Today's Headlines

Ballots finally official

Merced Focus. Merced County local races taking shape for November ballot.
Synopsis: Reporter Brianna Vaccari writes about county, city and school board races. Calling it an “historic election” for Los Banos, she notes “every member  of the Los Banos City Council is on the ballot. Two of the council members face a recall election. Plus, the incumbent mayor and two other incumbent council members all face challengers.” She added, “Leaders of Los Banos have been the subject of numerous articles ever since the council last year voted to rehire City Manager Josh Pinheiro, who had been fired.” Vaccari also notes that Matt Serratto has a challenger, Anthony Martinez. Fernando Echevarria pulled papers, but didn’t make it. Another oddity is Rodrigo Espinosa’s decision to run for both the Merced County BOE and Livingston city council. The former county supervisor can’t hold both at the same time.

Turlock Journal. Turlock city council districts 2 and 4, city treasurer candidates set.
Joe Cortez reports that Rebecka Monez is seeking a second term in D2, facing Milt Trieweiller. In D4, Erika Phillips and Kamlesh Kaur will strive to succeed Pam Franco (who is running for city treasurer).

Adam Gray’s mission

Valley Solutions: Adam Gray tired of fighting, wants Washington to get back to work.
Synopsis: It’s interesting to hear so many candidates say they want to “fight” for voters. Adam Gray would prefer to WORK for them. If legislators don’t “work,” nothing worthwhile gets done. Just look at the 118^th Congress over the past two years. As House Republicans fought every initiative created in the Senate, the farm bill and immigration reform languished. Instead of an agenda, candidate Adam Gray has a mission – to get to work for voters in the 13th Congressional district.

Weening off fossil fuels

Cal Matters. CA hits milestones toward 100% clean energy – but has a long way to go.
Synopsis: On 100 days so far this year, renewable energy has powered California entirely, says Stanford engineering Prof. Mark Jacobson. Despite CA’s hottest summer on record, we have yet to see any blackouts. Story says this is due to investments in solar power and improvements in the grid so energy can be moved around. Since 2022, the state has added 11,600 megawatts of solar power. The Stanford professor says this has been done through “subtle improvements” in existing technologies, not breakthroughs. That means that more such improvements can get us even closer to carbon-free power. Still, natural gas generates more CA power (36%) than any other source.  
MAD Note: The Stanford professor includes hydropower in his list of renewables currently powering California. Interestingly, the state of California decided to only count hydro when it wants to brag about self-sufficiency. Otherwise, a law pushed through by Kevin DeLeon says hydro is not “renewable.” The same law mandated that every public utility must buy more and more “renewable” energy (but not hydro) every year through 2045. That means our public utilities, who generate hydro on our behalf, must sell the power they create and buy more expensive solar, wind and geothermal power. In 2023, hydro produced 10.4% of all CA power. As Adam Gray said all along, TID, MID, SMUD and other publicly-owned utilities must be allowed to count hydropower toward their renewable mandates.

Salmon are survivors … mostly

Fish Bio. Chinook diversity persists even in altered rivers.
Synopsis: Fish Bio explains how the various “runs” of Chinook emerged to take advantage of water conditions found in California. It was a coping mechanism ensuring the survival of salmon as a species – not specific runs. Fish that adapted to rely on cold-water estuaries have either lost access to those estuaries or those bodies of water no longer exist, making those runs obsolete. “But all hope is not lost,” writes Fish Bio, “the findings of a recent study examining the genetics of Chinook in a very modified river in the Sacramento Basin suggest that the diversity of these salmon may be more persistent than previously thought.” The study shows spring run salmon co-exist with fall and winter run salmon, even in highly modified rivers. In fact, they are genetically mixed or mixing now.

CA Water Blog. Systemic assessments of non-native fishes in the SF Estuary.
Synopsis: Two grad students and a researcher at UC Davis wrote this report in defense of species that have been introduced by humans into the Delta. The young scientists insist invaders aren’t always detrimental for a variety of reasons – including the enjoyment of catching them. “While largemouth bass may periodically eat large numbers of salmon, and striped bass are piscivorous species, there is little evidence that these fishes have population-level effects on natives.” The junior scientists conclude that it is too expensive to manage invaders and that we should accept that they are here to stay.
MAD Take: First, let’s look at this subject from a different perspective – statistics. Before their introduction into the Delta 125 years ago, bass made up exactly 0% of the total fish population. Salmon and smelt populations were abundant (actual numbers are not available, but we’ve all heard anecdotal evidence of “walking across the river on the backs of king salmon” and using tons of smelt to fertilize fields in Brentwood). Now, bass make up 97% of the Delta’s entire fish biome. Delta smelt have disappeared and it takes heroic efforts to pluck a few salmon out of the South Delta and truck them to the Bay. So, forgive me if I put zero credence is the conclusions of grad students. If we must “accept” that bass are here to stay, then we must also accept that salmon and smelt are functionally gone. Oh, the word “piscivorous” means a fish that eats other fish. Look it up.

Back to school news …

Fresno Bee. On site of former juvenile hall, Fresno’s modern new alternative school opens.
Synopsis: The Farber Educational Campus welcomed its first students as school started Monday. The old juvenile “hall of shame” on Cesar Chavez Blvd was torn down in 2019, making way for the “crown jewel” of alternative education. It wants to train students for good jobs and to good in their communities. Among those who christened the new school were Francine and Murray Farber. They have provided more than $100,000 in scholarships for Fresno kids.

Westside Express. Book club collects, distributes school supplies.
Synopsis: The Book Worm Brigade has begun collecting school supplies to make sure 37 Mercey Springs Elementary students don’t go without. Gloria Martinez and Bambi Norris are behind the effort. Martinez works at the Probation Dept’s “Breaking Barriers” program and when she put out a call for help Realtor Bambi answered.

Turlock Journal. Home of the Honeybees.
Synopsis: There’s a new building between Hilmar High and Elim Elementary to house the TK-second grade classrooms. Principal Susan Azevedo calls the facility “spectacular.” Superintendent Isabel Cabral-Johnson thanked lots of folks, but foremost among them MCOE’s Steve Tietjen.
MAD Take: The “Honeybees” are my new favorite mascot.

Why walnut prices falling

Ag Net West. RaboResearch reports slow down of global walnut market.
Synopsis: Drought, water regulations, higher input costs, more competition and logistics issues are all contributing to lower prices for walnuts. But the most significant downward pressure is lower demand. While CA produces the highest quality nuts, there are simply too many nuts being produced in China, Chile, the EU and Australia.

Valley Children’s fat paychecks

Valley Sun. New tax return reveals Valley Children’s handed out $58 million in life insurance policies. 
Synopsis: The hospital’s tax filing shows that in 2022 the hospital had assets of $1.77 billion and paid CEO Todd Suntrapak a $1 million bonus. It also added $20 million to the life insurance-based plans for a few of its top execs. Those policies can be cashed in at retirement. Tax returns shows Suntrapak’s total pay was $3.05 million. Five employees got at least $1 million each while seven others were paid over $700,000 each. Oh, and VCH put $102 million in Central American investments.

In praise of K9 deputies

Stanislaus County SO. K9 team demonstrates their invaluable role in keeping communities safe.
Synopsis: Merlin assisted in calming a family dispute recently. The K9 deputy found a firearm in the bedroom of a 17-year-old who had been threatening family members. Buzz, meanwhile, found a loaded gun in the car of someone pulled over. He also found the bullets hidden in the dashboard.

As seen in Dumb & Dumber haircuts

Fresno Bee. Think the Edgar looks good? Broccoli and alpaca haircuts also in demand in Fresno.
Synopsis: If you think The Edgar looks good, you might want to look in the mirror. Regardless, Fresno barbers say the Edgar is one of the most popular haircuts for boys and teens. It is also the most polarizing. Some call it the Mexican Bowl Cut. Others say it was first seen in Dumb & Dumber. At Super Cuts, 60% of boys want the Edgar, Broccoli or Alpaca – which you can find on social media sites.

Chaffee greets baby elephant

GV Wire. Elephant calf born at Fresno Chaffee Zoo; another on the way.
Synopsis: Nolwazi gave birth in what CEO Jon Dohlin calls an “historic moment for the Zoo.” It is the first elephant born at the zoo. Some animal activists have decried the elephant-breediing program at the zoo. The zoo brought in a bull elephant in 2022 to breed with Nolwazi and her daughter, Amahle, who will give birth soon. Elephants have 22-month pregnancies.