Valley Headlines

SF is ‘green’ … if it’s cheap

SF Standard. The Supreme Court battle that could make your SF water bill skyrocket.
Synopsis: The state and federal governments are suing the SF Public Utilities Commission and its affiliated cities to force a cleanup of 47 water-treatment plants. For decades, they have frequently released only minimally treated water into streams and rivers that feed the Bay; during heavy rains, untreated effluent runs directly into the Bay. The SFPUC says it would cost $10 billion for it to treat water to the same standards required of cities like Modesto, Merced and Patterson before they release water into the rivers. And that would drive up water rates for city residents, says city attorney David Chiu. The reporter concludes his story with the question: “Isn’t this all a little ironic?” Then answers: “What could possibly be ironic about San Francisco appealing to a conservative Supreme Court to roll back regulatory standards?”
MAD Take: Notice the reporter used the word “regulatory” instead of “environmental” – which is the crux of the matter. Odd that our Valley cities are required to treat effluent to tertiary levels, and even our farmers must certify that no water leaves their fields with any contaminants or chemicals. But city dwellers shouldn’t let this issue ruin their latte. The Supreme Court is unlikely to require the city to live up to their so-often and so-loudly stated ideals. That’s fine. But if they don’t, let’s not hear one more sanctimonious word from the SF-based Sierra Club and Tuolumne Trust about cleaning up our rivers. At least not until San Francisco cleans up its own mess.

10% of CA’s herds infected

Fresno Bee. Avian flu is spreading through Central Valley dairies; is human-to-human spread likely?
Synopsis: Reporter Robert Rodriguez updates the number of infected herds to 110 – up 9 from reports Monday. That means roughly 10% of the state’s 1,100 dairy herds have had sick cows. He quotes state epidemiologist Dr. Erica Pan, who is “keeping an eye on it” and Tulare Public Health officer Carrie Montero, who says the CDC has sent 5,000 doses of seasonal flu vaccine for farmworkers.

Farms.com.  Highly pathogenic Avian influenza detected in Clinton County dairy herd.
Synopsis: After having zero new cases in the past month, another cow has tested positive in Michigan. That makes 30 herds in the state. Odd that a new case would emerge a month after the last one.

Drought impacts last longer

UC Merced. Climate change extends drought recovery by at least 3 months.
Synopsis: Researchers are saying it takes 3 months longer to recover from drought than it did in decades past – and it’s getting worse. “Climate change has fundamentally changed the odds of getting out of drought. It has weighted the dice,” said post-doc grad Emily Williams. She worked with Prof. John Abatzoglou and Dr. Katherine Hegewisch. Their research covered the last 100 years. Other studies have shown that as temperatures rise it becomes more difficult for hardened soils to absorb water, increasing runoff.

VC’s $11M ‘split-dollar loan’

Fresno Bee. Valley Children’s spent $52M on retirement plans for execs, Fresno officials ask why. 
Synopsis: The children’s hospital is issuing “sophisticated” insurance agreements usually reserved for NFL coaches and bank CEOs. Valley Children’s offered these multi-million dollar “loans” to eight top executives in 2023 – right in the midst of the uproar over executive pay. The largest of these “split-dollar” loans, which are not meant to be repaid by the individual, was $11.1 million to CEO Todd Suntrapak – who got a $5 million “loan” for a house in Carmel three years ago. “If you have that kind of money, why not put it back into patient care,” asked Fresno City Councilman Miguel Arias. Meanwhile, lawsuits by nurses and others alleging wage theft continue in Madera County.

A variety of festivities …

Merced County Times. Merced County AirFest coming Saturday.
Synopsis: If you like airplanes, got to the old airport from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to see fly-bys, food, music and vintage aircraft, vintage cars and even vintage people. Daron McDaniel calls it a “fantastic opportunity” to see what’s going on at Castle Aviation Center.

Central Valley Voice. Merced County Nut Festival.
Synopsis: Almonds, walnuts and pistachios are being celebrated at the County Fairgrounds Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Food, crafts, kids’ games, etc.  

Modesto Bee. Jersey Mike’s Subs is coming to Modesto.
Synopsis: There will be a new sandwich store in McHenry Village. Interestingly, Modesto is late to the Jersey Mike’s party considering there are 4,000 nationwide. Even Tracy has one.

Merced County Times. New Halloween parade a treat for Mercedians.
Synopsis: The parade was last Saturday, but the photos just made it into the Times. Thousands of folks dressed up to watch and to take part in the annual parade last Saturday. There was a costume contest, 15 floats, a Zombie Hoard (do they mean “horde”?) and more.

Domestic violence up in ’24

Modesto Bee. Domestic violence is on the rise in Stanislaus County: ‘It affects everybody.’
Synopsis: October is DV awareness month. Stanislaus SO had 2,748 calls for assistance due to violence last year, with 45% of those involving a weapon and 8.5% involving choking. The County saw a 21% bump in arrests in the first 9 months this year with a 17% rise in arrests by Modesto PD. Meanwhile, more than half of all DV cases get thrown out by the DA for lack of evidence – usually because the victim refuses to testify. Drugs are often involved. As with everything else criminal, there was a spike in 2020 during COVID. But incidence levels have fallen to a little lower than they were in 2014 – the lowest year in the last decade. Among the agencies making a difference are the Family Justice Center, HAVEN, Without Permission, CAIRE Center and the county’s Behavioral Health & Recovery. Obviously, law enforcement makes a difference, too.

Politicians with big problems

Politico. CA Republican Assembly candidate pleaded guilty to welfare fraud.
Synopsis: Anti-vaxxer and admitted Capitol rioter Denise Aguilar Mendez is challenging Rhodesia Ransom for Carlos Villapudua’s Assembly seat in Stockton. Mendez was charged with three felonies in 2019 – perjury, grand theft and misrepresentation (aka, welfare fraud). She stole $10,984 from the SJ County Health Services Agency. Her admission of guilt got the charges lowered from felony to misdemeanor, requiring her to spend 40 days in jail and do 120 hours of community service at the Stockton Homeless Shelter. She calls those asking about her recent past “fools.” If the charges had remained felonies, she would not be eligible to run for the Assembly. President yes, Assembly no.

Valley Sun. Ex-Rep. TJ Cox files for bankruptcy.
Synopsis: The one-term Congressman from Fresno and his wife Kathleen Murphy have declared bankruptcy with debts of $2.5 million and assets of $760,000. Among those to whom he owes money are two guys in Nevada who are accused of elder abuse at their rest home. Cox is expected to be sentenced later this year in a separate case.

New home for Stan COG

Modesto Bee. Transportation agency finally OKs new Modesto offices; why 2 members dissented.
Synopsis: Stan COG will move to the old Mechanics Bank at 1407 I Street, about three blocks from its current cramped office. Modesto Mayor Sue Zwahlen and Oakdale councilwoman Kayleigh Gilbert felt the $4 million for buying and remodeling the building was too much. If Stan COG had gotten its first choice, at 833 Tenth Street, the price would have been $6.6 million. Eight members of the Stan COG board voted for the purchase; four missed the meeting.

Of crime & tragedy

Valley Sun. Fresno teacher attacked by student’s relative, suffers concussion in school-day fight.
Synopsis: High school teacher Alison Mattox was trying to break up a fight in her classroom between two female students and one student’s mother. The teacher was shoved to the floor and suffered a concussion. Apparently, both students are on the cheer team. After assaulting Mattox, the mother and daughter walked off campus. The CTA is calling for arrests and expulsions.

Fresno Bee. ‘Tragic situation’: Sisters killed after vehicle crashes into home during deputy pursuit.
Synopsis: A paroled 18-year-old who had been drinking and had a gun decided to try to outrun deputies in a Chevy Tahoe. He crashed into a house where Mang Yang, 25, and Eliza Yang, 18, were sleeping. People rushed to the scene and tried to lift the vehicle off the victims.

Modesto Bee. BMW driver dead after solo-vehicle crash in east Modesto roundabout.
Synopsis: Fatalities in roundabouts are rare. In this case, the driver ran into a concrete wall about 1 a.m. Investigators are looking for witnesses.

Help needed to save K-9 officer

ABC30. Los Banos police K-9 in need of life-saving surgery.
Synopsis: Dux, a Belgian Malinois, bonded quickly with his officer, Braeden Gomes. They’ve worked as a team since early this summer. But Dux inhaled a foxtail, which pierced his lungs and is now lodged in his spinal column. The resulting abscesses are killing him. Dr. Erik Olstad at UC Davis is treating Dux, but it’s getting expensive. The agency can’t afford it, so they’ve retired Dux to Gomes’ care. Gomes is trying desperately to save his partner. He has set up a GoFundMe.