Valley Headlines

$255M for San Luis project

Maven / Bureau of Reclamation. Reclamation awards $255 for BF Sisk Safety of Dams Project. 
Synopsis: The Bureau of Reclamation is awarding $255 million to NW Construction to start Phase 2 of the project to improve the 3.5-mile BF Sisk Dam’s seismic safety. It will also elevate the dam 20 feet, allowing an additional 130,000 acre feet of storage in San Luis Reservoir – the world’s largest off-stream site. Rep. Adam Gray said, “This will not be the last significant investment in Valley water we secure. I’m committed to bringing home more federal funds to strengthen our water infrastructure and expand supply.”

LAO: Delay the tunnel

Maven / LAO. May revision trailer bill proposals on Delta Conveyance, quality-control plans. 
Synopsis: The Legislative Analyst Office recommends “deferring” the Delta Tunnel / state water-quality project “without prejudice.” The LAO says, “Deferring action would allow the legislature more time and capacity for sufficient consideration of the potential benefits, implications and trade-offs.” This appears to be contrary to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s plan to continue with property acquisition in the face of a $12 billion budget hole. The LAO cited lots of reasons for its recommendation, including the ability of “less-resourced groups to register opposition” to the tunnel. Not delaying it could “speed up litigation over the project, which could in turn expedite construction and reduce costs.” The LAO embraced the Voluntary Agreement process as a better alternative to regulatory fiat.

Maven / Californians for Water Security. Broad coalition urges legislature to advance tunnel. 
Synopsis: More than 90 groups urged the legislature to ignore the LAO’s position that more time is needed to consider the Delta Conveyance Project. Among those who signed the letter is the California Chamber of Commerce, the CA Business Roundtable, the CA State Council of Laborers, Silicon Valley Leadership Group and many others.

South Valley gets 5%

Maven / Bureau of Reclamation. Another increase in 2025 CVP water allocations. 
Synopsis: The Bureau of Reclamation increased water allotments for south-of-the-Delta agencies, but only by 5%. Instead of the previously announced 50% allocation, the mostly ag agencies will get 55% of their contracted amounts. Municipal and industrial users will get 80%. Those north of the Delta will get 100% of their allocations. Westlands Water District, the largest geographic district in the US, said: “While an increase is appropriate, given current reservoir levels and snowpack, a 5% increase is disappointing and highlights a critical reality: Even in average hydrological years, CA’s outdated water system falls short of delivering the water our communities require.”

How Gallo is reinventing vodka

SF Chronicle. How a CA wine company created the nation’s bestselling spirit.
Synopsis: E.&J. Gallo makes a drink called “High Noon,” a vodka + juice combination that comes in a skinny can. It’s perfect for beach days, tailgates and frat parties, say wine writers Esther Mobley and Jess Lander. “Nooners” come in 14 flavors and has a companion line of tequila seltzers and hard teas. Gallo produced 25 million cases last year, making the Modesto firm the No. 2 distilled spirits producer in the US. It was Gallo’s response to White Claw and Truly. Apparently, golfers have decided High Noon is their favorite drink, thanks to a Netflix show called “Full Swing.” Some courses carry nothing but High Noon. “Will it last forever? Probably not,” said one bar owner. But “people seem to love it at the moment.”

Family centers lose funding

Westside Connect. Funding cuts force reduced hours, service reductions at Family Resource Centers.
Synopsis: Reporter Sabra Stafford writes that the Family Resource Centers in Newman and Patterson will scale back operations, including decreased office hours and the loss of several programs. Starting June 2, the Newman office will be open only on Wednesdays and Friday, while the Patterson office will be closed on Wednesdays. Both offices will close their food pantry operations that last year distributed 94,000 pounds of food to 656 households; the June 12 distribution will be the last unless a new partner is found. The centers also offer CalFresh, Medi-Cal and CashAid assistance and help with households that cannot afford to pay utility bills. They also provide classes for children, seniors and outpatient treatment.

Frank Raines work considered

Westside Connect. Stanislaus County to move forward with Frank Raines park rebuild.
Synopsis: County supervisors will consider spending $2.5 million to repair damages from wildfires in 2020 and reopen a long-closed park popular with off-road enthusiasts. The funds would build a new ranger station, restrooms, storage facilities and repair fencing. The park has been closed since the Lightning Complex Fires destroyed day-use facilities five years ago.

Ag people of the year

Ceres Courier. Bob Marchy, Kim Parsons feted for contributions to local agriculture.
Synopsis: Farmer Bob Marchy was named “Agribusiness Man” and Kim Parsons “Agribusiness Woman of the Year.” The business of the year was IJ Larsen Pump. Parsons is a CPA and has worked for various local companies, but her true passion is her horses and working to help kids. Her husband Shane might be better known, but he “would not have anything … without Kim,” said Lisa Mantarro Moore, who made the presentation. Other awards were given to high school students and others.  

Making fresh apricots appealing

Ag Alert. Elevating apricots. 
Synopsis: Growers are trying to increase the appeal of fresh apricots and expand markets nationwide. Among those quoted is Daniel Bays of Stanislaus County, president of the Apricot Producers of CA, who admits apricots are a delicate fruit that require a lot of care. Dave Santos of Patterson says varieties developed since the 1990s have improved flavor, and he has 14 different types in his orchards. In the 1980s, 85% of the crop was dried. Now, Santos is packing 300,000 boxes for fresh sale. Producers are starting a social media campaign to get recipes and video instructions into the hands of apricot afficionados – like a frozen-banana, apricot, yogurt smoothie.

Speaking of fruit trees

Turlock Journal. Turlock FFA members are state’s best fruit-tree judges.
Synopsis: Turlock High FFA advisor Travis Cardoso’s team won the state title for tree-judging and was honored by the city council Tuesday night. Diego Peguero, Alyx Barragan, Isabella Andrade and Vivienne Gianotti-Delgado make up the team, all juniors and sophomores. “You see we got first place in the state, but what you don’t see is the amount of time and the amount of hours we put into practicing every week to get to that goal,” said Peguero. Because you’re limited to only one state title per category, each member of the team will move onto another team next year.

It’s not all about politics

Ceres Courier. Why shame the Courier for covering DUIs?
Synopsis: Jeff Benziger writes about the grief he got for posting the photo of Karina Lepe after she failed a breathalyzer test. Apparently, she called to complain that her photo was posted online. Jeff defends the right of the Courier to post such photos even before they have been convicted, feeling breathalyzer evidence is sufficient. Writes Benziger: “Would you prefer a community and its newspaper sweep DUIs under the rug and not shame those who threaten property or life?” … Benziger also writes about the social faux pas committed by Mayor Javier Lopez, who showed up for a presentation at the Wat Lao Buddharangsy temple in shorts. Gene Yeakley, whose wife attends the temple, called that insulting. Worse, Yeakley said Lopez began is remarks with, “I didn’t want to be here this evening.” Lopez has already declared his intent to run for the US House of Representatives. Benziger later dinged Rep. Adam Gray for voting against the “Big Beautiful (budget) Bill” and praised the bill for removing the tax on gun silencers, cutting Medicaid reimbursements and halting funding of abortions among other things, etc.
MAD Take: Two things: 1) Last year, the office of the attorney general ordered local law enforcement to stop sharing or posting booking photos of those accused of DUI. 2) Benziger’s comment that the GOP budget bill “restores fiscal sanity” is, uh, unsupported. Non-partisan and even several Republican groups say this bill is a “debt bomb” that will add at least $3 trillion (and more likely $5 trillion) to the national debt, mostly to fund giveaways to the richest 0.6% of American taxpayers.

Valley Sun. Poll: Madera businessman Giglio best suited GOPer to take on Gray in 2026.
Synopsis: The card-store owner who moved to California several years ago and was vanquished by John Duarte in 2022 has higher name recognition than any other GOP candidate in the district, according to the conservative Rasmussen Reports poll. That includes, presumably, Javier Lopez.

Westside Connect. State Senator Caballero announces campaign for CA treasurer.
Synopsis: The senator who began her political career as mayor of Salinas will attempt to become the first Latina treasurer in state history. Raised in California, Caballero became a lawyer representing farmworkers before running for mayor and then the Assembly.

Remembering the fallen

Westside Connect. Community, local leaders reflect on service at Memorial Day tribute.
Synopsis: VFW Post 7635 and American Legion Post 240 observed Memorial Day at Hills Ferry Cemetery on Monday. Among those on hand was a member of Rep. Adam Gray’s staff, Gustine Mayor Pat Nagy, Merced Supervisor Lloyd Pereira and Newman councilmember Matt Harden.
MAD Take: There were 16 Memorial Day ceremonies across five counties in California District 13. Representatives of Adam Gray’s office attended each one, including the Santa Nella National Cemetery, where Rep. Gray spoke Sunday.

Turlock Journal. Remembering a ‘fierce defender of freedom.’
Synopsis: At Monday’s ceremony at Turlock Memorial Park, Marsha Gonsalves spoke of her son, Sgt. 1^st Class Chad Gonsalves – his heart of gold, quick wit, cocky demeanor and family. He died in 2006 in Afghanistan when an IED destroyed his Humvee.

News from the fields

Ag Alert. From the fields: Ray Yeung, Yolo County farmer.
Synopsis: What makes Ray Yeung interesting is his involvement with Los Banos-based Morning Star, which helped him set up the Gradient irrigation system for transplanted tomatoes. It takes a picture of the plant and applies an algorithm to determine its health and how much water it needs. “It’s a total game changer,” said Yeung. “We have fields we haven’t given a drop to.” Another product, Skeepon, prevents transplant shock and heat damage. “When I first tried it, I waited for the hottest day of the year to plant … amazingly, they survived. We’re working with it again this year.”

Two newsmen sign off

KVRP. KVPR remembers the life of longtime station voice Marv Allen.
Synopsis: The local on-air host of Morning Edition and All Things Considered died just 4 days after retiring from the station. He was 80 and began his career in the 1960s at Fresno-area commercial stations including KMAK, KARM and KIRV. In 2017, the station celebrated “Marvelous Marv” by creating a bobblehead figurine in his likeness.

KCRA. Lester Holt remembers Stan Atkinson as a source of inspiration.
Synopsis: The NBC Nightly News anchor Lester Holt remembers longtime KCRA newsman Stan Atkinson, whom he met as an intern at the station in 1979. Holt said he modeled his delivery, pace, tone and authenticity after Atkinson’s. “He embodied all the things that I always through an anchorman should be about.”