Omar Shaikh Rashad / Fresnoland

Judge Robert Whalen’s ruling stopped short of issuing an injunction that would bar the city from convening a private budget committee again.

Suliana Caldwell, a former manager at the Fresno Arts Council who was in charge of the nonprofit’s books, siphoned $1.82 million from the organization over the span of at least three years and nine months through more than 300 unauthorized transfers.

A missed financial reporting deadline last fall triggered questions from city leaders.

The Fresno Police Department and the FBI are investigating the reported embezzlement, according to high-ranking city sources.

In the months leading up to and during the November 2024 election, former Councilmember Luis Chavez paid more than $130K to a consultant for Facebook ads and constituent outreach.

Under a city policy, a former councilmember paid a consultant more than $300,000 in taxpayer funds for constituent outreach, Facebook ads and more.

Mayor Jerry Dyer and City Council President Mike Karbassi said their thoughts and prayers are with Kirk’s family.

Millions in federal funding for Fresno — approved by Congress — are safe for now, thanks to a temporary restraining order issued by a federal judge in San Francisco on Tuesday.

Seven local governments and agencies, including Fresno, came together to file a joint lawsuit Wednesday in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California.

A trove of emails were released in an active lawsuit against the City of Fresno, which show behind the scenes conversations about the city’s budget process.