Top stories: Dyer’s homeless math; Flauta Kings rule; raisin baron arrested, and more

The Fresno Bee published several top stories Wednesday covering news across the central San Joaquin Valley. From a family’s legal action over a student’s death to Mayor Jerry Dyer’s claims about homeless encampments, plus a local restaurant success story and felony charges against a former raisin industry figure, here are the top stories of the day.

Here are key takeaways:

• Family of Fresno High student who died after in-class collapse asks court for help: Attorneys for the family of Daniel Padilla Jr., the 14-year-old who died after collapsing during a physical education class at Fresno High School on March 9, accuse Fresno Unified School District of not properly responding to a records request. The family filed the records request on March 18 seeking documents about medical emergencies, automated external defibrillator records and emergency response policies. They have now filed a petition for a writ of mandate asking the court to order the district to comply and produce all responsive records.
• Mayor Dyer said there are ‘zero’ homeless encampments in Fresno. Here’s what he meant: Mayor Jerry Dyer said during a press conference last week that Fresno has zero homeless encampments, using a definition of 10 or more people staying in one location for 10 or more days. He touted the city’s creation of 840 emergency shelter beds, $150 million spent on homeless interventions and $250 million on prevention. Advocates pushed back, saying the definition obscures the reality on the ground, where unhoused people are being pushed into neighborhoods and in front of businesses. The 2025 point-in-time count showed a 9.2% increase in the homeless population in Fresno and Madera counties, though Dyer said preliminary 2026 data suggests a decline.
• From losing their jobs to Flauta Kings. Humble beginning inspires Fresno restaurant: After losing their jobs during the pandemic, David Galaviz and Anthony Dimmick launched Flauta Kings, a Fresno food street vendor specializing in potato, chicken and quesabirria flautas. Operating from a pop-up tent at special events, with catering and social media orders, the business has grown over 5 1/2 years into a regional operation with roughly 7,000 Instagram followers. The partners are working to get a food truck up and running by the end of the year to become more accessible around town.
• Former Fresno raisin industry leader charged with making threats against Jewish neighbor: Bruce Lion, a 64-year-old member of the family that owns Lion Raisins in Selma, was charged Tuesday with three felony counts of making threats against his Jewish neighbor in Pacific Palisades. Lion allegedly hurled antisemitic insults at Rabbi Zushe Cunin and interrupted his congregation while shouting antisemitic statements in front of children. Arrested Saturday, Lion is being held in a Los Angeles County jail on a $50,000 bond. Court records show prior 2019 no-contest pleas to charges of making criminal threats and assault and battery.

Original stories by Nick Fenley, Melissa Montalvo, B.J. Anteola and Robert Rodriguez

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.