Roughly a million Californians lack access to safe drinking water. And while a scarcity of money or local leadership can stand in the way of fixes, so too can California’s byzantine water management system.

The Selma City Council is torn between choosing a district map the community supports or picking one that keeps members from running against each other. 

At Monday night’s regular meeting, the council cast votes on a map created by the company it hired, the National Demographics Corporation (or NDC), and a map drawn by a community member. The vote was split because Council Member Jim Avalos abstained.

“I need more time to talk to the public,” Avalos said. “I need more time to analyze these maps.”

Ellen Eggert stands at the front of a Tehachapi auditorium in a tie-dyed t-shirt, sweatshirt tied around her waist, salt and pepper hair loose at her shoulders. “First of all I want to thank all of you brave souls who came here tonight,” she says. Then she stops mid-sentence and reaches down to take her shoes off. “I’m sorry, my feet are sweaty, do you mind?” Audience members giggle as she throws them behind her.

This year, the Reel Pride Film Festival is celebrating its 30th year in Fresno. It’s the sixth largest and sixth longest running LGBTQ film festival in the country. 

"Year 30 is extremely important because it shows the perseverance and persistence of our community,” said Kathleen Arambula Reyna, the director and board president of Reel Pride.

LGBTQ+ Community Centers serve as safe spaces to access resources, engage with peers and feel a sense of belonging. According to the organization CenterLink, there are now more than 250 LGBTQ Centers operating throughout the United States. But here in the Valley, financial pressure has made it difficult for many to stay open. Moderator Kathleen Schock speaks with Justin Kamimoto, Executive Director of Common Space in Fresno, Brian Poth, Executive Director of The Source in Visalia, and Jamie Bradley, Former President of PFLAG’s Merced chapter.

James Gathright is a designer, writer and photographer living in Fresno, California. In 2016 he was diagnosed with Renal Cell Carcinoma. Since then, taking pictures has been an integral part of his therapy. It helps him cope with the disease and gets him out of the house. And as a result, he has produced a digital book of 100 photos. It’s called I Was Born in a Small Town: Street Photography in the Shadow of Cancer.

If you’re a news junkie, you may have noticed a new online media outlet called the San Joaquin Valley Sun. The editor in chief is Alex Tavlian. He used to be a reporter for the Fresno Bee and then he became an attorney and political consultant. Now, on top of publishing The Sun, he’s also doing some campaign work for Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer, who is running for mayor. We spoke with Tavlian and other journalists about the ethics of covering politics while also being involved in the political process.

On this week’s Valley Edition: September is National Suicide Prevention Month. We bring you the story of one Kern County woman who says helping someone in need could be as simple as asking questions. 

We also tell you about the 30th annual Reel Pride Film Festival coming up next week. It’s the sixth-longest-running LGBTQ film festival in the country.

And we meet a man whose street photography helps him cope with cancer.

Listen to those stories and more on the podcast above.