Valley Solutions

Chickens love wine leftovers

Farming.com. Grape pomace helps chickens overcome nutritional stress. 
Synopsis: Researchers at Cornell University say that grape pomace – what’s left after the juice has been squeezed out to make wine – is a valuable natural alternative to antibiotic growth promoters in poultry feed. The stems, seeds, skins and pulp contain nutrients that diminish gut inflammation and could replace additives such as zinc bacitracin. By having pomace make up just 0.5% of total feed improves bird performance “considerably” with chickens showing 78% more weight gain than untreated birds, stronger feed efficiency, healthier gut conditions and less inflammation. The EU, China and Brazil ban birds that are treated with antibiotics, so this is an important finding.
MAD Note: There are about 300 million chickens living in San Joaquin, Stanislaus County and Merced counties. There were also 20,000 acres of winegrapes harvested. Coq au vin?

But have they tried seltze?

Fresno Bee. This Clovis brewery is gaining a reputation for one thing – and it’s not beer. 
Synopsis: At Crow & Wolf Brewing the drink of choice is not beer, but hard seltzer. The taproom on Hwy 168 has been winning awards for seltzers. But this year was special. Crow & Wolf won gold, silver and bronze in the 2026 Brewers Cup of California competition. Its seltzer ranked No. 3 in the nation in 2024 and 2025. One person from Merced was quoted saying they didn’t like seltzers … until now. They run $8.75 a pint.

Cutting electricity rates 9%?

Merced County Times. MID considering reduced electric rates.
Synopsis: Merced Irrigation District is considering a 9% decrease in its electricity rates, though individual bills will vary in how much they drop depending on time of use and other factors. The district is looking at its Power Cost Adjustment and environmental charge accounting to find savings, said MID’s Colin Selby. The district is also considering dropping the fixed charge for solar customers from $65 a month to $30. Most of Merced County is served by PG&E, but the irrigation district provides electricity for 7,500 accounts in eastern Merced County.

Why does council ignore us?

Merced County Times. If ‘No’ can be ignored, what does public input mean?
Synopsis: Local activist Lee Boese writes about the application submitted and rejected by the Merced Planning Commission to build storage units along Yosemite Avenue. The commission voted 7-0 against it. A total of 179 people signed a petition to block it. But the city council has allowed the project to proceed to the next step. Boese points out that the project would be built on a key corridor leading to UC Merced, surrounded by neighborhoods and a medical facility. It is not an appropriate use and none of the neighbors are in favor of it. So why isn’t the council listening?

Messages sent, messages rejected

Fresno Bee. Fresno supervisors send cruel message of exclusion to LGBTQ+ community. 
Synopsis: PFLAG Fresno board member Madison Nield writes about the Fresno County Board of Supervisors 3-2 decision to ban the public library from participating in the annual Pride Parade in Fresno or putting up any display commemorating Pride Month. She writes that fomenting controversy over gay and trans issues is a tactic used by Ineffective politicians to distract from their poor performance. Tuesday’s vote didn’t invent the tactic, but “amplified and legitimized it.” Madison said she was not indoctrinated but “born this way” and “no amount of book restrictions, parade bans or removal of diversity, equity and inclusion language from county materials will change that fundamental truth.”

Fresno Bee. Florida Rep. Randy Fine owes Armenians an unequivocal apology. 
Synopsis: Former Pasadena Mayor William Paparian takes issues with Rep. Randy Fine, R-Fla, who said “We don’t want Armenians to be able to serve in Congress.” The writer details his family’s escape from genocide, arrival in Fresno, their work in canneries, service in World War II and volunteerism. He writes of the Navy Cross awarded to Victor Maghakian. “These men and women did not serve to prove their Americanness to bigots. They served because it was their country, too.” Others have suffered worse bigotry, he writes, but “what defines us is the choice to reject the past, not repeat it.”

Most of SJ’s cherries damaged

Stocktonia. Cherry crop damage worse than feared: San Joaquin County declares 2^nd disaster. 
Synopsis: The state’s top cherry-producing county was hit hard by a late-season rainstorm, causing at least $174 million in damage to the county’s sweetest crop. Some 63% of cherries were damaged as the trees absorbed the water and a lot of already-ripe fruit swelled and burst. Growers are hoping the federal government will declare an emergency to farmers can apply for insurance payments. “Every year we pray for no rain during this time of the year,” said Ag Commissioner Kamal Bagri. 

Fresno’s fentanyl freeway

GV Wire. Fresno County authorities seize 22 pounds of fentanyl in two I-5 traffic stops. 
Synopsis: Deputies recently seized 22 pounds of deadly fentanyl in separate stops along I-5. On Wednesday, deputies stopped a car for a violation east of Coalinga. During a search, deputies found 15.4 pounds of fentanyl then arrested both men. A similar seizure a few weeks earlier was recounted as K-9 Willow alerted deputies to the presence of narcotics and deputies found 6.6 pounds of fentanyl in a car north of Coalinga.

Taking train to air museum

Modesto Bee. Amtrak will again server aviation history event near Merced.
Synopsis: Amtrak is offering special rates on its Gold Runner trains on May 23 so people can travel to Open Cockpit Day at Castle Air Museum in Atwater. You can get on in Stockton, Sacramento, Modesto, Fresno or Bakersfield and ride to Atwater. Last year 270 people took the train. This year, Amtrak notes a train ticket will be cheaper than gas. A city bus will ferry passengers the final 6 miles from the Amtrak station to the museum. If you take the train, you get 25% off on your tickets to event. 

Rental units aren’t up to code

Modesto Bee. Modesto rental inspection report: Thousands of units might not be up to code. 
Synopsis: The city of Modesto’s Safety and Communities Committee got a report showing thousands of rental units fail to meet city building codes. The program inspected 2,500 units and found electrical deficiencies, water-heater issues and smoke-detection lapses. Most units go uninspected because inspectors work normal hours, when most property owners are not available to provide access.

Homeless update in Merced

Merced Focus. Merced County has slightly more homeless people – but more are in shelters. 
Synopsis: Homelessness is up in Merced County according to the 2026 Point-in-Time Count, published Friday. Though the numbers are buried in this story, we eventually learn that Merced shelters are housing more people now than last year. “Yes, we have restricted, affordable housing units – we don’t have enough,” said Jewel Wise of the Human Services Agency. “The need exceeds the demand.” The story puts the “total number” of homeless at 748. The sliver of good news is that only 345 are unsheltered, compared to 346 last year. Only 1 child was unsheltered at the time of the count. More than half of all shelter beds are provided by the Merced Rescue Mission.

Orestimba Creek tamed?

Ebb & Flow. Reducing flood risks while refilling basin: New Valley recharge project boosting water table. 
Synopsis: The State Water Board publication profiles a five-year project on Orestimba Creek designed to capture flood flows underground. It will elevate the water table and diminish flooding. The Orestimba Creek Recharge & Recovery Project is a $16 million effort to refill the critically over-drafted Delta-Mendota subbasin south of Patterson. Orestimba Creek is notorious for flooding, with flows rising from 60 cubic-feet per second to over 2,500 during some storms. Several fatalities have occurred on roads around the creek over the year.

River rescue: 6 people, 1 dachshund

Modesto Bee. Teens without life jackets among 6 rescued from dangerous currents in Stanislaus River. 
Synopsis: Two separate groups became had to be rescued from the Stanislaus River on Wednesday, said Modesto Fire Battalion Chief Jim Black. Crews were first sent to Horseshoe Bend on Orange Blossom Road after three teen-age girls fell off a paddleboard. The girls were not wearing lifejackets, but their dachshund was. The river was flowing at 1,700 cubic-feet per second, a fast current. The other rescue occurred around the same time as three kayakers – two men and a woman – were tossed into the river and carried downstream by the current. All six people were relatively unscathed.
MAD Take: Amazing that the dachshund was smart enough to put on the life jacket, but the girls weren’t.