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Great Horned Owl by Jim Gain

Learn 100 Valley Birds #3: Common Valley Owls

Today’s post is another three-fer offering that includes the three owls that most Valley Visitors are likely to encounter in an urban setting: Great Horned […]

Featured Story

Caltrans bulldozer Modesto July 2022

Caltrans: Sweeping your Tax Dollars Away

We’re still waiting for a report from Caltrans on how much it costs to sweep the average homeless camp along one of California’s freeways. We do know that last November, Caltrans estimated it would spend $36 million on homeless camp cleanups in this year alone. Caltrans workers assigned to the sweeps, highway patrol officers who provide security during the sweeps, and neighboring businesses and residents all know that when homeless […]

More Stories

Learn 100 Valley Birds #2: Anna’s Hummingbird

More on Mapes Ranch Water Sales

Learn 100 Valley Birds with Jim Gain

Police Pull Body from Canal in Modesto’s College District

Dos Rios: The Many Facets of a Natural Gem

Mapes’ Water Sales May Roil Irrigation District

Need Optimism? Think Josh Harder

Homeless: Sweep? We’ll be back

Homeless: Word from the Camps

Valley Heat Batters Homeless People

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Male Anna's Hummingbird by Jim Gain

Learn 100 Valley Birds #2: Anna’s Hummingbird

Jim Gain calls Anna’s Hummingbird, the second in the “Learn 100 Birds” series, a “three-fer” because it illustrates one of the basic tactics for building a local birding list. This tactic involves knowing a birding fundamental: Learn the most common bird and you will often also learn one or two other similar but less common birds. The Anna’s Hummingbird offers a classic case. In the San Joaquin Valley, if you […]

Mapes Ranch sign and flag

More on Mapes Ranch Water Sales

July 25, attorneys for “Lyons Land Management and Mapes Ranch” issued a strong rebuttal to a letter to the Modesto Irrigation District (MID) from its former General Counsel that raised questions about Mapes Ranch’s use of MID water. The rebuttal argued the letter, “contains false accusations and incorrect information.” We summarized portions of the letter from Ronda Lucas on July 19. Lucas, who served as MID’s General Counsel from early […]

Scrub Jay for slider

Learn 100 Valley Birds with Jim Gain

Jim Gain’s Reflections of the Natural World is one of the finest online explorations of nature anywhere. Jim has graciously permitted us to publish his new series, “Learn 100 Common Valley Birds.” While it may sound daunting, with Jim’s expert help and superb photos, learning to identify 100 common species is not only possible, it’s a great incentive to get outside and enjoy the Valley’s splendid natural history.  Here’s Jim’s […]

MID canal at Virginia and Morris

Police Pull Body from Canal in Modesto’s College District

At approximately 9:00am, Saturday, July 23, Modesto Police Officers pulled a body from a Modesto Irrigation District Canal at the corner of Morris and Virginia Streets in Modesto, just two blocks east of Modesto Junior College. Officers on scene said the body was of an unidentified male and there were no signs of injury or foul play. Though there is no evidence the deceased was homeless, homeless people who frequent […]

Around the Region

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LETTERS

Letters should be 250 words or less, and may be edited for concision and clarity. They should concern people and issues in the San Joaquin Valley. Send your letters to: thevalleycitizen@sbcglobal.net. Please include an address and telephone number.
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Off The Wire

Opinion | When America Joined the Cult of the Confederacy
Opinion | When America Joined the Cult of the Confederacy
By renaming military bases, the Defense Department dismantles an enduring legacy of the Lost Cause.
www.nytimes.com
What?s driving the massive, destructive rainfalls around the country
What’s driving the massive, destructive rainfalls around the country
“The infrastructure we have is really built for a climate we are not living in anymore,” said one scientist who studies extreme precipitation.
www.washingtonpost.com
How California stands to gain from historic new climate and energy bill
How California stands to gain from historic new climate and energy bill
Billions for electric cars, solar and wind power are expected to boost state’s clean energy efforts and industries
www.mercurynews.com
Inside the War Between Trump and His Generals
Inside the War Between Trump and His Generals
www.newyorker.com
Water wars in a drying California: New money vs. old power in San Joaquin Valley
Water wars in a drying California: New money vs. old power in San Joaquin Valley
www.mercurynews.com
History of DDT ocean dumping off L.A. coast even worse than expected, EPA finds
History of DDT ocean dumping off L.A. coast even worse than expected, EPA finds
Barrels of DDT waste, along with other chemicals, were likely poured directly into the ocean near Catalina Island, according to federal regulators.
www.latimes.com
The Tiny Bird Ruining East Coast Beach Vacations
The Tiny Bird Ruining East Coast Beach Vacations
Meet the piping plover, an adorable little bird whose tenuous existence shuts down roads and beaches right in the peak of summer.
www.thedailybeast.com
Will the last person to leave Phoenix please turn off the sun?
Will the last person to leave Phoenix please turn off the sun?
Asking when Phoenix will become uninhabitable means asking who has the resources to survive — and eventually, the rich might be the only ones left
www.salon.com
California drought official quits, blasting Newsom for 'gut wrenching' inaction
California drought official quits, blasting Newsom for ‘gut wrenching’ inaction
A state water board official has resigned, claiming the Newsom administration has “nearly eviscerated” the board’s ability to confront drought.
www.latimes.com
Seventy Never Looked So Good: The Long, Wondrous Life of Wisdom the Albatross
Seventy Never Looked So Good: The Long, Wondrous Life of Wisdom the Albatross
The Laysan Albatross is the oldest known wild bird on the planet, an international icon, and still hatching eggs. This year she had her 39th chick.
www.audubon.org
It?s Going to Take Several Miracles to Stop the Republican Party From Turning America Into Hungary
It’s Going to Take Several Miracles to Stop the Republican Party From Turning America Into Hungary
It’s probably already too late to save American democracy. Here is the series of improbable events doing so would require.
newrepublic.com

Myanmar: Military executes four democracy activists including ex-MP

Myanmar: Military executes four democracy activists including ex-MP
The executions mark the first cases of capital punishment in the country in decades.
www.bbc.com
GOPer Who Voted Against Marriage Equality Goes To Son's Gay Wedding Days Later
GOPer Who Voted Against Marriage Equality Goes To Son’s Gay Wedding Days Later
A lot of things happened. Here are some of the things. This…
talkingpointsmemo.com

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The Valley Citizen
PO Box 156
Downtown Bear Postal
1509 K Street
Modesto, CA 95354

Email us at:
thevalleycitizen@sbcglobal.net

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The Valley Citizen
PO Box 156
Downtown Bear Postal
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Modesto, CA 95354

Email us at:
thevalleycitizen@sbcglobal.net

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Dedicated to the memory of John Michael Flint. Contact us at thevalleycitizen@sbcglobal.net

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