Steve Ringhoff is an independent investigative journalist. See more of his stories here. Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Deputy Antonio Hinostroza was killed when his patrol car slammed into a signal pole at Claribel and Terminal south of Riverbank on November 25, 2018 while speeding to join in the pursuit of a drunk driver. This week, the Central Division of the California Highway Patrol (CHP) released a 219 page final report fulfilling […]
After a Horrible Accident: Was Justice Served?
Always combining his experience as an attorney and journalist, Steve Ringhoff has an ongoing interest in law and justice. Below, while investigating a horrible accident, he looks closely at LaGrange Road, transecting parts of western Tuolumne County and eastern Stanislaus County, the primary feeder route for drivers between foothill communities and Southern California. It was Trista’s turn to drive. It was a school day—a Friday, October 21, 2016—so, when Trista […]
CHP Still Withholding Details of Deputy’s Deadly Crash
Steve Ringhoff combines an attorney’s regard for law with a journalist’s need to know as he investigates local news, most especially stories involving suspicious circumstances surrounding deadly events. Here, we reprint with permission his latest work from Modesto Explained. It’s been almost 11 months since Stanislaus Sheriff’s Deputy Tony Hinostroza was killed when his patrol car wrapped itself around a pole at Terminal and Claribel southwest of Riverbank and the […]
WALL STREETIN’ McCLATCHY: Will debt bury the Bee?
Steve Ringhoff’s Modesto Explained presents local investigative journalism on a range of subjects. Here, Steve offers an insider’s look at the McClatchy corporation’s precarious debt load and what it might mean to the future of its newspapers. Reprinted with permission. Do the 19 or so descendants of the founders of The McClatchy Company—whose media empire includes The Modesto Bee—feel the hot breath of a hedge fund wolf on the backs […]
Yadegar Shooting Comes into Focus: It Doesn’t Get any Prettier
A report from Steve Ringhoff at modestoexplained.com The .45 caliber bullet did exactly what it was designed to do. It killed. Entering the body of Evin Olsen Yadegar at the left rear shoulder, expanding, mushrooming, fracturing bone and lacerating vessels, organs and muscles, slowing from about 600 miles per hour—the speed at which it left the gun fired by Deputy Justin Wall—until, its energy spent, coming to rest in her […]
Steve Ringhoff: “Will the Bee Survive”?
Former journalist and retired attorney Steve Ringhoff has never lost his thirst for the truth nor his dedication to research. Read more of Steve’s work here. Not that long ago, The Modesto Bee arrived with an audible “thump.” Now, the paper, unwrapped, would simply flutter on down like a large leaf. Monday last it was 12 pages, Friday it was 18, not counting “Scene.” We were spoiled. For many years, The […]
Deputy Sheriff’s Death both Rare and Tragic
Retired attorney and investigative journalist Steve Ringhoff pursues the stories he believes the people need to know. Read more of his fine work here. –Deputy Sheriff Antonio Hinostroza’s case is rare, because his death was the first vehicle pursuit related death of a Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Deputy; and, even more rare because only about 1 percent of law enforcement officers are killed in those crashes which result in deaths each […]
Tracking Effects of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning is Tricky
Steve Ringhoff is a retired attorney and investigative journalist who formerly wrote for the Modesto Bee. His recent investigation (see link below) into the deaths of Jason Garner and Raschel Johnson is a classic of investigative reporting. Read more of Steve’s fine work here. Understand: There is no real “canary” for carbon monoxide poisoning. You may get a headache, or not; be fatigued, or not, be nauseated, or not. You can […]
Death in a Fiery Crash: a Steve Ringhoff Investigation
Steve Ringhoff is a retired attorney and investigative journalist who formerly wrote for the Modesto Bee. Read more of Steve’s fine work here. THIS TIME: We begin a three part report which examines the investigation into the crash which took the lives of Stanislaus Sheriff’s Deputy Jason Garner and Community Service Officer Raschel Johnson last year. We look into what was found, not found and, perhaps, hidden in the nearly […]
Wall Street Journal Confirms Fears of Almond Glut
Rising concerns about a glut in the almond market were confirmed by the Wall Street Journal in “U.S. Farmers are Reeling from Chinese Tariffs.” The article cites the Almond Board of California, and says the board is expecting a record crop when the harvesting of some varieties begins in about two weeks. Coupled with the supply increase is the throttling back of demand in China because of steep tariffs, triggering a […]