Valley Solutions

Gray comes through on ag

Rep. Adam Gray: Gray secures major wins for Valley farmers, businesses, rural communities in Farm Bill.
Synopsis: Rep. Adam Gray used his position as a member of the House Committee on Agriculture to have key components included in the new Farm Bill as it heads to the House floor for approval. Officially titled the Farm, Food and National Security Act of 2026, the bill includes language to better protect farmers from financial risk, support on-farm technology and provide greater support for the Market Access Program to develop overseas markets. Two amendments authored by Gray were unanimously passed by the committee during the mark-up process. The first requires the USDA to report on any changes in the US-Mexico-Canda trade agreement to Congress. The other allows states to use up to 20% of their Emergency Food Assistance funding to buy locally grown fruit and vegetables. Perhaps most important for Valley farmers, Gray secured a commitment to provide greater assistance for so-called “specialty crop” – a category that includes virtually all of California’s most important crops. Among those praising Gray’s efforts were Farm Bureau president Shannon Douglass, the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance, the Almond Alliance, the Merced and Stanislaus Farm Bureau executive directors, Western Growers and Ian LeMay of the CA Table Grape Commission, who said Gray’s efforts were “critical to supporting the long-term vitality of the industry.” 

Ag Daily. House committee advances Farm Bill 2.0 after marathon debates. 
Synopsis: Ag Committee chair Glen “GT” Thompson insists the Farm Bill is a triumph of the political process, saying if you “take the Trump derangement syndrome out of it, plain and simple this is a great bill.” But there are disagreements. The bill would make it more difficult to bring lawsuits against pesticide makers and would keep states from passing specific pesticide rules beyond federal requirements. Other flashpoints include rules on glyphosate, conversion of crop land to solar farms and the use of more corn-based ethanol in gasoline. Most ag groups are pushing hard for passage, including the National Pork Producers Council which is fervently in favor of a provision to outlaw California’s Prop 12 – which mandates standards for humane treatment of animals.

Assyrians support attacks

Turlock Journal. Local Assyrians rejoice in fall of Iranian leader. 
Synopsis: Both of Turlock’s representatives in Congress called the world a safer place with the forced departure of the Ayatollah Khamenei. But that was all they agreed on. Tom McClintock backs the Trump attacks on Iran. Adam Gray stood up for the Constitutional role of Congress in sending Americans into war – something the Trump regime failed to do. Gray’s Republican challengers – former one-term Stockton Mayor Kevin Lincoln and businessman Vin Kruttivenit – didn’t return calls for comment. Robert David, a member of the Assyrian community, said people in the region celebrated Khamenei’s demise. He wants the son of the former Shah of Iran, Reza Pahlavi, to be installed as Iranian leader. Pahlavi’s father took power in 1953 with support from the CIA; he was driven from power in 1979 by a widespread revolt that installed the Ayatollah Khomeini in power and resulted in the captivity of 66 American embassy employees. Trump has ruled out a return to power by the Pahlavi family.

One candidate drops out

Politico. CA Playbook: Longshot Dem drops out.
Synopsis: Former Assemblymember Ian Calderon says he is dropping out of race for governor and throwing his support to Eric Swalwell. Calderon, the youngest Assembly Speaker ever, was polling less than 1%. Meanwhile, Mike Madrid says the state’s largest voting block – Latino Democrats – are still shopping for a candidate but they’re not ready to commit.

Using humans for compost

GV Wire. Human composting on San Joaquin River grows a Fresno political fight. 
Synopsis: The use of human remains as compost is at the center of a fight between Fresno County and the San Joaquin River Parkway & Trust. The county has ordered the trust to stop using human compost along the river. Supervisor Garry Bredefeld, a conservancy board member, said he was shocked to learn of human composting. “The stupidity is breathtaking.” Trust executive director Sharon Weaver says human composting is safe and negative reactions are based in fear of death. She says there are no state laws against it or even regulating it. Earth Funerals says its process is better than traditional burials.

He’ll lead Chesterton Academy

Turlock Journal. Sacred Heart teacher to become first headmaster at new Chesterton Academy.
Synopsis:  Joe Michelena, who has been teaching math at Sacred Heart School, will be the first headmaster at the new Catholic high school in Turlock. Named for English journalist and writer GK Chesterton, the school will stress a dialogue-based teaching model focused on critical thinking. Michelena attended Central Catholic, MJC and Stan State and began teaching in Modesto City Schools. Bishop Cotta approved formation of the school last year.

Pot parties in the bathrooms

Wall Street Journal. High schools are losing the struggle to block pot – even during class. 
Synopsis: Brentwood is the initial focus of the story, where kids are vaping in the bathrooms before class. Legalization has turned into “normalization” as many students consider the high-potency products “natural” and “organic.” A quarter of the school’s seniors say they’ve used this year already. “It’s just everywhere in the community. That’s really, really hard for schools,” said one principal. And it’s not just in CA. The story checks in on Vermont, NYC, everywhere. “It is a party in the bathroom.”

Mercy seeks trauma designation

Merced Focus. Mercy Medical Center to seek Level III trauma center designation – a Merced first. 
Synopsis: Only eight hospitals in the entire San Joaquin Valley are designated as trauma centers, meaning they are equipped to deal with a wide variety of medical emergencies. None are in Merced County. Traumatic injury is the No. 1 cause of death for those under age 44. Mercy MC is preparing its application but refused to comment. ERs are rated across four “levels.” Level 1 is the highest, meaning the ER is equipped to deal with the most severe and extensive injuries. Level IV ERs serve more like a MASH unit, stabilizing injuries but transferring the most severe cases to other units. Level III ERs are better equipped than Level IV and are tasked with serving areas that lack access to Level I or Level II units. Across the Valley, Modesto has two Level II units; Stockton, Tulare, Fresno, Bakersfield and Madera each has one.

Full water deliveries promised

Modesto Bee. Snowpack is at just 63%, but water district plans full deliveries.
Synopsis: John Holland talks to Turlock and Modesto irrigation districts about the snowpack (63% of average) and reservoirs (100+% full). TID will provide up to 48 inches for its 149,000 acres of farmland in Stanislaus and Merced counties and even sell water to farmers outside district boundaries for $50 an acre foot. It expects to deliver 543,488-acre feet of water and release around 100,000 acre feet for environmental purposes from Don Pedro. MID, which irrigates about a third of the acreage of TID, has not voted on irrigation but is expected to follow TID’s lead.

LA Times. CA, Arizona, Nevada press Trump administration to rethink Colorado River water cuts. 
Synopsis: Leaders of “lower basin” states that rely on the Colorado River are hoping to avoid a court battle after the Trump administration seemingly sided with the “upper basin states” of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming in managing flows. The Interior Dept draft would undercut the century-old Law of the River agreement established in 1922 that requires a percentage of flows. Agencies have until Monday to submit comments. The Trump regime is proposing that all usage cuts come from California, Arizona and Nevada. All three states are threatening legal action if that is the final plan. 

Road fixes coming to Merced

Merced Sun-Star. Merced supervisors move ahead with huge road project.
Synopsis: Calling it a “gamechanger,” Merced Supervisors voted Tuesday to resurface 41 miles on 17 roadways throughout the county. It will cost $31.9 million, paid for through bonds. The projects will require three years to complete. Chairman Daron McDaniel said Measure V – the half-cent sales tax – has allowed the county to accelerate road repairs. Scheduled for repair are Santa Fe, Turlock, McKee, Hatch and 13 others.

Defending sex-offender’s run

Fresno Bee. Nonprofit vows to fight proposed CA ban on sex offenders in public office. 
Synopsis: After registered sex offender Rene Campos announced his plan to run for the Fresno City Council, several councilmembers are trying to make it illegal for that to happen. They have enlisted help from Assemblymember Esmeralda Soria to draft a law barring sex offenders from local public office. Now, the Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws is threatening to sue if the law goes forward. Said Janice Belluci, “It’s really important for the public to know that most of the people on a sex offender registry do not pose a current risk of danger. Most of them have paid their debt to society.”

Baya wins another title

Turlock Journal. Baya Austin becomes just sixth female to win three CIF state wrestling titles. 
Synopsis: Hughson senior Yzabella Austin beat Central Catholic’s Dulcy Martinez 8-0 at 140 pounds last weekend, winning the CIF State Wrestling Championship. It was her third state title, though the first with Hughson. She wrestled for Pitman High last year. “This means everything to me. All the hard work for my coaches, my teammates, my community and for my family – it all paid off.” The final match was a rematch of the Sac-Joaquin Section final, ending in the same score. Austin finished the season 21-2 with 15 pins. She and 20 family members were in attendance, and they celebrated with In-N-Out burgers (protein style).

3-time drunk going to prison

Fresno Bee. Fresno County man with 3 DUI convictions gets 19 years to life for fatal crash.
Synopsis: Shane Lee Shahan, 36, was convicted of second-degree murder in a deadly hit-and-run in 2023. It took the jury less than an hour to declare him guilty on all counts. He was driving 80 mph at 3 a.m. when he ran a red light and hit a small car in which Jesse Espino was riding. Shahan got out of his truck, saw Espino on the pavement and took off running without calling for help. He had lost his license after his third DUI conviction.

Stocktonia. 3 men found dead in car; vice mayor speculates fentanyl overdose.
Synopsis: Three men were found dead in a car in South Stockton on Sunday morning. They ranged in age from 24 to 39. No cause of death has been determined, but Vice Mayor Jason Lee said there was no sign of struggle or violence and speculated it was a fentanyl overdose.

If you trust journos’ pallets

Modesto Bee. These 5 must-try dishes from Modesto restaurants are reporters’ favorites. 
Synopsis: The Bee’s reporters are now making recommendations for eating out. 1) Tom yum noodle soup at Thaiburi; 2) Pepperoni from Sacred Slice; 3) Combo plate at Papapavlo’s. 4) Pad-him-ma-phan at Thaiburi. 5) Vermicelli noodle salad at Pho 7.
MAD Take: As a former reporter who well recalls the culinary expertise of his coworkers, and how price always played a large part, I say take these with grains of salt. And don’t say you weren’t warned.