Hanford Insider

Rob Bentley
  • 4.7 (3)
  • NEWS COMMENTARY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome the Hanford Insider, I’m your host Rob Bentley. I’m a lifelong resident of Hanford and I’m very involved in the local history scene and podcasting so I decided to start this show as a resource to Hanford area residents for covering issues, promoting events, sports, and reflecting on some local history. Tune in each Monday for a new episode. Please help me get the word out about the show by sharing on social media, or telling a friend. For more information about the show, you can find me on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X,  or Threads at @Hanford Insider.  If you have a show idea, be sure to email me hanfordinsider@gmail.com  If you are part of an organization that needs help getting the word out to the community, let’s work together.

  1. Hanford Insider: Celebrating Excellence in Education 2026

    5D AGO

    Hanford Insider: Celebrating Excellence in Education 2026

    Send me a text and give me feedback on this episode! A community runs on the people who show up every day and schools are one of the clearest places to see that in action. We start with a quick Hanford civic and community rundown, including what to watch for at the upcoming Hanford City Council meeting and a packed local calendar featuring the Kings County Excellence and Education event at the Hanford Fox Theater, the King’s Symphony gala fundraiser, and special programming at the Carnegie Museum of Kings County. Then we sit down with Kings County Superintendent of Schools Todd Barlow to talk about what’s going right in California education when you zoom in to a place like Kings County. Todd shares why a close-knit county can collaborate faster, celebrate excellence more visibly, and build programs that connect students to real opportunities. We dig into Farm Day and how it expands kids’ understanding of agriculture careers, plus the growing medical pathways in local high schools and why career technical education matters for everything from construction to the skilled trades. We also spend time on special education in Kings County, including a major update: satellite classes planned across all 13 districts next year through the county’s Shelley Baird program. Todd explains why inclusion and integration matter, not just for students receiving services, but for entire school communities learning together. We close out with a local sports report covering high school baseball and softball, plus ways to share scores and updates. Subscribe for weekly Hanford news, share the show with a friend, and leave a review so more Kings County listeners can find us. You can find the Hanford Insider at www.hanfordinsider.com and on social media at @hanfordinsider Thank you for supporting the show!

    22 min
  2. Hanford Insider: Big Restaurant News, A Packed Community Calendar, and Kings County History

    APR 12

    Hanford Insider: Big Restaurant News, A Packed Community Calendar, and Kings County History

    Send me a text and give me feedback on this episode! A town’s week can tell you a lot about its soul, especially when you line up today’s headlines next to the stories that built the place. We start with the latest Hanford community news, including a recap of a long City Council meeting, early details on the Fourth of July fireworks show at the Hanford Softball Complex, and what to watch for as the city releases more information. We also cover a major local business update as Superior Dairy closes its building for an extended remodel while keeping ice cream going from a trailer, plus the social media buzz around a possible Olive Garden location and ongoing construction at Ono Hawaiian Barbecue. Next, we run through a packed Kings County community calendar: the Hanford FFA Car Show, sold-out local fundraisers, the Kings County Excellence in Education event at the Hanford Fox Theater, a symphony gala, and cultural highlights at the Carnegie Museum of Kings County including a Japanese tea ceremony. If you’re searching for Hanford events, things to do in Hanford, or a true community calendar, this section is built to help you plan your week and support local organizers. The heart of the show is our second installment from the Carnegie Museum’s Building Kings County exhibit, recorded during docent training. You’ll hear vivid local history about the Hanford Civic Auditorium time capsule, the legacy of China Alley as a “city within a city,” and the often-overlooked role of women in shaping community life. We also share the difficult story of the Taoist Temple arson fire, the restoration work that followed, and how artifacts found a second life through conservation and international museum support. We close with a local sports report covering high school softball and baseball. Subscribe, share the show with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find Hanford history, Kings County events, and the stories that keep our community connected. You can find the Hanford Insider at www.hanfordinsider.com and on social media at @hanfordinsider Thank you for supporting the show!

    29 min
  3. Mayor Mark Kairis Explains The Biggest April 7 Council Decisions

    APR 10 ·  BONUS

    Mayor Mark Kairis Explains The Biggest April 7 Council Decisions

    Send me a text and give me feedback on this episode! Crime trends, park funding, neighborhood upkeep, refuse rates, safer streets, and summer fireworks all show up in one fast City Council recap with Mayor Mark Kairis. If you want to understand what Hanford City Council decisions actually mean for your day-to-day life, this update connects the dots clearly, without the jargon. We start with the Hanford Police Department’s 2025 annual report and the most important signal in the data: crime is down across nearly every major category, including assault, burglary, robbery, and rape. From there, we shift to Heroes Park and the complicated reality of funding big community projects. We explain why staff recommends declining a $1.9 million federal Land and Water Conservation Fund grant, how Proposition 68 funding changes the plan, and what the current timeline looks like for groundbreaking and opening. Next, we cover community recognitions like Financial Literacy Month and Arbor Day, plus a public invitation to the tree planting at Hidden Valley Park. Then we dig into the public hearings that hit home for many residents: landscape assessment district ballots that reject assessment increases and the resulting reduction in maintenance, as well as the refuse rate increase that begins May 1 and continues over five years to maintain service levels. We wrap with major transportation planning for the East Lacey Corridor Improvement Project, including Complete Streets design and a grant application for a “cool corridor” to protect pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit riders from extreme heat, plus the green light for a July 4 fireworks show at the Hanford Softball Complex. Subscribe for more Hanford government updates, share this recap with a neighbor, and leave a review. What council topic do you want us to explain next? You can find the Hanford Insider at www.hanfordinsider.com and on social media at @hanfordinsider Thank you for supporting the show!

    6 min
  4. Hanford Insider: Community News/Sports and Kings County History Pt. 1

    APR 5

    Hanford Insider: Community News/Sports and Kings County History Pt. 1

    Send me a text and give me feedback on this episode! A city council agenda can tell you where a town is headed, and Hanford has some real signals this week. We walk through the upcoming meeting items, including Heroes Park funding, public hearings that affect neighborhood costs, and the possibility of bringing back a large Fourth of July fireworks show at the Hanford Softball Complex. We also talk about the new Main Street Hanford speaker system and why small downtown upgrades can change how a community feels, then highlight a stacked local events calendar from the championship parade to Fill-the-Boot for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.  Then we take a sharp turn into Kings County history with our first look inside the Carnegie Museum of Kings County’s Building Kings County exhibit. Using recorded curator training, we follow the forces that built the region: the railroad boom after the Gold Rush, Southern Pacific’s monopoly power, and the land-grant system that shaped where tracks and towns appeared. We dig into the San Francisco and San Joaquin Valley Railroad push for competition, how it cut freight rates, and why the Mussel Slough conflict near Hardwick became a national story about land, promises, and power.  From there, the episode moves through the earlier roots that many locals have never heard: Kingston as a vital Kings River crossing, rare historic photos, and the larger story of how people and businesses migrated as Hanford rose. We also unpack the intense politics behind forming Kings County from western Tulare County, plus early Hanford fire maps that show how repeated blazes helped drive incorporation and modern infrastructure. We wrap up with a full Hanford area high school baseball and softball report, plus ways to support the podcast and keep local storytelling strong.  Subscribe for weekly Hanford news and Kings County history, share the episode with a friend, and leave a review to help more locals find the show. What piece of Hanford or Kings County history should we chase next? You can find the Hanford Insider at www.hanfordinsider.com and on social media at @hanfordinsider Thank you for supporting the show!

    32 min
  5. Hanford Insider: Recreation Roulette with Brad Albert

    MAR 29

    Hanford Insider: Recreation Roulette with Brad Albert

    Send me a text and give me feedback on this episode! Something big is happening in Hanford this spring, and it’s not just the warmer weather. We’re seeing new signs go up in old buildings, downtown events filling the calendar, and parks gearing up for the months when everyone wants to be outside. I’m your host Rob Bentley, and I start with quick community notes, then share can’t miss dates like the downtown parade celebrating Sierra Pacific’s girls basketball state championship, the annual shredding event, and the downtown Hanford car show. Then I’m joined by Brad Albert, Hanford’s Director of Parks and Community Services, for a fast paced round of “Recreation Roulette” updates. We talk Freddie the Firetruck rides, carousel rentals, and new ways to use Civic Park for private groups. Brad also breaks down the urban forest grant, including the urban forest master plan, a full inventory of publicly owned trees, an on call arborist team, and why Hanford’s canopy loss is showing up mostly on private property. If you care about livability, shade, walkability, and long term city planning, this is the kind of local government work that quietly changes daily life. We also get the latest on the Plunge repairs, what it takes to reopen a slide regulated as a California attraction, and how staffing and maintenance planning can prevent future closures. Brad shares Winter Wonderland numbers and how net revenue gets reinvested back into Civic Park repairs and electrical upgrades, plus how the city is coordinating event use with new courthouse ownership. We wrap with Eric Bentley’s Hanford Insider Sports Report covering baseball, softball, and track, including wins, tournament schedules, and new school records. Subscribe for weekly Hanford updates, share this with a neighbor, and leave a review so more locals can find the show. What’s one park improvement or community event you want to see next? You can find the Hanford Insider at www.hanfordinsider.com and on social media at @hanfordinsider Thank you for supporting the show!

    29 min

  6. MAR 27 ·  BONUS

    Hanford City Council Recap for 3/17/26

    Send me a text and give me feedback on this episode! 150,000 visitors don’t show up by accident. We’re back with a quick, clear wrap-up of the City of Hanford City Council meeting from March 17, led by Council Member Travis Paden, and it’s packed with local wins, big numbers, and decisions that affect how our city grows. First, we slow down long enough to celebrate the people who keep Hanford running. We recognize our Employees of the Year and highlight service awards for team members hitting 10, 15, 20, and 25 years. From public works and utilities to fire and police support roles, these milestones reflect the behind-the-scenes work that makes everyday life smoother and safer for the community. Next, we dig into the much-anticipated final report on the 2025 to 2026 Hanford Winter Wonderland season. Nearly 150,000 visitors attended, and the event continues to evolve into a signature Hanford tradition. We also put a question directly to you: did you like the Ferris wheel, and should we bring it back? Your feedback helps shape what the next season looks like. We close with key council actions, including authorizing the mayor to sign a letter opposing a California High Speed Rail Authority proposal tied to collecting tax revenues near station areas, and approving the purchase of additional downtown parcels for the city’s new public safety building. If you care about local tax dollars, land use authority, and smart investment in public safety infrastructure, this recap is worth your time. Subscribe for more Hanford updates, share this with a neighbor, and leave a review so more residents can stay informed. What topic do you want us to unpack next? You can find the Hanford Insider at www.hanfordinsider.com and on social media at @hanfordinsider Thank you for supporting the show!

    4 min
  7. Hanford Insider: Pioneer School District Superintendent John Raven

    MAR 22

    Hanford Insider: Pioneer School District Superintendent John Raven

    Send me a text and give me feedback on this episode! Hanford is changing quickly, and our schools feel it first. Today I’m joined by John Raven, the new superintendent of the Pioneer Union Elementary School District, for a grounded conversation about what it takes to lead a district that’s proud of its past and planning hard for what’s next. John shares his “full circle” path from teaching fourth grade in Hanford to helping open Frontier Elementary, building leadership experience across the county, and returning to Pioneer to guide the next chapter. We dig into the real work behind growth: enrollment trends, facility planning, and what it means to coordinate with housing development so students aren’t arriving before the district is ready. From there, we talk about what makes Pioneer stand out, including early literacy, strong academics, and the student supports families count on, like counselors and nurses at each site. John also explains how the district uses technology in classrooms and in communication with parents, plus safety upgrades that extend from campus systems to tools that help families stay informed during bus rides. Then we get honest about student behavior. John lays out a perspective I think every parent and educator should hear: “behavior is communication.” We discuss proactive strategies, staff coaching, parent nights, and the importance of connecting kids with trusted adults all over campus so students feel seen before problems escalate. You’ll also hear community news, upcoming local events, and our Hanford Insider sports report. If you value local stories and practical conversations about Hanford’s future, subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find the show. You can find the Hanford Insider at www.hanfordinsider.com and on social media at @hanfordinsider Thank you for supporting the show!

    25 min

  8. MAR 17 ·  BONUS

    Hanford Council Recap - March 16, 2026

    Send me a text and give me feedback on this episode! City decisions can feel abstract until you hear how they land on your street, your parks, and your sense of safety. We’re breaking down two Hanford City Council meetings with Vice Mayor Nancy Howze, highlighting the moments that signal where the city is headed and the votes that move big projects forward. We start with a major planning update: Hanford’s draft urban forest management plan, built to guide the future of the city’s trees with a clearer strategy for maintenance, long-term canopy goals, and healthier neighborhoods. From there, we share community recognitions that reflect what keeps a city strong, including thanks for the Longfield Center Toy Drive and recognition for Police Captain James Lutz after completing POST Command College, with lessons tied to the future of policing and emerging technology. Then we dig into the policy and budget items residents ask about most. A transient occupancy tax increase from 8% to 12% heads toward the June primary ballot, with estimated added revenue for services like public safety, parks, and facilities. We also cover Measure H funded steps that support city operations, including facility planning for a future public safety building and a fourth fire station, vehicle purchases for community service officers, and repairs aimed at getting the Plunge ready for the upcoming pool season. We wrap with a look outward and forward: an environmental justice element focused on health, equity, and environmental hazards affecting disadvantaged communities, a briefing from the city’s state lobbyists on legislative priorities, and a key downtown move to purchase parcels near Harris Street and 7th Street for a new public safety building expected to house the police department and fire administration. If you want a clear, local-government recap without the noise, listen now, then subscribe, share with a neighbor, and leave a review so more people can follow what’s happening in Hanford. You can find the Hanford Insider at www.hanfordinsider.com and on social media at @hanfordinsider Thank you for supporting the show!

    5 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.7
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Welcome the Hanford Insider, I’m your host Rob Bentley. I’m a lifelong resident of Hanford and I’m very involved in the local history scene and podcasting so I decided to start this show as a resource to Hanford area residents for covering issues, promoting events, sports, and reflecting on some local history. Tune in each Monday for a new episode. Please help me get the word out about the show by sharing on social media, or telling a friend. For more information about the show, you can find me on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X,  or Threads at @Hanford Insider.  If you have a show idea, be sure to email me hanfordinsider@gmail.com  If you are part of an organization that needs help getting the word out to the community, let’s work together.

Information

  • Creator
    Rob Bentley
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    146
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Hanford Insider
  • Show Website
    Hanford Insider