Valley Headlines

Ratepayers suffer, investors profit

Cal Matters. One reason your power fill is high: Baked-in profits that critics call excessive.
Synopsis: Reporter Malena Carollo looks at the dividends paid to PG&E investors, putting the number at around $7 billion, or 10.7%. Prof David Rode, of Carnegie Mellon, calls that “rather generous,” especially in light of the highest electricity rates in the nation. More increases are on deck since the CPUC has already approved another rate increase that allows Diablo Canyon to remain open. The CPUC has approved return rates of over 10% for all three utilities. Since the utilities are monopolies, the CPUC is supposed to look out for ratepayer interests. As the story points out, allowing 10.7% returns to investors doesn’t appear to meet that requirement.
MAD Note: The economic impact of outrageously high utility bills on the state’s poorest region is immense and seldom acknowledged, even in this excellent story. With colder winters and significantly hotter summers, Valley customers must bear the greatest burden of high utility bills and thus contribute disproportionately to investor profits. PG&E offers little regional data, but anecdotally Valley customers are paying $700 a month for gas and electricity while the rest of the state averages under $300.

Is horse racing dead in CA?

Fresno Bee. No more horse racing at The Big Fresno Fair? Longstanding tradition in jeopardy.
Synopsis: The California Authority of Racing Fairs opted not to apply for any racing dates this year, dealing a “fatal blow” to all horse racing in Northern California. This means no horse racing in Fresno, Humboldt or Pleasanton. Not yet willing to give up a 120-year-old tradition, the folks in Fresno say they might apply for those dates on their own. Animal welfare advocates are happy, noting that three horses were injured and had to be put down in Fresno last year.

Ceres PD chief put on leave

Ceres Courier. Chief Perry on administrative leave.
Synopsis: Ceres police chief Chris Perry was put on administrative leave by city manager Doug Dunford on Wednesday. He called it a “confidential personnel matter.” Dunford said Capt. Trent Johnson will take over the department. Perry, who was appointed chief 11 months ago, attended the county supervisors meeting Tuesday during which Sheriff Jeff Dirkse explained why he wanted to work with the Ceres PD dispatch unit instead of the regional dispatch formed 25 years ago.

Outlook from the farm …

Ag Alert. From the fields: Benina Montes, Merced County tree crop grower and sheep rancher.
Synopsis: Hoping for more rain, Benina remains optimistic as her almonds are budding. She pays a lot of attention to cover crops, making sure “we have a place for that raindrop to go when it comes so that we don’t lose it. The best place we can store water is in the ground.” Meanwhile, she’s expanding her direct marketing to those who want lamb.

Successful Farming. Mexico readying retaliatory tariffs, potentially targeting US ag.
Synopsis: Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum says she doesn’t really believe Donald Trump will impose 25% tariffs on Mexico, but if he does then Mexico is ready to impose some tariffs of its own. The targets: Grapes, cheese, apples, bourbon, potatoes, pork and aluminum. “Mexico has chosen these products because they have a big impact on regions that voted overwhelmingly for Donald Trump,” explained a source. Trump is already backing away from his threats. If he doesn’t, those tariffs will be felt by CA dairy, grape and apple producers.

Fixing immigration mess

SF Chronicle. Trump getting support from some unexpected allies: CA Dems in swing districts. 
Synopsis: Columnist Joe Garofoli writes about the 7 CA Democrats -- including Adam Gray and Josh Harder from the Valley – who voted in favor of the controversial Laken Riley Act, which became law Wednesday. It gives ICE access to undocumented immigrants who have been arrested for a host of felonies, ranging from murder to shoplifting. Critics fear it will lead to profiling. A week earlier, many of the same Democrats voted in favor of a bill to allow removal of people convicted of domestic violence and sexual abuse. While its sponsor, Nancy Mace, admitted it was written to “demonize” immigrants, the impact will be to remove people who have been convicted of particularly violent crimes. Garofoli quotes a Democratic Party observer saying we need comprehensive immigration reform, not piecemeal bills.
MAD Take: Those Democrats who want comprehensive immigration reform are right -- it would be ideal. But Donald Trump has shown that he will kill any attempt for a comprehensive solution so long as he can use immigration as a lever against opponents. In our Valley, where 70% of the crime victims are Latino, do we just throw up our hands and tell those victims to suffer? Who gets hurt when we do nothing?

Former deputy going to jail

Merced Golden Wire. Former Merced Sheriff’s Assn. president sentenced on multiple counts.
Synopsis: Following up on his conviction in December, former deputy Phillip Brooks was sentenced to 190 days in jail and two years’ probation on 3 counts of grand theft by embezzlement for stealing over $100,000. He’ll have to pay $71,150 back to the deputies’ association and another $142,000 to the county. ADAs Ryan Heller and Andre Margain prosecuted the case.

Carson case costs city $1M

Modesto Bee. Modesto shells out nearly half-million dollars tied to Frank Carson murder case.
Synopsis: The city spent $1 million to settle a lawsuit based on its unsuccessful prosecution of the flamboyant criminal-defense attorney acquitted for masterminding a murder. Carson’s estate got $400,000 while the city’s lawyers were paid $600,000. Before he died in 2020, Carson called the entire trial a miscarriage of justice. There are lawsuits pending against DA Birgit Fladager and others, so this isn’t over.

Board told, ‘Don’t chill speakers’

Merced Focus. Merced City Schools board course corrects on free-speech issue after scrutiny.
Synopsis: The Merced City Schools board used to start every public-comment period at its meetings by reading a statement that threatened speakers with defamation lawsuits if they crossed any lines. The First Amendment Coalition contacted the board in October and told them that such a statement is illegal, producing a chilling effect on free speech. The Merced Civil Grand Jury agreed. Now that statement is gone.

Honoring a Sikh activist

Fresno Bee. Naming of Fresno school makes history; the story behind Jaswant Khalra Elementary. 
Synopsis: The newest school in Fresno Central Unified is named after a Sikh human rights activist, who famously investigated the killings of 25,000 people in the state of Punjab. It is the first school in North America named after a Sikh person. Khalra was killed in 1995 after he was picked up by Punjab police. His daughter, Navkiran, is a Fresno State alum and now lives in the Bay Area.

She’s a really good girl

Merced Golden Wire. CHP seizes $160K and 100 pounds of marijuana.
Synopsis: With help from K-9 Officer Sheri, the Merced CHP unit found the drugs and money in a 2023 Chrysler minivan stopped at Santa Nella Road. The driver, Mei Xiancong of LA, was arrested.

39 housing units in Riverbank

Modesto Bee. Riverbank council endorses 39-unit homeless project; different site failed last year.
Synopsis: The second attempt to find a location for a 39-unit low-cost housing facility was approved. It will be at the corner of Morrill and Oakdale, next to the Riverbank Sports Complex. The units will have two bedrooms and are meant for families, seniors and veterans. Since the previous project, closer to town, was rejected the council has 3 new members – including the CEO of the nonprofit behind the project. She did not vote.  Funding was provided by the Homekey program.

Stuffie for toddler he saved

GV Wire. Merced officer saves choking toddler, brings her a stuffed animal as she recovers.
Synopsis: Merced PD Officer Cruz Ramirez saved a 14-month-old child from choking Sunday, according to the department. He responded to the call in under 2 minutes, but the child was unresponsive when he arrived. He used “back thrusts” to dislodge an object from her throat, restoring her breathing. The next day he returned to the home with a stuffed animal and got to hoist the girl he saved. Hard to determine whose smile was the biggest.