Valley Solution

Where did he get the water?

Valley Citizen. Pumping or not pumping? Public has the right to know. 
Synopsis: Eric Caine provides a thorough examination of how Larry Byrd was growing almonds in Eastern Stanislaus County – where there is plenty of dirt but far too little water. In particular, he describes the controversy over where Byrd, a member of the Modesto Irrigation District board, got water to put on 130 acres of land he manages outside the district boundaries. He is partners in the operation with his brother and farm developer Ty Angle on a farm that includes some land within district boundaries but 130 acres that aren’t -- making them ineligible for MID irrigation water. Byrd has bragged to many that he “didn’t put any money” into the partnership. When questioned, he insisted the almond on those acres were watered by deep wells that he ran every day. His former top hand disputes that. Caine also points out that Byrd pushed hard for a deal that would have allowed farmers outside the district to purchase water for $60 an acre foot. Considering the impact such a deal would have had on the property, why didn’t the director recuse himself from any votes? Caine is calling for a grand jury investigation.
MAD Note: Eric Caine has done an incredible job bringing this story to light. One thing he hasn’t gotten round to yet: What’s all that water worth? It takes from 3 to 4 feet to grow a crop of almonds every year. For 130 acres, that works out to about 500-acre feet – or measured another way, 162,000,000 gallons. At $200 an acre foot – the amount Oakdale Irrigation District would have charged – that’s about $100,000. For someone paying market rate -- $432 as of Monday – that works out to $216,000. If that water came out of an MID canal, MID needs to be paid.

Gray meets future ag leaders

Westside Express. Supporting CA’s future agricultural leaders. 
Synopsis: Chris White, executive director of the SJ River Exchange Contractors, writes about the need to unite farmers and those who depend on their products in developing rules and strategies to address climate change. Those strategies must not deprive anyone of the food that sustains us. That’s why the California Agricultural Leadership Foundation is so important; it is developing the next generation of leaders. At its August Field Day, the new cohort of leaders heard from members top growers such as Joe Del Bosque and Case & Darcy Vlot of Chowchilla. They learned how the Delta is linked to farms through pumping stations near Tracy and how fish are protected at those pumps. From Anthea Hanson they learned of new projects to develop more dependable water during drought. They also heard about leadership in making all these things work. “We were especially excited to welcome US Congressman Adam Gray, who has been an ardent supporter of the agricultural industry and the Central Valley,” wrote White – who says he’s excited to face the future with this group.

Fewer almonds than expected

Ag Net West. Big news for dairy and almond growers: USDA announces $1 billion relief program.
Synopsis: Interviewer Nick Papagni talked Steve Malanka of West Valley Hauling (sic), who says all those predictions of a 3-billion-pound almond harvest are way off from what he’s seen in his hulling operation. He says most growers are seeing at least 10% less tonnage year-over-year and some are down 20%. Apparently, the hulls are heavier – which could benefit other industries.
MAD Note: Interviewer Papagni meant to type “West Valley Hulling” of Firebaugh, not “Hauling.” There is a West Valley Hauling, but it’s based in Stockton, and it is not where Steve Malanka works.

Chiefs part of 9-11 tribute

Westside Connect. Gustine chief Chavez joins FBI-led 9-11 tribute video honoring unity, service.
Synopsis: Gustine police chief Ruben Chavez and Turlock police chief Jason Hedden participated in a 9/11 Memorial tribute produced by Sacramento’s FBI field office, joining law enforcement leaders statewide in honoring the lives lost on Sept. 11, 2001. Also featured in the video was FBI Supervising Agent Sid Patel. Chavez called it “an honor” to “stand alongside leaders who share a deep commitment to public safety.”

Wait staff wants to unionize

Modesto Bee. Modesto BJ’s workers move to form first union over controversial tip-sharing policy.
Synopsis: Workers at BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse are attempting to become the first location in the country to unionize. What sparked the move was a new company policy requiring all servers and bartenders to pay 4% of their total sales to “back-of-house” staff such as cooks and dishwashers. Some 152 workers filed to form a union, saying their average pay of $32 an hour between tips and pay has fallen 20%. The company said the new policy was crucial to encourage kitchen workers to show up on weekends. “That’s not our job to make them come to work,” said server Erica Foss. “That’s the company’s job to make them feel appreciated.” Servers believe the new policy is in reaction to CA’s law requiring all fast-food workers be paid $20 an hour. Online, around 1,200 BJ’s servers from across the state have signed petitions. The election is Sept. 26 and includes both servers and kitchen workers. 

More nurses? Let JCs help

Fresno Bee. Community colleges can help fill CA’s need for more nurses now. 
Synopsis: Elected leaders Esmeralda Soria, Eloise Reyes and Sabrina Cervantes combined on this op-ed saying one of the most pressing problems in healthcare is the shortage of nurses. This is an issue we can fix, even though “the Trump administration remains laser-focused on gutting federal funding from our institutions of higher learning.” How? By creating a pathway into hospitals through community colleges. There are a dozen areas where the shortage of healthcare professionals is acute. This would authorize up to 10 community college districts to create programs for up to 2,000 nurses in just 18 months.

Modesto is getting foxy

Modesto Bee. Gray foxes aren’t new to Modesto’s urban areas; so why are they more visible now?
Synopsis: Reporter Kathleen Quinn looks at the gray foxes inhabiting Tuolumne River Regional Park. Frequent park visitors say there are 8 to 9 foxes out every day. They keep rodent populations in check. “I don’t see any disadvantages to having foxes in our urban areas at all,” said one park volunteer. Nearby residents are beginning to see them on security cams. Back in 2018, one young gray fox wandered into the Fox Pub downtown. Donna Burt of the Stanislaus Wildlife Care Center says this year’s kit crop was double the usual, but still within the range of normal population fluctuations. Gray foxes are about the size of a pug or Dachshund (just shaped differently). BTW, you might see them up in trees. They’re cute but do not feed or pet them.

Gustine a ‘Clean Community’

Westside Connect. Gustine earns Clean California Community designation for leadership. 
Synopsis: The city of Gustine has been designated a Clean California Community through a Caltrans program. The city of 6,000 is one of only 30 in the entire state recognized for its commitment to environmental improvements and civic engagement. The recognition comes from the city’s regular clean-up events, its Zero Food Waste program, youth activities and beautification programs.

ICE transfers up

Modesto Bee. Under Trump, Stanislaus jail transfers to ICE are back.
Synopsis: In the past two years, there was 1 detainee transferred from Stanislaus County’s jail directly to ICE. Now that Donald Trump is back in power, the pace of those transfers has picked up. In the first three months of 2025, there have been six, or about two per month. Sherrif Jeff Dirkse said both his department and ICE are following the state’s rules. Before those rules were put in place, there were 147 such transfers – or about 3 per month.

Educators’ views cause furor

Valley Sun. Clovis Unified union organizer under fire for calling Charlie Kirk ‘Nazi’ after killing.
Synopsis: Elizabeth Houtsinger is a teacher at Maple Creek Elementary currently on sabbatical while working with the CTA. On Facebook, she decried the lack of concern for those killed in school shootings or by vigilantes before concluding that conservatives care only when a “nazi was killed.”

Valley Sun. Parents demand removal of Mariposa teacher following comments on Kirk’s death.
Synopsis: A teacher allegedly told students he was glad Charlie Kirk had been killed and then told MAGA-supporting students to “go home and cry.” Their parents are outraged that any teacher would say anything intimating that anyone’s words would make them “somehow deserving of violence or death.” The school district is investigating.

Fox26. Fresno State lecturer on leave after inappropriate comments about Kirk’s death.
Synopsis: Lecturer Barri Brennan was captured on video expressing “a disturbing comment about the death of Charlie Kirk.” The lecturer has been put on leave and Fresno State “condemns, in the strongest possible terms, any language that celebrates or condones violence.”

Anger over loss of fast train

Merced Focus. Merced calls for certainty on high-speed rail funding. 
Synopsis: Mayor Matthew Serratto writes about the investments that have been made – public and private – in anticipation of high-speed rail’s arrival and link to the ACE train and Amtrak. Families, businesses, UC Merced and Merced College “have shaped their futures around the promise of this project.” The city was not consulted before the Merced stop was removed. “Merced is not just another stop. It is one of the fastest-growing cities in California,” he wrote. “To take Merced out of the plan would ignore all these advantages and would undo years of work by our community and our partners.” He concludes: “Merced has invested in this project, and the state must now invest in Merced.”

Merced Sun Star. Downtown business owners anxious over proposed delay of high-speed rail.
Synopsis: The High Speed Rail Authority hasn’t abandoned Merced, just delayed its arrival by a decade, it says. That frustrates El Capitan exec Janet Taylor. “We need the tourism,” she said. The HSRA concluded that the track to Merced from Bakersfield would “not pay for itself” with fares, so the plan for roughly 10 miles was abandoned. Trais Strang of Tigers & Daggers Records says he’s given up on the rail line. “I just don’t think it’s going to happen.”

Fresno is hottest stop

Fresno Bee. How Fresno became premier destination for Latin stars Shakira, Peso Pluma, Karol G. 
Synopsis: When a fan gave birth during the Karol G concert in Fresno back in 2022 the video went viral, and people started noticing that the crowd in Fresno was huge. Now, three years later, the Save Mart Center and other venue operators are seeking out Latino talent and the city is considered a “capital” of Latin entertainment. With the genre “exploding” across the country, Fresno is one of the ODs – original destinations. The Peso Pluma stop at Save Mart Center was the biggest grossing show of the tour, pulling 17,549 fans and grossing $2.9 million. Then came Shakira, selling out Valley Children’s Stadium. Now, every Latin act – Mana, Pit Bull, J Balvin, Los Tigres del Norte – plans a stop in Fresno.