Valley Headlines

Gray acts to lower food prices

Latino Times. Gray stands up against increases to food prices due to Trump’s tariffs.
Synopsis: In an unsigned “op-ed,” the Latino Times writes of the disappointment felt by many who believed Donald Trump would lower prices. Prices have continued to rise and, “for some reason, Trump wants to make them worse through arbitrary and painful tariffs on critical food imports from American allies.” The story focuses on the 21% tariff on Mexican-grown fresh tomatoes, which could increase prices 70%, and notes the price of coffee has doubled and ground beef costs more now than steak cost two years ago. These “tax increases” will cost consumers $346 million this year, with the working class hit hardest. “The good news is that CA’s 13^th Congressional District elected a Democrat,” writes the op-ed. Adam Gray has introduced the “Stop Raising Prices on Food Act.” This legislation is needed because “the president has chosen to break promise after promise at a time when economic uncertainty is reaching historical heights.”

Fast train slowed by Trump

Politico. Trump pulls federal funds for CA’s high-speed rail.
Synopsis: Four months after first threatening to defund high-speed rail, Trump is pulling $4 billion from the Valley’s high-speed rail project. “Not a single penny in federal dollars will go towards this Newscum scam ever again,” Trump truthed. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy cited bloated costs, missed deadlines and inflated ridership projections for pulling the plug. Gov. Gavin Newsom said Trump’s move will “abandon the Central Valley” while sending money to Texas for its rail projects.
MAD Note: The only portion of the project close to completion runs from Merced to near Bakersfield.

Valley ag workers frightened

Merced Focus. Fear over immigration raids caused job decline in CA, says UC Merced study.
Synopsis: The Valley’s economy has taken its biggest hit since COVID due to fears over immigration sweeps, says a report from UC Merced. Released Tuesday, the report shows that 3.1% of the Valley’s workforce has disappeared in the past four weeks (from May 11 to June 8). Such drops have been seen only twice before -- during COVID and the Great Depression. No other state or region has reported similar declines. The report suggested lawmakers treat immigration enforcement actions as economic emergencies or natural disasters or a health crisis requiring workers to “shelter in place.”

Sacramento Bee. Donald Trump’s immigration agenda largely avoiding a vital CA region.
Synopsis: Two Sacramento Bee reporters look at the entire Central Valley and find lots of anger and fear over the possibility of being caught up in immigration raids. That said, it appears the Trump administration is no longer raiding fields or orchards. “It’s been very quiet,” confirms Sen. Melissa Hurtado, since two well-publicized Valley events in January and March. Meanwhile, in LA the administration created a “political spectacle” by arresting protesters then parading through MacArthur Park. The story points out that Trump lost overwhelming in LA but won in the Valley. Said one observer: “He wants to protect farmers, not farmworkers. And that’s something that we are very concerned with.”

Sacramento Bee. Several people taken away by masked agents at Sacramento Home Depot.
Synopsis: Agents swept up several people at the Florin Road Home Depot early Thursday. Home Depot employees called the Sheriff’s Office to report masked people in the parking lot chasing people. Deputies responded and took reports from those left behind. Andrea Castillo says her husband is a US citizen and was on his way to work at the HVAC company he owns. She rushed to the parking lot and asked an agent to identify himself, he responded: “Google me.”

Bipartisan immigration reform

CBS47. ‘Important for the Valley’: Local reps cosponsor immigration reform bill.
Synopsis: Democratic Rep. Adam Gray and Republican David Valadao are co-authors of “The Dignity Act of 2025,” which would provide legal status and protection for undocumented immigrants who “are here working, contributing.” In the words of Gray, “They came here to work hard, to provide for their families, to get a better opportunity for their children. The Dignity Act is about putting some legal protections in place so they can … stay here, contribute, work legally and not be faced with this threat of mass deportation or things that’s just really been disruptive.”

Already counting donations

GV Wire. Bains challenging Valadao; an early look at fundraising.
Synopsis: Senior reporter David Taub looks at the race that will likely hinge on Medi-Cal and access to care. Jasmeet Bains, a doctor, is challenging David Valadao, who voted to cut Medicaid by nearly $1 trillion over the next 10 years. Still, it could be an uphill battle. Valadao raised $873,000 in the last quarter – the most of any aspiring or sitting legislator. In other races, Adam Gray raised $720,625; his presumed opponent, Javi Lopez, raised $71,370.

Politico. CA Playbook.
Synopsis: In this daily political notebook, eventually get around to writing about Dr. Jasmeet Bains lining up endorsements for her run against David Valadao – starting with Melissa Hurtado, Luz Rivas, Dave Min, Ami Bera and Adam Gray. “I know what it takes to win tough races in the Central Valley – and I know Jasmeet Bains has what it takes to do it, too,” said Gray. The IBEW and SEIU are backing Bains.

Bill cracks down on intimidation

Fresnoland. Sikh leaders cheer CA anti-intimidation bill proposed by Merced legislators.
Synopsis: Sen. Anna Caballero and Assemblymembers Esmeralda Soria and Jasmeet Bains are sponsoring SB 509, legislation that would bar the state from acting on concerns raised over conflicts in other nations. It would also train law enforcement to recognize threats and impacts on various communities. Many Valley Sikhs have reported hazing, harassment and threats stemming from the conflict in India over Punjabi independence. Acts of “transnational repression” – intimidation based on activities in other countries -- would be barred under the new law. A similar bill was introduced by Bains last year but failed after strong opposition from Hindu American advocacy groups.

Let’s not waste floodwaters

Fresno Bee. Using floodwaters to combat groundwater loss in Fresno and Central Valley. 
Synopsis: Fresno State instructors Tom Holyoke and Laura Ramos react to a report from a group called “First Street” that said the Valley will become unlivable by 2050. While some of that report’s most dire predictions – in order: flooding, high winds, fire danger, heat – are likely true, the “magnitude of these threats is uncertain.” If flooding is the biggest danger, it is also the best opportunity. By forming regional alliances, the Valley can capture floodwaters like those that reconstituted Tulare Lake in 2023. The CA Water Institute at Fresno State is developing a Geographic Information System to track, catalogue and visualize existing recharge opportunities. Preparation is the key to capturing floodwater and putting it to use.

Sites gets more expensive

Mercury News. Cost to build largest new reservoir in CA increases by $2 billion to $6.2 billion.
Synopsis: The price tag for Sites Reservoir in Colusa County rose from $4.5 billion to $6.2 billion in the latest estimates. Rising prices for concrete, steel and other construction materials are largely due to tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. Sites is the largest reservoir planned for CA since 1979 when the Bureau of Reclamation built New Melones. Reservoir opponent Ron Stork said there is a 50-50 chance the increased costs will derail the project entirely.

Smittcamp, Zanoni give up

Fresnoland. Fresno County’s next law enforcement races set for 2028 after court ends county’s fight.
Synopsis: District attorney Laura Smittcamp and Sheriff John Zanoni lost their attempt to move their races into off-year elections. State law requires countywide races to be conducted in years with presidential races, which draw the most voters. Off-year elections draw far fewer voters. The decision means they’ll each serve 6 years instead of 4. Zanoni threw in the towel, saying “it’s time to move on.” Smittcamp said she is “not surprised.”
MAD Take: If she’s “not surprised,” why did Smittcamp sue in the first place?

Bracing for healthcare cuts

Merced Focus. Valley health clinics brace for impact to services from Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill.
Synopsis: Tim Sheehan reports that healthcare non-profits serving more than 1.1 million patients in the Valley are bracing for loss of revenue and cuts to services. The recently passed budget bill includes $1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid over 10 years. Since roughly 70% of the people who uses services like Golden Valley Heath Centers and United Health Centers of San Joaquin are covered by MediCal, their CEOs say cuts to services are extremely likely. The bill passed without a single Democratic vote in either the House or Senate. While Adam Gray, Josh Harder and Jim Costa all voted against it, Republicans David Valadao, Tom McClintock and Vince Fong all voted for it. Medicaid enrollment in their districts ranges from 24.9% in McClintock’s CA-5 to 42.5% in Gray’s CA-13 to 52.7% in Valadao’s CA-22, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Along with cuts, the bill also requires higher co-pays for all Medicaid users, work requirements and restrictions on care for immigrants including children, refugees who have been granted asylum and victims of crime.

Patterson Irrigator. Del Puerto Health Care District presents vision for healthcare campus.
Synopsis: Dr. Karin Freese presented drawings and details at a townhall meeting on Monday. The healthcare district is expected to break ground early next year on the 27-acre campus. First up will be new buildings for Del Puerto Ambulance and a Mental Health Clinic.

New stores, fresh coffee

Modesto Bee. Riverbank’s Crossroads West gaining more shopping; store opening by Costco.
Synopsis: Modesto’s third Hobby Lobby is coming to the giant parking lot surrounding Costco just north of Modesto. It will join TJ Maxx, HomeGoods and two restaurants in the center.

Merced County Times. Hola Cafecito makes its mark on Main Street.
Synopsis: At Elizabeth Moreno’s Hola Cafecito you can find chilaquiles on Casa Drip Sundayz and imbibe to live music. She and husband Oscar also own a coffee bar in Hanford. He grew up in Merced and decided their second store should be in his old hometown.

Paranormal or just hot air?

Fox26. Fresno supervisor’s viral video lands on international paranormal show. 
Synopsis: Fresno County supervisor Luis Chavez was out campaigning in February 2024 when he saw something weird – a 15-foot palm frond seemingly floating in mid-air. He took video on his phone as it moved around. Now, his video will be featured on “Paranormal Caught on Camera.” Chavez can be heard at the end of the video saying, “only in Fresno.” He is being paid for the video, and is donating the proceeds to the Central CA Food Bank. Chavez said the most likely explanation was the confluence of two wind gusts.