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.

Rail boss takes a hint, quits

LA Times. CA’s High Speed Rail Authority boss Choudri resigns under fire. 
Synopsis: After hearing that his new boss intends to fire him, Ian Choudri abruptly resigned as CEO of the CA High Speed Rail Authority. A few hours before Choudri’s announcement, the front-runner to be elected governor of CA, Xavier Becerra, told KCRA that if elected he would fire Choudri. That was in reaction to a report by the Authority’s Inspector General, who detailed hundreds of thousands of dollars in improper expenditures approved for four consulting firms – including first-class flights and visits to cigar lounges. The Authority board is set to vote today on the final 33-mile route from Anaheim to tracks connecting to San Francisco. If approved, the entire 500-mile route will be in place, though most of it remains unfunded. Work continues on the 119-mile segment from near Bakersfield to Merced.
MAD Take: Not mentioned in the story is the Rail Authority’s efforts to alter long-settled locations of stations and take incremental property and sales tax increases within a half mile of stations.

5 Days left to vote …

Modesto Focus. Politics Focus. 
Synopsis: Columnist Garth Stapley offers a temperature check on early voting, finding that 18% of Stanislaus County residents have already cast ballots. During the June primary Republicans were most likely to vote early, but now it’s Democrats. That “bodes well for incumbent Rep. Adam Gray in his feisty battle with Republican Kevin Lincoln.” Bottom line: Don’t forget to vote, and don’t’ forget that the US Post Office no longer postmarks mail on the day it is dropped in the box. So don’t delay. Better yet, drop your ballot in a drop box. … In other news, Garth is not impressed by the ugly last-minute mailers sent out by Janice Keating in MID and Ryan Taylor, running for Turlock council. “If slimy campaigning seems to work – especially with fewer reporters factchecking than in years past – expect to see more,” he writes.
MAD Take: The operative word here is “slimy.” Hmm. There seems to be some connective tissue -- Keating, Taylor, Vivek Rama-smarmy. Take your pick … and a bath.

Politico. California Playbook
Synopsis: Midway through the daily compendium of political news, we learn that Gov. Newsom is going to send election observers to battleground districts – like CA 13. He told late-night host Jimmy Kimmel that the Democratic Party is also setting up a hotline where voters can report irregularities.

ABC30. Campaign spending surges in race for CA’s 13^th Congressional District. 
Synopsis: A lot of money has flowed into the Valley this year as political groups from across the nation pour resources into a pivotal battle for control of the House of Representatives. Adam Gray represents the sprawling district that stretches across five counties. Republicans have spent heavily to win back a seat they lost two years ago by the narrowest margin in the nation, 187 votes. Democrats donated more to the official campaign, but Republicans gave far more to PACs and groups who lack reporting requirements.

Judge smacks down Trump plan

Cal Matters. Judge rejects Trump administration bid to set aside 20,000 CA ballots. 
Synopsis: A judge ruled Wednesday that, constitutionally speaking, the Trump administration doesn’t have a leg to stand on. Section 4 of the Constitution, penned 250 years ago, makes it clear that states have the authority to set up elections and count ballots. All the Trump DOJ’s bluster about arresting public servants who refuse to bend to their demands? Stop it, said Judge David O. Carter. “Never before in American history has the federal government, on the eve of an election, sought to coerce a state and local government to abandon their own Constitutional elections procedures and bend to the will of the Executive Branch.” He said the tactic was Trump’s effort to “create chaos” for “political purposes” and “disrupt the election process.” If the federal government has evidence that fraud is occurring, it should act on that evidence – not attempt to disenfranchise 20,000 voters.

LA Times. Conservative activists O’Keefe, Higby charged with unlawful voting in Minnesota. 
Synopsis: Conservatives have long shouted loudly about fraud in elections. They would know. Two activists, one affiliated with Veritas and Turning Point, have been charged with unlawful voting and identity theft after providing false names to poll workers in Minnesota. James O’Keefe and Cam Higby were recording the encounter for a video, which they insist would prove how easy it is to fool poll workers. But the poll workers weren’t fooled, or amused.

Suing to stop River Walk

Modesto Bee. 2,400-home development north of Modesto hit with lawsuit; what the suit alleges. 
Synopsis: A citizens group sued the Riverbank City Council to halt the River Walk development. Central Valley Concerned Citizens and Dr. J. and Annabel Gammon contend the city violated its own policies in the Water Code based on a deficient environmental review as it approved extending the city some 4 miles from town. Plaintiffs say irreplaceable farmland will be converted into development, increasing groundwater demand and loss of habitat. It would also increase the risk of fire and flooding. The Riverbank planning commission rejected the plan 4-1, but the council overruled the commission 3-2. LAFCo has not yet considered the project.

Park gets a ‘Liberty Tree’

Merced County Times. Local patriots plant Liberty Tree in Courthouse Park. 
Synopsis: To mark America’s 250^th birthday, the Merced River Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution planted a Liberty Tree at the downtown park. The American Red Male is also known as an “October Glory” tree for its fiery color. A plaque explains its significance. Among those taking part were Dr. Rebecca Malmo, DAR regent Carol Rasmussen, historical actors and supervisors Josh Pedrozo, Lloyd Pareira and Luis Lara.

Water board hears both sides

Courthouse News. CA Water Board hears competing views on major water plan update.
Synopsis: The State Water Board heard “waves” of testimony from both sides of the question concerning voluntary agreements and their impacts on the Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan. The plan, when approved, will set salinity and quality goals for the Delta, which plays a role in supplying water to 30 million people and to farms which raise the food they eat. Those who share water from the rivers have two paths for meeting quality goals – voluntary agreements which include flow requirements and habitat restoration, or regulatory control by the state. Speaking in favor of voluntary agreements were Luz Gomez of East Bay MUD, Derrick Lum of Solano Irrigation District, Napa Mayor Scott Sedgley and Chris Anderson of the state Chamber of Commerce. Those who say the agreements hurt the Delta included the Sierra Club, Golden State Salmon Assn and Friends of the River. A group called Indigenous Futures Society demanded tribes be granted a role in monitoring all agreements.

Farming is getting tougher

Farmdoc. US farm bankruptcies up 19% through three quarters of 2026. 
Synopsis: So far this year there have been 292 filings seeking federal Chapter 12 bankruptcy protection, or 19% more than in 2025. In the third quarter alone, there are 91 nationwide. But that’s only part of the story. Throw in Chapter 11 filings, and the number of filings soars to 7,623, an 11.5% increase. Trucking companies are also filing for bankruptcy protection, according to Bloomberg. Two-thirds of all small carriers are reporting flat or lower contracts in the last two months. The high cost of diesel “could be the straw that broke the camel’s back,” said an industry observer.

Ag Daily. Screwworm reaches Arizona as cases spread across Southwest. 
Synopsis: Days after two border facilities for moving cattle into the United States were reopened, a third state has reported infestations of New World Screwworm. The flesh-eating parasite was found in a dog, which has been treated. “We have been preparing for this possibility for a long while and are acting swiftly,” said state Veterinarian Ryan Wolker. Most of the 71 cases found so far have been in Texas with a few in New Mexico. Only 18 cases are considered active.

More scandal in Stockton

CBS13. Brando Villapudua detained, released after search warrants served. 
Synopsis: The San Joaquin District Attorney’s office confirmed its Political Corruption Unit detained Stockton city councilmember Brandon Villapudua in connection with an investigation. No details were provided and no charges have been filed in the “ongoing” investigation. “I’ll tell you this, my community, we’re gonna fight this,” said Villapudua, who is in his first term representing District 5. He is running unopposed after Desirree Lynch left the race after being arrested for falsifying her address in registration documents.

Tragedy takes Lathrop sailor

KCRA. Lathrop family mourns 21-year-old Navy sailor killed in Florida crash months after boot camp.
Synopsis: David DeAnda was one of three sailors killed in a fiery crash in Florida over the weekend. DeAnda was training to become a rescue swimmer, following in the wake of his brother. “When he got in there, he knew,” said his father Carlos. “He said he found his life.” The other sailors who died were from Michigan and Massachusetts.

Levees are like insurance

Maven’s Notebook. Why build a levee where there’s no water?
Synopsis: There will be a ribbon-cutting to officially unveil a project on the Lower San Joaquin River that improves 23 miles of levees and adds two “closure structures” to protect north and central Stockton. The project was built to reduce the possibility of flooding across the entire region. “Flood risk is not about where the water is today. It’s about where the water can go tomorrow,” said the Corps.

Paying for treats gets tricky

Sacramento Bee. CA candy prices rise; how much could Halloween cost?
Synopsis: Candy costs 7.7% more this year than last, and that’s on average. Chocolate is much higher as producers pass along an 87% increase in costs ranging from higher cocoa prices to tariffs. Cacao, the basic ingredient in chocolate, costs 143% more compared to 2019. Consumers are being told it pays to shop. The bag $32.99 bag at Safeway sells for $25.99 at Target and $24.87 at Walmart.

Places Lucifer could love

The Daily Yonder. These rural place names are downright hellish. 
Synopsis: With Halloween just a few days away, it’s a good time to note all the places that ghouls, ghosts and little devils would feel welcome. There are 26 swamps named for Satan himself, 13 Devil Creeks from Montana to Tennessee, and more than a half-dozen islands named for the devil. There’s more. Hell’s Half Acre in South Carolina and a swampy area of North Carolina is so dismal that it’s called “Seven Devils.” There’s also Big Devil in Michigan, and Tate’s Hell in Florida. When you tell someone in Michigan to go to Hell, there’s map for that.

Spooks think Fresno is cool

Fresno Bee. How haunted is Fresno? 2 new studies rank Central Valley city on spookiness. 
Synopsis: Just in time for Halloween, it’s time to consider what makes Fresno frightening. HardRock Bet, a sports betting platform, ranked Fresno as California’s most haunted city. There have been ghosts reported at Veterans Memorial Auditorium, Del Rey Cemetery (duh), the Kearney Mansion and Lost Lake. Who can forget Fresno’s very own cryptid, The Nightcrawler. Other cities on the list: 2) Bakersfield, 3) Hemet, 4) Stockton, 5) Visalia, 6) Modesto, 7) Hanford, 8) Temecula, 9) Palmdale. In all, CA has had 6,336 ghost sightings, making it the scariest place in America. Texas is No. 2.
MAD Take: Huh. San Jose didn’t make the list. Did they tear down the Winchester House?