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’s defense vote questioned

Merced Focus. Facing mounting criticism over transparency, Gray finally explains House defense vote.
Synopsis: Freelance reporter Caleb Sprous talks to two angry Valley Democrats to find what he considers a story. They are upset over Gray’s difficult decision to support the admittedly imperfect National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA. It allows US and Israel to share defensive technology and provides an additional $250 billion for the military over 2025 levels. The bill also provides raises for those in uniform, increased childcare for military families and other forms of support. Gray was one of six Democrats to vote for the bill. Later, the SAVE America Act was folded into the NDAA – a bill Gray voted against on every occasion. Gray’s opposition to the SAVE Act was eventually explained in the story, but far from the original reference. The reporter also brought up town hall meetings, trying to convey the impression that they are the only acceptable way to communicate with constituents. He also brought up some aspects of fundraising.
MAD Take: Several issues with this story. Much of it is built around comments from two members of the Central Valley Leadership Round Table, which has never supported Gray in any election and some of whose members have been linked to Republican efforts against Gray. The group had fewer than 350 online followers two weeks ago, a figure that might have provided context if included by the reporter. Second, there is no shortage of Democratic groups who could have provided balance – the central committees in five counties, labor organizations, campus groups, etc., many having already endorsed Gray. Where are their comments? Finally, when can we expect the story describing the many Republicans who can’t stomach Gray’s opponent-- who doesn’t live in the district and who has pledged his devotion to Donald Trump. Bottom line: Was this a hit piece or serious reporting? You decide. The disappointing part is that it was published by the usually excellent Merced Focus.

Just 70 days to go …

Stocktonia. Desiree Lynch withdraws from Stockton city council race days after election fraud arrest.
Synopsis: Stockton City Council candidate Desiree Lynch withdrew from the race just five days after being arrested on felony charges related to election fraud. It was the second time in 10 days she withdrew from the race following questions about her residency in the district. The registered nurse was challenging incumbent Brando Villapudua for the seat representing south Stockton. Prosecutors arrested Lynch saying she did not live in the district as required by law.

Fresno Bee. Judge upholds Avenal recall of mayor, 3 councilmembers; ousted mayor can run again. 
Synopsis: Kings County Superior Court upheld the results of a recall election that removed four members of the Avenal City Council. The court declared those seats have been vacant since May 28, invalidating any action taken since the recall. The city released a statement saying the ousted members will respect the decision. “The court must uphold the will of the electorate, and Avenal voters have spoken decisively,” wrote Judge Jennifer Giulian. The four members were recalled with 73% of the vote.

Fresno Bee. Porterville councilmember abruptly resigns halfway through first term; no reason given.
Synopsis: AJ Rivas resigned as of Friday, two years into his four-year term. He gave the city no advance discussion or warning, according to the city. Rivas made national news last year when the all-male council considered adopting an ordinance banning transgender women from using public restrooms.

Fresno’s attorneys will be armed

GV Wire. Janz says Fresno city prosecutors can now carry firearms on the job; Karbassi disagrees.
Synopsis: In the wake of a knife attack on a Fresno County district attorney staff member, city attorney Andrew Janz said city prosecutors and investigators can carry weapons while on the job as long as they have a concealed-carry permit. Councilmember Mike Karbassi called the announcement premature. Janz, a former prosecutor, was the victim of a stalker who tried to enter his home earlier this year. “We are going to be armed, and we’re going to be able to defend ourselves,” said Janz. Karbassi is working on an ordinance to address security for the council and city staff. “Making promises that we don’t know we can keep is a bad move,” he said. “It was a stupid move.”

Stocktonia reporters honored

Stocktonia. Society of Professional Journalists names Stocktonia winner of First Amendment award. 
Synopsis: Based on its “fearless reporting” on school district corruption and Stockton city contracts, Stocktonia has been named the winner of the Eugene S. Pulliam First Amendment Award. Judges cheered Stocktonia’s “unwavering commitment to press freedom, transparent government and the courageous pursuit of truth even in the face of official intimidation.” After Stocktonia began investigating the district, the Sheriff’s Department said that journalists covering the story would be investigated as part of a conspiracy.
MAD Take: Scott Linesburgh and crew should be proud. But there is so much more work to be done.

Studying data-center water use

Bloomberg Law. Data centers use more water than CA cities, study says. 
Synopsis: It takes more water to cool generators for data centers than it does to cool generators used to supply entire cities. The study looked at seven states, including CA, that used 3.4 trillion gallons of fresh water to cool generation. That’s 10.4 million acre feet, which is more than the entire 8 MAF of water used by every city in California. Put another way, it’s 12x the amount of water used in Los Angeles, Phoenix and Washington DC in a year. However, not all that water is lost. “Electric power generation for data centers requires ‘very large volumes of withdrawals’ especially for hydropower, even though the water goes straight back into the river it came from,” said the report.

Sacramento Bee. Data centers’ deep unpopularity enters debate over CEQA reform measure.
Synopsis: Opponents of Proposition 45, which creates new rules lessening the impacts of the CA Environmental Quality Act for building projects, are insisting it will make it easier to build data centers. Prop 45 has been polling well. Its proponents worry that data-center fears could derail it.

Smoke rising from Ballico fire

Merced Sun Star. Merced County tire fire prompts smoke advisory and road closure.
Synopsis: A fire in Ballico has closed Newport Road from Sunny Acres to East Avenue. Officials expect the fire – fueled by a large pile of discarded tires – to burn “for some time” and urge residents to remain indoors with the windows closed to avoid smoke contamination.

Fresno’s job numbers

Fresno Bee. Central Valley long-term unemployed number continues to drop, but it’s still high. 
Synopsis: Of metro areas with at least 1 million people, Fresno leads the nation in unemployment. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a preliminary unemployed rate of 7.7% in June. That’s better than June 2025, when the rate was 8.3%. In June 2025 there were 444,200 people working in nonfarm jobs; in June 2026 that number was 451,300 – an increase of 7,100 jobs. Officials say Fresno’s economic base is changing with ag-related jobs no longer the No. 1 employer; that title now belongs to education.

Flock backlash is spreading

Wall Street Journal. Flock cameras are spreading across America; the backlash is growing just as fast.
Synopsis: Driven by AI technology, Flock cameras are watching more Americans by the minute – reading license plates and recognizing faces. They are 120,000 Flock lenses operating in 49 states. Last week, Flock was in Atlanta pitching its products to a convention of police chiefs, and several reported that sales were brisk. Among those introducing legislation to limit what Flock can do with the information it gathers are several Republicans cheered on by Tucker Carlson. Across America chapters of DeFlock are springing up and people are developing apps to track the cameras and methods of jamming their views.
MAD Take: In Fresno, someone is stealing the cameras.

Honoring Cruz in Fresno

Fresno Bee. New northwest Fresno park may be named after Valley political trailblazer.
Synopsis: A park being planned for northwest Fresno would be named after Assembly Speaker and Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante if Mike Karbassi gets his way. “I can think of nobody more fitting for this honor,” said Karbassi. The park will be at Veterans Blvd and Barstow Avenue.

Mayor lauds her city

Turlock Journal. Mayor to give State of the City address.
Synopsis: Mayor Amy Bublak’s State of the City address Thursday at Harvest Church’s downtown campus (130 Third Street) will focus on the services, partnerships and commitments that make “Turlock such a great place to live, work, raise a family and call home.” Said the mayor, “There is a lot to be proud of in our city, and I’m excited to celebrate what makes Turlock special.” Those attending will be served lunch.

These books don’t balance

Cal Matters. How much are CA’s public universities paying athletes? Cal Matters sues to find out.
Synopsis: The news organization sued UCLA on Monday after being stonewalled for a year in efforts to find out how much UC athletes are being paid. Reporter Adam Echelman requested the information from all 16 sports-playing campuses. The UC says this is a matter of student privacy; Cal Matters says it’s a matter of divulging how public money is being used. The NCAA was forced to allow students to profit from NIL – name, image, likeness – contracts. But those contracts are negotiated and controlled by the school, not individual athletes. Cal and UCLA admitted they spent around $20.5 million each on athlete pay – the maximum allowed. UCLA split that among 229 students, Cal 147. UC Riverside paid men’s basketball players around $200,000 and the women $70,000. Private universities such as Stanford, Santa Clara and UOP are not subject to public-records laws. The story includes a list in which Fresno, Sac and San Jose CSUs all failed to respond. UC Davis, Northridge, Fullerton and Bakersfield CSUs made no payments.

Fresnoland. Cash-strapped Fresno Unified slashes school field-trip budget, hitting sixth graders hard. 
Synopsis: The annual science camp field trip for sixth graders has been eliminated for the 2026-27 school year. If schools opt to send kids, the cost will have to be borne by parents. The cut will save $2 million in an effort to address a $55 million budget hole. Parents are not happy, said one principal.

Now residing in big zoo in the sky

KSEE / CBS47. Rattlesnake bite kills one of Valley’s only black jaguars.
Synopsis: Samba, who had lived at Project Survival’s Cat Haven for the entirety of her 14 years, was bitten twice by a rattlesnake over the weekend. “Our vet team did everything they could to save her, but she didn’t make it,” said a release. Samba’s sister Rose remains at the sanctuary.

Fresno Bee. Fresno Chaffee Zoo mourns death of beloved Masai giraffe, Fenny: ‘Heartbreaking.’
Synopsis: The “key member” of the giraffe family at Chaffee Zoo has died. Fenny had been treated for a broken hoof since last May, but complications arose and he died Friday. Fenny had been at the zoo since 2019.