These are the most read Fresno Bee stories among subscribers last week, reflecting the content from our coverage that most caught your attention.
Retail turmoil at Fresno malls, a high-profile corruption investigation, major highway disruptions and a dispute over media access on the Fresno State campus.
Bee subscribers tend to follow stories that impact their daily lives—where they shop, how they drive, how public funds are handled and how students engage with the news.
A large store closing sign hangs in front of the Eddie Bauer store in Fig Garden Village on Tuesday, February 24, 2026. The outdoor apparel brand, located near Williams-Sonoma and Anthropologie, will close all of its stores after filing for bankruptcy.
Fig Garden and Blackstone Avenue retail changes
Two longtime Fresno retailers are closing. Eddie Bauer will close its Fig Garden Village store as the outdoor brand’s North American operator files for bankruptcy and closes 175 stores. GW School Supply will close its Blackstone Avenue store after decades of serving teachers and homeschoolers, but sales at its Belmont and Bakersfield stores and online will continue. Click here to read the full article.
Jimmy Pardini takes us on a tour of Willow Osteria, his new Italian restaurant that opened that evening. The new restaurant is located on Heritage Grove Avenue at the corner of Willow and Shepherd avenues. Taken on Friday, November 7, 2025, in Clovis.
Fresno star chef plans to open Italian sandwich shop with homemade focaccia bread
Annex Kitchen owner Jimmy Pardini will launch Strada Italian Sandwiches at the Park Crossing Center near Annesso Pizzeria in north Fresno. It is expected to open in mid-April. The store will offer warm house-made focaccia, imported Italian meats sliced to order and house-made spreads like pistachio cream and truffle, with indoor and patio seating, as well as beer and wine. Click here to read the full article.
An email sent to Suriana Caldwell to the Fresno Arts Council in February confirmed she no longer works with the organization.
Former operations manager named in Fresno Arts Council money probe
Suliana Caldwell, the former Fresno Arts Council operations manager, has been identified by city officials as a subject of an investigation into the disappearance of $1.5 million in taxpayer funds. Fresno police, working with the FBI, served multiple search warrants. Caldwell has not been arrested or charged, and the commission said the losses were “unauthorized financial transactions” and are currently investigating. Click here to read the full article.
Rainfall is visible on Highway 41 in Fresno, California on Monday, February 16, 2026.
Short-term Highway 41 closure will cause traffic congestion in south Fresno
Caltrans is closing northbound Lane 2 of Highway 41 between Fresno Central Avenue and North Avenue as well as the North Avenue off-ramp for maintenance. Expected to be closed Friday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., weather permitting. Officials warned the work could last longer and urged drivers to plan for extra travel time. Click here to read the full article.
Students walk past the new portal sign at the entrance to Fresno State University at Maple and Shore avenues on Friday, May 2, 2014. The stone and metal sign sits opposite a sculptural element known as “The Sprout” that reflects the school’s agriculture, nature, indigenous history, programs and education and is made of perforated metal and wood. The Maple and Shaw signs are part of a comprehensive sign program for the university’s campus identity and exterior wayfinding. New entrance signs at the Cedar and Shaw and Cedar and Barstow entrances will be installed later this summer. Craig Corrus
Fresno State student leader denied access to New York Times over reporting issues
After debate over The Times’ Gaza coverage and student demand, Fresno State’s Associated Students Corporation voted down a proposal to pay students $15,705 for a free digital subscription to The New York Times. Opponents said the funds would support The Times’ editorial stance, while supporters cited academic uses and additional content such as Wordle. The vote was first reported by Fresno State’s student newspaper, The Collegian. Click here to read the full article.
These recaps, produced with the help of artificial intelligence tools, summarize stories previously reported and written by Fresno Bee reporters. This content was edited by newsroom journalists.
Based on an original story by Fresno Bee reporters Brooke Bettinger, Bethany Clough, Liliana Fanning and Melissa Montalvo.
