Valley Headlines

Valley Solutions takes a week off

From the Editor: Valley Solutions returns on May 5.
Synopsis: The next edition of Valley Solutions won’t arrive in your email until May 5 as the editor and chief proofreader take a break. Call it a “spring break,” if you like.

Who would suffer if Medicaid cut

CA Healthline. Medi-Cal under threat: Who’s covered and what could be cut?
Synopsis: Medicaid provides $174.6 billion to CA every year, serving 15 million people. In that number are 1.4 million over age 65. CA enrolls twice as many people as NY and 3x the number enrolled in Texas. CA’s numbers are higher because the state covers more people, including undocumented immigrants, and provides a wider array of benefits such as dental, maternity and vision. Republicans want to implement work requirements, but 6% of all recipients are children, 7% are disabled and 9% are over 65. Of the rest, 90% have jobs. The GOP also wants to eliminate those who enrolled under the ACA, which impacts 5 million people.

Riverbank turns back on project

Modesto Bee. Riverbank council declines more funds for homeless project; backers address fears.
Synopsis: The city council was asked to waive $2.16 million in connection fees for a 67-unit complex to serve those on the verge of homelessness. After 3 hours of hearings, the council voted 5-0 to reject the request. A local nonprofit is seeking $20 million in state grants to cover most of the building but needs to show support from the city. Brad Hawn explained the state had already spent $1.5 million on the project. Roughly 80 neighbors from the Crossroads area said they don’t want undesirables living nearby. “This is not NIMBY-ism,” insisted one resident. The project would have provided 34 units for young adults transitioning out of foster care and other units for veterans, seniors and young families. Said one proponent: “You’re worried about your children? Teach them compassion. Teach them that helping someone … doesn’t increase danger, it reduces it.”
MAD Take: This is the second community to turn away homeless efforts. Last week, Turlock refused to offer $1 in funding to show support for a state grant to provide improvements at the We Care Center.

2 wells in Atwater contaminated

Merced County Times. Atwater residents warned of water contamination.
Synopsis: Two wells serving the city have tested positive for two different types of PFAs. Both chemicals are considered a “persistent organic pollutant” and a “forever chemical” that takes hundreds of years to decay. Wells 16 and 18 have tested positive but a solution might already be in place. The tests were done before the wells were fitted with granulated activated carbon treatment for another type of volatile organic contamination. The filters should be able to remove them all. Stay tuned.

Fresno Bee. CA lawmaker wants to clean nitrates, arsenic out of rural towns’ water. 
Synopsis: The Fresno Bee editorial board writes about efforts from Reps. David Valadao and Norma Torres to amend the Sage Drinking Water Act to focus on nitrate and arsenic pollution in groundwater. It would spend $15 million to improve local water systems in places like East Orosi, the Inland Empire, Lanare and Riverdale. The editorial suggests that Jim Costa and Vince Fong should get on board with this bill.

Is McClintock hiding?

Modesto Bee. A CA Republican shuttered his congressional office; why it matters.
Synopsis: The Modesto Bee editorial board writes that Tom McClintock closed his Modesto office on April 14, and it hasn’t opened since. He’s not answering his phone in DC, either. He’s also canceled office hours in Oakdale, Riverbank and Mariposa. Congressional offices serve as help centers for constituents on issues ranging from social security to immigration to securing federal grants for farming. “An arrogant politician is most likely to disenfranchise voters or pick and choose who he helps,” said the editorial. “That’s bad for citizens and bad for democracy.”
MAD Note: It’s a well-done editorial, but who makes up the Modesto Bee editorial board? My guess is that Fresno’s Tad Weber helped out with this editorial.

Fresno USD promotes Her

Fresno Bee. Misty Her named Fresno Unified superintendent: ‘We must do things differently.’ 
Synopsis: Despite opposition from community leaders like Darius Assemi, the FUSD board voted 6-1 to remove the term “interim” from Misty Her’s job title. She’s been running the district since January 2024.  Her has worked in the district for 30 years and was former superintendent Bob Nelson’s choice to succeed him. She is the first person of Hmong heritage to lead a school district and promised “action,” “energy” and a “laser focus” on better student outcomes.

Merced has red-light cameras

Merced County Times. Merced launches new red-light cameras to improve traffic safety.
Synopsis: The first 14 cameras will be at 16^th and R downtown, said Merced chief Steven Stanfield. Those caught speeding or driving recklessly in the first 30 days will get warnings; after that, the hammer comes down. It will cost $126K to run the operation.

Senior housing renovated

Modesto Bee. $30M in renovations completed at 2 Modesto affordable senior housing communities. 
Synopsis: Renovations at Marple Manor and Ralston Tower were unveiled Wednesday. Among those who toured the buildings was former US Ag Secretary, UNICEF executive director and Modesto resident Ann Veneman. Said one resident, “If I won the lottery, I’d be sad because I’d have to leave.” Among amenities are raised garden beds tended by residents. Funders included the United Health Group, National Affordable Housing Trust, Wells Fargo, the state and city.

Trials of single-party rule

Valley Citizen. America in distress, Bernie in the Valley.
Synopsis: Eric Caine writes about the Bernie-and-Alex show that barnstormed the Valley last week. “Even as Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez are drawing headlines during their ‘Fight Oligarchy’ campaign, the United States is becoming ever more divided,” writes Caine. He said people on the right and left inhabit “separate realities,” offering Kevin Kiley’s reaction to the tour as proof. Kiley blamed “inequality, homelessness, real poverty and underperforming schools” on single-party rule in Sacramento. After refuting each of those points, Caine reminds Kiley that the White House, both houses of Congress and the Supreme Court are controlled by Republicans. “How’s that going so far? Inflation is rampant, tariffs have imploded the world economy and China’s power is growing exponentially.”

Room for more ‘Love’

Modesto Bee. Hundreds of volunteer slots remain open at Love Modesto and nearby events.
Synopsis: Love Modesto is Saturday and thousands of volunteers are expected to fan out across hundreds of sites to spruce up parks, paint schools, read to children, cook pancakes, clean up trash and carry supplies to those in need. Last year some 360 projects benefited from the efforts of 7,500 volunteers supplying labor valued at $1.29 million. There are similar Love events throughout the county and beyond.

How to steal your own truck
Fox26. High-speed chase ends with arrest of man who stole his own impounded vehicle.
Synopsis: Ronald Jason Eskew came into the Coalinga impound lot to retrieve items from his impounded F-150 but drove off in the truck instead. He was pulled over on Hwy 198 but as officers approached, he sped away. Officers used a PIT maneuver to finally get the truck halted. Eskew had been ordered to have an ignition interlock device in his truck following at least one DUI, but he had illegally removed it. Among the charges he faces is grand theft for stealing his own truck.

Details on camp clearing

Merced Sun Star. Merced County clears large homeless encampment; over 50 people displaced. 
Synopsis: Shawn Jansen catches up to Monday’s news about the homeless encampment being cleared away from East Childs and Hwy 99. There were from 50 to 60 people living on private property in tents and under cardboard. The city, county, CHP and Caltrans used heavy equipment to remove several tons of trash, debris and the meager belongings of some who had not left in advance. The county said the health hazards at the camps provided all the justification needed: “When you look at them, they’re totally unsafe, unsanitary, totally unacceptable,” said Mike North. The majority of those displaced accepted help in shelters. Others said the cleanup came so fast, they lost all of their belongings -- clothing, tents, broken lawn chairs, etc. “I think it’s discrimination,” said Nicholas Cortinaz. “They’re just messing with us because we’re homeless.” North admitted not everyone would accept help.

Merced County Times. Authorities clear out tent alley in Merced.
Synopsis: Jon Whitaker, like Shawn Jansen, provides coverage a few days after the camp’s removal. Whitaker writes that the camp had no sanitation, water or any other services and a “rat infestation” was obvious. He quoted city manager Scott McBride saying, “There is compassion in the action we are taking. We have been working very closely with the county, which provides the bulk of (homeless) support services. We’ve actually helped people who were notified last week.”

Seeing a lot of Olyphant

Modesto Bee. Modesto-bred Timothy Olyphant is about to wreak ‘Havoc’ in Netflix thriller.
Synopsis: The good guy of “Justified” will be the bad guy in the “high-octane action thriller” “Havoc” premiering today. Forest Whitaker, Luis Guzman and a lot of others are in the show. But Olyphant has been busy and will soon appear in other upcoming shows – the comedy “Beef,” a drama “Lucky” and he’ll be an alien in “Alien: Earth.”