Valley Headlines

Lining up against the tunnel

Stockton Record. San Joaquin County leaders push back on Newsom’s proposal to fast-track tunnel.
Synopsis: Critics say building a 40-foot diameter tunnel to siphon off the Sacramento River before it reaches the Delta will harm endangered species and “fail to create a single drop of water for anyone.” Among those protesting most loudly is Rep. Josh Harder, who called the tunnel “a direct attack on the region’s economy,” adding that “it’s clear that politicians care more about lawns in Beverly Hills than protecting the fruit and nut basket of the world.” Gov. Gavin Newsom, the state’s leading tunnel proponent, insists that without it Southern California will run out of water in a “hotter, drier climate.”

Merced Sun Star. Legislature should reject governor’s plan to fast-track Delta tunnel project. 
Synopsis: Assemblymember Jerry McNerney writes an op-ed to say the tunnel would have “devastating impacts” on the richest soil in the nation. He insists there are less expensive alternatives that won’t ruin 3 million acres by encouraging salt-water incursion all the way to Stockton. The 45-mile tunnel will result in dead salmon, ruin native burial grounds and cost a lot more than the $20 billion the governor says.

Not everyone had a good time

Merced Sun Star. Frustrated Luke Bryan concert-goers bail on Atwater show after 3-hour waits.
Synopsis: Shawn Jensen writes about a lot of folks who were expecting to attend the Luke Bryan Farm Tour at Castle Airport last Thursday but instead spent the evening doing other things. After 3 hours of waiting to get in, many just left. A member of one group of women said her group “was starting to get scared with everything happening around us, so we decided to leave.” Social media was “flooded” with posts from ticket-holders suffering “three-hour waits before giving up and leaving.” Sheriff Vern Warnke blamed Bryan’s staff, who “did not have their act together.” Warnke said the promoters had just one VIP entrance and one general admission gate. They estimated 1,000 people per hour could get through that gate. “My undersheriff pointed out there’s 20,000 people coming, so let’s do some math.” Deputy Corey Gibson took it upon himself to open 14 gates and start letting folks onto the grounds. By showtime the lines had disappeared. One family who lives nearby gave up waiting and climbed a stack of hay bales to watch. Supervisor Daron McDaniel admitted there were “challenges,” but said the show proved that large events could be conducted in Atwater.

Care shouldn’t be political

Modesto Bee. Letters: Health care isn’t political.
Synopsis: David Quackenbush, CEO of Golden Valley Health Centers, is “deeply concerned about the proposed cuts to Medicaid (Medi-Cal in CA). His non-profit serves 165,000 low-income Medi-Cal patients each year, and the cuts threaten that care -- along care for 15 million other Americans. “Access to health care shouldn’t be political. I urge congressional representatives to stand up and fight for CA’s patients.”
MAD Take: Quackenbush’s message is not lost on representatives Adam Gray, Josh Harder and Jim Costa who have been standing against the administration’s Big Beautiful Bill that contains the cuts. Unfortunately, the majority – including David Valadao, Tom McClintock and Vince Fong from the Valley – has voted in favor of the bill to require $715 billion in Medicaid cuts over 5 years along with rules banning states from making up the difference by taxing businesses. It would end the ability of Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices with pharmaceutical companies and require cuts to nursing homes.

Fresno Bee. CA could lose up to 217,000 jobs if Congress cuts Medicaid, analysis says.
Synopsis: The UC Berkeley Labor Center says 145,000 California jobs would be lost in the healthcare sector – removing workers from hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, homecare and insurance companies. Another 72,000 jobs would be lost in areas where Medi-Cal enrollment is highest -- counties like Merced, Madera and Fresno where 54% of residents receive Medi-Cal benefits. “Hundreds of thousands would lose jobs at a time when economists already warn of a potential recession,” wrote Laurel Lucia, director of the Center’s health care program. She estimates that up to 10% of healthcare workers could lose their jobs. In Stanislaus County, that would mean 3,300 people and 1,000 in Merced County.

Why she wants to be a nurse

ABC30. Senior success story: Atwater high senior turns painful experience into purpose.
Synopsis: Andrea Sandoval was raised by a single mom who immigrated from Mexico. Andrea’s father died when she was 4. One of those who stepped up was her older brother Santiago. But in 2020, he was killed in a car accident. Andrea is studying to be a nurse, inspired by the woman who arrived moments after Santiago’s accident and held him until he passed. Instructor Raj Mehat nominated her to be featured by ABC30. She’s graduating “at the top of her class” and this summer will receive a Community Health Worker Certificate through a program at UC Merced before enrolling at Stanislaus State. 

Woodrats return to Caswell

River Partners. Could a rare rat’s comeback benefit Valley farmers?
Synopsis: Biologists from Stan State and the USF&WS are working with River Partners at Caswell State Park northwest of Modesto to help study an elusive “riparian woodrat” that was thought to have been extinct in the region. Researcher Jaime Rudd called them “the chinchilla of rats.” No one knew they had returned to Caswell until traps set to capture endangered riparian brush rabbits instead captured woodrats. They live in large piles of sticks and brush that they engineer to include suites of rooms and even “outdoor latrines.” If the woodrat’s population expands, they could push aside black rats, which are destructive of food crops.

Special sendoff for Merced grads

Merced Focus. UC President Michael V. Drake bids adieu to UC Merced’s largest graduating class. 
Synopsis: The outgoing UC president made a surprise visit to the campus to help confer 1,500 degrees in three weekend ceremonies. He spoke to 800 grads Sunday, telling them “don’t settle.” He pointed out that “UC Merced is … a real success story for the entire country, and you are all now a part of that success story.” It was 30 years ago this month that UC regents approved the construction of UC Merced on an old golf course. His best advice: 1) Be prepared. 2) Mistakes are normal. 3) Give your best. Drake was given the UC Merced Chancellor’s Medal, joining Michelle Obama and Cruz Bustamante.

Merced Focus. Merced College graduations set for this week.
Synopsis: Two MC grads will help send off a new crop of students next week. In Los Banos, Mayor Mike Amabile will give the keynote address. In Merced, it will be Rep. Adam Gray. Both will speak at 6 p.m. Friday night in livestreamed speeches available on YouTube. In all, 1,200 students will walk the stage.

That’s not a cap and gown!

Cal Matters. CA lets students wear tribal regalia at graduations; why it’s still controversial. 
Synopsis: For the past 8 years, state law has allowed students graduating from CA schools – from high schools to UCs -- to display symbols of their culture. But about half of those schools have put conditions on displays or insisted they can reject them. That has led Assemblymember James Ramos to write a bill that forces compliance by removing any “pre-approval” stipulations. The ACLU likes the idea. The problem, say many school administrators, is that the word “cultural” has been left undefined which means there are no parameters to protect against inappropriate displays. Some conservatives call the displays examples of DEI and thus want them banned under Trump edicts. Students are somewhat blasé: “I’m happy I get to wear the eagle feather. But I’m also pretty excited about leaving school,” said one.  

Cherry harvest a ‘disaster’

Ag Net West. Disaster declaration submitted by San Joaquin Ag Commissioner.
Synopsis: The San Joaquin County cherry crop is a disaster. Growers estimate $98 million in losses this year. The declaration must be approved by the USDA before it can advance to the CA Office of Emergency Services.
MAD Take: The story makes no effort to explain why the harvest is so truly awful or what a state declaration would mean to growers. Stories in other places, such as Ag Alert, noted that last year’s 30 days of 100+ temperatures stressed the trees and diminished this year’s growth.

Workers ‘overjoyed’ with raises

Merced Focus. Merced County employees get big raises a year after near strike. 
Synopsis: Brianna Vicari reports that 1,700 county workers will get a 10% raise and higher contributions to healthcare costs after contracts with AFSCME and United Public Employees were approved by Merced County this month. “Skyrocketing healthcare premiums” have been driving demands for contract negotiations for more than a year. Improvements were based on similar benefits given Sheriff’s Office staff. “Members have been overjoyed with it,” said ASCME president Jerald Phelps.

Madera winegrower honored

Morning Ag Clips. CA State Fair announces 2025 Wine Industry Lifetime Achievement awards.
Synopsis: As usual, a lot of folks will be honored during the State Fair Wine Competition. Foremost among them is Andrew Quady of Quady Vineyards in Madera. He gets the Lifetime Achievement Award for having formulated sweet aperitif wines such as Electra Moscato and Orange Muscat. The Vineyard of the Year is Marian’s Vineyard in Lodi, owned by Mohr-Fry Ranches. Medals for individual wines will be announced later.

Pitman principal moves up

Turlock Journal. Pitman High will welcome new principal in Fall.
Synopsis: Pitman High principal Angela Freeman has been promoted to assistant superintendent of educational services by Turlock Unified School District. She will be replaced at Pitman by Janine Arakelian, who began her career in 2002 as a substitute teacher.

Roller derby has a comeback

Fresno Bee. A roller derby renaissance in Fresno? Meet the team bringing back the sport.
Synopsis: The Ash City Roller Derby is competing with teams from LA and other cities. At one time, half a century ago, there were two leagues of skaters in Fresno alone. Just 20 years ago, Betty Rocker was a “certified roller derby star.” Leo Seltzer’s National Roller Derby League drew up to 9,000 a night to “bouts” Kearney Bowl. Now a new group is trying to breathe life back into the sport. Why “Ash City”? Because in Spanish, Fresno means “ash.”