Valley Headlines

Flags send a message

SF Chronicle. Photos: ‘Distress flag’ towers over Yosemite to protest cut as crows view firefall.
Synopsis: The dramatic “firefall” sunset moment on the rim of Yosemite Valley had competition on Saturday. Frustrated park staffers went to the edge of a 3,000-foot cliff and hung a huge upside-down American flag, a signal of distress. A recently fired maintenance mechanic and disabled veteran supplied the flag and helped hang it. He says what’s happening in the park “is not sustainable.” Among those laid off without explanation by Elon Musk were the park’s only locksmith, an HVAC worker, a biologist and a dozen others along with hundreds of seasonal workers. The real purpose of the layoffs, say many, is to cause despair and fear among employees.

Merced Focus. Merced re-examining its flag policy amid questions of free expression. 
Synopsis: The Merced city council has long approved the raising of various flags at Bob Hart Square, though very few flags fly without some kind of controversy. Among flags raised recently are the Black History, Pride and Christian flags. Councilmember Shane Smith is suggesting a policy that will protect the city against lawsuits claiming free-speech violations. “A true hate group could show up tomorrow and ask us to fly a flag under the current policy,” he said. “I think we’ve ceded control to the point we can’t tell them ‘no.’” The Supreme Court has ruled flag poles are forums for “government speech,” not free expression. “This is a big town with a big heart,” said Smith, so he believes something can be figured out.

Madera reopening inches along

ABC30. State completes survey of Madera Community Hospital ahead of reopening.
Synopsis: On Friday, the hospital said the CA Dept of Public Health had completed its “survey” of the hospital and found only a “few minor areas in need of correction.” When fixes are made, the hospital can start receiving patients. While no date for reopening was provided, the hospital said it is pursuing a “timely” reopening.

Can Briggsmore be fixed?

Modesto Bee. Modesto unveils options for dreaded Briggsmore interchange.
Synopsis: Long considered the worst intersection in Modesto, if not the county, Modesto and the state are spending $6.8 million just to study Briggsmore. Construction of new bridges, approaches, roundabouts and other parts of the solution will exceed $100 million. Howard Michael, an engineer with the company, called it “a mess” that looks like “a spaghetti bowl.” About 50,000 vehicles pass through the spaghetti on their way to 99, Sisk, Prescott or Orangeburg, which all converge at Briggsmore amid dozens of commercial entities. One idea is a “diverging diamond” design that has drivers facing the “wrong” direction for a while.

Now rats getting bird flu

Ag Daily. Canada stocks avian flu vaccine as H5N1 found in U.S. rats. 
Synopsis: For the first time, the USDA has confirmed that rats can get bird flu. Sick rats were found in Riverside County near a poultry farm where an outbreak occurred. This news has prompted Canada to secure 500,000 doses of GSK’s vaccine, which Health Canada has authorized for human use. Finland is already administering shots. The USDA, meanwhile, is struggling to get back up to speed after having laid off crucial workers in the avian-flu response team.

SF Standard. ‘Infinite sea of rats’: SF’s rodent population may be exploding.
Synopsis: There are so many rats in San Francisco that they no longer scurry about only in darkness. They run in pairs or packs and “they’re pretty fat.” Once rat populations begin to expand, it is extremely difficult to bring them under control – as NYC has found. Considering the story above, this is not a good thing.

Local druggist pushed out

Fresno Bee. Sierra town’s family-owned pharmacy squeezed out of business by industry, owner says.
Synopsis: Pharmacist Katie Bass, who opened her first drugstore in Planada a decade ago, had expanded to serve Coarsegold in 2019. But she can’t make it due to the reimbursement system that is putting many pharmacies out of business – including both of hers. Should be noted that her pharmacy provided 6,000 vaccines during COVID and also served inmates in the Mariposa County Jail. No more.

Threats to our health

Valley Citizen. Trump cuts to health care will devastate Valley residents.
Synopsis: Eric Caine writes about Trump’s anticipated attack on Medicare and Medicaid in an effort to fund tax cuts. Eric points out that in our Valley, 60 percent of residents in many counties depend on one of the two programs. Recognizing that could be a problem for Republicans in 2026, David Valadao wrote a letter to Speaker Mike Johnson saying he is not onboard with those cuts. As Eric wrote: Valadao “and his fellow Republicans will have to choose whether to represent their constituents or bow down to Elon Musk and Donald Trump.”
MAD Take: Eric’s commentary was actually pretty mild (for Eric), and echoed others across the nation. But in the comments under Eric’s column appeared a threat from someone identifying himself as Damon Woods. He’s a troll who has a loose grip on basic grammar and reality.

Another year at top of TUSD

Turlock Journal. Lattig to serve as TUSD superintendent for another year.
Synopsis: Dave Lattig will lose the term “interim” from his title at Turlock Unified. The board gave him a one-year contract in an effort to better evaluate his performance. Lattig has served the district for years as human resources director, career education director and principal. He was also principal at Escalon High for five years.

Sunday’s temp broke a record

Merced Golden Wire (Facebook). New record temp hit in Merced.
Synopsis: The US National Weather Service based in Hanford said it was 75 degrees in Merced on Sunday, breaking the record of 74 set in 1968. As various commenters note: “Looks like we’re in for a hot, hot, hot summer.” Another noted that it takes forever to cool down in the fall but heats up fast in the winter.

Fish-recognition software

Fish Bio. AI takeover: Automated fish counting cameras.
Synopsis: Fish Bio, one of the state’s pre-eminent river research firms, is using twin-cameras in fish tunnels to create 3-D images of fish and allowing them to be counted by fish-recognition software. It’s more accurate than previous counts and frees up staff from having to do one of the most boring tasks – count fish.

SF Gate. Salmon seen in CA’s North Yuba River for the first time in almost a century.
Synopsis: Though others are describing the Sacramento and Klamath river runs as “disappointing,” salmon are showing up in unexpected places. That includes the North Yuba, where the CDF&W has trucked in fish to spawning beds. 

Fresno State’s basketball mess

GV Wire. Fresno State suspends basketball players amid reports of NCAA gambling probe.
Synopsis: Bill McEwen writes about a team “already mired in the worst season in school history” (5-23) now being tarred by gambling accusations. Jalen Weaver and Zaon Collins have been suspended. Also, Mykell Robinson has not played since Jan. 11 and has left the team. Weaver and Collins are two of the Bulldogs’ top scorers, both in double figures.

Fox26. Zaon Collins, convicted in deadly Las Vegas crash, subject of betting investigation.
Synopsis: Fox26 adds context to the story about Zaon Collins, recalling his past troubles with the law. Collins had committed to UNLV in 2020 when he was driving his car 90 mph and crashed it into another car, killing a 52-year-old man. DUI charges were dropped.

At least the tomato was on time

GV Wire. Protester hurls tomato at Tulare Assemblywoman during high-speed rail conference.
Synopsis: In LA, Republican Alexandra Macedo was praising Donald Trump’s investigation into CA’s high-speed rail project when someone threw a tomato at her. She handled it well: “If you are going to throw produce, make sure it is #CaliforniaGrown,” she tweeted. That’s funny. Not so funny though is the thought that roughly 10,000 Valley jobs from Bakersfield to Merced could be killed if funding is ended.

Politico. CA watchdog says high-speed rail on track to blow more deadlines.
Synopsis: Reporter Alex Nieves notes a report Friday that says the HSRA is having trouble getting agreements to move roads, utility lines and water access to facilitate the rails and that’s going to cause more delays. But he also says that the line will run from Bakersfield to Modesto in the first phase. Not quite.