Local News

Selma-Kingsburg-Fowler County Sanitation District to Save $14.7 Million in Energy Costs with Solar Project

KINGSBURG - On November 8^th, Selma-Kingsburg-Fowler County Sanitation District (SKFCSD) celebrated a major milestone in the implementation of its new energy program with two ENGIE North America companies, Op Terra Energy Services and Green Charge. During a groundbreaking event on Wednesday, District stakeholders, project engineers and contractors, and local elected officials commemorated the beginning of the clean energy generation and storage program that will help power treatment facilities across all 550 acres of S-K-F CSD service territory. As a result of the integrated solar, battery storage, and other conservation technology upgrades across the District, S-K-F CSD will save $14.7 million in energy and maintenance costs over the span of the program.

Home Prices Boom 10 Years After Housing Crisis

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Home prices have returned to the boom levels of a decade ago -- which foreshadowed the bursting of the real estate "bubble" and the onset of The Great Recession -- but today's housing market is starkly different, according to data released today from realtor.com^®, a leading online real estate destination. Backed by tighter lending standards and more solid economic fundamentals, current price appreciation is being driven by strong supply-and-demand dynamics with no signs of boom era flipping or over-construction.

On the surface, today's housing market looks suspiciously similar to the pre-recession years with rising home prices and feverish buyer demand. However, a deeper analytical assessment reveals material differences -- historically low inventory levels, much tighter lending standards and significant job and household growth -- and a strong housing market backed by economic fundamentals.

Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity Announces Ban on Alcohol & All Illegal Substances

NEW YORK - Sigma Phi Epsilon (SigEp) national fraternity with a chapter at California State University Fresno announced that it has adopted a substance-free policy for all Fraternity facilities throughout its network of 215 chapters at colleges and universities in the United States.

"As recent tragic events have demonstrated, fraternities today have real problems," said SigEp CEO Brian Warren. "Sigma Phi Epsilon and our peers have unfortunately earned a reputation for being organizations that promote alcohol consumption, misogyny and violence. For SigEp, there can be no more discussion about maintaining that status quo. Fraternities must change."

Ken Riddick Promoted To President And Publisher of Fresno Bee

SACRAMENTO - McClatchy (NYSE American: MNI) today named Ken Riddick as president and publisher of The Fresno Bee, The Tribune in San Luis Obispo and Merced-Sun Star. He will assume his new role November 6. Riddick succeeds Tom Cullinan, who is retiring November 3.

"Ken has demonstrated great digital leadership at The Modesto Bee, as evidenced by digital-only growth of 44 percent over two years," said Gary Wortel, McClatchy's west regional publisher. "Modesto has been one of the company's leaders in audience growth as well, and he recently completed the Bee's move to a new location that beautifully reflects the future workspace of a digital media company.

California Wine 2017 Harvest Report: Strong Quality Across the State as Ample Rain Ends Drought

SAN FRANCISCO - California's 2017 wine harvest wrapped up early this fall following summer heat spurts and a growing season that saw significant rain throughout the state ending a five-year drought. While October wildfires in North Coast wine communities made international headlines, the state's vineyards and wineries were not significantly affected. Napa, Sonoma and Mendocino counties, the regions most impacted, grow 12 percent of California's winegrapes, and 90% percent of the harvest in Napa and Sonoma and 85% in Mendocino were already picked and in production at wineries before the fires.

"The vast majority of California's 2017 winegrape harvest was unaffected by the wildfires and the vintage promises to be of excellent quality," said Robert P. (Bobby) Koch, president and CEO of Wine Institute. "The outpouring of support locally and from around the world for people in the impacted communities has been phenomenal. We are saddened by the loss of lives and homes and this will truly be remembered as a harvest of the heart. Wineries are at work making their 2017 wines and welcoming visitors during this beautiful late fall/early winter season."