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.

69 Days: ‘MID is not for sale’

Valley Citizen. ‘MID is not for sale,’ says Board President after $30,000 campaign donation. 
Synopsis: Property developer Ty Angle has donated $30,000 to the campaign of Dominic Giorgi, who is trying to unseat Robert Frobose on the Modesto Irrigation District Board. Angle is a land developer and business partner of embattled MID director Larry Byrd who is being investigated by the District Attorney for using MID water outside the district. Frobose has demanded accountability for Byrd. “Long as I’m on the board,” said Frobose. “MID is not for sale.” The election is in 69 days, on Nov. 3.

Modesto Bee. Stanislaus DA investigation looks into allegations against MID board member. 
Synopsis: Terry Seese, chief of investigations at the Stanislaus DA’s office, confirmed the agency is looking into accusations that MID Director Larry Byrd took water from the MID’s canal and used it illegally on 96 acres of trees outside district boundaries. Last year, an MID-sponsored probe determined that Byrd’s claim that he used only groundwater for the trees was not plausible. The MID board deadlocked 2-2 on a motion to hire an attorney to pursue the matter – with one of those votes coming from Byrd himself. The other came from Director Janice Keating. The Grand Jury was said to have looked into the allegations, but chose not to issue a report – perhaps because the DA had an open case. Among those defending Byrd are his business partner, Ty Angle, his brother Tim, and former Rep. John Duarte. The Fair Political Practices Commission is also expected to review the propriety of Byrd’s vote not to pursue an investigation.
MAD Take: With the DA having taken an interest, I wonder if Keating regrets her vote.

The nation’s food-job capital

Modesto Bee. Stanislaus ranks high in US for food-processing jobs.
Synopsis: There are 10,836 people working in food-processing jobs in Stanislaus County, the highest concentration for any “midsize” county in the nation. The presence of E.&J. Gallo Winery, Stanislaus Foods, Rizo-Lopez, Foster Farms, Blue Diamond and Crystal Creamery, to name a few, have allowed the region to withstand blows such as the bankruptcy at Del Monte. BTW, there are openings at all of the above as of Wednesday.

In praise of data centers

Modesto Bee. A data center could be a transformative opportunity for Modesto. 
Synopsis: Trevin Barber is a Modesto-based ”economic developer and municipal entrepreneur” who believes “a data center could be a transformative opportunity” for a city “that cannot afford unforced errors.” He notes that there are no applications for such centers yet, but such a center would be a big tax generator. He urges people to provide space for professional analysis then careful consideration. He believes such centers can be “balanced” with community concerns and “coexist with environmental stewardship, neighborhood compatibility and public transparency.” 
MAD Note: Is this the same Trevin Barber who is the city of Escalon’s Development and Community Services manager?

Sacramento Bee. Yes on a data center in my backyard. Why? It’s an ideal municipal neighbor. 
Synopsis: Columnist and political consultant Matt Rexroad takes a contrarian view, praising data centers as good neighbors. Data centers are not landfills, or prisons or even low-rent housing; they’re quiet and have little traffic. “If you turn up your nose at the infrastructure, you should not get to enjoy the service.” That said, he says his neighborhood is “one of the last places on earth” a hyper-scaler would locate because it is served by PG&E -- whose electricity would saddle the center with “crippling power costs.” Sacramento, served by SMUD, is much more attractive.

USA Today. Trump calls it a ‘mistake’ for communities to reject data centers.
Synopsis: Data centers have become a political flash point on both sides of the spectrum. But Donald Trump thinks they provide really positive benefits to small communities. Turning down a data center is the same as refusing opportunity, he said. ‘You know, it’s like the smart (cities) are saying, ‘I want them so badly.’”

Blood moon comes Thursday

SF Chronicle. CA will see a near-total, reddish lunar eclipse this week.
Synopsis: The moon will turn coppery red and then almost disappear around 9:13 pm Thursday night. It is unlikely skies over the Valley will be completely clear, thanks to Tropical Storm Iselle. The farther south, the more clouds. The Earth’s shadow will cause a 96% eclipse. Obviously, the darker the spot, the better the view.

Mint pizza, Yemeni coffee

Modesto Bee. Lamb and mint on pizza? New Modesto spot uses toppings not commonly seen.
Synopsis: Tandoori Pizza opened Aug. 21 on McHenry Avenue (replacing Jack’s Pizza Café), and it’s not your usual pizza joint. Tejinder Singh offers flavors going far beyond the basic pepperoni. He’s got 20 locations from Arizona to New York offering 30 named pies. Half of them offer Indian flavors –from chicken tikka to chili paneer to curry veggie. The reporter urges readers to skip the dips and let the pizzas speak for themselves.

Fresno Bee. Yemeni coffee chain opening first Fresno location.
Synopsis: Sana’s Café will open its first Fresno location at 4470 West Shaw near the Costco. There are already 16 Sana’s in San Francisco, Sacramento and Seattle. While owner TJ Singh says it will appeal to everyone, he notes that there is a significant Yemeni population in Fresno – the second-largest in CA. The café will also offer Middle Eastern pastries such as saffron tres leches and sabayah.

The latest news on nuts

Ag Alert. Almond hulls being tested for use as food ingredient. 
Synopsis: Almond-hull powder has been deemed safe for human consumption. That means you can expect to find it in granola, baked goods, cereals and other foods, says the Almond Board of CA. Research shows no issues with “expected levels of use.” The hulls contain fiber and natural sugars that have long been turned into feed for dairy animals. That’s big news for the dozens of businesses involved in cleaning, crushing and processing hulls in the area, like Cortez Growers Assn of Turlock. Cleaning and pasteurization are the key to sales.
MAD Note: The fact that almond hulls and husks can be used in a host of ways is not news to those living in the Northern San Joaquin Valley. We’ve watched over the last decade as groups ranging from BEAM Circular to UC Merced to the Almond Alliance have been putting almond byproducts to fantastic use. It just means there’s more money growing on those trees.

Morning Ag Clips. CA Walnut Commission applauds USDA’s intent to purchase $30 million of walnuts.
Synopsis: The Walnut Commission says the USDA will spend an additional $30 million on walnuts this year under Section 32, which provides food for school lunches and food banks. “As our industry prepares to harvest the 2026 crop, reducing carry-in from the 2025 crop is an important step toward strengthening overall market conditions,” said CEO Robert Verloop. The USDA had already promised to spend $15 million on walnuts.

Modesto Focus. CA phases out pesticide used heavily on Stanislaus orchards; advocates frustrated.
Synopsis: As the state investigated the effects of herbicide paraquat-dichloride, the company that makes it has said it will discontinue production. The state says it will end its efforts to have it banned. Pesticide companies have up to two years to use up their stocks. It is commonly used in almond orchards with 378 applications in Stanislaus County in 2023. That was the highest in the state, the figures did not provide total acreage. Stanislaus Ag Commissioner Linda Pinfold said the loss of paraquat will cause problems for growers because no other product works as well.

Finding water still a struggle

Ag Net West. Bowles Farming Co.: Adapting to keep CA agriculture moving.
Synopsis: Interviewers talk to Bowles Farming CEO Cannon Michael as he discusses labor, water, regulations and the difficulty of farming in California. He is the sixth generation of the legendary farming family, currently cultivating 11,000 acres centered in Los Banos. Of all the issues, water remains the most problematic. He notes that the CVP allocation this year was only 25% despite reservoirs that remain full.

Two Saturday celebrations

Turlock Journal. St. John’s to celebrate 100^th anniversary.
Synopsis: St. John’s Assyrian Presbyterian Church formed 100 years ago as Assyrians began arriving in the area. Many met in the home of Rev. David Joseph but soon needed a bigger space. They found it on Palm Street, and the church was formally dedicated in 1926. Rev. Edward Eissabake says the church is thriving and he expects 500 people for the birthday party Saturday – Mayor Amy Bublak, Rep. Adam Gray, Supervisor Vito Chiesa and Assemblymember Juan Alanis, among others. The church has 265 members.

Madera Tribune. Community marches against drugs, gangs. 
Synopsis: The March Against Drugs & Gangs will be Saturday from McNally Park to Courthouse Park in Madera. There will be vendors, booths, worship, testimonies, music, etc. Barbers will provide free haircuts and others will offer face-painting – all in the hope of a gang-free future.

UC Merced’s largest class

Fox26. UC Merced welcomes largest class in university history.
Synopsis: Wednesday was the first day of classes, and it was marked by the celebratory crossing of Scholar’s Bridge, music and cheering. The university has 9,647 students enrolled – an all-time high and 8% jump over last year. Of those students, 44% come from the Valley. “That is the whole purpose of our mission – to serve the Central Valley,” said Vice Chancellor Enrique Guzman.

Ballico fire: Another week

Turlock Journal. Ballico tire fire prompts health alert for air quality.
Synopsis: The Merced County Public Health Dept has issued an alert for residents of the area to stay indoors with the windows closed in the vicinity of the fire at American Tire Recycling on Newport Road. With 9,000 tons of tires stored at the site, Merced Fire says the fire could burn for a week.

Wasted years, billions?

Wall Street Journal. Years late, billions over budget: CA’s high-speed rail hasn’t laid a track. 
Synopsis: Reporters from the WSJ looked at the 18 years since voters approved the high-speed rail project and now, finding “the project now costs billions more than planned, is years behind schedule” and there is no terminus in sight. The legislature expected the project to be finished by 2020, but that was $126 billion ago. Now the project is expected to cost $231 billion and won’t be fully operational until 2040. “This is a disaster,” said Sen. Catherine Blakespear in April. “I really want this to be successful and just hearing (about problems) … makes it seem like we’re proceeding on a wing and a prayer.” Pro- and anti-train folks from Bakersfield, Shafter and Fresno were quoted. Among the antis is Joe Pearson, who says “Nobody here in Bakersfield says, ‘Hey, I want to go to Merced.’” It notes that even the sites for stations have yet to be finalized.

Fresno Bee. High-speed rail seeks public input on proposed Fresno, Hanford maintenance sites.
Synopsis: There are two potential locations for the massive maintenance yard for high-speed locomotives and cars, one in Fresno and one in Kings County. The Rail Authority is having “scoping meetings” this week in Fresno and Hanford. There could be up to 1,700 jobs at the site.

Madera’s Philip Oberti passes

Madera Tribune. Lifetime recipient, Philip Oberti, passes at 83.
Synopsis: Lifelong Madera resident Philip Oberti passed on August 19 at the age of 83. He was married to Klina Lyon Oberti for 61 years. The couple was celebrated by the city as Grand Marshal of the Old Timers’ Day parade in 2024. He grew up in and around the Oberti Olive plant, served on the planning commission, parking commission, in the Rotary and Elks and on the community hospital board.