Valley Headlines

3 rivers open to salmon fishers

Maven / CA Dept of Fish & Wildlife. Limited chinook salmon fishing to reopen in 3 Valley rivers.
Synopsis: Despite a dramatic drop in the Sacramento River salmon population and a ban on commercial fishing in the ocean, state officials say there are plenty of salmon on the Mokelumne, Feather and American rivers. They’ve decided to allow fishers to catch 1, but just 1. “Increased hatchery production and a few good water years have led to a rebound in some of the key Central Valley salmon tributaries, which is encouraging to see,” said a state official.
MAD Take: It’s good to see the state admit that claims of eminent “extinction” are overblown. Will they ever admit that the reasons Sacramento River salmon numbers are falling are likely specific to the river, and not all CA rivers?

Delta tunnel draws opposition

Cal Matters. Lawmakers attack governor’s plan to streamline Delta tunnel. 
Synopsis: Fifteen legislators from both parties pushed back against Gov. Newsom’s plan to make permitting and acquisition shortcuts in building his $20 billion tunnel under the Delta. Assemblymember Lori Wilson organized a protest Tuesday, saying the state just wants to “shift water from one farming region to benefit another farming region.” DWR head Karla Nemeth, meanwhile, said drought will return and without the tunnel, the state’s ability to react will be severely limited. Stephanie Nguyen said the tunnel will put additional pressure on Sacramento River salmon, whose numbers have fallen by 80% this century. Others asked where the Governor will find $20 billion in a budget that has a $12 billion hole.

Sacramento Bee. On water, Newsom is out of time and making his riskiest move as governor.
Synopsis: Columnist Tom Philp says Gov. Gavin Newsom is trying to quickly “ram through” the highly controversial delta tunnel. “There is nothing fast, efficient or effective at how CA has built anything for some time,” writes Philp. “We have substituted process for actual progress.” Philp, who is married to the bureaucrat most connected to the tunnel (DWR head Karla Nemeth), fully supports the tunnel. But “I think he’s basically doing the right thing in an undemocratic way.” Regardless, he says it will require a “political miracle” to build the tunnel before Newsom’s term expires.

Controlling wolves, coyotes

Ag Alert. Fish & Game ditches proposal to limit coyote take.
Synopsis: Ranchers declared victory over a wrong-headed effort to protect one of the fastest-growing species of predators in North America – coyotes. “There is no empirical evidence coyote populations are threatened in any sense,” said rancher Ned Coe of Modoc County. But there is plenty of evidence that the growing number of coyotes are killing calves.

Western Farm Press. State ‘unaware’ of any public safety threat from wolves.
Synopsis: Four counties at the top of the state have declared a wolf emergency due to predation taking place near homes and schools. But the state’s Dept of Fish & Wildlife says it is “unaware of any public-safety threats” from wolves. The state says it has a new mapping tool that ranchers can use to track wolves.

Tariffs tough on table grapes

Ag Net West. CA table Grape Commission CEO discusses tariff-exports.
Synopsis: Ian LeMay spoke with Ag Net West, saying he breathed a “sigh of relief” when Trump acknowledged that some of his new tariffs were illegal under an agreement he reached with Canada and Mexico in 2020. “Canada is our No. 1 export market followed by Mexico. Those … are areas that we would not like to disrupt.”

Pollution linked to dementia

ABC30. Researchers at UC Merced studying link between air pollution, dementia. 
Synopsis: The San Joaquin Valley is one of the worst areas in America for PM2.5 pollution – or pollution particles that measure 2.5 microns or less. These tiny particles can penetrate deep inside lungs, and apparently the brain, causing dementia. The National Institutes of Health and Johns Hopkins studied the issue.

Caballero throws hat in ring

Politico. CA Playbook.
Synopsis: Anna Caballero, who is soon to be termed out of the state senate, said Tuesday she is running for state treasurer. It’s going to be a crowded field with Anthony Rendon, Libby Schaaf, Antonio Vazquez and possibly Eleni Kounalakis all in the running.

Teachers protest in Hanford

Fresno Bee. Central Valley educators demand Rep. Valadao defend funding for schools. 
Synopsis: Hundreds of teachers from Merced, Madera, Fresno, Tulare, Kings and Kern counties rallied Saturday in front of David Valadao’s Hanford office. They were joined by UFW founder Dolores Huerta, a former teacher, to call attention to cuts required under the Trump’s “Big Beautiful Budget Bill.” They say schools in Fresno County will lose $140 million for meals for students. Merced will lose $107 million in total funding, including $44 million for meals. “The cost is measured not in line items, but in lost opportunity, stalled careers and young people who no longer see a future here in the Valley,” said Matt Patton, head of the CA Agricultural Teachers Association.

Some Grand Openings

Turlock Journal. The pool is open … finally.
Synopsis: Reporter Joe Cortez describes the reopening of the Columbia Park Pool 6 years after its closure. Ceremonial “first plunges” were done by city manager Reagan Wilson and city councilwoman Rebecka Monez. The pool features ADA compliant restrooms, a concession stand, covered picnic areas and more. Police chief Jason Hedden said the pool is “going to provide all kinds of positive activity and fun for kids.” JoLynn DiGrazia of Westside Ministries called it “an oasis for kids that have nowhere else to go in the summer.”

Turlock Journal. Pacific Equipment Solutions brings headquarters to Turlock.
Synopsis: Construction got started on a 13,000-square-foot building on Auto Mall Drive, expected to open in 8 months as PES transfers its Modesto operations to Turlock. “Primarily, we’re a forklift dealer,” said co-owner Nick Logan. On hand were representatives of Rep. Adam Gray, State Sen. Marie Alvarado-Gil and Jeremiah Williams.

Westside Connect. Newman Downtown Market returns in June with food, crafts, classic cars.
Synopsis: Fresh food, crafts, entertainment and vendor favorites like El Azteca, Big Al’s, Kona Ice and others will return to Newman’s downtown Plaza on Fridays from 4 to 8 pm. The car show will be June 27.

Westside Connect. Newman library set to reopen after upgrades, continuing century-old tradition.
Synopsis: The Newman library reopens May 31 at 10 am with ADA compliant restrooms, asbestos-free tiles and a roof that doesn’t leak. The original library – one of the last built by the Carnegie Endowment – opened in 1920 and is now a museum. The grand reopening is June 7 featuring a ribbon-cutting and book giveaways.

Ag loans harder to get

Ag Alert. Farmers liquidate assets as banks retreat. 
Synopsis: Virtually every farmer in the Northern San Joaquin Valley depends on operational loans to pay bills until harvest checks arrive. But a lot of banks and credit companies are rejecting those loans this year. Stanislaus resident and former Assemblymember Bill Berryhill – son of a former CA Sec of Ag Clare -- is profiled at the top of this story. He talks about the loss of grape contracts and being left with only bad choices. Many farmers no longer have the resources to self-finance and with almond prices falling, bankers aren’t optimistic. Among those quoted are realtor Buzz Gill, a Rabobank economist, and Jeff Bitter of the winegrowers association.

Fences aren’t working

Valley Citizen. Homeless: The futile folly of fences. 
Synopsis: Eric Caine writes about the “street families” who form alliances for protection, sharing food and camaraderie and their bemused disdain for fences. One “resident” is known for burrowing under a fence then covering the hole with vegetation so he can camp on the other side in relative peace. Others remove the bars by sawing through them. “After billions upon billions of dollars spent trying to manage homelessness, CA still has almost 200,000 people with nowhere to go. No home, no room, no motel, no shelter, no sidewalk, no alley wall, no park bench or lawn. Nowhere. … The only thing we all agree on about managing homelessness: Things aren’t working.”

The real John Dutton?

Successful Farming. 2024 land report 100: Who owns the most land in the US?
Synopsis: Everyone loves a list. This list of America’s largest landowners includes Taylor Sheridan, the creator of TV shows like “Yellowstone” and “1923.” He owns 267,000 acres in Texas and Wyoming, up from a mere 745 acres he owned in 2023. The No. 1 name on the list is the Emmerson Family of California. They own 2.44 million acres in CA, Oregon and Washington – along with Sierra Pacific Industries. Ted Turner, BTW, owns 2.0 million acres.

A new use for compost

LA Times. This spa buries you up to your head in compost; would you try it?
Synopsis: Osmosis Day Spa Sanctuary in Sonoma County has been immersing people in compost from rice bran and wood shavings for the past 40 years. “You feel like you’re a plant being composted,” said one person, who was getting the “cedar enzyme bath.” The owner says it gives all your microorganisms “a chance to talk to each other. They all have infinite wisdom. They all communicate.” You can be buried up to your neck in cedar compost for $155 or share a vat for $127.50.
MAD Take: Osmosis? Isn’t that the process of absorbing stuff? Not sure I want to absorb compost. But if you’re looking for an osmosis treatment, I have a composter -- $9.95 ought to cover it.