Valley Headlines

Newsom brings his case to Valley

Valley Solutions. Governor announces tariff lawsuit.
Synopsis: Gov. Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta picked the Gemperle farm near Turlock to announce a lawsuit to block President Trump’s tariffs. Newsom said people in the Valley have been “disproportionately hurt” by Trump’s illegal actions. Newsom said Trump has turned his back on his supporters in the Valley, “but we will not.” Farmer Christine Gemperle, recently featured in the LA Times, spoke first followed by Chris Murphy. Newsom called it a “serious and sober moment,” saying this is the 15^th lawsuit filed by the State against Trump’s administration. He said tariffs have created “toxic uncertainty” for businesses and accused the president of “crony capitalism” after he canceled several tariffs following visits from CEOs and big donors. Newsom called those actions “the personification of corruption.” Newsom said dairy, almonds and pistachios are all export-dependent products but aren’t alone in being impacted by Trump’s policies. “Check your 401(k),” said Newsom. “Check your portfolio; if it includes Nvidia, check it right now.” The company was hit with a $5.5 billion charge due to import restrictions. Newsom accused Republicans in Congress of “sitting there passively while (Trump) wrecks the economy of the world. … The impacts are off the charts. The impacts in counties like this.” Bonta said his office is “asking the court to reign in the president.”

More on tariffs lawsuit

LA Times. Newsom to announce CA lawsuit against Trump’s tariffs.
Synopsis: The governor says the president doesn’t have the authority to unilaterally enact tariffs; that is a function reserved to Congress by the US Constitution. “President Trump’s unlawful tariffs are wreaking chaos on California families, businesses and our economy – driving up prices and threatening jobs,” read a statement from Newsom’s office. “We’re standing up for American families who can’t afford to let the chaos continue.”

Politico. CA is first state to sue Trump on tariffs. 
Synopsis: Similar to the LA Times coverage, reporter Tyler Katzenberger points out that a group of businesses filed a lawsuit earlier this week to block imposition of the tariffs. He also writes that the impacts on the stock market have been significant.

Voters weary of ‘resistance’

Politico. CA voters have Trump-resistance fatigue, poll shows.
Synopsis: Apparently, voters want to see “détente” between Trump and California. Many agree with Trump on the threats posed by unchecked immigration and a majority do not want California to set its own emissions standards to reduce pollution. Some 43% of all voters say CA is “too confrontational” in its approach to Trump. On the other hand, 47% of Democrats want an even more aggressive approach to dealing with Trump.
MAD Take: This poll documents the chasm between those who approve of Trump and those who don’t with a significant number in the middle wishing it would all go away.

The NRCC’s outright lies

Fresno Bee. ‘Terrorist sympathizer’? Attack on Adam Gray more Republican nonsense.
Synopsis: Columnist Tad Weber tees off on the Republicans who Monday sent out a press release calling Adam Gray “a Hamas terrorist sympathizer.” He called such a statement “absurd. Yet absurdity is what one gets from the National Republican Congressional Committee. The organization, which exists to get more Republicans elected to Congress, specializes in overheated rhetoric that often ventures into outright lying.” Tad concludes: “Having withstood silly political games from his party, Gray will certainly handle whatever nonsense the NRCC throws at him.”

Bernie, AOC a hit in Folsom

SF Chronicle. Why did it take Bernie Sanders and AOC to rally CA liberals?
Synopsis: Columnist Joe Garofoli looks at the “Fighting Oligarchy” barnstorming tour – from Coachella to LA to Bakersfield to Folsom – being waged by 83-year-old Bernie Sanders and AOC. They pulled at least 26,000 to Folsom on Tuesday night, laughing off a plane flying a “Trump Country” banner. Those attending felt Bernie and AOC are speaking “for the common man” and that their message of fighting for democracy is needed in an age of Elon, Bezos and Zuck. One federal worker afraid to give her name said her mother has had to move in with her family due to rising costs. Another said: “They give me hope.” As for being in “Trump Country,” AOC responded, “I don’t think so today. This is our country, because we’re not afraid of them anymore.”

Sacramento Bee. Bernie Sanders, AOC rally thousands at ‘Fighting Oligarchy’ stop in Folsom.
Synopsis: The Bee looks at the Fighting Oligarchy stop in Folsom. Among those quoted is Carolyn Watkinson of Merced, who said, “I can’t just sit home and not be involved. Democracy hasn’t ever been on the line like this before. I mean, I disagreed with Geroge Bush on a lot of things, but I never worried that he was gonna sell out our country.”

Our award-winning dairy product

Morning Ag Clips. Real CA Cow’s Milk cheeses bring home 18 awards at nationwide contest. 
Synopsis: At the annual Wisconsin Cheese Makers Assn event, California cheeses won 4 Best of Class awards, 8 second-place and 6 third-place awards. Among the winners was Karoun of Turlock, which won three first-place awards for Bulgarian Style Yogurts and four other awards for other yogurts. Crystal Creamery of Modesto took third for its cottage cheese. Dairy Farmers of America in Turlock took second for mozzarella. The smoked cheddar from Hilmar Cheese took third place and the PROfraction Beta was second. Joseph Gallo Farms won awards for string cheese, mozzarella-skim and Monterey Jack.

Salmon fishing banned again

Cal Matters. Commercial salmon season shut down again; will CA’s iconic fish ever recover?
Synopsis: With salmon populations on the Sacramento River continuing to fall, the Pacific Fishery Management Council banned commercial salmon fishing off the coast of California for an unprecedented third year in a row. Recreational and tribal fishing will still be allowed but only in short windows. The executive director of the Golden State Salmon Assn calls it an “environmental disaster” for salmon and an “economic disaster” for commercial fishers. Only 99,274 spawning salmon were documented on the Sacramento this year. That was about half what had been projected. On other rivers the news was less dire. The San Joaquin system had around 40,000, well above numbers from a decade earlier. On the Klamath, 30,000 were found, also better than projected. Cal Trout holds out hope that additional restoration on the Sacramento River can restore populations. Many believe salmon have not yet recovered from three years of extreme drought. Others, like the salmon fishers, blame a lack of flows and the Voluntary Agreements that allow farmers to grow food.
MAD Note: On rivers outside the Sacramento basin, salmon numbers were strong again this year – and not just on the San Joaquin. But it’s tough to make up for the losses on the Sacramento River.

Region has 2 ‘Star Farmers’

CA Ag Net. CA FFA announces State Star Award winners at 97^th FFA Leadership Conference.
Synopsis: The FFA, which has 97,000 members statewide, announced its Star Farmer awards, including two from the San Joaquin Valley. Adrian Sanchez of the Madera FFA was the Star in Agribusiness. He runs a fabrication business in which he builds custom orders for customers statewide. The Star in Agricultural Placement was Atwater’s Alden Hansard, who started working as a part-time farm machinery mechanic in 2020. He does restoration work on old farm implements.  

Schools laying off only 3

Modesto Bee. Most layoff notices rescinded at Modesto City Schools; only 3 positions unplaced.
Synopsis: Of the 47 classified and management positions set to be eliminated by Modesto City Schools, the district was able to find jobs for all by 3. All 3 were campus supervisors who lacked seniority. Employee representatives felt “relieved,” and credited district staff for their “extensive efforts to help employees to find new roles.”

Streets a little safer now

Fox26. Teen suspect in 2016 Fresno murder arrested in Modesto after breakthrough.
Synopsis: The Fresno PD announced in a press conference the arrest of Bailey Rosenberger, whom the PD says killed 68-year-old Gurcharn Singh Gill during a convenience-store robbery in 2016. Rosenberger was 15 at the time. Fingerprint evidence led to his arrest in Modesto, with an assist from the MPD.

KCRA. Turlock man convicted of child abuse, murder of 2-month-old daughter.
Synopsis: Joseph Rendon, 26, has been convicted of killing his daughter. The Turlock PD made the arrest after multiple skull fractures and other injuries were found on the child. He admitted to striking her with an object because she would not stop crying. He could get life in prison.

In-home caregivers get raise

Fresno Bee. Fresno county in-home caregivers to receive pay increase, union says.
Synopsis: After 2 years of negotiations, some 500,000 in-home care workers will see a raise of about $1.25, bringing them up to $18.35 per hour. They will also get an increase in health insurance relief. 

Stanislaus, a deadly place

Modesto Bee. Stanislaus health report reveals leading causes of death in county. 
Synopsis: The annual report from Dr. Thea Papasozomenos shows heart disease and cancer remain the two leading causes of death in the county followed by dementia, injuries then stroke. For each of these top causes, Stanislaus County’s death rates are higher than the rest of CA. “We definitely have room for improvement,” said the doctor. Injuries were from auto accidents, homicides, violence, drug overdoses and suicides. Consider overdoses, which killed 28.2 people per 100,000 county residents last year but only 17.8 per 100,000 statewide. The only good news is that fentanyl deaths have declined by 26%, from 138 in 2023 to 101 in 2024. Dr. P credited the Opioid Safety Coalition and outreach for the reduction. Dr. P said access to healthcare could be driving the county’s generally poor outcomes.

‘Good dog’ saves toddler

Ag Daily. Ranch dog leads Arizona toddler to safety after desert night.
Synopsis: A 2-year-old Arizona boy is safe after spending the night in the desert wilderness. Boden Allen wandered away from his home around 5 pm Monday wearing only a tank top and pajama pants. More than 40 searchers in helicopters, trucks and on horses using thermal cameras and drones were deployed in the search. The searchers spotted two mountain lions in the area, but they couldn’t find little Boden. But an Anatolian Pyrenes Shepherd named Buford did find little Boden and brought him to safety. About 16 hours after Boden disappeared, rancher Scott Bunton noticed his dog, Buford, walking patiently “out by the fence line.” Beside Buford was “a little blond kid.” They were 7 miles from where Boden had last been seen. Buford “loves kids,” said the rancher. “I imagine he wouldn’t leave him once he’d found him.” Said Dunton: “There was a thousand ways for that to go really, really bad – and one good way. Luckily it turned out to be the good way.”