Valley Headlines

Mayor’s ‘monumental ego’

Ceres Courier. Why did Lopez want to be mayor again if he’s eyeballing Congress?
Synopsis: Eventually, columnist Jeff Benziger gets around to dissecting the tenure of Mayor Javier Lopez. But first he had to complain about how hard it is to hear in the city council chambers and a lack of IT support. Lopez has been raising funds to challenge Adam Gray for a seat in Congress, allowing Benziger to note the “irony” of Lopez’s Instagram tag during his re-election campaign last year: #imheretostay. Writes Benziger: “It appears the chief purpose for seeking a second term … was not to serve Ceres for another four-year term but as a springboard to run for higher office.” Then this, “What Lopez does not have in experience is offset by a monumental ego.” And “There’s a difference between being a leader and merely running a meeting.” Benziger dissected Lopez’s tenure as mayor, saying Lopez was the reason the eminently qualified Laurie Smith was kept off the council, but “hothead” racist John Osgood almost got a seat. Lopez’s bullying chased Linda Ryno off the council, but he was willing to bend the city’s rules to help street peddlers. His treatment of those who disagreed with him was, well, shabby. The low point was Lopez’s “dirty campaign mailer accusing Planning Commissioner Condit and Councilwoman Vierra of promoting homelessness and fentanyl dealing.”  

Town hall visit finds anger

Merced Sun Star. Ro Khanna’s Bakersfield town hall reveals voter frustration with Dems and Trump.
Synopsis: Fresno Bee editorial page editor Juan Esparza Loera writes about Rep. Ro Khanna’s visit to Bakersfield, and he heard there. Yes, many said Trump is awful, but others said Democrats are too old, that their messaging sucks and not standing up to Trump is a bad look. Khanna’s response was that Trump and House Republicans aren’t as powerful as they pretend. David Valadao, who did not attend the rally in his district, called it a “political stunt.” Around 1,000 people showed up, and most wanted to be heard. Said one: “The House is on fire. Tell me how we’re going to stop it.” A youngish small businessman asked, “Are the Democrats here to represent us or to make excuses?” The man later told Loera he was unhappy with Khanna’s answers because they lacked clear directions on “how to solve” the problem.  

Hwy 140 has reopened

Merced Sun Star. Major Yosemite entrance road set to reopen after rockslide.
Synopsis: After a significant slide on Hwy 140 east of Briceburg last week, Caltrans closed 4.5 miles for a week to make repairs. Now, a week earlier than anticipated, one-way traffic on the road resumed Wednesday. Traffic controls will remain through Friday or Saturday as additional shifts in the rain-loosened rocks above are still being detected. Teichert said it was able to repair and repave the road a week ahead of scheduled due to warmer weather.

My Tesla became a target

Fresno Bee. How my Tesla felt like a target for vandals in CA, thanks to Donald Trump.
Synopsis: Columnist Tad Weber writes about the Model Y he bought as his contribution to fixing the Valley’s air pollution. He likes not paying for gas, oil changes, etc. But “Then came Donald Trump through the hefty financial support of Tesla’s CEO, Elon Musk.” Suddenly, Sean Hannity is driving a Tesla and “my car became the political statement I never sought.” Tad didn’t want his wife to become a target of protesters, “so the Tesla had to go.” He hopes to get another EV … someday. If America allowed the world’s top EV to be imported from China, he’d consider it. But that’s not happening anytime soon. Again, thanks to Trump and Musk. But no conflict of interest there, right?  

Pool opening; CEO leaving

Turlock Journal. Columbia Pool set to reopen … finally. 
Synopsis: Joe Cortez covered the most recent city council meeting and reported that the pool at Columbia Park will open in 52 business days. All four buildings are up, the concrete is hardened, the shade structures, showers, sand filters, pumps and boilers are ready to go. All for $9.1 million. Councilwoman Rebecka Monez is “ecstatic.” She campaigned in 2020 to get the pool reopened after it closed in 2018. Tacked onto the bottom of the story was a note that the city is seeking an interim city manager after Reagan Wilson told the council in closed session that he will retire on May 31. He has been diagnosed with cancer and wants to travel.

Water deliveries hit 40%

Maven / DWR. Continued winter storms allow for another boost to State Water Project deliveries.
Synopsis: DWR announced it would deliver 40% of requested water to irrigation districts, cities and wildlife refuges. Apparently, the new snowpack projections exceed normal, as do our reservoirs.

Colorado Sun. Southern Colorado’s “dismal” snowpack has water managers praying for big storms.
Synopsis: Across the Rockies, the snowpack is at 92%. But of in the south-central Rockies, the snowpack is at 69% of normal and that is the “dismal” part.  

Tariffs frustrate farmers, docs

Ag Alert. Exporters try to navigate impacts of Trump tariffs.
Synopsis: While the Trump tariffs have yet to increase revenues for the government, they have increased “confusion and uncertainty” for ag-product exporters. Exporter Jim Geller doesn’t even know what to put on the ships. “We have no strategy because of the uncertainty. I don’t know what to do because I don’t know what Trump’s position is week to week, and neither do the people overseas.” One grower/exporter said this causes “a reverberation that goes all the way to the shelf.” One almond grower is more concerned about having soured Canadians on all American products. Others worry the perception of American products and Americans has changed for the worse. At least one grower was happy, saying his avocados will fetch higher prices with Mexican fruit costing more. Walnut growers aren’t as worried about China as they are India, Mexico, Australia and other markets. Until they know the destination of a product, they can’t put it in a package since Mexicans have a hard time reading Hindi.

Ag Net West. Farmers for free trade sound alarm over another trade war.
Synopsis: This audio report is a conversation between a reporter and ag secretary Brooke Rollins. She promises up to $10 billion for Emergency Commodity Assistance to help make up for lost sales.
MAD Note: “Commodity” assistance? Does that mean only farmers who grow “commodity” crops – corn, beans, wheat, cotton, sugar -- will get help? What about nuts? Grapes? Peaches? Plums? And everything else grown in California? Asking for a friend.
https://agnetwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/03-26-25-Farmers-for-Free-Trade-Sounding-Alarm-over-Another-Trade-War.mp3

KQED. UCSF loses top heart surgeon over Trump’s hostility toward Canada.
Synopsis: Dr. Marc Ruel was supposed to start his new job as chief of cardiothoracic surgery in San Francisco next month. Now he’s changed his mind, having been outraged by Trump’s antagonism toward Canada (not just tariffs, but tearing up agreements on the Great Lakes, electricity sales, etc.). In announcing his decision, Ruel said “I am a proud Canadian, above all else, and I cannot in my patriotic conscience ignore what is happening.” Ruel is considered “a real hero” for his “magical” less-invasive surgery techniques that he was supposed to pass along to students at UCSF, where a team of builders have recreated Ruel’s operating room in Ottawa.

Canal panels are working

Turlock Journal. Consortium looks to expand canal solar projects statewide.
Synopsis: Turlock Irrigation District stepped up to help UC Merced build a canopy over a short stretch of canal, creating a pilot program and “proof of concept.” The panels are now working on a small section with construction ongoing at the “wide-span site.” Several companies and universities – UCs Merced, Berkeley and Irvine, Kansas, USC and San Jose State – remain involved in the research. So far, they’ve learned that not all canals are suitable for solar, but roughly 4,000 miles are. That would generate enough electricity to power 2 million homes statewide. It also keeps solar panels off 50,000 acres of land, cools the water in the canals, creates shade and provides work for local solar installers.

Tip of the hat to TID

Ag Alert. From the Fields: Tim Sanders, Stanislaus County almond grower.
Synopsis: Last week’s rain has allowed the almond farmer to delay irrigation by at least a week. The almond bloom was “one of the best we’ve had in the last four or five years,” giving everything a chance to get pollinated. It’s important, considering the cost of bee boxes is up to $200. Sanders is especially happy with how TID has managed Don Pedro Reservoir.

Ceres need more students

Ceres Courier. CUSD continues to lose students, revenue.
Synopsis: Faced with declining enrollment and shrinking revenues, Ceres Unified is looking to make budget cuts. However, the city says it could be growing to the southwest after a sewer line was extended. LAFCO is considering adding 534 acres – and 2,300 homes -- to the city’s southwest corner. The district responded, “We’ve got the space available, so send us the kids.” Until construction occurs, enrollment is shrinking, with 150 fewer students expected in the schools this year. The district is also worried about the elimination of the US Dept of Education, which provides 10% of CUSD’s funding.

Recipe for poached players

Turlock Journal. Turlock faces backlash over recent football transfers.
Synopsis: Sac-Joaquin Section officials were in Turlock on Friday to talk about accusations that Turlock High is recruiting players from other schools – which is against the rules. Turlock assistant coaches run something called “The Lock,” a 7-on-7 offseason football program. Players from other schools are encouraged to participate and often end up transferring to Turlock High. So far, two players from Central Catholic, one each from Merced, Los Banos and Denair have “announced” on social media that they will be Bulldogs next season. Assistant commissioner Will DeBoard is looking into it; if irregularities are confirmed, the players might not be allowed to play for anyone next season and THS could be put on probation.