Fresno Bee/Merced Sun-Star week in review
Federal grant fuels small farm incubator in SW Fresno
The Yo’Ville Community Garden in southwest Fresno has received a $500,000 federal grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to expand access to healthy foods through gardening, a farmers market, and a farm incubator program. A joint project of Metro Ministries and Fresno Housing, the seven-acre site hosts small garden plots and six farming businesses. The grant will fund program expansion, increased staffing, and support farmers selling at the new Yo’Ville Farmers Market, open the first and third Sundays of each month. Aaron De La Cerda, the farm & garden program director for Metro Ministries, said neighbors are grateful for having the chance to grow their own food. Many of the gardeners live in the nearby Yosemite Village Apartments, hence the name Yo’Ville.
Reported by Robert Rodriguez, published May 5
Former Madera mayor Santos Garcia dies at 69
Former Madera mayor Santos Garcia died May 2 at Madera Community Hospital. He was 69. A retired United States Postal Service mail carrier after three decades, Garcia was born in Casa Grande, Arizona, and had been a Madera resident since 1971. He was elected to Madera City Council in 2018 representing District 5 and won the mayoral election in 2020, helping guide the city through the COVID-19 pandemic. State Sen. Anna Caballero called Garcia ‘a true public servant’ committed to serving the people of Madera. A member of the National Association of Letter Carriers, Garcia served as a labor community organizer advocating for working families throughout the Central Valley. He worked to expand parks, affordable housing, and improve roads and access to care.
Reported by María G. Ortiz-Briones, published May 4
Valley Children’s spends $107M on new land
Valley Children’s Hospital has spent $107 million from its reserves to acquire 277 acres of land already approved for residential and commercial development, bringing its campus to more than 700 acres along Highway 41 in Madera County. Hospital spokesperson Zara Arboleda said the move is necessary due to uncertain state and federal Medi-Cal funding, which covers 74% of its patients. The hospital says any revenue generated will be reinvested into pediatric care, though exact development plans remain undetermined. The acquisition follows scrutiny over CEO Todd Suntrapak’s compensation and the hospital’s earlier commercial development announcements. The Medi-Cal program has been shrinking due to state budget deficits and federal Medicaid cuts included in the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.”
Reported by Erik Galicia, published May 3
Merced ranks among top US cities for nurse salaries
Merced-area nurses are among the highest-paid in the country, according to a report from the University of West Alabama Online. The university analyzed wage data from 2019 to 2024 using figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and Projections Central. Nationally, average registered nurse pay rose roughly 27%, from $77,460 in 2019 to $98,430 in 2024. Merced ranked No. 22 nationwide, with registered nurses earning an average of $125,910 annually — about $27,000 above the national average. California cities dominated the top-paying list, with San Jose leading at $189,880 per year, described as nearly double the national average. The university noted that prospective nursing students should also consider cost of living, as high salaries in states like California may stretch differently depending on housing and daily expenses.
Reported by Angela Rodriguez, published May 5
Cesar E. Chavez Middle School set for name change
The Board of Trustees for the school district serving Planada has unanimously voted to move forward with renaming Cesar E. Chavez Middle School, Superintendent González announced in a Facebook post. The decision followed a public survey that drew nearly 500 responses, with 62% of respondents voting in favor of the change. Discussions about renaming the Merced County school began after a New York Times article in March revealed serious allegations against Chavez, including sexual abuse of minors and rape. The district will now form a city advisory committee and establish parameters for the renaming process before the Board of Trustees votes to finalize a new name.
Reported by Jim Silva, published April 30
West Coast Sourdough rebrands locally
Several West Coast Sourdough locations in Fresno, Clovis, Porterville, and Visalia are being rebranded as Cali Rays Sourdough Deli by franchise owner Raj Singh, who began separating from the company in March. Singh says that after the departure of founder and then-CEO Kay Uppal in 2024, the company declined, with rising food costs, slowing sales, and a lack of corporate engagement driving his decision to rebrand. Uppal filed suit in late February against his former business partners, claiming they breached fiduciary duties and diverted corporate assets. The new Cali Rays brand retains the original sourdough sandwich concept but adds wraps, expanded menu options, and adjusted pricing, including a drop of 70 to 80 cents on some house sandwiches. One Fresno location on West Shaw Avenue, operated by a different owner, will remain West Coast Sourdough.
Reported by Joshua Tehee, published May 3
This story was originally published May 7, 2026 at 12:47 PM with the headline "Fresno Bee/Merced Sun-Star week in review."