Valley Solutions

Dyer: ‘Pivotal moment’ for US

GV Wire. Republican Mayor Jerry Dyer speaks truth to Trump’s ICE power. 
Synopsis: Bill McEwen reports on the “remarkable” speech given by Mayor Jerry Dyer during the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Day observances. “Dr. King said it would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment,” said Dyer. That sense of urgency “still exists today as we find ourselves at a pivotal moment in our nation.” Dyer said federal authorities are not requested, trusted or respected by the communities to which they’ve been deployed. Those forces are “using tactics that have shocked the conscience of America.” Writes McEwen: “Go back and read those words again. Now think about the Republican Trump brown-nosers in Congress, who do everything the president asks. Just like well-trained dogs eager for a treat.”

GV Wire. Mayor Jerry Dyer to address policing, ICE tactics at US Conference of Mayors meeting. 
Synopsis: Mayor Jerry Dyer will speak Wednesday at the US Conference of Mayors in Washington, going to the Capital to talk about policing in America’s cities. His comments are expected to echo those he made last week, criticizing the ICE killings in Minneapolis. Dyer served 19 years as Fresno police chief and spent 40 years in law enforcement.

Priest: ICE breaking the law

Modesto Bee. Letters: Immigration enforcement should never be cruel. 
Synopsis: Fr. Misael Avila -- who has been stationed in churches in Oakdale, Riverbank and Turlock -- writes about the cruelty being shown to those protesting against the ICE deployment in Minneapolis. He notes that ICE has detained more than 170 people for hours or days despite being shown proof of their citizenship. “That is not enforcing the law, it is breaking it.” He concludes, “Peaceful protest is not interference, it is a right.”
MAD Take: Amen, Father.

Fresno Bee. One of the worst outcomes of the Trump era? Pervasive cynicism. 
Synopsis: Prof. Andrew Fiala teaches philosophy and ethics at Fresno State. He defines the “challenge of the Trump era” as holding onto your faith in humanity in the midst of such a “stupid and indecent world.” The president and his cronies do not care about shared norms of law, morality or truth.” Worse yet, logic and debate no longer have any relevance in the public square. Fiala offers this advice: “When you live in a swamp, you should look out for snakes. But it is important to remember that not everyone is a snake.” And finally, “when you live among snakes, you must be careful not to become one.”

Hundreds in Valley protest

Fresno Bee. Hundreds rally in Fresno to show solidarity after ICE detainments, killings.
Synopsis: Hundreds gathered Sunday at River Park Shopping Center in Fresno to protest the killing of 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. Kerman Mayor Maria Pacheco was front and center, saying she stands with Minneapolis. Jessie Kantor, who moved to Fresno from Minneapolis 6 years ago, was also carrying a sign and thanking those protesting for supporting her city.

Sacramento Bee. Sacramento ICE protesters ‘stand in solidarity’ after attack, Minneapolis killings.
Synopsis: Hundreds of protesters spread across Sacramento on Sunday, spurred to action by the killings in Minneapolis. One of those was Scott Stauffer, who had been attacked by two people who rolled up on him in a pickup flying Trump flags. Protesters wrote messages in chalk on the street in front of the John Moss Federal Building and carried signs. Many were masked, like the ICE agents they were protesting. One protester said, “We’re in a domestic violence relationship with our own government.”

Turlock Journal. Turlockers to march in solidarity with the people of Iran.
Synopsis: Members of the Assyrian community joined others around the world in marching for freedom for the people of Iran. “We believe it is our responsibility to stand not only for our Christian brothers and sisters, but for all people who are suffering, facing torture, abuse and the loss of their lives,” said organizer Robert David. Some 4,000 have been killed by the Iranian regime over the past few months.

Get ready for ‘guerilla solar’

SF Chronicle. Could ‘guerilla solar’ be the answer to your skyrocketing PG&E bills?
Synopsis: An op-ed written by a woman who last year purchased plug-in panels. They’re cheaper, quicker to deploy and can be used without a roof. They’ve been available in Europe – which went a different direction than US solar companies – for a generation. A Utah legislator read about portable German panels and passed the first law in any US state to make them legal. Now, 16 states are considering similar laws, including CA. UC Berkeley energy expert Severin Borenstein – who has been observing CA power costs since before the Enron debacle – calls it an “exploding solar cost shift.” The systems cost about $3,200 for two panels and a battery. So, it takes about 6 years for that to pencil out in savings for a typical Bay Area home.
MAD Take: Bet it pencils out more quickly in the Valley.

Farmers: We need more help

GV Wire. Farmers nationwide unite to say federal help not fast enough to stop industry collapse. 
Synopsis: In a “desperate plea,” growers of the nation’s fruits, vegetables, nuts and flowers signed a letter detailing “existential threats” and imploring Congress for help “before it’s too late.” Some 56 trade groups signed the letter, saying record-high input costs, tariff-constricted foreign markets and historically low prices for their goods are driving them into bankruptcy. Signatories included Western Growers, CA Fresh Fruit Assn, American Cotton Producers, the North American Blueberry Council and 51 other organizations. Recognizing the damage done by tariffs to soybean and corn exports, the Trump administration promised $11 billion to Midwestern growers – but only $1 billion for all other farmers combined. Potato farmers called their plight a “perfect storm,” saying they get less than $10 per hundredweight when it costs more than to grow them. They will lose an expected $500 million this year.

Ag Daily. Winter storms crush ag country as losses likely top $100 billion.
Synopsis: Ice, snow and bitter cold collapsed barns, created power outages, required livestock evacuations and created other costs that will total over $100 billion across Midwestern states. Horse operations across the region reported widespread structural failures as ice accumulated on roofs that could not bear the load.

Schools closing the gap

Modesto Focus. Modesto City Schools back from pandemic-era learning loss, report finds. 
Synopsis: The group GO Public Schools analyzed data from Modesto City Schools and found students are beginning to surpass their pre-pandemic test performances and showing multi-year gains throughout the district. English learners are doing especially well. Graduation rates are up to 92.9%, well above the state average of 87.5%. However, college readiness continues lags and only 37% of students meet state English standards and 23% meet math standards.

Turlock Journal. THS to lose beloved principal at end of the year.
Synopsis: Dave Kline announced he will retire after this year, having served three years as Turlock High principal and 35 years teaching in the region. Kline said he would “truly miss the kids.” He became interested in teaching while working as a security guard in a psychiatric ward.

Eating fewer raisins?

Ag Net West. CA raisins in trouble: Kalem Barserian warns the industry is shrinking fast.
Synopsis: Interviewer Nick Papagni spoke with Kalem Barserian, former CEO of the Raisin Bargaining Assn, who notes the state has fallen from the world raisin leader to No. 4. The problem isn’t competition, it’s demand. “People aren’t eating dried grapes,” he said. In 2016, CA growers shipped 320,000 tons of raisins; last year 170,000 tons. Raisin acreage has fallen from 280,000 in 2000 to 70,000 acres now.

1,000 turn out to bid farewell

ABC30. Merced high schooler remembered for her selflessness after skiing accident claims her life.
Synopsis: Nearly 1,000 people attended a Celebration of Life to remember Violette Walker over the weekend. Walker, 18, died after a ski accident on Dec. 30. A top student at El Capitan High, she had already earned two degrees at Merced College. The daughter of Merced Fire Capt. Mark and Lily Walker, Violette was involved in Girl Scouts, the Firefighters Foundation and Junior Livestock exhibitions.

Turlock PD names honorees

Turlock Journal. Turlock’s top cops of 2025. 
Synopsis: The Turlock PD handed out its annual awards last Thursday, with the 9 staffers of the Animal Services Department earning the Excellence Award. The Distinguished Service medal went to dispatcher Sonia Rush. Officer Amir Aziz was named Officer of the Year, and Employee of the Year was code enforcement officer Gerardo Trujillo. Joe Rosas was Volunteer of the Year and Jacob Kerr the Explorer of the Year. It was noted that Aziz started his TPD service as an Explorer.

Dealing with gang violence

Merced Focus. Merced police ramp up gang violence prevention unit after fatal shootings.
Synopsis: City officials have pledged to thwart gang violence after a string of killings have shaken the community. The Merced PD Gang Violence Suppression Unit will go full-time, working 24-7. Shootings began Jan. 2 when two employees of a restaurant were injured. On Jan. 17, Angel Barrios was killed near Olive Ave. Two days later, two 14-year-old boys were murdered at G and 13^th streets. Four officers will be assigned to the gang unit with additional patrol officers and members of county agencies providing support.

GV Wire. Merced police identify suspect in homicide of 18-year-old.
Synopsis: Merced PD arrested Moises Reyes in the killing of an 18-year-old man on Stuart Drive on Sunday. The victim was not identified.

Merced Sun Star. Planada man arrested on gun charges after shooting investigation, Sheriff says.
Synopsis: Jim Silva writes about 32-year-old Juan Ceja Prado, who was booked on multiple charges ranging from possession of an assault weapon to shooting at an occupied vehicle. As a previously convicted felon, Prado is not allowed to have firearms. No one was injured in the shooting. 

Fatality: City manager ‘not at fault’

Stocktonia. City manager Johnny Ford not at fault in fatal pedestrian crash, investigation reveals.
Synopsis: Stockton City Manager Johnny Ford was the driver in a collision that hit two pedestrians Thursday on El Dorado Street, killing one. The survivor, 66, is in critical condition. Ford remained at the scene and cooperated with police. He had not been drinking. Witnesses said the men crossed outside a crosswalk. Police called it an “unforeseeable accident with no criminal liability” and “a heartbreaking reminder of how quickly lives can be altered.” Ford has been city manager since Nov. 18.

Show will go on in Merced

Merced Sun Star. Playhouse Merced, recovering from public split, has new board, performance planned.
Synopsis: Four months after its board of directors very publicly shattered, Playhouse Merced is trying to get back on track. Four new board members met on Jan. 14 via Zoom, with Sam Yniguez serving as president, Debbie Bier VP, Booke Gutierrez treasurer and Stacie Guzman secretary. Former board members who had missed three consecutive meetings were removed. The new board says it does not have access to the organization’s financial records or Instagram account. The board hired RC Essig, owner of The Partisan bar and 17^th Street Pub, as interim executive director. The organization plans to present “Oliver! Jr.” later this year.