Valley Headlines

Bird’s-eye view of rocket

Fox40. Modesto police aircraft captures SpaceX launch.
Synopsis: The Modesto PD’s “fixed wing aircraft” was in the sky around 7 pm when the SpaceX rocket went up from Vandenberg. That was the photo MPD posted on Facebook: “Best seat in the house!”

Fox26. Did you see it? SpaceX launched from Vandenberg on Monday night.
Synopsis: A Falcon 9 rocket carried with 23 Starlink satellites into orbit just after sunset, creating a weird “cloud” that could be seen from Stockton to Fresno. It was the 12^th Starlink mission in the past year. 

A Merced landmark (with food)

Merced Sun Star. Sam Café has been a staple of South Merced for 35 years; the key to success?
Synopsis: Reporter Shawn Jansen writes about one of the few restaurants south of 99, Sam Café at 235 West 12^th Street. It was started by the legendary Sam Malaythong, serving Thai and Chinese food. Mayor Matt Serratto says Sam is part of the “fabric of the community.” He is also part owner of the Coconut Café with his niece Manila Malaythong.

Fresno needs 36,866 homes

Fresno Bee. Fresno will need almost 37,000 new homes by 2031; who’s going to build them?
Synopsis: Tim Sheehan writes about the state’s housing demands for Fresno County. He notes that the city’s housing plan is 1,000 pages and projects suitable housing locations “all over the map.” City officials say Fresno has sufficient space for all 36,866 units needed. In the county, each city is provided a target number: Firebaugh 443 units needed, Mendota 642, Kerman 1,063, Coalinga 566, Huron 319 and San Joaquin 200.

Hospital: ‘We’re opening soon’

Valley Sun. Madera Community Hospital nears opening.
Synopsis: Hospital CEO Steve Sark said Sunday over Facebook that state officials are “surveying” the policies, procedures, equipment, etc., in anticipation of admitting the first patients this week. He says the ER will open first.

Still too many grapes

Western Farm Press. Still too many vineyards in PNW, wine rep says.
Synopsis: Allied Grape Growers’ Jeff Bitter is once again sounding the alarm, insisting 50,000 acres need to be taken out of production in CA. He said the same thing last year, but only around 17,000 acres (net) were pulled. Worse, growers in Oregon and Washington continue to plant more grapes, adding to the glut of juice in the face of falling demand. Bitter pointed out that of Oregon’s 45,999 acres last year, only 40,315 acres were harvested. He also noted that banks are less likely to provide loans for new vineyards or to produce wine that can’t be sold.

Unwise fashion statement

Fox26. ‘F the police’ is not what you want to wear while being arrested in Merced.
Synopsis: A Camaro was racing on southbound 99 at 120 mph when the CHP gave chase. After 7 miles, one driver pulled over near 16^th and Ashby Road. He was wearing a hoodie with the words “F--- Your Police Department.” Apparently, arresting officers were not amused. The other car evaded capture.

GV Wire. Fresno police arrest 9 drivers on suspicion of DUI on Super Bowl Sunday.
Synopsis: Only 9? Sounds like a calm day. Authorities note that the average first-time DUI ends up costing violators $13,500 in fines, fees and other penalties – not counting all the Uber drivers you’ll have to pay once your license is suspended.

Groups sue over sturgeon

SF Gate. Environmental groups sue Trump administration over white sturgeon.
Synopsis: San Francisco Baykeeper, Restore the Delta et al are suing the federal government to protect white sturgeon in San Francisco Bay. They’re insisting that “excessive diversions of fresh water from the bay’s tributary rivers have decimated the bay’s white sturgeon population.” All that fresh water is needed to help flush the Bay of polluted water. Along with reducing current diversions, they are hoping to halt any future diversions into Sites Reservoir or the tunnel, when completed.
MAD Take: Just wondering, is it harmful for white sturgeon when the Bay Area’s 47 water-treatment plants dump billions of gallons of untreated storm runoff into the Bay after a single winter storm? That’s what happened last week and will likely happen again this weekend.

Valley folks clean their river

CBS13. Modesto man starts effort to clean up Stanislaus River.
Synopsis: For the past two weeks, David Down and around 20 of his pals have been out on a 20-mile reach of the Stanislaus from Ripon to Oakdale picking up trash. They do it because it’s fun and because the trash needs picking up. “We’re huge on recreation. We’re huge on getting people outside because that’s where we believe we’re meant to be.” 

Merced 6th-graders moving

ABC30. New Merced City School district boundaries shift 6^th grade to middle school.
Synopsis: Superintendent Juliana Stocking says overcrowding in some schools is forcing the district to send sixth graders to middle school a year early. It will impact around 2,200 students.

Free weed, if you’re sick

GV Wire. Fresno dispensary to give free cannabis to medical patients.
Synopsis: Edward Smith reports on The Artist Tree’s Compassion Program that gives veterans and others in need free medical products starting Feb. 17. The company opened in LA 20 years ago as a medical dispensary. It also donates to the Fresno Arts Council, Feeding America and other community efforts.

Who wants to be Danish?

SF Chronicle. Danes launch petition to buy CA, in apparent jab at Trump.
Synopsis: Nearly 200,000 Danes are supporting a petition to buy CA for $1 trillion. Among some interesting ideas: Renaming Disneyland for Hans Christian Andersenland and putting Mickey in a horned helmet. Organic smørrebrød would be sold in food trucks smeared with avocado. The state would have “universal health care and fact-based politics.” No word on whether or not Gov. Newsom has entered negotiations. On Tuesday a Georgia elected representative introduced a bill that would rename Greenland “Red, White & Blueland.” Maybe they could work out a swap?