POLICY & POLITICS North SJ Valley: City of Stockton welcomes three new directors to economic development, human resources and fire departments Stockton Record The newcomers are Economic Development director Carrie Wright, Human Resources director Robert Bonner and interim Fire Chief Dave Rudat. ‘Straight Pride’ event planned for Modesto draws protests before permit even issued Modesto […]

POLICY & POLITICS North SJ Valley: The National Straight Pride Coalition plans to hold the event in Graceada Park Modesto Bee The National Straight Pride Coalition expects to hold its first “Stanislaus County Straight Pride” event in Modesto’s Graceada Park next month. See also: ●      ‘Straight pride’ parade planned in Modesto Los Angeles Times EDITORIAL: Animal cruelty […]

POLICY & POLITICS Report: Valley Cities Among Nation’s Least-Educated    KMJ Bakersfield was the 4th least educated city in the United States, Fresno was 10th.   Stockton, Modesto, and Salinas are also among the nation’s least-educated. The least educated city in the United States? Visalia. North SJ Valley: Modesto has a severe housing shortage. Here’s how and when […]

POLICY & POLITICS Inmates Who Contracted Valley Fever In California Prisons Petition U.S. Supreme Court For Relief VPR For more than a decade, lawsuits have been piling up against California from inmates who contracted the fungal disease valley fever while incarcerated in state prison. Most plaintiffs have lost. Now, many of them are turning to […]

POLICY & POLITICS North SJ Valley: Nonprofits will run Stanislaus County health clinics in Ceres, Turlock and Hughson Modesto Bee The county Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the plan Tuesday and will outsource operation of the Ceres, Turlock and Hughson health clinics to nonprofit providers before the end of the year. Merced County supervisor district […]

POLICY & POLITICS North SJ Valley: (Josh Harder is the incumbent) GOP candidate in Cong. District 10 attacked for ‘extreme’ stance on immigration Modesto Bee Democrats unleashed online political ads charging that Republican candidate Ted Howze’s views on immigration are too extreme. (Tom McClintock is the incumbent) A Democrat outraised Tom McClintock more than two-to-one. Does it […]

POLICY & POLITICS Central Valley could see more ‘dangerously hot’ days from climate change. Here’s how many Sacramento Bee California’s Central Valley is no stranger to heat, but human-caused climate change could soon see the region hitting boiling temperatures at greater frequency than before. See also: ●      Heat waves likely to become longer, more intense — […]

POLICY & POLITICS North SJ Valley: Asm. Gray: California refuses to enlist clean, cheap hydropower in fight against climate change. It makes no sense CALmatters Is the cleanest, greenest electricity in the world green enough for California? The Ahwahnee is back: Yosemite reclaims historic names in trademark settlement Fresno Bee Yosemite National Park will get […]

POLICY & POLITICS North SJ Valley: Lofty plans for old City Hall Stockton Record The 93-year-old City Hall on El Dorado Street may be about to take a small first step toward a major transformation as the clock ticks toward Stockton’s eventual move into a new city headquarters on the south side of downtown’s waterfront. […]

POLICY & POLITICS North SJ Valley: Mayor says Tracy City Council committed to respect, civility after grand jury report Stockton Record A month after the San Joaquin County civil grand jury released a report that looked into multiple complaints of friction and toxic behavior among Tracy City Council members, officials have reviewed the findings and […]