News across Greater Modesto
The Pine Tree
Published September 25Traffic Update…Trailer on Fire Near Sr132 / Banderilla Dr
La Grange, CA…Traffic Update…Trailer on Fire Near Sr132 / Banderilla Dr. Incident: 0453 Type: Car Fire Location: Sr132 / Banderilla Dr Loc Desc: JEO Lat/Lon: 37.678595 -120.362585 Detail Information 4:43 PM 1 [1] TLR ON FIRE Unit Information 4:45 PM 2 Unit Enroute 4:45 PM 1 Unit…
The Modesto Focus
Published September 24Politics Focus | Save the date for VotingMatters – and free tacos
Hey Focus fans! When we hosted an interactive elections-chat event before the June primary highlighting the many then-candidates for California governor, we told our CalMatters partners that we’d be happy with a couple of dozen attendees. All of us were blown away when more than…
The Modesto Focus
Published September 23LISTEN | Modesto Irrigation District candidates address ‘dysfunction,’ ‘corruption’ and ‘incivility’ in rare debate
Strong opinions and personalities turned up the heat in a recent Modesto Focus-moderated debate of all seven candidates running for three seats on the Modesto Irrigation District board in the upcoming Nov. 3 election. Candidates used words like “dysfunction” and “corruption” when…
The Modesto Focus
Published September 23Editor’s Corner: The disappearing of the Valley’s Bees is a crisis — not the end of local journalism
When I worked at The Modesto Bee, one of the gallows humor jokes we used to make about the company’s current owner, Chatham Asset Management, was that at least we worked for the “less evil” hedge fund. Between 2011 and 2019, private investment funds’ stake in our country’s…
The Modesto Focus
Published September 23Meet the candidates running for Modesto City School District Board of Education
Modesto City School District will undoubtedly see fresh faces on its Board of Education in January. Four seats on the seven-member board are up for election this year – with three contested. In Area 1, home of Gregori High School, incumbent Cindy Marks faces off against newcomer…
The Modesto Focus
Published September 22Some Valley schools see kindergarten vaccine rates for measles fall short of ‘herd immunity’
Amid conflicting messages over the safety of vaccines, cases of measles have been on the rise both in California and the U.S. this year compared to 2025. And in the San Joaquin Valley, where two cases of measles have been reported so far in 2026, vaccination rates among…
Mission Local
Published September 22Fast-tracked and without a lawyer, Modesto family’s asylum case ends in denial
“The court doesn’t believe the harm you describe rises to the level of past persecution," said Judge Michael Rapizo. Fast-tracked and without a lawyer, Modesto family’s asylum case ends in denial
The Modesto Focus
Published September 17Politics Focus | When growth and elections intersect
Hey Focus fans! I wouldn’t normally plug an upcoming city meeting in a column like this devoted to politics. So this an exception, but I promise, they’re connected. On Tuesday, the Riverbank City Council will probably cast an important vote deciding the fate of River Walk, a…
The Modesto Focus
Published September 16‘Data centers’ – two toxic words that frighten Stanislaus leaders. Are they an existential threat or unique opportunity?
Eager to draw jobs and boost the local economy, cities and counties might trip over themselves to compete in granting companies permission to do business. That is, as long as prospective firms never publicly utter two insanely toxic words: data center. In an era when political…
The Modesto Focus
Published September 12¡MONSTRAS! Exhibit brings Latin American female folklore to life at McHenry Museum
A new exhibit showcasing the talents of Latina artists brings the spirits of women who inhabit the metaphysical world into our reality. With spooky season just around the corner, Modesto’s McHenry Museum is welcoming the free art exhibit, “¡MONSTRAS! Female Legends of Latin…
The Modesto Focus
Published September 11WATCH: Jaron Brandon and Alexandra Duarte face off in State Senate 4 debate
State Senate District 4 candidates Jaron Brandon and Alexandra Duarte went head-to-head Thursday morning on a wide range of topics, from healthcare access to immigration, during an in-person debate at Greens on Tenth in Modesto. The event, shown above in its entirety, was…
The Modesto Focus
Published September 11Politics Focus | Where to find this newsletter archive
Hey Focus fans! We hope regular readers of this newsletter have found it helpful for staying up on politics in Modesto and throughout Stanislaus County. Particularly during campaign season, like the one we’re in now. If you’ve missed any editions since I began writing them before…