Valley Headlines

Figuring out recharge

Maven. Valley leaders introduce bipartisan bills to boost groundwater recharge.
Synopsis: Rep. Jim Costa introduced two important water bills, both co-sponsored by Reps. Adam Gray, David Valadao and Josh Harder. “I’m proud to join a bipartisan group of my colleagues as an original cosponsor of the Every Drop Counts Act and the Groundwater Recharge Technical Assistance Act to protect and strengthen water access for farmers in my San Joaquin Valley District,” said Gray. Said Valadao: “As a dairy farmer … I know firsthand the devastating impacts of water shortages on our agricultural industry, communities and economy.” Among those applauding are Jason Phillips of the Friant Water Authority, Austin Ewell of the Water Blueprint for the SJ Valley and Eddie Campo of Self-Help Enterprises.

Ground zero for bird flu

Merced Focus. Merced County tops CA 2024 bird flu cases in poultry, third in nation.
Synopsis: In 2024, Merced County farms culled 5.7 million birds – the most of any county in California. The outbreak began in 2022, and over the past two years Merced County has euthanized 8.3 million birds, according to the USDA. Others with significant losses include Kern (3.2 million), Stanislaus (2.7 million), Tulare (1.8 million) and Fresno (1.7 million). Nationwide, 134 million birds have been culled since the outbreak began in 2022, with several million more in the first two weeks of 2025. Bird flu has also spread to dairy farms, with CA reporting 711 infections.

Choosing smelt over people?

Maven / Water Blueprint. Protecting smelt over people: Pumping curtailments hurt communities.
Synopsis: The Water Blueprint for the SJ Valley called on state and federal leaders to revisit the current State Water Project allocations of just 15% of contracted water despite above-average reservoir levels. The state says the reduced allocations are necessary to protect any remaining Delta smelt from the impacts of pumping. Yet, scientists recognize pumping restrictions have almost no value in protecting smelt, who have functionally disappeared from the Delta since 2017.

How many traffic stops?

Modesto Bee. Modesto police chief attributes apparent jump in traffic stops to software issues.
Synopsis: Reporter Julietta Bisharyan talks to Chief Brandon Gillespie about a 190% spike in traffic stops from 2022 to 2023 as reported in Modesto’s annual mandated report. He noted The Bee published its report before getting an explanation from his office. Gillespie said 2022 data was inaccurately classified, resulting in artificially low numbers. The number listed in 2023 were more normal. “Traffic behavior and driving is pretty darn horrible in our city, so I expect our traffic unit to make traffic stops,” said Gillespie.  
MAD Take: Amen.

Voting to protect women

The Hill. Mace immigration bill gets support from more than 60 Democrats.
Synopsis: A bill entitled “Preventing Violence Against Women by Illegal Aliens” passed 274-145 on Thursday, making domestic violence a deportable offense and a reason to deny entry for those hoping to enter the US. Among those who voted yes were several members of the California Congressional contingent -- Adam Gray, Josh Harder, Derek Tran, Eric Swalwell, Jimmy Panetta and Mike Levin.
MAD Note: When campaigning in the Valley, Adam Gray said he would work with anyone whose priorities lined up with the needs of people in our Valley. Fighting domestic violence every way possible is a priority for Adam and for all of Team Gray.

Scrambling for bond dollars

EdSource. Let the scramble begin for CA school construction money.
Synopsis: John Fensterwald writes about the $10 billion available to districts under Prop 2 bond, which voters approved last year. He says small school districts will find the process of claiming a share of that pie “lengthy, complex and potentially overwhelming.” Officials note that to qualify for Prop 2 funding a district must have 45% of construction funds already in hand. The story offers a primer in how to get a portion of the funding. Top advice: “Let the experts guide the process. You will want a solid team of support to manage all the balls in the air within the time limits.”

CSUs hit with budget cuts

Fresno Bee. Fresno State facing $4.2 million in cuts in wake of proposed CA budget.
Synopsis: The state is proposing to cut the CSU budget by $375 million, meaning all 23 campuses are facing cutbacks. Fresno State’s share is $19 million, but it was already planning to cut $13.8 million, so the impact is lessened. But this comes on top of last year’s cuts of $10 million, says President Saul Jimenez-Sandoval, so this will be tough. The real cost, he said, will be counted in “dreams deferred.”  

Can criminals really change?

Fresno Bee. Clovis man already in prison for fraud ran new $10M scheme from cell.
Synopsis: Seth Adam Depiano, 43, has been charged with wire fraud, money laundering and aggravated identity theft in a $10 million real estate fraud scheme. That’s interesting, since he’s been in prison since 2018. US Attorney Michele Beckwith says Depiano used contraband cellphones and computers to defraud investors in CA and Nevada. In previous schemes, he conned people out of $24 million.

KCRA. Convicted child sex offender can live near home school, court rules.
Synopsis: The CA Supreme Court has ruled that Kevin Scott Gray – who has admitted to molesting up to 50 children – can be released to a half-way house on Central Avenue, 3 miles outside Turlock’s city limits. Neighbors are angry. Rob Bonta appealed a lower-court decision that said home schools qualify under rules that limit where sex offenders can be housed. The Supreme Court disagreed.

Everything’s free at this market

Modesto Bee. New Modesto market promotes sustainability, and everything there is free.
Synopsis: Reporter Maria Figueroa writes about the “Really, Really, Really Free Market” run by Valley Improvement Projects. Most of the items are donations with a little life in them. Since VIP advocated shutting down the waste-to-energy incinerator west of Crows Landing, organizers said they felt compelled to reduce the refuse stream. You can find the market at 1224 K Street, from 11 am to 3 pm.

Restaurants depart, arrive

Modesto Bee. Modesto family-operated Tully Road restaurant for decades, now it must close.
Synopsis: Marcella’s Mexican Restaurant, which has been serving food for 47 years at various locations in Stanislaus County, is closing. The original Marcella’s opened in Hughson then moved to McHenry Village for a few years before settling in Frontier Town.  

Merced Sun Star. New restaurant to open at Marketplace at Merced; specializes in chicken fingers.
Synopsis: Raising Cane’s fast-food eatery will open in the location of the former Big Lots on Fairfield Drive. It’s the third new business announced for the old Merced Mall, joining Boot Barn and Mocha Boba.

Patterson Irrigator. Leaving a legacy: New downtown restaurant expected to open soon.
Synopsis: The Old Water Office restaurant tells you its history in its name. Co-Owner Bob Campana says the name is perfect because every farmer in the area knows exactly where it is. The menu (and prices) will be similar to the Redwood Café, which Campana owns in Modesto but is moving to Lathrop.

Lupita’s show goes dark

Fresno Bee. Fresno’s beloved Spanish-language show ‘Despierta Valle Central’ coming to end.
Synopsis: Univision is pulling the plug on the hour-long morning show, formerly known as Arriba Valle Central. The last show was today. Next week, Despierta America starts with coverage of the inauguration. Longtime host Lupita Lomeli has been the face of the show for 29 years. Her future was not addressed by the station.

Monkey recovering nicely

Fresno / Modesto Bee. Monkey found in DUI stop nearly died; now she’s ‘bright, alert and active.’
Synopsis: The little spider monkey rescued from a Rolls Royce during a traffic stop in Madera County was closer to death than originally thought. She was sent to the Oakland Zoo, and is recovering nicely, according to veterinarian Alex Herman. Her name is now Azules. The zoo is working with the Wildlife Confiscations Network to place the monkey in a troop where she can thrive.