Valley Headlines

Gray trying to protect Medicaid

Office of Adam Gray. Rep. Gray floor speech on budget amendment to defend Medicaid.
Synopsis: Representative Adam Gray presented an amendment to the Republican budget plan that he hopes will protect Medicaid from being looted to fund tax cuts for billionaires. The Republican spending blueprint, which was passed on a party-line vote Tuesday night, will cut roughly $800 billion from Medicaid and Medicare over a decade in an effort to fund tax cuts for billionaires. Some 60% of all residents in CA-13 rely on Medicare and Medicaid for healthcare. Saying that healthcare has always been one of his highest priorities, Gray proposed an amendment that would prevent any of the proposed cuts from being used to fund tax cuts. Some 450,000 people in Gray’s district rely on Medicaid and Medicare.

How much can be stored?

Cal Matters. CA lacks capacity to store water that atmospheric rivers dump on the state.
Synopsis: Dan Walters takes a look at climate change, drawing the conclusion that we’re simply not prepared for the new reality of rain. It will come in great gushers, and we’ll have nowhere to put it – above ground or below. We won’t even be able to adequately move it to places where it could be stored. “Even a relatively tiny increase in storage capacity could pay huge dividends when wet winters such as this evolve into periods of drought,” writes Dan. Unfortunately, only a few water managers appear to recognize the importance of acting now to create more storage opportunities.

Appeal Democrat. Sites Reservoir gets another $200 million in federal funds.
Synopsis: State and federal leaders praised the Department of Interior’s decision to provide $200 million in promised funding for Sites Reservoir. Also mentioned in the story is $115 million for expansion of San Luis Reservoir. Among those celebrating are Rep. Doug LaMalfa and Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Re-evaluating bird flu’s toll

LA Times. Killing 166 million birds hasn’t helped poultry farmers stop H5N1; is there a better way?
Synopsis: Scientists are conceding that H5N1 is likely here to stay, so killing every bird exposed to it might not be the most effective approach. There are new strategies, including vaccines, better biosecurity and even creating wetlands far from farms to keep wild birds away from commercial flocks. Bill Mattos says a more targeted approach might be feasible, but others are skeptical. China and France are using vaccines, but they’re expensive.

Almond crop in jeopardy

Ag Alert. Heavy bee mortality puts almond pollination at risk.
Synopsis: Reporter Christine Souza quotes Ryan Burris of the CA State Beekeepers Assn saying “significant hive losses” could mean the bees won’t be able to get to all the almond trees. Normally, each hive needs 8 frames per hive and 2 hives per acre; but many keepers are sending out half as many frames in half the number of hives. What Christine adds to this story is that many keepers are selling out entirely due to the low price of honey. Meanwhile, the keepers’ association is offering a $10,000 reward for anyone caught stealing hives.

Impacts of firings felt in ag

Ag Alert. Purge of federal support jolts agriculture.
Synopsis: The mass firings of federal employees and the freeze of federal funding for hundreds of programs and projects has impacted farmers who have been partnering with the federal government for decades, writes Caleb Hampton. Among those impacted are farmers expecting repayment of conservation project costs, like raisin grower Steve Cardoza in Fresno County. He spent $60,000 on sensors to improve water efficiency and weeding that minimized soil disturbance but hasn’t yet been reimbursed. There are other examples that are even more costly. Even programs still in operation have been left “horribly understaffed,” meaning nothing is being done. Instead of waiting for the dust to settle, Trump promised even more cuts on Saturday. “This is just the beginning,” he said.  

Stanislaus can commit folks

Merced Focus. Valley county starts ‘unprecedented’ changes to conservatorship law; who qualifies?
Synopsis: Stanislaus County is one of a “handful” of counties implementing SB43 a year early. It allows counties to take legal guardianship of people living with severe mental disorders and commit them to treatment facilities. The law expands the definition of “severe.” In some ways, it’s a reversal of the 1967 law that Ronald Reagan used to empty the state’s mental institutions. Other counties using the rules earlier than the rest are Sacramento, San Bernardino and San Diego. “It’s one more tool in our belt,” says MPD Lt. Michael Hammond.

Stan County OKs new corridor

Modesto Bee. Construction will begin on expressway in Stanislaus County; board OKs $144 million.
Synopsis: Phase 1 of the North County Corridor will consist of 3 miles of new road for Claribel near Riverbank. It is supposed to be completed by Bay Cities/Myers & Sons by 2028. The other 15 miles will have to come after, connecting Oakdale to Highway 99.

Wells tested for free

Modesto Bee. Modesto-area residents most impacted by contamination get free well testing, water.
Synopsis: State Water Board chair Joaquin Esquivel came to town to talk about increased testing. A state program has found nitrate in 75% of the wells tested.  The Valley Water Collaborative will provide bottled water for those in “Priority 2” basins in eastern San Joaquin, Merced, Delta-Mendota sub-basins. So far, 826 wells in the Modesto-Turlock area have been found to be out of compliance.

Turlock chamber has new boss

Turlock Journal. Chamber welcomes new executive director.
Synopsis: Allie Jeffery is leading the Turlock Chamber, taking over from Gina Bloom. Jeffrey has been working with EMC Health Foundation for the past 7 years. A Turlock native, she has also been honored as an Outstanding Woman of Stanislaus.

Outstanding women listed

Turlock Journal. Turlocker among Outstanding Women of 2025 honorees.
Synopsis: Theresa Kiehn is among those who will be honored on March 15 at Greens. She is the CEO of AgSafe, a Modesto nonprofit that provides health and safety education to the ag community. She worked for the Great Valley Center and Fontana Farms and is president of the Turlock Certified Farmers Market. Others to be honored include Angela Drew, Gabriela Hernandez, Polet Hernandez, Gil Howard, Danyel Jacobo, Rosizela Perez Jordan, Janet Lancaster, Andrea Pegarella, Judge Carrie Stephens and Lourdes Uranday. BTW, Gil is a guy and is receiving the Bette Belle Smith Award. Nobody’s perfect.