For years, Hanford has enjoyed one of the most vibrant downtowns in the Central Valley. However, in the last decade, the area has seen its fortunes decline as vacancies have risen. Recently the city council eliminated laws that prevented things like movie theaters and hotels to be built outside of downtown, in favor of a more "free market" approach.
Now Hanford city leaders say they want to help improve business conditions in the heart of town. Mike Eiman of the Hanford Sentinel joins us to talk about downtown and some other big new developments, including hotels and a Costco center that are about to get underway on the fringe of the city.