Best-read: Mayor Dyer’s picks; Fresno’s most high-end restaurant; PAC benefits cofounders
Fresno Bee subscribers gravitated toward a mix of crime, politics and lifestyle coverage. The best-read stories May 17-24 among subscribers included an officer ambush, a fatal highway crash, council election controversies and a look inside a top local restaurant.
We assemble this list each week so you can get caught up on the top Fresno Bee stories
Fresno’s ‘most high end restaurant’ and the childhood in Mexico that inspired it
Tabachines Cocina in north Fresno was chosen by readers as the most high-end restaurant in town, narrowly edging out Trelio in Old Town Clovis. Owner Consuelo Alvarado opened the restaurant in Los Angeles in 2014 before moving it to Fresno in 2018, drawing inspiration from her mother Elena Maravilla’s fresh, market-driven cooking in Guadalajara. Chefs source ingredients twice weekly from the Vineyard Farmers Market, and the menu rotates with the seasons. Click here for full story.
Update: Fresno Police officer shot in apparent ambush. Search continues for suspect
A 26-year-old Fresno police officer was shot multiple times in the arm and shoulder Saturday night while responding to a domestic violence call near Jensen Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Police Chief Mindy Casto said the suspect, 56-year-old Paul Rodriguez Cisneros, was “lying in wait” and opened fire as officers stepped out of their patrol car. Cisneros remained at large Sunday morning as up to 80 officers searched a six-block perimeter. Click here for full story.
Man killed, 3-year-old among 2 seriously hurt in Fresno highway crash, CHP says
A 31-year-old Selma man driving a Toyota Camry was killed early Sunday after his vehicle stopped in a lane of southbound Highway 41 and was rear-ended by a Kia Optima. A 3-year-old child in the Kia, who was wearing a seat belt but not secured in a child safety seat, suffered life-threatening injuries. CHP said alcohol impairment is suspected as a factor involving the Toyota driver, pending toxicology results. Click here for full story.
Editor’s note: After this story was published, 3-year-old Kendrixx Leavell succumbed to his injuries and died in the hospital.
Fresno council candidate benefits from $1.5M PAC he cofounded. Why fellow Dems are upset
Nav Gurm, a 26-year-old attorney running for Fresno City Council District 7, received the maximum $5,500 donation from Youth Save Democracy, a PAC he cofounded. Experts say the PAC’s spending stands out because roughly 83% of its budget goes to operational costs rather than political contributions. Of about $297,159 spent on political races between January and March 2025, roughly $58,800 went to Fresno entities and candidates. Click here for full story.
Who does Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer support in city, county, gubernatorial races?
Mayor Jerry Dyer is endorsing three Fresno City Council candidates — Rob Fuentes in District 1, Danielle Parra in District 5 and Nav Gurm in District 7 — saying they align with his views on public safety, housing and smart growth. He is also backing sitting council members Mike Karbassi for the Board of Supervisors and Annalisa Perea for the 31st Assembly District. Dyer stopped short of endorsing a candidate in the gubernatorial primary. Click here for full story.
Original stories by Bethany Clough, Anthony Galaviz, Melissa Montalvo and David Taub.
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.