Valley Solutions

Measles germs are in Merced

Merced Sun Star. Measles found in wastewater in this CA county. 
Synopsis: Merced County’s Dept of Public Health said measles virus has been found in a routine test of wastewater. While no cases have been confirmed in the county, the presence in wastewater is an early indicator that the virus is here. As of June 1, the state confirmed 49 measles cases – nearly double the number of cases for all of 2025 and triple the number from 2024. Symptoms include cough, runny nose, fever and a rash. People remain contagious for up to a week after the rash has disappeared. It is most dangerous to infants, toddlers, older adults and pregnant women. Those who have not been vaccinated are at the highest risk; those who have are at little risk.

What else is in your water?

Modesto Bee. Cancer-causing ‘forever’ chemicals in 88% of Stanislaus water samples, report finds. 
Synopsis: Reporter Juliette Bisharyan writes about a report from The Environmental Working Group that found PFAs, or “forever chemicals,” in water and sediment from three creeks in western Stanislaus County. The insecticide bifenthrin appeared in 88% of the tests in water taken from Ingram, Del Puerto and Orestimba creeks. The PFAs were found in half of the water tested and 55% of the sediment. The reporter quotes an EWG spokesperson saying we all should be alarmed. Next, she quotes two others with similar points of view.
MAD Take: PFAs are scary. But before anyone sets their hair on fire, it should be noted that they have been found in 83% of all waterways in the western United States. The three creeks mentioned here are not unusual. In fact, the concentrations might be lower than in other parts of the West. The numbers are high here, but it’s much worse in Michigan, New Jersey and North Carolina. While attention to this issue is warranted, “panic is unnecessary,” in the words of the US EPA (even before the Trump administration contaminated its information). Filtration removes PFAs from municipal water, and they are not readily absorbed through the skin. Perhaps if the reporter had asked a local official for a reaction, that information could have been included in the story. The main take-away from this story might be that you shouldn’t drink from Orestimba Creek. Considering how little water is in it right now, you’d probably go thirsty anyway. Both Ingram and Del Puerto creeks are dry or will be in a week. Once upon a time, journalists were taught to get reactions from people with opposing points of view.

Active NorCal. A chemical from car tires is reaching San Francisco Bay and killing salmon. 
Synopsis: Scientists say that 6PPD-quinone which is used to harden tire-rubber compounds is deadly to salmon and steelhead even in extremely low concentrations. The chemical rubs off tires and washes into the Bay during rain events. Researchers at the SF Estuary Institute are monitoring runoff into the Bay and urging that federal regulations on 6PPD be developed.

More zombie maggots found

Successful Farming. Louisiana puts restrictions on animals entering state after screwworm reaches Texas.
Synopsis: Louisiana became the third state to restrict bringing animals in from Texas. Georgia, Tennessee and Canada acted over the weekend to enact either outright bans or restrictions and stepped-up inspections. While the first three cases were documented last week (a cow, a calf and a dog), an infected goat was found Monday in Gillespie County, north of San Antonio. Each of the four infections were found in different counties, signaling a widespread infestation. The CDC said Monday that more than 185,000 animals have been infected in Mexico since 2024. Worse, the federal government admitted it doesn’t have enough sterile flies to replicate the 1966 eradication program.
MAD Take: We’ve known about the zombie flies moving north for more than a year and haven’t adequately prepped the same kind of program we used successfully 60 years ago? Both Brooke Rollins and RFK Jr. should be ashamed … or fired.

Ag Daily. Rollins reinforces federal and state response to New World Screwworm. 
Synopsis: Federal and Texas state leaders had a news conference Monday in Kerrville, Texas, after the USDA confirmed two new cases of New World Screwworm, saying there was now a “War on Screwworm.” A lab in Kerrville produces sterile flies, our only strategy for stopping the spread. Many experts believe the USDA did not take the threat seriously soon enough. Worse, cuts by Elon Musk’s DOGE ended a program that suspended cattle imports from Mexico last year, meaning livestock was allowed to move across the border without any monitoring. This cost “precious ground in the battle against this pest.” Gov. Greg Abbott declared screwworms a statewide disaster last week. Meanwhile, a prominent veterinarian suggested the previous program in the 1960s was not nearly as effective as has been suggested. While the state said it eradicated the infestation by 1966, he noted that Texas had 90,000 cases in 1978. “That doesn’t sound like eradication to me,” said Dr. Gary Thrasher.
MAD Take: The infestations moved from Chiapas Mexico to Texas, a distance of 1,460 miles, in 18 months. What a coincidence. The distance from Gillespie County, Texas, where the sick calf was found, to Fresno County is about 1,490 miles.

The police report

CBS13. Car crashes into Modesto home after CHP pursuit, killing 1. 
Synopsis: A car crashed into a home while trying to outrun the CHP then burst into flames. Modesto Fire responded to Robin Hood Avenue just before 1:30 a.m. and put out the fire. But inside the home, they found a person who died in the fire, apparently a house-sitter. The driver and his passenger were pulled out of the fire, but it was unclear if they were injured. The CHP said Zacharia Knobel was the driver and was under the influence.

Modesto Bee. Ceres police pursuit of juveniles on electric dirt bikes ends with two arrests. 
Synopsis: Running stop signs and riding into oncoming traffic on electric dirt bikes must have seemed like fun to two teenage boys who were showing off around Mitchell and Service roads Saturday. At least until an officer showed up and tried to pull them over. They took off, but the officer called some of his friends, and the riders were soon apprehended. Their bikes were confiscated, and they face felony charges.

Merced Golden Wire. Two arrested, juvenile detained after Planada shooting triggers SWAT response.
Synopsis: Two men were arrested after the Merced Sheriff’s SWAT team was called to Planada early Friday. Investigators found a shot-up car and soon arrested Aaron Barragan Gonzalez and Ari Cardenas. The man in the car was not injured.

Is desalination worth it?

OC Register. Learning the right lesson from San Diego’s desal water surplus. 
Synopsis: Two researchers at the Property & Environment Research Center say San Diego’s success in desalinating ocean water appears to be a great way to solve California’s water woes. But it isn’t. They note San Diego pays $3,200 to remove salt from about 326,000 gallons of water (1 acre foot). They’re treating enough water to have some left over for sale, but that water fetches only $1,350 an acre foot – a loss of $1,850. The price they get might rise as the Colorado River dries up, but it’s unlikely the process will ever break even. They also look at the desal plant that Metropolitan built at Carlsbad in 2012. The past three years Met hasn’t needed the water but had to buy 32,100 acre feet anyway. That cost the agency $130 million. Israel claims to be removing salt for around $600 an acre foot, but that efficiency has never been replicated anywhere else. The closest anyone has gotten in the US is the Doheny plant near LA, which produces salt-free water for $2,058 an acre foot – which includes “generous” government subsidies. The writers say the real solution is to allow water to be sold like any other commodity.

The danger of being a bee

Modesto Bee. CA researcher documents struggles of bees and their commercial keepers. 
Synopsis: Jennie Durant’s latest book is titled “Bitter Honey” and looks at the plight of bees and their keepers. She shared her thoughts on bees at Bookish bookstore in Modesto. Top of mind was the role almonds play in the lives of bees, which is why much of her book centers on Modesto. She detailed the “five P’s”: pests, pathogens, pesticides, prairie loss and bad policy. Under that last category she included the loss of the Beltsville Ag Research Center in Maryland, the foremost center for the study of bees, due to DOGE cuts. How can you help? “Plant bee-friendly flowers and ideally native flowers.”

Dealer charged in 3 murders

Merced Focus. Alleged fentanyl dealer pleads not guilty to murder charges connected to 3 fatal ODs. 
Synopsis: Raymond Caudillo, 21, faces three counts of murder for a string over fentanyl overdoses in Los Banos. It is the first time the Merced County DA has charged anyone with murder in a fentanyl case. Caudillo, who already has a conviction for robbery in Santa Clara, faces up to 95 years in prison. “It’s a terrible, terrible dangerous drug,” said LB Chief Ray Reyna. “Holding those accountable, giving some closure to the families, it’s worth all the long hours and all the stresses of the investigation.”

Gray appointments announced

Westside Connect. Gray announces service academy nominations, opens 2027 application requests. 
Synopsis: Rep. Adam Gray announced those appointed with his office’s recommendations for admission to the U.S. Service academies. A committee of military and community leaders conducted interviews with applicants, choosing: Angelina Borrelli of Los Banos for the Air Force Academy; Brianna Reyna Hanock of Central Catholic for the Air Force Academy, and Brett Parker of Merced High for the Merchant Marine Academy. Gray’s office is accepting applications for next year’s classes in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and Merchant Marine.

BEAM shining in Modesto

Turlock Journal. BEAM Circular selects Modesto site for Bioeconomy Innovation Campus. 
Synopsis: The BEAM Circular business incubator has chosen a site in the Beard Industrial district for its CA Bioeconomy Innovation Campus – a first-of-its-kind facility. The project is expected to create 100 to 140 jobs at build-out. BEAM Circular focuses on under-utilized ag products such as nut shells, orchard wood and winery byproducts for new products or uses. “Our region is ready to lead,” said Modesto Mayor Sue Zwahlen. Supervisor Vito Chiesa said the program has “the potential to strengthen our local economy, support innovation in agriculture and manufacturing and create new opportunities.”

Valley city to pay for childcare?

CBS47. Fresno council member proposes $3.5M for city funded childcare.
Synopsis: During a budget workshop, Fresno District 4 councilmember Tyler Maxwell proposed setting aside $3.5 million to create a partnership with First Five Fresno to expand childcare in the city. He noted that in the face of federal budget cuts, many families are unable to obtain childcare.

Valley homelessness rising

Fresno Bee. While state numbers dip, Fresno and Madera see homeless count climb.
Synopsis: The Fresno Point In Time count from 2025 showed an increase of 9.2% in the number of homeless in Fresno and Madera counties. In the combined counties, there were 4,905 unhoused people, including 3,845 in the metro Fresno area and 433 in rural Fresno County. There were 463 in Madera’s city limits and 154 in rural areas. Homelessness fell 2.8% statewide. The Fresno count showed 31% of the homeless had serious mental illness and that 74 had AIDs. There were 188 veterans among the homeless and 365 domestic violence survivors.

Bettencourt to lead Reclamation

Las Vegas Review. In turbulent times, Trump admin nominates Aubrey Bettencourt to head Reclamation.
Synopsis: The White House has nominated Aubrey Bettencourt to lead the Bureau of Reclamation, an agency extremely important to Central Valley farms. Bettencourt is from Kings County and worked as an advocate for ag-related organizations from cotton to almonds.