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.

Entire wine industry in crisis

SF Gate. CA’s once-mighty wine industry is on the ropes.
Synopsis: In its heyday just a few years ago, CA’s wine industry was generating $84 billion a year. Now many are wondering if the industry can survive in California. Case in point: McManis Family Winery. The state-of-the-art winery on River Road east of Ripon has been a model for quality, economy and sustainability. Now the winery and its 3,100 acres of vineyards are on the block for $77 million, and there is little interest so far. The Canadian boycott of US wines was the final nail as exports to CA’s largest customer fell 95%. The boycott cost CA winemakers $357 million in 2025. The longer it continues, the less likely those Canadian customers are to return to American wines if the tariffs are removed. Worse, Americans are drinking about 25% less. As one industry observer put it: “Gen Zers decided – they had a secret meeting somewhere – and said, ‘we’re going to consume less wine.’” A professor at UC Davis said times haven’t been this tough for wineries since Prohibition. “Anyone who says it’s at the end and it’s turned around isn’t speaking from data. We don’t have any real evidence” that the wine depression is ending. Tasting rooms are closing in Paso Robles, Sonoma, Napa and Lodi. Venture capital is buying up vineyards along the coast but pulling out the grapes.
MAD Take: This is an enormous issue in our Valley, though no one from our region was consulted for the story. Some of the largest wineries in America – E.&J. Gallo, Wine Group. DFV, Bogle, McManis, Michael David – are all within a 50-mile radius of Manteca. Winery workers and glassmakers have always had some of the best pay of any workers in the food industry. Thousands of acres of farmland have grown grapes. This isn’t a hobby for us, it’s a crisis.

Dems choose different paths

Politico. CA Playbook: How to win the Central Valley.
Synopsis: There are two very different types of campaigns being waged in two Valley Congressional districts that are literally next to each other. In CA13, Adam Gray is running a centrist campaign based on his ability to work with both sides of the aisle to bring jobs, healthcare and water to the Valley. Randy Villegas is taking the Bernie Sanders approach, blasting away at David Valadao and Donald Trump in CA22. The approaches, and results, matter in what could become a battle for control of the House. Latino voters could be decisive, says keen observer of CA politics Mike Madrid. If both Democrats win, and they could, it will say less about their divergent strategies and more about the national mood. But if one loses and the other wins, then “let’s have a conversation,” said Madrid. … Lower in this daily roundup of political notes, Gov. Newsom is quoted saying this week’s ICE raids in the Valley are trying to use “fear and panic as a weapon” to discourage voting while “putting families at risk, undermining our economy and terrorizing communities.”

ICE sweeps causing a stir

KVPR. Immigration sweeps hit Central CA farming region as diesel costs also worry farmers.
Synopsis: With harvest winding down, ICE agents swept into the fields and gathering spots to sweep up working people in the Central Valley. Combined with the pain of high diesel costs, the loss of workers is a double whammy for the region’s economy. Manuel Cunha of the Nisei Farmers League said he has been told ICE will be active for 45 days – or through the upcoming election. Food-processing companies are reporting higher-than-normal absences.

Fox26. Kerman farmworker says ICE agents broke car window, detained him despite work permit.
Synopsis: Prudencio Rivera says he stopped his car for traffic at Dickenson Avenue in Kerman and while he waited for cars to clear, he was approached by masked agents. They asked for his documents, and he showed them through the glass but refused to roll down his window. So, they broke it and pulled him out through the opening. When he was interviewed a few hours later, his papers were checked again and he was released. No apology or explanation.

ABC30. Valley leaders clash as reports of ICE activity grow across Valley. 
Synopsis: As ICE agents swept through the area, local elected leaders are expressing concern. Kerman Mayor Maria Pacheco said several people have been picked up, detained, then released in her community. The same is true in Fresno and Parlier, whose mayor worried over the impact on children. Rep. Jim Costa is outraged: “There’s no oversight. There’s no guardrails. They refuse to respond to any questions that we ask. They don’t tell us when and where they’re going for these searches.” Rep. Tom McClintock is totally in favor of the sweeps.

25 Days and counting …

Modesto Bee. Turlock mayor candidates clash over city hall turnover, roads, school safety. 
Synopsis: Turlock’s three candidates for mayor clashed in front of about 250 people Wednesday night. Mayor Amy Bublak leaned on her record, saying the city is stronger. But planning commissioner Jim Reape pointed to employee turnover. Questions over data centers, Flock cameras, homelessness, deteriorating roads and economic development all came up.

Merced County Times. Mike Murphy talks about District 27 State Assembly race, local support.
Synopsis: Mike Murphy and Brian Pacheco are running to fill the seat left open by Esmeralda Soria (who is running in Senate District 14). Murphy is the former mayor of Merced but says state politics is “a whole new ballgame with a lot more intensity.” He says the level of spending against him is indicative of how close the race is. He feels the state is headed in the wrong direction.

Merced County Times. Councilman Smith excited about new term, pivotal moment for Mercedians.
Synopsis: Shane Smith is coasting toward a second term on the Merced City Council. This is the first time since the council was reorganized into districts in 2016 that a councilmember has run unopposed. “I’ll take it as a sign that I’m doing something right,” said Smith, who represents District 4. He enjoys working with Mayor Matt Serratto and councilmember Sarah Boyle and believes the city is on the right path. He points to modernization of the police force, a new fire station and road repairs.

Merced County Times. Let’s get together to ‘Get Out the Vote’ across the region.
Synopsis: Susan Walsh writes for the League of Women Voters to encourage people to do their civic duty. She notes that while 77% of the county’s voters are registered, only 34% cast a ballot in the June 2 primary. We can do better. It starts with looking over the ballot, then forming a plan to mark it and mail it or drop it off to be counted. This story offers help in finding drop-boxes, polling locations and support.  

YouTuber helps in arrest

Modesto Bee. YouTuber confronts Stanislaus County man accused of targeting 13-year-old girl. 
Synopsis: A popular YouTuber who has confronted suspected child predators across the nation helped lead Turlock police to a 35-year-old Turlock man Wednesday. Anthony Wyatt was arrested after police found sexually explicit conversations with someone the man believed was a young girl. It was actually members of JiDion Adams’ team. They travel across the nation conducting sting operations. JiDion said Wyatt admitted on camera that he tried to sell cocaine to the minor. “Whatever the prosecutors need, we’ll be there,” said JiDion. Last month, his team conducted 17 operations across the country.

Modesto Bee. Case suspended for Modesto man accused of sexually abusing young children.
Synopsis: Antonio Mayorga, 27, has been accused of taking video of sexual acts involving his 1-year-old niece and other charges involving a 9-year-old. He is also accused of possessing more than 600 prohibited images. But questions about his competency have arisen, and Judge Ruben Villalobos has suspended the trial until a competency hearing can be conducted by Dr. Phil Trompetter. Mayorga will remain in the County jail without bail.

Caught trying to rob a train

Modesto Bee. Stanislaus County resident charged in alleged train heist, US attorney says.
Synopsis: Ricardo Landeros, 39, of Keyes has been charged with multiple firearms violations in a four-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury. US Attorney Eric Grant says witnesses saw Landeros and others attempting to break into a container on a slow-moving train on March 28. A pallet of AR-style pistols was being shipped from Bakersfield to Stockton. After getting a warrant, agents found stolen cargo, illegal machine guns, and $350,000 in cash. A citizen of Mexico, Landeros faces 15 years in federal prison.

What time is it in Merced?

Merced County Times. New clock installed at Bob Hart Square.
Synopsis: The clock is ticking at Bob Hart Square, with a new timepiece unveiled Oct. 2. The old clock was iconic but often broken – providing the correct time only twice a day. The city and donors raised the funds for a new clock, which was unveiled at 5:55 – the time the old clock was stuck at for years.

66 Housing units under way

KSEE / CBS47. Merced celebrates groundbreaking of 66-unit supporting housing project.
Synopsis: The city of Merced began construction of Mercy Village on Thursday afternoon, a 66-unit supportive housing development at 3015 Park Avenue. The 1- and 2-bedroom units are for those in danger of becoming homeless and will include a clubhouse and counseling spaces.

Vote ends in tie on gravel mine

Fresnoland. Fresno has twice the gravel it needs; a split commission still couldn’t decide on River mine. 
Synopsis: Planning Commissioners deadlocked 3-3 on a request from Mexico-based CEMEX to expand mining operations near the San Joaquin River with a 600-foot-deep blast pit. The hearing was packed and several overflow rooms were filled as the public came out mostly to protest the plan. One speaker called the project “beyond comprehension.” Another pointed out that there is no shortage of gravel across the state. One said Fresno is an example of “planning gone wrong and development gone wild.” A report from the CA Geological Survey said the state has sufficient gravel resources for the next 50 years. A seventh commissioner, Michelle Roman, left before the vote was taken, resulting in the 3-3 tie. Given an opportunity to explain their votes, two of the “Yes” votes declined.

Bed bugs found in agency lobby

Modesto Bee. Stanislaus County center restricted by bed bug sightings.
Synopsis: A County official confirmed bed bugs have been found at the Community Services Agency lobby on Hackett Road. The center administers programs such as CalFresh and Medi-Cal for thousands of low-income residents. A pest-control company has been called in. Employees report having been bitten and are concerned.

She’s suing ‘the boys club’

Fresno Bee. ABC30 director claims discrimination, hostile ‘boys club’ workplace in Fresno lawsuit.
Synopsis: Jessica Day, who won an Emmy award for her directing last August, filed a lawsuit against ABC30, saying it is a hostile workplace for women. She is the only female director at the station and says she has been routinely passed over for training by management, is paid less than men with less experience and often the target of ridicule. When she complained to management, her sanity was questioned. “They allowed male employees to deliberately sabotage her work, and they consistently mistreated her compared to the gentlemen in the group,” said her lawyer.

Can’t outrun Officer Hondo

Merced Golden Wire (Facebook). 5 juveniles arrested after stolen vehicle pursuit in Ceres.
Synopsis: Officer Hondo didn’t need long to bring down a 16-year-old who tried to outrun him earlier this week. Hondo’s partners pulled over a stolen vehicle near a park in Ceres, and all five of those inside took off running. Deputies unleashed Hondo, who got the driver. Eventually, the other four were apprehended as well.