Valley Headlines

Perils of a drying planet

Science. Earth’s storage of water in soil, rivers dwindling; it’s especially bad for farming. 
Synopsis: The amount of water stored in Earth’s soils has declined at such staggering levels that it cannot be reversed while humans are alive, according to a global academic study released this week. This water loss already poses issues for farming and irrigation but could impact sea-level rise and even alter the planet’s spin and the location of the North Pole. Universities from across the world participated, often finding startling results, said renowned American hydrologist Jay Famiglietti. He said the decrease in soil-moisture is “unprecedented,” amounting to 2,000 gigatons over the past 20 years. For comparison, that’s more water than is held in Greenland’s icefields. One researcher said the study is like looking at the planet’s electrocardiogram and finding arrhythmia. Ignoring it could lead to disaster. A future Earth could become as dry as Mars, say the researchers.

Dems exodus from X  

Merced Sun-Star.CA Democratic lawmakers leave Elon Musk’s X over hate speech.
Synopsis: All but 2 of the Assembly’s 60 Democrats will close their accounts on X, the social-media platform owned by Elon Musk. Speaker Robert Rivas and Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar-Curry said they’re worried about false information posted by Russian bots and fraudsters. As an example, Aguiar-Curry said lies posted on X led people in her district to reject federal aid after wildfires. Staying on X is irresponsible and only encourages its use.

Striking a match to libraries

Merced County Times. Say ‘No’ to county supervisors’ privatizing our libraries.
Synopsis: Retired teacher and former journalist Marc Medefind writes about his grief when the old county library building burned. “Now, apparently, our County Supervisors are considering lighting another kind of match to our county libraries – privatization – which will be every bit as heartbreaking as the fire.” Rhetorically, he asks who considers this a good move, and answers “no one.”

Fed kept pumping as fish died

Politico. Dead fish are piling up at CA’s pumps – and both Newsom and Trump are to blame.
Synopsis: With salmon spotted in the Clifton Court Forebay, the state’s pumps were throttled back last week so they wouldn’t be sucked into the canals. But federal pumps kept operating at full force. In the past, the state and federal pumps acted in unison. By Saturday the feds ramped down, too, but the damage had been done, resulting in an unspecified number of dead fish. Activists say Newsom has not been confrontational enough over water issues. But Allison Febbo of Westlands Water District says we now have “a clear executive order to maximize water supply and any decisions to reduce water exports must be fully documented and justified.” Jon Rosenfield of Baykeeper says “the fish and wildlife agencies are not doing their job to protect fish from going extinct.”
MAD Take: Where’s Dianne Feinstein when you need her? She crafted the truce that allowed pumping except when fish are found in the Clifton Court Forebay. Ignoring that arrangement is foolhardy. But saying salmon will go “extinct” if pumping continues is, well, ridiculous.

Gray acts to protect Dreamers

Merced County Times. Gray cosponsors legislation to open pathway to citizenship for Dreamers.
Synopsis: Rep. Adam Gray joined 200 members of the House – Democrats and Republicans – in introducing the American Dream and Promise Act which to give protected status to adults who were brought to the US as children. The act notes that Dreamers contribute at least $65 billion to the American economy each year, paying $18 billion in taxes. Given a path to citizenship, the positive economic impact would be nearly $800 billion over the next decade.

Merced Mall ‘remodeled’

ABC30. Old Sears building transforming into outdoor shopping center at Merced Mall.
Synopsis: The former anchor covered 94,000 square feet of the 50-year-old Merced Mall but will soon be split between a Burlington, Petco and other stores. Remodeling will cost $20 million. The mall parking lot will include a Raising Cane’s.

Support for LGBTQ youth

Patterson Irrigator. Invest in Me hosts LGBTQ+ community training event. 
Synopsis: The Patterson nonprofit Invest in Me joined worked with CalPride Stanislaus to present a training session at Stonegate last week. Invest CEO Erica Ayala said her group wants to better understand the LGBTQ community so students can be better served. Dr. Ana Andrade said she is trying to demonstrate that there are safe spaces in Patterson. Among those attending were Patterson Joint Unified board member Lena Barrientos and Patterson police chief Casey Hill.

Confronting Kiddieland vandals 
Fox26. Security boost at Kiddieland after vandalism caught on camera in Merced.
Synopsis: The playground at Applegate Park is set to open on April 12, but recent vandalism could delay it. The Kiwanis Club, which maintains the park, says they are disheartened. Surveillance video showed kids climbing into the park and damaging the rides before police could arrive. Now Jermaine “Coach” Pastor will help beef up security.

RFK’s cuts cost CA $1.6B

Cal Matters. Trump clawed back billions in federal health grants; here’s how much CA is losing.
Synopsis: In all, the federal Dept of Health and Human Services – where RFK Jr. is boss – is cutting $12 billion once distributed through pandemic-response program. Of that, CA’s share is at least $1.6 billion. Rather than being used to treat COVID, it has funded substance-abuse programs, treatment for STDs, grants to counties for testing of all sorts and grants to the UC system for treatment of respiratory ailments. Some had been promised through 2027, which is already leading to lawsuits. Meanwhile, this year’s flu has been one of the worst in California, killing 1,400 people – the most in history. When public health is working said one doctor, “you don’t actually see it. But we’ve already seen what happens when we take funding out of our public health infrastructure.” 

Going hungry in California

Cal Matters. Food bank deliveries stall as Californians go hungry.
Synopsis: Roughly 20%, or 1 in 5, of Californians experience “food insecurity” over the course of a year. With President Trump’s cuts of $600 million in purchases of fresh produce from small farmers, food banks have less food with more people asking for it. In CA, some 330 food-filled trucks destined for food banks are now parked in limbo. The state, with a growing budget deficit, is unable to bridge the gap. Immigrants, retirees, homeless people and children are going hungry.

Ag Net West. Lawmakers criticize USDA decision to halt food bank funds.
Synopsis: The USDA’s decision to cut an additional $500 million in funding for food banks was called “reckless” by Rep. Angie Craig, D-Minn. Added to the $1 billion already cut from funding for farmers growing food for food banks, the additional cuts are dealing a devastating blow to the nation’s hungriest people. The Emergency Food Assistance Program provides 20% of all the food available at the nation’s food banks. Republicans are also pushing to cut $230 billion from the SNAP program that feeds poor families and children.
https://agnetwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/03-28-25-Lawmakers-Criticize-USDA-Decision-to-Halt-Food-Bank-Funds.mp3

Robbers picked wrong house

Fox26. Homeowner shoots two after home invasion.
Synopsis: Two men were shot when a homeowner returned to his house on Edward Street in Los Banos and found two people inside. He got his gun and confronted them. When they pulled a gun and opened fire, he shot back. They ran out of the house and jumped into a car that sped off. A short time later they were found injured because the homeowner hadn’t missed. 

It’s nearly bronc-busting time

Merced County Times. Saddle up for the 76^th La Grange Rodeo, April 6.
Synopsis: Bull, bareback and saddle bronc riding, team roping, steer wrestling and barrel racing are all part of the La Grange Rodeo. It will be next Sunday starting at 8 a.m. Tickets are $20. The La Grange Rodeo Arena is at 30433 Yosemite Blvd.