Valley Headlines

New menaces to health

LA Times. Deadly, drug-resistant fungus CDC calls ‘urgent threat’ is spreading in hospitals.
Synopsis: If you’re sick and old, you could get a lot sicker but not much older if this fungus gets you. The CDC says Candida auris was first found in 2016 with 52 infections. By 2023, there were 4,514 infections, including 1,566 in California. Now Georgia is seeing a surge and Florida is considered a “hotbed.” It kills at least 30% of those who get it. The fungus can live for years on surfaces it colonizes. A CDC epidemiologist said that the rapid spread cries out for more lab capacity, quicker diagnostic tests and better prevention.

LA Times. RFK Jr. makes sweeping cuts in federal health programs, including CDC, FDA.
Synopsis: Just as the CDC warns us against new fungal threats, RFK Jr. fires 10,000 from the CDC, FDA and US Health Service. That includes closing 5 of the CDC’s 10 regional offices. RFK Jr. insists the new department will “do more – a lot more – at a lower cost to taxpayers.” But they won’t be working on vaccines. Early detection of cancers and other diseases could be replaced with no detection say those opposed to Kennedy’s cuts.

SF Chronicle. CDC halts federal funding in CA for COVID response, state officials say.
Synopsis: RFK Jr. has ordered an immediate cessation of $11.4 billion to fund COVID vaccinations, surveillance and testing. The CA Dept of Public Health is evaluating the action to determine how much the state can cover. Said the HHS: “The COVID-19 pandemic is over, and HHS will no longer waste billions of taxpayer dollars responding to a non-existent pandemic that Americans moved on from years ago.”

Good news for fish

SF Chronicle. Federal government restores funding for fish that Trump loves to loathe.
Synopsis: Kurtis Alexander writes about restoration of funding for the UC Davis Fish Conservation & Culture lab in Contra Costa County where delta smelt are kept alive in an aquarium. Trump cut funding, which could have meant firing all 17 staff members and losing the only captive smelt breeding project. The Bureau of Reclamation awarded a 5-year grant to UC Davis. The federal and state pumps on the edge of the Delta are required to throttle back on those rare occasions smelt are found in their vicinity.

Maven’s Notebook. CDFW: CA reports progress in supporting healthy salmon populations, habitat.
Synopsis: The CA Dept of Fish & Wildlife, Dept of Water Resources and State Water Board offered a report on 71 projects meant to increase salmon and steelhead populations. It applauds everything from dam removal to better fish ladders to improved screening on the Delta.
MAD Take: This report, while interesting, is remarkably short on data. Why not a chart showing how many salmon returned to specific rivers last year? Also, this report provided a lot of good news for salmon, instead of handwringing over not enough water, it should have been hand clapping over seeing more fish on the Mokelumne, Russian, Tuolumne and Merced among so many others.

Farewell to noble man

ABC30. Funeral for man killed by DUI suspect while trying to help after Atwater crash.
Synopsis: Family and community gathered in Sacred Heart Church to bid farewell to Abraham Bustos Guzman, who was in his second year of studies to become a police officer. Early Sunday morning he stopped to help crash victims on Hwy 99. As he helped people out of a disabled car a woman suspected of drunk driving smashed into the vehicle. A procession of law-enforcement vehicles escorted him to the cemetery.

A devilish flag dilemma

Merced Focus. Merced receives satanic flag request for Bob Hart Square amid policy debate.
Synopsis: As Victor Patton writes, “No matter where you stand on the debate over Merced’s flag policy, the devil is in the details.” The city often accommodates requests to fly flags celebrating Black History, Pride, Christians, veterans, etc. But Councilmember Shane Smith has been saying all along that the flag policy needs to be revised to protect the city against charges of stymying free speech if it rejects something odious. Somone identifying themself as Henry Hickman filed the request to hoist Satan’s banner. Attempts to reach Hickman or anyone affiliated with the Satanic temple were “unsuccessful.” Mayor Matt Serratto says he thinks Hickman isn’t from around here. The city says the application missed the submission deadline and has been denied.

Library protest gets loud  

Merced County Times. Merced County leaders push back on ‘false narrative’ over library plans.
Synopsis: After sparking a firestorm of protest when they entertained a plan to save $600,000 – and effectively cut over $1 million from the library’s budget -- by turning over operations to a private company, county supervisors are now insisting the issue has been resolved. Supervisor Josh Pedrozo says he looked at a proposal to privatize library services, but did not reveal the name of the vendor. He cast the issue as trying to be good stewards of tax dollars. He said those opposed to such a plan were “focusing on the negative.” Among those who spoke were Kenra Bragonier, Pamela Merrit Bennett and former Merced College President Susan Walsh, who pointed out to the board that when citizens interact with government “that is a good day for democracy.”
MAD Take: Were the Merced supervisors angry at those who came before them to protest privatization, or angry that they had to explain themselves?

Merced County Times. The story of our County Library.
Synopsis: County historian Sarah Lim writes about the Merced County Public Library, which turns 115 years old this year. It started with the Women’s Christian Temperance Union in 1881 and continued with the Merced Ladies Library Club, established in 1901. George Fancher bankrolled the original public library in his will. As an aside, his 1,000-ton tombstone is the largest in California.

Lowering electricity costs  

LA Times. Californians pay too much for electricity; here are 3 bold solutions.
Synopsis: Columnist Sammy Roth says there are no “easy answers” to lowering electricity rates that have risen 67% in three years. Instead of trying, he says the governor is proposing a $30 rebate funded through reductions in clean-energy programs. For real reform, Sammy suggests: 1) Do a better job trimming trees and vegetation that burn. The state should take over these tasks. 2) Take a hard look at utility profits. PG&E paid a record $2.4 billion in dividends last year while SDG&E and SoCal Edison paid another $2.4 billion to investors. Last week, all three asked the state to allow them to pay at least 10.2% on investor bonds. It’s an “absurd” figure. AAA-rated corporate bonds pay half that at 5.3%. Such wild returns guarantee higher rates. 3) Don’t allow any utility to pay for advertising or political activities.

Bill would halt gravel pits

Fresno Bee. Will blast mine on SJ River proceed? Lawmaker throws up stop sign.
Synopsis: Columnist Marek Warszawski writes about Joaquin Arambula’s efforts to make sure CEMEX never expands its gravel-mining operations. His AB 1425 would prohibit dewatering of pits within the entire river basin. “Dewatering” is necessary when mines reach the groundwater table, which is often closer to the surface near a river. The CEMEX pit would reach 600 feet deep; the water line is about 50 feet. 

Tchau, Portuguese Festival

Modesto Bee. One of Modesto region’s largest festivals canceled. 
Synopsis: The SJ Valley Portuguese Festival, originated by Carlos Vieira five years ago, won’t happen this year. The festival raised funds for the Race for Autism. Other festivals are just around the corner. The Modesto Pollinator Festival is April 5 at the La Loma Native Garden, the Stanislaus Artists Open Studio Tour is April 5-6 from Knights Ferry to Ceres and Earth Day at Graceada Park is April 19. 

Westside gets new clinic

KSEE / CBSS 47. New health center opens in Los Banos. 
Synopsis: Camarena Health opened its first clinic in Merced County and 23^rd overall. The ribbon will be cut today at 10 am at 2520 Pacheco Blvd. Guests can tour the 16,000-square-foot building offering dental, medical, vision, chiropractic and mental health services. 

Can sports save cities?

Modesto Bee. A professional soccer team, and stadium, are definitely coming to Modesto.
Synopsis: The Modesto city council committed itself to building a soccer stadium either on the old Muni golf course or at Centre Plaza. The city hired Seer World to investigate and promote the concept. Seer World CEO Peter Sorckoff promised that by replacing Centre Plaza with soccer the city could save $45 million. And having a team would draw tourists, spark business, etc. The team would compete in the USL, which has a Level 1 team in Sacramento and a Level 2 team in Turlock. No council member rose in opposition.
MAD Note: Not to be labeled a downer, but wasn’t Centre Plaza supposed to do the same thing -- bring visitors to Modesto while sparking a downtown renaissance? Has anyone checked with Turlock to see if such benefits have materialized around the Academica facility? And haven’t lots of studies shown that “boosters overestimate how many guests will visit the stadiums and how much they will spend while visiting.” Even stadiums built for major league sports fail to deliver. “Contrary to arguments made by sports franchise boosters, cities often end up paying for most of the new stadium and the expenses that run alongside,” said one study. 

Sacramento Bee. How will the A’s and MLB reshape West Sacramento life beyond the field?
Synopsis: The minor-league River Cats stadium will be packed when the A’s open their season Monday. The city says in-stadium spending alone will boost sales tax revenues. But the real benefit is the additional attention for the city. Meanwhile, restaurant area owners are expecting a bonanza of new business. Local leaders say the city is ready to “step onto this national stage.”

Recovered Renner’s reunion?

SF Chronicle. Jeremy Renner and Jessica Simpson reignite romance rumors.
Synopsis: The Modesto-born movie star has been posting video of his recovery from a near-fatal snowplow accident a year ago. Apparently, former girlfriend and singer Jessica Simpson has noticed his posts and liked them. Now they’re trading emojis of thumbs, hearts, fire, etc.
MAD Take: 🙃