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.

Valley undercounts heat deaths

KVPR. Federal government could be undercounting heat deaths, including in the Valley. 
Synopsis: A study by NPR and Boston University has concluded that the Centers for Disease Control and other federal agencies are undercounting the number of deaths and injuries due to heat illness each year. The CDC puts the number at around 1,700, but the new study says it is closer to 9,000. Merced, Fresno, Tulare and Kern counties were part of the study. Researchers found there are an average of 27.6 heat-related deaths in Fresno County each year – not the 4.2 reported by the CDC. Kern is at 23.3, not 7.4. Both Merced and Tulare counties were closer to the CDC numbers of around 5.3 and 11.1 deaths per year. “Categorizing deaths is really kind of halfway in between a science and an art,” said Dr. Kristen Sullivan, Merced County’s public health director.

34 Days to election …

Merced County Times. ABC series to feature old Crystal Syphon song. 
Synopsis: Editor Jonathan Whitaker starts his weekly notes column writing about Crystal Syphon, which had some psychedelic hits in 1969. One of their songs will be featured on ABC later this year. Then Jon brings up what he calls a deceptive ad that used a story he wrote five years ago as a graphic. The ad purports that Adam Gray somehow profited from the building of Campus Parkway – a project Gray championed as an Assemblymember that connects UC Merced to Hwy 99. But the ad never tells anyone how Gray profited. There’s nothing in the story about it, either. In fact, it was a very positive story, says the man who wrote it. “I wasn’t able to find out who is behind the current campaign ad,” said Whitaker, but it is “very misleading.”
MAD Take: Kevin Lincoln knows who is paying for the ad but prefers to hide behind campaign-finance rules that allow such lies to be spread with impunity.

NY Times. ‘Make quinceñeras great again’ singer puts GOP on defense. 
Synopsis: Bobby Pulido, the Tejano singer from South Texas, is outshining his Republican opponent in an unexpectedly close Congressional contest. Texas Republicans redrew districts a year ago in an effort to provide more Republican seats in Congress. But Pulido has turned the tables, inching ahead of his incumbent opponent in polling. Both live in the same neighborhood, but Pulido has been showing up at quinceñeras, parties and backyard concerts to win votes. The incumbent had been a loyal soldier for Trump but now is trying to disavow the connection. That isn’t playing well in South Texas. Nate Silver says the district is now a tossup even though Trump won it by 11 points in 2024.
MAD Take: Pulido’s moderate message is extremely similar to that of Adam Gray – whom Pulido campaigned for in a show earlier this month in Merced. Hundreds of people came to the auditorium then lined up for photos before it turned into a dance party.

Polls are bad news for Trump

LA Times. Fewer CA Republicans approve of Trump, poll says; that could hurt GOP midterm chances. 
Synopsis: With gas topping $6 a gallon, diesel at $8.50 and the war in Iran dragging on, people are abandoning the president, according to the LA Times and UC Berkeley poll. Yes, 76% of CA Republicans continue to approve of Trump’s policies, but that’s down from 83% last year. Only 44% say they “strongly” support his performance, down from 57%. It makes them less likely to vote, say those who answered the poll. Only four of California’s 52 Congressional districts are leaning Republican, and only one is considered a tossup – CA 22, where David Valadao and Randy Villegas are tied. Only two districts are “leaning” Democratic – including CA 13 where Adam Gray is trying to fend off a challenge from one-term Stockton Mayor Kevin Lincoln, a visitor to the district. Two years ago, it was the closest race in the US, decided by only 187 votes.

Modesto Bee. Donald Trump’s disapproval rating matches Jan. 6 peak in new poll. 
Synopsis: The president’s disapproval rating has reached its highest point ever, matching the 61% who disapproved of him in the first polls following the Jan. 6 attack on the Capital. In the Quinnipiac University poll, just 31% approve of how Trump has handled the war in Iran and the economy. Most voters said they believe Democrats will do a better job than Republicans on healthcare, immigration, fighting corruption and controlling artificial intelligence. Other polls differ slightly. RealClearPolitics shows Trump’s approval at 38.8% and disapproval at 59.6%, while the NY Times is at 37% approval and 60% disapproval.

Debate in Turlock mayor’s race

Turlock Journal. Turlock mayoral candidates to face off in public debate.
Synopsis: Jim Reape and Kelley Coelho will participate with Amy Bublak at Stanislaus State on Oct. 7. The debate will be presented by the Turlock Journal, Modesto Focus and Stan State. Kristina Hacker and Garth Stapley will moderate the 90-minute event. Reape is a member of the planning commission, and Bublak is seeking her third term. Coelho is a private investigator who has sued the city.

Chronicle details Clauzel probe

SF Chronicle. SF Sheriff’s deputy accused of bullying employees as mayor of small CA town.
Synopsis: Patterson is characterized as a “small town” by a Chronicle reporter as she writes about issues surrounding Mayor, and SF County Deputy, Michael Clauzel. Complaints against Clauzel are contained in a 47-page report commissioned by the council and compiled by a law firm. The city council voted 3-0 to continue disciplinary proceedings against Clauzel, who did not attend last week’s meeting.  As a lieutenant, Clauzel is among the top 4% of earners in the Sheriff’s Office with total compensation of $558,403. He also earns $7,920 from the city of Patterson. Representatives of local unions have called on Clauzel to resign, saying he has betrayed their trust. Kandace Weyhrauch, who was once close to the mayor, says she has seen him “flip a switch and become an angry monster.” Clauzel admitted losing his temper, but says there “is no malice intent.”
MAD Note: The Chronicle says Patterson has 25,000 residents, but it’s actually 26,500. That’s only 6% off.

Speaking of Patterson …

Valley Sun. Newsom vetoes plan to bring emergency medical services to Patterson.
Synopsis: A deeper look at Gov. Newsom’s veto of a law written by Assemblymember Juan Alanis that would have allowed an emergency room to begin operations in Patterson. Newsom said he shares Alanis’s goal to provide emergency care for the rural communities around Patterson – Gustine, Newman, Crows Landing, Westley, Grayson and Vernalis – but current rules require that all ERs must be attached to a hospital or medical center. Alanis’ bill would have made an exception.
MAD Take: The story says it takes 25 to 30 minutes to reach the nearest hospital by ambulance. But a quick AI query shows it takes 27 minutes to reach the nearest emergency room by air, and 40 minutes by ambulance.

Tribes fight over new casino

Fresno Bee. Will Chukchansi halt new Madera casino’s October opening; hearing next week.
Synopsis: A federal judge in Fresno will hear a request from the Picayune Rancheria to stop the new North Fork Mono Casino and Resort in Madera from opening on schedule as planned in mid-October. The Picayune tribe says the Mono tribe’s casino was illegally approved by the National Indian Gaming Commission and its license to operate should be voided. The Picayune tribe owns Chukchansi Gold Casino & Resort on Hwy 41. Judge Kirk Sherriff will hear the case, which the Mono tribe says has no merit. It is the third time Picayune lawyers has sued to block the opening of the new casino, which is closer to Hwy 99 than the Chukchansi casino. The 264,000-square-foot casino is essentially ready to open, providing 1,500 jobs in Madera.

DA: Can’t charge in hit-and-run

Fresno Bee. Driver accused of killing father of six won’t face charges after Fresno DA drops case.
Synopsis: A Fresno County driver arrested three years after allegedly running a stop sign and killing a motorcyclist on Father’s Day 2022 won’t be prosecuted. Felony hit-and-run charges against Marian Louise Barrios have been dismissed because the statute of limitations expired, said the Fresno County DA’s office. The family of Michael Diaz was “devastated” upon learning charges were dropped. “She killed somebody, she killed my little brother, and now she gets to go free,” said an angry Sarah Ochoa, Diaz’s sister.

Part of Claribel closed for months

Modesto Bee. Stanislaus County project will close section of Claribel Road; traffic impacts expected.
Synopsis: As work intensifies on the North County Corridor, the segment of Claribel from Roselle to Claus will be closed from Oct. 11 until sometime next spring. The section is just east of Crossroads shopping center. “People will get around it, but it’s going to be painful,” said public works director David Leamon. So far, about 40% of the project’s first phase is finished with completion set for December 2028.

Bullfighter’s last ride

Turlock Journal. Paulo Jorge Ferreira retires as Turlock Forcados mark 50 years at Gustine celebration. 
Synopsis: Paulo Jorge Ferreira, dressed in the traditional regalia of a renowned bullfighter, made a last appearance at the Our Lady of Miracles Festival in Gustine on Sept. 14. He has been a professional mounted bullfighter since 2002, fighting up to 35 bulls a season across the U.S., Spain and Portugal. At age 44, he feels it is time. Meanwhile, the Turlock Forcados – aka, “suicide squad” – celebrated their 50^th year fighting bulls. The eight-man crew lines up single-file and confronts a charging bull with one Forcado running around behind to grab the tail. The bull is often aggravated, but unharmed.

Shooting star wins by 10

Turlock Journal. Reigning US Amateur champ Asterisk Talley wins Yellowjacket Invitational.
Synopsis: Golfer Asterisk Talley of Chowchilla came up Hwy 99 this week to compete in the Yellowjacket Invitational at Turlock Golf & Country Club. Hosted by Hilmar High, the event was played on the par-72 course. Talley shot 5-under, winning by 10 strokes. Not knowing the course, she told the Journal, made it easier to play through any difficulties. Talley won the US Amateur in August, her second USGA title, and is considered the top amateur golfer in the nation.