Valley Headlines

Gray talks about new job

Turlock Journal. Rep. Gray talks about his first weeks in office, legislative priorities.
Synopsis: Reporter Joe Cortez does a Q&A with Adam Gray in which he talks about committee assignments (ag and natural resources), wildfire relief (the US doesn’t put conditions on aid), the price of eggs (we need to find ways of lowering input costs), healing the nation’s divisions by actually working on problems, trusting our neighbors, and more. There’s a lot to be done, says Gray, so “Let’s get to it.”

KSEE / CBS47. Sunday Morning Matters: Trump’s second term, Adam Gray, AG Bonta’s challenge.
Synopsis: Anchor Eric Rucker talks to Adam Gray about his first week in office and the nature of “work” as opposed to partisan bickering.

Phony water solutions

Cal Matters. Trump orders more Central Valley water deliveries, claiming it would help LA fires.
Synopsis: In his visit to California on Friday, President Trump promised water will be “coming down from the Pacific Northwest, even coming up from parts of Canada, and it pours down naturally.” No one can figure out what he was talking about. But Sunday, the president signed “a sweeping order” demanding agencies “immediately take action” to deliver more water to the South Valley and Los Angeles. He even directed his administration to thwart any interference from California. Reaction was intense. “Do not be fooled by Trump’s lies,” said Rep. Jared Huffman. “None of the policies in the executive order will move even a single drop of extra water to communities devastated by these wildfires.” Westlands Water District, however, believes it will result in more water to South Valley farms.

Ag Net West. Trump rekindles debate over small, endangered fish in CA.
Synopsis: An audio report with reporter Lorrie Boyer talking about Trump’s order to revert to the 2019 biological opinion in operating the federal Central Valley Project.
https://agnetwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/01-27-25-Trump-Rekindles-Debate-Over-Small-Endangered-Fish-in-California-AW.mp3

KSEE / CBS47. Trump orders agencies to override CA policies that ‘unduly burden’ water deliveries.
Synopsis: Using dry fire hydrants as a pretext, the president issues an order to “maximize” water deliveries through the Central Valley Project. The story details exactly where LA’s water comes from, showing only about 10% from the Delta most years. Story quotes a Newsom spokesperson saying Trump is “either unaware of how water is stored in California or is deliberately misleading the public.”
MAD Take: It’s interesting that the president pretends his order will have an impact on LA or dry hydrants. The most interesting part of this story is the part of his order that instructs the CVP to push aside any “interference” from the state. Does that mean the CVP and SWP will uncouple their operations. If so, will that mean less water for SWP contractors?

Solutions that might help

Morning Ag Clips. Sen. Anna Caballero introduces SB 72, California Water for All.
Synopsis: Sen. Caballero’s latest effort to establish water-supply targets in specific state sectors. It would force DWR to create plans to address all of the state’s needs – urban, food-production and environmental – by enlisting local water agencies, wastewater services, DWR, the water board, fish & wildlife and others to develop long-term plans. This would “transform water management for generations to come.” Among the targets in the bill is finding another 9 MAF of storage facilities.

McClatchy: Put limits on ICE

McClatchy Newspapers. CA must fight Trump by keeping immigration enforcement out of schools.
Synopsis: The combined editorial boards in Fresno, Sacramento and San Luis Obispo crafted this editorial saying school superintendents, hospital administrators and religious leaders must resist the Trump administration’s plan to pursue undocumented immigrants onto their turfs. Trump wants to discard the 2011 federal guidelines that have kept ICE and the Border Patrol out of schools, churches and hospitals. Already, the fear is palpable. But remember, without a warrant ICE cannot enter a home. “We have the power to say: ‘No, not here.’ Now, we must summon the courage.” 

Local residents frightened

Turlock Journal. Local immigrants ‘scared’ following Trump orders. 
Synopsis: Joe Cortez talks to councilmember Rebecka Monez about immigration enforcement. Monez’s constituents are too frightened to go on the record. Monez says no one should have “to live in fear.” One young woman is recently married to an undocumented resident. He went to US schools, has a good job, attends church and wants to stay here. But he was brought into the US when he was little. Now he fears even going to work. In Stanislaus County, officials say immigration status doesn’t enter into their thinking – they go after criminals, no matter where they’re from. And they try to aid victims of crime, not make them victims all over again. What happens to the young bridegroom if he is sent back to Mexico? He says he will be in mortal danger from kidnappers.

How to use an old courthouse

Modesto Bee. Modesto will have a vacant courthouse this year; housing, shops are among uses.
Synopsis: John Holland looks at the long, long discussion about how to reutilize the soon-to-be-vacated Stanislaus County Courthouse at 12^th and H. These latest discussions occurred Jan. 21 as about 40 people gathered at The Century on Tenth. They decided to conduct another workshop sometime around mid-year. So far, they are suggesting agri-tourism, a makers space, storefronts and an apartment building.
MAD Note: Sure sounds familiar.

Map tracks bird-flu

Successful Farming. 134M poultry and counting: Interactive charts show hardest-hit counties.
Synopsis: The CDC and USDA released data showing at the county level where bird flu has hit the hardest across the US. It has been reported in every state, including Alaska and Hawaii. Some of the brightest blue locations (meaning highest impacts) on the map are in our Valley – Merced, Fresno, Tulare, Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties. Should be noted that other states have much smaller counties, so the losses are extreme there, too.

Bill to restore milk choice

Ag Daily. Bipartisan bill would bring whole milk back to schools.
Synopsis: John Fetterman, Peter Welch and Dr. Kim Schrier joined Republicans in pushing the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025. It would add whole milk to the choices available in schools. Currently, students can only opt for 2% milk out of fear over diabetes. The bill would add whole milk.

F-84 makes Castle debut

Fox26. Historic F-84F Thunderstreak unveiled after months-long restoration at Castle.
Synopsis: The Korean War-vintage aircraft has been completely restored, says Joe Pruzzo. The craft got new paint, tires, a treatment to end corrosion and restored markings.

519 jobs ending in Turlock

Merced Focus. Foster Farms closing Valley turkey plant, more than 500 jobs impacted.
Synopsis: The final day for workers in the Turlock processing plant will be May 9. The company says it is due to falling demand for fresh turkey parts. There will be 519 jobs lost, though some workers will be offered employment at other Foster Farms locations. Mayor Amy Bublak compliments the company for working with the city. It is the second Valley company to close a “key location” in the Hwy 99 corridor. Save Mart closed its Yosemite Wholesale Distribution Center, laying off 250 two months ago.

Red-light cameras back?  

Modesto Bee. Modesto City Council considers reactivating red-light cameras. 
Synopsis: Originally installed under police chief Galen Carroll, the cameras have been dormant since 2014 due to concerns that they sometimes provided false tickets and that citations were being commercialized. But Modesto is one of the three most deadly cities in California for traffic and pedestrians. Councilmember Jeremiah Williams says we have to do something to slow Modesto drivers and make them more careful. Among the places for new cameras are two locations on Carver, two on Coffee, three on Briggsmore and one on McHenry. Enforcement would, once again, be turned over to a private company which would issue citations and collect fines to be split with the city.

Moms have a posh club

Fresno Bee. Sorority for Fresno moms: Group strives to put ‘glitz and glam’ back into motherhood.
Synopsis: The Fresno Posh Mama Club started in 2023, and it has been growing since day 1. Founder Emely Darby had a 4-year-old but wanted a space to feel glamorous. She’s been joined by some 250 women who feel similarly – “mamas who know how to have fun.” There’s even a group of Posh Mamas in Vegas. In Fresno, the mamas throw Christmas parties, a Galentine Day celebration and go on outings like horseback riding, skiing, etc. – including some where the kids are invited along.