Valley Solutions

Public workers are well paid

Modesto Bee. Stanislaus’ top-paid employee made $701K. What every worker earned in 2025. 
Synopsis: Six employees at the Stanislaus Sheriff’s Office earned more in overtime than they did in regular pay in 2025 as the department paid out $14.7 million in OT. The Bee did a deep dive on the annual pay report for county workers and found the two highest-paid county workers were both forensic pathologists (doctors) with the county’s CEO and Behavioral Health Medical Director coming in just behind them on the pay list. Median pay for county employees was $115,587, meaning half earned more and half earned less.

Dairy water rules changing

CA Ag Net. Water quality changes to impact Central Valley dairy producers. 
Synopsis: Modesto is ground-zero for the state’s new CV-Salts Program to measure groundwater salts. The program has been developed with a decade of involvement by Western United Dairies, and the new rules are “generally positive to dairies,” said Paul Sousa. Additionally, the State Water Board is expected to send changes in the dairy-permit process back to the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board with recommendations for updates. So far, those recommendations have not been divulged. “Both processes will result in changes in how dairies are regulated,” said Sousa. “While some of these may present challenges, others offer added flexibility.”
MAD Take: Dairy farming is a big deal in Stanislaus County, generating $755 million to farmers. Considering the “multiplier effect” of 1.7 to 1, it means dairy farming contributed $1.275 billion to the county’s economic activity in 2024. With the county reporting a total of $32.1 billion in economic activity, that means $1 in 32 comes out of a cow.

ICE victim not arrested

Modesto Bee. Patterson man shot by ICE was struck ‘at least a half-dozen times,’ lawyer says. 
Synopsis: Attorney Patrick Kolasinski says Carlos Ivan Mendoza Hernandez -- who was shot at least six times by ICE agents on Tuesday – is not under arrest, according to ICE. Hernandez needed multiple surgeries to save his life at Doctors Medical Center. ICE says it fired in defense as Hernandez “aimed” his vehicle at agents during a traffic stop. Hernandez says he moved his vehicle only after ICE opened fire. While he is not technically under arrest, ICE agents continue to say he was a member of the 18^th Street Gang in Los Angeles – though Hernandez says he’s only been in LA twice, to visit, and he denies being a member of any gang.

That’s some weird weather

SF Chronicle. Tornado warning canceled, but quarter-size hail hits Central CA.
Synopsis: The National Weather Service issued a short-lived tornado warning for the Dos Palos area Thursday night. The warning was issued around 6:15 p.m. after funnel-shaped clouds were spotted at high altitudes over Madera County. The western sides of Fresno, Merced and Madera counties got high winds, hail, lightning and significant rain. Winds gusted to 70 mph. The warning ended by 6:30 but a severe thunderstorm warning remained in place through 7:30. The storm moved up through Patterson, Modesto, Manteca and into Sonora with an impressive lightning display.

Celebrating Valley improvements

Merced County Times. Work begins on new student Engagement Center.
Synopsis: Merced City School District broke ground on a new Engagement Center across the street from John Muir Elementary School to provide ongoing after-school activities and contact with students. Education “continues in spaces where curiosity is encouraged and students are inspired to grow,” said Superintendent Julianna Stocking. It has classrooms, naturally, but also a teaching kitchen, workshops and event spaces. Among those attending were representatives of Adam Gray, Esmeralda Soria and Anna Caballero.

Fox40. Modesto High unveils $5.5M agricultural farm building for hands-on student learning.
Synopsis: A new 13,000 square foot facility on Bangs Avenue will give Modesto High students and FFA members hands-on opportunities to work with animals; outside are spaces for plant science activities. Modesto Irrigation District donated the land and clean-energy resources to power the site. “I think it’s one of the biggest things and the most prideful thing you can do,” said MID director John Boer.

Merced County Times. Hundreds applaud new community park.
Synopsis: About 600 people came out to celebrate the opening of the new Beachwood-Franklin Community Park on April 2. The project on Ranchero Lane covers 18 acres offering play structures, interesting benches created by high school students, 100 newly planted trees, walking paths, a picnic shelter, water-stations, restrooms and parking. “This has been a long haul,” said Supervisor Daron McDaniel, who was credited with driving the project.

Merced County Times. New air services, upgrades boost outlook of Merced Airport.
Synopsis: The arrival of regular Contour Airlines flights from Merced Yosemite Regional Airport is a “game-changer” in the words of airport manager Rhett Williams. Flights to LA and Las Vegas begin July 1 on 30-seat regional jets. He hopes around 21,000 passengers will use the airport this year, saying Merced is becoming a “true transportation hub” for the region.

Cheese company stays alive

Modesto Bee. New owner preserves 154 jobs at bankrupt maker of Latino cheeses in Modesto.
Synopsis: Valley Milk LLC has emerged as the new owner of Rizo-Lopez Foods, a Modesto cheesemaker that declared bankruptcy after reports of bacterial outbreaks in the plant. The company makes Tio Francisco brand cheese. Valley Milk paid $14.2 million for 60% ownership, assuming $20.8 million in debt. The remaining 40% of the company will remain in the hands of the Rizo family.

Valley drug ring busted

Modesto Bee. Central Valley men indicted after seizure of 1 million suspected meth pills.
Synopsis: A federal grand jury has indicted Jessy Johnson, Jose Mendoza and Alejandro Perez on trafficking methamphetamine. They were using the US Postal service to make deliveries of meth, LSD and ketamine from their warehouse in Turlock. Also seized was $150,000 in cash and cryptocurrency wallets. They’re each facing 10 years.

A million-dollar fire

Modesto Bee. Fire destroys Modesto structure, $1 million in damage reported.
Synopsis: Stanislaus Consolidated responded to a large residential fire Wednesday morning in the 500 block of Beard Avenue near El Royal. Upon arriving, firefighters found the commercial building next door fully engulfed and threatening more homes, vehicles and a motorhome. The ensuing firefight took 2 hours with crews remaining on scene for 5 hours. Seven engines, two quint trucks, three investigators and a paramedic unit all responded.

It’s your move, Turlock

Turlock Journal. Turlock Community Chess Tournament returns bigger than ever.
Synopsis: What began as a casual get-together for chess enthusiasts in 2022 has become something much bigger. The Turlock High Chess Club is hosting its fifth annual community tournament on April 18. Last year’s event drew more than 100 people, including two grand masters offering friendly advice. Advisor Matt Rosengarth says there will be competitors from the Bay Area, Sacramento and Fresno competing in five age groups. It costs $5 to enter for students, $10 for adults.

A meaningless convention?

Sacramento Bee. Trump backing Hilton for governor shifts CA GOP convention dynamics. 
Synopsis: What had been expected to be an exciting convention battle between an angry sheriff and a Fox analyst lost steam when Donald Trump anointed Steve Hilton his pick to be governor of California. Now, some political experts say the convention won’t be worth attending. “It makes the CRP endorsement much less important” because the president’s “endorsement is better than anything you could get from the CA Republican Party convention,” said consultant Matt Rexroad. For the party to choose Bianco over Hilton “would be a rebuke of the president,” said Mike Madrid, “and that’s not tolerated.” The former director of the state Republican Party was even more sarcastic: “For one glorious 72-hour weekend, all of the Republicans in that hotel can feel like they’re a major political party in California.”

Cal Matters. Trump’s divisive role in CA politics is on display as GOP prepares election endorsements. 
Synopsis: By choosing Steve Hilton as his standard bearer, DJ Trump “screwed over California Republicans yet again,” said GOP consultant Rob Stutzman. But there are still some interesting moments, such as endorsements in congressional races. Still, it was telling that one GOP political consultant told Cal Matters that he canceled his flight San Diego after Trump’s announcement.

Seizing ballots was a ‘stunt’

Cal Matters. We went to court to unseal warrants behind Sheriff Bianco’s ballot seizures. 
Synopsis: What justification did Riverside Sheriff Chad Bianco provide for seizing the county’s ballots in last year’s Prop 50 Special Election ballots? Apparently, “not much.” Bianco relied entirely on accusations from a fringe group that misread data and concluded 46,000 ballots were missing. As the county registrar had explained to the Board of Supervisors days before the seizure, they were looking at early data and not the completed results which accounted for all ballots. Bianco did not bother getting a deputy district attorney to sign the warrant, normally a crucial step. The judge – a political ally – ignored its absence. Experts who reviewed Bianco’s warrants were troubled by the lack of evidence. Carl Luna of the University of San Diego said the seizure was nothing but a “campaign stunt” that makes you “question his fitness to lead the state.” One former prosecutor took a different point of view, saying Bianco’s warrants offered sufficient probable cause to proceed.

Deputy’s killer is run down

GV Wire. Suspected fatal shooter of Tulare Sheriff’s Deputy Randy Hoppert is killed. 
Synopsis: Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux mourned the killing of Randy Hoppert, a 6-year veteran of the department and father whose wife is again pregnant. His killer is said to be David Morales, 59. He fled after shooting Hoppert, who was serving an eviction notice, then barricaded himself in a building. He again fired on deputies then attempted to run. An armored SWAT vehicle from Kern County pursued him and crushed him. A distraught Sheriff Boudreaux made no apologies: “Don’t shoot at cops. You shoot at cops, we’re going to run you over.” Gov. Newsom pointed out that Hoppert had received a state commendation in 2021 for using his Navy training to save the life of a 2-year-old girl. He ordered flags at state buildings to half-staff.

Big spiders can’t really fly

LA Times. Large spiders the size of your palm are popping up across the US. Don’t be afraid.
Synopsis: Ever hear of the “joro spider”? It is the size of a man’s palm, rides the wind to its next home and weaves a sticky web that can be 10 feet across. Don’t worry, it won’t bite; or, if it does, the bite won’t hurt you. “They’re not medically significant,” said the insect expert at Virginia Tech. “They’re great big bugs, but they’re not going to bite you and cause terrible damage.” And they’re apparently here to stay, having been found throughout the south since 2014 and now in Southern California.
MAD Take: If one arrives on your patio, leave it alone. They trap wasps and mosquitoes in their big webs. And the occasional small dog. Just kidding.