Valley Headlines

Beware surge in Valley Fever

SF Chronicle. Potentially deadly Valley Fever infections quadruple after CA music festival.
Synopsis: The “Lightning in a Bottle” festival near Bakersfield last May has given rise to 19 cases of Valley Fever among attendees and workers; 8 have been hospitalized. Many more were likely infected by the dust-borne disease, but did not require medical attention. One young man needed surgery to remove pockets of liquid from his chest. Valley Fever cases are rising, with only 1,500 reported in 2001, but 9,000 in 2023. In the first six months this year, 5,400 have been reported in CA. BTW, the 2025 “Lightning in a Bottle” festival is already sold out.
MAD Take: One of the leading centers for research into Valley Fever is UC Merced.

US News & World Report. CA drought cycles raise threat of dangerous airborne fungus.
Synopsis: Coccidioides fungus spores – aka, Valley Fever -- live in the soil and are kicked up by nesting rodents. UC San Diego has tracked all the cases from 2000 to 2021, publishing results in The Lancet medical journal. Cases spike during drought and each year from September to November. Bad as it gets in CA, Valley Fever is worse in Arizona. To stay safe, mask up when outdoors.

Fire growing on the West Side

GV Wire. Boone Fire grows to 11,000 acres; 3 firefighters injured, evacuation orders announced.
Synopsis: The Boone Fire is burning in the steep hills where Fresno, San Benito and Monterey counties meet along Hwy 198 near Boone Lane. It has scorched 11,000 acres despite the efforts of 20 engines, 11 dozers and 175 firefighters – 3 of whom have been injured. High winds have pushed the fire into the brush and tall grass. Evacuations have been ordered along Los Gatos Creek Road near the San Benito County line.

4 million picking a college

SF Chronicle. Why this will be the most extraordinary season for college admissions in years.
Synopsis: There will be a record 4 million students applying to college this fall, and it’s never been more confusing. Some schools abandoned the SATs, some still require it and some have brought it back. Students are asking new questions – from “Can I get an abortion if I need it,” to “will protests disrupt my classes?” In California, 450,000 new high school grads can apply for 20 schools in a single application. Then there is ever-rising tuition costs. Many students feel their high school counselors aren’t up to the task; with 460 students per counselor statewide, that’s a real concern.

Some news about football

Modesto Bee. High school football rankings: Two unbeaten teams remain.
Synopsis: Despite being 2-0, Downey High is ranked No. 3 by The Bee’s Quinton Hamilton, trailing Central Catholic (1-1) and Patterson (1-1). Rankings: No. 4 Hughson (2-0), No. 5 Turlock (1-1), No. 6 Escalon (1-1), No. 7 Oakdale (1-1), No. 8 Gregori (1-1), No. 9 Hilmar (1-1), No. 10 Ripon Christian (1-1).  

Valley Sun. CBS47 to air Fresno State games against Sacramento State and Hawaii.
Synopsis: By picking up these two games, only the season finale against UCLA is left without a broadcaster. Scott Bemis will do play-by-play with Marcus McMaryion providing commentary. Fresno plays Sac on Saturday and Hawaii on Nov. 2.

Bullet train is inching along

Merced Sun Star. ‘Optimistic and satisfied’: Outgoing high-speed rail CEO reflects on tenure.
Synopsis: Brian Kelly spent 6 years trying to push the high-speed rail project forward; his last day was Friday. In the 11 years since the project began, there has been progress – just not as much as hoped. Of the 163 specific engineering projects needed for the line’s backbone (the 168 miles from Shafter to Merced) all 163 are now complete. When Kelly arrived, only 18 were finished. He says the line will be operational by 2033. Ian Choudri will pick up the job this month.

It’s all political …

Axios. Control of US House may come down to six races in CA.
Synopsis: Reporter Russell Contreras writes that the most important of this year’s House races is CA 13. The reporter tells us little about the district, its issues or dynamics, but does provide the opinion of political science Prof. Thomas Holyoke of Fresno State. He says it will be close.

Turlock Journal. Alanis sends final four bills of his legislative package to the governor.
Synopsis: Juan Alanis is proud of bills he worked on that are on the governor’s desk. They concern collecting data on homeless youth, testing for “tranq” during autopsies, making financial literacy a required subject and requiring hospitals to notify law enforcement when considering placement of violent predators.

Ceres Courier. Many folks believe Ceres headed in wrong direction.
Synopsis: Jeff Benziger opens his weekly column with: “Don’t be surprised if the next mayor of is Ceres’ second with the last name of Condit.” That would be Gary M., grandson of former representative Gary Condit. Benziger feels strongly that most people do not believe Javier Lopez is doing a good job. And the Condit name remains magic in Ceres.

Maven. Panel sets field hearing on CA water concerns.
Synopsis: A House Natural Resources subcommittee is coming to Santa Nella on Friday to discuss “Water Abundance: Opportunities & Challenges in CA.”
MAD Take: While this will have the trappings of an official meeting, it is an entirely political photo op with no impact or importance.

They want water bill signed

Capitol Weekly. Securing CA’s future water supply is critical.
Synopsis: Op-Ed. Joseph Cruz,  of the CA State Council of Laborers, and Craig Miller, GM of Western Water, wrote in support of SB 366 – Anna Caballero’s bill to require a plan to reach water sustainability. They say conservation measures are too weak to have a real impact; what we need are infrastructure projects to store water and move it more efficiently. “Water projects create quality jobs. Building or upgrading water infrastructure to secure a long-term, reliable water supply brings together dozens of disciplines – site preparation, concrete placement, hoisting and rigging, tamping, drilling and blasting, dewatering, waterproofing and erosion control to list a few.”

Crime time: Attacking wrong chef

SF Standard. Netflix chef pins down racist attacker after brutal assault in downtown SF.
Synopsis: Wendy Drew, who appeared in “You Are What You Eat,” had just exited Café Terminus when a man called out a racial slur. She responded, and he punched her three times. She pulled him into a nearby store and shouted for help. “I basically had him a bear hug and my legs around him.” Customers in the store pepper sprayed Irvin Rivera-Lara, who then tried to get away. Last year, the homeless Rivera-Lara was arrested for attacking a shop owner who tried to stop him from urinating outside his restaurant. At one point, Rivera-Lara’s dog came up to Drew while she was on the floor and licked her face.

Merced Sun Star. Merced County teacher arrested, accused of inappropriate conduct with students.
Synopsis: Julie Barcelo allegedly offered weed to students and sent some of them inappropriate images. The school’s admin found out and reported Barcelo to the Sheriff.

Merced Golden Wire. Merced PD seeking suspect in fatal stabbing.
Synopsis: A stabbing happened in a car on Alviso Drive around 8:30 pm Tuesday. The victim, unidentified but 38 years old, was taken to Modesto before dying. Witnesses identified the attacker, a teen, but police haven’t yet located him.

Studying a disappearing river

SJV Water. Students scramble to study the Kern River as Bakersfield cuts off flows leaving fish to die.
Synopsis: Lois Henry writes about the city’s decision last week to cut back river flows to facilitate a maintenance project. By Friday, hundreds of fish were piled on in the riverbed. Bakersfield State Prof. Rae McNeish brought out students to catalogue the “smorgasbord” of species found in the drying sand – carp, catfish, blue gill, bass and crappie. She warned that stranded pools will turn to warm for fish, killing them. All of this is attracting mosquitoes, flies, rats and other nuisances.