher education for the coming academic year.

The Orange County district attorney says a California man, caught transporting heroin with a potential street value of $12 million through the Town of Wawyanda, has pleaded guilty and will be serving a 10-year prison term.

A Fresno County Sheriff's Deputy is recovering after getting into a fight with a man trying to break into a home.

The right lane of westbound Highway 180 in Fresno will be closed Sunday and Monday from 7 p.m. until 5 a.m. The middle lane will be closed from 11 p.m. until 5 a.m. The middle and right lanes of southbound Highway 41 will be closed Tuesday.

Around the nation, attendance drops in the summertime as the heat increases, and some families with children equate vacation from school with family vacation from church.

The boy hit Thursday in a drive-by shooting in southeast Fresno is going to be OK after having the bullet removed Friday, Lt.

A June 2012 file photo shows early stages of mosquitos in swimming pool water of a foreclosed home in central Fresno.

A June 2012 file photo shows early stages of mosquitos in swimming pool water of a foreclosed home in central Fresno.