Hanford Insider
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.
Recent Episodes
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July 30, 2026
Hanford City Council Recap In Minutes Pt. II
Send me a text and give me feedback on this episode! A reballot powered by neighbors. A budget shortfall that changes what gets maintained. A major public safety project that forces a hard conversation about eminent domain. Mayor Mark Kairis returns with part two of a July 21 Hanford City Council meeting recap, breaking down the votes and what they mean for everyday life in Hanford. We start with a bright spot: the City Council recognizes Grid Alternatives of Central Valley for helping Hanfo...
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July 27, 2026
Hanford City Council Recap In Minutes
Send me a text and give me feedback on this episode! A proposed data center that the city says it hasn’t been consulted on. Police tech that raises big questions about privacy. And a new California water law that could change what “normal” landscaping looks like across town. Mayor Mark Kairis gives us a fast, practical wrap-up of recent Hanford City Council actions from the July 21 meeting, focused on what residents asked about most and what council wants to revisit publicly. We start ...
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July 26, 2026
Hanford Insider: 1976 Time Capsule
Send me a text and give me feedback on this episode! A sealed tube buried in 1976 just told Hanford a story it couldn’t hear anywhere else and the voices are still there. We crack open the City of Hanford 1976 Bicentennial Time Capsule and walk through what was saved, why it was chosen, and what it feels like to hear local life preserved on cassette tapes from KLAN and KNGS radio. It’s a rare kind of local history you can actually listen to, from ceremony clips to everyday newscasts that inst...
July 20, 2026
Hanford Insider: ENCORE EPISODE with Nancy Howze
Send me a text and give me feedback on this episode! Hiring a new city manager might sound like inside baseball, but it is one of the biggest decisions Hanford will make this year, and it will shape everything from staff culture to how fast projects actually move. We talk with Vice Mayor Nancy Howze about what she’s learning in her first six months on the Hanford City Council, how she’s working to build a more cohesive and respectful dais, and why the “process” is more than paperwork, it’s ho...
July 13, 2026
Hanford Insider: ENCORE EPISODE, KCSO Air Support Unit
Send me a text and give me feedback on this episode! More planes and helicopters circling over Hanford has sparked a lot of curiosity and more than a few rumors, so we decided to go straight to the source. We sit down with Sergeant Jerry Hunter and Senior Deputy Eric Johnson from the Kings County Sheriff’s Department Air Support Unit to get a clear, grounded look at what aerial law enforcement actually does for public safety in Kings County. We talk through how the unit is staffed, what a ty...
July 6, 2026
Hanford Insider: ENCORE EPISODE - Chris Tavarez Hanford City Manager
Send me a text and give me feedback on this episode! Hanford doesn’t need more buzzwords, it needs roads you can drive on, a public safety facility that actually fits the people working inside it, and utility systems that won’t fail at the worst possible moment. We sit down with Hanford City Manager Chris Tavarez to talk about what’s moving, what’s still in design, and how the city is trying to turn long lists of needs into a real, funded work plan. We dig into Measure H and why it matters f...
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Recent Blog Posts
June 16, 2026
Superior Dairy Restoration
Superior Dairy, a Hanford cultural landmark since 1929 and one of the rare surviving examples of an American dairy and soda fountain. New owners Andy and Jacob Zonneveld describe why buying Superior Dairy Products feels personal, not just financial.…
Jan. 21, 2026
Renovating the Old Kings County Courthouse
Downtowns don’t rebound by accident—they rise when people decide to invest sweat, patience, and capital into places others wrote off. That’s the heart of our talk with Kevin Nickel, co-founder of Esteem Land Co., Carvalho Construction, and BarrelHou…
Nov. 17, 2025
2025 Winter Wonderland and Christmas Parade Preview
Hanford’s holiday season arrives with a full slate of community news, major event updates, and a practical guide for anyone planning to celebrate with family and friends. We start with the essentials: City Council meets with recognitions for youth a…