Temperatures are on the rise, wild flowers are in bloom, and many are feeling pulled to the great outdoors. Among them is Leigh Bernacchi, a researcher at UC Merced and the author of the new guidebook “Sequoia and Kings Canyon: Hiking, Camping, Waterfalls and Big Trees.” She spoke with Valley …
Read More »Lessons From Kings County Prison Where COVID-19 ‘Spread Like Wildfire’
When news of the pandemic first reached the men incarcerated at Avenal State Prison in central California, inmate Ed Welker said the prevailing mood was panic. “We were like, ‘Yeah, it’s going to come in here and it’s going to spread like wildfire and we’re all going to get it,’” …
Read More »In Kings County, One Of Every Nine Residents Has Contracted COVID-19
More than six percent of Californians have now contracted COVID-19 since the pandemic began, but in one San Joaquin Valley county, the case rate is almost twice as high. According to county and state data, 18,110 people in Kings County have contracted COVID-19 since March , a total that’s equivalent …
Read More »Avenal’s Prison Labor Contract Allows Actions The CDC—And Kings County—Warned Could Spread COVID-19
Ed Welker is relatively new to Avenal State Prison. He’s been incarcerated there only since March. But when he was recently moved to a new dorm in a different yard, he saw a familiar face. “One of the officers that are working right now in the building that I’m in, …
Read More »Avenal Isn’t The Only Kings County Prison Facing Massive Outbreak – COVID-19 Update For Nov. 20
More than 3,300 inmates and staff have tested positive for COVID-19 at Avenal, which is the highest total of any prison in California and possibly in the entire country . So far, the virus has killed eight of the prison’s incarcerated men. However, Avenal isn’t the only prison in the …
Read More »Fresno, Tulare, Kings Counties On State’s COVID-19 Watch List
With a total of more than 200 deaths and 8,000 cases tallied so far, the burden of COVID-19 continues to grow in the San Joaquin Valley and foothills. This week, the rise in numbers has put three Valley counties on the state’s watch list. The state’s goal for each county …
Read More »Kings County COVID-19 Spike Is Due To Meat Packing Facility in Hanford
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 …
Read More »Weekend – Kings Brewfest Brings Commercial & Craft Breweries To Lemoore
I t’s time for the Weekend, where we find out what people in the San Joaquin Valley do for fun when they have a little time off. This Saturday evening, the Kings Lions Club is hosting the Kings Brewfest . The annual 21-and-over event brings together commercial and craft breweries …
Read More »York Fire (Kings County) Started 4/28/2019, updated 4/29/2019
I-5 Fire (Kings County)
I-5 Fire: Updated: August 26, 2017 1:36 pm County: Kings County Location: off I-5 & Quebec Ave, north of Avenal Acres Burned – Containment: 2,312 acres – 100% contained
Read More »Aerial view of flooding at Kings River Golf & Country Club
The flooding has caused 90 homes near the golf course to remain under a mandatory evacuation order. … Click to Continue »
Read More »All the extra water in the Kings River caused this levee breach
Kings County officials said a small breach in a levee at Grangeville happened Thursday afternoon. The river is high in part due to water releases from Pine Flat Dam that were ratcheted up Thursday to prevent the reservoir from overtopping the dam. No homes were threatened. … Click to Continue …
Read More »Interior Secretary Zinke visits Kings Canyon National Park
New Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke participates in a firefighting exercise during his first visit to Kings Canyon National Park on Friday, April 14, 2017. Zinke addressed wildfire prevention, infrastructure updates and public land use. … Click to Continue »
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