Valley Edition

This week on Valley Edition we look into an airplane disaster that took place in the hills near Coalinga 65 years ago. The accident grabbed national headlines and even inspired a song by Woody Guthrie titled 'Deportee.' Valley Public Radio reporter Rebecca Plevin explores the tragedy with the help of local author Tim Z. Hernandez and his quest to ensure that those who died in the crash are not forgotten. Hernandez, along with the Fresno Diocese and Holy Cross Cemetery are working together to erect a memorial headstone with the full names of all 28 passengers. 

This week on Valley Edition: The Affordable Care Act is expected to expand health insurance coverage to millions of Californians. But with those newly insured patients will come a dire need for more primary doctors. FM 89.3’s Rebecca Plevin reports on a new type of medical residency program that’s intended to train primary doctors who will remain in the Central Valley and work in local community health centers.

On this week’s Valley Edition, host Juanita Stevenson takes a look into whether a tax to pay for public safety is right for the City of Fresno. Stevenson begins with a report from the South Valley discussing the City of Visalia’s decision to implement a public safety tax and whether Fresno should follow suit.

Joining a conversation about a possible public safety tax and the state of Fresno’s finances are Fresno City Manager Mark Scott and Fresno Bee Editorial Page Editor Bill McEwen.  

This week on Valley Edition we venture into the topic of the future of downtown Fresno. Valley Edition host Juanita Stevenson explores the differing opinions on how Fresno should invest time, effort and funds into downtown, whether the Fulton Mall should be renovated and the vibe that could be cultivated in the region of the city. Joining Stevenson are Director of Downtown Community Revitalization for the City of Fresno Craig Scharton, Chair of the Downtown Fresno Coalition Kate McKnight and Fresno Brewing Company owner Ephiram Bosse.

This week on Valley Edition, Rebecca Plevin reports on the California Air Resources Board's approval of a plan intended to bring the Valley's particulate pollution into compliance with federal standards. But residents and health advocates expressed concern that the plan doesn't act quickly enough to protect public health.

This week on Valley Edition, Juanita Stevenson reports on the dispute between Fresno FAX bus drivers and the city of Fresno. Valley Public Radio’s Ezra Romero brings an updated report on the battle over Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearengin’s plan to outsource Fresno’s residential trash service. We also look to the effects of pollution caused by diesel in Kettleman City in a report by 89.3’s Rebecca Plevin. Jonathan London, an assistant professor of Human and Community Development at University of California, Davis, also chimes in on the discussion.

This week on Valley Edition, KVPR’s Rebecca Plevin reports on how valley counties are preparing to expand coverage to their poorest residents under the Affordable Care Act. We’ll also talk with Peter Cunningham, Ph.D., Senior Fellow and Director of Quantitative Research with The Center for Studying Health System Change about whether the San Joaquin Valley as a whole is ready to take on health reform.

Today on Valley Edition, we talk with local author Armen Bacon about her new book "Griefland" and learn how a friendship grew out of the tragic loss of her son. We'll also talk about how tragic circumstances can change lives. Peter Nazaretian, a licensed marriage and family therapist, also joins our discussion.

This week on Valley Edition we talk about the tragic shootings in Newtown, CT. Fresno Unified Superintendent Michael Hanson and Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims join us in the first segment to talk about how local schools and law enforcement have taken steps to prevent similar attacks from happening here. What have we learned from Newtown, and how can we keep our children safe in the classroom?