Omar Rashad

Fresno

Government Accountability Reporter at Fresnoland

accountability reporter @fresnoland // deputy editor @objectivejrn // proud community college grad // once led @eccunion, muckraked at @cpmustangnews

Articles

Book committee in Fresno County should disband, critics say

1 week ago | fresnoland.org | Omar Rashad

What's at stake: Since a state law nullified a Fresno County committee that would dictate what books are within the reach of children inside county libraries, advocate groups are calling on the county to get rid of it. A coalition of advocacy groups sent a letter to Fresno County, calling on elected supervisors to rescind the 2023 resolution that created a parent-run library book committee.
Vang takes office in Fresno after emotional inauguration speech

2 weeks ago | fresnoland.org | Omar Rashad

What's at stake: After a special election filled with controversy, southeast Fresno finally has its councilmember. Brandon Vang took his oath of office inside council chambers Thursday before presiding on his first City Council meeting. In a tearful speech after taking his oath of office Thursday, Brandon Vang thanked the people who came before him.
Forensic audit to examine Fresno EOC's multi-million deficit

1 month ago | fresnoland.org | Rob Parsons |Omar Rashad

Overview: Milwaukee-based firm Wipfli agreed to examine Fresno EOC’s finances during 2023 and 2024 to “identify, quantify, and address any irregularities.” The Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission this week approved a long-awaited forensic audit that is expected to reveal how the nonprofit ran-up a multimillion dollar deficit.
How plans to regulate tobacco shops in Fresno went up in smoke

1 month ago | fresnoland.org | Omar Rashad

What's at stake: Councilmembers representing south and central Fresno spent years drafting a proposal to regulate smoke shops engaging in illegal activity, but after several hours of debate, they couldn’t reach the four-vote minimum to get it passed. Three hours wasn’t enough for city councilmembers to agree on the fate of smoke shops in Fresno.
Doctors cheer Madera hospital reopening

1 month ago | fresnoland.org | Omar Rashad

What's at stake: After more than two years, Madera County's 160,000 got their hospital back. American Advanced Management, Inc., which acquired the hospital following lengthy bankruptcy proceedings about a year ago, reopened it Tuesday. Over the last two years, Mohammad Ashraf has . It was inevitable for the cardiologist, following Madera Community Hospital’s closure in December 2022.
Tower District street vendors face new fines from the City of Fresno

1 month ago | fresnoland.org | Omar Rashad

What's at stake? Advocates said they were surprised to see Councilmember Miguel Arias changing a new ordinance regulating street vendors in Fresno. The Fresno City Council on Thursday moved forward with amending a city ordinance to begin issuing fines for Tower District street vendors. The original ordinance, which the council approved in December, only permitted fines for Tower District street vendors who had violated two prior city policies.
Here's how Fresno is keeping its Eviction Protection Program alive

1 month ago | fresnoland.org | Omar Rashad

What's at stake: City officials are using carryover funds along with part of a state grant to keep the Eviction Protection program alive for the rest of the fiscal year, which ends June 30. Back in February, Fresno City Attorney Andrew Janz made an impassioned plea. His department needed half a million dollars to keep the city’s Eviction Protection Program afloat. Janz told councilmembers wasn’t enough for the full fiscal year.
Kids Day at Valley Children’s paused after financial controversies

1 month ago | fresnoland.org | Omar Rashad

What's at stake: Valley Children’s Hospital didn’t hold its annual March fundraiser last week, about a year after controversies over the hospital’s finances that sparked questions over why the hospital asks the public for money every year. About a year after uproar over Valley Children’s Hospital’s finances and executive compensation, the hospital paused its annual Kids Day fundraiser.
Why Fresno County could hurt more from potential Medicaid cuts

1 month ago | fresnoland.org | Omar Rashad

What's at stake: Fresno County could feel more of a pinch if lawmakers in Washington approve cuts to Medicaid to make room for tax cuts President Donald Trump is trying to usher in. While exact impacts of the cuts are unclear, experts say it would be harmful to both patients and health providers — from hospitals to rural health clinics. This is all as the San Joaquin Valley’s Republican representatives in Congress still support a Medicaid-slashing budget proposal.
Fresno Sheriff wants to change CA sanctuary law. Would it erode trust?

1 month ago | fresnoland.org | Omar Rashad

What's at stake: Fresno County Sheriff John Zanoni said California’s sanctuary state law should be changed to allow for more cooperation between local law enforcement and ICE. Advocate groups strongly disagree and said weakening the California Values Act would undermine trust in state and local governments. Back in February, Fresno County Sheriff John Zanoni caused a bit of a stir when he appeared in a Facebook live stream with Supervisor Nathan Magsig.