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Steve Ringhoff

Is San Joaquin River Groundwater Allstate’s Orchard Insurance?

August 5, 2021 By Steve Ringhoff 6 Comments

San Joaquin River

YOU tell Allstate they can’t draw from the San Joaquin River to water the almonds they planted in the last couple of years west of Modesto — a modest little project — modest if you have a basket of billions. Though some think $28,000,000 is more than modest. If you use Highway 132 to go west from Modesto, you probably have noticed a big change to farmland just west of […]

Filed Under: Environment Tagged With: groundwater in Stanislaus County, Modesto groundwater

Stanislaus Sheriff’s Office Sued on Shooting of Teenager

July 21, 2021 By Steve Ringhoff 1 Comment

Stanislaus County Sheriff's vehicles

The Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office has been sued in federal court because one of its deputies shot and killed someone. Again. This action, filed Monday, July 19, in US Court in Fresno, stems from the shooting of 16-year-old Xander Mann. That lawsuit follows by eight days the filing of a similar action based upon the fatal shooting of Eloy Gonzalez, 41, last September. The teenager and the homeless man were […]

Filed Under: History Tagged With: Eloy Gonzalez, Eloy Gonzalez Jr., Xander Mann

How Many Free Shovels on Turlock’s Amazon Gift Card?

June 27, 2021 By Steve Ringhoff 3 Comments

Amazon Patterson

While Turlock officials and Amazon flacks were still unwilling to confirm that a huge warehouse was going to be a fulfillment center for the internet giant, a burning question remained unanswered: Just how many shiny, commemorative shovels was Amazon going to provide for the groundbreaking ceremony? Several examples of those shovels were presented to City of Turlock managers so elected council members could be photographed “digging” into the earth at […]

Filed Under: History Tagged With: Amazon injuries, Amazon Turlock

The Back End of Amazon’s Gift Horse for Turlock

April 27, 2021 By Steve Ringhoff 20 Comments

Amazon Patterson

Steve Ringoff is a freelance journalist. See more of his work here. City of Turlock officials were about ready to polish the ceremonial groundbreaking shovels before it was publicly revealed that Amazon planned a 1,000,000 plus square foot warehouse facility in their southern Stanislaus County municipality. In an article April 21, bearing the bylines of  Modesto Bee reporters Kevin Valine, Marijke Rowland, and Kristen Lam, that team put together  enough […]

Filed Under: History Tagged With: Amazon Turlock

Who Was the Homeless Man Shot by Stanislaus Deputies?

November 12, 2020 By Steve Ringhoff 7 Comments

Body-worn camera image in Eloy Gonzalez case

The man shot to death by Stanislaus Sheriff’s deputies in late September was once a star high school athlete, a doting father and a solid wage earner who was brought down by drugs, says the woman who was his girlfriend for about a dozen years. Are these just the nice things we say about everyone once they die, even if not true? How would she know these things? Well, she […]

Filed Under: History Tagged With: Eloy Gonzalez, Eloy Gonzalez Jr., Jr.

Questions Remain in Shooting Death of Homeless Man

October 26, 2020 By Steve Ringhoff 26 Comments

Eloy Mares Gonzalez Jr.

Was this guy a burglar or just some homeless man sleeping rough in the bushes alongside a commercial building? That question apparently was not answered before he was shot to death by Stanislaus County Sheriff’s deputies just about a month ago. Still, that question, and others, have not been publicly answered. All we really know is that Eloy Mares Gonzalez Jr. was hit by several bullets fired by two deputies […]

Filed Under: History

The Supervisor’s Guide to Living Large by Avoiding Taxes

September 28, 2020 By Steve Ringhoff 3 Comments

Stanislaus County Supervisor Jim DeMartini

“I’ve had it with California. It’s the hostile business climate, the politics and high taxes,” said Stanislaus County Supervisor James R. DeMartini, explaining why he was moving to Nevada instead of running again for his board seat. If he was trying to sound like a victim, some aren’t buying it. Mr. DeMartini has been living large and will only live larger when he makes the move. Here what he has […]

Filed Under: Politics

Will McClatchy/Bee Sale to Vulture Hedge Fund Disturb the Force?

September 6, 2020 By Steve Ringhoff 3 Comments

1325 H Street, Modest

Steve Ringhoff is a freelance writer. View more of his work at A Little Long Form Journalism. Did you “sense” it, like Obi Wan recognizing the great disturbance in the force, as McClatchy, that family owned newspaper chain whose 30 newsrooms included the Modesto Bee, changed hands Friday? There was no big ceremony like a symbolic handover of a huge key as has been pictured in thousands of newspaper photos over […]

Filed Under: History Tagged With: McClatchy sale, Modesto Bee

Deputy Blamed for Fatal Crash: Fair or Not?

July 22, 2020 By Steve Ringhoff 3 Comments

Hinostroza crash Crown Victoria

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 […]

Filed Under: History Tagged With: Deputy Sheriff Antonio Hinostroza, Hinostroza crash

After a Horrible Accident: Was Justice Served?

February 6, 2020 By Steve Ringhoff 13 Comments

The scene of the accident Anderson

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 […]

Filed Under: History

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Off The Wire

Warren: Voters Must Elect Dems In Midterms Who Would Nix Filibuster To Codify Roe
Warren: Voters Must Elect Dems In Midterms Who Would Nix Filibuster To Codify Roe
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) on Sunday said she views the midterm elections…
talkingpointsmemo.com
A Farmer’s Quest to Beat California’s Waves of Drought and Deluge
A Farmer’s Quest to Beat California’s Waves of Drought and Deluge
Don Cameron went all in on a trickle-down survival tactic. It could help save America’s agricultural heartland—even if he doesn’t survive the new water war.
www.wired.com
Ten Ways Billionaires Avoid Taxes On An Epic Scale
Ten Ways Billionaires Avoid Taxes On An Epic Scale
This article first appeared at ProPublica. ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative…
talkingpointsmemo.com
A South Texan?s Wild, Life-affirming Quest to Break a National Birding Record
A South Texan’s Wild, Life-affirming Quest to Break a National Birding Record
When she began her year-long bird-spotting adventure, Tiffany Kersten was lost and lonely. She ended up achieving a major milestone and finding her way.
www.texasmonthly.com
Ron Johnson tried to hand fake elector info to Mike Pence on Jan. 6, panel reveals
Ron Johnson tried to hand fake elector info to Mike Pence on Jan. 6, panel reveals
A top aide said the Wisconsin Republican senator wanted to give Pence the list of pro-Trump electors as he prepared to certify the 2020 election.
www.politico.com
Raffensperger says he wishes Fox News carried every Jan. 6 hearing
Raffensperger says he wishes Fox News carried every Jan. 6 hearing
“I think it would have helped our party heal, given [people] more facts.”
www.axios.com
'Not safe anymore': Portland confronts the limits of its support for homeless services
‘Not safe anymore’: Portland confronts the limits of its support for homeless services
Homeless encampments now spill well beyond Portland’s downtown core, dividing a city that has invested liberally in support services.
www.latimes.com
Republicans Will Do It Again
Republicans Will Do It Again
They have not been chastened by the revelations of the January 6 committee.
nymag.com
Birdman
Birdman
Bird Brother: A Falconer’s Journey and the Healing Power of Wildlife
www.earthisland.org
The Potato Roll Empire Bankrolling Christian Nationalist Doug Mastriano
The Potato Roll Empire Bankrolling Christian Nationalist Doug Mastriano
The Martins were bit players in politics, until they put Doug Mastriano one step away from becoming Pennsylvania’s next governor.
nymag.com
Roger Stone and Michael Flynn under fire over rallies ‘distorting Christianity’
Roger Stone and Michael Flynn under fire over rallies ‘distorting Christianity’
Prominent Christian leaders accuse Trump allies of spreading misinformation about election and Covid, while distorting Christian teachings at ReAwaken America events
www.theguardian.com
Major water cutbacks loom as shrinking Colorado River nears 'moment of reckoning'
Major water cutbacks loom as shrinking Colorado River nears ‘moment of reckoning’
As the Colorado River water shortage worsens, major cutbacks are needed to reduce most perilous risks, a federal official tells senators.
www.latimes.com
Trump Scammed Supporters Out of $250 Million for Nonexistent Fraud Fund
Trump Scammed Supporters Out of $250 Million for Nonexistent Fraud Fund
Supporters who thought they were donating to “election integrity” instead saw some of their money funneled to Trump hotels
www.rollingstone.com

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

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The Valley Citizen
PO Box 156
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Email us at:
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