Valley Solutions

Valley Solutions offers a daily look at the top headlines appearing on media websites affecting the San Joaquin Valley. It is compiled by Mike Dunbar, who worked in Stockton, Modesto, Merced and Los Banos media for 40 years and later served as Adam Gray’s press secretary when he was in the Assembly. Valley Solutions is brought to readers by Rep. Adam Gray.

Mayor subject of more lawsuits

Modesto Focus. Third woman accuses Hughson mayor Carr of lewd conduct. 
Synopsis: The Hughson city council voted for a second censure of Mayor George Carr after two fresh accusations of misconduct arose in lawsuits. After a closed session, Vice Mayor Randy Crooker urged Carr to resign. One of the new lawsuits came from former city clerk Ashton Gose, who was fired after reporting allegations against Carr.  She claims he groped her during a photo and made inappropriate remarks. Dominique Romo, who became Hughson’s city manager in 2024, abruptly fired Gose nine days after she detailed Carr’s behavior to investigators. The second censure vote was 3-0, with Susana Vasquez abstaining. Vasquez brought the original charges of conduct forward and is suing the city over Carr’s actions. On the other side of the county, Patterson Mayor Mike Clauzel also faces censure for treatment of staff and some councilmembers.

Getting ready for El Niño

Merced Sun Star. Merced County issues emergency proclamation in preparation for El Niño.
Synopsis: With experts saying this year’s El Niño could be the strongest ever, county officials are speeding up preparation. They’re just not sure what they’re prepping for. While some El Niño weather systems bring vast amounts of rain – like the storms of 2017 and 2023 – others turn dry. The county will concentrate on inspecting and prepping roads, drainage systems and essential public services. Officials urged residents to clear drainages around homes and review their emergency plans, including preparation of a “go-bag” of essential meds and papers.

Maven / Water Blueprint. What the Valley can hold from a strong El Niño winter.
Synopsis: With the NOAA putting the odds of a “very strong El Niño” at 90%, it is growing increasingly likely CA could see a lot of rain. But any water could be gone by July if there is nowhere to put it. Since El Niños are warm-weather systems, they have more rain than snow so there is unlikely to be a heavy snowpack. The best place to put all that water is underground. But orchards and vineyards must be prepared so water can soak into underlying aquifers.

Stanislaus farm income $3.33B

Modesto Bee. Stanislaus ag income hits $3.33 billion; farmworkers get a share of the credit. 
Synopsis: Stanislaus Ag Commissioner Linda Pinfold released the annual Farm Report, saying county farmers earned $3.3 billion on their crops in 2025. That was up marginally from 2024 but didn’t come close to the record of $4.4 billion in 2014. Almonds were up 6% to $1.04 billion as prices rose from $1.63 a pound to $2.40 in 2025. Filling out the top five: Dairy ($676 million, down from $775M); poultry ($272M, down from $292M); cattle ($246, up from $208M) and fruit and nut nurseries ($123M, up from $111M). Tomatoes, once among the top three crops in the county, was No. 10 at $46 million.

No debate: Becerra was winner

LA Times. ‘Blowout’: Here’s who won the Hilton-Becerra debate for CA governor. 
Synopsis: The Times sat down with three political columnists – Gustavo Arellano, Anita Chabria and Mark Barabak – to watch the debate. Their conclusion: Steve Hilton’s attacks sounded like whining, and Xavier Becerra held his own. Said Arellano, Hilton appeared to be auditioning for a new podcast rather than governor. Becerra “came out as more of a fighter than we’ve seen before.” Still, neither candidate laid out a vision for the state. One of the columnists concluded that neither gained nor lost a single vote. One bit of advice from Chabria: “For the love of God, Hilton, button that shirt. This is not a casino.”

Are data centers all that bad?

Modesto Bee. Why are data centers controversial? Valley experts explain water, power, jobs.
Synopsis: Data centers are the hottest of hot-button issues across America. They consume enormous amounts of water for cooling and even more electricity. They provide very few jobs, other than security guards, after operation begins. Communities from Patterson to Modesto to Escalon to Riverbank have implemented or are considering moratoriums. A Little Hoover Commission study said the centers should foot the bill for fortifying electrical grids before being built. But as much as people hate them, most Americans rely on them for everything from watching TV to cheating on homework.
MAD Take: This story hits most of the important issues, but not all of them. For instance, a recent study in Phoenix, where there are around 100 data centers, found a large center can warm the downwind air by 4 degrees even a mile away. That’s a lot of hot air.

Modesto Bee. Fact check: Where do Turlock mayor and council candidates stand on data centers?
Synopsis: This story is based on a lot of “what-ifs” – what will candidates say if a data center requests a location in Turlock? Amy Bublak worries the city’s electricity and water infrastructure would be stressed and would only support a center if clear benefits are provided. Jim Reape said he opposes any development – data center or shopping center – if they cause the cost of power and water to rise for residents. Kelley Coelho wants a case-by-case approach. Council candidate Jeremy Rocha says a moratorium is a good idea, but Cassandra Abram disagreed – though she insists she dislikes data centers. Ryan Taylor says they use too much water.

Modesto library sets opening

Modesto Bee. Modesto library scheduled for reopening in January; celebration planned.
Synopsis: Originally scheduled to reopen in October, renovation of the Stanislaus County Library main branch in downtown Modesto encountered problems with asbestos. Now, the opening is set for Jan. 11. County Librarian Sarah Dentan said it will be a “celebration of what our community can accomplish when we invest in places that bring people together.”

Gov approves plug-in solar

LA Times. Want solar but don’t own a roof? CA just legalized plug-in panels, no permission required. 
Synopsis: Apartment dwellers who don’t own their roof are now one step closer to lowering their electric bills in CA. Gov. Newsom signed a bill to make plug-in solar systems legal. The new law “puts people in charge of their energy bills,” said the bill’s author, Scott Wiener. Already popular in Europe and Utah, “balcony solar” systems must be approved by the state before reaching stores, but two companies are nearly there. PG&E lobbied against the bill. Others worry that without expensive batteries, the systems won’t have much impact.

Red-dye fuel OK’d for road use

Ag Daily. Indiana lifts restrictions on red-dyed diesel in trucks through harvest. 
Synopsis: Indiana farmers can use red-dye diesel in trucks and other over-the-road equipment after Gov. Mike Braun suspended restrictions on using the fuel in cars and trucks. States do not charge road taxes on diesel fuel used in machinery that never reaches the road, making it cheaper by roughly 60 cents a gallon. Being able to use the specially marked diesel in trucks will save farmers $50 a day. Texas, Arkansas, Missouri and North Dakota have also suspended red-dye rules.
MAD Take: While it’s a nice gesture to remove restrictions on red-dye fuel, taxes are not the problem. The price of diesel has skyrocketed due to global shortages after Trump attacked Iran, which then closed the Strait of Hormuz. Since U.S. diesel refineries remain fully operational, fuel made here is being shipped to overseas buyers at a premium. That, in turn, has forced up prices in the U.S. What is seldom discussed is that 26% of all crude pumped in the U.S. each day is extracted from beneath federal lands and seabeds, meaning it belongs to the American people. Oil companies are reaping enormous windfall profits -- $416 billion as of mid-September. Why hasn’t the government asked the oil companies to pay a premium on our crude? Such a windfall tax could be refunded to every resident. Even if we let them keep $100 billion for their trouble, that would amount to around $100 for every man, woman and child.  

Wolf packs produce 42 pups

LA Times. CA revives wildlife coexistence program amid record wolf pup boom.
Synopsis: Calling the protection of nature a “moral issue,” Gov. Newsom signed a bill to re-establish a program to help deal with conflict between wildlife and humans. It will fund a program to pay ranchers when they lose livestock to wolves or suffer indirect harms such as lost weight in cattle made anxious by wolf calls. That allowed the CA Farm Bureau to take a “neutral” position on the bill. Meanwhile, it has been reported wolves have produced at least 42 pups this year. Huh. There were 41 confirmed attacks on livestock this year from the Whaleback pack alone. What a coincidence.

Stockton mayor bends knee

North Valley Review. Mayor Fugazi announces withdrawal from federal lawsuits over ICE, DEI.
Synopsis: Stockton Mayor Christina Fugazi said her office has withdrawn the city from lawsuits brought by Fresno and other CA cities against the Trump administration. The cities sued when former Homeland Security Sec. Kristi Noem ordered funding withheld from cities that refused to cooperate with immigration enforcement. Fugazi was worried the city would be seen as anti-Trump as it applied for grants. Said Fugazi: “Our message to the President: Stockton is ready.”
MAD Take: Ready for what?

Fast and faster food comes to Merced

Merced Sun Star. Construction begins on 3 new restaurants at Merced.
Synopsis: Merced will soon get its first Dunkin’ and other fast- and faster-food eateries in the Yosemite Crossing shopping center. There will be a Chipotle Mexican Grill, a Poki Bowl and an Angry Chickz.

Making their cases in Merced

Merced County Times. Letter to the editor: Safeguarding Merced County’s public funds. 
Synopsis: County Treasurer Karen Adams explains that her department is “responsible for safeguarding a $2.3 billion public investment portfolio.” To do it correctly, she has repeatedly requested another full-time staffer. Each request has been denied by County Supervisors. “My request for adequate permanent staffing is not about building bureaucracy,” wrote Adams. “It is about protecting public money.”

Merced County Times. Why I support Measure B. 
Synopsis: City councilmember Mike Harris describes himself as a fiscal conservative and tax skeptic. Those caveats aside, he supports the 1% sales tax to fund public safety and infrastructure. “My hope is that Measure B serves as a bridge, not a permanent solution.”

Cautious optimism for walnuts

Ag Net West. CA walnut industry faces smaller crop and global market challenges.
Synopsis: ANW interviewers talk to Michael Jameson of Morada Nut Co. near Linden, who applauds the USDA’s purchase of 28 million pounds of walnuts. The purchase covered low-grade walnuts that are harder to sell. He estimates this year’s crop to be roughly 16% smaller than last year’s at 680,000 tons. Though smaller, the quality is higher, said Jameson. Large crops in China and Chile could diminish exports, he said.

The pink patch is important

KSEE / CBS47. Get your pink patch to support Central Valley breast cancer patients. 
Synopsis: Community Health Systems is starting Breast Cancer Awareness Month with the Valley Pink Patch campaign. Today at the Clovis Community Medical Center campus, 30 survivors started the morning with time in an ULTA Beauty chair then a walk across the pink carpet to a celebration of the 20^th year of the Radin Breast Cancer Center. Law enforcement agencies such as the Madera Sheriff’s Office and Fresno Police will sell pink departmental patches for $10 each. The entire collection is available for $220.