Valley Solutions

Why there is a shutdown

GV Wire. Was a shutdown necessary? Valley lawmakers jump into the debate. 
Synopsis: Reporter Edward Smith talks to Valley representatives Adam Gray, David Valadao, Jim Costa and Vince Fong about the current government shutdown. Democrats Costa and Gray say protecting the thousands of Valley residents who rely on the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid for healthcare is a red line. “I’ve got 450,000 constituents that rely on Medicaid funding,” said Costa. Gray said the shutdown is “bad for our nation, dangerous for our security and devastating for our economy and Valley families. The only way forward is bipartisan compromise – not partisan threats or political games.”

State demands are conflicting

Modesto Bee. State urges Patterson to OK housing but also reduce groundwater pumping. 
Synopsis: The CA Dept of Housing & Community Development is telling Patterson to reconsider the city council’s rejection of the 719-home Keystone Ranch development north of town. The agency has demanded a response by Oct. 22. At the same time, Patterson is one of 20 entities in the Delta-Mendota groundwater subbasin which is on the edge of critical overdraft and sanctions by the state for using too much water. The Dept of Water Resources is telling the city it must reduce groundwater use even to supply existing homes. “The problem we have is the state agencies don’t understand the interplay of all the state laws,” said city attorney Doug White. “We will suggest we need to have better collaboration.” He says it is unreasonable to approve more housing until the city can supply adequate water to existing residents. Keystone is happy about the HCD letter but angry that it has been asked to pay the entire $20 million cost of creating a recharge facility on Del Puerto Creek.

CA driver licenses just got cooler

SF Chronicle. CA driver’s licenses just got a redesign – here’s what changed.
Synopsis: When you renew your driver’s license, it will look a little different. Along with your smiling mug, there will be redwood trees, golden poppies and a glimpse of coastline. Lurking in the graphics is some advanced security technology and a digital signature embedded in barcodes on the back. The new licenses are Real ID compliant and, well, cool. DMV is urging folks to wait until their current license expires before applying for new ones. New licenses costs $45 (no change) while ID cards cost $39.

No fun at the Playhouse

Merced Sun Star. Merced Playhouse board split triggers canceled shows, resignations.
Synopsis: The Sun-Star is catching up to a Merced Focus story reported over the past two weeks recalling the Sept. 10 Merced Playhouse board meeting that ended in shouts, cursing and a visit from Merced PD. Three of the organization’s employees quit. The MP board is split into two factions. One includes Sheilah Brooks, Carolina Merz and Lynn White. The other has Sam Yniguez, Debbie Bier, Brooke Gutierrez and Stacie Guzman. Neither side recognizes the other as being legit.

Bees back Prop 50

McClatchy Editorial Board. Our endorsement on CA’s Prop 50 – and a nation polarized by Trump. 
Synopsis: Normally, the McClatchy editorial board – representing the Fresno, Sacramento and Modesto Bees, San Luis Obispo Tribune and Merced Sun Star -- would not endorse something that takes the power to redraw voting districts away from a citizen’s committee and give it to politicians. That’s called gerrymandering and is an anathema to good government. But this isn’t a normal time. Donald Trump, whose popularity is falling dramatically, is beseeching states like Texas to reconfigure their congressional districts to help maintain his slipping grip on Congress. California can, and must, act as a balance to that sort of election rigging, says McClatchy.

Courthouse ready for its closeup

Merced County Times. Courthouse to share stories on 150^th anniversary. 
Synopsis: Jonathan Whitaker walks up to Saturday’s celebration at Courthouse Park (10 am to 2 pm) with a taste of what to expect. There will be an unveiling of improvements and renovation accomplished over the past year, but perhaps more entertaining will be the exhibit put together by museum Director Sarah Lim – 150 Years, 150 Stories. Many are fascinating, from a 1930 murder to a visit in 1988 by President George HW Bush.

Cities show off new park, shelter

Modesto Bee. Modesto park reopens after $31M infrastructure upgrades. 
Synopsis: The 6-acre park at Kearney and Princeton, near MJC, has reopened with the completion of a sewer cross-connection. The park has a new basketball court, baseball diamonds, a soccer pitch and a large playground. Not so visible are new water mains, meters, laterals and fire hydrants along with landscaping meant to reduce street flooding.

Westside Express. Los Banos unveils new animal shelter.
Synopsis: The new animal shelter is twice the size of the previous, crowded shelter with more kennels and a surgery center. Most of the funding came from Merced County and the federal American Rescue Plan Act. Among those celebrating were city council members Deborah Lewis and Michael Amabile and city manager Gary Brizzee.

New shot in screwworm fight

Successful Farming. First FDA-approved solution targets New World Screwworm. 
Synopsis: Zoetis Inc. says it has a product that will kill screwworm larvae in young cattle and inoculate them for up to 21 days. The company is awaiting approval even as trap inspections along the border with Mexico have picked up. The screwworm was thought to have been eradicated decades ago but has emerged in southern Mexico and now is within 70 miles of the Texas border. A similar outbreak in 1976 cost Texas ranchers $1.8 billion over three years. The medication should be available in 2026 if the FDA uses its fast-track approval protocols.

Big numbers hide calamity

Western Farm Press. Paper tigers? Struggling CA farms achieve record gross sales. 
Synopsis: Editor Todd Fitchette calls it “ironic” that CA farmers set a record of $61.2 billion in gross sales in 2024. That’s because so many farmers are struggling now to stay afloat. Fitchette writes of abandoned orchards overrun by pests, plummeting exports, and the collapse of the wine market. Regardless, “agricultural production and manufacturing is a powerhouse in California. I still marvel that the USDA secretary has yet to visit California in her official capacity to see this firsthand.” Our top crops: Milk $8.6 billion, almonds at $5.7B, grapes $5.64B, cattle $4.9B, lettuce $3.9B, strawberries $3.4B, pistachios $2.0B, tomatoes $1.6B, carrots $1.5B and broilers $1.3B. 

Successful Farming. US ag productivity growth has slowed dramatically, report finds. 
Synopsis: The growth in food production has slipped over the past decade, according to a study by Virigina Tech. The Global Agricultural Productivity Report shows growing incomes, population and expanding non-food use of crops (i.e., biofuels) are increasing demand by 1.0% per year. Productivity is growing at only 0.76%. Researchers say a growth rate of 1.73% is necessary to meet demand through 2050. In the 1980s, the US showed 2% growth per year but hasn’t reached that level since. Academic Tom Thomas says an immediate course-correction is needed. The report describes a “valley of death” between innovation and on-farm practice and blames it on large corporations “bent on squeezing every last dollar out of the system.” Narrower profit margins are also diminishing innovation. “Farmers right now are trying to cut all the costs they can just to survive,” said a researcher.

Call this a B-minus

Modesto Bee. Modesto graduation rates increase for English learners, drop for Black students. 
Synopsis: Modesto City Schools got a mixed report card, but mostly the district is showing improvement. There were 953 students who moved from “English learners” to “English proficient” – a 6.7% improvement over last year; 320 earned state biliteracy certification. The A-G college readiness rate improved to 40.5% but still trails the state average of 51.5%. Only Enochs High outperformed the state average, but Johansen and Modesto high schools both made huge leaps. There were 520 students who qualified for guaranteed admission to UC Merced, up from 275 last year. The graduation rate was 93%, up from 91%. Enochs led the way with 97.7%.

Reporters uncover abuse scam

LA Times. In biggest sex-abuse settlement in US history, some claim they were paid to sue. 
Synopsis: LA Times reporter Rebecca Ellis spent two weeks outside the South Central County benefits office, where those lined up to apply for food stamps and other programs are bombarded with people offering free blood-pressure tests, phones, and more. Among them were recruiters for a law firm who told at least 7 people to make up stories of abuse. Many of those were traced back to Downtown LA Law Group, a pivotal player in the county’s recent $4 billion settlement for sex abuse inside juvenile halls and foster homes. The huge lawsuit had 11,000 plaintiffs with 25% of them – around 2,700 victims -- represented by Downtown Law. The firm, which gets 45% of its clients’ settlements, said it has done nothing wrong. CA bans “capping,” or having lawyers directly solicit clients. One recruiter reportedly handed a potential “client” a “script” telling him how to respond when a lawyer did a follow-up call. Soon, those in line knew what recruiters wanted to hear and made up their own stories. In the $4 billion settlement, four firms had more than 1,000 clients each. Experts say that up to $1.5 billion of the settlement could end up in the hands of lawyers. Now, some firms are admitting that there were clients involved who should not have been. Other cases are under review, including a case brought against the Boy Scouts of America.
MAD Take: Top-notch journalism.

Dog attacks Modesto woman

Modesto Bee. Elderly woman injured in dog attack while walking pet in Modesto.
Synopsis: An “elderly” woman was attacked by a Cane Corso mastiff on Estep Drive, according to Modesto police. A witness helped pull the dog off the woman and keep her safe until police arrived. The animal has been seized.
MAD Take: According to dogexpert.com, “One cannot deny the fact that severe dog bite attacks and human fatalities by Cane Corsos happen at disproportionately high rates.” While this does not “prove” aggression, the website said those considering owning this breed should be aware of its “genetically based aggressive tendencies.” The story also notes some carriers refuse to insure homeowners who have the dogs. That was confirmed by Forbes, which listed 12 types of dogs insurers are declining to cover.

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It’s an ‘a-mazing’ time of year

Ag Daily. CA’s 62-acre corn maze has some visitors dialing 911.
Synopsis: The 63-acre corn maze at Cool Patch Pumpkins in Dixon has been named by the Guiness World Records as the largest in the world. But what appears whimsical and charming from 100 feet above can be terrifying to panicked people trying to find their way out. The maze first opened in 2001 when Matt Cooley was trying to attract people to buy his pumpkins. Now it draws visitors from across the nation.

Patterson Irrigator. Live music, antique tractors and haunted corn maze on menu at Fantozzi Farms.
Synopsis: The Fantozzi Farms Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch will open for its 23^rd year Friday at 7 pm – with nighttime making it just a little spookier. Tickets to tour the maze costs $15 and includes music, games and “courtyard activities.” The courtyard is where you’ll find the Barnstormers tractors. A companion story explains that Save Mart is sponsoring this year’s maze. The Modesto-based grocery store will provide treats and even some maps for those who fear getting lost.