Top stories: Avenal search warrants; Fresno State Foundation era ends; softball champs

Wednesday brought governance drama, criminal investigations and championship recognition across the central San Joaquin Valley. From Fresno State’s embattled foundation board seeking more time on reforms to a Kings County probe of recalled Avenal officials and a standout Clovis North softball pitcher, here are the top stories of the day from The Fresno Bee.

Here are the top stories of the day:

• Fresno State Foundation requests extension on reforms, as longtime board members leave: The foundation, which manages $315 million in donations and grants for the university, asked Tuesday for more time to complete governance changes it had set a June 30, 2026, deadline to finish. Five longtime members departed the board, including 32-year veteran and 10-year chairperson Vinci Ricchiuti, after University President Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval blocked them from returning. A California State University chancellor’s office review flagged 46 governance issues, including a lack of financial controls and no faculty or student representation. Christopher Morse was elected the board’s next chair.
• This pitcher shined for Clovis North, plus The Fresno Bee softball All-Star Team: Clovis North senior Jocelynn Gonzalez was named The Fresno Bee Player of the Year after finishing the season 16-2 with a 1.13 ERA and 187 strikeouts. Gonzalez helped the Broncos capture a three-peat Central Section Division I championship. She credited her coaching staff and a decision entering her senior season to stop pressuring herself over wins and losses. Gonzalez has committed to continue her softball career at New Mexico.
• Recalled Avenal councilmembers’ homes searched, phones confiscated in ‘criminal’ probe: The Kings County District Attorney’s Office on Wednesday served seven search warrants at two city properties and the private homes of Mayor Alvaro Preciado and Councilmembers Leticia Gamez, Pablo Hernandez and David Reynosa. Investigators confiscated cell phones and computers as part of an ongoing criminal investigation but declined to disclose specifics. The four officials were recalled in April with more than 73% voter approval, with residents citing perceived disrespect toward constituents, lack of transparency and Brown Act violations. Avenal City Hall, the community center and the home of City Manager Antony Lopez were also searched.

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