Kerman, CA · Daily edition

Kerman news for Wednesday, October 21, 2026

2 stories from Kerman and Fresno County, in about three minutes.

Local Politics · Fresno County

Fresno County Library Privatization Effort Effectively Ends

Fresno County officials will not privatize library operations after Library Systems and Services, the sole nationwide provider invited to submit a proposal, stopped communicating with county staff, according to a memo released Monday by County Administrative Officer Paul Nerland. The memo recommends no additional action by the Board of Supervisors, effectively ending this round of discussions initiated by Supervisor Garry Bredefeld. SEIU Local 521 members and residents spoke at Tuesday's board meeting at the Hall of Records urging continued opposition to privatization. The county library system is funded largely by Measure B, a countywide sales tax up for renewal in 2028, and Friends of the Library said they are exploring adding language to ensure funds remain restricted to county-operated libraries.

Source: Fresnoland Read the full story ↗

Local Business · Fresno, CA

Fresno Vacant Pharmacy Buildings Attract New Tenants

Following Rite Aid's bankruptcy closure of 17 San Joaquin Valley stores and at least seven CVS and Walgreens closures in Fresno, vacant pharmacy buildings are attracting new tenants including medical clinics, dollar stores, gyms, multicultural markets, and grocery outlets. Real estate professionals say the 10,000-to-16,000-square-foot spaces are difficult to fill because they are too large for restaurants and too small for big-box retail. Specific planned uses include a general market with butcher and kitchen at Olive and Blackstone avenues, a gym called Fitsi at Shaw and West avenues, and affordable housing by the Fresno Housing Authority at the former CVS on Fulton and Tuolumne.

Source: The Modesto Bee Read the full story ↗