Valley Solutions

Stopping orange-tooth rats

Stocktonia. Nutria study suggests ‘intentional introduction’ of giant rodents into the Delta. 
Synopsis: Chris Woodyard reports on genetic testing that strongly suggest that the orange-toothed giant swamp rats called nutria were deliberately brought to California and released in the Delta. The CA Dept of Fish & Wildlife reached that conclusion after nutria reappeared in the Delta after a 40-year absence. The newcomers were genetically distinct from those who had been here in the past and appear most closely related to a population found in Oregon. “There’s basically no way that they could have made it to (the Delta) region of California naturally,” said the agency’s Mike Buchalski. Nutria grow to about 30 pounds and have infested areas ranging from Antioch in the north through Modesto and all the way down to Los Banos. There is a significant population east of Turlock. The animals burrow into levees, weakening them, and destroy huge amounts of riparian vegetation.

Heat checking CA voters

PPIC. What CA’s next governor needs to know about Californians’ mood. 
Synopsis: The Public Policy Institute of CA’s Mark Baldassare and Lynette Ubois offer a blog post based on their polling. Most Californians, they say, consider themselves in the center politically -- no matter how others might classify them. Our key issues: 1) The economy. Most people feel they are not keeping up, much less getting ahead. 2) Trust in government is way, way down. 3) Most doubt that government works on their behalf, that the system is rigged. Six in 10 say they don’t like Democrats; 7 in 10 say they don’t like Republicans. That means an awful lot of them don’t trust either party. 4) Voters like the initiative process as much as elected leaders hate it.
MAD Take: You want people to embrace your favorite policies? Then make sure those policies improve their lives – lower fees, better services, quicker responses, help when its needed.

Fox26. Rising costs driving Californians out; former Valley residents talk about cost difference.
Synopsis: The California Policy Lab looked at how many people are leaving the state in search of lower costs, concluding the movement could alter the state’s demographics. Basically, older people are fleeing for places like Tennessee, Oregon and Texas. In all three states, they’ll find lower home prices (by 48% in Tennessee), lower utility costs (50% in Texas) and lower governmental fees. For instance, it costs $26 to register a vehicle in Tennessee compared to $900 in California. Anecdotally speaking, those moving say they are saving 30 to 40% on expenses, thus the incentive. Low-income people are not leaving as quickly as those with higher incomes – meaning tax receipts will fall.

A glance at CA 13

Merced Sun Star. Your guide to CA’s 13^th Congressional District primary race 
Synopsis: The DC bureau’s Mathew Miranda writes superficially about the seat that Adam Gray won in 2024 and the two Republicans who are commuting into the district to challenge him. Vinay Kruttiventi ran against Contra Costa’s Eric Swalwell three years ago, losing by 35%. The software millionaire has since purchased a home in Lathrop though he still lives in Pleasanton. Kevin Lincoln was a one-term mayor of Stockton who challenged Josh Harder three years ago, losing by 10,000 votes.
MAD Take: This story is a very cursory look at websites and public fundraising records. For instance, it doesn’t even mention that Lincoln lives in north Stockton – which is not in the 13^TH District.

Conflict of interest at MID

Valley Citizen. Conflicts of interest abuse the public trust at Modesto Irrigation District. 
Synopsis: Publisher Eric Caine lays out the sequence of votes and recusals that led to the dropping of Modesto Irrigation District’s investigation into the misuse of district water by trustee Larry Byrd. It was abundantly clear from a study done by an independent company that district water was pumped to land Byrd farms outside the district. MID staff did not provide pumping or billing records, leading Caine to conclude that MID staff and management “have ceded both authority and responsibility.” He again calls for a full-scale audit and intervention from a qualified third party.
MAD Take: There’s another solution – voting out those who misuse the district’s assets or refuse to act in the public’s interest when confronted with the proof.

A win for Delta Tunnel plan

Maven’s Notebook. Proposed decision favors state in Delta Conveyance Certification of Consistency. 
Synopsis: A draft decision by an appeals court appears to favor the Dept of Water Resources, giving the state a major win in its efforts to build a $22 billion tunnel. The court appears ready to discard most of the appeals against the project and approve a Certification of Consistency – meaning the plan is consistent with the state’s obligations to provide water for human use while protecting the environment. The court will follow the Delta Stewardship Council’s request to send two issues back to the DWR. The first deals with invasive golden mussels, the second is using 50,000-acre feet of treated sewage from Sacramento on farms.

He’s staying in custody

Modesto Bee. Patterson man shot 7 times by ICE and charged with assault to remain in custody.
Synopsis: Carlos Ivan Mendoza Hernandez faces charges of assault with deadly car following the ICE traffic stop that turned violent. Video shows ICE agents stopping his car then breaking out a window to grab him. Hernandez then tried to pull away, and agents began firing into his car, hitting Hernandez seven times. The original judge ordered him released, but that was overruled by US District Judge Dale Drozd, who said that by trying to drive away Hernandez proved he is a flight risk. Hernandez is undocumented but has no criminal record. However, it was divulged during the proceedings that he had cocaine and opiates in his blood. Among those in the courtroom were Hernandez’s lawyer, his fiancé and Fr. Misael Avila.

61 pounds of meth seized on I-5

KSEE / CBS47. Over $2M in drugs seized from driver on Fresno County highway, CHP says.
Synopsis: A man traveling north through Fresno County on I-5 was pulled over and found with $2 million in drugs. K9 officer Sergeant signaled the presence of contraband, and human officers discovered 61 pounds of meth and 7 pounds of fentanyl along with a stolen pistol in the console.

Saving pets from fire

Modesto Bee. Two dogs rescued, revived at Modesto residential garage fire, firefighters say.
Synopsis: Firefighters were sent to Spring Mountain Court at 2 a.m. Thursday following reports of a burning garage. They quickly put out the fire, then rescued dogs that had been trapped inside. The dogs were treated with oxygen masks made for pets, and soon they recovered enough to rejoin their owners.

Region’s new fire chief

Modesto Bee. Modesto names new fire chief with 30-plus years of experience. 
Synopsis: Shanon Evans is Modesto Fire’s new chief, having lost the word “interim” from his title. Evans’ “enduring commitment to leadership, training and ongoing support to strengthen fire service delivery” won over city manager Joe Lopez. Evans started as a volunteer in the Westport district before joining Modesto Fire in 2001. He has wrangled hoses, driven engines and pushed paper as a top administrator during his career. Modesto Fire covers 435,000 residents in Modesto, Turlock, Oakdale, Ceres, Riverbank and portions of the county.

Reining in would-be swindlers

Fresno Bee. Fresno man who used Bitcoin to lure investors into $45M loan scheme pleads guilty. 
Synopsis: David Hardcastle, 62, admitted to conspiring to commit fraud by getting people to loan $20 million to the failed Bitwise Industries. He and a partner altered documents and forged the signature of CEO Jake Soberal, also convicted of fraud, to entice investors. Hardcastle’s partner, Andrew Adler, has already been sentenced to three years in jail and ordered to pay $9.3 million in restitution. Hardcastle is also being prosecuted on a different Ponzi scheme involving property in Florida.

Fresno Bee. Ex-Fresno Arts Council manager pleads guilty to $1.8M fraud.
Synopsis: Suliana Caldwell appeared in court and pleaded guilty to $1.8 million from government accounts meant to fund art and cultural programs. She agreed to repay the $1.8 million which she stole from Measure P funds. Her attorney said Caldwell’s actions were the result of addictions to alcohol and gambling.

Successful Farming. US justice department criminally investigating beef companies, WSJ reports.
Synopsis: Reuters and the Wall Street Journal are reporting that the US Justice Department is following Trump’s orders to investigate Tyson Foods, Cargill, JBS USA and National Beef Packing Co., which combined slaughter 85% of cattle in the US.
MAD Note: The story is short and does not mention the groundwork by ranching groups such R-CALF, the National Farmers Union and Cattlemen’s Association to end monopoly practices and market distortions instituted by the “big four” meatpackers. The American Farm Bureau Assn has also worked with R-CALF to create more price transparency.

Guardian. Emails show Amazon colluding with other firms to raise prices, CA authorities allege.
Synopsis: The CA Attorney General released emails Monday showing that Amazon worked with other websites to raise prices on pet treats, khaki pants, eyedrops and other products. Amazon employees repeatedly contacted vendors to push Walmart, Chewy and other companies to raise their prices in unison. The AG’s evidence included emails punctuated with smiley-face emojis. “The evidence uncovered today is clear as day,” said AG Rob Bonta. “Amazon is working to make your life more unaffordable. The company is price fixing, colluding with vendors and other retailers to raise costs for Americans beyond what the market requires – beyond what is fair.”

Some subsidence reversed

KSEE / CBS47. ‘Rarely seen’: Ground is rising in parts of Fresno County. 
Synopsis: Thanks to water banking in the Cantua Creek and Huron areas, there is “measurable uplift” in specific areas of the Valley. Surface water has been injected into aquifers beneath the surface, causing the land above to rise by to 1.2 inches -- a phenomenon “rarely seen” in the Valley. Using LIDAR technology, the uplift was seen in nearly two dozen locations. In other areas, though, there was subsidence, or sinking, found by the same survey, mostly around Tulare and just west of Madera. Six specific locations sank up to 6 inches.

Businesses coming, going

Merced Sun Star. Popular Latino grocery chain to open location in Merced. 
Synopsis: Vallarta Supermarkets will bring its mix of groceries, a huge butcher shop, fresh-made guacamole, fresh tortillas and smoothies to Merced. It will take over the space near the Kohl’s in the old mall on West Olive. Known for its in-house bakery and huge selection of produce, Vallarta has 50 locations – mostly in the Valley. There will be a job fair on April 27 with the store set to open in “late spring.”

Modesto Bee. Restaurants owned by same Turlock man closing within weeks of each other.
Synopsis: Cuts Steakhouse, The Udder Place and Katana Shushi Bar are all closing, along with Ripon Social. The restaurants are owned by Jerry Powell, who says the doors will close on May 2 in Turlock. Outstanding gift cards from each restaurant can be used at any of them through May 2.

She’s 17 and already top golfer

ABC30. Young Chowchilla golf star heads to Chevron championship after strong finish in ‘City of Stars.’ 
Synopsis: Asterick Talley will make her ninth professional-golf start in this weekend’s Chevron Championship in Houston – the season’s first major tournament. The 17-year-old golfer from Madera tied for 13^th last week at the JM Eagle LA Championship. She is averaging 290 yards off the tees, one of the longest hitters in the game. Talley is still considered an amateur and has committed to Stanford next year, meaning the $74,000 she “won” in LA could not be collected.