Omar S. Rashad عمر
@omarsrashad.bsky.social
reporter covering local gov, health and law enforcement in fresno // very sleepy // omarsrashad.carrd.co
Here's my latest from yesterday evening, about a federal judge temporarily blocking the Trump administration from taking federal funding away from local governments, including the City of Fresno and Sacramento County.
For @fresnoland.bsky.social:
fresnoland.org/2025/08/26/f...
For @fresnoland.bsky.social:
fresnoland.org/2025/08/26/f...
Federal judge grants Fresno temporary win in lawsuit over federal funding
A federal judge in San Francisco granted a temporary restraining order blocking the Trump administration from taking federal funding away from the City of Fresno and several other agencies.
fresnoland.org
August 27, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Here's my latest from yesterday evening, about a federal judge temporarily blocking the Trump administration from taking federal funding away from local governments, including the City of Fresno and Sacramento County.
For @fresnoland.bsky.social:
fresnoland.org/2025/08/26/f...
For @fresnoland.bsky.social:
fresnoland.org/2025/08/26/f...
I got my hands on an unredacted copy of the latest political disclosure filing from Fresno Future Forward, a newly formed PAC that spent thousands on disparaging mailers during a March city council special election.
My latest for @fresnoland.bsky.social below:
fresnoland.org/2025/08/07/f...
My latest for @fresnoland.bsky.social below:
fresnoland.org/2025/08/07/f...
A mysterious company funded Fresno’s most recent political controversy
Fresno Future Forward, the political action committee responsible for sending out a disparaging mailer during a March special election, revealed its
fresnoland.org
August 7, 2025 at 4:29 PM
I got my hands on an unredacted copy of the latest political disclosure filing from Fresno Future Forward, a newly formed PAC that spent thousands on disparaging mailers during a March city council special election.
My latest for @fresnoland.bsky.social below:
fresnoland.org/2025/08/07/f...
My latest for @fresnoland.bsky.social below:
fresnoland.org/2025/08/07/f...
Reposted by Omar S. Rashad عمر
‘The very essence of dark money:’ Could Fresno voters be misled again? Experts think so
It took a month after an election to find out who was behind disparaging and misleading mailers designed to sway southeast Fresno voters. Leading up to the March 18 special election for southeast Fresno’s…
It took a month after an election to find out who was behind disparaging and misleading mailers designed to sway southeast Fresno voters. Leading up to the March 18 special election for southeast Fresno’s…
‘The very essence of dark money:’ Could Fresno voters be misled again? Experts think so
It took a month after an election to find out who was behind disparaging and misleading mailers designed to sway southeast Fresno voters. Leading up to the March 18 special election for southeast Fresno’s councilmember, a political action committee called Fresno Future Forward spent $4,439 on political mailers, accusing then-candidate Brandon Vang of having “engaged” in “statutory rape.” Vang…
fresnoland.org
July 21, 2025 at 4:22 PM
‘The very essence of dark money:’ Could Fresno voters be misled again? Experts think so
It took a month after an election to find out who was behind disparaging and misleading mailers designed to sway southeast Fresno voters. Leading up to the March 18 special election for southeast Fresno’s…
It took a month after an election to find out who was behind disparaging and misleading mailers designed to sway southeast Fresno voters. Leading up to the March 18 special election for southeast Fresno’s…
Many long nights over the last couple months were spent working on this: I looked into misleading mailers, dark money and an Orange County company called FrontPoint Partners, LLC attempting to influence Fresno's elections.
My latest for @fresnoland.bsky.social:
fresnoland.org/2025/07/21/d...
My latest for @fresnoland.bsky.social:
fresnoland.org/2025/07/21/d...
Fresno election mailers raise questions about dark money in local races
It took a month after an election to find out who was behind disparaging and misleading mailers designed to sway southeast Fresno voters. Leading up
fresnoland.org
July 21, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Many long nights over the last couple months were spent working on this: I looked into misleading mailers, dark money and an Orange County company called FrontPoint Partners, LLC attempting to influence Fresno's elections.
My latest for @fresnoland.bsky.social:
fresnoland.org/2025/07/21/d...
My latest for @fresnoland.bsky.social:
fresnoland.org/2025/07/21/d...
Reposted by Omar S. Rashad عمر
Two Fresno homeless shelters will close by end of year, sparking uncertainty across the city
Jason Throop has been homeless for over a year now. The Fresno native said he waited for about four months to get a spot at the Journey Home homeless shelter on Parkway Drive before finally landing a spot…
Jason Throop has been homeless for over a year now. The Fresno native said he waited for about four months to get a spot at the Journey Home homeless shelter on Parkway Drive before finally landing a spot…
Two Fresno homeless shelters will close by end of year, sparking uncertainty across the city
Jason Throop has been homeless for over a year now. The Fresno native said he waited for about four months to get a spot at the Journey Home homeless shelter on Parkway Drive before finally landing a spot on Thursday. The problem? The shelter he moved into has just announced it will close at the end of the year. The Fresno Housing Authority on Wednesday…
fresnoland.org
July 10, 2025 at 11:22 PM
Two Fresno homeless shelters will close by end of year, sparking uncertainty across the city
Jason Throop has been homeless for over a year now. The Fresno native said he waited for about four months to get a spot at the Journey Home homeless shelter on Parkway Drive before finally landing a spot…
Jason Throop has been homeless for over a year now. The Fresno native said he waited for about four months to get a spot at the Journey Home homeless shelter on Parkway Drive before finally landing a spot…
Reposted by Omar S. Rashad عمر
twenty-nine (29!!!) nyt stories were cited to support the state in the u.s. v skrmetti decision (h/t @assignedmedia.org for reporting for @objectivejournos.bsky.social) to further limit access to trans healthcare. just horrid horrid stuff objectivejournalism.org/2025/06/new-...
NY Times cited 29 times to justify decision limiting trans healthcare
Meanwhile, other mainstream media newsrooms treated the U.S. v. Skrmetti case as an opportunity to center coverage around the expected result.
objectivejournalism.org
July 4, 2025 at 4:22 AM
twenty-nine (29!!!) nyt stories were cited to support the state in the u.s. v skrmetti decision (h/t @assignedmedia.org for reporting for @objectivejournos.bsky.social) to further limit access to trans healthcare. just horrid horrid stuff objectivejournalism.org/2025/06/new-...
Reposted by Omar S. Rashad عمر
media stories are boring, Ivy League admissions stories are even more boring, so I’ll leave it to others to determine whether Zohran allegedly gaming Columbia’s admissions is a bigger deal than NYT attributing a prolific scientific racist as an “opponent of affirmative action”
July 3, 2025 at 10:49 PM
media stories are boring, Ivy League admissions stories are even more boring, so I’ll leave it to others to determine whether Zohran allegedly gaming Columbia’s admissions is a bigger deal than NYT attributing a prolific scientific racist as an “opponent of affirmative action”
Reposted by Omar S. Rashad عمر
Cremieux’s real name is Jordan Lasker. I put his name in the newspaper. He’s a scientific racist www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
July 3, 2025 at 10:28 PM
Cremieux’s real name is Jordan Lasker. I put his name in the newspaper. He’s a scientific racist www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
I just want to tell you guys, bc the nyt won't, that kurtas CAN have collars... talk about cultural competency!
July 3, 2025 at 11:22 PM
I just want to tell you guys, bc the nyt won't, that kurtas CAN have collars... talk about cultural competency!
Trump is expected to sign the new congressional spending bill tomorrow, part of which cuts Medicaid funding.
Here's a deep dive I wrote a few months ago exploring how that could drastically impact California's Central Valley:
fresnoland.org/2025/03/11/m...
Here's a deep dive I wrote a few months ago exploring how that could drastically impact California's Central Valley:
fresnoland.org/2025/03/11/m...
Why Fresno County could hurt more from potential Medicaid cuts
There’s no doubt amongst experts that Medicaid cuts would impact California greatly. But for Fresno County, the impacts could be dire.
fresnoland.org
July 3, 2025 at 10:56 PM
Trump is expected to sign the new congressional spending bill tomorrow, part of which cuts Medicaid funding.
Here's a deep dive I wrote a few months ago exploring how that could drastically impact California's Central Valley:
fresnoland.org/2025/03/11/m...
Here's a deep dive I wrote a few months ago exploring how that could drastically impact California's Central Valley:
fresnoland.org/2025/03/11/m...
Anyone else notice that in this photo, the CBP agent on the right appears to be wearing a keffiyeh??
www.latimes.com/california/s...
www.latimes.com/california/s...
Federal agents denied entry to Dodger Stadium parking lot: Here is what really happened
A resident captured pictures of vans with the same license plates at Home Depot ICE raids and Dodger Stadium, conflicting with DSH social media posts.
www.latimes.com
June 20, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Anyone else notice that in this photo, the CBP agent on the right appears to be wearing a keffiyeh??
www.latimes.com/california/s...
www.latimes.com/california/s...
Most of my childhood was spent in Hawthorne, south of Los Angeles. I used to order pupusas at the restaurant, go to the bank, do groceries near 120th and Hawthorne.
Hard to come up with words after learning a couple was separated by ICE right there.
www.latimes.com/california/s...
Hard to come up with words after learning a couple was separated by ICE right there.
www.latimes.com/california/s...
ICE raids leave people 'scared to leave the house' in South Bay town
Immigration enforcement raids in the city of Hawthorne have sparked outrage, fear and anxiety in a town that is half Latino.
www.latimes.com
June 19, 2025 at 12:05 AM
Most of my childhood was spent in Hawthorne, south of Los Angeles. I used to order pupusas at the restaurant, go to the bank, do groceries near 120th and Hawthorne.
Hard to come up with words after learning a couple was separated by ICE right there.
www.latimes.com/california/s...
Hard to come up with words after learning a couple was separated by ICE right there.
www.latimes.com/california/s...
Reposted by Omar S. Rashad عمر
Some of y’all noticed I’ve been uncharacteristically offline. This is why, and I remain on leave for a few weeks to handle a PTSD relapse. CJR was dogged in its pursuit of my story. Because of what I do and who I am, I felt that I had to answer their questions honestly.
www.cjr.org/feature-2/we...
www.cjr.org/feature-2/we...
Journalists Attest to Experiences of Sexual Misconduct with Wesley Lowery
Lowery rose to prominence as a reporter and media thinker. Women in the industry say he engaged in sexual harassment and assault.
www.cjr.org
May 21, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Some of y’all noticed I’ve been uncharacteristically offline. This is why, and I remain on leave for a few weeks to handle a PTSD relapse. CJR was dogged in its pursuit of my story. Because of what I do and who I am, I felt that I had to answer their questions honestly.
www.cjr.org/feature-2/we...
www.cjr.org/feature-2/we...
Reposted by Omar S. Rashad عمر
Managers need to realize it is NEVER worth it to keep an abuser or a predator. It chases away more talent than you know. There is nobody so valuable that you have to put up with this kind of behavior and anyone who hid it who had power to stop it should be absolutely ashamed of themselves.
Some of y’all noticed I’ve been uncharacteristically offline. This is why, and I remain on leave for a few weeks to handle a PTSD relapse. CJR was dogged in its pursuit of my story. Because of what I do and who I am, I felt that I had to answer their questions honestly.
www.cjr.org/feature-2/we...
www.cjr.org/feature-2/we...
Journalists Attest to Experiences of Sexual Misconduct with Wesley Lowery
Lowery rose to prominence as a reporter and media thinker. Women in the industry say he engaged in sexual harassment and assault.
www.cjr.org
May 21, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Managers need to realize it is NEVER worth it to keep an abuser or a predator. It chases away more talent than you know. There is nobody so valuable that you have to put up with this kind of behavior and anyone who hid it who had power to stop it should be absolutely ashamed of themselves.
The FPPC is investigating dark money PAC Fresno Future Forward for “potential violations of the campaign disclosure provisions of the Political Reform Act.”
in @fresnoland.bsky.social: fresnoland.org/2025/05/13/f...
in @fresnoland.bsky.social: fresnoland.org/2025/05/13/f...
FPPC launches investigation into Fresno political group
Fresno Future Forward, the political action committee behind a controversial election mailer, is under investigation by the FPPC.
fresnoland.org
May 15, 2025 at 3:29 AM
The FPPC is investigating dark money PAC Fresno Future Forward for “potential violations of the campaign disclosure provisions of the Political Reform Act.”
in @fresnoland.bsky.social: fresnoland.org/2025/05/13/f...
in @fresnoland.bsky.social: fresnoland.org/2025/05/13/f...
Mayor Jerry Dyer on pursuing a mega-development in southeast Fresno:
May 13, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Mayor Jerry Dyer on pursuing a mega-development in southeast Fresno:
April 26, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Reposted by Omar S. Rashad عمر
The Central Valley has the highest number of Medi-Cal enrollees. In Merced, 52% of county residents receive benefits.
Why Fresno County could hurt more from Medicaid cuts than most of the country by @omarsrashad.bsky.social fresnoland.org/2025/03/11/m...
Why Fresno County could hurt more from Medicaid cuts than most of the country by @omarsrashad.bsky.social fresnoland.org/2025/03/11/m...
Why Fresno County could hurt more from potential Medicaid cuts
There’s no doubt amongst experts that Medicaid cuts would impact California greatly. But for Fresno County, the impacts could be dire.
fresnoland.org
April 25, 2025 at 7:37 PM
The Central Valley has the highest number of Medi-Cal enrollees. In Merced, 52% of county residents receive benefits.
Why Fresno County could hurt more from Medicaid cuts than most of the country by @omarsrashad.bsky.social fresnoland.org/2025/03/11/m...
Why Fresno County could hurt more from Medicaid cuts than most of the country by @omarsrashad.bsky.social fresnoland.org/2025/03/11/m...
Reposted by Omar S. Rashad عمر
Really enjoyed speaking with Elizabeth Arakelian at @kvprnews.bsky.social about @meganmunce.bsky.social's and my investigation into the algorithms driving widespread underinsurance among California wildfire survivors. Listen here: www.kvpr.org/podcast/cent...
Apr. 25: How A Little Known Tool Has Major Implications For Your Homeowners’ Insurance Policy
We speak with reporters Susie Neilson and Megan Fan Munce about their new investigation into a system known as “360 Value.” Their reporting uncovers how major insurance companies rely on the program’s...
www.kvpr.org
April 25, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Really enjoyed speaking with Elizabeth Arakelian at @kvprnews.bsky.social about @meganmunce.bsky.social's and my investigation into the algorithms driving widespread underinsurance among California wildfire survivors. Listen here: www.kvpr.org/podcast/cent...
Now that Bluesky is back up: The Fresno City Council moved forward with a policy to crack down on smoke shops.
Fresno has over 144 smoke shops. This policy aims to reduce that number to a max of 49.
Breaking story below:
fresnoland.org/2025/04/24/s...
Fresno has over 144 smoke shops. This policy aims to reduce that number to a max of 49.
Breaking story below:
fresnoland.org/2025/04/24/s...
Fresno to crack down on smoke shops following narrow vote
City leaders moved forward with cracking down on Fresno smoke shops after a somewhat tense Thursday debate.
fresnoland.org
April 25, 2025 at 12:01 AM
Now that Bluesky is back up: The Fresno City Council moved forward with a policy to crack down on smoke shops.
Fresno has over 144 smoke shops. This policy aims to reduce that number to a max of 49.
Breaking story below:
fresnoland.org/2025/04/24/s...
Fresno has over 144 smoke shops. This policy aims to reduce that number to a max of 49.
Breaking story below:
fresnoland.org/2025/04/24/s...
If four Fresno councilmembers approve a proposal to regulate smoke shops, dozens of them will have to either close down or change the nature of their business by 2026.
Here's my preview on what's at stake this Thursday for @fresnoland.bsky.social:
fresnoland.org/2025/04/22/s...
Here's my preview on what's at stake this Thursday for @fresnoland.bsky.social:
fresnoland.org/2025/04/22/s...
At least 33 Fresno smoke shops could close if this policy gets OK'd
If a proposal to define smoke shops in Fresno’s city code — and also regulate them — is approved, dozens of Fresno stores could close.
fresnoland.org
April 22, 2025 at 8:17 PM
If four Fresno councilmembers approve a proposal to regulate smoke shops, dozens of them will have to either close down or change the nature of their business by 2026.
Here's my preview on what's at stake this Thursday for @fresnoland.bsky.social:
fresnoland.org/2025/04/22/s...
Here's my preview on what's at stake this Thursday for @fresnoland.bsky.social:
fresnoland.org/2025/04/22/s...
In case you missed it, the Fresno City Attorney found out his own office subpoenaed my colleague after reading Fresnoland's own reporting.
www.fresnobee.com/news/local/a...
www.fresnobee.com/news/local/a...
April 16, 2025 at 10:01 PM
In case you missed it, the Fresno City Attorney found out his own office subpoenaed my colleague after reading Fresnoland's own reporting.
www.fresnobee.com/news/local/a...
www.fresnobee.com/news/local/a...
"The California DMV routinely allows dangerous drivers with horrifying histories to continue to operate on our roadways. Too often they go on to kill. Many keep driving even after they kill. Some go on to kill again."
calmatters.org/investigatio...
calmatters.org/investigatio...
Why California’s dangerous drivers get to keep their licenses
The California DMV routinely allows deadly drivers to operate on our roadways, a CalMatters investigation has found.
calmatters.org
April 14, 2025 at 6:20 PM
"The California DMV routinely allows dangerous drivers with horrifying histories to continue to operate on our roadways. Too often they go on to kill. Many keep driving even after they kill. Some go on to kill again."
calmatters.org/investigatio...
calmatters.org/investigatio...
Reposted by Omar S. Rashad عمر
Roughly 200 million people live within the zone where U.S. Border Patrol claims the right to warrantless search.
"We're going to go where that threat is and where we can do the most damage to the bad people and bad things that we possibly can." -Bovino
@evidentmedia.org
youtu.be/m93xbICwsSM?...
"We're going to go where that threat is and where we can do the most damage to the bad people and bad things that we possibly can." -Bovino
@evidentmedia.org
youtu.be/m93xbICwsSM?...
April 13, 2025 at 10:53 PM
Roughly 200 million people live within the zone where U.S. Border Patrol claims the right to warrantless search.
"We're going to go where that threat is and where we can do the most damage to the bad people and bad things that we possibly can." -Bovino
@evidentmedia.org
youtu.be/m93xbICwsSM?...
"We're going to go where that threat is and where we can do the most damage to the bad people and bad things that we possibly can." -Bovino
@evidentmedia.org
youtu.be/m93xbICwsSM?...
a version of this tweet goes viral every five minutes on twitter like god forbid I have taste
April 14, 2025 at 4:46 PM
a version of this tweet goes viral every five minutes on twitter like god forbid I have taste