Valley Solutions

Honoring America’s fallen

Turlock Journal. Memorial Day ceremony honors service, sacrifice at Turlock Memorial Park. 
Synopsis: With hundreds of flags lining the pathways of Turlock Memorial Park, those who died in defense of our nation were remembered on Monday. “We are all here because somebody gave their life, so that we could have our flag and we could have our rights,” said Mayor Amy Bublak, who also spoke on behalf of Rep. Adam Gray. Reporter Kristina Hacker noted the four Turlock soldiers who have died in the line of duty over the past 20 years: Capt. Raymond Hill (Iraq), Sgt. Chad Gonsalves (Afghanistan), Sgt. Dale Brehm (Iraq) and Spc. Benjamin Carlos Perez (Afghanistan).

Patterson Irrigator. Memorial Day ceremony brings together Patterson patriots.
Synopsis: A group of around 50 came to Patterson Cemetery to commemorate those who have given their lives in defense of America. Among those who spoke was Mayor Mike Clauzel, Veteran Deotis Sanders, Pastor Tim Benefield and a representative of Congressman Adam Gray.

Ceres Courier. Ceres remembers those who died in defense of the United States.
Synopsis: A small crowd gathered at Ceres Memorial Park on Monday to observe Memorial Day. Among those who spoke were former councilmember Lisa Mantarro Moore, representing Rep. Adam Gray, Deputy Brock Condit, bagpiper Michael Akard, assemblymember Juan Alanis and police chief Trent Johnson. Legion Commander Pete Samaniego spoke of the memories that “come flooding back” at such ceremonies. “We are indebted to” those who died to keep America free, he reminded those who attended.

Honors for the living, too

Ceres Courier. Howard Prep honors volunteers and donors. 
Synopsis: Howard Prep celebrated their favorite folks last week during the “Community Gathering of Heroes Awards” ceremony. Among those joining the celebration was Modesto Mayor Sue Zwahlen, who said “I just love this place. I love the people, everything about it.” Shane Parson was given the Excellence in Service Award, Melissa Stiles was Volunteer of the Year, Jeff Pishney Community Leader, Ceres Police Lt. Jeff Godfrey the Guardian of the County award and Sara Ivey, Business Partner of the Year.

Westside Connect. Gustine’s Fourth of July Parade to debut 40-foot American flag.
Synopsis: The Gustine Chamber will present the city with a 40-foot American flag during the Gustine Fourth of July Parade. Among those taking part in the flag’s unveiling were Joseph Braun, Steve Medina, Richard Martin of the fire department, Mel Soares of the VFW and Judy Gandy and Rene Duprel of the Chamber.

Ceres Courier. Chamber doles out agriculture honors to Vilas, Ivey.
Synopsis: The Ceres Chamber selected Rod Vilas as Agribusiness Man and Sara Ivey as Agribusiness Woman of the year during the annual luncheon last week. The event was at Shane Parsons’ Diamond Bar Arena, where several students were recognized. Vilas said his grandfather’s shovel hangs on his office wall: “Some families pass down jewelry. The Vilas family passes down work ethic.” Ivey is seen frequently at all sorts of programs from the Street Faire to tree plantings.

Dairy biz is booming

CA Ag Net. Milk production shows growth at slowed rate. 
Synopsis: Liquid milk production grew by 2.3% in March nationwide, making it the fourth month in a row for higher numbers. Meanwhile, nonfat dry milk set record prices in April and May as new cheese-production capacity increased in keeping with demand. Cheesemakers are competing with milk-dryers for milk. Meanwhile, yogurt and cottage cheese production and sales are increasing along with sales of whey protein. But analysts are worried that food-service volumes have fallen, and while milk demand continues to rise, it isn’t rising as fast as it was.
MAD Take: It wasn’t noted in this story, but dairy farming is a big deal in the San Joaquin Valley, ranking either first or second on crop reports in Merced, Stanislaus, San Joaquin and Madera counties and worth roughly $2.8 billion across the four counties.

But some farmers go bankrupt

Farmdoc. Farm bankruptcies hit six-year high in April. 
Synopsis: Monthly farm-related Chapter 12 bankruptcy-protection filings soared by 130% year-over-year in April 2026 to the highest numbers since 2020. The numbers were also 82% higher than in March 2026. Said one bankruptcy attorney and Ohio State professor, “I think the higher diesel prices, the higher fertilizer prices, it’s just made 2026 the breaking point.” Minnesota led the nation in farm bankruptcies, but lenders in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin are reporting more bankruptcies and falling land values.
MAD Take: Oddly, back in 2020 under the first Trump regime, it was the pandemic that broke the bankruptcy fever. Is Ebola the answer?

500 million native seeds

River Partners. Investing in the long game of restoration. 
Synopsis: As part of a $40 million grant for projects across the San Joaquin Valley and Tulare Basin, the Wildlife Conservation Board is collecting the seeds needed to do large-scale ecological restoration of native landscapes. They have collected 500 million seeds and identified nearly 800 acres of potential restoration targets – all in the Valley. The seeds are being stored at the 208-acre Heritage Growers Farm near Colusa. River Partners has scouted locations across the Valley to collect seeds and as possible locations for restoration.

Gray makes his case

KSEE / CBS47. Adam Gray, Kevin Lincoln on why they should be voted into Congress.
Synopsis: After dedicating the entire top half of the story to a twice-failed Congressional candidate from Stockton, the reporter finally gets around to talking to the man who won the last election in CA 13 -- Adam Gray. The representative talked about what he brought back to the district ($20 million in specific projects, increased federal funding for water projects, help for farming and an emphasis on medical education). He talked about pushing the Farm Bill through the House after a three-year delay. “I’ve always been focused on working, not fighting,” said Gray. “And I think that sets me apart from not just the other candidates in this race but many candidates across the country.” His priorities going forward will be to rein in national debt, create an economy that benefits everyone, reduce inflation and make certain the Valley is not forgotten. A separate story profiled the other two candidates.

Getting your political fill

Modesto Focus. Focus on Politics.
Synopsis: Garth Stapley checks in on Measure J, which provides emergency services coverage for Salida, Del Rio and Wood Colony. Those services aren’t cheap. While most candidates across all offices were either anti-tax or non-committal, Democrat Supervisor Mani Grewal provided some insight and wisdom. He noted the original Measure J passed in the 1990s but lacked an escalator clause. Thus, the revenues it raised fell out of step with costs. It’s a position shared by Republican Supervisor Terry Withrow.

PPIC. Statewide Survey: Californians and their government. 
Synopsis: The latest survey, and last before the June 2 primary, shows “high levels of interest” in the gubernatorial race. The leaders: Xavier Becerra 23%, Steve Hilton 20%, Tom Steyer 15%, Chad Bianco 13%, Katie Porter 12%. Most people want lower taxes and would prefer cuts services to higher fees. But 60% say higher corporate taxes are justified. The top state issue is the cost of living (44%), but the top national issues are political extremism (29%) and the economy (24%). Finally, if the election was today 64% would vote for the Democrat – any Democrat – for Congress. Even 9% of Republicans think the Democrats would do a better job.

UC Merced on AI and water

Merced Sun Star. Can AI help predict and manage drought? UC Merced researchers explain in new book. 
Synopsis: A team of UC Merced researchers contributed to “Artificial Intelligence for Multiscale Drought Modeling and Decision Making.” The academic text is designed to help decision makers incorporate AI into water decisions. Josh Viers, Abid Sarwar, Rui Gao, Safeeq Khan, John Abatzoglou and Josue Medellin-Azuara wrote the chapter to explain how AI can combine historical data, sensor readings and satellite imaging into accurate drought forecasts.

Good goals, but bad plan

Maven. Edward Ring: Fine tuning the ‘Water Renaissance Plan.’ 
Synopsis: Edward Ring of the CA Policy Center says the 28 groups who are pushing the “Water Renaissance Plan” aren’t entirely wrong. Their starting point – that coastal megacities should not have to import water from the Colorado River or Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta – is correct. They’re also right that wastewater recycling could yield 800,000-acre feet a year, enough to supply 1.6 million households. Stormwater capture could yield another 600,000-acre feet, probably more. What they get wrong is conflating reductions in water use with an increase in water supply. And their cost projections for desalination are way, way off. Finally, their insistence that all conserved water should flow unimpaired into our rivers and out to the ocean is just flat out wrong.

UOP will open a med school

SF Chronicle. Major CA university to open first-ever medical school in the Central Valley. 
Synopsis: Reporter Catherine Ho says University of the Pacific will open a medical school on its main campus in Stockton by 2030, the “first institution to issue a doctor of medicine degree in CA’s Central Valley.” The announcement comes on the heels of Santa Clara University saying it will open a med school around the same time. Other med-ed programs are popping up, including the CA Health Science University in Clovis and UCSF’s Fresno campus. UOP’s push is backed by Regent Tony Chan and the Cortopassi Family Foundation.
MAD Take: Reporter Ho missed something big. Like a new multi-story building that has risen on the UC Merced campus. The new $220 million medical arts building will open next semester. And while it is not technically a “medical school,” it is preparing students to become doctors.

Hughson censures mayor

Modesto Bee. Hughson city council unanimously censures mayor over misconduct allegations. 
Synopsis: Mayor George Carr was formally censured and removed from committee and board assignments after city officials confirmed he engaged in misconduct. A third-party investigation confirmed Councilmember Susana Vasquez’s charges that Carr engaged in “unwanted physical contact” and behavior that “violated standards of professionalism.” Both Carr and Vasquez recused themselves from the 3-0 vote. The report stressed that his activities did not cross the line into criminal behavior. After an investigation by the Sheriff’s Office last year, the district attorney declined to press charges. Carr said that there “was never any malice, harassment or intent or disrespect” in what he described as “innocent gestures that were taken out of context.”

Best of Merced: Breakfast

Merced Sun Star. Breakfast spot with multiple locations wins latest ‘Best of Merced’ poll.
Synopsis: Jantz Café & Bakery, with locations in Atwater and Merced, edged out Granny’s Pantry in Atwater by 1 vote in the Sun Star’s Best Breakfast poll. Scotts Diner of Merced was third. One reviewer said Jantz has “the best baked goods in Merced, hands down!” It was the sixth installment of the “Best of Merced” series. Other winners were: Burrito (Tony’s Tacos), Happy Hour (Joystiq), Doughnuts (Rollen), Pizza (Lover’s Deli) and Coffee (Hola Cafecito).

Water rescues, all successful

Modesto Bee. Toddler among those rescued during busy Memorial Day weekend on Stanislaus River. 
Synopsis: Emergency crews responded to several water-rescue calls on the Stanislaus River over the Memorial Day weekend as paddleboarders, rafters and swimmers all needed assistance. There were no drownings reported. Battalion Chief Jim Black of Modesto Fire said those playing in the river underestimated its current, which was moving at 1,600 cubic feet per second. It can look smooth on top but is a “raging river” beneath the surface. A family of five was thrown off a raft near Liberini Avenue in Oakdale while a grandmother was holding a 3-year-old. Rescue Boat 28 went into action and pulled out the grandmother, toddler and two teens who had been swept downriver. Meanwhile, Woodward Reservoir was “packed” with up to 20,000 people enjoying the beach.