Top stories: Clovis mom gets 3 years; Fresno State’s scooter ban; Valley Children’s buys 277 acres
Top stories from The Fresno Bee today include Valley Children’s Hospital’s $107 million land purchase, a former Clovis mother’s federal prison sentence, Fresno State’s coming ban on motorized scooters, and ongoing complaints about teen jaywalking near Fashion Fair mall.
We assemble this list each evening, so you can get caught up on the top Fresno Bee stories of the day
• Valley Children’s spends $107M on Madera County land expansion: Valley Children’s Hospital used $107 million from its reserves to acquire 277 acres of land approved for residential and commercial development, bringing its campus to more than 700 acres along Highway 41. Spokesperson Zara Arboleda said the hospital is diversifying revenue because Medi-Cal funding, which covers 74% of its patients, faces uncertainty amid state budget deficits and federal Medicaid cuts. Hospital leadership said any revenue generated will be reinvested into pediatric care. Click here for full story.
• Former Clovis mom sentenced to 3 years for violating son’s protective order: Shana Gaviola, 39, was sentenced to three years in federal prison after being convicted of arranging the forcible removal of her then-16-year-old son to a Missouri boarding school for troubled youth. Individuals acting on her behalf took the teen from an ice skating rink, handcuffed him and drove him more than 24 hours to Stockton, Missouri, in violation of a domestic violence protection order. The victim, now 21, said he was diagnosed with severe PTSD and anxiety following the incident. Click here for full story.
• Fresno State to ban motorized scooters and bikes next semester: Fresno State will prohibit motorized bikes, mopeds, scooters and skateboards across campus beginning in the fall semester, citing significant safety risks on shared pedestrian pathways. The Student Health and Counseling Center reported 159 scooter — and skateboard-related injuries since Fall 2023, with 85-90% involving motorized scooters. Enforcement begins Aug. 19, with no fines initially, though vehicles may be confiscated and students referred for conduct violations. Click here for full story.
• Teen jaywalking through median fence near Fashion Fair prompts complaints: Fresno received 18 complaints between September 2023 and March 2026 about a hole in a median fence on First Street near Fairmont Avenue, with 10 specifically mentioning children using it to jaywalk. Last month, two juveniles were struck by a car near the location, which sits in sight of Carter G. Woodson Multimedia School and near Tioga Middle School. City spokesperson Sontaya Rose said crews repeatedly repair the fence, but it’s often cut again within hours. Click here for full story.
Original stories by Erik Galcia, Robert Rodriguez, Joshua Tehee and Nick Fenley.
This report was produced with the assistance of a proprietary tool powered by artificial intelligence based on our own originally reported, written and published content. Before publishing, journalists reviewed this content in compliance with McClatchy Media’s AI policy.
This story was originally published April 28, 2026 at 8:01 PM.
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