Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: Will Fresno finally crack down on dangerous vacant downtown buildings?

Also, don't miss Comedy Show : Just The Tips headlining Danny Minch on the Fresno Patch calendar

Patch AM Team's profile picture
Patch AM Team, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge
Monday December 15th Patch AM
Monday December 15th Patch AM (Patch graphic)

Coffee in hand, Fresno? We've got the latest town updates for you. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • Will Fresno finally crack down on dangerous vacant downtown buildings?
  • Why a former Fresno City College coach is taking the district to court
  • Why are Fresno County home prices suddenly so out of reach?

Also on today's calendar: Comedy Show : Just The Tips headlining Danny Minch and 3 more events.

Find out what's happening in Fresnofor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Today's riddle: What did the stop sign say to the yield sign? 🤔 (Answer below!)

From our Partner
Today's Fresno Patch AM is brought to you in part by T-Mobile. Everyone deserves to be connected. That's why T-Mobile and UScellular have joined forces to connect people from big cities to small towns and everywhere in between. UScellular is now a part of T-Mobile. Find out more at T-Mobile.com/Better-Together.
Find a T-Mobile store near Fresno.AdvertisementAdvertisement

Find out what's happening in Fresnofor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Weather forecast:

  • Monday: Dense fog in the a.m.; cloudy, with a high of 52 and low of 41 degrees.
  • Tuesday: Low clouds, temps: high: 51, low: 45.
  • Wednesday: Low clouds breaking, with a high of 56 and low of 46 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Unsecured buildings, absent owners lead to fires in Fresno. Will city crack down? (fresnobee.com) — A historic vacant building in Fresno’s Chinatown burned down Sunday, intensifying concerns about unsecured, absentee-owned properties that neighbors say invite trespassing and fires. City officials cite hundreds of open code enforcement cases, while some leaders push for more aggressive receiverships and stronger enforcement to protect downtown and Chinatown from further loss and fire risk.
   

2. Lawsuit by former Fresno City College employee adds to pressure against community college district chancellor (kvpr.org) — A former Fresno City College coach is suing State Center Community College District Chancellor Carole Goldsmith and a campus police officer, alleging wrongful arrests and violations of his constitutional rights that damaged his career. Filed in Fresno County Superior Court, the lawsuit follows his termination and later dismissal of related criminal charges, adding pressure as Goldsmith prepares to retire from district leadership.
   

3. VOTE: What do you think is the biggest reason buying a home feels impossible right now? (kmph.com) — Homebuyers in Fresno County are facing a housing market where the median home price has more than doubled in a decade, now topping $420,000. A new Bankrate study and local voices from Fresno State and nearby Clovis describe how high prices, limited supply, and steep interest rates are pushing many residents toward long-term renting instead of owning.
   

4. CHP issues roughly 3,000 citations in six months after utilizing 'ghost patrol cars' (kmph.com) — Drivers in Fresno County are being caught off guard by two new CHP “ghost patrol cars,” which look like regular SUVs but have already helped officers issue about 3,000 tickets since May. CHP says the low‑visibility vehicles are aimed at curbing dangerous speeding and reckless driving on local roads, stressing they’re about saving lives, not boosting citation revenue.
   

5. December 14 is the anniversary of when a jet crashed on a Fresno street (yourcentralvalley.com) — Fresno is marking 31 years since a Learjet on a military training mission crashed into Olive Avenue near Ewing Elementary, killing both pilots and injuring 21 people on the ground. The jet was attempting an emergency landing at what is now Fresno Yosemite International Airport when it became a fireball that ignited nearby apartments, and investigators later blamed improperly installed electrical wiring.
   

📸 Around Fresno

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Fresno

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

📣 Fresno Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Children of California's Oldest Armenian Church to Share the Christmas Story —Philip Tavlian Read on Patch
  • I would like to ask if people would get food gift cards or blankets even hand warmers and find the people on the streets, or make PBJ hand them out .
    alot people on Blackstone. If anyone would like to help DM me I could let you know where you can.go or buy stuff and go with Me. If everyone… (Nextdoor Maroa Parks)
  • As we took out our church’s 120 sack lunches to our unhoused brothers and sisters in Fresno on Thursday, we saw a lady about 35 pushing her shopping cart of possessions as she was looking for food.
    We offered her a sack lunch and water, and she was very appreciative and started to turn to leave. I asked her to wait one second because I had a… (Nextdoor NorthTower)
  • The Guitar Center posted a job opening for Guitar Teacher Store 227 in Fresno. Apply here.
  • California State University Fresno posted a job opening for Physics Assistant Professor in Fresno. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Fresno here.

Ok Fresno! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don’t know either. They were speaking in sign language.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

👉 Help make Patch AM better

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

Share to NextDoor     Share to Facebook

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

More from Fresno