When Brandy Lidbeck was 10 years old, her mom killed herself.

“It was incredibly devastating,” said Lidbeck, the program coordinator for Survivors of Suicide Loss.

For years, Lidbeck felt alone, ashamed and embarrassed. She constantly wondered if she bore any responsibility.




State Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Sanger), representing the 14th Senate District in California, along with principal co-authors Senator Andreas Borgeas (R-Fresno), Assemblymember Devon Mathis (R-Visalia), Assemblymember Dr.




Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Sanger), representing the 14th Senate District in California, along with principal co-authors Senator Andreas Borgeas (R-Fresno), Assemblymember Devon Mathis (R-Visalia), Assemblymember Dr.




At 30, Melissa Hurtado (D-Sanger) is California's youngest female senator in history. That hasn't stopped her from making a splash across the 559 - literally. 

She recently introduced Senate Bill 559 (the area code most helped by the bill) that would appropriate $400 million from the California General Fund for critical repairs to the sinking Friant-Kern Canal, if passed. 




Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Sanger) along with principal co-authors Senator Andreas Borgeas (R-Fresno), Assemblymember Devon Mathis (R-Visalia), Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula (D-Fresno) and Assemblymember Rudy Salas (D-Bakersfield), today announced the introduction of Senate Bill 559.




State politicians publicly introduced a bill today that seeks $400 million for repairs to the aging Friant-Kern Canal.

On Friday, the Friant Water authority, which operates the Friant Kern canal, explained the severe subsidence problem they're seeing in the South Valley.

It starts southwest of Porterville and continues for another 25 miles.




State Senator Melissa Hurtado , together with state and local officials, toured a key section of the Friant-Kern Canal to highlight Senate Bill 559, which will help secure California’s water supply by towards restoring lost conveyance capacity. Read more