Valley News

Normally, a group of singing, dancing senior citizens would be taking the stage at Fresno City College starting this month. But the group dubbed “ New Wrinkles ” has postponed its 2020 season, due to the coronavirus pandemic. Instead, the group is staying connected and performing solo on Youtube, in …

Tulare County has one of the highest COVID-19 death rates in California due in part to outbreaks in nursing homes – and the county just voted to reopen businesses before meeting health benchmarks set by the state. FM89’s Alice Daniel spoke with Dr. Harjoth Malli, medical director of Critical Care …

As shelter-in-place continues, parks are one outlet for residents to stretch their legs and clear their heads. For the ninth year in a row, however, Fresno’s acreage and investment in parks ranks near the bottom compared to the largest 100 cities in the nation. Last year, Fresno’s ParkScore was 92 …

Near the beginning of the pandemic, we talked to an ER doctor who said the emergency room at Community Regional Medical Center in downtown Fresno felt like “the calm before the storm.” So, more than two months in, what’s it like now? FM89’s Alice Daniel spoke with Dr. Jim Comes, …

The population of Huron, California, a rural town in southwest Fresno County, more than doubles during harvest season with an influx of migrant farm workers. FM89’s Kathleen Schock spoke with the city’s mayor, Rey León , about how the coronavirus is affecting this population and what it’s like to lead …

Over the next month, many students will be graduating from college, but without the traditional pomp and circumstance or cap and gown. So we asked two students and their mothers about missing out on this once-in-a-lifetime experience, and what songs come to mind when they reflect on their journey. We …

Tali Whelan is a registered nurse. “I have worked the long 12-hour shifts in the past, and so I know how difficult it can be to be on your feet for so long and constantly on the go,” said Whelan. She normally works in a dermatology office, but right now, …

Nursing facilities have been hit hard by coronavirus outbreaks, and have changed visitor policies to reduce the spread of the disease. So how can older adults still maintain social connections? Helen Miltiades, director of Fresno State’s Gerontology Program, says families are visiting their older relatives at nursing homes by standing …

A couple weeks ago, we told you about how the Central California Blood Center is collecting plasma from recovered COVID-19 patients . Since then, a number of people have stepped forward to donate, including Benfie Liu. Liu is 29 years old and a medical resident at Kaweah Delta Medical Center …

COVID-19, and the stay-at-home directives enacted to minimize its spread, have led to a shocking decline in employment. For many, the loss of wages means an increased reliance on food distribution centers. The Central California Food Bank works with churches, community centers and schools to distribute food in Fresno, Madera, …

As we go into the weekend, we wanted to leave you with a new tune, and maybe some inspiration. Fresno musician Eva Scow has been sheltering in place like the rest of us, but says she’s using the time to write more of her own music. She’s been experimenting with …

Rural Kings County has seen a large spike in COVID-19 cases over the last two weeks. The majority of those cases can be traced back to the Central Valley Meat Company in Hanford. As of Wednesday, Kings County reported 211 cases of the coronavirus; 138 of them are connected to …

May 1 is College Signing Day for many students, although some universities have extended their deadlines. Valley Public Radio’s news director Alice Daniel spoke with three seniors from the farming town of Woodlake about what it’s like to make such an important decision during a pandemic. Selina Lopez-Curiel, Rogelio Chavez …