On this week’s Fresnolandia, we’re joined by Diego Vargas, Fresnoland’s education reporter, and Abby Arii, Fresno Unified School District’s Director of Student Services, to unpack the growing challenge of chronic absenteeism in Fresno schools. We explore how federal immigration crackdowns—like the recent Border Patrol raid in Kern County—are affecting student attendance, drawing on new reporting and a Stanford study showing surges in absences across the Central Valley. Abby shares how Fresno Unified is confronting this problem head-on, while Diego breaks down what his reporting reveals about the links between immigration policy, fear in the community, and student success.

This episode of Fresnolandia is sponsored by the San Joaquin Valley Housing Collaborative. Learn more about the organization and register for their two-day housing summit at: https://sjvhc.org/news-events/

In this epsidoe of Fresnolandia, Danielle and Jordan sit down with Fresnoland reporters Juliana Morano and Pablo Orihuela to unpack a week full of Fresno’s political quirks and controversies. From the future of Measure C and its 38-member steering committee, to the naming battles over a new Southeast Fresno park, to a $30 million police headquarters lease, and even holiday culture wars at the county level—this episode takes you behind the scenes of local government. Along the way, we hear about “micro dramas,” power struggles, and what it really means when politics starts to look like an episode of Parks and Recreation.

This episode of Fresnolandia is sponsored by the San Joaquin Valley Housing Collaborative. Learn more about the organization and register for their two-day housing summit at: https://sjvhc.org/news-events/

In this episode of Fresnolandia, Dani and Jordan sit down with Kiel Lopez-Schmidt — architect, organizer, and executive director of the South Tower Community Land Trust — to talk about a series of long-awaited wins for the South Tower neighborhood. From transforming the once-overlooked San Pablo Park under the 180 freeway into a vibrant mural space, to opening Broadway Parque on the former site of a police station, to placing the Land Trust’s first home on the market, Kiel shares how these projects came together through years of persistence and community collaboration. This conversation dives into the power of grassroots organizing, reclaiming public spaces, and building lasting community ownership in Fresno’s South Tower.

This episode of Fresnolandia is sponsored by the San Joaquin Valley Housing Collaborative. Learn more about the organization and register for their two-day housing summit at: https://sjvhc.org/news-events/

In this episode of Fresnolandia, Jordan and Dani sit down with Rick Gustafson, a pioneering urban planner and transit expert from Portland, Oregon to discuss the development and implementation of light rail. Rick played a key role in launching Portland’s first regional light rail system—now considered one of the most successful in the country—and was instrumental in developing the Portland Streetcar. He has advised cities across the U.S. on implementing streetcar systems, drawing from decades of experience as a planner, Oregon state legislator, and the first elected officer of Metro, Portland’s regional planning agency.

In this episode of Fresnolandia, Jordan and Dani sit down with Omar Rashad, Fresnoland's government accountability reporter, to dig into his recent investigation into dark money and its influence on a recent election in Fresno. Omar breaks down the key players, the fines and history of dark money, and what this means for transparency and trust in local politics. Then, Dani, Omar, and Jordan share what they are loving this week. 

Dani is on vacation this week, and Jordan previews our next episode, which will focus on a new Fresnoland investigation exploring the role of dark money in local politics. 

In this special episode of Fresnolandia, Dani and Jordan step away from the usual news and interviews to have Dani share her thoughts on how urban planning shapes everyday life in Fresno. From how neighborhoods are designed to who has a voice in city decisions, Dani breaks down why planning matters and offers practical tips on how you can get involved in shaping your community’s future.

In this episode of Fresnolandia, Jordan and Dani sit down with Fresnoland reporters Giselle Medina and Omar Rashad to talk about the recent surge in immigration enforcement across California — and how it’s rippling into Fresno.

In this episode of Fresnolandia, hosts Jordan and Dani sit down with Fresno City College history professor Paul Gilmore to uncover a fascinating but often overlooked chapter in the city’s past: Fresno’s Free Speech Fight.

You may have walked past the small plaque at Mariposa Plaza—on the corner of Fulton and Mariposa—without realizing its deeper significance. This plaza marks the site of an early 20th-century struggle for civil liberties that still resonates today. Paul recently gave a public talk at Tioga-Sequoia about this historic moment, and we’re excited to bring that conversation to our listeners.