Valley Solutions

Is e-bike ban coming?

LA Times. CA’s new Hells Angels: Teens on e-bikes cut a path of danger. 
Synopsis: E-bikes have “exploded” in popularity with kids popping wheelies, speeding down residential streets and jumping curbs and berms to show off. A lot of riders are subsequently showing up in emergency rooms, along with their victims. An 81-year-old man was killed in Lake Forest when a 14-year-old on an e-bike crashed into him. In Sacramento, a nurse walking on a bike path was run down and killed by an e-biker. In Huntington Beach, a 51-year-old man on a scooter was attacked when he rolled through a group of 100 young e-bikers who started beating him. Kids watch TikToks to learn how to modify the bikes, making them faster. Police say buying an e-bike for your kid “could be just as dangerous as handing over a firearm.” Some PDs are creating special units to curb scofflaws. “There is absolutely no reason a child should be handed the keys to a motorcycle and sent on their way without training, without a license, and without the maturity to handle that kind of responsibility.” Worse, when the e-bikers gather into “packs” the riders can do crazy stuff, like riding directly into traffic on freeways. Since the kids don’t seem to respect the law, police are recommending charging their parents and confiscating the bikes – which can cost more than $5,000.
MAD Take: The story didn’t mention our Valley, but there are plenty of examples of kids behaving badly from Stockton to Fresno and everywhere in between. Last year, a dashcam video in Manteca captured kids riding directly into traffic on the Hwy 120 bypass. Last weekend, Ceres police arrested two juveniles who terrorized motorists then tried to outrun the cops. Undoubtedly these bikes are more fun the faster they go. But kids rarely understand their own limitations. Will we have to bury a few kids before parents help them learn?

Bear vs bike at Pinecrest

SF Chronicle. CA bicyclist crashes into bear while cruising downhill near popular lake. 
Synopsis: Don Terres was cruising through a downhill bend at Pinecrest just before sunset recently and didn’t see the bear until it was too late. “All I remember is a closeup of the bear’s face,” said Terres, who lives part-time at Pinecrest. “He looked about as scared and surprised as I was.” A few moments later, Terres’ wife, who was riding several yards behind, arrived at the collision site. She had seen the bear on the ridge just before it dashed down on the road. A Forest Service fire engine happened onto the scene and an ambulance was called to take Terres, 67, in for treatment of a separated shoulder, cracked ribs and road rash. The CA Dept of Fish & Wildlife estimates there are 60,000 black bears in the state and they’re especially active in June and July.

Gray responds to Trump on CNN

CNN. Congressman Adam Gray responds to Trump’s election fraud claims.
Synopsis: Rep. Adam Gray called accusations that California’s elections are rigged both baseless and “silly.” Trump first claimed California’s elections were rigged before stomping out of a nationally televised interview. House Speaker Mike Johnson and VP JD Vance later repeated those claims without offering any proof other than the time it takes to count votes in California. Rep. Gray also spoke about his recent op-ed in the Washington Post in which he said the Democratic Party needs to get back to doing the things that the American public believes are important – building roads, airports, jobs and opportunity. When asked about a controversial candidate for senator in Maine, Gray said voters there would have to decide for themselves who to vote for.

Modesto won’t build stadium

KCRA. Modesto City Council votes down soccer stadium plan. 
Synopsis: The Modesto City Council voted against renewing an agreement to explore building a soccer stadium at the site of Centre Plaza. Concern over financial impacts and long-term debt killed the project for the council, who voted unanimously (with one abstention) against the project. A report commissioned by the council said there was a $43 million funding gap in the proposal, which would result in “generational debt” for the city. “I got kids here, I don’t want them to pay for something that’s a bad deal. It doesn’t make sense,” said councilmember Chris Ricci.

Most elections are decided

Merced Sun-Star. Merced County’s latest election update.
Synopsis: Merced County has processed another 11,700 ballots since the last results were announced, but still has 3,936 ballots left to count. While most races are already decided, the battle for superintendent of Merced County Schools remains too close to call. Richard Lopez has 11,857 votes and appears to have qualified for a spot in the November election, but Ana Boyenga (11,064 votes) and Paula Heupel (10,849) are still scrapping for the other spot. Meanwhile, it appears certain Luis Lara will oust incumbent Daron McDaniel from the board of supervisors and Scott Silveira will hold onto his seat. 

Modesto Focus. Politics Focus: Looking toward November midterms after primary election. 
Synopsis: Garth Stapley offers some thoughts on the primary election just completed and what the general election ahead means for nearby cities. Three seats on the Modesto City Council will be up for grabs, and all three incumbents are hoping to keep them. Rivals have until Aug. 7 to file. Amy Bublak will run for re-election as Turlock mayor and will have at least two challengers. Hughson is a small city, but there has been some controversy with a censored mayor seeking re-election.

Merced Focus. Luis Lara declares victory in Merced County District 3: ‘Now it’s time to get to work.’ 
Synopsis: Recently retired CHP Sgt Luis Lara has declared victory over three-term incumbent Daron McDaniel in the Merced County District 3 supervisor’s race. After seeing the latest results Tuesday, in which he has 60.0% of the votes, Lara said: “With the latest election results, I am honored and humbled to declare victory in the race for Merced County Supervisor, District 3.” He thanked McDaniel for his service. Other races: CA13 Adam Gray will face Kevin Lincoln, whose last known address was outside the district. In State Senate 14, Esmeralda Soria will face Darin DuPont. In Assembly 27, Brian Pacheco will face Mike Murphy. In State Senate 4, Jaron Brandon faces Alexandra Duarte.

Hills Ferry Bridge reopens

Modesto Bee. Bridge connecting Merced, Stanislaus counties finally replaced; improves commute.
Synopsis: The new Hills Ferry Bridge south of Newman has been completed, offering residents an improved and elevated bridge safe during heavy flows on the San Joaquin River. Previously, the bridge had to be closed during high-water events. The new bridge has pilings that go down 130 feet. It will save 15 to 30 minutes for Newman residents driving to Turlock and Merced. The work required 18 months with both Merced and Stanislaus counties participating.

New old name for Modesto park

Modesto Bee. Modesto chooses new name for Cesar Chavez Park. 
Synopsis: The park in West Modesto renamed in 2004 to honor Cesar Chavez has been re-renamed and will become officially known as Fourth Street Park. Renaming the park became a priority after was revealed that Chavez sexually abused women in the Unted Farm Workers movement. Virtually all of the parks, schools and structures named in his honor have gotten or are getting new names. The Modesto City Council voted 6-1 in favor of Fourth Street Park, following the advice of 85% of those who commented on social media.

Ocean too warm for salmon?

Active NorCal. Marine heat wave and potential super El Nino could threaten CA’s salmon recovery.
Synopsis: Scientists are warning that warming ocean water could disrupt ecosystems and further endanger salmon populations. Young salmon that hatch in the Sacramento and San Joaquin watersheds need cold water to thrive in the ocean; if it is too warm they become lethargic and easy prey for other fish and mammals. Commercial fishers are distraught by the prospect after salmon fishing had been banned for the past three years.
MAD Take: A few scientists have been saying for a generation that, eventually, California’s rivers will become too warm for a viable salmon population. That has nothing to do with farmers or flows from rivers or dams, but the new reality brought on by climate change.

Valley non-profits suffering

GV Wire. The crisis no one is talking about … except Valley nonprofits.
Synopsis: Matthew and Kym Dildine both work in the nonprofit sector, he as CEO of the Fresno Mission and she as head of the Central CA Food Bank. In a lengthy op-ed, the couple writes about their organizations and many more like them that are all in dire financial straits. “The current fiscal climate is placing extraordinary strain on nonprofits, especially smaller organizations.” They write about CASA Fresno, which supports foster youth, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Fresno, Breaking the Chains, Centro La Familia, and a dozen others. Higher wages, insurance costs, utility-rate increases, higher fuel costs, health insurance all are adding up to make their organizations financially untenable. Their plea: Give where you live.

Old courthouse coming down

Stocktonia. San Joaquin County’s old courthouse heads toward demolition.
Synopsis: The old San Joaquin County courthouse, constructed in 1964 in the 200 block of East Weber, is scheduled to be torn down. It will be replaced by a “law and justice center” on the site to house the Public Defenders’ office and SJ County Law Library.

Pumping until it’s all gone

SJV Water. Some Tulare County farmers pumping like it’s the ‘wild west’ with no oversight. 
Synopsis: Excessive pumping in Tulare County has already caused hundreds of millions of dollars of damage to the Friant-Kern Canal, which has lost roughly a third of its carrying capacity in one stretch. Yet, farmers in the region continue to pump groundwater, causing aquifers to collapse and resulting in sinking on the surface. “It needs to stop for the canal to function as it is supposed to,” said Arvin-Edison GM Jeevan Muhar. Those doing the most pumping are in the Tule East Groundwater Sustainability Agency, which arose from the Easter Tule GSA that went out of existence when growers refused to comply with state orders. Some in the region say those growers “will milk every drop until someone makes them stop.”

All-star games this weekend

Turlock Journal. High school baseball stars selected to 34^th Rotary All-Star Game.
Synopsis: The Modesto Sunrise Rotary All-Star Game is Saturday, showcasing the best talent from the region. There are 47 players from 20 schools taking part, with a dozen from the Journal’s coverage area. The game is Saturday at Modern Woodmen Stadium in Modesto, aka John Thurman Field.

Turlock Journal. Marques, local gridders preparing for all-star game.
Synopsis: Former Hilmar coach Frank Marques will come out of retirement to coach the North All-Stars in the Third Annual Merced County All-Star Football Classic on Saturday at Golden Valley High School at 7:30 p.m. The game will include players from the Stanislaus and Merced areas.