Top stories: Remaking Blackstone; winery’s downsizing; Mono Casino’s hiring spree

The Fresno Bee’s top stories of the day covered major developments across the Central Valley and Central Coast — from a global wine giant’s downsizing plans for a beloved Paso Robles winery, to a road redesign reshaping one of Fresno’s busiest corridors, to a long-awaited Madera County casino announcing 1,500 new job openings.

Here are top stories from Thursday to catch you up

• Owner of DAOU Vineyards is downsizing. What does it mean for the SLO County winery? Treasury Wine Estates announced on June 4 that it will cut its global holdings from 76 to fewer than 30 within several years, but Paso Robles’ DAOU Vineyards is safe after being designated one of the company’s three “power brands.” The Australian corporation said DAOU will receive increased investment and support to accelerate growth. Treasury is divesting at least one San Luis Obispo County production facility, including a 48-acre property on Orcutt Road priced at $15 million.
• Blackstone makeover in Fresno includes wider sidewalks, bike lanes — fewer car lanes Construction began June 8 to reduce three vehicle lanes to two each way on southern Blackstone Avenue from Pine Avenue to State Route 180, funded by $7.3 million in state grant money. The “road diet” is part of the Southern Blackstone Avenue Smart Mobility Strategy approved in 2019 to transform the corridor into a walkable, mixed-use neighborhood with wider sidewalks, bike lanes and bus platforms. Blackstone saw 20 pedestrian fatalities between 2008 and 2022, and Fresno was ranked the seventh most dangerous city in the country for walking and biking. Multiple phases of construction are planned through October.
• Casino to hire 1,500 in advance of opening in Madera County. What’s available? North Fork Mono Casino announced Wednesday it has opened more than 1,500 positions with benefits including medical, dental and vision insurance, 401(k) matching and paid time off. Available jobs range from entry-level roles to specialized positions such as compliance specialist, sommelier and card dealer, with wages from $16.90 hourly to more than $100,000. The $725 million development is set to open this fall despite a state appellate court ruling that the casino is not authorized for operation. The North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians says federal approvals from 2012 and 2016 have been upheld in non-appealable court decisions.

Original stories by Libbey Hanson, Liliana Fannin and Joshua Tehee

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