Hughson welcomes new council members

After eight months of chaos in the small Valley town of Hughson, a sense of victory was evident at Monday's City Council meeting as three new council members were sworn into office.

Appeal sought for state’s raid of redevelopment agency funding

The legality of the State of California's unprecedented $2.05 billion raid on local redevelopment funds is under appeal, following a California Redevelopment Association filing on Monday.

Act will allow civil lawsuits against social hosts

A new state law looks to curb the practice of adults knowingly providing alcohol to minors.

Beautification plan tabled

In a 3-2 vote, the Turlock City Council abandoned completing landscaping design plans for the Monte Vista Interchange and the Golden State Boulevard median.

City’s future growth plans split council

Three Turlock City Council members went against the direction of the entire Planning Commission and all but one member of the audience in a vote to examine growing Turlock to the northeast as well as the southwest.

Hughson voters recall council members

The votes are in and about 88 percent of the people who voted in Hughson, voted in favor of recalling council members Thom Crowder, Doug Humphreys and resigned council member Ben Manley out of office.

City lifeguards to keep extra pay

The City of Turlock will not force part-time aquatics workers who were accidentally overpaid to return money to the city, following a Turlock City Council decision Tuesday evening.

City reviews centennial loan

A $90,000 loan from the City of Turlock to the Centennial Committee was never repaid in full but was spent in accordance with the loan agreement, according to a City of Turlock memo released Tuesday.

Hughson council moves forward with affordable housing development

Hughson council members Thom Crowder and Doug Humphreys made what could be their last decision for the City of Hughson Monday night - one day before an election aimed at recalling the two coucilmen - in approving funding to build affordable housing.

Appeals court grants stay on same-sex marriage

California's ban on same-sex marriages, scheduled to end today, will last at least until December.

University foundation transparency law one step closer to reality

The State Assembly on Tuesday unanimously approved a bill requiring university foundations and auxiliaries to comply with the Public Records Act.

Hughson council seat to remain open until after recall election

One week after not making quorum - and nine days before the recall election - the Hughson City Council held a special meeting with just three members. Ben Manley resigned from the City Council on Aug. 2 leaving a vacant seat, and Thom Crowder was absent from the meeting. Both Manley and Crowder, along with Doug Humphreys, are facing recall via the Aug. 24 special ...

Council tables median beautification project, again

For the second time, the Turlock City Council elected to postpone voting to appropriate $3,794 to complete landscaping design plans for the Monte Vista Interchange and the Golden State Boulevard median.The City has already spent $78,825 on the beautification plans – and set aside the $3,794 to finish detailed design documents. But the contractor, Gates and Associates, did not ...

Parks and Rec talks dog park, teen center

Turlock's Parks, Recreation, and Community Commission set to work drafting a set of goals for the coming year on Wednesday, floating hopes of a new dog park, better marketing for programs, a new youth center, and even a nine-hole golf course &ndash; admittedly a pipe dream.But first, commissioners said, they want to take a look at existing programs.<span style="line-height: ...

Judge lifts stay on same-sex marriages

Federal District Court Judge Vaughn Walker lifted a temporary stay on overturning Proposition 8, clearing the way for gay and lesbian couples to begin marrying at 5 p.m. on Wednesday &ndash; should a federal appeals court or the U.S. Supreme Court not intervene."Today we are overjoyed, not only for all of the committed couples who are finally able marry ...

Modesto VA Clinic ribbon cutting set for Friday

U.S. Representative Jeff Denham (R-Turlock) will bestow the Purple Heart to a Modesto veteran during the ribbon cutting ceremony of the new Modesto Veterans Community Based Outpatient Clinic at 1 p.m. Friday. Hospital Corpsman Third Class Joseph D. Jackson, a representative of the United States Navy and Modesto native, will be present to receive a Purple Heart Medal for his sacrifice in Operation Iraqi Freedom where he sustained a brain injury on May ...

Collaboration key to county's success, says Chiesa

In his 2013 State of the County address, delivered Tuesday morning in Modesto, Board of Supervisors chair Vito Chiesa touched on issues of unemployment, gangs and education within the county's communities. Chiesa called on community members to be innovative when looking for ways to alleviate the county's high unemployment rate. The county continues to face higher unemployment rates than the rest of the state and nation - in December, Stanislaus recorded 15 ...

City makes Kaepernick Day official

The City of Turlock has released an official proclamation declaring Saturday and Sunday "Go Colin Kaepernick and the San Francisco 49ers Weekend" in honor of their Super Bowl run. "On behalf of the Turlock City Council, (I) do hereby encourage all citizens in our community to celebrate the outstanding achievements of San Francisco 49ers Quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who, in distinguishing himself has brought great honor and credit to his family, his friends, and ...

Olsen, Wolk utilize bipartisan alliance to improve legislators’ liability

Assemblywoman Kristin Olsen (R-Modesto) and California State Senator Lois Wolk (D-Davis) introduced identical legislation in the Senate and Assembly intending to provide public access to legislation and increase community response. The proposed bill requires all legislation to be accessible online or in print for 72 hours before it is passed to the Senate or Assembly. Olsen, author of the Assembly Constitutional Amendment 4, hopes the bipartisan effort will help the public to stay ...

Council increases city building fees

Building fees in Turlock will be going up for most new residential and commercial construction projects in an effort to lessen the funds the city's building department draws from the general fund. The Turlock City Council adopted an amendment to the city's municipal code that will replace the current valuation based fee system with a cost recovery fee structure. The building department annual expenses run about $1.1 million, but revenues have only ...

Denham to host open house at Modesto office

Congressman Jeff Denham (R-Turlock) will be available for constitutes of the 10th Congressional District at his new district office from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday at 4701 Sisk Rd., Modesto. "Whether you need help with a federal agency, would like to order a flag, are requesting tours and tickets for a visit to Washington, D.C., or are considering applying to a military academy, my office is here to assist you. I encourage ...

Public safety facility costs rise; revenue found to cover increase

Turlock's Public Safety Facility is still on schedule for a June opening, but the cost has surged pass the original $28.3 million budget allotted to the project.

County earns state honors for top performing child agency

The Stanislaus County Department of Child Support Services was among those recognized at the Statewide Directors Meeting held Jan. 16. The county agency received the Most Improved Performance Award for 2012. Stanislaus County DCSS has a caseload over 31,000 serving more than 110,000 participants in the county. Over $49 million dollars was collected by the local agency in FFY 2012 and utilized at a cost effectiveness rate accumulating approximately $3.54 for every dollar ...

High-speed rail opponent Jeff Denham to chair House railroad panel

The California high speed rail plan may see detours in the future, as Republican Jeff Denham (R-Turlock) was named chairman of the Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee for the 113th Congress. Congressman Denham, a notorious critic of the high speed rail project, initiated an amendment prohibiting funds for the railway in 2012, despite protests from President Barack Obama and a majority of the Democratic Party. As a member of the Transportation ...

Olsen named ‘Legislator of the Year’ by Rural County Assoc.

The Rural County Representatives of California has selected Assemblywoman Kristin Olsen (R-Modesto) as one of two recipients for the annual "Patti Mattingly Award" for 2012. The Patti Mattingly Award is given to a policymaker who has demonstrated leadership on rural issues and an understanding of the unique challenges that rural communities face.

Olsen bill would offer CSU students fixed tuition fees

Tuition rates for incoming freshmen and transfer students may be more affordable, if a CSU Tuition Guarantee Bill introduced by Assemblywoman Kristin Olsen gets passed. The Modesto Republican introduced legislation known as AB 138 that would guarantee a fixed tuition rate to incoming freshman and transfer students for the next four years. "Students and parents deserve a reliable and reasonable tuition rate so they can plan for the investment," said Olsen, a ...

County loses bid for Health Exchange call center

As the state received news of a $673 million grant to help implement the new health care law, Stanislaus County was handed a bill of no sale. The county lost its bid to host a Local Health Benefit Exchange Call Center Site that was expected to bring 300 jobs to the county. "I'm saddened, yet fully supportive of the decision," said County Supervisor Vito Chiesa on Friday. "We'll be better prepared when ...

A greener vision for Stanislaus

How they voted

Motion: Request to appropriate $15,000 from the City of Turlock general fund reserve balance and transfer it to the Turlock Business Partnership Incentives Program. Councilwoman Amy Bublak: Yes Councilman Bill DeHart: Yes Councilman Steven Nascimento: Yes Councilman Forrest White: Yes Mayor John Lazar: Yes

Parks Commission takes smoke-free stand

The Turlock City Parks, Recreation and Community Programs Commission made a commitment to support a smoke-free policy at all public parks. Stanislaus Advocacy Action Team's project director Ken Fitzgerald made the case for smoke-free parks during Wednesday's Parks and Rec Commission meeting. StAAT was originally developed by the Stanislaus County Office of Education in response to an increase of tobacco use. The StAAT is anticipated to serve the general inhabitants of Stanislaus ...