Valley Solutions

Where insurance cost more

SF Chronicle. CA’s FAIR Plan insurance can range from $92 to $32,000; map shows by ZIP code. 
Synopsis: Homeowners buying insurance through the state’s FAIR plan paid around $3,000 a year on average, according to the Chronicle. Landlords got off a little easier, paying $2,000 for coverage of their rentals. FAIR premiums vary wildly based on location. In San Joaquin County, where fire risk is “low,” average premiums were $849 for 69 policies. In Mariposa, where fire risk is “medium” to “high,” premiums can hit $6,435. On the Westside of Stanislaus County, were fire risk ranges from “low” to “high,” premiums range from $1,383 to $3,529 for a total of 49 policies. There was an anomaly in West Merced County, where there are 16 policies – 12 on low-risk homes and 2 each rated medium- and high-risk. Premiums for medium-risk homes averaged $3,194, while the two high-risk policies cost $1,620.

Valley politics: Flora’s problem

Modesto Focus. Sacramento politicians love Heath Flora, but local Republicans have given up on him.
Synopsis: Reporter Garth Stapley looks into why the GOP central committees in both Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties opted to endorse three-time losing candidate Jim Shoemaker over the sitting Assemblymember minority leader – Heath Flora. Joel Campos, the Stanislaus party chair, said Flora has been “virtually non-existent in the district for years.” Apparently, local GOP groups are miffed because Flora gifted them only $750 compared to $25,000 sent to similar groups in Sutter and San Bernardino counties. And what about the Sacramento Bee story reporting Flora lives 60 miles out of his district yet still collects per diem money? Shrug. Neither central committee cared. A Stan State poli sci professor said Flora hasn’t changed, but the local party has become more strident.

LA Times. Schiff endorses Swalwell for CA governor. 
Synopsis: Sen. Adam Schiff joined Rep. Adam Gray in endorsing Rep. Eric Swalwell to become governor. Schiff and Swalwell are both former prosecutors and they served together on the House Intelligence Committee that investigated Donald Trump’s connections to Russia and his incitement of the mob that attacked the Capitol, resulting in two impeachments.

Stanislaus sales taxes

Modesto Bee. Which Stanislaus County city is cheapest to shop in?
Synopsis: Domique Williams looks at the various sales-tax rates in Stanislaus County. The state’s base rate is 7.25%. The lowest rate to be found in Stanislaus County is 7.875%, which is what you pay in Patterson, Newman, Riverbank, Hughson, Waterford, Denair, Empire and La Grange. Local sales-tax assessments have pushed the rate up by half-a-cent to 8.275% in Ceres and Oakdale. In Turlock, it’s 8.625%. Modesto charges 8.875% after passage of Measure H which has generated $42 million for public safety and other city needs. Compared to Palmdale, where the sales tax is 11.25%, that’s a bargain.

The buses stopped running

Stocktonia. After partial RTD disruption, board puts CEO on leave. 
Synopsis: Alex Clifford, CEO of San Joaquin Regional Transit District, was put on leave after bus drivers stopped driving their buses in mid-route so they could attend a special meeting to show support for the embattled CEO. Service was resumed by 2 pm. The district is funded through SJ’s Council of Governments, which has been withholding payment of some funds earmarked for replacing aging vehicles and restoring routes curtailed during the COVID pandemic. Three board members appointed just recently were the deciding votes in suspending Clifford, whom Stockton Mayor Christina Fugazi blamed for the interruption in service.

Celebrating ag and almonds

Fresno Bee. World Ag Expo opens this week in Tulare.
Synopsis: The largest outdoor ag show in the world opened this morning in Tulare. In its 59^th year, it is expected to draw close to 100,000 visitors over three days. The Expo covers 2.6 million square feet of exhibits as everything from heavy machinery to AI is presented to potential buyers. This year’s expo is celebrating the role of women in ag with CA Ag Sec Karen Ross on hand. For the first time, there will be an auction to benefit the FFA with student auctioneers. Attendance at such expos has fallen slightly in recent years.

Stockton Record. ‘Largest tradition of the year’: Ripon Almond Blossom Festival returns for 64^th year. 
Synopsis: With buds already opening on a few end-row trees, Valley residents are preparing for blossom season. The Ripon Almond Blossom Festival will be Feb. 19-22 at Mistlin Sports Park on River Road. Festivities include a spaghetti dinner and Miss Almond coronation on Thursday, carnival rides, lots of live music, a diaper derby, bake sale, art show, and tri-tip dinner.

$1.5M for arts missing in Fresno

Fresnoland. Fresno artists question city leaders over millions in arts funding reportedly embezzled. 
Synopsis: More than 50 artists gathered Monday night in the Tower District after learning an employee of the Fresno Arts Council has been accused of embezzling at least $1.5 million in Measure P grand money meant for local organizations. Councilmember Miguel Arias and city manager Georgeanne White were on hand but were not invited to speak. They did, however, spend 90 minutes answering questions from Measure P grant recipients. Both Fresno police and the FBI have been involved in the investigation into the theft.

Guilty as charged

GV Wire. Former Atwater correctional officer pleads guilty to obstructing justice.
Synopsis: Sandra Munagay, 44, admitted she falsified a report following a 2023 incident in which she punched an inmate in the face, said US Attorney Eric Grant. The inmate tried to walk away from a verbal dispute, but Munagay punched him. The entire episode was on video, contradicting her official account.

Valley Sun. Fresno real estate investor guilty of running $9 million Ponzi scheme.
Synopsis: Matthew Campbell, 43, pleaded guilty Monday to federal charges that he operated real estate companies and used incoming investments to pay dividends and solicit new investments. He raised $9.1 million over seven years.

More grapes are coming out

Western Farm Press. CA on track to raze another 40,000 acres of vineyards.
Synopsis: Senior Editor Tim Hearden reports that growers are on track to remove another 40,000 acres of winegrapes this year. That would finally reach the number recommended by Allied Grape Growers CEO Jeff Bitter and others to ease the glut of wine. Bitter said growers pulled 37,000 acres in 2024 followed by another 40,000 acres in 2025. But growers also planted 20,000 acres last year, making a net loss of 20,000 acres. Bitter says removing another 40,000 acres “would bring us very close to longer-term balance based on today’s wine shipment rates.” California has 590,000 acres of winegrapes, according to the Wine Institute. Growers attended the Unified Wine and Grape Symposium Jan. 27-28.

Pols come after the FFA

Ag Daily. GOP lawmakers go after National FFA’s tax-exempt status.
Synopsis: House Republicans are demanding to know the extent of contributions from Syngenta Group to the FFA. The company, which is owned entirely by the government of China, has been contributing to the FFA national convention for 40 years. The Republican caucus, led by Ways & Means Chair Jason Smith of Missouri, expressed “concern” over the FFA’s “push to prioritize Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.” The letter essentially threatened the FFA’s tax-exempt status.
MAD Take: Hmm. Not mentioned in the story is the fact that Rep. Smith took $10,000 from the National Pork Producers Council last year. Who is the largest contributor to the NPPC’s political action committee? That would be Smithfield Farms, a wholly owned subsidiary of China-based WH Group, which supplies pork products to the Chinese military. China also passed contributions through the NPPC into the pockets of Speaker Mike Johnson and the National Republican Congressional Committee. Democrats got some, too. Before Rep. Smith et al come after the FFA, perhaps they should check their own accounts.

Academic accolades

Merced Sun Star. Merced County holds academic decathlon for 45^th year.
Synopsis: Merced High’s decathlon squad will advance to the State competition in Santa Clara, March 19-22 after winning the county title. For the second year in a row, Rishabh Saha won the gold for highest-scoring individual.

Turlock Journal. SCOE releases results of 42^nd Stanislaus County Mock Trial competition.
Synopsis: Gregori High won the Mock Trial competition, Feb. 3. Turlock High was runner-up with its Hamasa Mashal winning the Wray Ladine Award and scholarship. The Ryan Dickerson Award for Excellence went to Ryan Nazari of Modesto High. Ten schools competed. Gregori will represent Stanislaus County at the state finals in Oakland, March 20-22.

First-responders hard at work

Modesto Bee. Person rescued from Ceres house fire; firefighter hospitalized. 
Synopsis: Firefighters rolled up to a house on Burton Drive in Ceres at 6:25 am Monday. Witnesses said there was someone inside, so firefighters went into life-saving mode. They quickly located the resident and got them out and on the way to the hospital. One firefighter suffered a medical issue during the rescue.

Fox40. ‘Not to be tango’d with’: Sheriff’s K-9 retires after 270 deployments.
Synopsis: K-9 Officer Rango, who has been called out 270 times and helped removed 80 pounds of meth and 40 pounds of fentanyl in San Joaquin County, is retiring. His handler has been promoted, so Rango will retire to a life of leisure. He was “brave, dependable and unwavering in his mission to protect his deputy and this community,” said Sheriff Pat Withrow.