Valley Headlines

2 Valley humans get bird flu

Merced Sun Star / Fresno Bee. 2 human cases of bird flu confirmed in CA; both work in Valley.
Synopsis: CA Dept of Public Health officials confirmed two bird-flu infections in humans on Thursday; both dairy farm workers who came into contact with infected cattle. Both reported mild symptoms, including conjunctivitis. “We want to emphasize that the risk to the general public is low,” said Dr. Tomas Aragon. These are the 14^th and 15^th cases of humans getting bird flu reported nationwide.

Farms.com. Milking practices linked to bovine flu spread.
Synopsis: Kansas State’s Biosecurity Research Institute has found a “significant connection” between milking practices and H5N1 spread, as published in the journal Nature. Instead of respiratory transmission, which had been considered the most likely method of spreading the respiratory disease, researchers now say it is more likely passed through milking equipment. Nothing about how to prevent the spread.

Yum! Corn fungus (healthy, too)

Modesto Bee. Corn fungus? Grasshopper tacos? Must-try Mexican dishes in local restaurants.
Synopsis: Reporter Maria Luisa Figueroa tells readers looking for a unique way to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month where to go – by eating some unusual food. First, check out Quesadilla de huitlacoche at the Tacos El Jalapeno truck on Paradise. Basically, it’s made from corn hit by a fungus. In fine restaurants they call it the Mexican truffle – but we know it as “corn smut.” Nutritionists say it is packed with amino acids.
MAD Take: Maria Figueroa writes some of the most interesting stories found in The Bee.

Farm bill expired; what now?

Farms.com. 2018 Farm Bill extension expires – what does that mean?
Synopsis: Reporter Ryan Hanrahan went through various publications to see what is being reported on the demise of the farm bill – which the current Congress didn’t bother extending before adjourning until after the election. The $900 billion bill covers crop subsidies, marketing incentives, nutrition assistance, research and far, far more. Of particular concern is the “dairy cliff,” which comes on Jan. 1. That could double the price of milk to consumers. Many programs simply die until being revived either in the “lame-duck session” next month or in the next Congress. Among these zombies are the Conservation Reserve Program, Healthy Forest Restoration and Watershed Rehabilitation programs. Federal expenditures for trade, research, energy and the all-important “Miscellaneous” titles have also been extinguished. Democrat Hakeem Jeffries listed the farm bill as one of his top three priorities for action after the Nov. 5 election. Only 6 in 10 Republicans expressed concern.
MAD Note: Among the reasons for delaying the farm bill is inclusions of nonsense legislation like the EATS Act. It would overturn the Supreme Court decision upholding California’s Prop 12, which sustains the right of voters to set standards for food sold in their states. Doing the bidding of big pig farmers in Iowa, Missouri and Beijing, Duarte is one of the bill’s 16 co-sponsors. Such a bill will not a get a single vote from Democrats in CA, Mass, NY, Illinois, Oregon and Washington. So why sponsor such a non-starter? Someone should ask him.

Mall dislikes road plan

Modesto Bee. Vintage Faire objects to Modesto’s plans to remake Standiford-Hwy 99 interchange.
Synopsis: Macerich feels it will “drastically transform” how shoppers enter the mall and, worse, cost them 5 acres of parking. They prefer traffic lights to round-abouts, which ease traffic flow. The mall generates about $30 million in sales taxes and $1.7 million in property taxes, so Modesto will clearly take Macerich’s objections seriously. The project is in its early stages and will require more public input.
MAD Note: Andy Alfaro’s excellent drone shots of the traffic patterns accompany the story.

Politics, tis the season

Adam Gray Campaign: Everybody wants to fight, I’d rather go to work. 
Synopsis: Adam Gray discusses what’s really important to people in the Valley – getting to work. That’s something the current Congress knows nothing about. The 118^th Congress passed only 47 bills in two years, the lowest number in a century. This bunch couldn’t even pass a Farm Bill, which had always been considered something everybody needed – Republicans and Democrats alike. But with people like John Duarte gumming up the works with his special-interest EATS Act, it was a foregone conclusion that the bill would never get the support needed to pass. Adam Gray says he won’t let that happen on his watch.

Merced County Times. Smith says he will strive to build a more equitable future.
Synopsis: Walter Smith, 68, is a coach, referee, parks commissioner, volunteer and activist; he’s hoping to add City Councilman to that list as he takes on Darin DePont, a local attorney, in District 1. His priorities are public safety, youth engagement, community development and transparency.

Merced County Times. Local candidates poised for final October stretch run.
Synopsis: Editor Jon Whitaker looks at the upcoming election through the lens of recent candidate forums. He recalls that John Derby used to encourage people to wait until Election Day to cast their ballots, so that they had all the possible information.

Tulare ag receipts fell in ’23

Western Farm Press. Tulare milk checks shrunk by $7 per cwt in 2023.
Synopsis: The county’s farmgate receipts fell to $7.86 billion as posted in the ag commissioner’s annual report. That’s an 8% overall drop from 2022, but milk income fell 26%. (Mike prices have rebounded since 2023.) Tulare is the largest dairy county in CA and produces about as much as all the dairies in Minnesota. If Tulare was a state, it would rank No. 7 for dairy production. Meanwhile, beef and calf prices were up 19% while kiwifruit, citrus, olives and persimmons all saw near-record prices. Oranges and nuts fell in value.

Parents mad over school taunts

Modesto Bee. Parents withdraw son from Modesto City Schools over racial slurs; district responds.
Synopsis: When Michelle Young’s 13-year-old walked into the cafeteria at Mark Twain Middle, he was greeted by calls of “monkey alert.” His mother overheard on his cellphone and has pulled him out of school. When his parents complained, they were told that “everyone talks like that here.” Sharokina Shams says MCS’s investigation did not confirm any such comment, and the district will not tolerate such talk. His father, Randolph, says he will not teach his son – one of only 14 Black students at Mark Twain -- to “condone being called by a racial slur.”

MCS disputes 4 of 10 accusations

Merced Sun Star. Merced schools says no evidence offered of open-meeting violations by grand jury.
Synopsis: Shawn Jensen reports on Merced City Schools’ response to a “scathing grand jury report” issued June 30, which concluded the district had “lost respect and trust from some of those they serve.” The district agreed with 6 of the 10 findings and say 10 of the grand jury’s 11 recommendations have been implemented. But, says new school superintendent Julianna Stocking, there is no evidence of Brown Act violations. The grand jury said the violations came during the search for a superintendent. The grand jury issued four reports; no mention of responses to the other three.

Homeless court works in Merced

Merced County Times. Homeless court helps provide new lease on life. 
Synopsis: The Merced County Rescue Mission honored 8 people who completed treatment and remediation through Merced Homeless Court, overseen by Judge Paul Lo. There have been 100 graduates since 2019. As Judge Lo put it, “instead of them coming to court, the court comes to them.” Instead of warrants, “we go out into the community and really help the people who need it the most.”