Valley Headlines

You call that ugly?

Modesto Bee. Ugliest public buildings in America? Two Valley landmarks make the list.
Synopsis: Something called the New Jersey Real Estate Network has ranked the city-county administration building called Tenth Street Plaza the 14^th ugliest public building in the US. The Fresno County BF Sisk Superior Court building came in No. 2 on the list, just behind the City of Flint (Mich.) Municipal Center. The entire list had 100 public buildings.
MAD Take: A couple of ways to look at this. First, it’s what’s on the inside that counts. Second, what does anyone in New Jersey know about beauty, architecture or aesthetics? And third, how did this group miss old courthouse?

How pumping hurts the Valley

Fresno Bee. Central Valley groundwater pumping, land-sinking stressing Aqueduct.
Synopsis: Over-pumping has “taken a toll on California’s largest water-delivery system,” the CA Aqueduct, which relies on “stable land to work well.” The carrying capacity of the 444-mile aqueduct has fallen 3% compared to original design. If no action is taken, it will fall by 87% by 2043, says the Dept of Water Resources. Getting water to the end of the aqueduct will require more pumping, which will cost more. “There are no quick solutions,” said DWR engineer Jesse Dillon. The Aqueduct traverses some of the land where groundwater pumping has been most extreme. That has led to subsidence, meaning everything on the ground sinks with the land. Immediate repairs costing around $32 million are necessary now, but who will pay? The US Bureau of Reclamation has yet to confirm it will pay the 45% of the cost expected by the state. Metropolitan Water District will be responsible for 50%, but its officials say those who caused the subsidence should pay part of the cost. The state, meanwhile, has already spent more than $80 million to address subsidence since 2017.
MAD Take: With water district managers predicting another 6 to 10 feet of subsidence before the full implementation of SGMA in 2040, there is vastly more damage in store for the Valley. Subsidence has the potential to misalign roads and bridges and even crack building foundations. Maybe the state could soften the blow by structuring additional surface deliveries in exchange for promises to stop pumping. Question: What good is a tunnel if the water stops flowing downhill?

Colorado is running ‘dry’

Cal Matters. ‘Beyond awful’ Colorado River forecasts put water talks under pressure. 
Synopsis: Lake Powell and Lake Mead are at 31% of capacity and dropping fast. Federal officials are asking Arizona and Nevada to cut water use. CA has been spared for now. Meanwhile, the seven states impacted by the river continue to negotiate a new pact on water use. Upper-basin states (Colo, Utah, Wyoming, New Mexico) are at odds with lower-basin states (CA, Az, Nevada). The feds have asked the states to work out something by Nov. 11 or they will impose a settlement. Even with heavy rains two years ago, this has been the driest 23-year period in the river’s history.  As the climate warms, soils dry out quickly and soak up snow and rain. Though the snowpack was 92% of normal this year, runoff was only 41% of normal.
MAD Take: Where in the world would SoCal find water if the Colorado is no longer available?

Small towns will be hurt

Ag Net West. CA Farming at a Crossroads: Roger Isom on water, labor and future of ag.
Synopsis: Higher costs for fuel, labor, transportation and electricity leaves farmers at a disadvantage against other states and nations said Roger Isom, president of the Cotton Ginners Association. Worse, all those things combined to hurt rural farming communities. For instance, the high cost of labor has led to more automation, killing 10,000 nut-sorting jobs in the last 3 years. Other jobs are being killed by lack of water. Twenty years ago, Fresno County had 26 cotton gins; now it has 6, killing another 10,000 jobs. “Towns like Mendota, Firebaugh, Huron and Five Points once thrived on farm jobs. Today they resemble shadows of their former selves.” Isom says we need a fair immigration policy. “We need to know who’s here, but we also need to keep the people who are providing honest work.”

Valley districts would change

KVPR. See proposed congressional map as CA asks voters to counter Texas redistricting.
Synopsis: The “Election Rigging Response Act” will change the Congressional districts for a lot of folks, including those running for Congress. In the Valley, Districts 22 and 23 would be changed dramatically. The maps are here: Proposed Congressional Map | California State Assembly

Fresno Bee. David Valadao’s district could include Fresno, thanks to Texas governor.
Synopsis: The Fresno Bee Editorial Board (Juan Esparza Loera and Tad Weber) points out that Texas is trying to rig the 2026 Congressional election by redrawing five Texas districts and turn them from Democrat to Republican – even though there are more Democrats (8.1 million) than Republicans (6.6 million) in Texas. The Bee asks where would Trump’s agenda be without David Valadao? The editorial says CA’s Republicans are “representing Trump’s interests, not the interests of their district residents.” If they cared about California, they would have worked against Medicaid cuts and done more to protect immigrants and nutrition assistance.

Josh vs. Deion? It’s nuts

Westside Express. Firebaugh native, NFL star ready to promote pistachios.
Synopsis: David Borboa writes that MVP quarterback Josh Allen, a Firebaugh native, is coming after Coach Deion Sanders -- the spokesman for the Almond Board of California for the past two years. Allen has signed a contract to help sell pistachios, which his family grows on 600 acres west of town. Josh will be featured in commercials this season, pushing a new Wonderful brand product: J-17.
MAD Take: Hmmm. J-17? Could that be Josh’s jersey number? Duh.

Pistachios crop looks great

Ag Net West. CA pistachio harvest 2025: Insights from Richard Kreps.
Synopsis: Richard Kreps, the chairman of the American Pistachio Growers Board, says the 2025 crop is the most uniform he’s seen in 15 years. That means “stronger first shakes, higher quality and potentially better pricing.” The new Golden Hills varieties are coming on now in Kern and will be ready by early September elsewhere. Meanwhile, demand continues to climb. For those seeking dark clouds: Labor shortages, transportation disruptions, lack of water and damage from rodents and crows.

Bodies discovered in canal

Modesto Bee. Bodies of missing Elk Grove mother and baby found under water. 
Synopsis: Adventures With Purpose has found the woman who disappeared while driving home from Fresno to Elk Grove. The volunteer team specializes in finding people who have drowned. Whisper Owen’s SUV was found Sunday in the SSJID Canal between Oakdale and Escalon on Hwy 120 at the county line. Wrote AWP: “We were able to confirm Whisper is inside the vehicle. She was doing everything she could as a mother to try to save her daughter Sandra.”

Stan State among top schools

Modesto Bee. Stanislaus State named to Princeton Review’s Best Colleges list for 20^th year. 
Synopsis: The “Best Colleges” list includes 391 of the nation’s 2,700 four-year colleges, including Stan State. The ranking is based on an 89-question student survey that ranks colleges across 50 categories. In the category of “Making an Impact,” Stan State ranked No. 9. It also made the list in Best West, Green Colleges, Best Health Services and Financial Aid. Money.com and US News & World Report have also praised the school.

Westside Express. Merced College set to start first-ever 16-week semester.
Synopsis: Classes resume at Merced College’s Los Banos campus on Aug. 25. But, for the first time ever, classes will end two weeks sooner than normal – after 16 weeks. Since 1962, MC has had 18-week semesters. Most of the classes are now in person.

Crime falling in Merced

Merced Sun Star. Crime in Merced continues downward trend. Here’s why, says police chief. 
Synopsis: Chief Steven Stanfield says juvenile arrests are down 28%, burglaries 40%, auto thefts 38% and homicides 20% through Aug. 10 this year. Arrests, meanwhile, are up. So are traffic citations, 109% -- perhaps a reflection of officers having more time to go after speeders and scofflaws since there are fewer violent crimes to investigate. “This is not a place where you want to come up and commit a crime because this is a highly staffed, very proactive police agency,” said Chief Stanfield. Mayor Serratto credited passage of Measure C, which protected the number of police officers and firefighters in the city.
MAD Note: Nice to see that the trends seen across the nation are also happening in Merced.

Tiny homes unveiled

Modesto Bee. Tiny home village for unhoused opens in Modesto.
Synopsis: A new, 12-unit “tiny home” community opened with appropriate fanfare at 1530 Owens Drive near the Modesto Gospel Mission on Friday. The first residents were eight women and four men, who all should be moved in before the end of the month. “They are not just tiny homes; they are a home – and they’re going to be a home to somebody,” said Mission executive Jason Conway. Said Mayor Sue Zwahlen, “We have already seen success with new facilities such as Jenny’s Place and Dignity Village. Now we are excited to be able to provide another location” for the unhoused.

Wineries balk at bottle tax

ABC10. Lodi wine community divided over proposed winery tax.
Synopsis: The Lodi Winegrape Commission wants to add 1.5% to the price of every bottle of wine sold in San Joaquin tasting rooms to fund marketing campaigns. The head of the commission says it would raise $630,000 annually. But first, county supervisors must approve the tax, then city councils in Lodi, Stockton, Elk Grove and Sacramento. Not everyone loves the idea. The commission admits only 68% of area wineries approve of it. Among those opposed is Ted Woodruff of M2, who says he doesn’t want or need help marketing his products. Ruby of Viaggio Estates agrees, saying, “We do a better job marketing on our own through social media.” Others, whose wineries can be 10 miles from Lodi, say they get little or no benefit from the group’s Lodi-centric marketing.
MAD Note: Not mentioned in the story, but these marketing organizations are having a rough go. The Monterey County Vintners & Growers Association dissolved just last week.

Riding to honor Murrieta

LA Times. He was one of CA’s most notorious Mexican outlaws; now they ride in his honor.
Synopsis: Joaquin Murrieta was killed in 1853 by California Rangers. But his legend lives on through a three-day ride & rodeo called the “cabalgata” that has been taking place for 46 years. Riders cover 65 miles to honor the legend. Murrieta is either California’s Robin Hood or Jesse James. In the Mexican community, he is called “El Patrio,” who fought for the honor of Mexican immigrants. Rider Arturo Barajas says, “We can’t say he’s a saint, but he’s pretty close.” This year’s ride was smaller due to some riders worried about immigration. Some riders work in the fields, and some are weekend warriors, and some are studying for post-grad degrees. Cantua Creek is where the legendary outlaw (and his pal Three-Finger Jack) were supposedly killed by Ranger Harry Love of Stockton. The first day’s ride is from Cantua Creek to Firebaugh. On Day 2, it’s Firebaugh to Madera. Day 3 is for the “Rodeo,” then home.  
MAD Take: This is a fun story with great images. But the writer referred to the Central Valley as the “bread basket” of America, which might have been true in 1885, but not in 2025. Fruit basket? Nut basket? Dairy basket?