Valley Headlines

Yes, it will be a close race

KSEE / CBS47. Could Adam Gray’s last-minute win happen again? 
Synopsis: Reporter Eric Rucker looks at last year’s election in CA-13 -- the closest in the nation decided by 187 votes as Adam Gray defeated incumbent John Duarte. With an electorate that remains closely divided, it is likely to be close again regardless of who represents the Republican Party. Rucker questions why it took so long to count the votes then talks to a freshman state legislator who wants to speed up vote counts in CA.

LA Times. In America’s hardest-fought congressional district, voters agree: Release Epstein files.
Synopsis: Columnist Mark Barabak talks to several people in CA 13, which stretches from Coalinga to Lathrop, and finds a divided electorate. Voters in Newman, Los Banos find only one thing to agree on: The release of the Epstein files.
MAD Take: Unasked and thus unanswered was how additional information on the world’s most infamous sex predator and his long list of pals will affect who people vote for. Considering who has had possession of the files (Republicans then Democrats then Republicans), will anyone believe what’s in them or worry about what’s not? Will it factor into the battle for the hearts & minds & votes of the Valley?  

What’s the cost to taxpayers?

Modesto Focus. Stanislaus officials admit ‘egg on’ their faces as StanCOG scandal grows.
Synopsis: Garth Stapley debuts at Modesto Focus with a look at the outrageous expenditures compiled by StanCOG executive director Rosa De Leon Park and how a board of five county supervisors and assorted city council members failed to notice. Among those quoted was Buck Condit, who says he’s irritated and the board on which he sits “has egg on their faces.” Stapley gets specific about how this happened: Financial oversight rules were changed in 2017, giving “the kid the keys to the candy store” in the words of Mani Grewal. And, in 2022, the vacation policy changed to give Park 10 weeks with the ability to hold it for cash. “No one yet knows exactly how much this has cost taxpayers,” writes Stapley. How did this change occur? No one will say. The abuses have sparked the re-awakening of a watchdog – the Stanislaus County Taxpayers Association, not to be confused with the similarly named Stanislaus Taxpayers Association created by Dave Thomas in the early 2000s.

Our phones used to gouge us

Cal Matters. Should Lyft, Uber charge more if your battery is low? CA may soon ban that. 
Synopsis: Artificial Intelligence has made it possible for companies to find all sorts of ways to squeeze more profit out customers through a practice called “surveillance pricing.” If your phone battery is low, you’re more likely to feel desperate enough to pay more for a ride. If you live in a predominantly Asian neighborhood, AI says you’re more likely to pay more for SAT tutoring. If you have lots of apps on your phone, you might be addicted and willing to pay more for apps. Following the lead of Consumer Watchdog, Aisha Wahab wants to ban basing prices on the age of your phone, your address or what time of day you’re ordering services. “Our devices are being weaponized against us in order for large corporations to increase profits,” she said last month. It’s one of 29 bills in the state legislature trying to rein in AI. Unlike most, this bill is backed by AFSCME, the CA Labor Federation and many others. The Chamber and business groups are aghast that anyone would try to stop companies from squeezing more out of customers.

Sunlight for police files

Cal Matters. CA police misconduct records now available in public database.
Synopsis: The Police Records Access Project is now live with roughly 1.5 million pages of records on 12,000 officer-misconduct and use-of-force reports available online. The database is managed by UC Berkeley and Stanford and published by a consortium including Cal Matters, the LA Times, SF Chronicle and KQED. Law professor Barry Scheck calls it “critical” for those involved in law enforcement. Prior to the publication of this database, individual officer records had to be requested.
MAD Take: This is undoubtedly a good thing. So is this: A search on several of the most high-profile officers in Stanislaus, Merced and San Joaquin law enforcement found exactly zero records.

130 mph, lost parents, smelly theft

Fox26. CHP pumps the brakes on 130 mph highway hazard in Merced County.
Synopsis: Some guy was clocked at 130 mph on Hwy 99 on Sunday night. The CHP caught up with him at Applegate Road in Atwater, wrote him a ticket and towed his car – which had expired tags. “At 130 mph your reaction time is gone,” said the CHP. “You’re not in control and everyone around you is in danger.” Driving 100 mph can result in a 30-day suspension of your license, higher insurance rates and impounded vehicles. “This isn’t about writing tickets – it’s about saving lives.”

Stocktonia. Sheriff’s deputies follow clues – and their noses – to foil Linden fertilizer theft.
Synopsis: Scott’s Mirale-Gro is made in Linden, among other places, and someone tried to drive away from the company with 52 bags of the fragrant fertilizer. Police found another 48 bags stashed nearby. “Looks like these green-thumbed thieves just learned that crime doesn’t always bloom,” wrote the SJ Sheriff’s Office.

Modesto Bee. A young Modesto child found walking alone prompts 3-hour search for parents.
Synopsis: A 5-year-old girl was found walking alone in southwest Modesto around 7 a.m. Saturday. Her parents were found around 10:45 am. Police are looking into how they became separated and why.

Let voters set district lines

Fresno Bee. It’s time to let voters redraw Merced County lines, not politicians.
Synopsis: Assemblymember Esmeralda Soria writes about AB 1441 which would direct Merced to establish an independent citizens’ redistricting commission. “There is no reason for elected politicians to have control over redistricting,” she writes. “It is clearly a conflict of interest.” She quotes League of Women Voters County president Susan Walsh, who notes that LA, San Diego, Fresno and San Luis Obispo already have citizen redistricting commissions. They are demanding a 14-member commission with 5 Democrats, 5 Republicans and 4 independents.
MAD Take: Hmmm. Voters should choose representatives, not vice versa. But some folks will quibble with the numbers. Democrats have 42% of all registered voters in Merced County, Republicans 28% and Independents 4%. Doing the math, a 14-member committed would have 5.8 Democrats, 3.9 Republicans and half an independent.

Fight to keep out predators

Modesto Bee. Officials, residents fight plan to release violent sexual predator in Turlock.
Synopsis: A house on North Central Avenue outside Turlock city limits has become a flashpoint. The state wants to parole two convicted sexual predators to the home there. Nearby residents are outraged, and so are county officials. DA Jeff Laugero says the company that owns the property, Liberty Healthcare, has not done its due diligence. Chatom Union superintendent Cherise Olvera called the placement “not just inappropriate, it’s dangerous.” Sheriff Jeff Dirkse said the location is “completely unsuitable.” Erica Farmer, whose property shares a back fence with the property, says she’s installing bars on her children’s bedroom windows. Various state agencies try to hand off any responsibility. Laugero’s office said the company did not include objections to the site in its report. Dirkse said his department “stands ready” to help Liberty identify better sites that would protect the community.
MAD Take: I’ve heard there is a nice condo unit over on Hackett Road.

Stop feeding the ducks!

Westside Connect. Gustine city council passes ordinance prohibiting wildlife feeding.
Synopsis: The city council has basically told residents to stop feeding the ducks, or any other wild animal, in city limits. Of course there are exceptions – backyard bird feeders, caring for injured animals, etc. But something had to be done at Harry Schmidt Park, where feeding wild ducks and geese has gotten out of hand. It isn’t good for the birds or people.

Healthcare and labor talks

Turlock Journal. Emanuel nurses rally for ‘safe staffing.’ 
Synopsis: The CA Nurses Association set up an “informational picket” with 120 nurses taking part in shifts on the street in front of Emanuel Medical Center in Turlock last Thursday. Nurses say staffing levels at the Tenet Healthcare facility are unsafe. They are asking for “lift support” to help move patients, a rapid-response nurse for each shift and a nurse to provide relief for meal breaks. Oh, and higher pay. There were similar demonstrations at Tenet facilities in Modesto, Manteca, Palm Springs, etc.

Westside Connect. West Side Healthcare to begin contract negotiations with United Steel Workers.
Synopsis: TEMSA Local 12-911 is asking for wage increases for workers whose contract expired last September. Everyone had hoped Measure A would pass, providing more funds for the service. It failed. Now, EMTs are asking for a 16% raise. In 2018, the district was struggling and EMTs took a 10% pay cut.

News from the grid iron

Modesto Bee. Players ineligible, coach suspended in latest Turlock High football revelation. 
Synopsis: Last week’s announcement of minor sanctions for Turlock High’s football team was just the first cleat to drop. The second hit Thursday evening when 5 players were deemed ineligible for the 2025 season and assistant coach Darron Silva was suspended. The school’s coaching staff conducted an off-season “club” program called The Lock, involving 7-on-7 and 5-on-5 games. Players from across the region were invited to attend, and some transferred to THS. Principal Dave Kline said the school is weighing options and could appeal the suspension of the 5 players.

Westside Connect. Martins takes over Orestimba football program.
Synopsis: Austin Martins, a 2016 Orestimba grad, has been hired as head coach, replacing Aaron Souza (now a vice principal). Martins calls himself “blessed and honored” to become head coach. His other job is teaching Orestimba High’s special-ed students. He has been the defensive line coach since 2022.

Gustine’s top cop speaks up

ABC30. Chat with the Chief: Gustine Police Chief Ruben Chavez.
Synopsis: Chief Ruben Chavez talks about the heritage of his tight-knit community – from Portuguese to Sikh to Latin America and a lot in between. He says Gustine is a friendly town filled with parades, picnics, sports and home-grown police officers. It’s cool that one of those officers rides around town on a Segway. The town’s not crime-free but getting close. “It’s a perfect place” for new officers, he said.

Growing our own doctors

Westside Connect. Gustine medical practice grows with addition of local physician.
Synopsis: Dr. Jose Garcia has joined the PB Iyer Family Practice clinic. Garcia was born in Modesto, raised in Newman and educated at UC Merced before attending med school at Kansas City University. He did a clinical rotation in Fresno and completed his residency at UCSF-Fresno. “Growing up, I saw a lack of Spanish-speaking physicians and a gap in care – not in quality, but in communication.” Dr. PB Iyer said medicine in most places has become “more corporate.” But not in Gustine. “It takes someone special to want to join a solo practice.”
MAD Take: A young person from Newman goes to UC Merced and comes home a doctor. That’s the way it’s supposed to work and why the med school at UC Merced is so hugely, gigantically important.