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.

Gray demands answers on ICE

GV Wire. Rep. Gray joins US senators in demanding answers on Fresno County ICE sweeps. 
Synopsis: Rep. Adam Gray joined two US senators in demanding that ICE explain the purpose, scope, results and safeguards involved in its recent sweeps in the San Joaquin Valley. Gray joined Sens. Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff told the ICE director that while immigration laws “must be enforced,” it matters how they are enforced. The elected leaders demanded the agency address six specific questions. “We need answers about what’s taking place, who is being targeted and whether people’s rights are being protected,” they wrote. They were especially concerned with ICE activities in the city of Mendota. Wrote Gray: “The federal government’s responsibility to enforce immigration law does not give it license to create fear across an entire community.” 

ICE agent pleads not guilty

GV Wire. ICE agent accused of attacking Fresno father, daughter, pleads not guilty. 
Synopsis: ICE agent David Gonzalez III of McAllen, Texas, was charged with two counts of felony assault, felony vandalism and misdemeanor battery in connection with an incident Friday. Reports said Gonzalez was found drunk and asleep on the lawn of a home around 3 a.m. The woman who lived there asked her father, who also lives there, to check on Gonzalez. When he did, Gonzalez reportedly attacked the father. When the daughter came to his rescue, Gonzalez attacked her. Seeing that, the father shot Gonzalez. About that time, the daughter’s boyfriend – a Fresno police officer – arrived and handcuffed Gonzalez. Bond was set at $37,000 on Gonzalez’s promise not to attempt to leave the area. Police determined the shooter was acting in self-defense.

Fresnoland. Fresnoland’s Know-Your-Rights guide on immigration resources. 
Synopsis: After federal agents swarmed the area making indiscriminate arrests of those suspected of being in the country illegally, local activists are distributing a guide detailing what to do if detained. The guide was completed by the ACLU and National Immigration Law Center. It includes a list of those who can provide resources, including Faith in the Valley, the Sacramento Rapid Response Network, Mexican Consulate and others.

20 Days left to vote

Sacramento Bee. Chief election official urges early voting as California braces for interference.
Synopsis: Shirley Weber is telling Californians to return their ballots to county elections officials at least seven days before Nov. 3. That will assure votes are counted and the count moves quickly. She also spoke of the immigration sweep taking place in the Central Valley, pointing out that some believe it is an intimidation tactic by the Trump administration. Weber is more concerned with getting votes in, noting that new postal procedures are delaying postmarking mail and could cause late-arriving ballots to be disqualified.

Protecting 140 from rockslides

SF Chronicle. CA is building a $400 million shield to protect Yosemite’s most dangerous highway. 
Synopsis: Reporter Rachel Swan writes about Highway 140, which goes through Merced on its way to the nation’s most-visited National Park. It is considered the most dangerous road leading into the park because of the Ferguson Slide, which closed the road back in 2006. Traffic is still being maneuvered around the rockface, but the fix is nearly complete. Caltrans is building a “tunnel with windows” to make it safe. “There’s not anything like this in the world,” said Corey Casey, the project manager. “For people who live along this corridor, 140 is as much a workhorse road as it is a scenic approach,” writes Swan, adding, “If you are headed to Yosemite by car or bus from Merced County, the slide serves as a point of drama in an already breathtaking drive.”

Lee loses part of his title

Stocktonia. Jason Lee attempted to resign as vice mayor, but council voted to remove him anyway. 
Synopsis: Stockton councilmember Jason Lee announced his resignation as Vice Mayor on Tuesday, but the rest of the City Council refused to accept it – preferring to strip him of the title. Councilmembers Mario Enriquez and Michael Blower opposed the action, which passed 4-2. After the vote, Lee picked up his nameplate and exited. The confrontation continued months of very public disagreements with Mayor Christine Fugazi and other members of the council. “I do want the circus to end,” said Fugazi. Said Lee: “I did not enter public service for a title, a committee assignment or anyone’s approval.” He was also removed as chair of the city’s Audit Committee. Lee’s term as Vice Mayor was set to end on Dec. 31. The city has seen enormous turmoil with the departure of several top-ranking execs – city manager, city clerk, public works director, city attorney -- and acrimonious meetings that drag on for hours. The Grand Jury has criticized the council and mayor for their actions.

Dozens of dams are hazardous

Cal Matters. CA’s riskiest dams are closer to big cities than you think.
Synopsis: As El Niño approaches, CA’s dams are coming under scrutiny. Engineers are worried that El Niño will put too much stress on 40 dams, currently rated “high” or “extremely high” hazards. They’re located near enough to the Bay Area, LA and San Diego to be dangerous to humans. A 2024 ballot measure set aside $464 million to repair or fortify the structures, but that’s a proverbial drop in the bucket with repairs estimated to cost $28 billion.

Bad bike riders will be fined

CBS13. Modesto considers fines up to $5,000 for reckless bike riding. 
Synopsis: The Modesto city council is moving forward with a crackdown on dangerous cycling – meaning doing stunts on city streets, blocking traffic or taking over entire streets. “We have a major problem in this town with bicyclist and e-bikers,” said one resident. Councilmember Chris Ricci said the council must make traffic safety “a real priority right now.” A first offense will result in a $500 fine, a second $2,500 and a third $5,000. Parents can also face fines of up to $2,000 per minor if they assist or permit their children to violate the law.

Roads can reduce fire danger

Ag Alert. Roadless rule has kept forests from being managed.
Synopsis: Tuolumne timberman Shaun Cook writes an op-ed praising the US Forest Service for rescinding rules that banned new roads in all national forests. He said solutions should be tailored for specific needs in specific places. Roads are essential for mechanical thinning, fire-fuel reduction and fire-resiliency. Without roads, the work is hampered or can’t be done at all. Without thinning and brush removal, it is more likely forests will suffer vast deadly fires. Roadless rule was never passed by Congress, but was an executive action first taken by Bill Clinton. In CA, it covers 4 million acres. Since the Farm Bureau considers timber a crop, timber companies should be allowed to manage the forests in ways that both preserve their beauty and maximize their harvest. “With half our forest already lost to fire, we simply cannot afford to keep half of the remaining, unburned acres off-limits to proactive management.”

Helmet keeps firefighters safer

Turlock Journal. Turlock showcases use of new thermal-imaging helmet system at conference.
Synopsis: The Turlock Fire Department is using the Qwake Technologies C-Thru system, which (spelling problems aside) mounts a computer on a helmet and allows firefighters to navigate through smoke-filled areas. Turlock firefighters helped demonstrate the system at the Oklahoma Public Safety Innovation Showcase earlier this month. “We look for cities that punch above their weight and question limitations many have come to accept,” said Qwake CEO Sam Cossman. That’s why he invited Turlock to Oklahoma.

They didn’t get away with it

Merced Sun Star. Two arrested after home invasion, Merced sheriff says. 
Synopsis: Merced deputies responded Sunday evening to reports of a home-invasion robbery at Vine and Walnut in Winton. A woman said two men forced their way into her home then prevented her from leaving. Suspects fled before deputies arrived. But they couldn’t outrun the helicopter also dispatched. Gurson Bahia, 20, and Dylan Lopez Kong, 25, were arrested in Merced.

Merced Golden Wire (Facebook). Modesto police seize more than 30 pounds of meth.
Synopsis: Modesto police seized more than 30 pounds of meth and $90,000 in cash during a coordinated operation targeting drug trafficking. The long-term investigation resulted in the arrest of the “primary target.” Several agencies were involved, including the FBI and Turlock police.

Raising money for Ceres schools

Ceres Courier. Fundraiser brings in more than $40,000 for Ceres Unified students.
Synopsis: Nearly 170 community members and educators gathered at the Ceres Community Center earlier this month to raise more than $40,000 for the Ceres Unified School District Foundation. The funds will be used to support student activities and programs. Among those participating were auctioneer Travis Johnson and his assistant, Shane Parson – a well-known community supporter.

Former racer dies in mishap

Modesto Bee. Man killed in Modesto dirt bike collision remembers as ‘legendary’ racer. 
Synopsis: The 66-year-old man killed over the weekend in a collision between two off-road motorcycles was Mike Inderbitzen, a former racer and regional champion. In the story, former motorsports writer Mike Dunbar described Inderbitzen’s love of flat-track racing, even as he became considered a “senior citizen” on the AMA circuit. Inderbitzen told Dunbar that he supplemented his racing by “waiting tables and tending bar” at his parents’ restaurant.
MAD Take: What Dunbar failed to mention in that 1992 Bee story was Inderbitzen’s popularity among the area’s riders, including Kenny Roberts, Chris Carr, Alex Jorgenson, Skip Aksland, Jimmy Filice and many others. Tall for a rider, Inderbitzen towered above the other riders.

Modesto Bee. Modesto man riding nonmotorized scooter is badly hurt when struck by car.
Synopsis: A Modesto man riding a push-scooter suffered major injuries on Boulder Avenue at Hatch Road. Rodney Abel was crossing Hatch when he was hit by a Honda traveling about 35 mph on Hatch.

It’s time for ‘App Challenge’

House of Representatives. Congressman Gray announces 2026 App Challenge.
Synopsis: Aahlad Bysani, then a sophomore at River Islands High in Lathrop, wrote a computer application that allows anyone almost anywhere to track algal blooms in real time, helping them monitor the health of waterways. His was the winning application submitted to Rep. Adam Gray during the 2025 Congressional App Challenge -- one of more than a dozen entries from the district. It was chosen by a panel of national computer experts. This year’s App Challenge is underway, emphasizing the importance of coding, creativity and applying computer-science standards. Open to any student living within the five-county district, submission deadline is Oct. 26. To submit click here.