Valley Headlines

Impacts of tariffs on almonds

SF Chronicle. This CA supermarket staple is expected to get cheaper under Trump tariffs. 
Synopsis: The Chron’s Hearst Fellow (i.e., intern) Maliya Ellis reports that almonds will get slightly cheaper for consumers under the Trump Tariffs. Why? “Central Valley growers will have to sell more of the crop domestically. That could mean slightly lower prices at the supermarket even as growers take a hit,” says UC Davis Prof. Daniel Sumner. Good news for consumers, bad news in the Valley. “Even that slight grocery-store discount could correspond to major losses for almond growers who already operate on razor-thin margins,” said the professor. Last year, CA’s almond exports were valued at $4.7 billion; that will drop to around $3.9 billion, says the prof, resulting in prices falling from $2.50 a pound to $1.40. Merced grower Joe Sansoni said, “We’re bracing ourselves for some negative impacts.” But there is a silver lining. Back in 2017, under Trump 1.0, some farmers made record profits when the USDA shelled out millions in direct aid to those hurt by his trade policies. “Everybody in the industry who’s paying attention will be expecting those same payments,” said UC Berkeley Prof. Aaron Smith. 

Successful Farming. Survey: Farmers believe tariffs will ultimately help them.
Synopsis: Overall, farmers were feeling better in April with a measurement of their sentiment rising from 140 to 148. Despite that, 56% of farmers saying the Trump Tariffs will “have either a negative or very negative impact on their farm income in 2025.” Even so, 70% said they think tariffs will “strengthen the US economy in the long run.”
MAD Take: “Long run”? Does that mean 4 years or 40?

Successful Farming. Crop traders report tariffs weighing on profits, outlooks. 
Synopsis: While a majority of farmers remain optimistic, the really big ag companies – ADM, Bunge Global, Andersons – are not. They reported that “tariffs and trade chaos” have produced the weakest first-quarter profits in 5 years. They say it will get worse as relations with China – our largest ag importer – worsen. In anticipation of bad times, ADM is cutting “costs” (i.e., workers) by $750 million over the duration of the Trump presidency. As for dividends, they will be the lowest since 2020. Similar dividend reports were released by the other companies. 

A peek behind ‘Graffiti’ scenes

Modesto Bee. ‘American Graffiti’ actress’ new book offers peek into ‘70s Hollywood. 
Synopsis: Candy Clark, who played the Sandra Dee look-alike who charmed Toad, took a lot of Polaroid head shots during her early years in Hollywood. They were the equivalent of “selfies” back then. She had forgotten about them until a researcher asked to see any mementos from the old days. That led to a book called “Tight Heads,” featuring photos of stars like Harrison Ford, Robin Williams, Carrie Fisher and David Bowie. Clark said during American Graffiti filming (in Petaluma), she hung with the non-party “kids” -- Richard Dreyfus, Ron Howard, Charles Martin Smith and Cindy Williams. The bad boys -- Harrison Ford, Paul Le Mat and Bo Hopkins – were out drinking beer. A lot of beer. 

Some Trump voters getting fed up

LA Times. Why older Americans are Trump’s biggest nightmare.
Synopsis: It’s not just Gen Z that is reassessing its support for Donald v2.0. A lot of Baby Boomers are rejecting his policies as they land hard in their pocketbooks. Trump’s support among those over 65 is down to 41% in the Marist poll. Those 80+ give him only 37% support. “Anyone who’s taken part in protests against the administration around the nation can testify to the amount of gray hair in the crowd.” The authors – Akaya Windwood and Bill McKibben – say they’re not surprised. Elon called Social Security a “Ponzi scheme.” What was No. 1 on the White House budget chopping block? Medicaid/Medicare. And those tanking IRAs? When you’re 35, you have time to recover; at 75, you worry more about a cracked nest egg. Older Americans recall why most of those dismantled agencies were created – impenetrable smog in LA, burning rivers in Cleveland, Jim Crow laws. Finally, about those 30 dolls? Who tends to pamper little girls? Grannie & Gramps.

Fresno Bee. Trump policies trigger nationwide concerns; a Fresno resident voices concern. 
Synopsis: Columnist Juan Esparza Loera offers a Q&A with retired lawyer Nancy Schultz, who has taken part in the Hands Off! and 5150 protests. Key comment: “On Election Night I was very disappointed but knew we had to fight this man who is a rapist, a liar, a tyrant and a traitor. … He has proven himself to be a dictator who is dangerous for all of our rights.”

Sacramento Bee. Trump’s CA approval ratings at historic lows, poll finds.
Synopsis: McClatchy’s David Lightman reports on the Berkeley IGS poll, which shows that after 100 days, 68% of Californians disapprove of Trump’s actions – the lowest rating of any president after 100 days since polling began in 1974. They dislike his policies even more. Some 65% disapprove of DOGE and Elon Musk; a similar number believe Trump has exceeded his constitutional authority. Sixty percent say they have no faith the courts will rein in Trump. The poll’s director says the poll signals that Republicans are losing ground in CA, not gaining.

Fresno closing all smoke shops

Fresno Bee. All smoke shops will close under new Fresno ordinance; how many will come back?
Synopsis: Mayor Jerry Dyer and the city council approved the Smoke Shop Text Amendment to close all 140 smoke shops in the city within 180 days. After that, seven in each council district will be allowed to reopen. A statewide group is suing to have the ordinance declared void, but others are looking for loopholes. Many of the shops have been closed by authorities for selling illegal products or selling legal products to minors. 

‘Habitat’ building 20 homes

Firebaugh-Mendota Journal. New housing groundbreaking held.
Synopsis: Habitat for Humanity invited roughly 25 folks to help turn shovels for the San Joaquin Villas, 20 low-income homes. Part of the funding is through the American Rescue Plan Act, which will pay for a drainage basin to keep water out of the neighborhood. Each family must put in 500 hours to help build their home. City manager Ben Gallegos worked closely with Habitat to make it happen. 

Bad neighbors anger farmers

CBS13. Stanislaus farmers raise concerns over industrial operations in agricultural zones. 
Synopsis: Farmer Christine Gemperle says a new trucking operation next door has been dumping asphalt on her property. She asked the drivers to stay off her property, but they ignored her pleas. Now she has to build a fence. The county says the company does not have a use permit or a business license, but it’s still in operation. Supervisor Vito Chiesa says he wants stronger language in codes to keep this from happening. He pointed to 21 code-related complaints of industrial operations on ag land last year.  

CA will fix up salmon hatcheries

Maven / Gov. Gavin Newsom. Gov. Newsom announces upgrades to 21 fish hatcheries. 
Synopsis: The Dept of Fish & Wildlife will upgrade and renovate 21 state-owned hatcheries in an effort to “build” salmon and trout populations. The hatcheries have suffered from lack of cold water, increased fish disease, and evacuations due to fire and weather. Renovations will upgrade aging plumbing and valves, provide better water circulation, reduce energy costs and harden facilities against disaster.
MAD Note: No list of targeted hatcheries was provided, but the state only operates 22, so it’s likely the Merced River Hatchery near Crockett Dam is on the list, along with the San Joaquin (Fresno) and Mokelumne River (San Joaquin) hatcheries.

Hmong celebration will be Saturday

Merced Focus. Celebration set to honor 50 years of Hmong legacy, community in Merced County.
Synopsis: The first Hmong people arrived from Thailand in Merced in 1975 and began establishing a home for those who followed. Their efforts and successes will be honored Saturday at Castle Commerce Center from 9 am to 3 pm. Tsia Xiong is the driving force behind the music, exhibits, mochi sampling and, as with all Valley celebrations, food trucks. The event is for those who want to know more about the Hmong experience – which includes many younger Hmong who were born here. 

Merced has a poet laureate

Merced Focus. Merced makes it official, appoints Joyce Dale as city’s first poet laureate.
Synopsis: Mayor Matthew Serratto appointed Joyce Dale, 73, to the two-year position on May 5, which was Dale’s birthday. Merced joins Modesto, Sacramento and Fresno in having poet laureates. She has published five anthologies in 20 years, often with religious themes. The “LitCrawl” May 9 at the Multicultural Arts Center will be in her honor. CA’s Poet Laureate, Lee Herrick, will attend. Some of Dale’s words: “We need a better way to communicate / No matter what party you vote / We need a better way than yesterday / That’s fueled by prayers and hope.” 

Once upon a (discarded) mattress

KCRA. Neighbors concerned over discarded mattresses.
Synopsis: Dozens of used mattresses are piling up on a lot on Tioga Drive near the airport. A sign on the fence says the site is a free drop-off point for mattresses, but neighbors worry about bedbugs and vermin. Others say it’s good to have them in a single spot rather than littering allies.

Tips for tipping your hat

Ag Daily. Cowboy hat etiquette and the superstitions that come with it. 
Synopsis: Here’s a list of 10 rules for those who rock a Resistol or Stetson. For instance, fashionable cowboys and cowgirls wear straw hats from Easter to Labor Day. Other rules: Take it off when a funeral goes by, don’t show the inside of the hat, respect your hat, respect someone else’s hat, and more. It also talks about how hats are made. Interesting stuff.