Around The Valley
Food cuts loom for 22% of Valley residents According to the Modesto Focus, “About 482,000 households amounting to more than 950,000 people across Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced, San Joaquin, Stanislaus and Tulare counties receive assistance through CalFresh, as the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is known in California.” Federal cuts to those food assistance programs mean almost a million Valley residents will face growing food shortages amid rising costs for everything from meat to potatoes. Read more
Ceres almond farmer says Trump tariffs “scary” Valley farmers are wary of the possible effects of the Trump tariffs on crops like almonds, oranges, and wine grapes. “It’s scary,” said Christine Gemperle, an almond farmer in Ceres, near Modesto. “Nobody wants to be in the center of chaos.” The valley’s nut crops are especially vulnerable to losses because so many are exported. Read more
Army Corps knew Trump water release dangerous Donald Trump’s release of stored Valley water wasn’t just foolish, it could have threatened lives and caused extensive damage. “It was clearly nothing but a poor publicity stunt. And it was a dangerous one,” said California Senator Alex Padilla. “An unexpected, non-noticed release threatens lives, threatens the safety of communities…” The water release was just one more example of the Trump administration’s clumsy blunders that have shaken the stock market and continue to threaten public health and safety. Read more
Valley farms failing as groundwater act kicks in Ten years ago, California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) seemed to be all bark and no bite as it gave farmers until 2040 to achieve sustainable groundwater use throughout the San Joaquin Valley. Today, many farms are in imminent danger as depleted groundwater reserves and lack of access to surface water have put brought on escalating costs and plummeting land values. It is likely at least half a million acres will be fallowed with devastating losses for their owners. Read more
New climate realities challenge Valley to adapt or suffer Atmospheric rivers and a warming climate could well bring serial flooding disasters to the San Joaquin Valley, especially if we don’t adjust to new water realities. Rain instead of snow will be our chief source of water, which means flood events are far more likely. Enhanced floodplains and more groundwater recharge locations should be among the most effective measures for managing the new challenges brought on by a changing climate. Read more
Turlock Irrigation District tests solar panels over canals In what could be a major step forward in conservation and adaptation for climate change, the Turlock Irrigation District is placing solar panels over irrigation canals. The project is a test of concept that should reduce evaporation losses in the canals while providing solar energy to district customers. Read more
Growing threat of Valley Fever Valley Fever, once a rare fungal infection communicated by blowing dust, has become a growing threat to public health, especially in the southern San Joaquin Valley. As more and more people are infected, it’s imperative that people become more aware of this potentially fatal disease. A new report details why. Read more
Valley is “ground zero” for groundwater management It’s been ten years since passage of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SIGMA) and two groundwater basins are still on probation for failure to produce acceptable sustainability plans. Many San Joaquin Valley towns still don’t have safe drinking water and almost every large city is still dependent on groundwater. Though many authorities think the Valley will achieve sustainability by 2040, the first decade since passage of has been fraught with difficulty, despite the expenditure of a billion dollars. Read more
Alvarado-Gil at center of new scandal and lawsuits California State Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil caused a stir recently when she switched parties from Democrat to Republican. Now she’s being sued for sexual harassment and suppression of First Amendment rights to free speech. Chad Condit, Alavarado-Gil’s former Chief of Staff, has alleged she pressured him into oral sex by threatening his job security. In an unrelated action, the owner of Turlock’s B&C Investigations has sued the Senator for having been removed from a June 21 press conference. Read more
Modesto police review board recommends stricter oversight The Modesto Police Community Review Board’s first annual report recommended greater transparency, more emphasis on de-escalation techniques, and enhanced awareness of the effects of trauma on police officers. The wide-ranging report, released in late August, included the need for local communities to engage with law enforcement in compiling data that would reflect community needs and areas for improvement. Read more
Fresno Supervisor claims camping penalties not about homeless Fresno County Supervisor Steve Brandau claims that the county’s new anti-camping ordinance isn’t directed at homeless people. “It’s about all the rest of us that are impacted by people who do things that are not right in the public space.” Advocates for homeless people disagree. They cite lack of services and housing as driving factors in homelessness and argue that the elderly people on fixed incomes, the disabled, and victims of domestic violence make up large percentages of the homeless population. Read more
Letters
- Conflicts of Interest Abuse the Public Trust at Modesto Irrigation District
“No man is allowed to be a judge in his own cause, because his interest would certainly bias his judgment, and, not improbably, corrupt his… Read more: Conflicts of Interest Abuse the Public Trust at Modesto Irrigation District
FEATURED
- Senate Candidates Debate in Downtown Modesto
Based on her performance during last Thursday night’s debate in downtown Modesto, Alexandra Duarte is counting on riding the MAGA train to victory in California’s June primary — she calls it “MCGA” as in, “Make California Great Again.” Ms. Duarte is running against incumbent State Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil in California’s 4th District election this November.… Read more: Senate Candidates Debate in Downtown Modesto - The Byrd Investigation: Why the State Must Step In
After almost nine months of inquiry and investigation, the Modesto Irrigation District (MID) is still unable (or unwilling) to determine whether or not MID Director Larry Byrd used MID surface water on out-of-district trees on the AB LaGrange Ranch, where he is a partner with his brother Tim Byrd and Tyler “Ty” Angle. The out-of-district… Read more: The Byrd Investigation: Why the State Must Step In
RECENT
- Remembering Richard Anderson
Richard Anderson left us two weeks ago today. Several years ago, I was reporting on homelessness in Modesto when Richard Anderson asked whether I’d be willing to take him to a homeless camp. I told him they were pretty rough places. Richard said he was used to rough places, but I doubted him. He looked… Read more: Remembering Richard Anderson - The Byrd Investigation: When Absence is Evidence
One of the most glaring omissions from last year’s 4Creeks investigation into Larry Byrd’s water use on the AB La Grange Ranch was any mention of the orchard on the Rairden property, where a total of seventy-two acres of almond trees are thriving and productive. The AB La Grange Ranch comprises two properties, known as… Read more: The Byrd Investigation: When Absence is Evidence