Central Valley Daily

The 2025 Oscars are now behind us. And many of us witnessed our favorite movies take home awards for costume, design and picture. But another important part of films is the music. On today’s show, we speak with Fresno native Jeff Atamajian about what it means to be a film music orchestrator. Atmajian had a role in orchestrating music for the latest hit movie “Wicked.” Plus, the latest news headlines: California’s latest snowpack results and changes coming to the Big Fresno Fair.

Tamara Keith grew up here in the Central Valley before eventually heading to the University of California at Berkeley to study philosophy. From there, she spent some years reporting news in various positions before landing a job as Senior White House Correspondent with National Public Radio. On this bonus episode of Central Valley Daily, we sit down with Keith to discuss her Valley roots and what it’s like to report in Washington, D.C., during these times. Plus, she shares her views on a recent shake-up involving press access and the Trump administration.

In one school district in the Central Valley, students and teachers are seeing surprising learning improvements among English learners. That’s despite a pandemic causing learning delays for many students. In today’s episode, we talk with Esther Quintanilla, a reporter with the Central Valley Journalism Collaborative, about what’s behind the learning improvements. Plus, the latest news headlines: A Fresno police officer accuses the city of retaliation, and what do voters think of President Trump so far?

Whether you know Paula Poundstone as a stand-up comedian, actor, or panelist on NPR’s popular quiz show Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me, she’s a long-time comedy veteran. She’s making two tour stops in the Valley this coming weekend, and she sat down with KVPR producer Jonathan Linden for this episode to talk about authenticity on stage, her evolution as a performer, and life with a house full of animals. Plus, the latest news headlines: The ACLU is suing the Department of Homeland Security over January’s Kern County immigration raid, and a House committee grills an Army Corps general over Tulare County water releases.

The 559 area code in the San Joaquin Valley is running out of availability. So what do we do when that happens? On today’s episode, we speak with a regulator from the California Public Utilities Commission to hear how the agency fixes these issues. Plus, the latest news headlines: Water allocations increasing for Valley farmers and a new guilty plea tied to Bitwise Industries.

The San Joaquin River, just along the City of Fresno, offers recreation and a getaway from city life. But it also provides another crucial resource: gravel. The multinational company Cemex is proposing to dig deeper for the resource, but community residents are trying to stop the project. Today, we speak with Sharon Weaver from the San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust about the concerns she and others have about the proposal. Plus, the latest news headlines: Yosemite National Park workers protest job cuts, and Kern County voters head to a special election.

A California farm tax break approved in the 1960s is still helping produce profits for farmland owners today. But a new investigation by the news website Fresnoland is shining light on the unequal distribution of those profits. Today, we speak with Fresnoland’s Gregory Weaver, who breaks down The Williamson Act.Plus, the latest news headlines: Protest against Republicans are planned over proposed medicaid cuts, and Fresno State basketball players are accused of sports betting.

Japanese-American author and local Valley farmer Mas Masumoto has written over a dozen books. His latest takes on a different angle – and sound. In this episode, we talk with him about the idea behind “Shadow Music” and other work it inspired. Plus, the latest news headlines: Trump officials attack California’s high-speed rail project and new research on bird flu safety among Valley workers.

Every year, the city of Tulare doubles its population when the world’s largest farm trade show comes to town. The World Ag Expo wrapped up last week, but in today’s episode, KVPR reporter Kerry Klein brings us a story from the show’s grounds. We hear what makes the expo so attractive and what it takes to make it happen. Plus, the latest news headlines: Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s next move and Valley food banks' worries.

Decades after his death, Cesar Chavez continues to influence the region of California where he lived and died. There have been numerous ways he has been remembered, too. In today’s episode, we speak with Venancio Gaona, a retired educator who has spent many years fighting to honor Chavez by placing his name along a long stretch of road in Fresno. Gaona tells us about the meaning behind the effort. Plus, the latest news headlines, including how atmospheric rivers are influencing our rainy seasons and why a Valley school district won’t redo its November election.