On the campus of the Bakersfield ARC, employees can work in a number of places, but one of the noisiest is the material recovery facility. It’s where about half of the city’s recycling is sorted by material. “On a daily average, we do anywhere from 28 to 35 tons a …
Read More »To Beat Recycling Restrictions, Bakersfield Turns Recyclables Into Compost
Recycling the right materials isn’t just a local issue—it’s international. China has historically been one of the U.S.’s top buyers of recyclables, but for over a year, it’s been putting restrictions on which materials it will import. Those changes led cities and recyclers to scramble to find markets for their …
Read More »“Can I Recycle This?” And Other Questions Addressed By Fresno’s Public Utilities Instagram
Do you know what can and can’t be recycled? Which bin do you use for your Starbucks cups, your wrapping paper or your greasy pizza box? We wondered, where does everyone go to find these answers? So we sat down with the expert behind Fresno’s Public Utilities Instagram , Xitlaly …
Read More »Healthcare Wastes Tons Of Usable Supplies—And This Clovis Organization Takes Them
In a loading dock in northeast Fresno, two men pull up to the warehouse at Saint Agnes Medical Center in a white moving van. They meet a contract coordinator with the hospital named Heather Ritter, who pulls out a clipboard and asks them to sign a form. “As is, no …
Read More »Remnants Of Dust Bowl Migration Linger In Central Valley Politics, Says Researcher Adam Ramey
While some valley congressional districts flipped from red to blue, much of the state’s remaining republican strongholds are still in the San Joaquin Valley — particularly Kern, Madera and Tulare Counties. This has a lot to do with the Dust Bowl, and the migrants who came to California in the …
Read More »Public Utilities Commission Delivers $56 Million Boost To Disadvantaged Communities
The state of California on Thursday greenlighted a suite of energy projects to serve the San Joaquin Valley, for a total investment of over $ 56 million. The California Public Utilities Commission has approved almost a dozen pilot projects to improve energy infrastructure in 11 disadvantaged communities across the Valley. …
Read More »Drug Shortages And Underground Hospitals: Valley Doctor Delivers Medical Care In Syria
Ever since the Arab Spring in 2011, the Middle Eastern country of Syria has been in a near-constant state of civil war. As a result, residents there rely heavily on aid workers from non-governmental organizations for medical care. And the president of one of those NGOs, the Syrian American Medical …
Read More »After TJ Cox Wins Congressional District 21, Forecasters Ask What They Got Wrong
Leading up to the November election, forecasters predicted that Republican incumbent David Valadao would win the 21st Congressional District. The District includes all of Kings County, and parts of Fresno, Tulare, and Kern Counties. It wasn’t until last week, as vote counts were finalized, that the race was decided in …
Read More »Humanics Professor Says One Way To Start Serving The Valley: “See People As People,” Use Empathy
Thanksgiving can make us think about how to give back — maybe it’s serving food at a homeless shelter or donating canned goods. But what about the rest of the year? I spoke with Don Simmons, a longtime community organizer and professor in the Humanics program at Fresno State about …
Read More »Planning To “Opt Outside”? Here Are A Few Ideas From Fresno State’s Geology Club
While this week is very focused on Thanksgiving, let’s stop for a moment to talk about the day that follows: Black Friday. Many use the day to get a start on holiday shopping, but some stores have boycotted the event. REI, an outdoor equipment store, started the hashtag “Opt Outside” …
Read More »Could The Next Camp Fire Happen In The San Joaquin Valley Or Foothills?
After tearing through nearly 250,000 acres in Northern and Southern California, the devastating Camp and Woolsey Fires are creeping toward full containment. But their destruction may not be over: They’ve so far killed 82 people, with hundreds still missing; and though they’ve destroyed over 14,000 homes, just as many are …
Read More »For Thanksgiving Hosts, Carrying On Family Traditions Means More Than Just Turkey
We’re going to hear from a few San Joaquin Valley residents about how they celebrate Thanksgiving. Like most families, it’s a time for them to gather, cook, and the menu usually includes the expected turkey and mashed potatoes. But they also incorporate other cultures into their gatherings. You can hear …
Read More »Mind The Gap: Two Views From Inside a Thrift Store
We’re introducing an occasional series called Mind the Gap, where we ask people at least 60 years apart in age for their take on topics both personal and political. For our first Mind the Gap, you’ll meet Raymart Catacuton. He’s 18, attends Fresno City College and works at a thrift …
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