Fresno Unified paid more than $2.7 million because of trustee Brooke Ashjian’s conflicts of interest with local construction companies during his first and only term on the school board, according to district documents.

A bulk of that cost came after the school district was forced to rebid a building project for Figarden Elementary in 2016 and again in 2017 because the originally selected construction firms had a "prohibited interest" with Ashjian and his company, according to information received from a public records request filed by The Bee.

The price could ramp up even more: Fresno Unified has had significant legal expenses, but attorneys would not release those numbers, citing laws that protect attorney-client privilege in pending litigation.

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Fresno Unified School District trustee Brooke Ashjian will not seek re-election to the board in November, he announced Wednesday.

Ashjian said he's not running for any other office this year either and will instead focus on his family, which includes his wife, four children and one grandchild.

"If I ran again, I would win," Ashjian said.

He plans to remain in his district through the end of his term.

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LGBT Fresno is looking for LGBTQ (and allies) journalist interns to cover events and write feature articles. LGBT Fresno is a non profit community resource and news site serving the LGBTQ community in Fresno and the Central Valley since 1999. If you have an interest in covering important and relevant stories about the issues that affect the LGBTQ community in Fresno, the Central Valley or around the globe we want to meet you!

This is an unpaid internship but could evolve into an independent contract paying position in the future.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and provide any relevant past writing (if possible)

Trans Lifeline operators are available 18 hours a day every day of the week. 8am to 2am at 1 (877) 565-8860

Trans Lifeline is a 501(c)3 non-profit dedicated to the well being of transgender people. We run a hotline staffed by transgender people for transgender people. Trans Lifeline volunteers are ready to respond to whatever support needs members of our community might have.

This line is primarily for transgender people experiencing a crisis. This includes people who may be struggling with their gender identity and are not sure that they are transgender. While our goal is to prevent self harm, we welcome the call of any transgender person in need. We will do our very best to connect them with services that can help them meet that need. If you are not sure whether you should call or not, then please call us.

Our hotline is staffed by the true experts on transgender experience, transgender people themselves. Our volunteers are all trans identified and educated in the range of difficulties transgender people experience. Our volunteers are dedicated to improving the lives of transgender people.

Additionally, our operators will only call emergency services with your expressed consent.

April 8th: Bowling for Pride from 12PM to 3PM at Bowlero

April 21st: Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV) from 12PM to 4PM at Alliant International University

April 21st: Expression Not Suppression Conference (ENS) at Fresno High School

April 28th: Drag Queen Story Hour from 11AM to 1PM at Bitwise Industries

April 29th: Anniversary Block Party from from 10AM to 1PM at Common Space

See our calendar for more events!

You are not alone!

Are you 14-18 years old?

Do you need support?

Do you need a safe place to be and to express who you are?

Scott Polenz, MA LMFT, facilitator

This Free support group is for LGBTQIA teens and meets the 1st and 3rd Sunday of every month.

Pizza, snacks and drinks provided by Our Saviour's Lutheran Church

This is a non religious event/group, all are welcome.

ENS is a free, annual conference in the Fresno area of California for LGBTQ and straight ally youth who are dedicated to creating safer schools and building the GSA movement in the Central Valley.

ENS is open to middle and high school students, teachers, and GSA advisors, as well as the larger community. ENS includes free workshops on topics related to LGBTQ youth activism and safe schools. ENS also includes a free dinner, a dance and a drag show.

Read more: Expression Not Suppression Conference

Twenty years ago today, Madonna's seventh studio album, Ray of Light, debuted and was instantly praised as her best work to date. Spiritual, reflective, and nurturing, three words the world had never really associated with the Queen of Pop prior to the album, were the most common points made by media critics and fans alike. It broke the mold, brought electronic music into mainstream pop, and produced truly great works of music-video art.

But this post isn't really about the history and impact of the album as a whole. For that, I highly recommend the following posts:

• Madonna's 'Ray of Light' at 20: Celebrating Her Psychedelic Masterwork, Rolling Stone
• Twenty Years Ago, Madonna Was Reborn in a ‘Ray of Light’, The Ringer
• 20 Years Later, 'Ray of Light' Is Still Madonna's Most Shocking Reinvention, Glamour

No, this post is about how this gem influenced me. As I've written before, I love Madonna. You might even call me a student of Madonnaology. I love studying the context in which albums and videos were released, how her sound has evolved, etc. Since day one, she's been in charge of her image and sound and is intimately involved in every aspect of production. Every step of the way, she's rubbed traditionalists the wrong way and sparked discussions on sexuality, censorship, and what it means to be famous in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. In short, she's a badass.

Read more: Looking Back at My Own ‘Ray of Light’

Fresno police Chief Jerry Dyer on Friday named Derrick Garcia, 25, as the suspect sought in the high-profile slaying of Imer Alvarado, 34, who was gunned down while dressed as a woman on Belmont Avenue in May of 2017.

The case sparked outrage in the transgender community, many of whom felt the slaying may have been a hate crime.

Police found Alvarado lying in the 3400 block of East Belmont in the early morning hours of May 17, 2017, where the victim had been shot. Dyer said shell casings and video evidence led detectives to Garcia, who remains at large.

Officers discovered the shooting after seven gunshots were reported at the crime scene. Alvarado was identified as a man by the Fresno County Coroner’s Office, based on documents such as a birth certificate and a driver’s license, but Dyer said shortly after the murder that Alvarado appeared to be transgender.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Garcia is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 559-498-7867.

Read more: Fresno police seeking help locating suspect

Imperial Dove Court de Fresno Presents:
4M Leather & Lace: The Black and White Ball

Sponsored by: Pulido Law Group 

Saturday March 10, 2018
Las Palmas-Ponderosa Lodge No.366
2992 E Clinton Ave, Fresno
Doors open at 5:00 PM | Dinner at 6:00 PM | Show at 7:00 PM

$20 Pre-sale Tickets | $25 Tickets at the door| $10 Junior Tickets 
VIP Tables $225 (Seats 8) includes: Front Seating, Appetizer, and (2) Bottles of Wine.