Valley Headlines

Gray: Give us facts, not fluff

Valley Solutions. Gray, Brown press USDA on delayed incomplete quarterly trade report.
Synopsis: House Ag Committee members Adam Gray (CA-13) and Shontel Brown (Ohio) authored a letter to Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins demanding that her agency provide accurate, on-time data impacting ag exports, imports and pricing. The USDA’s Quarterly Agricultural Trade Report – which dairymen and producers rely on for pricing – was first delayed then submitted with incomplete information last month, angering the Representatives. With tariffs throwing markets into turmoil, “it is critical that farmers and other agricultural stakeholders have access to accurate and timely data and reports,” wrote Gray and Brown. The quarterly reports “have historically been viewed as objective and are used by farmers, academics, traders and others who expect and rely on the government to be honest brokers.” That honesty is now being called into question after the most recent numbers reflected poorly on the administration’s trade policies. The incomplete report “makes it appear that you withheld the report because of unflattering data. … Holding back this report implies the administration is willing to withhold or possibly meddle with data that doesn’t comport with its worldview.”

Street cars in Fresno? Again?

Fresnoland. For first time in decades, Fresno is going to take a serious look at light rail. 
Synopsis: Once upon a time long ago, Fresno had streetcars. That quaint memory could become future reality after Caltrans gave city officials $700,000 to study building a light-rail system to reduce congestion, improve the economy and make city life better. Why now? Because polling shows people want a system in Fresno and Mayor Jerry Dyer likes the idea. He saw a 2-mile streetcar system in Kansas City, noticing the entire route was thriving. He says Fresno could link the downtown hospital, convention center, Amtrak and dozens of businesses through a similar system. Eventually, it would link the Tower District, Blackstone and Chavez corridors and Fresno State. Fresno abandoned streetcars in 1939 and first talked about bringing them back in 1966. Voters killed that plan in 1971.

Jump jet lands at Castle

ABC30. Harrier jet to be on display at Castle Air Museum in Atwater.
Synopsis: A US Marine “jump jet,” which can take off and land vertically, arrived at Castle Air Museum on Monday. It drew a crowd with folks coming from Sacramento and the Bay Area to see it maneuver. The Corps’ entire fleet of Harriers is being retired.

Impacts of Trump tomato tariff

KCRA. Trump administration adds 21% tariff on Mexican tomato imports; what that means for CA.
Synopsis: A 21% tariff kicked in Monday, ending one of the oldest trade agreements between the US and Mexico. Trump insisted it will drive down prices, but virtually everyone else says fresh-tomato prices will go up. Mexico supplies 70% of the fresh market, or about 4 billion pounds a year. By comparison, CA produces 22 billion pounds of tomatoes, but most go into processed products such as paste, sauce, salsa and ketchup. Mexico is expected to increase tariffs on US pork and chicken products in response.
MAD Take: Not mentioned in this story, some of the largest companies growing tomatoes in Mexico are based in the United States -- Boskovich Farms, Ocean Mist Farms, JV Smith, Western Pacific Produce, Pacific Coast Trading Company and several others.  

CBS13 (Sacramento). Stanislaus County farmer: Mexico tomato tariff won’t affect his prices. 
Synopsis: Bill Loretelli has been selling fresh tomatoes from a Riverbank stand for 40 years. He grows grape, cherry and heirloom varieties on his farm and says prices to customers could rise 20% or more. Most of his tomatoes are sold to taquerias, taco trucks and restaurants. He says the real impact will be in northern states.

CA cops doing it right

SF Chronicle. CA police are killing fewer people; the opposite is happening in red states. 
Synopsis: Law enforcement in CA shot fewer people, used physical force less frequently and killed fewer people than in any year since tracking began in 2016. Just as importantly, no CA law-enforcement officers were killed in the line of duty last year. Those statistics stand in stark contrast to red states where the number of officers killed and people killed by officers went up. Dept of Justice stats showed 117 people were killed in CA by officers in 2024, down from 134 in 2023 and a third fewer than in 2017 and 2020. The Washington Post database confirms the trend, putting the number of police killings at 111 last year, the lowest on record since data collection began in 2015. Deaths began falling in 2020 and have continued to fall for 4 consecutive years. Researchers say the state’s policies -- such as the use of body cams and increased community interaction with law enforcement – are working. In Texas, there were 168 killings by police officers last year, double the previous year. Florida had an 82% spike in killings since allowing police officers to hit protesters with cars and blocking any civilian oversight of police misconduct. Interestingly, no group representing law enforcement chose to comment on the numbers, though they reflect well on officers.

Modesto Bee. Turlock motorcyclist seen going over 150 mph on Hwy 99 cited by CHP.
Synopsis: The 25-year-old rider from Turlock had eluded officers on Hwy 99 twice before as the rider hit speeds of 150 mph. The third time they saw him, officers were ready, and the cycle was eventually impounded. The CHP says it disengages from high-speed chases because they frequently lead to the death of the riders. “We care about this gentleman’s life just as much as anybody. Hopefully, today he uses this as a turning point.”
MAD Take: The approach taken by the CHP sort of proves the point of the Chronicle’s story above. That said, I hope the rider’s “turning point” no longer involves a motorcycle.  

COVID on the rise

SF Chronicle. COVID cases rise in CA; is this the start of 2025’s summer wave? 
Synopsis: The CDC released data Friday showing rising COVID numbers across 24 states, all in the southeast, south and West Coast. Wastewater monitoring puts the threat at “medium,” up from last week’s “very low.” In June, roughly 150 people died of COVID each week, said the CDC. Many contracted the disease indoors. Since there have been no new vaccines released for six months, immunity is waning says the CDC. The most recent strain is called “nimbus,” and its worst symptom is “razor-blade throat.” The disease has developed a pattern, with infection peaks from July through September and again from December through February.

Fired PIO gets big payoff

GV Wire. Fresno Unified rewards incompetence? Ex-comms chief could get huge severance.
Synopsis: Nikki Henry, the Fresno Unified communications director who used AI to make up scurrilous quotes about her boss that she attributed to union members, will receive $162,000 in severance pay. Her replacement says the payoff “allows both parties to move forward.” Trustee Susan Wittrup, who objected to the hiring of Misty Her as superintendent and Henry’s boss, said she will vote “no” on the settlement. The union is upset, too.

News flash: Grapes good for you

Ag Net West. Grapes may help postmenopausal women combat muscle loss.
Synopsis: Women apparently have a reason to crave grapes. UC Davis research shows that eating fresh grapes helps in the fight against sarcopenia, or age-related muscle weakness. The scientists say eating about 2 cups of grapes a day increases a hormone that fights the common condition. Grapes are affordable and tasty and cheaper than any kind of hormone therapy.

Main Street back in business

Merced Sun Star. Merced’s Main Street now one way, more parking, new bike lane.
Synopsis: Main Street in Merced reopened Monday morning after five weeks of resurfacing, repainting and reorganizing. It now is one-way from MLK Way to O Street and has a bike lane. It was celebrated by classic cars, fire engines, a few bicyclists and others. It should be noted that even the bike lane is one-way. Bob Hart Square is still under construction and should reopen in October.

Renner: Lies hurt, dehumanize

SF Chronicle. Jeremy Renner on ex-wife’s claim he tried to kill her: ‘It hurts my feelings.’
Synopsis: Modesto-born movie star Jeremy Renner spoke publicly about the serious accusations made against him during a messy custody battle in 2019. Renner and Sonnie Pacheco were married just 10 months before filing for divorce, but long enough to have a daughter. “Being accused of things you’ve not done … That doesn’t feel good to anybody.” He called the accusations “clickbait, and it hurts my feelings, and it dehumanizes people.” Since the divorce, Renner says he and Sonnie have learned to co-parent, and their relationship is now “lovely.” He also told the Guardian, “It’s an honor to be alive.” The Nevada resident will keynote the Lake Tahoe Summit next month.

West Nile on the West Side

Stocktonia. Most mosquitoes infected with West Nile virus in SJ County are found in one area.
Synopsis: West Nile has been found – as it is every year – in the western portions of San Joaquin, Stanislaus and Merced counties. In SJ, 11 of the 13 positive samples were detected in Tracy ZIP codes. There have been only 2 human West Nile cases reported in the Valley this year – one in Stanislaus, one in Tulare.

Calexit will have to wait

CBS13 (Sacramento). Leaders of Calexit petition plan to start over, refile ballot initiative.
Synopsis: Marcus Ruiz Evans, leader of Calexit, says he won’t turn in the signatures he has collected just yet. The deadline for the 2028 November ballot is next week. To reach the ballot, he needs 546,651 signatures and says he has enough, but not enough to feel confident. “Given that this is a radical political concept, we figured that it would be under a high level of scrutiny.” What happens if it reaches the ballot and passes? Not much. The state would be required to establish a commission to explore the possibility of becoming a new, independent nation.