Best-read: ‘Blood Alley’ road widening delays; Mayor Dyer talks SEDA; teens die in crash

These were some of the best-read stories among Fresno Bee subscribers last week, reflecting important safety, growth, education and consumer news.

Among them: A Fresno County widening project on a deadly road stalls, the mayor supports a contentious mega housing-and-jobs proposal, and four die in a tragic car crash.

See the recaps below with links to each of the full stories.

Project to widen one of Fresno County’s deadliest roads has stalled. Here’s why

Millerton Road, nicknamed “blood alley” after multiple fatal crashes in recent years, was slated for a major safety overhaul, including widening and two roundabouts. But Fresno County officials say the $70 million funding gap, failed federal grant bids, and Measure C limits have stalled the larger project, leaving only one roundabout funded so far. Click here for full story.

Victims in quadruple fatal crash in Madera County aged 13, 15, 15 and 25

Four young people, ages 13 to 25, died and an 18-year-old was critically injured after a high-speed single-vehicle crash near Highway 99 in Madera County. Deputies had been responding to reports of vehicle break-ins when they spotted the suspect car, which sped away and later lost control. CHP is investigating the crash and the Sheriff’s Office the alleged burglaries. Click here for full story.

Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer says he’d be ‘negligent’ not to pursue controversial SEDA project

Mayor Jerry Dyer is doubling down on the Southeast Development Area, a 9,000‑acre plan for tens of thousands of homes and new industrial land, despite a City Council-ordered financial review and criticism over sprawl. He argues developers and special districts will cover infrastructure and that South SEDA is key to affordable homeownership and advanced manufacturing jobs. Click here for full story.

A Fresno grocery store is closing. What we know about when and why

The Foods Co. on West Shaw Avenue in Fresno, next to Kohl’s, is set to close in mid‑March as parent company Kroger shutters 60 underperforming stores nationwide. The exact closing date and specific reasons weren’t disclosed, but employees can transfer and two other local Foods Co. locations will remain open to serve customers. Click here for full story.

How is Visalia campus reacting to viral slur photo? Here’s what students said

At Visalia’s Redwood High School, a viral photo of ASB seniors arranging T‑shirts to spell an anti‑gay slur has sparked national backlash and deep concern among LGBTQ+ students who say they feel unsafe and unheard. Some classmates want to move on, while district leaders promise discipline, support and clearer reporting channels for future incidents. Click here for full story.

These recaps were produced with the help of AI tools, which summarized previous stories reported and written by Fresno Bee journalists. This content was edited by journalists in the newsroom.

This story was originally published February 23, 2026 at 6:17 PM.